Modern & Literary Fiction Books
American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF PICADOR BOOKS I like to dissect girls. Did you know I'm utterly insane? Patrick Bateman has it all: good looks, youth, char...
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 detailsThe Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
THE NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER'Devastating' Daily Telegraph'Heartbreaking' The Times'Unforgettable' Isabel Allende'Haunting' IndependentAfghanistan, 197...
View full detailsIt Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover
Don't miss IT STARTS WITH US, the sequel to IT ENDS WITH US. Coming October 2022! Pre-order your copy now. ________________________________________...
View full detailsA Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
Shortlisted for the Booker Prize Shortlisted for the Baileys Prize for Women's Fiction Winner of Fiction Book of the Year at the British Book Award...
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 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 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 Searcher by Tana French
Terrific - terrifying, amazing' STEPHEN KING 'Completely, indescribably magnificent' MARIAN KEYES -------------------------------------------------...
View full detailsBeach Read! by Emily Henry
The hottest book of the summer' JOSIE SILVER'A great love story' JODI PICOULT'The perfect escapist romp' LAURA JANE WILLIAMSBOOKTOK SENSATION AND N...
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 detailsBonjour Tristesse and A Certain Smile by Francoise Sagan
Sylish, shimmering and amoral, Sagan's tale of adolescence and betrayal on the French Riviera was her masterpiece, published when she was just eigh...
View full detailsThe Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
** THE SUNDAY TIMES NO. 1 BESTSELLER ****A BBC BETWEEN COVERS BIG JUBILEE READ**Go back to where it all began with the dystopian novel behind the a...
View full detailsStoner: A Novel by John Williams
Read the greatest rediscovered classic of recent years 'A beautiful, sad, utterly convincing account of an entire life' Ian McEwanWilliam Stoner en...
View full detailsThe House We Grew Up In by Lisa Jewell
From the #1 bestselling author of The Night She Disappeared, The Family Upstairs and Then She Was GoneAN UNFORGETTABLE STORY ABOUT A FAMILY WITH A ...
View full detailsTo Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Shoot all the Bluejays you want, if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a Mockingbird.'Lawyer Atticus Finch gives this advice to his c...
View full detailsThe Marlow Murder Club by Robert Thorogood
The first in a stunning new series introducing the Marlow Murder Club! 'A hugely enjoyable murder mystery written with wonderful verve, humour and ...
View full detailsSee You Tomorrow at the Food Court by Shinichiro Nariie
Wada is an honor student who keeps to herself and has an air of mysteryaround her. Yamamoto is an intimidating fashionista with dyed blond hair a...
View full detailsThe Art of Haikyu!! : Endings and Beginnings by Haruichi Furudate
A deluxe art book showcasing Haruichi Furudate's incredible artwork from the hit manga series Haikyu!!Ever since he saw the legendary player known ...
View full detailsDr. STONE, Vol. 8 by Riichiro Inagaki
One fateful day, all of humanity turned to stone. Many millennia later, Taiju frees himself from the petrification and finds himself surrounded by ...
View full detailsHow to Draw: Manga Heroes : In Simple Steps by Yishan Li
Learn to draw 28 dynamic manga heroes and villains using this simple step-by-step book. Manga artist Yishan Li teaches you to transform simple shap...
View full detailsSeek The Singing Fish by Roma Wells
Growing up in the lagoon town of Batticaloa, a young girl with an unquenchable curiosity and love of the natural world, is entangled in the trauma ...
View full detailsThis Tender Land by William Kent Krueger
For fans of Before We Were Yours and Where the Crawdads Sing, "a gripping, poignant tale swathed in both mythical and mystical overtones" (Bob Drur...
View full detailsSeverance by Ling Ma
Find Severance by Ling Ma from publishers Text Publishing at Books2Door! ; 304 pages; Published: 26/11/2020
100 Boyfriends by Brontez Purnell
Transgressive, foulmouthed, and wildly funny, Brontez Purnell's 100 Boyfriends is a filthy, unforgettable, and brutally profound ode to queer love ...
