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.
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2011
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Society: Economics
Tags Business / Economics, Leadership/Organization/Management, Technology
Publication year 2011
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Emotions/Behavior: Grief
Tags Fantasy, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction
The Leftovers by Tom Perrotta was published in 2011 and chronicles the lives of the residents of a small northeastern US town in the aftermath of a rapture-like event. Following the random disappearances of millions of people across the globe, the characters of The Leftovers seek various modes of coping with the grief of sudden death as well as the notion of being left behind in others’ absence. The Leftovers was adapted for television by... Read The Leftovers Summary
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Femininity, Identity: Gender, Identity: Race, Society: Immigration
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Historical Fiction, Asian Literature
Publication year 1958
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Emotions/Behavior: Nostalgia, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Life/Time: The Past, Natural World: Space & The Universe, Society: Class, Society: Nation, Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Equality, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Historical Fiction, Italian Literature, Classic Fiction
The Leopard, a historical novel by Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa, originally published in Italian in 1958, chronicles the decline of the Sicilian nobility during the 19th century, the period marking the unification of Italy. The novel follows the life of Don Fabrizio Corbera, Prince of Salina, as he navigates through political upheaval and the fading glory of his class amidst the rise of a new social order. The Leopard was adapted into a film in... Read The Leopard Summary
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Aging, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Self Discovery, Society: Community
Tags Historical Fiction, Humor, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2017
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Identity: Disability, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Animals, Natural World: Place, Relationships: Mothers, Self Discovery, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed
Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Play: Drama, Animals, History: World, Drama / Tragedy
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Natural World: Climate, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Society: Community, Emotions/Behavior: Grief
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Magical Realism, Fantasy, Climate Change, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Relationships: Siblings, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Relationships: Fathers, Emotions/Behavior: Hate & Anger
Tags Historical Fiction, Incarceration, Mental Illness, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Class, History: World, Action / Adventure
Publication year 2019
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Animals, Relationships: Family, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Natural World: Environment
Tags Realistic Fiction, Children's Literature, Animals, Grief / Death, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Literature, Relationships: Family, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance
Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Gender / Feminism, History: World
Publication year 1950
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Food, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness
Tags Classic Fiction, Fantasy, Action / Adventure, Christian literature, Children's Literature, Religion / Spirituality
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is the best-known work of author and literary critic Clive Staples (C. S.) Lewis. Published in 1951, the novel presents complex moral conundrums through the genre of children’s fantasy. Lewis later noted that his inspiration for the novel came from a recollection of images that he found particularly striking, such as a picture of a faun holding an umbrella in a snow-covered wood. The Lion, the Witch and... Read The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Summary
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Identity: Race, Identity: Sexuality, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Marriage, Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Gender / Feminism, Internet Culture / Social Media, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Identity: Mental Health, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Life/Time: Coming of Age
Tags Realistic Fiction, LGBTQ, Children's Literature, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2019
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Identity: Sexuality, Relationships: Family, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, British Literature, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2014
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Identity: Mental Health, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Fame, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction
The Long Way Home (2014) is the 10th novel in the Inspector Gamache series written by the Canadian author Louise Penny. Like the other books in the series, the novel revolves around the village of Three Pines, Quebec, although it also encompasses events in other places. In addition to a central mystery focused on a wife’s attempt to find her estranged husband, the novel explores themes of art, creativity, ambition, and loss. This guide references... Read The Long Way Home Summary
Publication year 1987
Genre Poem, Fiction
Tags Lyric Poem, Grief / Death, Poverty, American Literature
Publication year 2018
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Natural World: Environment, Society: Community, Life/Time: The Past
Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction
Publication year 2024
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Friendship
Tags Fantasy, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction