Modern & Literary Fiction Books
The First Day of Spring by Nancy Tucker
**DISCOVER THE YEAR'S MOST PAGE-TURNING THRILLER**'Perceptive and compassionate' GUARDIAN'Gorgeously written' PANDORA SYKES'A stunning debut' WASHI...
View full detailsThe Exhibitionist by Charlotte Mendelson
** LONGLISTED FOR THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION 2022 **'It takes the most ferocious intelligence, skill, and a deep reservoir of sadness to write a...
View full detailsTales from the Cafe: Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
In a small back alley in Tokyo, there is a cafe which has been serving carefully brewed coffee for more than one hundred years. But this coffee sho...
View full detailsDate with Betrayal by Julia Chapman
In the seventh novel in Julia Chapman's Dales Detective series, Date with Betrayal, betrayal is rife in the idyllic Yorkshire Dales as Samson O'Bri...
View full detailsThe Lamplighters by Emma Stonex
The Sunday Times bestseller 'A mystery, a love story and a ghost story, all at once. Wonderful' - S. J. WatsonCornwall, 1972. Three keepers vanish ...
View full detailsThe Club: A Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick by Ellery Lloyd
*** A Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick and an instant New York Times bestseller ***'One of the most riveting books I've read in a long time' - Loui...
View full detailsLuster by Raven Leilani
A book of pure fineness, exceptional.' - Diana Evans, Guardian'A taut, sharp, funny book about being young now. It's brutal-and brilliant.' - Zadie...
View full detailsSummerwater by Sarah Moss
The Sunday Times Top Ten Bestseller, longlisted for the Orwell Prize for Political Fiction 2021From the acclaimed author of Ghost Wall, Sarah Moss'...
View full detailsThe Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: 42nd Anniversary Edition by Douglas Adams
One of the greatest achievements in comedy. A work of staggering genius' - David WalliamsAn international phenomenon and pop-culture classic, The H...
View full detailsIf I Can't Have You by Charlotte Levin
One of the best books I've ever read' - Ruth Jones'This is superb . . . and compulsive and disturbing and very well done indeed' - Harriet Tyce, au...
View full detailsOf Women and Salt by Gabriela Garcia
Extraordinary . . . stunning' - Elizabeth Macneal, author of The Doll Factory 'Vivid details, visceral prose and strong willful women' - Angie Cruz...
View full detailsA Winter Memory by Lulu Taylor
A house full of secrets lies at the heart A Winter Memory from Sunday Times top ten bestselling author Lulu Taylor, an absorbing family drama perfe...
View full detailsHigh Stakes by Danielle Steel
A compelling and thought-provoking novel from the world's favourite storyteller. Set around a New York talent agency, a group of accomplished women...
View full detailsFinding Ashley by Danielle Steel
In Finding Ashley, a deeply moving novel from the number one bestseller Danielle Steel, two estranged sisters get the chance to reconnect and right...
View full detailsThe Affair by Danielle Steel
In this riveting novel set in Paris, the world's favourite storyteller, Danielle Steel, explores a high-profile affair that reverberates throughout...
View full detailsNeighbours by Danielle Steel
Sometimes a crisis can bring people together . . . Meredith White was one of Hollywood's most recognizable faces. But a personal tragedy cut her ca...
View full detailsShuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart
Winner of the Booker Prize 2020Winner of 'Book of the Year' at the British Book Awards 2021Winner of 'Debut of the Year' at the British Book Awards...
View full detailsShuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart
Winner of the Booker Prize 2020Winner of 'Book of the Year' at the British Book Awards 2021Winner of 'Debut of the Year' at the British Book Awards...
View full detailsThe Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
**OVER 1.5 MILLION COPIES SOLD****A 10th ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL EDITION, FEATURING A NEW FOREWORD BY THE AUTHOR**WINNER OF THE ORANGE WOMEN'S PRIZE FO...
View full detailsAnimal by Lisa Taddeo
Joan is an unforgettable anti-heroine. I don't think I'll ever stop thinking about her' ELIZABETH DAY'So insanely good and true and twisted it'll m...
View full detailsWhereabouts by Jhumpa Lahiri
If the antidote to a year of solitude and trauma is art, then this novel is the answer. It is superb' SUNDAY TIMES'A rare kind of literary celebrit...
View full detailsNo One Is Talking About This by Patricia Lockwood
A masterpiece' Guardian'I really admire and love this book' Sally Rooney 'An intellectual and emotional rollercoaster' Daily Mail 'I can't remember...
View full detailsA Net for Small Fishes by Lucy Jago
SHORTLISTED FOR THE AUTHORS' CLUB BEST FIRST NOVEL AWARD'What a ride!' India Knight, Sunday Times Summer reads'Thrilling... a sumptuous feast of pl...
View full detailsA Long Petal of the Sea by Isabel Allende
THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLERTHE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER'A powerful love story spanning generations... Full of ambition and humanity' Sunday Times'...
