2024-004 Best novels of this century
Selecting the “best” novels of the 21st century is subjective, as literary tastes vary widely among readers and critics. However, here are ten books from the 21st century that have received significant acclaim, won prestigious awards, or had a substantial impact on contemporary literature:
- “The Road” by Cormac McCarthy (2006): A haunting and post-apocalyptic novel that explores the relationship between a father and son as they navigate a bleak and dangerous world.
- “The Goldfinch” by Donna Tartt (2013): This Pulitzer Prize-winning novel follows the life of a young man named Theo Decker, whose life is forever changed after a museum bombing.
- “The Underground Railroad” by Colson Whitehead (2016): Winner of the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award, this novel reimagines the Underground Railroad as a literal network of tunnels and tracks, following the journey of a young slave named Cora.
- “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao” by Junot Díaz (2007): A unique and powerful narrative that blends science fiction and magical realism to explore the life of Oscar Wao and his Dominican-American family.
- “Lincoln in the Bardo” by George Saunders (2017): A novel that combines history, humor, and the supernatural to depict a single night in a graveyard as Abraham Lincoln mourns the death of his son.
- “A Visit from the Goon Squad” by Jennifer Egan (2010): A Pulitzer Prize-winning work that weaves interconnected stories about the music industry, time, and the passage of years.
- “All the Light We Cannot See” by Anthony Doerr (2014): Set during World War II, this novel tells the story of a blind French girl and a German boy whose paths eventually cross.
- “White Teeth” by Zadie Smith (2000): Smith’s debut novel explores the lives of two immigrant families in London, tackling themes of race, identity, and cultural clash.
- “The Sellout” by Paul Beatty (2015): This satirical novel, winner of the Man Booker Prize, tackles issues of race and identity in contemporary America.
- “The Sympathizer” by Viet Thanh Nguyen (2015): This novel, winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, offers a unique perspective on the Vietnam War through the eyes of a communist spy.
These novels represent a diverse range of genres, themes, and styles, and they have all made significant contributions to the literary landscape of the 21st century. However, there are many other outstanding novels from this century, and what is considered the “best” ultimately depends on individual preferences and interests.