Best Books of the Decade: 1980s (2257 books)

The best books published during the 1980s decade (1980–1989).

See also:
1980s lists
1980s shelf
Best By Date
Best Fantasy of the 1980s
Best Mystery of the 1980s
Best Non-fiction of the 1980s
Best Picture Books of the 1980s
Best Science Fiction of the 1980s
Most Rated Book by Year

Best Books by Century:
21st, 20th,
19th, 18th, 17th, 16th, 15th,14th, 13th, 12th, 11th, 10th,
9th, 8th, 7th, 6th, 5th, 4th

Best Books by Decade:
2020–2029, 2010–2019, 2000–2009,
1990–1999, 1980–1989, 1970–1979, 1960–1969, 1950–1959,
1940–1949, 1930–1939, 1920–1929, 1910–1919, 1900–1909,
1890–1899, 1880–1889, 1870–1879, 1860–1869, 1850–1859,
1840–1849, 1830–1839, 1820–1829, 1810–1819, 1800–1809

Best Books by Year:
1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989,

Lists for all books by Number of Ratings:
10,000 to 15,000, 15,000 to 20,000, 20,000 to 25,000, 25,000 to 30,000,
30,000 to 40,000, 40,000 to 50,000, 50,000 to 60,000, 60,000 to 70,000,
70,000 to 80,000, 80,000 to 89,999, 90,000 to 99,999, 100,000 to 149,999,
150,000 to 199,999, 200,000 to 499,999, 500,000 to 999,999, 1,000,000 and more

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All Votes Add Books To This List

