Best Books of the Decade: 2000s
The best books published during the 2000s decade (2000 - 2009).
1 The Kite Runner
by
4.19 of 5 stars 4.19 avg rating — 899,509 ratings
2 Harry Potter and the Deathl...
by
4.55 of 5 stars 4.55 avg rating — 928,834 ratings
3 The Hunger Games (The Hunge...
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4.44 of 5 stars 4.44 avg rating — 1,648,220 ratings
4 Harry Potter and the Half-B...
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4.46 of 5 stars 4.46 avg rating — 895,495 ratings
5 The Time Traveler's Wife
by
3.91 of 5 stars 3.91 avg rating — 717,489 ratings
6 Harry Potter and the Goblet...
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4.44 of 5 stars 4.44 avg rating — 931,674 ratings
7 Harry Potter and the Order ...
by
4.37 of 5 stars 4.37 avg rating — 889,635 ratings
8 Harry Potter y las Reliquia...
by
4.55 of 5 stars 4.55 avg rating — 928,834 ratings
9 A Thousand Splendid Suns
by
4.28 of 5 stars 4.28 avg rating — 399,802 ratings
10 The Book Thief
by
4.35 of 5 stars 4.35 avg rating — 314,165 ratings
11 Twilight (Twilight, #1)
by
3.58 of 5 stars 3.58 avg rating — 1,694,884 ratings
12 Water for Elephants
by
4.05 of 5 stars 4.05 avg rating — 644,316 ratings
13 The Help
by
4.44 of 5 stars 4.44 avg rating — 771,428 ratings
14 Life of Pi
by
3.84 of 5 stars 3.84 avg rating — 501,473 ratings
15 The Lovely Bones
by
3.69 of 5 stars 3.69 avg rating — 880,622 ratings
16 Catching Fire (The Hunger G...
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4.3 of 5 stars 4.30 avg rating — 954,501 ratings
17 The Girl with the Dragon Ta...
by
4.04 of 5 stars 4.04 avg rating — 806,859 ratings
18 The Da Vinci Code (Robert L...
by
3.67 of 5 stars 3.67 avg rating — 1,008,147 ratings
19 The Road
by
3.93 of 5 stars 3.93 avg rating — 282,724 ratings
20 The Secret Life of Bees
by
3.93 of 5 stars 3.93 avg rating — 587,357 ratings
21 Middlesex
by
3.9 of 5 stars 3.90 avg rating — 311,278 ratings
22 The Curious Incident of the...
by
3.8 of 5 stars 3.80 avg rating — 437,823 ratings
23 Breaking Dawn (Twilight, #4)
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3.74 of 5 stars 3.74 avg rating — 710,905 ratings
24 My Sister's Keeper
by
4.01 of 5 stars 4.01 avg rating — 457,046 ratings
25 Eclipse (Twilight, #3)
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3.76 of 5 stars 3.76 avg rating — 742,610 ratings
26 The Glass Castle
by
4.18 of 5 stars 4.18 avg rating — 318,778 ratings
27 Atonement
by
3.8 of 5 stars 3.80 avg rating — 197,901 ratings
28 Harry Potter Boxset (Harry ...
by
4.71 of 5 stars 4.71 avg rating — 89,880 ratings
29 New Moon (Twilight, #2)
by
3.57 of 5 stars 3.57 avg rating — 766,751 ratings
30 The Shadow of the Wind (The...
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4.19 of 5 stars 4.19 avg rating — 140,103 ratings
31 Angels & Demons  (Robert La...
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3.75 of 5 stars 3.75 avg rating — 849,812 ratings
32 The Host (The Host, #1)
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3.86 of 5 stars 3.86 avg rating — 366,411 ratings
33 Extremely Loud and Incredib...
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3.99 of 5 stars 3.99 avg rating — 163,837 ratings
