Best Books May 2026: Percival Everett, Joanna Bator, Markus Orths

Kulturnews has released its list of the best books for May 2026, featuring eight titles across genres. The list includes Percival Everett's "Ausradiert" (originally published in 2001, now in German translation), a satirical novel about a Black author who writes a cliché ghetto novel to make money. Joanna Bator's "Die Flucht der Bärin" blurs the line between novel and short story collection, centering on the late Dr. Polny and his household. Markus Orths' "Die Enthusiasten" revolves around Laurence Sterne's "Tristram Shandy" and a search for a lost tenth volume, while also addressing AI's threat to art. Dror Mishani, known for crime fiction, returns with "Nicht", a love story that incorporates crime elements. Abdellah Taïa, Morocco's first openly gay author, presents "Die Bastion der Tränen", an autobiographical novel set in Salé. Simon Chevrier's debut "Foto auf Anfrage" features a cover photo by Peter Hujar and explores connections between 1980s New York and 2020 Toulouse. David Vajda's "Diamanten" is a family novel about a former Yugoslav bohemian family grappling with death. Johann Reißer's "Pulver" is a historical novel about gunpowder manufacturer Max Duttenhofer (1843-1903) from Rottweil. The list also includes a mention of the best book cover of 2026, awarded to Chevrier's book. All books are published in 2026 by various German publishers.