1	The Handmaid’s Tale (The Handmaid's Tale, #1) by Margaret Atwood (Goodreads Author) 4.15 avg rating — 2,397,037 ratings score: 46,570, and 477 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
2	Ender’s Game (Ender's Saga, #1) by Orson Scott Card 4.31 avg rating — 1,468,411 ratings score: 34,704, and 356 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
3	The Color Purple by Alice Walker 4.28 avg rating — 748,988 ratings score: 31,145, and 322 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
4	Matilda by Roald Dahl 4.33 avg rating — 1,100,731 ratings score: 29,394, and 305 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
5	Beloved (Beloved Trilogy, #1) by Toni Morrison 3.98 avg rating — 487,688 ratings score: 22,378, and 233 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
6	The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco 4.14 avg rating — 393,756 ratings score: 21,564, and 224 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
7	It by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 4.24 avg rating — 1,257,624 ratings score: 20,981, and 219 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
8	Watchmen by Alan Moore (Goodreads Author) 4.39 avg rating — 592,051 ratings score: 20,937, and 216 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
9	The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera 4.11 avg rating — 539,866 ratings score: 19,969, and 208 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
10	The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro (Goodreads Author) 4.14 avg rating — 356,688 ratings score: 19,306, and 204 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
11	The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan (Goodreads Author) 3.97 avg rating — 708,289 ratings score: 18,810, and 195 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
12	The Pillars of the Earth (Kingsbridge, #1) by Ken Follett (Goodreads Author) 4.35 avg rating — 825,326 ratings score: 18,596, and 193 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
13	Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez 3.94 avg rating — 544,410 ratings score: 17,220, and 180 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
14	A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving (Goodreads Author) 4.24 avg rating — 336,107 ratings score: 16,097, and 169 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
15	The Restaurant at the End of the Universe (The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, #2) by Douglas Adams 4.20 avg rating — 314,752 ratings score: 15,787, and 167 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
16	The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho (Goodreads Author) 3.92 avg rating — 3,533,306 ratings score: 15,462, and 166 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
17	The Mists of Avalon (Avalon, #1) by Marion Zimmer Bradley 4.13 avg rating — 212,549 ratings score: 15,367, and 161 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
18	Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg 4.28 avg rating — 325,663 ratings score: 15,364, and 163 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
19	The Clan of the Cave Bear (Earth's Children, #1) by Jean M. Auel 4.10 avg rating — 281,799 ratings score: 15,293, and 161 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
20	Misery by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 4.23 avg rating — 841,098 ratings score: 14,867, and 158 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
21	Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History (Maus, #1) by Art Spiegelman 4.39 avg rating — 372,827 ratings score: 14,748, and 156 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
22	Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Süskind 4.04 avg rating — 548,127 ratings score: 14,403, and 152 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
23	Lonesome Dove (Lonesome Dove, #1) by Larry McMurtry 4.57 avg rating — 236,309 ratings score: 13,678, and 143 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
24	The Silence of the Lambs (Hannibal Lecter, #2) by Thomas Harris 4.26 avg rating — 586,342 ratings score: 13,001, and 139 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
25	Hatchet (Brian's Saga, #1) by Gary Paulsen 3.79 avg rating — 447,933 ratings score: 12,314, and 130 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
26	Number the Stars by Lois Lowry (Goodreads Author) 4.19 avg rating — 617,292 ratings score: 12,204, and 127 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
27	A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole 3.89 avg rating — 296,660 ratings score: 12,034, and 128 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
28	A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein 4.36 avg rating — 475,050 ratings score: 11,986, and 129 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
29	Howl’s Moving Castle (Howl’s Moving Castle, #1) by Diana Wynne Jones 4.28 avg rating — 443,474 ratings score: 11,583, and 124 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
30	The Witches by Roald Dahl 4.18 avg rating — 426,649 ratings score: 11,538, and 124 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
31	The Cider House Rules by John Irving (Goodreads Author) 4.17 avg rating — 195,082 ratings score: 10,876, and 119 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
32	Blood Meridian, or, the Evening Redness in the West by Cormac McCarthy 4.15 avg rating — 216,992 ratings score: 10,743, and 112 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
33	Pet Sematary by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 4.08 avg rating — 693,392 ratings score: 10,467, and 115 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
34	Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie 3.97 avg rating — 132,482 ratings score: 10,430, and 112 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
35	The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende (Goodreads Author) 4.30 avg rating — 316,390 ratings score: 10,372, and 113 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
36	The Vampire Lestat (The Vampire Chronicles, #2) by Anne Rice 4.11 avg rating — 215,985 ratings score: 10,325, and 112 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
37	Life, the Universe and Everything (The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, #3) by Douglas Adams 4.16 avg rating — 249,597 ratings score: 10,113, and 112 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
38	Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami 3.99 avg rating — 722,408 ratings score: 9,923, and 108 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
39	V for Vendetta by Alan Moore (Goodreads Author) 4.26 avg rating — 324,106 ratings score: 9,898, and 107 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
40	The Essential Calvin and Hobbes: A Calvin and Hobbes Treasury by Bill Watterson 4.65 avg rating — 123,488 ratings score: 9,450, and 102 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
41	A Time to Kill (Jake Brigance, #1) by John Grisham (Goodreads Author) 4.12 avg rating — 824,969 ratings score: 9,286, and 102 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
42	The Gunslinger (The Dark Tower, #1) by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 3.91 avg rating — 660,800 ratings score: 9,072, and 97 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
43	The Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe 3.92 avg rating — 86,693 ratings score: 8,981, and 97 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
44	Different Seasons by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 4.36 avg rating — 220,407 ratings score: 8,557, and 94 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
45	The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy 4.26 avg rating — 215,938 ratings score: 8,202, and 89 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
46	The BFG by Roald Dahl 4.23 avg rating — 524,301 ratings score: 7,972, and 89 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
47	So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish (The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, #4) by Douglas Adams 4.08 avg rating — 184,670 ratings score: 7,939, and 90 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
48	The Hunt for Red October (Jack Ryan, #3) by Tom Clancy 4.12 avg rating — 387,915 ratings score: 7,898, and 87 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
49	White Noise by Don DeLillo 3.86 avg rating — 126,486 ratings score: 7,678, and 83 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
50	The Color of Magic (Discworld, #1; Rincewind, #1) by Terry Pratchett 3.99 avg rating — 420,314 ratings score: 7,625, and 85 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
