7 must-read books from Vintage Classics this year

Looking to explore more classic literature this year? We've put together a list of the books that are at the top of our to-be-read piles. From hidden gems to beloved classics, these are the must-read books of early 2023.

Cereus Blooms at Night by Shani Mootoo, introduced by Ingrid Persaud (4 May, 2023)

The scent of decay was not offensive to her. It was the aroma of life refusing to end

Shani Mootoo’s phenomenal modern classic is one for readers both long-standing and new.

When Mala Ramchandin is believed to be a murderer but with no evidence to accuse her of the crime, she is sent to an Alms House as a madwoman. There she meets Tyler and despite the fact that Mala cannot speak, she manages to communicate with Tyler about her missing sister, Asha.

The past haunts Mala and then catches up with the present day. Through dialogue and flashback, we learn of the colonialism, racism, love, envy, trauma and rewilding that have shaped this novel’s extraordinary protagonist.