What to Read
By Mark Flanagan, About.com Guide to Contemporary Literature
The cream of the literary crop, these lists highlight some of the best of the past quarter century, contemporary classics, and literary award winners.
Contemporary Literature 101
The from the latter part of the 20th century and some of what we've seen so far in the 21st.
- Contemporary Literature Essentials (Part 1)
- Contemporary Literature Essentials (Part 2)
- Contemporary Classics
This Century's Best Literature
Looking for a good book? Here is our list of this century's best literary novels yet. Enjoy.
- The Accidental by Ali Smith
- The Line of Beauty by Alan Hollinghurst
- Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
- The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen
- Europe Central by William T. Vollmann
- Freddy and Fredericka by Mark Helprin
- The Known World by Edward P. Jones
- The March by E.L. Doctorow
- Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
- On Beauty by Zadie Smith
Books for Everyone!
Looking for a good book for yourself or perhaps for a friend? Here are selections to suit the interest of readers with various inclinations.
- Books for Audiophiles
- Books for the Spirit
- Books for Sports Fans
- Funny Books
- Historical Fiction for Everyone
Literary Awards & Prizes
Each year a variety of books and authors are lauded by a whole host of literary awards. Here are some of the major ones from North America and the United Kingdom.
Best Books by Year
Every year we see a handful of books that rise to the top. We'll give you ten of the best from each year.
Nonfiction Essentials
For the nonfiction readers, here are ten recommendations for nonfiction written in the past five years.
