Toward Good Art, and Art Itself

Last year, the New York Times published a list of what its critics deemed the best books of the 21st century. (So far.) Offices and book clubs across the country chattered about which books made it and which got snubbed, which were ranked higher and lower than deserved. But the most discussion was reserved for the winner of the No. 1 spot: Elena Ferrante’s My Brilliant Friend.