51	Presumed Innocent (Kindle County Legal Thriller, #1) by Scott Turow (Goodreads Author) 4.09 avg rating — 125,750 ratings score: 7,174, and 80 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
52	The Bean Trees (Greer Family, #1) by Barbara Kingsolver 4.01 avg rating — 173,723 ratings score: 6,845, and 72 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
53	Foucault’s Pendulum by Umberto Eco 3.91 avg rating — 74,677 ratings score: 6,765, and 74 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
54	A People’s History of the United States: 1492 - Present by Howard Zinn 4.09 avg rating — 264,794 ratings score: 6,701, and 74 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
55	Hyperion (Hyperion Cantos, #1) by Dan Simmons 4.27 avg rating — 296,086 ratings score: 6,460, and 70 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
56	Contact by Carl Sagan 4.15 avg rating — 152,001 ratings score: 6,308, and 69 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
57	Mort (Discworld, #4; Death, #1) by Terry Pratchett 4.24 avg rating — 270,735 ratings score: 6,306, and 69 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
58	Wyrd Sisters (Discworld, #6; Witches, #2) by Terry Pratchett 4.16 avg rating — 130,628 ratings score: 6,296, and 69 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
59	The Hotel New Hampshire by John Irving (Goodreads Author) 3.93 avg rating — 68,718 ratings score: 6,205, and 67 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
60	The Bourne Identity (Jason Bourne, #1) by Robert Ludlum 4.05 avg rating — 440,948 ratings score: 6,074, and 68 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
61	The Accidental Tourist by Anne Tyler (Goodreads Author) 3.90 avg rating — 108,757 ratings score: 5,978, and 66 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
62	Christine by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 3.86 avg rating — 262,656 ratings score: 5,849, and 68 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
63	Redwall (Redwall, #1) by Brian Jacques 4.14 avg rating — 128,602 ratings score: 5,805, and 65 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
64	Guards! Guards! (Discworld, #8; City Watch, #1) by Terry Pratchett 4.34 avg rating — 234,409 ratings score: 5,766, and 65 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
65	Sarah, Plain and Tall (Sarah, Plain and Tall, #1) by Patricia MacLachlan 3.84 avg rating — 90,298 ratings score: 5,646, and 61 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
66	Speaker for the Dead (Ender's Saga, #2) by Orson Scott Card 4.11 avg rating — 270,231 ratings score: 5,617, and 61 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
67	Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark by Alvin Schwartz 4.05 avg rating — 72,698 ratings score: 5,529, and 59 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
68	Alanna: The First Adventure (Song of the Lioness, #1) by Tamora Pierce (Goodreads Author) 4.27 avg rating — 136,535 ratings score: 5,519, and 60 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
69	The Drawing of the Three (The Dark Tower, #2) by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 4.24 avg rating — 288,541 ratings score: 5,248, and 59 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
70	Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency (Dirk Gently, #1) by Douglas Adams 3.97 avg rating — 148,153 ratings score: 5,235, and 58 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
71	The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros 3.68 avg rating — 231,493 ratings score: 5,113, and 58 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
72	The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie 3.71 avg rating — 71,519 ratings score: 5,103, and 58 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
73	A Brief History of Time by Stephen W. Hawking 4.21 avg rating — 476,471 ratings score: 5,051, and 60 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
74	Less Than Zero by Bret Easton Ellis 3.60 avg rating — 98,454 ratings score: 4,608, and 50 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
74	The Mammoth Hunters (Earth's Children, #3) by Jean M. Auel 3.96 avg rating — 77,522 ratings score: 4,608, and 51 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
76	The Talisman (The Talisman, #1) by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 4.11 avg rating — 140,815 ratings score: 4,522, and 50 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
77	Batman: The Killing Joke by Alan Moore (Goodreads Author) 4.36 avg rating — 235,094 ratings score: 4,514, and 51 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
78	Chronicle of a Death Foretold by Gabriel García Márquez 3.97 avg rating — 233,199 ratings score: 4,501, and 51 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
79	The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg 4.32 avg rating — 248,079 ratings score: 4,443, and 51 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
80	The Valley of Horses (Earth's Children, #2) by Jean M. Auel 4.04 avg rating — 95,876 ratings score: 4,375, and 49 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
81	The Lover by Marguerite Duras 3.71 avg rating — 72,090 ratings score: 4,346, and 48 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
82	What We Talk About When We Talk About Love by Raymond Carver 4.01 avg rating — 77,152 ratings score: 4,303, and 47 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
83	The Stranger Beside Me: Ted Bundy: The Shocking Inside Story by Ann Rule 4.14 avg rating — 111,450 ratings score: 4,236, and 47 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
84	Patriot Games (Jack Ryan, #1) by Tom Clancy 4.17 avg rating — 213,545 ratings score: 4,178, and 46 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
85	Love Medicine (Love Medicine, #1) by Louise Erdrich 4.01 avg rating — 28,442 ratings score: 4,134, and 47 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
86	The Eyes of the Dragon by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 3.95 avg rating — 143,637 ratings score: 4,046, and 46 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
87	Gorky Park (Arkady Renko, #1) by Martin Cruz Smith 4.04 avg rating — 69,741 ratings score: 4,001, and 48 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
88	Housekeeping by Marilynne Robinson 3.81 avg rating — 58,381 ratings score: 3,992, and 45 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
88	Postmortem (Kay Scarpetta, #1) by Patricia Daniels Cornwell 4.03 avg rating — 255,143 ratings score: 3,992, and 46 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
90	Ramona Quimby, Age 8 (Ramona, #6) by Beverly Cleary 4.11 avg rating — 73,256 ratings score: 3,870, and 44 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
91	The Complete Maus by Art Spiegelman 4.58 avg rating — 252,241 ratings score: 3,865, and 45 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
92	Cold Sassy Tree by Olive Ann Burns 4.02 avg rating — 105,322 ratings score: 3,666, and 41 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
93	Firestarter by Stephen King (Goodreads Author) 3.92 avg rating — 245,961 ratings score: 3,655, and 43 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
94	The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and Other Clinical Tales by Oliver Sacks 4.05 avg rating — 244,882 ratings score: 3,570, and 41 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
95	The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher 4.20 avg rating — 120,308 ratings score: 3,546, and 40 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
96	The Light Fantastic (Discworld, #2; Rincewind, #2) by Terry Pratchett 4.01 avg rating — 167,790 ratings score: 3,422, and 41 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
97	Galápagos by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. 3.87 avg rating — 88,303 ratings score: 3,354, and 38 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
98	Many Waters (Time Quintet, #4) by Madeleine L'Engle 3.95 avg rating — 50,106 ratings score: 3,297, and 36 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
99	Bright Lights, Big City by Jay McInerney (Goodreads Author) 3.81 avg rating — 36,926 ratings score: 3,248, and 36 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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
100	The Blue Sword (Damar, #1) by Robin McKinley 4.20 avg rating — 62,820 ratings score: 3,128, and 35 people voted	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. 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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2,257 books · 2,434 voters · list created June 6th, 2008 by deleted user.