View full detailsAfterlives by Abdulrazak Gurnah
BY THE WINNER OF THE 2021 NOBEL PRIZE IN LITERATURESHORTLISTED FOR THE 2021 ORWELL PRIZE FOR POLITICAL FICTIONLONGLISTED FOR THE 2021 WALTER SCOTT ...
View full detailsBrother of the More Famous Jack by Barbara Trapido
________________________A JOYFUL 40TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION OF A COMING-OF-AGE CLASSIC________________________'There are few modern tales of first lo...
View full detailsSuch a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
A new literary star' The TimesThe instant Sunday Times and New York Times bestsellerLonglisted for the 2020 Booker PrizeA Times, Guardian, Sunday T...
View full detailsThe Offing: A BBC Radio 2 Book Club Pick by Benjamin Myers
FROM THE WALTER SCOTT PRIZE-WINNING AUTHOR OF THE GALLOWS POLE COMES A POWERFUL NEW NOVELA TIMES BOOK OF THE YEAR_______________________'What a rad...
View full detailsThis Is Happiness by Niall Williams
Shortlisted for Best Novel in the Irish Book AwardsLonglisted for the 2020 Walter Scott Prize for Historical FictionThe most enchanting novel you'l...
View full detailsAnd the Mountains Echoed by Khaled Hosseini
THE RICHARD & JUDY NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER'Magnificent' Mail on Sunday'Gripping' New York Times'A master storyteller' The Times'Epic' Sunday Tele...
View full detailsDead Simple by Peter James
Meet Detective Superintendent Roy Grace on his unforgettable first major case in Dead Simple, by award winning crime author Peter James. It was mea...
View full detailsThe Heron's Cry by Ann Cleeves
Now a major ITV series, The Long Call, adapted for television by screenwriter Kelly Jones and starring Ben Aldridge. 'Matthew Venn is a keeper . . ...
View full detailsThe Long Call by Ann Cleeves
Now a major ITV series, The Long Call, adapted for television by screenwriter Kelly Jones and starring Ben Aldridge. The Long Call is the No.1 best...
View full detailsIf Cats Disappeared From The World by Genki Kawamura
A beautifully moving tale of loss and reaching out to the ones we love, of one man's journey to discover what really matters in modern life. Our na...
View full detailsThe Confession by Jessie Burton
A Sunday Times bestseller and Richard and Judy Bookclub pick, The Confession is an absorbing tale of secrets and self-discovery from Jessie Burton,...
View full detailsThe Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel
The New York Times bestselling novel, from the author of Station Eleven. 'A perfect post-lockdown read' - Sunday Times'Elegant, haunting' - The Tim...
View full detailsDaylight by David Baldacci
Daylight is the gripping follow up to Long Road to Mercy and A Minute to Midnight featuring Special Agent Atlee Pine, from one of the world's most ...
View full detailsLong Road to Mercy by David Baldacci
Number one bestseller Long Road to Mercy is the heart-pounding first novel in the FBI Special Agent Atlee Pine series by bestselling author David B...
View full detailsThe Missing Sister by Lucinda Riley
From the Sunday Times number one bestselling author Lucinda Riley, The Missing Sister is the seventh instalment in the multimillion selling epic se...
View full detailsThe Sun Sister by Lucinda Riley
From the frenetic atmosphere of Manhattan to the magnificent wide-open plains of Africa, The Sun Sister is the sixth epic tale in the Seven Sisters...
View full detailsThe Moon Sister by Lucinda Riley
From the Scottish Highlands and Spain, to South America and New York, The Moon Sister is the fifth epic story in the Seven Sisters series by the in...
View full detailsThe Pearl Sister by Lucinda Riley
Journey to the dusty plains of Central Australia in The Pearl Sister, the fourth book in the number one bestselling Seven Sisters series by Lucinda...
View full detailsI Follow You by Peter James
From the number one bestselling author, Peter James, comes I Follow You, a nerve-shredding standalone thriller. To the outside world, suave, charmi...
View full detailsThe Taxidermist's Daughter by Kate Mosse
The enthralling Sunday Times bestselling gothic novel from the author of LABYRINTH and THE BURNING CHAMBERSThe clock strikes twelve. Beneath the wi...
View full detailsRidley Road: Now a Major BBC Drama by Jo Bloom
NOW A MAJOR BBC ONE DRAMA starring Rory Kinnear, Tamzin Outhwaite, Tracy-Ann ObermanA TALE OF LOVE AND MORALITY SET IN THE DARK SIDE OF THE SWINGIN...
View full detailsThe Queen's Gambit by Walter Tevis
NOW A MAJOR GOLDEN GLOBE-WINNING NETFLIX SERIES'Superb' Time Out 'Mesmerizing' Newsweek'Gripping' Financial Times'Sheer entertainment. It is a book...
View full detailsBetty: The International Bestseller by Tiffany McDaniel
A coming-of-age story filled with magic in language and plot: beautiful and devastating'Observer, Books of the Year'I felt consumed by this book. I...
