Modern & Literary Fiction Books
The Cuckoo's Calling (Cormoran Strike 1) by Robert Galbraith
The Cuckoo's Calling reminds me why I fell in love with crime fiction in the first place' VAL MCDERMID-----Now a major BBC drama: The Strike series...
View full detailsLittle Beach Street Bakery by Jenny Colgan
Escape with Jenny Colgan in 2021. The paperback of Jenny's latest bestseller, FIVE HUNDRED MILES FROM YOU, and her new feel-good novel, SUNRISE BY ...
View full detailsGoodbye to Berlin by Christopher Isherwood
As Cabaret returns to the West End, revisit the KitKat Club in the book that introduced Sally Bowles to the world. Set in the 1930s, Goodbye to Ber...
View full detailsParadise by Abdulrazak Gurnah
**By the winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature 2021**A BBC RADIO 4 Book at Bedtime SHORTLISTED FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE 1994'A poetic and vividly con...
View full detailsMe Before You by Jojo Moyes
Discover the love story that captured 21 million hearts . . . from the author of The Last Letter from Your Lover, now a major motion pictureThe No....
View full detailsThe Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead
WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE FOR FICTION 2017WINNER OF THE ARTHUR C. CLARKE AWARD 2017LONGLISTED FOR THE MAN BOOKER PRIZE 2017NATIONAL BOOK AWARD W...
View full detailsThe Girl With No Soul by Morgan Owen
How can you find your soul mate, when you don't have a soul? Iris lives in a world ruled by The Order. Inspectors police the population by keeping ...
View full detailsYou Can Trust Me by Gina Blaxill
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder meets I May Destroy You, this dark YA thriller will have your heart in your mouth from the very first page! "Gina Bla...
View full detailsThe Power by Naomi Alderman
WINNER OF THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTIONONE OF BARACK OBAMA'S BEST BOOKS OF 2017'Electrifying' Margaret Atwood'A big, page-turning, thought-provokin...
View full detailsThey by Kay Dick
As heard on BBC Radio 4's Front Row: the radical dystopian classic, lost for forty years: in a nightmarish Britain, THEY are coming closer. 'A cree...
View full detailsBoys Don't Cry by Fiona Scarlett
I can't remember ever reading anything so moving . . . It's so beautiful.' MARIAN KEYESThey say boys don't cry. But Finn's seen his Da do it when h...
View full detailsKlara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro
*The #1 Sunday Times Bestseller**Longlisted for the Booker Prize 2021**A Barack Obama Summer Reading Pick*'A delicate, haunting story' The Washingt...
View full detailsThis One Sky Day by Leone Ross
LONGLISTED FOR THE ONDAATJE PRIZE'Dazzling' Cosmopolitan'Stunning' Kei Miller'Gorgeous' Financial Times'Haunting' Independent'Wonderfully fearless'...
View full detailsLove After Love by Ingrid Persaud
*WINNER OF THE COSTA FIRST NOVEL AWARD 2020**LONGLISTED FOR THE OCM BOCAS PRIZE*AS SEEN ON BBC'S BETWEEN THE COVERSONE OF STYLIST'S BEST NEW BOOKS ...
View full detailsOutline: A Novel by Rachel Cusk
Author of the Booker-longlisted novel Second PlaceOutline is a novel in ten conversations. Spare and lucid, it follows a novelist teaching a course...
View full detailsMilkman by Anna Burns
Blazing.' Daily Telegraph'Outstanding.' New Statesman'A triumph.' Guardian'Utterly compelling.' Irish Times'The best Booker winner in years.' Metro...
View full detailsLight Perpetual by Francis Spufford
**Longlisted for the Booker Prize 2021**** From the author of Golden Hill **'My god he can write.' Richard Osman'Glorious.' Evening Standard'Exhila...
View full detailsNormal People by Sally Rooney
'The best young novelist - indeed one of the best novelists - I've read in years.' Olivia Laing'Superb . . . a tremendous read, full of insight and...
