Best Books of the Decade: 2000s
The best books published during the 2000s decade (2000 - 2009).
101 Sarah's Key
by
4.08 of 5 stars 4.08 avg rating — 170,991 ratings
102 Under the Banner of Heaven:...
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3.94 of 5 stars 3.94 avg rating — 68,452 ratings
103 Cutting for Stone
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4.24 of 5 stars 4.24 avg rating — 128,165 ratings
104 Suite Française
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3.75 of 5 stars 3.75 avg rating — 29,869 ratings
105 Plain Truth
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3.93 of 5 stars 3.93 avg rating — 81,049 ratings
106 The Penultimate Peril (A Se...
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3.94 of 5 stars 3.94 avg rating — 33,628 ratings
107 The Book of Lost Things
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3.95 of 5 stars 3.95 avg rating — 24,473 ratings
108 Inkheart (Inkworld, #1)
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3.81 of 5 stars 3.81 avg rating — 144,743 ratings
109 Gilead
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3.77 of 5 stars 3.77 avg rating — 26,313 ratings
110 The Sea of Monsters (Percy ...
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4.16 of 5 stars 4.16 avg rating — 171,397 ratings
111 The Last Olympian (Percy Ja...
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4.44 of 5 stars 4.44 avg rating — 183,623 ratings
112 Frostbite (Vampire Academy,...
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4.37 of 5 stars 4.37 avg rating — 109,833 ratings
113 City of Glass (The Mortal I...
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4.37 of 5 stars 4.37 avg rating — 204,537 ratings
114 Lamb: The Gospel According ...
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4.28 of 5 stars 4.28 avg rating — 69,534 ratings
115 World War Z: An Oral Histor...
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4.08 of 5 stars 4.08 avg rating — 111,600 ratings
116 City of Ashes (The Mortal I...
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4.28 of 5 stars 4.28 avg rating — 196,546 ratings
117 The Secret Magdalene
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4.15 of 5 stars 4.15 avg rating — 1,602 ratings
118 Shadow Kiss (Vampire Academ...
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4.44 of 5 stars 4.44 avg rating — 113,666 ratings
119 The Battle of the Labyrinth...
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4.33 of 5 stars 4.33 avg rating — 210,140 ratings
120 Blood Promise (Vampire Acad...
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4.42 of 5 stars 4.42 avg rating — 98,917 ratings
121 Graceling (Graceling Realm,...
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4.12 of 5 stars 4.12 avg rating — 122,259 ratings
122 On Writing
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4.23 of 5 stars 4.23 avg rating — 65,421 ratings
123 Prodigal Summer
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3.92 of 5 stars 3.92 avg rating — 47,483 ratings
124 A Short History of Nearly E...
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4.16 of 5 stars 4.16 avg rating — 81,278 ratings
125 The Known World
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3.78 of 5 stars 3.78 avg rating — 18,126 ratings
126 The Titan's Curse (Percy Ja...
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4.26 of 5 stars 4.26 avg rating — 160,241 ratings
127 Confessions of a Shopaholic...
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3.51 of 5 stars 3.51 avg rating — 309,267 ratings
128 The Lost Symbol (Robert Lan...
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3.54 of 5 stars 3.54 avg rating — 188,573 ratings
129 Midnight Sun (Twilight #1.5)
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4.09 of 5 stars 4.09 avg rating — 103,652 ratings
130 The Yiddish Policemen's Union
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3.65 of 5 stars 3.65 avg rating — 32,163 ratings
131 Mystic River
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4.14 of 5 stars 4.14 avg rating — 38,651 ratings
132 A Million Little Pieces
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3.56 of 5 stars 3.56 avg rating — 118,302 ratings
133 Reading Lolita in Tehran
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3.5 of 5 stars 3.50 avg rating — 64,040 ratings
134 The Invention of Hugo Cabret
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4.21 of 5 stars 4.21 avg rating — 71,098 ratings
135 The Tale of Despereaux
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3.96 of 5 stars 3.96 avg rating — 53,450 ratings
136 The Eyre Affair (Thursday N...
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3.92 of 5 stars 3.92 avg rating — 55,097 ratings
137 The Year of Magical Thinking
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3.79 of 5 stars 3.79 avg rating — 50,596 ratings
138 People of the Book
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3.93 of 5 stars 3.93 avg rating — 54,104 ratings
139 Artemis Fowl (Artemis Fowl,...
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3.77 of 5 stars 3.77 avg rating — 170,869 ratings
140 Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The ...
