Best Books of the 20th Century (4656 books)

Best Books of the 20th Century

The best books published during the 20th century (January 1st, 1900 through December 31st 1999)

101	The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom 4.42 of 5 stars 4.42 avg rating — 82,937 ratings score: 32,307, and 362 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
102	Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes 3.92 of 5 stars 3.92 avg rating — 141,261 ratings score: 31,752, and 374 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
103	The Princess Bride by William Goldman 4.23 of 5 stars 4.23 avg rating — 326,204 ratings score: 31,297, and 362 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
104	Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein 4.22 of 5 stars 4.22 avg rating — 661,133 ratings score: 30,571, and 368 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
105	The Godfather by Mario Puzo 4.31 of 5 stars 4.31 avg rating — 104,059 ratings score: 30,174, and 353 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
106	Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk 4.17 of 5 stars 4.17 avg rating — 171,874 ratings score: 29,521, and 340 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
107	Winnie-the-Pooh by A.A. Milne 4.32 of 5 stars 4.32 avg rating — 105,048 ratings score: 29,253, and 362 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
108	The Call of the Wild by Jack London 3.72 of 5 stars 3.72 avg rating — 110,906 ratings score: 28,646, and 347 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
109	The Trial by Franz Kafka 3.98 of 5 stars 3.98 avg rating — 65,009 ratings score: 27,431, and 321 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
110	Blood Meridian, or the Evening Redness in the West by Cormac McCarthy 4.21 of 5 stars 4.21 avg rating — 33,915 ratings score: 27,420, and 292 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
111	The Golden Compass (His Dark Materials, #1) by Philip Pullman 3.87 of 5 stars 3.87 avg rating — 491,644 ratings score: 26,701, and 313 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
112	Watchmen by Alan Moore 4.31 of 5 stars 4.31 avg rating — 194,439 ratings score: 26,485, and 303 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
113	A Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire, #1) by George R.R. Martin 4.43 of 5 stars 4.43 avg rating — 417,408 ratings score: 26,208, and 295 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
114	And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie 4.17 of 5 stars 4.17 avg rating — 134,094 ratings score: 25,889, and 304 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
115	Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf 3.76 of 5 stars 3.76 avg rating — 74,355 ratings score: 25,659, and 297 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
116	Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Süskind 3.94 of 5 stars 3.94 avg rating — 87,159 ratings score: 25,646, and 292 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
117	The Crucible by Arthur Miller 3.48 of 5 stars 3.48 avg rating — 121,027 ratings score: 25,496, and 310 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
118	The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams 4.27 of 5 stars 4.27 avg rating — 100,977 ratings score: 25,179, and 309 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
119	Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown 4.25 of 5 stars 4.25 avg rating — 131,381 ratings score: 24,339, and 301 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
120	Interview with the Vampire (The Vampire Chronicles, #1) by Anne Rice 3.92 of 5 stars 3.92 avg rating — 240,539 ratings score: 24,148, and 292 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
121	Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe 3.52 of 5 stars 3.52 avg rating — 106,342 ratings score: 24,017, and 281 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
122	Roots: The Saga of an American Family by Alex Haley 4.37 of 5 stars 4.37 avg rating — 59,061 ratings score: 23,957, and 286 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
123	Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson 4.62 of 5 stars 4.62 avg rating — 49,767 ratings score: 23,512, and 277 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
124	The Waste Land by T.S. Eliot 4.09 of 5 stars 4.09 avg rating — 17,026 ratings score: 23,326, and 276 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
125	Steppenwolf by Hermann Hesse 4.05 of 5 stars 4.05 avg rating — 41,135 ratings score: 23,315, and 267 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
126	As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner 3.72 of 5 stars 3.72 avg rating — 53,407 ratings score: 22,706, and 264 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
127	The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran 4.17 of 5 stars 4.17 avg rating — 77,503 ratings score: 22,230, and 270 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
128	Shōgun by James Clavell 4.31 of 5 stars 4.31 avg rating — 55,139 ratings score: 21,076, and 254 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
129	A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry 4.31 of 5 stars 4.31 avg rating — 51,753 ratings score: 20,809, and 228 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
130	Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert A. Heinlein 3.84 of 5 stars 3.84 avg rating — 140,790 ratings score: 20,516, and 247 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
131	The Hobbit & The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien 4.56 of 5 stars 4.56 avg rating — 41,282 ratings score: 20,279, and 239 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
132	The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton 3.93 of 5 stars 3.93 avg rating — 33,230 ratings score: 20,098, and 231 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
133	The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough 4.14 of 5 stars 4.14 avg rating — 126,483 ratings score: 19,835, and 246 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
