Best Literary Fiction
Literary fiction is serious fiction with claims to literary merit, and focuses more on style, psychological depth, and character. (As opposed to genre or popular fiction).
What are your favorites of literary fiction?
What are your favorites of literary fiction?
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'The Power of Persuasion' by Shelagh Watkins is a masterpiece of modern day writing -- highly recommended.
I wish people would learn to place books in the correct genres. This list has quite a few romance novels, which cannot by any stretch of the imagine be counted as works of literary fiction.
Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Hitchhiker's guide to the galaxy and Narnia are all good books, but they are definitely not literary fiction!
deleted user wrote: "I wish people would learn to place books in the correct genres. This list has quite a few romance novels, which cannot by any stretch of the imagine be counted as works of literary fiction."
I was just scanning Goodreads for a list exactly like this, and I have to agree with Daniel. I like these books, but this is not the place for them. Hunger Games, too, should be removed.
I was just scanning Goodreads for a list exactly like this, and I have to agree with Daniel. I like these books, but this is not the place for them. Hunger Games, too, should be removed.
Removed from page 2 as nonfiction: In Cold Blood, by Truman Capote
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
Also removed from #426, Pippi Longstocking (c'mon guys, "serious fiction"):
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
I question the inclusion of The Odyssey and The Iliad (page 2), which are poetry. Also...Shakespeare's plays, literary fiction? I'm not touching these until I see feedback, but...?
The system found and removed 3 duplicates.
I am surprised to see some unlikely contenders, yet there was no E.L. Doctorow, Russell Banks, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Willa Cather, Octavia Butler, Jesmyn Ward, or Michael Chabon. I have added them, but if you want to vote for them you'll have to flip to the back pages to find them.
Removed from #125, Speedy Reads
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
The system found and removed another duplicate.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
Also removed from #426, Pippi Longstocking (c'mon guys, "serious fiction"):
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
I question the inclusion of The Odyssey and The Iliad (page 2), which are poetry. Also...Shakespeare's plays, literary fiction? I'm not touching these until I see feedback, but...?
The system found and removed 3 duplicates.
I am surprised to see some unlikely contenders, yet there was no E.L. Doctorow, Russell Banks, Charlotte Perkins Gilman, Willa Cather, Octavia Butler, Jesmyn Ward, or Michael Chabon. I have added them, but if you want to vote for them you'll have to flip to the back pages to find them.
Removed from #125, Speedy Reads
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
The system found and removed another duplicate.
I feel like Despite the Devil, The Drama Unfolds, Ballet Shoes, Percy Jackson, Thornbirds, and Outlander are not literary fiction. Same goes for Poison Study and Fablehaven, much as I like YA / middle grade
Onyx and Crake is SF and not particurarly original one at that, no matter what the author what the author would like to believe. The Time Machine is pure genre-fiction though good and original. Jurassic Park? Really.
EvanFlow wrote: "Onyx and Crake is SF and not particurarly original one at that, no matter what the author what the author would like to believe. The Time Machine is pure genre-fiction though good and original. Jur..."
Thanks for the heads up. I haven't looked at this list in awhile; looks like it needs cleaning. I'll just grab my mop...
I am editing these with a light hand, because literary fiction has about a zillion definitions, and of course, a work of literary fiction may well occupy another (fictional) genre or genres as well. If I see a book that looks like it may not belong but I haven't read it, I check to see if it has been shelved (here, on GR) as literary fiction.
That said, please remember that a novel can be very well written, and yet not be literary fiction. If a book is a play, poetry, or any variety of nonfiction, it is not literary fiction. Also, not all classics are literary fiction.
While readers are preparing my hot tar and feathers, I'll proceed.
The system found and removed 3 duplicates.
Removed for genre:
Little House on the Prairie: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7...
Curious Reality: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
84 Charing Cross Road: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
Pygmalion: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7...
The Help: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...
The Hunger Games: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
Frankenstein: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1....
This is just a beginning, but I'm out of time. I'll be back.
Thanks for the heads up. I haven't looked at this list in awhile; looks like it needs cleaning. I'll just grab my mop...
I am editing these with a light hand, because literary fiction has about a zillion definitions, and of course, a work of literary fiction may well occupy another (fictional) genre or genres as well. If I see a book that looks like it may not belong but I haven't read it, I check to see if it has been shelved (here, on GR) as literary fiction.
That said, please remember that a novel can be very well written, and yet not be literary fiction. If a book is a play, poetry, or any variety of nonfiction, it is not literary fiction. Also, not all classics are literary fiction.
While readers are preparing my hot tar and feathers, I'll proceed.
The system found and removed 3 duplicates.
Removed for genre:
Little House on the Prairie: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7...
Curious Reality: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
84 Charing Cross Road: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...
Pygmalion: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7...
The Help: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...
The Hunger Games: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
Frankenstein: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1....
This is just a beginning, but I'm out of time. I'll be back.
And I'm back. Removed for genre issues:
The Odyssey (which is poetry, yo!) : https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
and (sigh!) The Iliad: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
Where the Heart Is: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
Cheaper By the Dozen: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7...
The Trumpet of the Swan: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
Charlotte's Web: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
The Last Lecture: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
The Shining: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
Much Ado About Nothing: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
Romeo and Juliet: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
Delores Claiborne: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7...
If you see a book that is clearly not literary fiction and you want me to zap it, please leave the title and the page# on which it is found.
The Odyssey (which is poetry, yo!) : https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
and (sigh!) The Iliad: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
Where the Heart Is: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5...
Cheaper By the Dozen: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7...
The Trumpet of the Swan: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
Charlotte's Web: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
The Last Lecture: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
The Shining: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
Much Ado About Nothing: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
Romeo and Juliet: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
Delores Claiborne: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7...
If you see a book that is clearly not literary fiction and you want me to zap it, please leave the title and the page# on which it is found.
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Adriana Herrera was born and raised in the Caribbean and now lives in New York City. When not at work as a trauma therapist, she writes stories...
Anyone can add books to this list.
Yvonne