Tags: 1980, 1980s, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1989, best-by-decade, by-decade, earliest-list

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Comments Showing 1-45 of 45 (45 new)

date

newest »

message 1: by John (new)

Jun 09, 2009 12:23PM

It wouldn't let me vote for Bukowski's Ham on rye which was published in 1982.

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message 2: by John (new)

Jul 09, 2009 07:06AM

Ah, fixed it now. Good old librarian status.

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message 3: by Jan C (new)

Aug 16, 2009 10:21AM

Why is John Steinbeck's The Pearl on this list? I read it in the '60s so how can it be on a best list of the '80s?

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message 4: by John (new)

Aug 16, 2009 02:33PM

Just removed it. The first date of publication was set at 1945 so it must have been an error that someone had already corrected but not noticed that it appeared on this list.

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message 5: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Sep 04, 2009 07:07PM

Farmer Boy, by Laura Ingalls Wilder, certainly does not belong on this list - it was first published in 1933.

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message 6: by John (new)

Sep 05, 2009 10:21AM

Susanna wrote: "Farmer Boy, by Laura Ingalls Wilder, certainly does not belong on this list - it was first published in 1933."

done.

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message 7: by Thom (new)

Oct 09, 2009 09:21AM

I have NO idea when the 80's occurred, wasn't it some time ago ? I know it was after the 60s but other than that I have no clue. I have, it seems, a kind of Billy Pilgrim past, just a big lake of s-- stuff in which we are all just paddling around.
Am surprised they had books then, and good books too judging from this list. I voted for a bunch of them.....What about Ellis Peters' "A Morbid Taste for Bones" Tell the truth when I hear her name I just think of Derek Jacobi in his Benedictine pharmacy (apothecary ?).