134	How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss 4.34 of 5 stars 4.34 avg rating — 120,708 ratings score: 19,769, and 254 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
135	Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie 4.09 of 5 stars 4.09 avg rating — 80,617 ratings score: 19,617, and 250 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
136	One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn 3.91 of 5 stars 3.91 avg rating — 36,654 ratings score: 19,542, and 239 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
137	The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky 4.16 of 5 stars 4.16 avg rating — 270,308 ratings score: 19,494, and 214 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
138	Tender Is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald 3.84 of 5 stars 3.84 avg rating — 41,550 ratings score: 18,752, and 222 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
139	The Plague by Albert Camus 3.94 of 5 stars 3.94 avg rating — 52,810 ratings score: 18,441, and 231 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
140	Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie 4.02 of 5 stars 4.02 avg rating — 43,944 ratings score: 18,434, and 211 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
141	Dubliners by James Joyce 3.86 of 5 stars 3.86 avg rating — 43,818 ratings score: 18,372, and 225 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
142	The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis 4.16 of 5 stars 4.16 avg rating — 108,515 ratings score: 18,241, and 222 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
143	The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami 4.19 of 5 stars 4.19 avg rating — 72,181 ratings score: 18,072, and 201 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
144	His Dark Materials (His Dark Materials #1-3) by Philip Pullman 4.22 of 5 stars 4.22 avg rating — 59,115 ratings score: 18,063, and 210 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
145	Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut 4.08 of 5 stars 4.08 avg rating — 101,659 ratings score: 17,986, and 215 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
146	The Mists of Avalon (The Mists of Avalon, #1) by Marion Zimmer Bradley 4.09 of 5 stars 4.09 avg rating — 90,284 ratings score: 17,704, and 215 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
147	Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace 4.35 of 5 stars 4.35 avg rating — 23,453 ratings score: 17,685, and 189 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
148	Outlander (Outlander, #1) by Diana Gabaldon (Goodreads Author) 4.08 of 5 stars 4.08 avg rating — 197,169 ratings score: 17,639, and 202 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
149	The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro 4.08 of 5 stars 4.08 avg rating — 53,782 ratings score: 17,606, and 217 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
150	The Cider House Rules by John Irving (Goodreads Author) 4.03 of 5 stars 4.03 avg rating — 69,485 ratings score: 17,576, and 222 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
151	The Shining by Stephen King 4.0 of 5 stars 4.00 avg rating — 382,232 ratings score: 17,531, and 221 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
152	Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri 4.08 of 5 stars 4.08 avg rating — 69,144 ratings score: 17,117, and 192 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
153	The Once and Future King (The Once and Future King, #1-4) by T.H. White 4.04 of 5 stars 4.04 avg rating — 49,622 ratings score: 16,813, and 213 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
154	I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou 4.06 of 5 stars 4.06 avg rating — 113,469 ratings score: 16,739, and 212 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
155	Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch by Terry Pratchett 4.27 of 5 stars 4.27 avg rating — 145,846 ratings score: 16,708, and 189 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
156	Of Human Bondage by W. Somerset Maugham 4.05 of 5 stars 4.05 avg rating — 19,941 ratings score: 16,548, and 205 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
157	The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy 3.86 of 5 stars 3.86 avg rating — 90,447 ratings score: 16,349, and 194 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
158	Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl 4.31 of 5 stars 4.31 avg rating — 58,040 ratings score: 16,286, and 193 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
159	My Ántonia by Willa Cather 3.7 of 5 stars 3.70 avg rating — 58,366 ratings score: 16,011, and 196 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
160	A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams 3.95 of 5 stars 3.95 avg rating — 97,693 ratings score: 15,979, and 209 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
161	The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien 3.74 of 5 stars 3.74 avg rating — 77,072 ratings score: 15,705, and 184 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
162	The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X 4.25 of 5 stars 4.25 avg rating — 53,738 ratings score: 15,662, and 193 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
163	Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies by Jared Diamond 3.98 of 5 stars 3.98 avg rating — 93,586 ratings score: 15,645, and 185 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
164	The Alienist (Dr. Laszlo Kreizler, #1) by Caleb Carr 4.01 of 5 stars 4.01 avg rating — 53,584 ratings score: 15,420, and 180 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
165	Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak 3.98 of 5 stars 3.98 avg rating — 31,056 ratings score: 15,416, and 203 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
166	Possession by A.S. Byatt 3.84 of 5 stars 3.84 avg rating — 34,215 ratings score: 15,382, and 180 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
