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.

The Exiles

by Christina Baker Kline

Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Gender Identity, Femininity, Race, Social Class, Colonialism, Loyalty & Betrayal, Equality

Tags Historical Fiction, Gender & Feminism, British Literature, World History

... Read The Exiles Summary

The Familiar

by Leigh Bardugo

Publication year 2024

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Perseverance, Fear, Love, Social Class, Good & Evil, Power & Greed, Religion & Spirituality, Safety & Danger

Tags Fantasy, Historical Fiction, World History, Magical Realism, Romance

... Read The Familiar Summary

The Feather Thief

by Kirk Wallace Johnson

Publication year 2018

Genre Book, Nonfiction

Themes Animals, Appearance & Reality, Art, Justice, Power & Greed

Tags Crime & Law, European History, Science & Nature, Animals, Mystery & Crime Fiction, World History

The Feather Thief by American author, screenwriter, and journalist Kirk Wallace Johnson is about the 2009 heist of the British Natural History Museum at Tring. It retraces the background of the 20-year-old American thief, professional flautist, and master fly-tier, Edwin Rist, who stole 299 rare bird skins from the museum. Johnson first heard about the heist while fly-fishing on a river in New Mexico. Living with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after years of aid work... Read The Feather Thief Summary

The Fellowship of the Ring

by J. R. R. Tolkien

Publication year 1955

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Friendship, Power & Greed, Good & Evil

Tags Fantasy, Classic Fiction, Action & Adventure

In 1954, writer and scholar of English literature J. R. R. Tolkien published The Fellowship of the Ring, the first of three volumes in his novel The Lord of the Rings. Considered a founding text of high fantasy, The Lord of the Rings is widely regarded as a modern classic. The saga’s roots in epic poetry, philology, and mythology have influenced both academia and popular culture, inspiring scholarship, Tolkien societies, and film adaptations, including Ralph... Read The Fellowship of the Ring Summary

The Flamethrowers

by Rachel Kushner

Publication year 2013

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Art, Love, Coming of Age

Tags Historical Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Gender & Feminism, European History, Love & Sexuality, Arts & Culture, American Literature, Italian Literature, Modern Classic Fiction

The Flamethrowers is a historical fiction novel published in 2013 by the American author Rachel Kushner. It follows the story of Reno, a young woman experiencing the turbulence of the 1970s in New York City. An aspiring artist, Reno finds herself in remarkable situations both in New York and abroad in Italy. Kushner weaves Italian and American history to highlight how people experience the implications of the societies and histories they inherit. Kushner subverts typical... Read The Flamethrowers Summary

The Forest of Hands and Teeth

by Carrie Ryan

Publication year 2009

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Hope, Femininity, Coming of Age, Death, Environment, Family, Self Discovery, Community, Order & Chaos, Religion & Spirituality, Safety & Danger, Truth & Lies

Tags Horror & Suspense, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Romance

Carrie Ryan’s young adult novel The Forest of Hands and Teeth (2009) uses a literary voice to blend elements of several different genres, including horror, romance, and dystopian fiction. The story follows Mary, a teenage girl growing up in the aftermath of a world ravaged by hordes of the undead. As she struggles to defy her community’s rigid rules, she must also confront existential challenges like love, loss, and the constant threat of death at... Read The Forest of Hands and Teeth Summary

The French Lieutenant's Woman

by John Fowles

Publication year 1969

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Love, Self Discovery, Social Class

Tags Historical Fiction, World History, Classic Fiction, Romance, Victorian Period, British Literature, Postmodernism

The French Lieutenant’s Woman is a 1969 historical novel by English author John Fowles. The novel provides a postmodern exploration of Victorian society, telling a story from the era in a manner which also function as a social critique. The French Lieutenant’s Woman was widely praised on release and in the decades after. In 1981, it was adapted into a film of the same name.This guide was written using the 2004 Vintage edition of the... Read The French Lieutenant's Woman Summary