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Best Reading for the Contemporary Writer
Non-genre literature that emphasizes craft and character development over escapism. This is a contemporary literature list and I would offer these to any contemporary writer who wants a firm grasp on what is excellent on a sentence-for-sentence level right now. This is also an excellent list for those looking for the most literary works in contemporary fiction who have not previously been familiarized with much of it.
Score
A book’s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book.
| 1 |
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The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
by
3.89 avg rating — 276,159 ratings
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| 2 |
|
Jesus’ Son
by
4.12 avg rating — 39,544 ratings
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| 3 |
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Interpreter of Maladies
by
4.18 avg rating — 204,062 ratings
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| 4 |
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The Things They Carried
by
4.14 avg rating — 339,485 ratings
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| 5 |
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Drown
by
4.01 avg rating — 37,068 ratings
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| 6 |
|
Never Let Me Go
by
Kazuo Ishiguro (Goodreads Author)
3.85 avg rating — 825,697 ratings
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| 7 |
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Birds of America: Stories
by
4.09 avg rating — 16,489 ratings
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| 8 |
|
The Remains of the Day
by
Kazuo Ishiguro (Goodreads Author)
4.14 avg rating — 348,610 ratings
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| 9 |
|
Beloved (Beloved Trilogy, #1)
by
3.97 avg rating — 480,721 ratings
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| 10 |
|
Orchard of Dust
by
3.76 avg rating — 1,283 ratings
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| 11 |
|
A Good Man Is Hard to Find and Other Stories
by
4.16 avg rating — 48,943 ratings
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| 12 |
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Unaccustomed Earth
by
4.14 avg rating — 95,959 ratings
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| 13 |
|
What We Talk About When We Talk About Love
by
4.01 avg rating — 75,661 ratings
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| 14 |
|
Gilead (Gilead, #1)
by
3.85 avg rating — 122,065 ratings
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| 15 |
|
Among the Missing
by
Dan Chaon (Goodreads Author)
4.04 avg rating — 2,929 ratings
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| 16 |
|
Runaway: Stories
by
3.97 avg rating — 27,526 ratings
score: 884,
and
9 people voted
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| 17 |
|
Cloud Atlas
by
4.01 avg rating — 264,189 ratings
score: 869,
and
9 people voted
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| 18 |
|
The Hours
by
Michael Cunningham (Goodreads Author)
3.96 avg rating — 147,467 ratings
score: 867,
and
9 people voted
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| 19 |
|
The Dead Fish Museum
by
3.93 avg rating — 1,724 ratings
score: 863,
and
9 people voted
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| 20 |
|
The Collected Stories
by
4.25 avg rating — 7,281 ratings
score: 781,
and
8 people voted
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| 21 |
|
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay
by
4.18 avg rating — 210,684 ratings
score: 765,
and
8 people voted
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| 22 |
|
Rock Springs
by
4.06 avg rating — 5,712 ratings
score: 675,
and
7 people voted
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| 23 |
|
All the Light We Cannot See
by
Anthony Doerr (Goodreads Author)
4.31 avg rating — 1,924,090 ratings
score: 584,
and
6 people voted
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| 24 |
|
The Point and Other Stories
by
4.18 avg rating — 540 ratings
score: 573,
and
6 people voted
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| 25 |
|
How to Breathe Underwater
by
Julie Orringer (Goodreads Author)
3.95 avg rating — 6,575 ratings
score: 545,
and
6 people voted
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| 26 |
|
MFA in a Box
by
John Rember (Goodreads Author)
3.94 avg rating — 89 ratings
score: 500,
and
5 people voted
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| 27 |
|
The Sound and the Fury
by
3.86 avg rating — 193,372 ratings
score: 483,
and
5 people voted
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| 28 |
|
The First Five Pages: A Writer's Guide To Staying Out of the Rejection Pile
by
Noah Lukeman (Goodreads Author)
3.98 avg rating — 3,661 ratings
score: 400,
and
4 people voted
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| 28 |
|
