Julia Weber’s “Because I am Ruth” Ranks High on Swiss Best Books List
Published February 26, 2026
The Swiss Radio and Television (SRF) best list for March 2026 features a diverse selection of titles, with Julia Weber’s novel, Because I am Ruth
, securing a prominent position. The list, compiled by a jury of 31 experts, highlights compelling narratives and impactful storytelling.
Top 5 Books on the SRF Best List
5. Son Lewandowski: “The Routines” (14 points)
Lewandowski’s debut novel explores the intense world of competitive gymnastics, delving into themes of abuse, stolen childhood, and the relentless pursuit of perfection.
Diogenes/SRF: The way Son Lewandowski reveals the fateful intertwining of sport and politics in powerful, unsentimental language is unique.
4. Tove Ditlevsen: “There lives a young girl inside me who doesn’t want to die” (18 points)
This collection of poems by the late Danish author Tove Ditlevsen offers a poignant exploration of life, death, and the struggle for meaning.
Hanser Berlin/SRF: I find it incredibly stimulating when I can discover a new side to an author. Ditlevsen’s poems show a self reflecting on one’s own childhood, on love and loneliness, motherhood and divorce and all of life that flickers through us.
3. Julia Weber: “Because I am Ruth” (20 points)
Weber’s novel features a protagonist, Ruth, with extraordinary abilities – the power to transform people into animals and exert incredible willpower. The story explores themes of power, justice, and the human condition.
Diogenes/SRF: Julia Weber creates a cosmos that makes me drunk and amazes me. An author has written herself in a rousing stream of language that only starts on the last page.
2. Leïla Slimani: “Carry the fire forward” (46 points)
The final installment in Slimani’s family saga, Carry the fire forward
, follows Mia as she navigates tradition and a changing world.
Luchterhand/SRF: With Leïla Slimani, the intensity of feelings, including desire, meets cool language. She masters the interplay of fire and cold, and with bold dramaturgical cuts she combines people and politics into a breathless read.
1. Julian Barnes: “Farewell(s)” (54 points)
Booker Prize winner Julian Barnes presents what he describes as his final book, a reflective work on love, loss, and the passage of time.
Kiepenheuer & Witsch/SRF: Like Bach playing the organ, Julian Barnes pulls out all the stops of his great ability in what he describes as his final masterpiece. Not only those who are interested in farewells or final journeys, but also those who enjoy the language and congenial translation work will read this book with enthusiasm and a hint of melancholy.
Download the current leaderboard as a PDF
31 jury members contributed to compiling the March 2026 best list, awarding a total of 425 points.
How the SRF Best List is Created
The SRF best list is determined monthly by a jury of 50 book critics, librarians, booksellers, literary scholars, and representatives of literary institutions. Each jury member can nominate up to four recently published titles (within six months). Scoring is as follows: 1st place – 7 points, 2nd place – 5 points, 3rd place – 3 points, and 4th place – 1 point. Titles appearing three times on the list are removed to ensure variety. Jury members cannot nominate books by fellow jurors to maintain objectivity.