The Best of "Best Book" Lists Collection gathers together a selection of popular bestsellers and fan favorites that frequently appear on "Best of" lists. This diverse Collection includes picks to suit a range of age groups and genre preferences, from otherworldly fantasy to gripping crime thrillers.
Publication year 2020
Genre Biography, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Race, Values/Ideas: Literature
Tags History: U.S., Race / Racism, Politics / Government, History: World, Biography, Social Justice
Publication year 2022
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Love
Tags Romance, Fantasy, Relationships, Love / Sexuality, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Religion / Spirituality
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Identity: Gender, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Identity: Masculinity, Identity: Sexuality
Tags LGBTQ, African Literature, Love / Sexuality, Grief / Death, Modern Classic Fiction
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Politics & Government, Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Order & Chaos, Society: War
Tags Ancient Rome, Politics / Government, History: World, Military / War, History: European, Classical Period, Classic Fiction
Publication year 2018
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Society: Class, Society: Community, Identity: Mental Health, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Life/Time: The Past, Identity: Disability, Life/Time: The Future, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Natural World: Nurture v. Nature, Society: Education, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth
Tags Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Mental Illness, Science / Nature, Health / Medicine, Education, Education, Parenting, Psychology, Psychology, Self Help
Publication year 1988
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Society: Economics
Tags Business / Economics, Psychology, Science / Nature, Technology, Technology, Psychology, Arts / Culture
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Fear, Emotions/Behavior: Revenge, Identity: Gender, Society: Class, Society: Colonialism, Society: Economics, Values/Ideas: Good & Evil
Tags Historical Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Fantasy, History: World
Publication year 2021
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Race, Society: Community, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Race / Racism, Social Justice, Civil Rights / Jim Crow, Sociology, History: World, Politics / Government
Publication year 1660
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Guilt
Tags History: European, Class, Finance / Money / Wealth, Reformation, British Literature, History: World, Classic Fiction, Biography
Publication year 2011
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Femininity, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger
Tags Historical Fiction, Military / War, Gender / Feminism, Magical Realism, Jewish Literature, Grief / Death, History: World
The Dovekeepers (2011) is a historical fiction novel by Alice Hoffman, set in ancient Israel in 70-73 CE. Infused with magical realism, the book is a dramatized feminist retelling of the Siege of Masada, an event in which 960 Jews resisted the onslaught of Roman forces for nine months. The siege took place in the rugged mountain fortress of Masada and left only seven survivors: two women and five children. In Hoffman’s telling, the narrative... Read The Dovekeepers Summary
Publication year 2020
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Identity: Gender, Relationships: Family, Society: Immigration
Tags Immigration / Refugee, Relationships, History: African , Gender / Feminism, Women's Studies (Nonfiction), Race / Racism, African American Literature, Military / War, History: World, Biography
Publication year 2008
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Literature, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Life/Time: Childhood & Youth, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Daughters & Sons, Self Discovery, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Relationships: Family
Tags Realistic Fiction, Historical Fiction, Magical Realism, Children's Literature, History: World
Publication year 1919
Genre Book, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Win & Lose, Society: War, Society: Economics
Tags History: World, Business / Economics, Politics / Government
Publication year 2021
Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Science & Technology, Identity: Mental Health, Self Discovery, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Mothers
Tags Psychology, Science / Nature, Psychology, Biography
Publication year 2014
Genre Essay Collection, Nonfiction
Themes Society: Community, Identity: Mental Health
Tags Health / Medicine, Gender / Feminism, Psychology, Philosophy, Philosophy, Biography, Psychology, Relationships, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Addiction / Substance Abuse
The Empathy Exams: Essays by Leslie Jamison is a collection of nonfiction essays that are connected thematically by pain and caring. Jamison uses a combination of personal experiences and journalistic approaches to ponder essential questions about both physical and emotional wounds, tenderness, and how people connect through pain. First published in April 2014, this collection premiered at #11 on the New York Times bestseller list and has received considerable acclaim from reviewers across the world... Read The Empathy Exams Summary
Publication year 2023
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Identity: Indigenous, Natural World: Place, Society: Colonialism, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality
Tags Scandinavian Literature, History: World, Historical Fiction, Romance
Publication year 2017
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Mothers, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Femininity, Natural World: Climate, Relationships: Friendship
Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction
The End We Start From (2017) is a dystopian novel by British author Megan Hunter. Set in an apocalyptic version of London, the story centers on climate disaster survival and the trauma of navigating pregnancy and motherhood in the wake of a cataclysmic climate event that alters the world as we know it. The story is primarily told from the first-person perspective of an unnamed narrator and written in a lyrical style that swings between... Read The End We Start From Summary
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Values/Ideas: Power & Greed, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice
Tags Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Romance, Action / Adventure, Medieval Literature / Middle Ages, History: European, British Literature, History: World
Publication year 2021
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies
Tags Romance, Fantasy, Love / Sexuality, Relationships, Holidays & Occasions, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Religion / Spirituality
Publication year 2020
Genre Novel, Fiction
Themes Relationships: Friendship, Identity: Gender, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Race, Society: Class, Society: Colonialism, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Equality
Tags Historical Fiction, Gender / Feminism, British Literature, History: World