In the 21st century's literary world, there are countless works that inspire, move, and provoke thought. Here's a selection of 100 books that are essential reading today. Each of these books has not only shaped the literary landscape but also addressed important social and cultural issues.
The list of 100 books
1. Elena Ferrante: My brilliant friend: novel
Two friends from Naples, whose lives intersect in the 1960s, experience the challenges of friendship, love and social pressure.
2. Isabel Wilkerson: The Warmth of Other Suns: Non-fiction book
A comprehensive narrative of the great migration of African Americans from the South to the North and West between 1915 and 1970.
3. Hilary Mantel: Wolves: Historical novel
The story of Thomas Cromwell, who tries to find his place in history during the turbulent times of Henry VIII.
4. Edward P. Jones: The known world: Historical novel
A powerful novel about life in antebellum Virginia from the perspective of a former slave and his owner.
5. Jonathan Franzen: The corrections: family novel
A fitting look at the dysfunctionality of a family in the modern world that is both humorous and tragic.
6. Roberto Bolaño: 2666: Roman
A complex work that interweaves various narrative strands and addresses the violence in a small town in Mexico.
7. Colson Whitehead: Underground Railroad: Historischer Roman
An imaginative re-evaluation of the Underground Railroad as an actual railway and the escape of a young slave.
8. WG Sebald: Austerlitz: Roman
The search for identity and memory of a man who only learns of his Jewish origins in adulthood.
9. Kazuo Ishiguro: Everything we had to give: Science fiction
A dystopian story about clones bred for organ donation and the question of human identity.
10. Marilynne Robinson: Gilead: Roman
An old pastor writes a letter to his son and reflects on his life, faith and love.
11. Junot Diaz: The Short Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao: novel
The tragic story of a nerdy Dominican in New Jersey and the curse that haunts his family for generations.
12. Joan Didion: The Year of Magical Thinking: Memoir
Didion's honest exploration of grief and loss following the sudden death of her husband.
13. Cormac McCarthy: The street: Post-apocalyptic novel
A father and his son fight for survival in a devastated world.
14. Rachel Cusk: Outline: Roman
A writer living in Athens meets different people and learns about their lives and experiences.
15. Lee Min Jin: A simple life: novel
The story of a man who searches for a modest and meaningful life and is confronted with his past.
16. Michael Chabon: The Incredible Adventures of Kavalier and Clay: Historical novel
Two cousins who create comic book heroes during World War II and deal with themes such as escape and identity.
17. Paul Beatty: The Traitor: satire
An insightful and humorous look at racial issues in the USA through the eyes of an African American.
18. George Saunders: Lincoln in the Bardo: Historical novel
An unconventional tale about the deceased son of Abraham Lincoln and the beings in the Bardo, an intermediate state between life and death.
19. Patrick Radden Keefe: Say nothing - Murder and treason in Northern Ireland: Non-fiction book
A gripping report on the conflict in Northern Ireland, the disappearance of people and the impact on society.
20. Percival Everett: Erased: Humor
A novel that deals with racism, identity and the literary world.
21. Matthew Desmond: Evicted - Poverty and Profit in the City: Non-fiction book
A compelling investigation into homelessness and housing policy in the United States, based on personal accounts.
22. Katherine Boo: Annawadi or The Dream of Another Life: Non-fiction book
A captivating narrative about life in a Mumbai slum and the hopes and dreams of its residents.
23. Alice Munro: Does he hate me, does he like me, does he love me, wedding: Short prose
A collection of stories that explore the complexity of human relationships and the nuances of life.
24. Richard Powers: The roots of life: novel
A moving story about the connection between humans and nature and the quest for understanding.
25. Adrian Nicole LeBlanc: Random Family - Love, Drugs, Violence and Youth in the Bronx: Non-fiction book
An in-depth look at the realities of life in the Bronx through the eyes of a young woman.
26. Ian McEwan: Abbitte: Roman
A tragic story spanning decades and dealing with misunderstandings, guilt and forgiveness.
27. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: American: Roman
The story of a powerful love story between Nigeria and the USA and the themes of race and identity.
28. David Mitchell: The Cloud Atlas: novel
An artfully interwoven web of stories spanning different centuries and continents.
29. Helen DeWitt: The Last Samurai: Novel
A brilliant story about the collision of wisdom, film and education in the upbringing of a child.
30. Jesmyn Ward: Sing, you living and you dead, sing: novel
A moving story about loss and the connections that bind us to those who have died.
31. Zadie Smith: Show teeth: novel
An in-depth look at racial and class dynamics in London through the eyes of a multicultural family.
32. Alan Hollinghurst: The beauty line: novel
The story of an artistic life and the exploration of homosexuality in the Victorian era.
33. Jesmyn Ward: Before the Storm: novel
A powerful narrative about the traces of racism and poverty in modern America.