View full detailsConversations with Friends by Sally Rooney
***READ THE NOVEL IN TIME FOR THE BBC THREE DRAMA, PREMIERING IN MAY 2022***'This book. This book. I read it in one day. I hear I'm not alone.' - S...
View full detailsThe Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera
A cult figure.' Guardian'A dark and brilliant achievement.' Ian McEwan'Shamelessly clever ... Exhilaratingly subversive and funny.' Independent'A m...
View full detailsThe Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
A modern classic.' Guardian'A near-perfect work of art.' Joyce Carol OatesSylvia Plath is a major cultural icon who continues to inspire new genera...
View full detailsA God in Ruins by Kate Atkinson
WINNER OF THE 2015 COSTA NOVEL AWARD AND BESTSELLING LITERARY PAPERBACK OF THE YEAR'Atkinson's finest work, and confirmation that her genre-defying...
View full detailsLife After Life by Kate Atkinson
The PRIZE-WINNING BESTSELLER, now a major BBC1 DRAMA SERIES starring Thomasin McKenzie, Sian Clifford and James McArdle, directed by BAFTA award-wi...
View full detailsYou Exist Too Much by Zaina Arafat
Deeply compelling... sexy.' Roxane Gay'Takes you on a dizzying tour of love addiction, rehab, homophobia, betrayal, obsession and the aching need f...
View full detailsThe Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
THE SUNDAY TIMES TOP BESTSELLER#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERSHORTLISTED FOR THE WOMEN'S PRIZELONGLISTED FOR THE ORWELL PRIZE'An utterly mesmerising ...
View full detailsLess by Andrew Sean Greer
WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE FOR FICTION 2018 'You will sob little tears of joy' Nell Zink'I recommend it with my whole heart' Ann Patchett'This bo...
View full detailsThe Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson
THE GLOBAL BESTSELLER Sitting quietly in his room in an old people's home, Allan Karlsson is waiting for a party he doesn't want to begin. His one-...
View full detailsThe Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
Winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction 2014 Aged thirteen, Theo Decker, son of a devoted mother and a reckless, largely absent father, survives a...
View full detailsEverything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng
Amazon.com's no. 1 Book of the Year 2014 Lydia is the favourite child of Marilyn and James Lee; a girl who inherited her mother's bright blue eyes ...
View full detailsSankofa by Chibundu Onuzo
A REESE WITHERSPOON BOOK CLUB PICK * A BBC 2 BETWEEN THE COVERS BOOK CLUB PICK * SHORTLISTED FOR THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION FUTURES PRIZE * AN A...
View full detailsThe Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro
*Kazuo Ishiguro's new novel Klara and the Sun is now available*The Romans have long since departed, and Britain is steadily declining into ruin. Th...
View full detailsThe Ship of Brides by Jojo Moyes
The 2005 novel The Ship of Brides by Jojo Moyes, the bestselling author of Me Before You and two-time winner of the RNA Novel of the Year award. Au...
View full detailsMayflies by Andrew O'Hagan
Winner of the Christopher Isherwood PrizeShortlisted for the Portico PrizeA Guardian, Spectator, Sunday Times, Financial Times and Evening Standard...
View full detailsNight Music by Jojo Moyes
A new edition of the 2008 novel Night Music by Jojo Moyes, the bestselling author of Me Before You and The Giver of StarsIsabel Delancey has always...
View full detailsTokyo Redux by David Peace
A powerful, stirring read.' The Times'Typically brilliant . I loved it.' Adrian McKinty'The most stone-cold crime novel of 2021.' CrimeReadsTokyo, ...
View full detailsSilver Bay by Jojo Moyes
The 2007 novel Silver Bay by Jojo Moyes, the bestselling author of Me Before You and two-time winner of the RNA Novel of the Year award. Liza McCul...