34 The Five People You Meet in...
by
3.81 of 5 stars 3.81 avg rating — 251,952 ratings
35 The Lightning Thief (Percy ...
by
4.15 of 5 stars 4.15 avg rating — 432,903 ratings
36 American Gods
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4.1 of 5 stars 4.10 avg rating — 194,532 ratings
37 Eat, Pray, Love
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3.4 of 5 stars 3.40 avg rating — 622,456 ratings
38 The Guernsey Literary and P...
by
4.09 of 5 stars 4.09 avg rating — 220,077 ratings
39 The Thirteenth Tale
by
3.91 of 5 stars 3.91 avg rating — 125,238 ratings
40 The Girl Who Played with Fi...
by
4.17 of 5 stars 4.17 avg rating — 327,444 ratings
41 Bel Canto
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3.88 of 5 stars 3.88 avg rating — 109,236 ratings
42 The Other Boleyn Girl (The ...
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3.99 of 5 stars 3.99 avg rating — 241,009 ratings
43 Never Let Me Go
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3.76 of 5 stars 3.76 avg rating — 148,795 ratings
44 The Amazing Adventures of K...
by
4.16 of 5 stars 4.16 avg rating — 91,617 ratings
45 Me Talk Pretty One Day
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3.92 of 5 stars 3.92 avg rating — 351,469 ratings
46 Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
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4.0 of 5 stars 4.00 avg rating — 160,029 ratings
47 City of Bones (The Mortal I...
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4.14 of 5 stars 4.14 avg rating — 326,516 ratings
48 The Devil in the White City...
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3.95 of 5 stars 3.95 avg rating — 166,107 ratings
49 Looking for Alaska
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4.26 of 5 stars 4.26 avg rating — 161,353 ratings
50 The Historian
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3.71 of 5 stars 3.71 avg rating — 123,409 ratings
51 Three Cups of Tea: One Man'...
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3.65 of 5 stars 3.65 avg rating — 162,623 ratings
52 Uglies (Uglies, #1)
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3.88 of 5 stars 3.88 avg rating — 196,299 ratings
53 Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
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3.74 of 5 stars 3.74 avg rating — 72,726 ratings
54 Everything is Illuminated
by
3.89 of 5 stars 3.89 avg rating — 84,071 ratings
55 Nineteen Minutes
by
4.03 of 5 stars 4.03 avg rating — 133,606 ratings
56 The Last Lecture
by
4.21 of 5 stars 4.21 avg rating — 120,788 ratings
57 The Namesake
by
3.9 of 5 stars 3.90 avg rating — 109,210 ratings
58 Freakonomics: A Rogue Econo...
by
3.83 of 5 stars 3.83 avg rating — 275,496 ratings
59 Vampire Academy (Vampire Ac...
by
4.2 of 5 stars 4.20 avg rating — 163,178 ratings
60 The Memory Keeper's Daughter
by
3.56 of 5 stars 3.56 avg rating — 343,200 ratings
61 The Name of the Wind (The K...
by
4.56 of 5 stars 4.56 avg rating — 110,473 ratings
62 Eragon (Inheritance, #1)
by
3.73 of 5 stars 3.73 avg rating — 497,600 ratings
63 The Graveyard Book
by
4.09 of 5 stars 4.09 avg rating — 132,102 ratings
64 Cloud Atlas
by
4.06 of 5 stars 4.06 avg rating — 71,785 ratings
