Why people recommend it
The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai is a powerful, emotionally devastating novel that chronicles the devastating impact of the AIDS crisis on the arts community in 1980s Chicago alongside a parallel storyline in modern-day Paris. The book received glowing recommendations and extensive discussion on The Book Review podcast. Raman Alam recommended the novel shortly after its release, highlighting a glowing review by Michael Cunningham. Elizabeth Egan also strongly recommended the work, sharing that its emotional portrayal of the epidemic completely stopped her in her tracks. Pamela Paul featured the novel when presenting the top fiction lists of the year, a selection further discussed by Greg Coles, who was reading the book concurrently. Alexandra Alter noted the novel's recognition as a major awards finalist, pointing out that its poignant exploration of historical trauma made it a powerful contender. Throughout these episodes, the contributors underscored the novel's ability to balance devastating historical realities with deeply human portraits of friendship, loss, and resilience, making it a modern classic of recent literary fiction that resonated intensely with both critics and everyday readers alike.
Who recommended it
- Alexandra Alter Discussed
- Raman Alam Recommended
- Greg Coles Discussed
- Elizabeth Egan Recommended
- Pamela Paul Recommended
Alexandra Alter — 2 mentions
“Rebecca Makai is shortlisted for the great Believers”
“but sometimes piters can get a little political and so I was thinking maybe some of the novels that were nominated like also Rebecca maai is the great Believers which touches on the AIDS epidemic in the 80s was a good Contender too”
Raman Alam — 1 mention
“I just finished reading the great Believers by Rebecca McKai which came out earlier this month and got a beautiful review in the book review by Michael Cunningham”
Greg Coles — 1 mention
“I'm at the same time um reading Rebecca makai's the great Believers which Michael Cunningham reviewed on the cover of the book review earlier this year”
Elizabeth Egan — 1 mention
“looking at Sheila's book list the book that popped into my head was the great Believers by Rebecca McKai which is about the AIDS crisis and the Arts community in Chicago in the 1980s and it absolutely stopped me in my tracks”
Pamela Paul — 1 mention
“and I am going to start with a third novel The Great Believers by Rebecca McKai”
Also mentioned in the same episodes
Other mentions (2: passing, ad reads, own books)
“The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai, There There by Tommy Orange, and Educated by Tara Westover.”
“and Rebecca McKai is the author of The Great Believers that was chosen as a best book by the book review a couple years back”