34. Claudia Rankine: Citizen: Poems
A mixture of poetry and prose that illuminates the experiences of racism in everyday situations.
35. Alison Bechdel: Fun Home - A Family of Marked Ones: Graphic Novel
An autobiographical work that explores Bechdel's complex relationship with her father and her own homosexuality.
36. Ta-Nehisi Coates: Between me and the world: Memoir
A powerful letter to the author's son about the experiences that shape African American identity.
37. Annie Ernaux: The years: Memoir
A unique blend of autobiographical narratives and social observation that covers an entire life.
38. Roberto Bolaño: The Wild Detective: Roman
An exciting journey through Mexico, followed in the footsteps of a generation of poets thought lost.
39. Jennifer Egan: The greater part of the world: novel
An innovative novel set between past and future, capturing the lives of various characters.
40. Helen MacDonald: H like hawk: Memoir
The author describes her experiences with mourning her father and raising a hawk.
41. Claire Keegan: Little things like this: Novella
A short but powerful story about morality and humanity in 1980s Ireland.
42. Marlon James: A Short History of Seven Murders: Historical novel
A gripping narrative about violence and politics in Jamaica, revolving around the failed assassination attempt on Bob Marley.
43. Tony Judt: The history of Europe from 1945 to the present: Non-fiction book
A comprehensive overview of European history and its social, political and economic impact.
44. NK Jemisin: Torn Earth: Fantasy
A powerful fantasy novel that explores themes of climate change and oppressed communities.
45. Maggie Nelson: The Argonauts: Memoir
A genre-nonconforming exploration of gender and identity in a changing world.
46. Donna Tartt: The Thistlefinch: Novel
The story of a boy who, after the tragic death of his mother, steals a masterpiece of art and changes his life forever.
47. Tony Morrison: grace: novel
A profound novel about themes of race, trauma, and the quest for healing in relationships of addiction.
48. Marjane Satrapi: Persepolis: Graphic Novel
A powerful autobiography about growing up in Iran during and after the Islamic Revolution.
49. Han Kang: The vegetarian: novel
A disturbing story about a woman who decides to give up eating meat justifies her decision and questions society.
50. Hernan Diaz: loyalty: novel
A fascinating novel about the complexity of relationships and the influence of money and power on love.
51. Kate Atkinson: The Unfinished: novel
A thrilling and emotional story about the Second World War and the question of fate and choice.
52. Denis Johnson: Train Dreams: Roman
A poetic and oppressive narrative about the life of a woodworker on the border between reality and fantasy.
53. Alice Munro: Tricks: Kurzprosa
A collection of stories in which the complex web of human relationships is partly illuminated and often also entangled.
54. George Saunders: Tenth of December: Short prose
A collection of short stories that explore the absurdities and tragedies of modern life.
55. Lawrence Wright: Death will find you - Al-Qaeda and the road to September 11: Non-fiction book
An in-depth examination of the origins of al-Qaeda and the events leading up to the September 11 attacks.
56. Rachel Kushner: Flamethrower: novel
A dynamic narrative about art, activism, and life in the political and artistic world of the 1970s.
57. Barbara Ehrenreich: Work poor - On the move in the service society: Non-fiction book
An investigative study on the living conditions of people working in the service industry.
58. Hua Hsu: Stay True - A Memoir about Friendship: Memoir
A reflection on the friendship and experiences of an Asian American man in the changing cultural landscape.
59. Jeffrey Eugenides: Middlesex: Roman
The story of a hermaphroditic sex change that follows the life of a Greek immigrant family in America.
60. Kiese Laymon: Heavy - An American Memoir: Memoir
A powerful account of racism, body weight, and the challenges of growing up in a racist society.
61. Barbara Kingsolver: Demon Copperhead: Roman
A modern reworking of Charles Dicken's "David Copperfield" that addresses the challenges of child welfare in the Appalachian Mountains.
62. Ben Lerner: 22:04: Novel
A complex narrative that explores time, identity, and the artistic possibilities of life.
63. Mary Gaitskill: Veronica: Roman
The story of a complicated friendship and the confrontation with age, loss and the life of an artist.
64. Rebecca Makkai: The Optimists: Roman
A gripping novel that explores the impact of the Holocaust and the search for meaning in life across generations.
65. Philip Roth: Conspiracy against America: Alternative historical novel
A fictional account of an alternative American history in which Charles Lindbergh becomes president and anti-Semitism spreads.
66. Justin Torres: We animals: novel
A poetic coming-of-age novel that deals with growing up in a turbulent family with a strong theme of identity.
67. Andrew Solomon: Far from the Tree - When Children Are Completely Different from Their Parents: Non-fiction book
A comprehensive exploration of the challenges and joys of parenting children who are different than expected.
68. Sigrid Nunez: The friend: novel
After the death of a friend, the protagonist gets a dog with whom she forms an unexpected bond.