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message 8: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (last edited Oct 09, 2009 11:54AM) (new)

Oct 09, 2009 11:50AM

Why not A Morbid Taste for Bones? Because it was first published in 1977. It would be eligible for the 1970s list. Where I just added it, actually.

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message 9: by John (new)

Oct 10, 2009 01:32AM

Thom wrote: "I have NO idea when the 80's occurred, wasn't it some time ago ? I know it was after the 60s but other than that I have no clue. I have, it seems, a kind of Billy Pilgrim past, just a big lake of..."

Well don't you have a bizzarre sense of humour(?)

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message 10: by Thom (new)

Oct 10, 2009 08:00AM

Killthepopular wrote: "Thom wrote: "I have NO idea when the 80's occurred, wasn't it some time ago ? I know it was after the 60s but other than that I have no clue. I have, it seems, a kind of Billy Pilgrim past, just ..."

Dear Kill, I am 68. My kids (kids no longer) talk about "80s music" and I have small notion of what they mean by it, or when they say "Oh that's so 80's !" Am afraid I will embarrass them (prob. have) by acting "80s" without even knowing it. Assume you are British because you spell the word "humoUr". Yeah....You probably put petrol in the lorry and take the lift to the underground. Don't mind me---am about to be consigned to the dustbin of history. PeaceOut, Thom D.

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message 11: by John (new)

Oct 10, 2009 02:16PM

Never before has someone so conclusively put me in my place for belonging to a country that has a marginally different dialect from the bastard state that it fathered.

Sir, i am humbled.

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message 12: by Thom (new)

Oct 10, 2009 05:11PM

You should not be. I am always impressed when I hear English. As Professor Henry Higgins said, and quite rightly, "In America they haven't spoken it for years". Better a lorry than "Maa rig". Good Thoughts, Thom

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message 13: by John (new)

Nov 07, 2009 05:15AM

porno for marx wrote: "wanted to get serpent & the rainbow by wade davis up here but it told me it wasn't published in the 80s. wrong again, goodreads!"

I've edited the publication date to 1985. You can add it now.

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message 14: by Anita (new)

Nov 30, 2009 07:32AM

Larry McMurtrys' novel Lonesome Dove won the Pulitzer in 1986 so it had to be published that year or the one before. It should be included on this list. Where else can one find such a sweeping, boldly honest epic of the old west?

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message 15: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

Nov 30, 2009 06:40PM

Yeah, I agree, 1920 as an Original Publication Date for Lonesome Dove is fairly ridiculous.

Fixed.

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message 16: by Chris (new)

Jan 24, 2011 12:04AM

Watchmen's the best piece of art the 80's saw, but when it comes to NOVELS, "Beloved" or "Blood Meridian" ahhhhhhhhhh my gosh! Can go back and forth on which one is the best of the decade.

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message 17: by Chris (new)

May 21, 2011 01:19PM

more people need to vote on this 80's list.

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message 18: by Susanna - Censored by GoodReads (new)

May 22, 2011 08:39AM

Removed:

Snow in April, by Rosamund Pilcher (1972)

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message 19: by Callum (new)

Jun 08, 2012 04:30PM

fantastic site

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message 20: by Katherine (new)

Jun 30, 2012 02:38AM

Man I love this site I found so many I wanted to read. I could be in paradise for along time just reading. I can't wait.

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message 21: by Sebastian (new)

Nov 22, 2012 03:36AM

I thought the eighties were pretty cool. Good movies, comics were well written, and music was better. I'm not sure if you were talking about the 80s being a giant river of shit people were paddling around or if you were referring to you your own life (I'm not trying to be rude, I literally think that's what your figuratively talking about).

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message 22: by Victor (new)

Nov 23, 2012 10:55AM

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy was published on Oct 12, 1979 and it should be removed from this list (#11 as of Nov 23, 2012). It is already #1 in 1970s :)

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message 23: by Donna (last edited Nov 05, 2013 02:09PM) (new)

Nov 05, 2013 02:05PM

I am amazed at how many outstanding books came out during this time period. I voted for the two more recent decades, which were good, and then I clicked on this one. Bonanza!