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3.83 of 5 stars 3.83 avg rating — 47,935 ratings
141 The Elegance of the Hedgehog
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3.67 of 5 stars 3.67 avg rating — 59,363 ratings
142 Naked
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4.06 of 5 stars 4.06 avg rating — 124,349 ratings
143 Marked (House of Night, #1)
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3.79 of 5 stars 3.79 avg rating — 187,334 ratings
144 The White Tiger
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3.67 of 5 stars 3.67 avg rating — 62,192 ratings
145 The City of Ember (Book of ...
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3.82 of 5 stars 3.82 avg rating — 84,957 ratings
146 We Need to Talk About Kevin
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4.02 of 5 stars 4.02 avg rating — 44,120 ratings
147 Marley and Me: Life and Lov...
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4.07 of 5 stars 4.07 avg rating — 169,940 ratings
148 Those Who Save Us
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4.1 of 5 stars 4.10 avg rating — 34,161 ratings
149 Case Histories (Jackson Bro...
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3.77 of 5 stars 3.77 avg rating — 25,937 ratings
150 Shiver (The Wolves of Mercy...
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3.82 of 5 stars 3.82 avg rating — 154,618 ratings
151 The Bonesetter's Daughter
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3.92 of 5 stars 3.92 avg rating — 56,752 ratings
152 Little Bee
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3.63 of 5 stars 3.63 avg rating — 101,466 ratings
153 Special Topics in Calamity ...
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3.69 of 5 stars 3.69 avg rating — 20,452 ratings
154 Fun Home
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4.15 of 5 stars 4.15 avg rating — 26,025 ratings
155 The Tales of Beedle the Bard
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3.87 of 5 stars 3.87 avg rating — 112,535 ratings
156 Hush, Hush (Hush, Hush, #1)
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4.0 of 5 stars 4.00 avg rating — 161,766 ratings
157 Dead Until Dark (Sookie Sta...
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3.96 of 5 stars 3.96 avg rating — 254,392 ratings
158 1776
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4.06 of 5 stars 4.06 avg rating — 51,301 ratings
159 The Gargoyle
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3.94 of 5 stars 3.94 avg rating — 22,059 ratings
160 Stiff: The Curious Lives of...
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4.06 of 5 stars 4.06 avg rating — 56,526 ratings
161 Olive Kitteridge
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3.67 of 5 stars 3.67 avg rating — 49,973 ratings
162 A Dirty Job
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4.09 of 5 stars 4.09 avg rating — 44,845 ratings
163 Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) ...
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3.55 of 5 stars 3.55 avg rating — 124,074 ratings
164 Cane River
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3.99 of 5 stars 3.99 avg rating — 20,694 ratings
165 Moloka'i
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4.11 of 5 stars 4.11 avg rating — 35,598 ratings
166 A Long Way Gone
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4.11 of 5 stars 4.11 avg rating — 52,382 ratings
166 The Crimson Petal and the W...
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3.78 of 5 stars 3.78 avg rating — 15,877 ratings
168 The Fiery Cross (Outlander,...
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4.23 of 5 stars 4.23 avg rating — 46,003 ratings
169 The Tipping Point: How Litt...
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3.78 of 5 stars 3.78 avg rating — 222,218 ratings
170 Persepolis
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4.28 of 5 stars 4.28 avg rating — 29,273 ratings
171 Inkspell (Inkworld, #2)
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3.87 of 5 stars 3.87 avg rating — 43,079 ratings
