Best Books of the 20th Century (4659 books)

Best Books of the 20th Century

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

201	Native Son by Richard Wright 3.88 of 5 stars 3.88 avg rating — 36,039 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
202	Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh 3.98 of 5 stars 3.98 avg rating — 32,832 ratings score: 12,496, and 153 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
203	Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris 3.91 of 5 stars 3.91 avg rating — 347,136 ratings score: 12,385, and 150 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
204	Anne of Avonlea (Anne of Green Gables, #2) by L.M. Montgomery 4.16 of 5 stars 4.16 avg rating — 51,872 ratings score: 12,240, and 153 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
205	The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster 4.21 of 5 stars 4.21 avg rating — 98,096 ratings score: 11,788, and 142 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
206	The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks (Goodreads Author) 3.96 of 5 stars 3.96 avg rating — 584,345 ratings score: 11,779, and 143 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
207	Absalom, Absalom! by William Faulkner 3.94 of 5 stars 3.94 avg rating — 17,386 ratings score: 11,587, and 138 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
208	Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder 3.79 of 5 stars 3.79 avg rating — 69,088 ratings score: 11,476, and 137 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
209	Revolutionary Road by Richard Yates 3.82 of 5 stars 3.82 avg rating — 35,966 ratings score: 11,475, and 133 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
210	Ficciones by Jorge Luis Borges 4.49 of 5 stars 4.49 avg rating — 14,497 ratings score: 11,442, and 132 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
211	Exodus by Leon Uris 4.28 of 5 stars 4.28 avg rating — 37,139 ratings score: 11,318, and 147 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
212	All the King's Men by Robert Penn Warren 4.05 of 5 stars 4.05 avg rating — 25,777 ratings score: 11,133, and 140 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
213	The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay 4.32 of 5 stars 4.32 avg rating — 30,930 ratings score: 11,086, and 126 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
214	Maus, Vol. 1: My Father Bleeds History by Art Spiegelman 4.35 of 5 stars 4.35 avg rating — 81,509 ratings score: 10,926, and 132 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
215	The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides 3.79 of 5 stars 3.79 avg rating — 88,455 ratings score: 10,803, and 128 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
216	Foucault's Pendulum by Umberto Eco 3.87 of 5 stars 3.87 avg rating — 27,259 ratings score: 10,712, and 129 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
217	The Reader by Bernhard Schlink 3.65 of 5 stars 3.65 avg rating — 79,184 ratings score: 10,637, and 138 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
218	Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson 3.91 of 5 stars 3.91 avg rating — 164,781 ratings score: 10,571, and 135 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
219	The Tin Drum by Günter Grass 3.95 of 5 stars 3.95 avg rating — 15,185 ratings score: 10,551, and 133 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
220	Murder on the Orient Express (Hercule Poirot, #10) by Agatha Christie 4.07 of 5 stars 4.07 avg rating — 66,673 ratings score: 10,548, 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
221	The Hours by Michael Cunningham 3.85 of 5 stars 3.85 avg rating — 62,892 ratings score: 10,529, and 129 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
222	Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer 3.85 of 5 stars 3.85 avg rating — 310,296 ratings score: 10,483, and 134 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
223	Nine Stories by J.D. Salinger 4.19 of 5 stars 4.19 avg rating — 67,727 ratings score: 10,458, and 128 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
224	A Time to Kill by John Grisham (Goodreads Author) 3.88 of 5 stars 3.88 avg rating — 349,199 ratings score: 10,373, and 143 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
225	The Magus by John Fowles 4.0 of 5 stars 4.00 avg rating — 18,639 ratings score: 10,355, and 126 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
226	Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg 4.19 of 5 stars 4.19 avg rating — 95,814 ratings score: 10,281, and 141 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
227	American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis 3.78 of 5 stars 3.78 avg rating — 79,903 ratings score: 10,273, and 125 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
228	The Witching Hour (Lives of the Mayfair Witches, #1) by Anne Rice 4.05 of 5 stars 4.05 avg rating — 51,547 ratings score: 10,212, and 120 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
229	Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead by Tom Stoppard 4.07 of 5 stars 4.07 avg rating — 40,301 ratings score: 10,103, and 134 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
230	2001: A Space Odyssey (Space Odyssey, #1) by Arthur C. Clarke 4.0 of 5 stars 4.00 avg rating — 74,042 ratings score: 10,032, and 132 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
231	Little House in the Big Woods (Little House, #1) by Laura Ingalls Wilder 4.12 of 5 stars 4.12 avg rating — 78,808 ratings score: 9,903, and 131 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
232	The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver 3.87 of 5 stars 3.87 avg rating — 61,759 ratings score: 9,830, and 120 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
233	The Chosen by Chaim Potok 3.99 of 5 stars 3.99 avg rating — 42,410 ratings score: 9,584, and 123 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
234	A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers 3.63 of 5 stars 3.63 avg rating — 100,265 ratings score: 9,543, and 120 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
