Best Books of the 21st Century
The best books published during the 21st century (January 1st, 2000 through December 31st, 2099).
3,591 books ·
9,497 voters ·
list created May 29th, 2008
by deleted user.
Tags:
21st-century, best
Comments (showing 1-50 of 150) (150 new)
message 1:
by
Genna
(new)
Jun 25, 2008 08:58pm
"Swish: Maria in the Mourning," by Pamela Palmer Mutino.
reply
|
flag
*
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.
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.
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.
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.
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).
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."
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?
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.
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.
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 :)
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....
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.
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 ;)
Oh my God, They put 'The Time Traveler's Wife' in number one. Nobody respects literature anymore nowadays. I have no idea what Leo or Fyodor might think about this.
IkraAmesta wrote: "Oh my God, They put 'The Time Traveler's Wife' in number one. Nobody respects literature anymore nowadays. I have no idea what Leo or Fyodor might think about this."Time traveler's Wife is a good book in it's own right. :)
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..."
Da Vinci Code is a brilliant book, if only Dan Brown didn't pattern all his books after that.
If these were the best books, I would give up reading. I tried reading Twighlight the other day. It was hard to comprehend how such a poorly written book could impress so many people. Then again, pulp is popular. I'm thinking about writing a book myself. Basically, Judas turns out to be a vampire who can travel through time. Sure winner.
Let's just say, "these are the most popular books, but certainly not the best" - except, of course, Ian McEwan.
I think "best" needs to be defined. Best literature or does "best" include having an affect on society. If you include the latter than I think Harry Potter needs to be on the list... and arguably Twilight, as well. These series created excitement about reading, particularly with young people. And they are wonderful for what they are. Remember, Jane Austen was the Jodi Piccoult of her time. You never know what will stand the test of time.
Raees wrote: "This list is not sufficiant. we should try to bring understoodable theories."Raees: Can you say more to explain what you mean by your wonderful term, "understoodable theories"?
Thanks, M
Thejage wrote: "Let's just say, "these are the most popular books, but certainly not the best" - except, of course, Ian McEwan."I agree. David Sedaris? Harry Potter? Though H.P. will go down as an enduring children's series, a classic. But David Sedaris? Dan Brown. PUH-LEEZE!
(David Sedaris is very funny, but BEST?)
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..."
This list is depressing. The Secret Magdalene was the worst book I've read in ages!
i am so tired of twilight being on every list. the only list it should be on is the "worst book of the decade". that goes for new moon and all those other books :/
Bryan wrote: "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..."I am in total agreement.
I completely agree with this comment. If these are the books representing the 21st century, I am giving up all faith in humanity's appreciation of literature. Good literature. Dan Brown, Margaret AtWood and Ken Follet are respectable however and they should be higher up. Mavic wrote: "IkraAmesta wrote: "Oh my God, They put 'The Time Traveler's Wife' in number one. Nobody respects literature anymore nowadays. I have no idea what Leo or Fyodor might think about this."
Time travel..."
I have to defend Dan Brown. People in most of North America and a big chunk of Europe say that his writing is so false and blah blah blah, but HELLO PEOPLE it is called FICTION. (it's on the back cover). But I think it takes a genius to write a book so well that 1.it is highly debated upon, 2. well researched 3. AND ENJOYABLE to read. This man IS THE MAN of the 21st century. He is a literary giant. 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 would not put Dan Brown on this list...it's interesting content, but it's not ground-breaking literature.
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."I recently read this and was very pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it. It certainly has messages relevant to present day and gives a window into the experiences of African Americans at a very volatile time in our history.
Elissa wrote: "I can't add How to Tran Your Dragon. =(It was published February 15, 2000"
You have to dress it up like a woman.
Joanie wrote: "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 ..."GO TO HELL! HOW DARE IT INSALT TWILIGHT IN MY PRESENCE? SHUT UR BLOODY MOUTH AND GOT TO HELL!
twilight is th best of the best. but i don't think that kid with those round glasses and his stupid adventures belong to this list. harry potter and j k rowling must go andkill themselves for this stupid writing!
Kassie wrote: "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..."
yet, there are other books on this list that were also written in the 20th century...
Elissa wrote: "I can't add How to Tran Your Dragon. =(It was published February 15, 2000"
Technically I don't think the 21st century began until 2001.
flag as offensive (?)















