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Cover of A Passage North by Anuk ArudpragasamA Passage North
New · Fiction, War, Historical Fiction

A Passage North

by Anuk Arudpragasam
2021 · 290 pages · Fiction
65.2Must-Read
Score New
Critics' pick
≈ 7 hours to read · about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day

What it's about

A young man journeys into Sri Lanka's formerly war-torn north, and into a country's soul, after a phone call brings news of a death. It's a searing novel about love and the legacy of war.

Why it's worth reading

It was a Booker Prize finalist. It's a searing, contemplative novel.

You'll love it if you liked

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Good to know

It's introspective, with long, flowing sentences and little action.

By the numbers

65.2Must-Read Score
  • Readers48 out of 100 · counts 42%
  • Critics32 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
  • Bestseller7 out of 100 · counts 14%
  • Buzz19 out of 100 · counts 10%

Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.

Where it ranks

Why it made the list

Shortlisted
Booker Prize finalist (2021)

Reads as

Moving

How we rank

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Explore the best-of lists

All 36 best-of lists →
Historical novelsTop 25 · 116 rankedNew booksTop 25 · 481 rankedBooks of the 2020sTop 25 · 555 rankedFantasy booksTop 25 · 459 rankedMysteries and thrillersTop 25 · 555 rankedLiterary novelsTop 25 · 309 rankedMemoirs and biographiesTop 25 · 290 rankedScience fiction booksTop 25 · 313 ranked

Quick answers

Is A Passage North worth reading?

Yes. It was a Booker Prize finalist. It ranks #1,851 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 65.2 (the best book we found scores 99).

What is A Passage North about?

A young man journeys into Sri Lanka's formerly war-torn north, and into a country's soul, after a phone call brings news of a death. It's a searing novel about love and the legacy of war.

How long does it take to read A Passage North?

About 7 hours (290 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.

What should I read after A Passage North?

If you liked it, try Life and Times of Michael K by J. M. Coetzee, The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro or A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry.