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Best Books of the 21st Century
The best books published during the 21st century (January 1st, 2000 through December 31st 2099).
Tags: 21st-century and best

1
The Time Traveler's Wife
The Time Traveler's Wife
by Audrey Niffenegger (Goodreads author) 254 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
2
The Kite Runner
The Kite Runner
by Khaled Hosseini 245 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
3
The Road
The Road
by Cormac McCarthy 209 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
4
A Thousand Splendid Suns
A Thousand Splendid Suns
by Khaled Hosseini 203 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
5
Life of Pi
Life of Pi
by Yann Martel 194 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
6
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
by J.K. Rowling, Mary GrandPré (Illustrator) 163 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
7
Middlesex
Middlesex
by Jeffrey Eugenides 160 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
8
The Book Thief
The Book Thief
by Markus Zusak 141 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
9
Water for Elephants
Water for Elephants
by Sara Gruen 126 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
10
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time
by Mark Haddon 122 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
12
The Secret Life of Bees
The Secret Life of Bees
by Sue Monk Kidd 91 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
13
Atonement
Atonement
by Ian McEwan 89 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
14
Twilight
Twilight
by Stephenie Meyer 87 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
15
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
by J.K. Rowling, Mary GrandPré (Illustrator) 84 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
16
The Da Vinci Code
The Da Vinci Code
by Dan Brown 77 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
17
The Glass Castle: A Memoir
The Glass Castle: A Memoir
by Jeannette Walls 73 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
18
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
by J.K. Rowling 65 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
19
The Lovely Bones
The Lovely Bones
by Alice Sebold 63 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
20
American Gods
American Gods
by Neil Gaiman (Goodreads author) 58 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
21
Everything Is Illuminated: A Novel
Everything Is Illuminated: A Novel
by Jonathan Safran Foer 58 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
22
The Shadow of the Wind
The Shadow of the Wind
by Carlos Ruiz Zafón, Lucia Graves (Translator) 57 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
23
The Corrections
The Corrections
by Jonathan Franzen 56 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
24
My Sister's Keeper
My Sister's Keeper
by Jodi Picoult 57 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
25
Bel Canto
Bel Canto
by Ann Patchett 56 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
26
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
by Junot Díaz 49 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
27
The Alchemist
The Alchemist
by Paulo Coelho (Goodreads author) 49 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
28
What Is the What
What Is the What
by Dave Eggers 47 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
30
The Namesake
The Namesake
by Jhumpa Lahiri 45 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
31
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
by Susanna Clarke 42 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
32
New Moon
New Moon
by Stephenie Meyer 42 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
33
The Shipping News : A Novel
The Shipping News : A Novel
by Annie Proulx 42 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
34
Breaking Dawn
Breaking Dawn
by Stephenie Meyer 41 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
35
No Country for Old Men
No Country for Old Men
by Cormac McCarthy 40 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
36
Cloud Atlas
Cloud Atlas
by David Mitchell 39 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
38
The Omnivore's Dilemma
The Omnivore's Dilemma
by Michael Pollan 39 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
39
Angels & Demons
Angels & Demons
by Dan Brown 40 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
40
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan
by Lisa See (Goodreads author) 39 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
41
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle
by David Wroblewski 39 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
42
Empire Falls
Empire Falls
by Richard Russo 38 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
43
The God Delusion
The God Delusion
by Richard Dawkins (Goodreads author) 37 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
44
The Memory Keeper's Daughter
The Memory Keeper's Daughter
by Kim Edwards 39 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
45
Eclipse
Eclipse
by Stephenie Meyer 39 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
45
The Thirteenth Tale
The Thirteenth Tale
by Diane Setterfield 38 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
47
The Secret Magdalene: A Novel
The Secret Magdalene: A Novel
by Ki Longfellow (Goodreads author) 36 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
48
The Historian
The Historian
by Elizabeth Kostova 37 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
50
The Year of Magical Thinking
The Year of Magical Thinking
by Joan Didion 37 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
51
Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim
Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim
by David Sedaris 37 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
52
A Million Little Pieces
A Million Little Pieces
by James Frey 37 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
53
Oryx and Crake
Oryx and Crake
by Margaret Atwood 36 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
55
The History of Love
The History of Love
by Nicole Krauss 36 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
56
Blink
Blink