167	Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick 4.03 of 5 stars 4.03 avg rating — 97,341 ratings score: 15,300, and 190 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
168	A Separate Peace by John Knowles 3.52 of 5 stars 3.52 avg rating — 88,933 ratings score: 15,220, and 191 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
169	If on a Winter's Night a Traveler by Italo Calvino 4.1 of 5 stars 4.10 avg rating — 25,310 ratings score: 15,207, and 171 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
170	Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller 3.41 of 5 stars 3.41 avg rating — 76,297 ratings score: 15,186, and 204 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
171	The Jungle by Upton Sinclair 3.66 of 5 stars 3.66 avg rating — 54,935 ratings score: 15,157, and 202 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
172	Gravity's Rainbow by Thomas Pynchon 4.03 of 5 stars 4.03 avg rating — 14,771 ratings score: 15,149, and 168 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
173	The Clan of the Cave Bear (Earth's Children, #1) by Jean M. Auel 3.94 of 5 stars 3.94 avg rating — 103,499 ratings score: 15,125, and 189 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
174	The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon 4.16 of 5 stars 4.16 avg rating — 89,554 ratings score: 14,880, and 172 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
175	Disgrace by J.M. Coetzee 3.8 of 5 stars 3.80 avg rating — 30,141 ratings score: 14,795, and 166 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
176	The Secret History by Donna Tartt 4.03 of 5 stars 4.03 avg rating — 54,261 ratings score: 14,781, and 172 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
177	I Know This Much Is True by Wally Lamb 4.12 of 5 stars 4.12 avg rating — 137,009 ratings score: 14,727, and 175 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
178	Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt 3.83 of 5 stars 3.83 avg rating — 88,775 ratings score: 14,684, and 195 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
179	Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel 3.89 of 5 stars 3.89 avg rating — 187,735 ratings score: 14,589, and 187 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
180	The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury 4.06 of 5 stars 4.06 avg rating — 68,337 ratings score: 14,492, and 188 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
181	The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers 3.9 of 5 stars 3.90 avg rating — 37,664 ratings score: 14,415, and 182 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
182	Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry Into Values by Robert M. Pirsig 3.69 of 5 stars 3.69 avg rating — 75,253 ratings score: 14,234, and 178 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
183	The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje 3.84 of 5 stars 3.84 avg rating — 49,887 ratings score: 14,203, and 182 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
184	Neuromancer (Sprawl, #1) by William Gibson 3.78 of 5 stars 3.78 avg rating — 113,984 ratings score: 14,167, and 167 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
185	Swann's Way (In Search of Lost Time, #1) by Marcel Proust 4.13 of 5 stars 4.13 avg rating — 13,105 ratings score: 14,077, and 164 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
186	Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (The Wicked Years, #1) by Gregory Maguire 3.44 of 5 stars 3.44 avg rating — 308,753 ratings score: 13,979, and 168 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
187	The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende (Goodreads Author) 4.14 of 5 stars 4.14 avg rating — 73,846 ratings score: 13,905, and 177 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
188	Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach 3.7 of 5 stars 3.70 avg rating — 73,006 ratings score: 13,882, and 182 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
189	Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom (Goodreads Author) 3.95 of 5 stars 3.95 avg rating — 261,971 ratings score: 13,651, and 170 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
190	Matilda by Roald Dahl 4.22 of 5 stars 4.22 avg rating — 195,829 ratings score: 13,511, and 167 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
191	Angels & Demons (Robert Langdon, #1) by Dan Brown 3.75 of 5 stars 3.75 avg rating — 820,600 ratings score: 13,506, and 171 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
192	The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton 3.91 of 5 stars 3.91 avg rating — 54,295 ratings score: 13,378, and 168 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
193	The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame 3.92 of 5 stars 3.92 avg rating — 62,820 ratings score: 13,338, and 175 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
194	House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski (Goodreads Author) 4.14 of 5 stars 4.14 avg rating — 38,495 ratings score: 13,131, and 145 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
195	A Room of One's Own by Virginia Woolf 4.0 of 5 stars 4.00 avg rating — 30,439 ratings score: 13,029, and 164 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
196	A Room with a View by E.M. Forster 3.91 of 5 stars 3.91 avg rating — 62,667 ratings score: 13,020, and 171 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
197	Cannery Row by John Steinbeck 3.96 of 5 stars 3.96 avg rating — 42,274 ratings score: 13,011, and 173 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
198	James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl 3.95 of 5 stars 3.95 avg rating — 150,427 ratings score: 13,002, and 168 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
199	A People's History of the United States: 1492 to Present by Howard Zinn 4.17 of 5 stars 4.17 avg rating — 51,409 ratings score: 12,989, and 154 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
200	Native Son by Richard Wright 3.88 of 5 stars 3.88 avg rating — 35,997 ratings score: 12,539, and 157 people voted	Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