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message 24: by [deleted user] (new)

Jan 02, 2014 11:05AM

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy removed. Published in 1979.

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message 25: by Julian (new)

Jun 29, 2014 07:55PM

The King James Version of The Bible is #100 on this list. I think it might have been written earlier than the 1980s. Perhaps the 40s? Should be removed.

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message 26: by [deleted user] (new)

Jun 30, 2014 04:34AM

Julian wrote: "The King James Version of The Bible is #100 on this list. I think it might have been written earlier than the 1980s. Perhaps the 40s? Should be removed."

*snort*

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message 27: by Paul (new)

Aug 02, 2014 08:59AM

Ran check for duplicates: none found.

Removed: King James' Bible (published 1611); Renault's Funeral Games (pub. 1958); Vaniegem's Revolution (pub. 1967); Jeffers' Collected Poetry 1920-28 (pub. in separate volumes 1920-28).

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message 28: by Paul (new)

Aug 02, 2014 10:54AM

Removed: Sheridan, School for Scandal etc. (pub. 1777);
Mahfouz, Children of the Alley (pub. 1959); Ionesco, The Lesson (pub. 1951).

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message 29: by Paul (new)

Aug 23, 2014 09:28AM

Checked for duplicates: 1 book removed.

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message 30: by Paul (new)

Dec 09, 2014 06:22AM

Checked for duplicates: 1 book removed.

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message 31: by Paul (new)

Jan 31, 2015 06:39AM

Checked for duplicates: 5 books removed.

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message 32: by Paul (new)

Jun 27, 2015 09:45AM

Checked for duplicates: 8 books removed.

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message 33: by Justin (new)

Jul 16, 2015 02:51PM

Where is "SWAN SONG" by Robert McCammon? Best Post Apocalyptic Novel EVER WRITTEN.

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message 34: by Paul (new)

May 22, 2016 06:46AM

Checked for duplicates: 19 books removed.

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message 35: by Ericka (new)

Feb 24, 2017 06:17PM

Like Water for Chocolate/Como Agua Para Chocolate is 1992.

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message 36: by Barbara (new)

Jan 30, 2018 07:08PM

Katherine Graham’s Personal History was published in 1998.

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message 37: by Rachel Adiyah (new)

Dec 31, 2018 08:30PM

The Hobbit should be removed from this list; it was published in 1937.

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message 38: by Pat (new)

Jan 11, 2019 07:42PM

Rachel Adiyah wrote: "The Hobbit should be removed from this list; it was published in 1937."
Done.

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message 39: by Dan (new)

May 01, 2019 02:39PM

Pat wrote: "Rachel Adiyah wrote: "The Hobbit should be removed from this list; it was published in 1937."
Done."

Also, Postmortem by Patricia Cornwell came out in 1990, and thus is not from the 1980s.

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message 40: by John (new)

Sep 19, 2019 06:06PM

The Book of Disquiet was written in the 1930s.

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message 41: by Phil (new)

Apr 09, 2021 08:59AM

Does anyone recall a trilogy (l think fron the 80's) where the main characters are masters of mirrors who can 'translate' themselves, objects or even armies, using their mirror as a portal?

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message 42: by Paula (new)

Jun 01, 2021 12:15AM

Phil wrote: "Does anyone recall a trilogy (l think fron the 80's) where the main characters are masters of mirrors who can 'translate' themselves, objects or even armies, using their mirror as a portal?"
Sounds like that could be Mordant's Need

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message 43: by Naomi (new)

Jul 25, 2022 01:07AM

3 duplicates found and removed

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message 44: by Sally (new)

Jul 15, 2023 09:11AM

1 duplicate found and removed

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message 45: by Steve (new)

Jan 03, 2025 10:54PM

Please remove The Complete Maus, which was published in 1991 or later, after the 2nd volume was published in 1991. It wasn't published in 1980 (before the first volume). Chapters of what would become the first volume did start to get published one at a time in magazine starting in 1980, but that is not the Complete Maus. Yes, the Complete Mouse first published edition is in error by a decade.

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