Bandersnatch: C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien and the Creative Collaboration of the Inklings
by
Diana Pavlac Glyer (Goodreads Author)
4.28 avg rating — 1,336 ratings
score: 400,
and
4 people voted
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| 30 |
|
We Need to Talk About Kevin
by
Lionel Shriver (Goodreads Author)
4.08 avg rating — 208,503 ratings
score: 396,
and
4 people voted
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| 31 |
|
Contemporary Fiction 50 Short Stories Since 1970
by
Lex Williford (Editor)
4.10 avg rating — 1,220 ratings
score: 394,
and
4 people voted
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| 32 |
|
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft
by
Stephen King (Goodreads Author)
4.34 avg rating — 312,393 ratings
score: 392,
and
4 people voted
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| 33 |
|
The God of Small Things
by
Arundhati Roy (Goodreads Author)
3.96 avg rating — 319,260 ratings
score: 391,
and
4 people voted
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| 34 |
|
To the Lighthouse
by
3.81 avg rating — 209,530 ratings
score: 390,
and
4 people voted
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| 35 |
|
Selected Stories
by
4.26 avg rating — 7,198 ratings
score: 377,
and
4 people voted
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| 35 |
|
We the Animals
by
Justin Torres (Goodreads Author)
3.73 avg rating — 26,226 ratings
score: 377,
and
4 people voted
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| 37 |
|
Another Bullshit Night in Suck City
by
3.80 avg rating — 11,840 ratings
score: 367,
and
4 people voted
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| 37 |
|
Both Ways Is the Only Way I Want It
by
Maile Meloy (Goodreads Author)
3.83 avg rating — 6,318 ratings
score: 367,
and
4 people voted
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| 39 |
|
Buck: A Memoir
by
M.K. Asante (Goodreads Author)
4.04 avg rating — 3,065 ratings
score: 300,
and
3 people voted
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| 39 |
|
The Escapist
by
David Puretz (Goodreads Author)
4.41 avg rating — 22 ratings
score: 300,
and
3 people voted
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| 41 |
|
Brief Interviews with Hideous Men
by
3.84 avg rating — 31,316 ratings
score: 297,
and
3 people voted
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| 42 |
|
If I Loved You, I Would Tell You This
by
Robin Black (Goodreads Author)
3.77 avg rating — 2,659 ratings
score: 293,
and
3 people voted
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| 42 |
|
Portnoy's Complaint
by
3.71 avg rating — 72,724 ratings
score: 293,
and
3 people voted
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| 42 |
|
Flaubert's Parrot
by
3.65 avg rating — 16,352 ratings
score: 293,
and
3 people voted
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| 45 |
|
Pilgrim at Tinker Creek
by
4.08 avg rating — 29,257 ratings
score: 292,
and
3 people voted
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| 46 |
|
The Metamorphosis
by
3.90 avg rating — 1,362,655 ratings
score: 291,
and
3 people voted
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| 47 |
|
The Plague of Doves
by
3.80 avg rating — 18,408 ratings
score: 289,
and
3 people voted
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| 48 |
|
The Beet Queen
by
3.87 avg rating — 14,512 ratings
score: 287,
and
3 people voted
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| 49 |
|
Le correzioni
by
3.84 avg rating — 195,483 ratings
score: 286,
and
3 people voted
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| 50 |
|
Orphans
by
4.46 avg rating — 224 ratings
score: 283,
and
3 people voted
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| 51 |
|
A Mercy
by
3.76 avg rating — 32,173 ratings
score: 272,
and
3 people voted
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| 52 |
|
Sportswriter
by
3.69 avg rating — 20,036 ratings
score: 271,
and
3 people voted
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| 53 |
|
Ray
by
3.86 avg rating — 1,586 ratings
score: 270,
and
3 people voted
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| 53 |
|
The Girl in the Flammable Skirt
by
Aimee Bender (Goodreads Author)
3.86 avg rating — 8,031 ratings
score: 270,
and
3 people voted
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| 55 |
|
Self-Help
by
4.11 avg rating — 15,567 ratings
score: 269,
and
3 people voted
|
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| 56 |
|
The Ice at the Bottom of the World: Stories
by
3.99 avg rating — 1,079 ratings
score: 268,
and
3 people voted
|
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| 57 |
|
The Theory of Light and Matter
by
Andrew Porter (Goodreads Author)
4.28 avg rating — 1,458 ratings
score: 265,
and
3 people voted
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| 58 |
|
Sabbath's Theater
by
3.89 avg rating — 12,065 ratings
score: 260,
and
3 people voted
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| 59 |