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4,656 books · 31,438 voters · list created May 29th, 2008 by deleted user.

Tags: 20th-century, best, fiction, non-fiction

1248 likes · like

Lists are re-scored approximately every 500 seconds.

People Who Voted On This List (31438)

The Crimson Fucker
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3645 books
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Ruth
2238 books
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Sherry
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Maria M.
2404 books
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Comments (showing 1-50 of 326) (326 new)

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message 1: by Gary (new)

Jun 14, 2008 08:30pm

Jane Austen? Oscar Wilde? Louisa May Alcott? Charles Dickens? William Shakespeare? Alexandre Dumas? Bram Stoker's Dracula?

None of those are 20th century.

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message 2: by Laura (new)

Jun 17, 2008 02:49pm

Uh, yeah, what Gary said. Hello?

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message 3: by Dottie (last edited Jun 20, 2008 08:13pm) (new)

Jun 20, 2008 08:07pm

Picture of Dorian Gray first published 1891 doesn't belong in 20th century books. 19th century

Oops -- you guys already caught these. Another one -- Bronte.

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message 4: by Mark (last edited Feb 25, 2009 03:38am) (new)

Jun 23, 2008 06:32pm

Similarly, Three Cups of Tea was published in 2006... is there an easy way to delete these? Or should this list take a Braudelian view of the "long 20th century"? ;)

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message 5: by Marion (new)

Jun 24, 2008 04:04am

Some of those definitely aren't 20th century

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message 6: by Ashley (new)

Jun 24, 2008 08:31am

There are a lot of those 19th century books, but now there are also many that are 21st century as well i.e. The Host and the most recent Harry Potter books. Is there any way to delete them?

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message 7: by Snorkle (new)

Jun 25, 2008 08:38am

I was getting all annoyed because they had a couple books that were published after 2000, but then I realized that I had just voted for Pride and Prejudice....I wish that there was a way to delete books that didn't fit the critieria...or maybe if the list was programmed to automatically check the publication date and tell you whether or not you could add it to the list...

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message 8: by Wifey (last edited Jun 25, 2008 08:48am) (new)

Jun 25, 2008 08:46am

Why isn't Celine or Saint Exupéry or Borges on this list? I call bullshit. Or i don't know... Vonnegut?

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message 9: by Kelly (new)

Jun 25, 2008 10:49am

Um, people? Jane Austen novels and/or Jane Eyre are in NO WAY 20th century novels, whatever thousandth reprinting that they're on right now that happens to have taken place in that century.

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message 10: by bryan (new)

Jun 25, 2008 11:09am

It's called the "best books" of the 20th century, so why does everyone seem to be restricting themselves to novels?

