30. AMERICAN RUST- PHILIPP MAYER
The defining work of recession fiction, twenty-first century novel American Rust brilliantly documents life in small town USA. Beautifully written and constructed from intersecting narratives, Meyer's only novel deals with love, sex, family, friendship and the American dream in a dying Pennsylvania steel town. Full of desperation, American Rust is a truly moving and powerful book.
29. MEMORIES OF MY MELANCHOLY WHORES- GABRIEL GARCIA MARQUEZ
Often overshadowed by Marquez's other wonderful works, the much shorter Memories of my Melancholy Whores is an unmissable poetic triumph which deserves far more attention. Less epic and more realistic than his other novels, Memories of my Melancholy Whores is an intensely deep and reflective book, focusing on the somewhat distorted love affair between a 90 year old man and a pubescent girl. Brimming with speculations on love, life and memories, this is a somewhat uncomfortable yet brilliant book.
28. NOUGHTS AND CROSSES- MALORIE BLACKMAN
The first in Blackman's fantastic teen fiction trilogy, Noughts and Crosses is set in a racially segregated dystopia, which reverses racial history in order to portray a world where the natives of Africa historically gained a technological and organisational advantage over white Europeans. As a result the crosses (African descent) have power over the noughts (European descent.) Following the maturation of wealthy cross Sephy and less fortunate nought, Callum, the Noughts and Crosses series is an incredible novel of friendship, love, and a shocking observation on racism and terrorism, making it an essential read for young adults.
27. THE GRAPES OF WRATH- JOHN STEINBECK
Penned by the definitive twentieth-century American realist writer, The Grapes of Wrath is a brutal and moving telling of the progression of a family from Oklahoma to California during the Great Depression. Perhaps never as relevant as in today's economic situation, The Grapes of Wrath is a tale of hardship and humanity which is as beautiful as it is tragic.
26. NINETEEN EIGHTY-FOUR- GEORGE ORWELL
"Big Brother is watching you." An expression echoed down generations. Another dystopian novel, Orwell's 1949 work imagines himself into a fictional 80's world where life has descended into a state of surveillance and totalitarianism. Although not personally a fan of political fiction, the brilliance with which Orwell imagines mind-controlling Oceania makes this a frightening and thought-provoking book.
25. THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA- C.S.LEWIS
Perhaps the most magical and fantastical works of children's fiction to exist, the incredibly crafted world of Narnia is still well worth exploring for adults. Far more than the famed classic The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe, the series of seven books has everything a fantasy novel could need; a cast of colourful characters, a bizarre setting, and creative and crazy creatures. Set in a truly engaging and absorbing realm, the Chronicles of Narnia is children's fantasy at it's very best.
24. JANE EYRE- CHARLOTTE BRONTE
As a huge fan of the Bronte sisters, it would be impossible to miss Jane Eyre from this list. Truly Victorian in its story of dark and damaging childhood, rich and cruel families, and a cruel and Byronic love, Jane Eyre is admittedly a tale of struggle and hardship. However, it's also a powerful novel which explores female characterisation in a manner rare in mid-nineteenth century fiction, whilst being brilliantly socially critical and wonderfully written.
23. PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER- STEPHEN CHBOSKY
Catcher in the Rye for 90's kids, Perks of Being a Wallflower is a fantastic coming of age novel penned as letters to an unknown recipient. Documenting the awkwardness of growing up, Perks of Being a Wallflower also explores the darker side of the transition to adulthood, with drugs, abuse and sexuality all central themes. Something of a cult novel, the friendships and relationships portrayed are incredibly touching, and Chbosky's writing style is incredibly emotive and skillful as he perfectly portrays the mind of a troubled teenager.
22. HIGH FIDELITY- NICK HORNBY
The best of Hornby's many novels is an incredible portrayal of relationships in a modern world. Following a break up, central character Rob evaluates his past loves, confronting commitment and death in an easy-to-read but incredibly thought-provoking and moving work.
21. THE BELL JAR- SYLVIA PLATH
Certainly not a cheerful book, Plath's only novel is a semi-autobiographical account of the pressures of twentieth-century life for women, documenting the protagonists descent into mental illness, enforced electroconvulsive therapy, and a somewhat unfinished semblance of recovery. Given new levels of meaning as a result of Plath's experiences and suicide, The Bell Jar is an incredibly dark and unsettling work, but is also crucial in understanding the brutalities of mental illness, and struggles of womanhood.
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