172 Tithe (Modern Faerie Tales,...
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3.73 of 5 stars 3.73 avg rating — 34,487 ratings
173 The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
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4.03 of 5 stars 4.03 avg rating — 108,826 ratings
174 In the Woods (Dublin Murder...
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3.67 of 5 stars 3.67 avg rating — 66,079 ratings
175 Still Alice
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4.24 of 5 stars 4.24 avg rating — 74,912 ratings
176 Dragonfly in Amber (Outland...
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4.3 of 5 stars 4.30 avg rating — 69,249 ratings
177 Choke
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3.65 of 5 stars 3.65 avg rating — 93,299 ratings
178 Unaccustomed Earth
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4.08 of 5 stars 4.08 avg rating — 39,962 ratings
179 Betrayed (House of Night, #2)
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3.94 of 5 stars 3.94 avg rating — 111,848 ratings
180 Mountains Beyond Mountains:...
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4.2 of 5 stars 4.20 avg rating — 29,027 ratings
181 Just Listen
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4.11 of 5 stars 4.11 avg rating — 88,735 ratings
182 Dark Lover (Black Dagger Br...
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4.24 of 5 stars 4.24 avg rating — 105,581 ratings
183 Saturday
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3.56 of 5 stars 3.56 avg rating — 28,061 ratings
184 The Forgotten Garden
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4.09 of 5 stars 4.09 avg rating — 74,764 ratings
185 Specials (Uglies, #3)
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3.77 of 5 stars 3.77 avg rating — 77,335 ratings
185 Fingersmith
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3.99 of 5 stars 3.99 avg rating — 21,228 ratings
187 Chosen (House of Night, #3)
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3.91 of 5 stars 3.91 avg rating — 92,091 ratings
188 The Savage Detectives
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4.0 of 5 stars 4.00 avg rating — 11,318 ratings
189 The Slippery Slope (A Serie...
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3.92 of 5 stars 3.92 avg rating — 39,258 ratings
190 The Absolutely True Diary o...
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4.14 of 5 stars 4.14 avg rating — 58,381 ratings
191 Untamed (House of Night, #4)
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3.99 of 5 stars 3.99 avg rating — 121,939 ratings
192 The Shock Doctrine: The Ris...
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4.22 of 5 stars 4.22 avg rating — 12,610 ratings
193 Someone Knows My Name
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4.41 of 5 stars 4.41 avg rating — 22,465 ratings
194 Kushiel's Dart (Phèdre's Tr...
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4.09 of 5 stars 4.09 avg rating — 29,186 ratings
195 Three Junes
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3.5 of 5 stars 3.50 avg rating — 22,830 ratings
196 A Breath of Snow and Ashes ...
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4.38 of 5 stars 4.38 avg rating — 40,114 ratings
197 Poison Study (Study, #1)
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4.2 of 5 stars 4.20 avg rating — 45,247 ratings
198 Half of a Yellow Sun
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4.18 of 5 stars 4.18 avg rating — 14,282 ratings
199 P.S. I Love You
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3.94 of 5 stars 3.94 avg rating — 112,297 ratings
200 Good in Bed (Cannie Shapiro...
by
3.61 of 5 stars 3.61 avg rating — 164,255 ratings
4,075 books · 19,758 voters · list created May 29th, 2008 by deleted user.
 · 
Lists are re-scored approximately every 500 seconds.


Jessica
Jessica
1805 books
91 friends
Michelle
Michelle
138 books
18 friends
Lindsay
Lindsay
262 books
15 friends
Jordan
Jordan
773 books
52 friends
Brandy
Brandy
983 books
30 friends
Donna
Donna
281 books
8 friends
Ashley
Ashley
690 books
25 friends
Brooke
Brooke
222 books
19 friends

More voters…


Comments (showing 1-50 of 122) (122 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.


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 05. Januar, 20:02 Uhr) (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 08. Januar, 14:37 Uhr) (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 27. Juli, 05:16 Uhr) (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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