The Best of "Best Book" Lists

The Best of "Best Book" Lists Collection gathers together a selection of popular bestsellers and fan favorites that frequently appear on "Best of" lists. This diverse Collection includes picks to suit a range of age groups and genre preferences, from otherworldly fantasy to gripping crime thrillers.

Go Tell It on the Mountain

by James Baldwin

Publication year 1953

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Religion & Spirituality, Race, Sexual Identity, Family, Shame & Pride, Fathers, Equality

Tags Life-Inspired Fiction, Love & Sexuality, Religion & Spirituality, Race & Racism, American Literature, Historical Fiction, Classic Fiction

Go Tell it on the Mountain is a semi-autobiographical novel by James Baldwin. Published in 1953, the novel tells the story of a teenager in 1930s Harlem named John Grimes as well as his wider family, dealing with themes of religion, sexuality, and race. This guide uses an eBook version of the Modern Penguin Classics edition of the novel. Plot SummaryGo Tell it on the Mountain is set on the 14th birthday of the protagonist... Read Go Tell It on the Mountain Summary

Grant

by Ron Chernow

Publication year 2017

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Tags Politics & Government, US History, American Civil War, Military & War, World History, Biography

... Read Grant Summary

Gravity's Rainbow

by Thomas Pynchon

Publication year 1973

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes War, Truth & Lies, Conflict, Science & Technology

Tags Historical Fiction, Science Fiction, World War II, Satirical Literature, Trauma & Abuse, Military & War, American Literature, Classic Fiction

Gravity’s Rainbow is a 1973 historical satire by American novelist Thomas Pynchon, who is known for complex narratives that are often dense, fragmented, and episodic. The story is set during the last days of World War II as characters search for a mysterious rocket developed by the German military. The novel has been hailed as one of the most important English language works of the 20th century.Pynchon, disinclined to engage with the press or public... Read Gravity's Rainbow Summary

Greenwild

by Pari Thomson

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Revenge, Race, Childhood & Youth, Animals, Environment, Plants, Family, Justice, Power & Greed

Tags Fantasy, Children`s Literature

... Read Greenwild Summary

Grown

by Tiffany D. Jackson

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Power & Greed, Truth & Lies, Safety & Danger

Tags Mystery & Crime Fiction, Horror & Suspense, Realistic Fiction, Trauma & Abuse, Modern Classic Fiction

... Read Grown Summary

Hands

by Torrey Maldonado

Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Family, Self Discovery, Community, Fathers

Tags Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Sports, Trauma & Abuse, Coming of Age, Children`s Literature

... Read Hands Summary

Headshot

by Rita Bullwinkel

Publication year 2024

Genre Short Story Collection, Fiction

Themes Conflict, Perseverance, Femininity, Gender Identity, Coming of Age, Future, Self Discovery, Social Class, Education, Fame, Wins & Losses

Tags Modern Classic Fiction

... Read Headshot Summary

Heavy

by Kiese Laymon

Publication year 2018

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Race, Truth & Lies

Tags Race & Racism, Social Justice, Biography

Heavy is Kiese Laymon’s 2018 memoir. It won the 2019 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction and the LA Times Isherwood Prize for Autobiographical Prose. Earning praise from Alice Walker, The Boston Globe, NPR, Time, and The Paris Review, Heavy acknowledges that “we’ve arrived at the point we have as a country in part because of lies we’ve told ourselves about what America means” (Abdurraquib, Hanif. “Heavy.” 4 Columns, 2018).Other works by this author... Read Heavy Summary