Small BoatSmall Boat
What it's about
In November 2021, an inflatable dinghy carrying migrants from France to Britain capsized in the Channel, and 27 people died. Despite many calls for help, French authorities wrongly told them they were in British waters. By the time rescuers arrived, all but two had died. Vincent Delecroix's novel confronts that night and the question of responsibility.
Why it's worth reading
It was a finalist for the International Booker Prize. It's a short, devastating novel about responsibility.
You'll love it if you liked
Exit West
The Line Becomes a River: Dispatches From the Border
The StrangerGood to know
It's very short and translated from French.
By the numbers
- Readers32 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics27 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller12 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz72 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
- #239 of the 309 literary novels we rank
- #345 of the 481 new books we rank
- #2013 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Moving
If you like this, read next
James
Demon Copperhead
The Women
Remarkably Bright Creatures
Quicksilver
The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du BoisExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Small Boat worth reading?
Yes. It was a finalist for the International Booker Prize. It ranks #2,013 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 63.7 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Small Boat about?
In November 2021, an inflatable dinghy carrying migrants from France to Britain capsized in the Channel, and 27 people died. Despite many calls for help, French authorities wrongly told them they were in British waters. By the time rescuers arrived, all but two had died. Vincent Delecroix's novel confronts that night and the question of responsibility.
How long does it take to read Small Boat?
About 4 hours (160 pages), or about 8 days at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Small Boat?
If you liked it, try Exit West by Mohsin Hamid, The Line Becomes a River: Dispatches From the Border by Francisco Cantú or The Stranger by Albert Camus.