69. Michelle Alexander: The new Jim Crow - Mass incarceration and racism in the USA: Non-fiction book
An analysis of racial equality in the United States that argues that mass incarceration of African Americans is a modern-day equivalent of racial segregation.
70. Edward P. Jones: Hagars Kinder: Roman
A powerful narrative about the forfeiture of inheritance, freedom, and the search for the past in an African-American family.
71. Tove Ditlevsen: The Copenhagen Trilogy: Autobiographical novel
A three-part autobiographical narrative about the ups and downs of an artist's life in Denmark.
72. Svetlana Alexievich: Secondhand time: Non-fiction book
A collection of interviews with people who experienced the end of the Soviet Union and their search for identity and meaning.
73. Robert A. Caro: The Transition - The Successor: biography
An intensive biography about the politician Lyndon B. Johnson and his beginnings in American politics.
74. Elizabeth Strout: With a view of the sea: novel
A touching novel about life in a small coastal town and the secrets hidden in people's hearts.
75. Mohsin Hamid: Exit West: Roman
A captivating story about two lovers who travel through magical doors around the world and explore the refugee crisis.
76. Gabrielle Zevin: Tomorrow, tomorrow and tomorrow again: novel
An in-depth exploration of friendship and life through the lens of the video game industry.
77. Tayari Jones: In good times and in bad: novel
A captivating novel about marriage, secrets and unpredictable fate.
78. Jon Fosse: The other name - Heptalogy I-II: drama
A dramatic masterpiece that deals with existential themes and difficult human relationships.
79. Lucia Berlin: What else I missed - Stories: Short prose
A collection of stories that capture everyday life in different settings and the inner lives of the characters.
80. Elena Ferrante: The Story of the Lost Child: novel
A powerful conclusion to the Neapolitan saga that highlights the themes of friendship and identity.
81. John Jeremiah Sullivan: Pulphead - The End of America: Essays
A collection of essays exploring modern America in all its facets, from music to pop culture.
82. Fernanda Melchor: Hurricane season: novel
A dark narrative that sheds light on the violence and social conflicts in Mexico.
83. Benjamin Labatut: The Blind Light - Errant Journeys of Science: novel
A poetic and philosophical investigation into the dangers and beauty of science.
84. Siddhartha Mukherjee: The king of all diseases - cancer - a biography: Non-fiction book
A comprehensive history of the impact of cancer on life and society throughout history.
85. George Saunders: Pastoralia: Short prose
A collection of stories that explore the absurdities of human life in the 21st century.
86. David W. Blight: Frederick Douglass - Prophet of Freedom: Biografie
A captivating biography about Frederick Douglass, his fight for slavery and his influence on American society.
87. Torrey Peters: Detransition, Baby: Roman
A groundbreaking narrative about gender, identity and the challenges of living in a transphobic world.
88. Lydia Davis: The Collected Stories of Lydia Davis: Kurzprosa
A collection of stories that challenges the boundaries of narrative form and captures the absurdities of life.
89. Hisham Matar: The Return - In Search of My Lost Father: Memoir
A moving search for identity and home as the author explores his family's past.
90. Viet Thanh Nguyen: There Sympathizer: Novel
A thrilling spy novel about a double agent during the Vietnam War, exploring themes of identity and loyalty.
91. Philip Roth: The human flaw: novel
A story about identity and the difficulties of life in post-9/11 American society.
92. Elena Ferrante: Days of abandonment: novel
An entanglement of relationships, loneliness and the search for self-discovery in the face of separation.
93. Emily St. John Mandel: Station Eleven: Post-apokalyptischer Roman
A story set in a world devastated by a pandemic and addressing the survival of art and culture.
94. Zadie Smith: Of beauty: novel
A humorous yet thoughtful reflection on the complexity of race, class, and family in a multicultural society.
95. Hilary Mantel: Falcons: Historical novel
The conclusion of the Wolf Hall trilogy, which chronicles the fate of Thomas Cromwell and explores the political intrigues of the Tudor period.
96. Saidiya Hartman: Rebellious lives, beautiful experiments: Essays
A collection of essays examining the lives of Black women in American history and their struggle for recognition.
97. Jesmyn Ward: Men We Reaped - A Memoir: Memoir
A profound exploration of loss and grief in the African American community of the Southern United States.
98. Ann Patchett: Bel Canto: Roman
A gripping story about a hostage situation, reconstructed through music and communication between the characters.
99. Ali Smith: Be both: novel
A creative work that explores the themes of time, identity and change in an ever-changing world.
100. Denis Johnson: A straight smoke: novel
A poetic and complex contemplation of desire, loss and the inhibited reality of living in harmony with nature.
Conclusion
This list presents a wide range of genres and themes that shape the literary landscape of the 21st century. Each of these works offers a unique perspective on life, our society, and the challenges we face. Whether you're looking for moving novels, gripping memoirs, or profound essays, these 100 books are sure to enrich your literary experience!