View full detailsThe Lockdown Diary of Tom Cooper by Spencer Brown
Find The Lockdown Diary of Tom Cooper by Spencer Brown from publishers Marotte Books at Books2Door! ; ; Published: 12/11/2020
The Pachinko Parlour by Elisa Shua Dusapin
Find The Pachinko Parlour by Elisa Shua Dusapin from publishers Daunt Books at Books2Door! ; 124 pages; Published: 18/08/2022
Sterling Karat Gold by Isabel Waidner
Aspiring writer Sterling is arrested one morning, without having done anything wrong. Plunged into a terrifying and nonsensical world, Sterling - w...
View full detailsSomebody Loves You by Mona Arshi
A teacher asked me a question, and I opened my mouth as a sort of formality but closed it softly, knowing with perfect certainty that nothing would...
View full detailsKeeping the House by Tice Cin
Cabbages . . . The Turkish variety are prized for their enlarged leaf bud, that's where we put the heroin . . . There's a stash of heroin waiting ...
View full detailsCase Study by Graeme Macrae Burnet
LONGLISTED FOR THE 2022 BOOKER PRIZESHORTLISTED FOR THE 2022 GORDON BURN PRIZE'A page-turning blast.' Times'Genuinely affecting ... a very funny bo...
View full detailsA New Name: Septology VI-VII by Jon Fosse
Asle is an ageing painter and widower who lives alone on the southwest coast of Norway. In nearby Bjorgvin another Asle, also a painter, is lying i...
View full detailsDark Neighbourhood by Vanessa Onwuemezi
In her brilliantly inventive debut collection, Vanessa Onwuemezi takes readers on a surreal and haunting journey through a landscape on the edge of...
View full detailsThe Appointment by Katharina Volckmer
In a well-appointed examination in London, a young woman unburdens herself to a certain Dr Seligman. Though she can barely see above his head, she ...
View full detailsMinor Detail by Adania Shibli
MINOR DETAIL begins during the summer of 1949, one year after the war that the Palestinians mourn as the Nakba - the catastrophe that led to the di...
View full detailsHurricane Season by Fernanda Melchor
The Witch is dead. After a group of children playing near the irrigation canals discover her decomposing corpse, the village of La Matosa is rife w...
View full detailsMansfield Park by Jane Austen
Find Mansfield Park by Jane Austen from publishers Chiltern Publishing at Books2Door! ; ; Published: 11/11/2019
Nothing Much Happens: Calming stories to soothe your mind and help you sleep by Kathryn Nicolai
'Sleeping is a modern superpower. Stories are old magic.'Whether you find yourself struggling to fall asleep, awake in the middle of the night or s...
View full detailsChances Are by Richard Russo
One beautiful September day, three sixty-six-year-old men convene on Martha's Vineyard, friends ever since meeting in college in the 1960s. They co...
View full detailsThe Doloriad by Missouri Williams
In the wake of a mysterious environmental cataclysm that has wiped out the rest of humankind, the Matriarch, her brother, and the family descended ...
View full detailsFilthy Animals by Brandon Taylor
Find Filthy Animals by Brandon Taylor from publishers Daunt Books at Books2Door! ; 272 pages; Published: 24/06/2021
Our Lady of the Nile by Scholastique Mukasonga
Find Our Lady of the Nile by Scholastique Mukasonga from publishers Daunt Books at Books2Door! ; 224 pages; Published: 18/03/2021
Real Life by Brandon Taylor
Find Real Life by Brandon Taylor from publishers Daunt Books at Books2Door! ; 336 pages; Published: 30/07/2020
Indelicacy by Amina Cain
Find Indelicacy by Amina Cain from publishers Daunt Books at Books2Door! ; 168 pages; Published: 03/09/2020
Winter in Sokcho by Elisa Shua Dusapin
Find Winter in Sokcho by Elisa Shua Dusapin from publishers Daunt Books at Books2Door! ; 128 pages; Published: 20/02/2020
Family Lexicon by Natalia Ginzburg
Find Family Lexicon by Natalia Ginzburg from publishers Daunt Books at Books2Door! ; 224 pages; Published: 20/09/2018
Swimming Home by Deborah Levy
Selected for the 2012 Man Booker Prize shortlist. As he arrives with his family at the villa in the hills above Nice, Joe sees a body in the swimmi...
View full detailsLove in the Big City by Sang Young Park
Find Love in the Big City by Sang Young Park from publishers Tilted Axis Press at Books2Door! ; ; Published: 28/10/2021
Creative, 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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