235	A Good Man is Hard to Find and Other Stories by Flannery O'Connor 4.27 of 5 stars 4.27 avg rating — 15,873 ratings score: 9,523, and 121 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
236	Foundation / Foundation and Empire / Second Foundation / The Stars, Like Dust / The Naked Sun / I, Robot by Isaac Asimov 4.29 of 5 stars 4.29 avg rating — 1,978 ratings score: 9,501, and 121 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
237	Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier (Goodreads Author) 3.78 of 5 stars 3.78 avg rating — 225,313 ratings score: 9,394, and 128 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
238	The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison 3.92 of 5 stars 3.92 avg rating — 66,070 ratings score: 9,372, and 121 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
239	The Last Battle (Chronicles of Narnia, #7) by C.S. Lewis 3.99 of 5 stars 3.99 avg rating — 87,073 ratings score: 9,371, and 118 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
240	The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams 3.59 of 5 stars 3.59 avg rating — 46,343 ratings score: 9,364, and 132 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
241	I, Claudius (Claudius, #1) by Robert Graves 4.26 of 5 stars 4.26 avg rating — 20,138 ratings score: 9,341, and 126 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
242	The Crying of Lot 49 by Thomas Pynchon 3.71 of 5 stars 3.71 avg rating — 27,176 ratings score: 9,271, and 106 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
243	Island of the Blue Dolphins (Island of the Blue Dolphins, #1) by Scott O'Dell 3.76 of 5 stars 3.76 avg rating — 130,111 ratings score: 9,234, and 120 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
244	Silent Spring by Rachel Carson 3.88 of 5 stars 3.88 avg rating — 13,070 ratings score: 9,109, and 126 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
245	The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss 4.12 of 5 stars 4.12 avg rating — 161,851 ratings score: 8,984, and 132 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
246	The BFG by Roald Dahl 4.17 of 5 stars 4.17 avg rating — 104,978 ratings score: 8,922, and 109 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
247	The Razor's Edge by W. Somerset Maugham 4.14 of 5 stars 4.14 avg rating — 14,815 ratings score: 8,886, and 113 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
248	White Noise by Don DeLillo 3.84 of 5 stars 3.84 avg rating — 36,740 ratings score: 8,616, and 103 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
249	Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West by Dee Brown 4.18 of 5 stars 4.18 avg rating — 25,966 ratings score: 8,567, and 121 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
250	Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami 4.02 of 5 stars 4.02 avg rating — 74,519 ratings score: 8,559, and 100 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
251	The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle 4.26 of 5 stars 4.26 avg rating — 134,032 ratings score: 8,480, and 116 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
252	The Firm by John Grisham (Goodreads Author) 3.87 of 5 stars 3.87 avg rating — 230,840 ratings score: 8,463, and 119 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
253	The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara 4.23 of 5 stars 4.23 avg rating — 31,612 ratings score: 8,365, and 101 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
254	Oh, the Places You'll Go! by Dr. Seuss 4.31 of 5 stars 4.31 avg rating — 117,919 ratings score: 8,339, and 108 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
255	Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier 3.72 of 5 stars 3.72 avg rating — 95,493 ratings score: 8,329, and 114 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
256	The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett 3.94 of 5 stars 3.94 avg rating — 32,776 ratings score: 8,321, and 114 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
257	Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson 3.68 of 5 stars 3.68 avg rating — 70,295 ratings score: 8,142, and 116 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
258	Go Ask Alice by Beatrice Sparks (as "Anonymous") 3.72 of 5 stars 3.72 avg rating — 104,110 ratings score: 8,085, and 104 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
259	The Hunt for Red October (Jack Ryan, #3) by Tom Clancy 3.85 of 5 stars 3.85 avg rating — 182,177 ratings score: 7,923, and 108 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
260	Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson (Goodreads Author) 3.96 of 5 stars 3.96 avg rating — 149,244 ratings score: 7,893, and 93 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
261	The Neverending Story by Michael Ende 4.14 of 5 stars 4.14 avg rating — 57,126 ratings score: 7,863, and 101 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
262	The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin 3.99 of 5 stars 3.99 avg rating — 27,368 ratings score: 7,682, and 102 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
263	A Passage to India by E.M. Forster 3.6 of 5 stars 3.60 avg rating — 25,911 ratings score: 7,652, and 114 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
264	Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison 3.94 of 5 stars 3.94 avg rating — 34,031 ratings score: 7,642, and 98 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
265	Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman (Goodreads Author) 4.15 of 5 stars 4.15 avg rating — 126,159 ratings score: 7,627, and 99 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
266	The Hound of the Baskervilles (Sherlock Holmes, #5) by Arthur Conan Doyle 3.96 of 5 stars 3.96 avg rating — 65,992 ratings score: 7,571, and 112 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
267	Light in August by William Faulkner 3.9 of 5 stars 3.90 avg rating — 25,595 ratings score: 7,554, and 100 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
268	The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood (Goodreads Author) 3.9 of 5 stars 3.90 avg rating — 60,486 ratings score: 7,551, and 94 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