65 Coraline
by
3.95 of 5 stars 3.95 avg rating — 142,154 ratings
66 The Brief Wondrous Life of ...
by
3.82 of 5 stars 3.82 avg rating — 93,726 ratings
67 A Heartbreaking Work of Sta...
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3.63 of 5 stars 3.63 avg rating — 101,355 ratings
68 The Corrections
by
3.72 of 5 stars 3.72 avg rating — 70,481 ratings
69 Running with Scissors
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3.6 of 5 stars 3.60 avg rating — 175,770 ratings
70 The History of Love
by
3.87 of 5 stars 3.87 avg rating — 61,456 ratings
71 No Country for Old Men
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4.07 of 5 stars 4.07 avg rating — 55,596 ratings
72 Persepolis: The Story of a ...
by
4.2 of 5 stars 4.20 avg rating — 77,671 ratings
73 The Omnivore's Dilemma: A N...
by
4.17 of 5 stars 4.17 avg rating — 86,151 ratings
74 Kafka on the Shore
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4.09 of 5 stars 4.09 avg rating — 74,162 ratings
75 Oryx and Crake (MaddAddam T...
by
3.96 of 5 stars 3.96 avg rating — 64,501 ratings
76 The Girl Who Kicked the Hor...
by
4.14 of 5 stars 4.14 avg rating — 269,147 ratings
77 The Shack: Where Tragedy Co...
by
3.61 of 5 stars 3.61 avg rating — 205,501 ratings
78 World Without End (The Pill...
by
4.17 of 5 stars 4.17 avg rating — 70,342 ratings
79 The Blind Assassin
by
3.9 of 5 stars 3.90 avg rating — 61,861 ratings
80 The Amber Spyglass (His Dar...
by
4.01 of 5 stars 4.01 avg rating — 113,556 ratings
81 Seabiscuit: An American Legend
by
4.12 of 5 stars 4.12 avg rating — 49,743 ratings
82 The Pact
by
3.94 of 5 stars 3.94 avg rating — 131,546 ratings
83 The Art of Racing in the Rain
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4.13 of 5 stars 4.13 avg rating — 161,005 ratings
84 A Great and Terrible Beauty...
by
3.77 of 5 stars 3.77 avg rating — 108,087 ratings
85 Empire Falls
by
3.85 of 5 stars 3.85 avg rating — 53,940 ratings
86 The Story of Edgar Sawtelle
by
3.55 of 5 stars 3.55 avg rating — 53,965 ratings
87 House of Leaves
by
4.15 of 5 stars 4.15 avg rating — 39,337 ratings
88 Shantaram
by
4.22 of 5 stars 4.22 avg rating — 42,114 ratings
89 Outlander (Outlander, #1)
by
4.09 of 5 stars 4.09 avg rating — 201,991 ratings
90 Blink: The Power of Thinkin...
by
3.8 of 5 stars 3.80 avg rating — 146,832 ratings
91 Fast Food Nation: The Dark ...
by
3.69 of 5 stars 3.69 avg rating — 147,827 ratings
92 What Is the What
by
4.15 of 5 stars 4.15 avg rating — 41,002 ratings
93 White Teeth
by
3.68 of 5 stars 3.68 avg rating — 49,724 ratings
94 A Storm of Swords (A Song o...
by
4.51 of 5 stars 4.51 avg rating — 192,328 ratings
95 Daughter of Fortune
by
3.83 of 5 stars 3.83 avg rating — 55,628 ratings
96 John Adams
by
4.2 of 5 stars 4.20 avg rating — 71,659 ratings
97 The Audacity of Hope: Thoug...
by
3.68 of 5 stars 3.68 avg rating — 54,379 ratings
98 Anansi Boys
by
3.95 of 5 stars 3.95 avg rating — 84,701 ratings
99 Year of Wonders
by
3.97 of 5 stars 3.97 avg rating — 57,866 ratings
100 Peace Like a River
by
3.94 of 5 stars 3.94 avg rating — 36,972 ratings
4,088 books · 20,059 voters · list created May 29th, 2008 by deleted user.
 · 
Lists are re-scored approximately every 500 seconds.


