The AntidoteThe Antidote
What it's about
Karen Russell's novel is a Dust Bowl epic about five characters in a small Nebraska town whose fates become entangled after a storm ravages it, written with her gift for the strange and the magical.
Why it's worth reading
It was a finalist for both the National Book Award and the National Book Critics Circle Award. Russell, a MacArthur Fellow, is one of the most imaginative American writers.
You'll love it if you liked
The Grapes of Wrath
Lincoln in the Bardo
The OverstoryGood to know
It blends historical fiction with the supernatural.
By the numbers
- Readers34 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics47 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller13 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
- #207 of the 459 fantasy books we rank
- #258 of the 481 new books we rank
- #1481 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Epic
If you like this, read next
Fourth Wing
Remarkably Bright Creatures
Quicksilver
The Tainted Cup
A Drop of Corruption
AlchemisedExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is The Antidote worth reading?
Yes. It was a finalist for both the National Book Award and the National Book Critics Circle Award. It ranks #1,481 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 68.4 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Antidote about?
Karen Russell's novel is a Dust Bowl epic about five characters in a small Nebraska town whose fates become entangled after a storm ravages it, written with her gift for the strange and the magical.
How long does it take to read The Antidote?
About 16 hours (628 pages), or about 5 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Antidote?
If you liked it, try The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck, Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders or The Overstory by Richard Powers.