269	The Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann 4.1 of 5 stars 4.10 avg rating — 11,461 ratings score: 7,402, and 96 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
270	The House at Pooh Corner by A.A. Milne 4.34 of 5 stars 4.34 avg rating — 42,864 ratings score: 7,393, and 110 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
271	I, Robot by Isaac Asimov 4.08 of 5 stars 4.08 avg rating — 85,706 ratings score: 7,348, and 110 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
272	Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller 3.7 of 5 stars 3.70 avg rating — 23,632 ratings score: 7,288, and 96 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
273	Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton 3.81 of 5 stars 3.81 avg rating — 30,180 ratings score: 7,272, and 100 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
274	Labyrinths by Jorge Luis Borges 4.47 of 5 stars 4.47 avg rating — 12,316 ratings score: 7,207, and 92 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
275	The Shawshank Redemption by Stephen King 4.28 of 5 stars 4.28 avg rating — 77,206 ratings score: 7,123, and 98 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
276	The Complete Stories by Franz Kafka 4.34 of 5 stars 4.34 avg rating — 11,685 ratings score: 7,046, and 90 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
277	Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury 3.94 of 5 stars 3.94 avg rating — 37,351 ratings score: 7,039, and 100 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
278	The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie 3.72 of 5 stars 3.72 avg rating — 22,905 ratings score: 6,971, and 87 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
279	The Bone People by Keri Hulme 4.06 of 5 stars 4.06 avg rating — 9,082 ratings score: 6,941, and 82 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
280	The Gunslinger (The Dark Tower, #1) by Stephen King 3.99 of 5 stars 3.99 avg rating — 150,630 ratings score: 6,871, and 84 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
281	The Shipping News by E. Annie Proulx 3.72 of 5 stars 3.72 avg rating — 55,960 ratings score: 6,865, and 98 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
282	Rabbit, Run by John Updike 3.54 of 5 stars 3.54 avg rating — 21,755 ratings score: 6,854, and 92 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
283	Sometimes a Great Notion by Ken Kesey 4.21 of 5 stars 4.21 avg rating — 9,280 ratings score: 6,840, and 83 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
284	Sons and Lovers by D.H. Lawrence 3.54 of 5 stars 3.54 avg rating — 18,945 ratings score: 6,815, and 93 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
285	Anthem by Ayn Rand 3.59 of 5 stars 3.59 avg rating — 56,427 ratings score: 6,800, and 86 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
286	The Alexandria Quartet by Lawrence Durrell 4.21 of 5 stars 4.21 avg rating — 4,146 ratings score: 6,747, and 80 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
287	The Pearl by John Steinbeck 3.3 of 5 stars 3.30 avg rating — 76,127 ratings score: 6,685, and 99 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
288	The Witches by Roald Dahl 4.12 of 5 stars 4.12 avg rating — 106,249 ratings score: 6,577, and 84 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
289	Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann 3.61 of 5 stars 3.61 avg rating — 19,099 ratings score: 6,497, and 91 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
290	Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume 3.86 of 5 stars 3.86 avg rating — 91,782 ratings score: 6,472, and 87 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
291	Heart of Darkness/The Secret Sharer by Joseph Conrad 3.46 of 5 stars 3.46 avg rating — 10,637 ratings score: 6,392, and 89 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
292	The Scarlet Pimpernel by Emmuska Orczy 4.05 of 5 stars 4.05 avg rating — 55,517 ratings score: 6,333, and 84 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
293	The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin 4.03 of 5 stars 4.03 avg rating — 57,497 ratings score: 6,324, and 79 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
294	Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote 3.88 of 5 stars 3.88 avg rating — 63,440 ratings score: 6,309, and 92 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
295	Nausea by Jean-Paul Sartre 3.88 of 5 stars 3.88 avg rating — 26,902 ratings score: 6,289, and 81 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
296	An American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser 3.88 of 5 stars 3.88 avg rating — 14,901 ratings score: 6,221, and 84 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
297	Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner 4.25 of 5 stars 4.25 avg rating — 21,682 ratings score: 6,220, and 71 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
298	On the Beach by Nevil Shute 3.88 of 5 stars 3.88 avg rating — 14,410 ratings score: 6,193, and 89 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
299	The Hero With a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell 4.25 of 5 stars 4.25 avg rating — 10,576 ratings score: 6,128, and 81 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
300	The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir 3.98 of 5 stars 3.98 avg rating — 10,297 ratings score: 6,086, and 80 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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4,659 books · 31,490 voters · list created May 29th, 2008 by deleted user.

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

1257 likes · like

Lists are re-scored approximately every 500 seconds.

People Who Voted On This List (31490)

The Crimson Fucker
410 books
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Michael
396 books
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Joro
2822 books
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Jessica
1806 books
91 friends

MBP
3645 books
86 friends

Ruth
2238 books
264 friends

Sherry
1066 books
241 friends

Maria M.
2405 books
183 friends

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Post a comment »
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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