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Read the first chapter of the latest fiction from a remarkable and enduring talent, which brilliantly illuminates an introspective young mind trying to make sense of the world around him. 

Which of 2022’s illuminating works should you read first? If you need a helping hand to navigate this year’s Booker Dozen, take our whizzy quiz to help you discover which longlist book is for you.

Read an exact from Small Things Like These, where a father reckons with the truth of Ireland’s Magdalene laundries

Read the opening from Percival Everett’s striking novel, which combines an unnerving murder mystery with a powerful condemnation of racism and police violence. 

Read the opening words from Glory, an energetic and exhilarating joyride from NoViolet Bulawayo. The story of an uprising, told by a vivid chorus of animal voices that help us see our human world more clearly.

After Sappho is a joyous reimagining of the lives of a brilliant group of feminists, sapphists, artists and writers from the past. Read the opening words here