Fiction

Sections

• Novels - General
• Passport Books
• Short Story Collections

The asterisk (*) indicates that I'd recommend reading anything this author has written.


Novels - General
The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
This book is perfect for when you need something light but don't want to sacrifice quality. Don, a brilliant scientist with Asperger's, sets out to find the perfect wife. Hilarity ensues.
The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach
My favorite aspect of this baseball-centric tale is the narration, which I found hysterically funny. Underneath, though, its nuanced, complex characters ponder deep questions.
Where'd You Go, Bernadette? by Maria Semple
Not highbrow literature by any means, but I found this tale about a brilliant, unique woman humorous and charming. Shrewd observations about society and an Antarctic setting didn't hurt.
We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver
A gripping and insightful account of a school shooting, told by the shooter's mother. The crescendo, despite all the foreshadowing, feels raw, shocking, and real.
Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
This superb tale by a deft, clever Nigerian author defies description. Ifemelu's search for herself across continents is profound, relatable, and entertaining. Adichie's writing sparkles. READ IT.
The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
You'll fly through this monstrously thick tome. Although some parts could have been edited more tightly, on the whole it's a vividly told, splendidly imagined work of art.
The Round House by Louise Erdrich
Erdrich is a superbly accomplished author, and her account of a tragedy set on an Indian reservation is exquisite.
Book of Ruth by Jane Hamilton
This book is not for the faint of heart - the ending is simply harrowing - but the voice of the narrator is one of the most original and fascinating I've come across.
Plainsong by Kent Haruf
Lovely story of tender, gentle people living in a harsh landscape. I couldn't put it down and loved the ending.
Let the Great Word Spin by Colum McCann*
Spellbinding blend of New York stories intertwined to form a beautiful novel.
House of Sand and Fog by Andres Dubus III
A disturbing, thought-provoking, beautifully written book. Two characters, who both want the same thing, take turns narrating, and the storytelling is so masterfully nuanced it's tough to pick a side.
Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
Fascinating page-turner about Cal and his/her genetic history, as well as the story of several generations of the Stephanides family. This book will stay with you.
Freedom by Jonathan Franzen*
I love the way Franzen discusses, critically but tenderly, themes like love, family, politics, culture, idealism, convention, and rebellion in America, both in this book and in The Corrections.
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Normally I'm suspicious of popular fiction, but this moving story, set in the South of the '60s and told by several narrators of different races and social standings, is a shining exception. 
Three Junes by Julia Glass
Follow the various members of a Scottish family to different locals and eras in this rich portrait.
Skinny Legs and All by Tom Robbins*
No one, with the possible exception of George Saunders, is better at marrying zany wit with profound wisdom. It's hard to pick a favorite, but I think this Salome-themed romp takes the cake.
Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
Wonderful novel straddling Ethiopia and America about family, medicine, and culture clashes. Hard to believe this stunning book is Ethiopian-American physician Verghese's first novel.
Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
A beautiful series of vignettes about the people in a small Maine town. Strout's voice is breath-taking.
The Lords of Discipline by Pat Conroy*
Hard to pick a favorite from this deservedly lauded author's lovely, southern-themed offerings, but this story of dark racism and illuminating friendship set at the Citadel is particularly wonderful. Note: Read almost anything by Conroy, but skip his disappointing South of Broad.
The Accidental Tourist by Anne Tyler
A fresh, unconventional love story about an unconventional couple. You'll love the ending. 
Housekeeping and Gilead by Marilynne Robinson
Robinson's writing is simply stupendous. I loved these marvelous, introspective books, one about unexpected family ties, the other about an aging minister and previous generations of his family. You won't be able to put down, or forget these books.
Empire Falls by Richard Russo
Engaging presentation of small-town life with a host of secondary characters every bit as vital and intriguing as the protagonist. Dramatic with moments of wonderful comic relief.
Mudbound by Hillary Jordan
Kingsolver says it best: "Her characters walked straight out of 1940s Mississippi and into the part of my brain where sympathy and anger and love reside, leaving my heart racing. They are with me still."
Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury
Oh, how I swoon just thinking about this collection of gorgeous, tender, nostalgic vignettes! An especially great read for those moments when your faith in humanity is feeling especially fragile. 
Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer*
Loved this story that spans countries, cultures, and decades and is punctuated by tragedy and comic relief in turn. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is also wonderful.
Atonement by Ian McEwan
The rich story of class divides, perceived crimes, and lost innocence in England before and during World War II. Masterful.
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
Narrated by a teenage boy with Asperger's, this is an insightful book.
Old School by Tobias Wolff
Graceful, wise account of coming of age, set in an all-boys prep school obsessed with literary giants.
A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole
One of the funniest books I've ever read. The portrayal of New Orleans and our hero Ignatius J. Reilly are delightfully original. This book is simply too wacky and wonderful to miss. 
Sophie's Choice by William Styron
Fifth-wheel, wanna-be author Stingo tells the tale of the turbulent love affair between his new friends Sophie and Nathan, both haunted and flawed characters busy leading each other toward destruction.
Gonzalez and Daughter Trucking Company by Maria Amparo Escadon
A wild, original father-daughter tale, filled with adventure and humor. 
When the Emperor was Divine by Julie Otsuka
Each chapter of this spare, searing novel focuses on a different member of the four-person Japanese-American family transported from their Berkeley home to an internment camp in 1942.
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood*
The world Atwood creates has re-embraced strict behavioral codes endorsed by sections of the Bible. This ominous, well-written book speaks volumes about human nature. 
Life of Pi by Yann Martel
Pi is not the only survivor of a shipwreck: He shares a small lifeboat with a fully grown, very irked male tiger. This survival story practically hums with tension and ends with a jaw-dropping twist.
The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
Wonderful story, told in gorgeous prose by one of my favorite unreliable narrators.
White Teeth by Zadie Smith*
Great book, about culture clashes and love over two generations in London.
Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen
Fast-paced, clever adventure story of the kid who really did run away to join the circus. This tale of life on a Depression-era circus train is not quite high literature, but it's a rich page-turner.
The Secret Life of Bees by Susan Monk Kidd
A nice, light read that doesn't feel frivolous. This is the story of a motherless, white, southern girl in the 1960's who is taken in by a trio of black, beekeeping sisters. 
Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner
Multi-generational novel that is utterly gorgeous. 
Ishmael by Daniel Quinn
A mind-bending, philosophical book in which a man and his unconventional teacher explore nothing short of the meaning of life. 
A Prayer for Owen Meaney by John Irvin
This novel is filled with memorable characters, but centers around the lifelong friendship between two boys. Its ending is one of the most carefully crafted, satisfying, and poignant I've ever read.  