View full detailsThe Hummingbird: 'Magnificent' (Guardian) by Sandro Veronesi
A BOOK OF THE YEAR FOR THE GUARDIAN: 'DEEPLY PLEASURABLE'A BOOK OF THE YEAR FOR THE SPECTATOR: 'WHAT A JOY''Magnificent' Guardian'A towering achive...
View full detailsCreative, formula-bending, genre-defying, character-focused, and most importantly, a literary exploration of the human condition—contemporary & modern literary fiction is arguably the most experimental genre within literature.
The landscape of literary fiction is constantly being revolutionised by literary fiction authors; that are known to constantly push the boundaries of genre fiction and blur the lines of distinction between literary fiction and other genres of literature.
Given the creative ambiguity of contemporary literary fiction; the genre witnesses a dazzling lineup of highly acclaimed debuts and fresh progressive voices each year. From trailblazing memoirs to the cultural history of humanity—no other genre captures the exactness of our collective life experience more creatively than literary fiction.
The list of bestselling literary fiction is an exciting mix of very distinct literary techniques and contrasting voices. Precisely why, we at Books2Door bring you and a carefully curated collection of the best literary fiction books of all time whilst also helping you gain an acute understanding of what qualifies as modern & literary fiction.
Formula-bending, genre-defying, and experimental
Modern and Contemporary Literary Fiction or experimental fiction is possibly the literature’s most rebellious genre. It doesn’t follow any literary formulas, nor does it adhere to any rules. In that, literary fiction authors are free to build an unpredictable narrative. Anything can transpire; exciting or unnerving. In literary fiction, any established literary theme can be turned on its head. For instance, literary fiction authors have challenged the good-triumphs-over-evil theme; so common otherwise in genre fiction books.
George Orwell’s social satire Nineteen Eighty-Four is one example. A book best categorised as dystopian literature; (remember the recently trending hashtag #makeorwellfictionagain ?) Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four not only challenged the good vs evil theme but also blurred the lines of distinction between genre fiction and classic literary fiction.
Employees creative storytelling
Considering literary fiction doesn’t adhere to any rules of genre or sub-genre; every literary fiction author is free to be creative and create his own rules. This makes the storyline an adventure, that can take its readers by surprise.
Devoid of any rules, the literary fiction writer is free to break convention and employ his creativity. This practice has birthed some extraordinary literary works. For example, Audrey Niffenegger’s The Time Traveler’s Wife where Niffenegger’s uses dual narrators from the first person point of view, in the present tense.
Thought-provoking and introspective
Like we said earlier, no other genre captures the exactness of the human condition and our collective life experience more creatively than literary fiction. Whilst most genres are designed to entertain the readers, literary fiction is meant to do more than that. Literary fiction seeks to make sense of the world. It is meant to be thought-provoking, and introspective and is meant to push the reader to think critically of the human condition.
Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar, for instance, explores the mind of a depressed, anxious, and neurotic young woman. Whilst the book has a coming-of-age plot line; it is the inner dialogue of this character that truly makes it a memorable book. This strong character study is what makes literary fiction a character-focused and introspective genre.
Explores the human condition
Stories in literary fiction do not shy away from dealing with difficult subjects and the realities of the human condition with artistic honesty. Literary fiction, therefore, is not always designed to help the reader escape. It can make the reader uncomfortable and push them to think about issues.
Literary fiction however is not non-fiction; so it doesn’t just report the truth. Instead, it relies on creative techniques and artsy symbolism to convey a deeper meaning. Literary fiction relies on metaphors and creative storytelling to convey meaningful messages. As a result, the takeaway from these stories is more than just the story, the takeaway is the experience, the message, and at times the characters.
Literary fiction is character-driven
Whilst genre fiction is focused on the story, plotlines, and on being an engaging read; literary fiction is more stressed on the characters or on conveying a meaningful message or idea. At times, it is focused on both. The characters in literary fiction can have layers, the depth of a character's actions and psyche are explored to forward the plot. Literary fiction doesn’t just show a character’s story, it shows how their actions and circumstances change the character.
Literary fiction can be as absurd and ambiguous as life itself
Literary fiction is experimental in nature much like absurd art, which means it doesn’t have to have a happy ending or an ending at all. Art movements like absurdism, dadaism and surrealism, are all, artsy cousins of experimental prose.
Literary fiction gives writers the liberty to let a story end abruptly or for the entire plot to be absurd. Stories in this genre don’t necessarily have to resolve but they have to have meaning. The meaning however is left to the reader’s interpretation.
Literary fiction is good for the reader
Because literary fiction pushes boundaries, employs a unique perspective, searches for meaning, and is designed for intellectual and emotional stimulus--it is much like the art you see hanging in galleries and the movies that bring meaningful conversations alive. Just like artsy movies and art itself, the creative genius of literary fiction is largely open to criticism. Some of the best contemporary literary fiction books have won critical acclaim and awards but missed out on winning the masses.
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