Trending literary fiction Books on Reddit

Discover highly recommended literary fiction books trending on Reddit. Handpicked and updated weekly by reddit community.

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Cover of Where the Crawdads Sing

Where the Crawdads Sing

Delia Owens

Kya, an isolated girl growing up in the marshes of North Carolina, becomes a suspect in a murder case while exploring themes of loneliness and resilience.

Literary FictionMysteryNature
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Cover of Moby Dick

Moby Dick

Herman Melville

Captain Ahab's obsessive quest to hunt down the titular white whale unfolds in a rich tapestry of symbolism and philosophical discourse. Each reading reveals new depths in its themes of obsession, humanity, and nature, showcasing Melville's complex prose and imagery.

literary fictionobsessionwhalingsymbolism
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Cover of Beloved

Beloved

Toni Morrison

A powerful tale of a former enslaved woman haunted by the trauma of her past and her desire for freedom and family.

Literary FictionHistorical Fiction
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Cover of Life After Life

Life After Life

Kate Atkinson

Follows a woman who repeatedly dies and is reborn into the same life, contending with her multiple destinies throughout the 20th century.

Historical FictionLiterary Fiction
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Cover of Stoner

Stoner

John Edward Williams

The life of a gentle and unassuming professor of English literature, who faces personal and professional struggles.

literary fictionacademicdrama
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Cover of For Whom The Bell Tolls

For Whom The Bell Tolls

Ernest Hemingway

Set during the Spanish Civil War, the story follows an American dynamiter who is part of a band of guerillas.

literary fictionwarhistorical
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Cover of Birds of America

Birds of America

Lorrie Moore

A series of interlinked stories capturing the complexities of modern life and relationships, infused with sharp humor and insight.

Literary FictionShort StoriesContemporary Fiction
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Cover of Tenth of December

Tenth of December

George Saunders

A collection of stories that delve into the moral dilemmas of modern life, blending dark humor with tenderness and empathy.

Literary FictionShort StoriesExperimental Fiction
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Cover of My Antonia

My Antonia

Willa Cather

The life of a young immigrant girl growing up in Nebraska and the friendships she forges along the way.

literary fictionhistorical
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Cover of The Bean Trees

The Bean Trees

Barbara Kingsolver

The story of a young woman who adopts a child and her journey of self-discovery and community building.

literary fictionfamilyrelationships
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Cover of Ceremony

Ceremony

Leslie Marmon Silko

A Native American soldier returns from WWII and seeks to find meaning and heal from his experiences.

Literary FictionHistorical Fiction
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Cover of Quicksand

Quicksand

Nella Larsen

A woman of mixed race struggles with her identity and societal expectations in early 20th century America.

Literary FictionIdentity
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Cover of Passing

Passing

Nella Larsen

Follows two light-skinned African American women, one who 'passes' as white and the conflicts this creates.

Literary FictionRacial Identity
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Cover of Shuggie Bain

Shuggie Bain

Douglas Stuart

A poignant coming-of-age story set in 1980s Glasgow, focusing on a young boy and his alcoholic mother.

literary fictionhistorical fiction
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Cover of The Magus

The Magus

John Fowles

A young Englishman becomes embroiled in a mysterious and psychologically intense game of manipulation on a Greek island.

literary fictionpsychological thriller
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Cover of A Winter's Tale

A Winter's Tale

Mark Helprin

A fantastical saga set in New York City that intertwines love and magic across time.

literary fiction
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Cover of Watership Down

Watership Down

Richard Adams

Follows a group of rabbits as they escape from their warren to find a new home, facing various challenges along the way.

literary fictionadventure
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Cover of Tales of the City

Tales of the City

Armistead Maupin

Chronicles the lives of residents in a San Francisco boarding house, exploring themes of love, identity, and community.

literary fictionmystery
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Cover of Rachel’s Holiday

Rachel’s Holiday

Marian Keyes

Follows a young woman's journey of self-discovery as she deals with addiction and relationships.

chick litliterary fiction
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Cover of The Dogs of Babel

The Dogs of Babel

Carolyn Parkhurst

After his wife dies, a linguist tries to teach his dog to speak to uncover the truth about her last day.

literary fictionpet lossgrief
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Cover of A Prayer for Owen Meany

A Prayer for Owen Meany

John Irving

A boy believes he is God's instrument after he accidentally kills his best friend and goes on a journey of faith and destiny.

literary fictioncoming of agereligion
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Cover of Earthlings

Earthlings

Sayaka Murata

A story about love, identity, and belonging intertwining with the surreal experiences of its protagonist.

literary fictioncontemporary fiction
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