Passport Books - To transport you to exotic places and/or other eras
Any Human Heart by William Boyd
Despite its bad title, this novel, which takes the form of journal entries by a fictional author, is excellent. Logan writes the story of his sprawling, extraordinary life with insight and grace. 
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
Count Alexander Rostov, who is sentenced by the Communist party to house arrest in the Metropol Hotel for being bourgeois, is one of my favorite characters in literature. This book is a gem. Read it.
Barkskins by Annie Proulx
A sweeping masterpiece that spans centuries. This massive tome tells the stories of the descendants of two French lumbermen who immigrate to Canada in the 1600's. Fascinating and pertinent.
Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
I'd pay $25 to read a grocery written by this woman. She is superb. This novel is the harrowing story of Nigeria's civil war in the 1960's, and it is simply stunning.
A Man Called Ove by Frederik Backman
This story of the redemption of an elderly curmudgeon sounds like no more than trite treacle, but it is saved by sharp, witty writing and genuine insight. I actually both laughed and cried. 
A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra
This extraordinary novel, set in Chechnya during the 2004 conflict (with plenty of flashbacks), was so beautiful and profound I'm at a bit of a loss. It rewards those who can devote a bit of time to it.
All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
Certainly the best novel I've read in at least six months. This haunting, vivid story follows a blind French girl, a brilliant German boy, and a few others before and during WWII. Spellbinding.
Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons
This charming, light little novel is a delight from beginning to end. It tells the story of a London girl in the 1920's who goes to live on a country farm with her relatives. Hilarity ensues.
The Alienist by Caleb Carr
I'm usually skeptical of murder mysteries, but this page-turner, set in New York City during the Gilded Age, is clever and eloquent. An intelligent page-turner.
Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
Ursula, our hero, dies and is reborn again and again throughout this rich novel set in England (mostly) in the years before/during/after WWI. It's deep and has moments of wicked humor.
The Brothers K by David James Duncan
I can't stop thinking about this book, which is set in a small Washington town in the '60s. Duncan expertly blends searing moments with laugh-out-loud humor and the result is masterful. 
The Dollmaker by Harriet Arnow
Why isn't Arnow's name as familiar as Hemingway's and Cather's? This story of a poor, country family's struggle to survive in wartime Detroit is a visceral read that you will feel in your marrow.
The Orphan Master's Son by Adam Johnson
This haunting, exhaustively researched novel feels made-up sometimes, though you'll learn that some of the most far-fetched aspects of North Korea portrayed by Johnson are true. Lots of dark humor.
How to Get Filthy Rich in Rising Asia by Mohsin Hamid
Written as an instruction manual, this book tells the story of one young man's rise to prosperity. It's humorous, inventive, and all-around excellent.
Black Swan Green by David Mitchell*
I love all things Mitchell, but I listed this novel because it deserves far more press. Read all of his books, but don't forget to include this warm, moving tale of a young stutterer in small-town England.
Old Filth by Jane Gardam
I was captivated by Old Filth, a lovable, old-school English barrister and judge, but I liked the sequel, The Man in the Wooden Hat, a bit less. I have not read the final installment, Old Friends.
Partitions by Amit Majmudar
The harsh realities of India's partition into two countries related in unimaginably gorgeous, poetic language.
Gertrude and Claudius by John Updike
A lushly imagined account of the events the precede the familiar plot in Hamlet, told by Hamlet's mother Gertrude and uncle/stepfather Claudius. An intriguing must-read for Shakespeare lovers.
City of Thieves by David Benioff
Think a book set during the siege of Leningrad can't by funny? Think again. I couldn't put this hilarious, poignant book down. 
Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie*
Deep, clever, profound, and wildly imaginative, one of my favorites from my favorite wordsmith.
Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer*
Loved this story that spans countries, cultures, and decades and is punctuated by tragedy and comic relief in turn. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is also wonderful.
People of the Book and Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks*
I'm smitten by Brooks's historical fiction; there's nothing better. Read all of her books, but particularly these two, one about the history of a rare book (sounds boring - it's not) and one about a Medieval town reeling from the Black Plague.