View full detailsThe Searcher by Tana French
Terrific - terrifying, amazing' STEPHEN KING 'Completely, indescribably magnificent' MARIAN KEYES -------------------------------------------------...
View full detailsGhosts by Dolly Alderton
A 21ST CENTURY LOVE STORY AND TOP 10 SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER 'Utter BRILLIANCE . . . I absolutely LOVED it!' Marian Keyes, bestselling author of GR...
View full detailsTranscendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi
SHORTLISTED FOR THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION 2021**From the bestselling author of Homegoing**______________________________________________As a ch...
View full detailsAgent Running in the Field by John le Carre
The British spy thriller at its unputdownable best' ObserverSELECTED FOR BBC 2 BETWEEN THE COVERS________________________________Nat, a veteran of ...
View full detailsGirl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo
THE SUNDAY TIMES 1# BESTSELLER & BOOKER PRIZE WINNERBRITISH BOOK AWARDS AUTHOR & FICTION BOOK OF THE YEAR 2020 'The most absorbing book I r...
View full details10 Minutes 38 Seconds in this Strange World by Elif Shafak
SHORTLISTED FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE 2019 'Expect vibrant, vivid and eye-opening descriptions of Middle Eastern life propelled by a tender storyline, a...
View full detailsSpring: 'A dazzling hymn to hope' Observer by Ali Smith
SUNDAY TIMES NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER A once-in-a-generation series, Ali Smith's Seasonal Quartet is a tour-de-force about love, time, art, politics, ...
View full detailsAutumn by Ali Smith
SUNDAY TIMES TOP TEN BESTSELLERSHORTLISTED FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE 2017A once-in-a-generation series, Ali Smith's Seasonal quartet is a tour-de-force ...
View full detailsThe Forty Rules of Love by Elif Shafak
*The international bestseller from the author of the Booker-shortlisted novel, 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in this Strange World** One of the BBC's '100 ...
View full detailsOne Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
ONE OF THE WORLD'S MOST FAMOUS BOOKS AND WINNER OF THE NOBEL PRIZE FOR LITERATURE_______________________________'Many years later, as he faced the ...
View full detailsAnybody Out There by Marian Keyes
Discover the warm, witty and compelling story of a woman trying to get her life back on track, from the No. 1 bestselling author of Grown Ups'Seari...
View full detailsRachel's Holiday by Marian Keyes
A MUST-READ FOR FANS OLD AND NEW, THIS STUNNING 25TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION IS THE PERFECT WAY TO REDISCOVER THE 1.5 MILLION COPY, NO. 1 BESTSELLING P...
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.
Get your order now
Ordering from Books2Door couldn't be simpler
Big box sets at tiny prices
Welcome to Books2Door, the one-stop shop for all your children's book needs! We specialise in selling cheap children’s box sets and series at bargain prices.
At Books2Door, we believe that reading is a fundamental skill that every child should have to help improve their vocabulary, grammar, and critical thinking skills.
We understand that buying kids books can be expensive. That's why we offer a wide range of box sets and series at affordable prices, making it easier for parents, teachers, and libraries to access quality books for children.
Our team is made up of book lovers who are dedicated to sourcing and providing the best books for kids. We work closely with publishers and authors to ensure that we offer the best books on the market for your child.
Don't just take our word for it...
Check out our amazing reviews on Trustpilot, Google Customer Reviews, Reviews.io and more!
FAQs
Are your books brand new? How are they such good value?
All our books are brand new and delivered to us straight from the publisher. Our special sales editions are bought in bulk at a great discount - which we pass on to you!
Are the books different from what I've seen in the high street?
Special sales editions are made with more affordable materials, allowing the publisher to keep the cost price down, and we can sell it for less than the standard editions
What if I have a problem with my order?
Our support team is available during regular business hours to support you with any questions you may have. Call or 0116 210 4294 or email us.
Up to 80% off RRP
Bargain prices since 2004