Jessica
Jessica
1812 books
91 friends
Michelle
Michelle
139 books
18 friends
Lindsay
Lindsay
262 books
15 friends
Jordan
Jordan
779 books
52 friends
Brandy
Brandy
981 books
31 friends
Donna
Donna
282 books
8 friends
Ashley
Ashley
699 books
26 friends
Brooke
Brooke
222 books
19 friends

More voters…


Comments (showing 1-50 of 123) (123 new)


message 1: by elissa (new)

elissa I think some of the best books of the decade have been published for children and teens, but this isn't bad in terms of books for adults.


message 2: by Alana (new)

Alana All four of my favorite books are on here. Well chosen!


message 3: by Mary Beth (new)

Mary Beth I wanted to vote for a few of these books, but unfortunately weren't actually published after 2000.


message 4: by [deleted user] (new)

#1 - love it so much!


message 5: by Maria M. (new)

Maria M. Elmvang Removed "House of the Spirits" and "Matilda" from the list as they were definitely not published in the 2000s (not originally anyway). If you see any others that are wrongly categorised (don't have time to go through them all) please don't hesitate to send me a comment and let me know.


message 6: by Moon (new)

Moon How can Beedle the Bard be on here when it's not been published yet?


message 7: by Jason (new)

Jason the books i picked are the only ones i read.


message 8: by Sarah-Louise (new)

Sarah-Louise Love the list but Bridget Jones' Diary was published in 96 according to the info on here.


message 9: by Dan (new)

Dan I didn't vote for any book that I haven't read.


message 10: by Momo (new)

Momo Do you want the book to be made into a movie? In my view your whole story - the war in Yugoslavia and your experiences in South Africa - are eminently suitable to make a Hollywood movie. In truth the book could have been just about your life in two very difficult countries. The UFO aspect - I, too, was for a while obsessed with wanting contact with UFO's....there are so many 'co-incidences' in what I read in your book...Elizabeth Klarer...I interviewed her twice...similarities aplenty. So dear Momo, just from reading your book I can see why Dr Johan Joubert - he incidentally extracted my beloved little Pomeranian's teeth! - had nothing but praise for you. I feel as though you and I and he know each other - or knew each other in a previous life. All the subjects that interest you, that preoccupy you, are the subjects that fascinate me too. I salute you for writing a book in a language that isn't even your own! Warm regards God bless Jani Juliett Allan --Radio presentor

Hello! I heard you speak on radio this evening and was surprised and pleased to hear someone speak such intelligent, civilised good sense. It was very uplifting and inspiring Whatever you have learned from Other World intelligences, you are bound by conscience and humanity to share it with all who will listen When I was young, I knew an elderly man in California who regularly disappeared from his home and returned days later with "communication" from Other Worlds via ET flying craft. I am sure he was one of the wisest people I've ever met Unfortunately he had developed a taste for the music of Other Worlds and would attempt to reproduce it on various instruments. It was the worst music I have ever heard! I would be interested to know more about the UFOs you spoke of With best wishes Dr Ian Bell "It's never too late to have a happy childhood" (Me, 1996) --Email regarding the author's radio talk show

Hi Carol Thanks for organising the evening. The experience of listening to Momo and then talking to him afterwards when he autographed our book was profound.His message transcended words as the gentleness of his nature has a subtle effect on the senses and one realises that there is a deeper message, in that, through simplicity, love and acceptance of life, we all have the ability to communicate from our realm to other realms. If we can accept that divinity exists within each and every one of us, and that loving gestures reflect the true purpose of our being, all obstacles can be overcome without the pain and suffering to which we constantly expose ourselves. I would like to communicate further with Momo and would appreciate if you could you let me have his e-mail address Regards Issy Lichtenstein --The letter regarding the author's talk show




message 11: by Emily (new)

Emily deleted memoirs of a geisha since it was written in the '90s, you can vote on it on that list!


message 12: by Mari Anne (new)

Mari Anne The Red Tent was also written in the 90's.


message 13: by Mari Anne (new)

Mari Anne Emily are you vettting the list? I found several more that were first published before 2000..