by Malcolm Gladwell 36 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
57
The Known World
The Known World
by Edward P. Jones 36 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
58
Gilead: A Novel
Gilead: A Novel
by Marilynne Robinson 35 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
59
Naked
Naked
by David Sedaris 35 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
60
On Beauty
On Beauty
by Zadie Smith 33 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
61
Dreams of the Ringed Vale
Dreams of the Ringed Vale
by Robert Fanney (Goodreads author) 31 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
62
Eats, Shoots  &  Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation
Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance...
by Lynne Truss 31 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
63
Black Swan Green: A Novel
Black Swan Green: A Novel
by David Mitchell 30 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
64
The Graveyard Book
The Graveyard Book
by Neil Gaiman (Goodreads author), Dave McKean (Illustrator) 25 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
65
Nineteen Minutes
Nineteen Minutes
by Jodi Picoult 25 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
66
Year of Wonders
Year of Wonders
by Geraldine Brooks 24 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
67
Unaccustomed Earth
Unaccustomed Earth
by Jhumpa Lahiri 24 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
69
The Complete Persepolis
The Complete Persepolis
by Marjane Satrapi 20 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
71
The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair that Changed America
The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and...
by Erik Larson, Tony Goldwyn (Narrator) 20 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
73
A Short History of Nearly Everything
A Short History of Nearly Everything
by Bill Bryson 19 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
74
John Adams
John Adams
by David McCullough 19 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
75
The Art of Racing in the Rain
The Art of Racing in the Rain
by Garth Stein (Goodreads author) 17 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
77
The Plot Against America
The Plot Against America
by Philip Roth 17 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
78
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
by Stieg Larsson, Reg Keeland (Translator) 17 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
79
The Shack
The Shack
by William P. Young 16 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
80
White Teeth
White Teeth
by Zadie Smith 16 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
81
Assassination Vacation
Assassination Vacation
by Sarah Vowell 15 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
82
Anansi Boys
Anansi Boys
by Neil Gaiman (Goodreads author) 14 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
83
Then We Came to the End
Then We Came to the End
by Joshua Ferris 13 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
83
People of the Book
People of the Book
by Geraldine Brooks 13 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
85
Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress: A Novel
Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress: A Novel
by Dai Sijie 12 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
86
Under the Banner of Heaven
Under the Banner of Heaven
by Jon Krakauer 12 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
87
Fall on Your Knees
Fall on Your Knees
by Ann-Marie MacDonald 11 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
88
The End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason
The End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Fut...
by Sam Harris 11 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
89
The Nanny Diaries
The Nanny Diaries
by Emma McLaughlin, Nicola Kraus 11 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
90
2666
2666
by Roberto Bolaño 10 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
91
Odd Thomas
Odd Thomas
by Dean Koontz 11 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
92
JPod: A Novel
JPod: A Novel
by Douglas Coupland 10 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
93
Magical Thinking: True Stories
Magical Thinking: True Stories
by Augusten Burroughs 10 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
94
The Yiddish Policemen's Union
The Yiddish Policemen's Union
by Michael Chabon 10 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
95
Peace Like a River
Peace Like a River
by Leif Enger 10 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
96
View Points and Points of View
View Points and Points of View
by Clive Blake (Goodreads author), Chris Robbins 9 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
97
The Bookseller of Kabul
The Bookseller of Kabul
by Åsne Seierstad 10 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
98
In the Night Garden
In the Night Garden
by Catherynne M. Valente 9 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
99
The Crimson Petal and the White
The Crimson Petal and the White
by Michel Faber 9 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
100
Vernon God Little
Vernon God Little
by D.B.C. Pierre 9 people voted »
didn't like itit was okliked itreally liked itit was amazing
List started by: Unknown
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Pam
Pam
320 books
14 friends
Ashley
Ashley
8 books
3 friends
Amy
Amy
58 books
0 friends
Joice
Joice
25 books
0 friends
Peggy
Peggy
110 books
41 friends
Kate
Kate
246 books
18 friends
Murai
Murai
3 books
0 friends
Kelly
Kelly
120 books
2 friends

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comments (showing 1-20 of 20) (20 new)

dateDown_arrow    newest »

message 1: by Genna (new)

Nophoto-f-25x33 "Swish: Maria in the Mourning," by Pamela Palmer Mutino.


message 4: by Terri (new)

Nophoto-f-25x33 If this list is supposed to be about the best books of the century, it's pretty short sighted. My pick would be Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man.


message 5: by Kassie (new)

1421320 Terri wrote: "If this list is supposed to be about the best books of the century, it's pretty short sighted. My pick would be Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man."