|
Checkered Fences
by
Alma Hudson (Goodreads Author)
4.35 avg rating — 20 ratings
score: 200,
and
2 people voted
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| 59 |
|
Little Lovely Things
by
Maureen Joyce Connolly (Goodreads Author)
3.85 avg rating — 3,448 ratings
score: 200,
and
2 people voted
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| 59 |
|
The Journeys We Wander (The Journeys We Wander #1)
by
Stefan Calin (Goodreads Author)
4.46 avg rating — 13 ratings
score: 200,
and
2 people voted
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| 62 |
|
Craft in the Real World: Rethinking Fiction Writing and Workshopping
by
Matthew Salesses (Goodreads Author)
4.43 avg rating — 2,350 ratings
score: 199,
and
2 people voted
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| 62 |
|
Writing on Empty: A Guide to Finding Your Voice
by
3.63 avg rating — 337 ratings
score: 199,
and
2 people voted
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| 64 |
|
alt.punk
by
Lavinia Ludlow (Goodreads Author)
3.85 avg rating — 79 ratings
score: 198,
and
2 people voted
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| 64 |
|
Leaf Storm and Other Stories
by
3.81 avg rating — 3,265 ratings
score: 198,
and
2 people voted
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| 64 |
|
Write for Life: Creative Tools for Every Writer
by
3.97 avg rating — 1,020 ratings
score: 198,
and
2 people voted
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| 67 |
|
A Prayer for Owen Meany
by
John Irving (Goodreads Author)
4.24 avg rating — 333,724 ratings
score: 196,
and
2 people voted
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| 67 |
|
Meander, Spiral, Explode: Design and Pattern in Narrative
by
4.09 avg rating — 2,132 ratings
score: 196,
and
2 people voted
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| 69 |
|
Dangerous Laughter
by
3.82 avg rating — 2,344 ratings
score: 195,
and
2 people voted
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| 69 |
|
The Leftovers
by
3.43 avg rating — 49,701 ratings
score: 195,
and
2 people voted
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| 69 |
|
The Republic
by
3.97 avg rating — 221,778 ratings
score: 195,
and
2 people voted
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| 69 |
|
The Iliad
by
3.93 avg rating — 498,987 ratings
score: 195,
and
2 people voted
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| 73 |
|
You've Got to Read This: Contemporary American Writers Introduce Stories that Held Them in Awe
by
Ron Hansen (Editor)
4.11 avg rating — 454 ratings
score: 194,
and
2 people voted
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| 73 |
|
The Light Between Oceans
by
M.L. Stedman (Goodreads Author)
4.04 avg rating — 475,130 ratings
score: 194,
and
2 people voted
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| 75 |
|
If You Want to Write : A Book about Art, Independence and Spirit
by
4.12 avg rating — 8,641 ratings
score: 193,
and
2 people voted
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| 76 |
|
Leaving Atlanta
by
Tayari Jones (Goodreads Author)
4.05 avg rating — 6,738 ratings
score: 192,
and
2 people voted
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| 77 |
|
Il giorno dell'indipendenza
by
3.86 avg rating — 16,674 ratings
score: 190,
and
2 people voted
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| 78 |
|
Lolita
by
3.87 avg rating — 926,541 ratings
score: 188,
and
2 people voted
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| 79 |
|
Paradise (Beloved Trilogy, #3)
by
3.86 avg rating — 28,685 ratings
score: 187,
and
2 people voted
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| 80 |
|
A God in Ruins (Todd Family #2)
by
3.95 avg rating — 59,384 ratings
score: 184,
and
2 people voted
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| 81 |
|
Gorilla, My Love
by
4.11 avg rating — 2,320 ratings
score: 181,
and
2 people voted
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| 82 |
|
Mangled Hands
by
really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 33 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
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| 82 |
|
Balancing Act
by
Meera Godbole Krishnamurthy (Goodreads Author)
3.23 avg rating — 44 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
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| 82 |
|
A Heart to Mend
by
Myne Whitman (Goodreads Author)
3.69 avg rating — 131 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
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| 82 |
|
Look at Me
by
Jennifer Egan (Goodreads Author)
3.43 avg rating — 14,189 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
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| 82 |
|
The Jump Artist
by
3.53 avg rating — 213 ratings
score: 100,
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1 person voted
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| 82 |
|
The Advanced Genius Theory: Are They Out of Their Minds or Ahead of Their Time?