The photo that inspired The Cellist of Sarajevo.

The Cellist of Sarajevo by Steven Galloway
This interlocking series of vignettes takes place in Sarajevo during the siege. This stunningly thought-provoking book was inspired by a real photograph (right).
Under the Frog by Tibor Fischer*
A largely unrecognized gem. This is the story of two Hungarian basketball players traveling around their crumbling country in the years after WWII. Its black humor is delightful.
White Tiger by Aravind Adiga
Contemporary satire set in modern India, told by its endearing and very flawed protagonist.
The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien
A highly introspective, creatively written story of American soldiers in the jungles of Vietnam. No book has brought home the horrors of that war for me more than this one. 
The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough
Breath-taking, multi-generational story of a family of Australian sheepherders. If the measure of a book's success is how often one thinks of it after completion, McCullough's novel is a true winner.
The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay
The only thing I'd change about this phenomenal novel is its title; it is not a self-help book but rather the tale of a South African boy's foray into boxing and adulthood. I know. I don't like boxing either. I still devoured this book and so will you.
In the Time of the Butterflies by Julia Alvarez
A richly imagined retelling of a true event: the murders of the Mirabal sisters in Trujillo's Dominican Republic.
English Creek by Ivan Doig
Wonderfully three-dimensional portrait of a ranch family in 1930's Montana and a coming-of-age tale. Vivid, lyrical, funny, and real.
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini*
If you're as fascinated by the Middle East as I am, you must read this book. In it, a man returns to the most dangerous parts of his native Kabul to try to save the son of his childhood friend. 
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Anne Shaffer
This novel is told through letters. You'll fall in love with the wonderfully eccentric residents of tiny Guernsey Island. And, of course, there are secrets to uncover. A very enjoyable read. 
Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See
A story of the deep friendship between two women in 19th century China who lean on each other through all their new, sometimes frightening experiences: foot-binding, marriage, motherhood, etc.
Bel Canto by Ann Patchett
The incredible story of a group of musicians and diplomatic concert-goers taken hostage in South America. The characters and the relationships they strike up are simply unforgettable.
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistlestop Cafe by Fannie Flagg
Simply delightful, with some contemporary chapters and some that jump backward in time to the narrator's childhood in the South. I've rarely had such fun with a book. 
The Red Tent by Anita Diamant
Diamant fleshes out the story of woman mentioned only briefly in the context of Jacob's story in the Bible. Incredibly rich story-telling.
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver*
In this arresting novel, a zealous missionary hauls his wife and daughters to the Congo in the 60s to convert the natives. But they are unprepared for the harshness of tribal life. Gripping and real.

Short Story Collections
Tenth of December by George Saunders*
Saunders is my favorite newly discovered author. I love the humanity in his zany stories and the sharp truths peeking out of the tongue-in-cheek farce. Also check out CivilwarLand in Bad Decline.
The Bagombo Snuffbox by Kurt Vonnegut*
Vonnegut is best known for his novels, but I'm wild about his short stories. They're every bit as delightful and zany as his longer works.
Where I'm Calling From by Raymond Carver*
Carver's stories are masterful, but reading several of them in one sitting can be a heavy endeavor. Read him, but break it up. 
The Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri
As usual, Lahiri explores issues relevant to Indian and Indian-American communities in a way that is so deeply human they'll resonate with any reader, regardless of nationality or background.
Here We Are in Paradise by Tony Earley*
Deceptively simple writing that's wonderfully substantive.
Music for Chameleons by Truman Capote*
Capote's arrogance can be off-putting, but a trip through the pages of this book makes one think that he'd be nuts not to be proud of his monumental talent. 
Nine Stories by J.D. Salinger*
I can't get enough of this collection.