You do realize that Invisible Man was written in the 20th century right? This list is for the 21st.



message 6: by Christina (new)

2185258 Oh dear, someone tell me why "A Million Little Pieces" is on this list.


message 7: by Special K (last edited Jun 09, 2009 09:38AM) (new)

2356618 Cant stand some jodi picoult, sorry Mom! (shes read every one along with anita shreve too...another disappointing yet prolific writer)
Also I must add that I am a Twilight hater for numerous literary reasons...poor vocabulary, lack of ingenious creativity, perpetuation of declining moral values etc etc.


message 8: by Killthepopular (last edited Jun 09, 2009 09:31AM) (new)

2252836 I have about 170 books on my read shelf. The time travellers wife is unquestionably the worst book i have ever read.

We're only 10 years in and people who read all the current bestsellers are generally idiots anyway, so it's not surprising this list is so awful.

My Votes: Blankets by Craig Thompson, The Bottoms by Joe R. Lansdale and The Perfect Fool by Stewart Lee.


message 9: by Christina (new)

2185258 Killthepopular wrote: "I have about 170 books on my read shelf. The time travellers wife is unquestionably the worst book i have ever read.

We're only 10 years in and people who read all the current bestsellers are ge..."


I wouldn't say it's the worst book ever (there is so much trash out there) but it's a shame books like that beat out other truly memorable novels (my vote: The Corrections).



message 10: by Bonnie (new)

1876124 Why can't I vote for The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood? It was first published in 2000 and yet when I try to vote for it, it says "not published in this century."


message 11: by Donna (new)

Nophoto-u-25x33 where is TCBoyle


message 12: by Bryan (new)

1311022 Am I the only one who finds it depressing that, having only recently come to the feeling that I've made something of a decent dent, for my age, in the literature of the centuries up until now, that there are at least 100 or so books of the new century that I need to read?


message 13: by Joanie (new)

2073162 Twilight?? Come on now. I liked that series I hate to adimit. I'm not quite sure why, but seriously that does not belong on this list. The Book Thief I personally think that definatly should be on this list. I'm reading that now, great story.


message 14: by Michael (new)

2632665 Really!? Twilight? and Harry Potter? Greatest books of the 21st Century? Maybe most popular, flavor of the week books, but definitely not the best. Both those series' are very poorly written, they may have an interesting story ... full of holes, but ... THE BEST? c'mon.


message 15: by Isabelle (new)

1840175 I like Dan Brown (good for on a holiday), but to put his books in this list? I have to say no.


message 16: by Sami (new)

2036992 Isabelle wrote: "I like Dan Brown (good for on a holiday), but to put his books in this list? I have to say no. "

i loved "The Da Vinci Code" but i understand what your saying. i would have voted for something more like "The Book Thief" or "Water for Elephants" - books that were sooo good that u cried when they ended, maybe not literally but u get the idea :)



message 17: by Esther (new)

2785181 so many good books left off the list; invisible man, black boy, poisonwood bible, sula, third life of grange copeland, women of brewster place, gorilla my love....


message 18: by Greyweather (last edited 7 days ago, 06:31AM) (new)

1154130 Esther wrote: "so many good books left off the list; invisible man, black boy, poisonwood bible, sula, third life of grange copeland, women of brewster place, gorilla my love...."

All of those books were published in the 20th century, not the 21st.


message 19: by Thom (new)

Nophoto-m-25x33 There are two kinds of people: Those who gripe about what others like and those who don't.


message 20: by Isabelle (new)

1840175 Sami wrote: "Isabelle wrote: "I like Dan Brown (good for on a holiday), but to put his books in this list? I have to say no. "

i loved "The Da Vinci Code" but i understand what your saying. i would have vote..."


I certainly do, and those books were very amazing ;)




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