by
Jason Hartley (Goodreads Author)
3.56 avg rating — 407 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
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| 82 |
|
Shadow on the Wall (The SandStorm Chronicles, #1)
by
Pavarti K. Tyler (Goodreads Author)
4.13 avg rating — 90 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
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| 82 |
|
How I Live Now
by
Meg Rosoff (Goodreads Author)
3.57 avg rating — 46,837 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
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| 82 |
|
Spiritus Mundi - The Romance (Spiritus Mundi, #2)
by
Robert Sheppard (Goodreads Author)
3.58 avg rating — 24 ratings
score: 100,
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1 person voted
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| 82 |
|
Put Them Through the Maze: The Secrets of How to Write the Ultimate Novel
by
T.D. McMichael (Goodreads Author)
3.68 avg rating — 19 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
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| 82 |
|
The Last Encore
by
Julia Butler (Goodreads Author)
3.54 avg rating — 194 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
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| 82 |
|
Last Exit to Brooklyn
by
3.92 avg rating — 28,931 ratings
score: 100,
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1 person voted
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| 82 |
|
The Maestro, The Magistrate and The Mathematician
by
Tendai Huchu (Goodreads Author)
3.48 avg rating — 223 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
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| 82 |
|
Boomer1
by
Daniel Torday (Goodreads Author)
3.09 avg rating — 460 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
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| 82 |
|
The Scream Writer's Handbook: How to Write a Terrifying Screenplay in 10 Bloody Steps
by
Thomas Fenton (Goodreads Author)
3.76 avg rating — 50 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
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| 82 |
|
The Influential Author: How and Why to Write, Publish, and Sell Nonfiction Books That Matter (2nd Edition)
by
Gregory V. Diehl (Goodreads Author)
4.59 avg rating — 107 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
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| 82 |
|
The Fell
by
Robert Jenkins (Goodreads Author)
4.10 avg rating — 73 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
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| 82 |
|
Brown River
by
Matthew Balleza (Goodreads Author)
3.85 avg rating — 71 ratings
score: 100,
and
1 person voted
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| 82 |
|
The Strange Courtship of Abigail Bird
by
John Blumenthal (Goodreads Author)
4.17 avg rating — 36 ratings
score: 100,
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1 person voted
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Olivia
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by
Sal
(new)
Jan 17, 2010 11:29PM
Annie Dillard would be on a par with Beethoven if she wrote music instead of books. She is lyrical, sharp and clear. A golden note to enjoy and ponder. If you have not read her, you have sorely cheated yourself of a marvelous experience.
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flag
It would seem that The first Five Pages, and MFA in a box do not belong to this list of literature, as they are not literature, but how-to manuals about writing.Agree?
If yes, I'll remove them.
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Anyone can add books to this list.
How to Vote
To vote on existing books from the list, beside each book there is a link vote for this book clicking it will add that book to your votes.
To vote on books not in the list or books you couldn't find in the list, you can click on the tab add books to this list and then choose from your books, or simply search.