Into Thin Air
White Oleandar
No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency

Love two out of the three but won't vote for them since they don't fit the criteria as stated. Was that geeky enough?


message 14: by Emily (new)

Emily Thanks. Have deleted those.


message 15: by Amy (new)

Amy I removed some books that were not initially published from 2000-2009:
Alias Grace
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood



message 16: by Amy (last edited Jan 05, 2009 08:02pm) (new)

Amy Also deleted
The Alchemist
Originally published in 1988
Plainsong
Originally published in 1999

Bridget Jones's Diary
Originally published in 1996


message 17: by Eunice (last edited Jan 08, 2009 02:37pm) (new)

Eunice just a few more that were originally published in the 90's or earlier.

Jeanette Winterson's Written on the Body (1992)
Katherine Dunn's Geek Love: A Novel (1989)
Jose Saramago's Blindness (1995)
Jhumpa Lahiri's Interpreter of Maladies (1999)

i actually voted for the Interpreter of Maladies and then realized that it might have not been published 2000 or later.

thank you


message 18: by Logophile (new)

Logophile I'd like to have voted for The Cave by José Saramago, but I'm told it isn't a book of this decade? It was originally published in 2000, and I believe the English translation is copyright 2002.


message 19: by Lindsey (new)

Lindsey i Love this book


message 20: by Aileen (new)

Aileen
Book Review: Nesohc a new version of Jesus

Few books pack superb insightfulness, precise scientific research, wonderful human characterization, verifiable scientific explanations, unsurpassed argumentative dialogue, outstanding innovative views on the life and works of the most influential man in history "Jesus Christ". If you add a mind boggling plot to top it off, you may get a nanometric idea of the reach and wonder of this masterpiece. The book is a marvelous novel with a new twist on the origin, birth, life, miracles, teachings, death and resurrection of Jesus. The novel is very well researched and the plot unfolds in an enjoyable and easy to follow manner which glues you to the book from beginning to end. The protagonists, (Jesus and the disciples), are depicted in a fresh, realistic, humorous and earthly manner befitting of their true nature. The plot, although a personal interpretation of the life of Jesus, is so plausible that it is difficult throw it in the “science fiction” bag. The author presents reasonable alternatives as to the origin of life on earth; the development, nature, and ultimate destination of the human soul; a feasible method for travelling in space, infinitely faster than the speed of light; and many other wonderfully creative insights which provide much fuel for thought.
Although the primary purpose of the book is that of entertainment, the very nature of its content is bound to produce a great deal of introspection in those with an open mind. The author advocates no theories, but merely presents a script which differs from traditional orthodox views. He makes no claim as to the validity of the script, but merely spills a glass which is soaked by the creative and imaginative minds of the readers I highly recommend this book to all audiences. Its fast and easy to follow style will provide many hours of enjoyable and thoughtful entertainment for readers all ages. Its deep philosophical implications make it a worthy mental exercise for analytical individuals interested in philosophy, metaphysics, religion, psychology, and ethics.
Overall, this is a very enjoyable, entertaining, and easy to follow book which provides a banquet for thought.



message 21: by João (new)

João The Time Traveler's Wife... Honestly?


message 22: by Jillybean (new)

Jillybean Amy wrote: "I removed some books that were not initially published from 2000-2009:
Alias Grace
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood
"


if you give a mouse a cookie was my favorite book in kindergarden, 22 years ago! i love the newer ones with the pig and the moose. they've proved timeless with kids i work with :)




message 23: by Hunter (new)

Hunter Didriksen WOW a lot of you people posted a HUGE message!!!!!!!!!!!!



message 24: by Booklover (new)

Booklover I love this book! It is very sad, really, but with a good ending. I hate that the mother favored her sister so much and then Priscilla had to deal with that even during the depression when they had no place to live, really.


message 25: by Emma (new)

Emma I love Anansi Boys, and I'm really glad to see it on this list.


message 26: by Ikra (last edited Jul 27, 2009 05:16am) (new)

Ikra Amesta i guess 3 of the top 5 from this list are highly overrated books.


message 27: by Janna (new)

Janna Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban was published in 1999.


message 28: by Killthepopular (new)

Killthepopular IkraAmesta wrote: "i guess 3 of the top 5 from this list are highly overrated books."