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message 11: by jessica juniper (new)

Jun 25, 2008 12:39pm

There are several books on here that are not from the 20th Century...Jane Austen, The Brontes, and Joyce plus many more...can someone fix this please!

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message 12: by Bebe (new)

Jun 25, 2008 09:09pm

Um, Pride and Prejudice and Jane Eyre are not 20th c reads. Come on guys!

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message 13: by [deleted user] (new)

Jun 26, 2008 04:00am

Dracula was written on 1897, not in 20th century for sure.

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message 14: by Lisa/Bluestem (new)

Jun 26, 2008 08:47am

Could we move Time Traveler's Wife to the 21st Century list?

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message 15: by bup (new)

Jun 27, 2008 11:37am

THE KING JAMES BIBLE!?

THE BOOK OF MORMON!?

And it's amazing how many votes Pride and Prejudice has gotten - 30!

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message 16: by Lexi (last edited Feb 25, 2009 02:51am) (new)

Jun 28, 2008 12:09pm

Several books not written in the 20th century:

Twilight, New Moon, and Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (I think)

Don't get me wrong, these are all great books but they don't belong on this list! Please check dates (or at least use common sense) before adding books to a date-specific list!

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message 17: by Matthew (new)

Jun 28, 2008 10:52pm

you couldn't be more right, throw in Kafka, as well. then the non-20th century books, along with the pop fiction books on the list?

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message 18: by Megan (new)

Jun 30, 2008 10:22pm

Vonnegut should definetly be on this list.

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message 19: by Laura (new)

Jul 01, 2008 07:37am

If you think so, why not add Vonnegut to the list? Seems simpler than complaining about it.

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message 20: by Stacy (new)

Jul 01, 2008 09:06am

The 20th century seems to have lasted for more than two hundred years. I have to agree with the poster who commented on the lack of nonfiction. What about Backlash by Susan Faludi? Something by John Krakauer or David Sedaris?

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message 21: by Laura (new)

Jul 01, 2008 09:27am

Guys. You are aware that you can, you know, add any book you want to this list, right? If you think something belongs on the list yet is not there, ADD IT YOURSELF.

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message 22: by Todd (new)

Jul 04, 2008 11:17am

This list appears to be restricting books based on the "published" date for some random (default?) edition, rather than the often-available "first published" date. This would explain why Pride & Prejudice (1813) can make the list, but it doesn't want me to add To the Lighthouse (1927).

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message 23: by Sarah (new)

Jul 12, 2008 09:18pm

Gah!! The books on this list that were not written in the 20th century are hurting my OCD. Is there any way to edit? To remove books from the list that others have added?

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message 24: by Mommy (new)

Jul 17, 2008 10:11am

where is THE WORLD ACCORDING TO GARP by John Irving?

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message 25: by Ashley (new)

Jul 18, 2008 09:06am

It's there (page 2), but if there's anything you think should be on any list, add it yourself.

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message 26: by Kenneth (new)

Jul 29, 2008 10:45am

oh boy some real chestnuts. C'mon Where's your Henry Miller. He is only the greatest American author of that century. and seriously, what's up with the book of Mormon?

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message 27: by Nathanimal (new)

Jul 29, 2008 10:48am

The Book of Mormon? #4? Really guys?

It's not even very well written! Despite being published in 1830 (and written, allegedly, mosty in the B.C.E)

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message 28: by Sunil (last edited Jul 29, 2008 11:11am) (new)

Jul 29, 2008 11:09am

Hmmm,,,, No Bellow in first hundred. And you have Harry Potter.Shame.

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message 29: by Matt (new)

Jul 29, 2008 11:10am

Ok, this is nuts. There are 19th century books appearing here, and there are 20th century books I can't add because there isn't a 20th century edition in the database.

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message 30: by Alex (last edited Jul 29, 2008 11:55am) (new)

Jul 29, 2008 11:14am

Though it's a disputed point, the Book of Mormon was written sometime between 2,000 B.C. and 1830 A.D. As beloved and influential as it may be, one thing it isn't is a book of the 20th Century. Putting it on this list just makes you look dumb.

Also: Holy Bible.

