BookMatcherBest Literary Fiction Books
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Best Literary Fiction Books

Character-driven stories with beautiful prose that explore the human condition and challenge conventions.

The top literary fiction books

Ranked by editorial weight, reader signal, and what's worth your time right now.

  1. The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
    1of the list

    The God of Small Things

    by Arundhati Roy

    The God of Small Things is the debut novel of Indian writer Arundhati Roy. It is a story about the childhood experiences of fraternal twins whose lives are destroyed by the "Love Laws" that lay down "who should be loved, and how. And how much." The book explores how the small things affect people's behavior and their lives. The book also reflects its irony against casteism, which is a major discrimination that prevails in India. It won the Booker Prize in 1997.

    Literary FictionWomen's Fictiondalit
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  2. Stolz und Vorurteil by Jane Austen
    2of the list

    Stolz und Vorurteil

    by Jane Austen

    The first edition of the novel (1813). Introductory materials and revised and expanded footnotes by Donald Gray and Mary A. Favret. Biographical portraits of Austen by family members and— new to this edition— by Jon Spence (from Becoming Jane Austen) and Paula Byrne (from The Real Jane Austen: A Life in Small Things). Fourteen critical essays—eleven of them new to this edition. "Writers on Austen"—a new section of brief comments by Mark Twain, Virginia Woolf, Henry James, and others. A Chronology and a Selected Bibliography.

    SubjectsBritish and irish fiction (fictional works by one author)Brothers and sisters
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  3. Stolz und Vorurteil by Jane Austen
    3of the list

    Stolz und Vorurteil

    by Jane Austen

    The first edition of the novel (1813). Introductory materials and revised and expanded footnotes by Donald Gray and Mary A. Favret. Biographical portraits of Austen by family members and— new to this edition— by Jon Spence (from Becoming Jane Austen) and Paula Byrne (from The Real Jane Austen: A Life in Small Things). Fourteen critical essays—eleven of them new to this edition. "Writers on Austen"—a new section of brief comments by Mark Twain, Virginia Woolf, Henry James, and others. A Chronology and a Selected Bibliography.

    SubjectsBritish and irish fiction (fictional works by one author)Brothers and sisters
    Buy on Amazon

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Frequently asked questions

What are the best literary fiction books to read?

Our curated list features the top literary fiction books based on reader reviews, critical acclaim, and editorial picks. Top recommendations include "The God of Small Things" by Arundhati Roy.

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