Twilight and harry potter aren't overrated, its just that they largely appeal to young people in the same way that the Time travellers wife largely appeals to idiots.


message 29: by Angryy0uth (new)

Angryy0uth 28: Twilight and harry potter aren't overrated, its just that they largely appeal to young people in the same way that the Time travellers wife largely appeals to idiots.
hahahaha
but seriously... TTTW at no 1? and the popularity of the twilight series really makes me wonder if this website is populated by women between the ages of 15-35....


message 30: by Jenni (new)

Jenni Angryy0uth wrote: "28: Twilight and harry potter aren't overrated, its just that they largely appeal to young people in the same way that the Time travellers wife largely appeals to idiots.
hahahaha
but seriously... ..."


It makes me sick how much people think Twilight should be called "literature."


message 31: by Alexandra (new)

Alexandra Dawes I expected to see more good read titles ie The Safe house, Nicci French.December, Elizabeth Windthrop.The Reader,Bernard Schlink. Arthur &George, Julian Barnes. These are only a selection of my 2009 good reads.


message 32: by Mr. Addas (new)

Mr. Addas Ray Wow, what a complex and complete list!


message 33: by Alexandra (new)

Alexandra Dawes Have just finished reading Guernica by Dave Boling. Not on this list yet.
An epic read; but I wouldn't compare it with "The English Patient"
It prompted me to take a better look at and appreciate Picasso's Guernica.


message 34: by Susi (new)

Susi Ayers great list but there are many more great ones not listed.



message 35: by Jamie (new)

Jamie There's alot, but there's not much...


message 36: by Maya (new)

Maya Panika The Time Traveler's Wife? Seriously?! I have no faith in this list!


message 37: by Susanna (new)

Susanna I'm just astonished Twilight is only fourth.


message 38: by Maya (new)

Maya Panika Susanna wrote: "I'm just astonished Twilight is only fourth."

heh heh heh!
(You are evil).


message 39: by Julia (new)

Julia Kudos! Some of my favorites are on here...but some are misplaced.


message 40: by Susanna (new)

Susanna porno for marx wrote: "bastard out of carolina is from the early frigging nineties"

And it has the correct original publication date. I suspect it was added when it had an incorrect one. Frankly, I'm too tired right now to delete it.


message 41: by Sandy (new)

Sandy elissa wrote: "I think some of the best books of the decade have been published for children and teens, but this isn't bad in terms of books for adults."

Great idea to make a list of children's and teens books... I love books in that genre and would love to see a list!



Jennifer (aka EM) Amy wrote: "I removed some books that were not initially published from 2000-2009:
Alias Grace
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood
"


Thanks for keeping the list up, Amy. Ann-Marie MacDonald's Fall On Your Knees was also originally published in 1996.

Great list.



message 43: by Susanna (new)

Susanna Removed:

Fall on Your Knees, by Ann-Marie MacDonald.


Jennifer (aka EM) Thank you, Susanna!


message 45: by Sheelagh (new)

Sheelagh Mari Anne wrote: "The Red Tent was also written in the 90's."I loved the Rec TEnt Great book




message 46: by Elena (new)

Elena Loved The Red Tent! TTTW was wonderful



message 47: by Barbara (new)

Barbara Kirby Ditto. A wonderfully imaginative picture of how women in Biblical times lived and felt.


message 48: by Libby (new)

Libby James Baldwin, "Giovanni's Room" was published in the 1950's or 1960's. "The Life and Times of Michael K" was written in the 1980's or 1990's.


message 49: by Susanna (new)

Susanna If you'll tell me which pages the books in question are on, I'll be happy to remove them.

(Giovanni's Room is 1940, and Michael K won the Booker in 1983.)


message 50: by Sarah (new)

Sarah Twilight? Jodi Picoult? These are some of the books that qualify as the best of the decade? Thanks but no thanks.


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