The Given DayThe Given Day
Score Modern
What it's about
In Boston at the end of the First World War, two families, one Black and one white, are swept up in a maelstrom of revolutionaries and anarchists, immigrants and ward bosses, Brahmins and ordinary citizens, all fighting for survival and power.
Why it's worth reading
It spent 27 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists. It's a sweeping historical epic from the author of Mystic River.
You'll love it if you liked
The Pillars of the Earth
Ragtime
Fall of GiantsGood to know
It's long and the first of a trilogy, but it stands alone.
By the numbers
- Readers71 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller39 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 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
- #635 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1196 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Epic
More by Dennis Lehane
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Explore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is The Given Day worth reading?
Yes. It spent 27 weeks on the New York Times bestseller lists. It ranks #1,196 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 70.9 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Given Day about?
In Boston at the end of the First World War, two families, one Black and one white, are swept up in a maelstrom of revolutionaries and anarchists, immigrants and ward bosses, Brahmins and ordinary citizens, all fighting for survival and power.
How long does it take to read The Given Day?
About 18 hours (720 pages), or about 5 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Given Day?
If you liked it, try The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett, Ragtime by E. L. Doctorow or Fall of Giants by Ken Follett.