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message 31: by Matt (new)

Jul 29, 2008 11:16am

And another thing, the Lord of the Ring's score is getting killed by the fact that two different versions of the book (as a single epic, and as a trilogy) are appearing on the list.

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message 32: by Donitello (new)

Jul 29, 2008 04:19pm

I presume we're supposed to vote ONLY for the book that we think should occupy #1 spot?

That'll be easy, of course -- it's The Book of Mormon. (JOKING!!!!)

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message 33: by Emily (new)

Jul 29, 2008 04:36pm

I cannot believe Sometimes A Great Notion, Ken Kesey, is not in the top 100. I didnt even see it in the top 200.

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message 34: by Giovany (last edited Jul 29, 2008 08:44pm) (new)

Jul 29, 2008 08:43pm

apoyen a Proust!!!!!!
lets stand for proust!!!!
aller Marcel, il est fantastique

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message 35: by Layce (new)

Jul 30, 2008 10:17am

An interesting assortment of books. One I could refer to for future reference.

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message 36: by Jane (new)

Jul 30, 2008 01:26pm

Henry James is missing, sorely. Too much JK Rowling and CS Lewis.

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message 37: by Roxanne (new)

Jul 30, 2008 04:00pm

The Tin Drum must be among the top 100...BB

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message 38: by Michael (new)

Jul 30, 2008 05:09pm

It speaks to my heart and soul. It reaffirms that good can win out over evils. I have read it over 120 times since Thanksgiving, 1970.
And people... please remember, it is actually one book, not three, an a trilogy; that aspect was a business/publishing choice not a creative (the author's) choice.

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message 39: by David (last edited Jul 30, 2008 06:17pm) (new)

Jul 30, 2008 05:29pm

Sometimes a Great Notion is a Masterpiece.

The Harry Potter books are entertaining enough, but hardly in the same league.

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message 40: by David (new)

Jul 30, 2008 06:15pm

That's what I get for being a bookworm, I guess. Zero friends! Maybe I should wash more often.

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message 41: by Paula (new)

Jul 30, 2008 08:18pm

I'm not really thrilled that the Harry Potter books made this list....they really don't belong here !

What about : The Red Tent by Diamont ??

: The Celestine Prophies ??

: The Kite Runner ??

: A Thousand Splendid Suns ??

?????????????????????

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message 42: by Rebecca (new)

Jul 31, 2008 11:18am

Seems like the Lord of the Rings series shouldn't be listed as a separate option with each of the 3 books also on the list.

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message 43: by Lisa (new)

Aug 04, 2008 06:14pm

Did I miss something? I didn't see Le Miserables on the list???

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message 44: by Ashley (new)

Aug 05, 2008 06:25pm

If something isn't on the list anywhere that you think should be, add it. That's the point.

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message 45: by Gary (new)

Aug 11, 2008 09:36am

_Les misérables_ was published in the 19th Century.

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message 46: by Laura (new)

Aug 11, 2008 12:17pm

Les Miserables was on the list, and was removed for the reason Gary states. If it's put back on, it will be removed again.

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message 47: by Elizabeth (new)

Aug 17, 2008 02:22am

I saw so many of my all time favorites! Mists of Avelon, Rebecca, Diary of Anne Frank, James and the Giant Peach even The Witching Hour! WOW! I guess as much as I read I consider something really great if after a couple of years and thousands of books later I still remember it then its pretty good.

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message 48: by Marcus (new)

Aug 20, 2008 12:19pm

Did I miss Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated Culture?

Pretty big book of the 90's...it, ya know, coined the name ofr an entire generation...

There's a lot of books on this list, I could have missed it.

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message 49: by Cindy (new)

Sep 01, 2008 11:44am

The Harry Potter books enticed countless numbers of kids, who would never normally pick up a book when they could be playing a video game, to read. In my opinion, any book or series of books, that can do this deserves to be this list.

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message 50: by [deleted user] (last edited Sep 06, 2008 12:57pm) (new)

Sep 06, 2008 12:56pm

Paula, it's the 21st century. The Kite Runner and it's sequel were released in THIS century, not eight years ago. I AM annoyed by The Pillars of the Earth, though.

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