Orbital by Samantha Harvey
From orbit, Earth is a breathtaking spectacle, a vibrant testament to life’s beauty and fragility. Six astronauts, conducting experiments and gathering data, spend their days observing the planet’s wonders—glaciers, deserts, oceans, and seasons—while grappling with their deep connection to the world below. As they confront personal loss and humanity’s vulnerability, they ponder profound questions: what is life without Earth, and what is Earth without humanity?
Prophet Song by Paul Lynch
In a crumbling Ireland teetering on the edge of tyranny, scientist and mother Eilish Stack faces unimaginable choices as her husband and son vanish. Amid government oppression and societal collapse, she must decide how far she’ll go to protect her family—and what she’s willing to sacrifice. Prophet Song is a gripping and deeply human story of resilience and love in the face of devastating upheaval.
The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida by Shehan Karunatilaka
In 1990 Colombo, war photographer Maali Almeida wakes up dead, stuck in a celestial visa office with no memory of his murder. With only seven moons to guide his loved ones to photos that could expose Sri Lanka’s darkest secrets, he races against time amid a hauntingly vivid afterlife. Shehan Karunatilaka’s The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida is a gripping satire and epic exploration of love, truth, and a nation’s turmoil.
The Promise by Damon Galgut
Follows the decline of the Swart family, white South Africans grappling with their unfulfilled pledge to Salome, the Black woman who served them her entire life. As decades pass and the country shifts from apartheid to a new society, the unkept promise reflects deeper national and personal fractures. Sharp, tender, and profoundly observant, this is literary fiction at its finest.
Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart
The heartbreaking story of a young boy growing up in 1980s Glasgow, navigating poverty, addiction, and his own identity. Shuggie’s mother, Agnes, is both his guiding light and his greatest burden, her alcoholism casting a shadow over their lives. This poignant debut captures the struggles of a working-class family with raw honesty and tender humanity.
Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo
Explores the lives of twelve interconnected characters—mostly Black, British women—as they navigate love, family, and identity across generations. Joyfully polyphonic and deeply contemporary, it celebrates the richness of modern Britain and Black womanhood. A vibrant and irresistible tapestry of stories, it redefines the novel for our times.
The Testaments by Margaret Atwood
Margaret Atwood’s long-awaited sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale, takes readers back to Gilead, picking up the story fifteen years after Offred’s fate was left uncertain. Told through the explosive testimonies of three women, it reveals the inner workings of the dystopian regime. A brilliant continuation, it answers lingering questions while drawing inspiration from today’s world.
Milkman by Anna Burns
In an unnamed city where being noticed is dangerous, Middle Sister tries to navigate life under the radar. But after a tense encounter with Milkman and mounting rumors, she becomes the center of unwanted attention, placing her in peril. Milkman is a gripping tale of gossip, silence, and the profound consequences of inaction.
Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders
Lincoln in the Bardo unfolds over a single night in a graveyard, where President Lincoln mourns his son Willie, who has entered a ghostly purgatory. Blending historical truth with supernatural imagination, George Saunders creates a kaleidoscopic chorus of voices to explore love, loss, and the human condition. This groundbreaking novel is a moving meditation on how we live and love in the face of mortality.
The Sellout by Paul Beatty
Beatty delivers a razor-sharp satire about a young man from a forgotten Los Angeles neighborhood who lands in the Supreme Court after attempting to reinstate slavery and segregation. Raised as the subject of racially charged experiments by his sociologist father, the narrator grapples with his town’s erasure and America’s sacred myths. Hilarious and provocative, this novel challenges ideas of race, history, and equality with biting wit and bold originality.
A Brief History of Seven Killings by Marlon James
Explores the chaotic, violent aftermath of the 1976 attack on Bob Marley, weaving a sprawling narrative across decades and continents. From the streets of Kingston to the crack wars in 1980s New York, the novel immerses readers in a world of assassins, journalists, and ghosts, capturing the turbulence of Jamaican politics and its global ripple effects. Marlon James’ brilliantly inventive epic secures his place among the great literary voices of his generation.
The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan
The haunting story of Dorrigo Evans, an Australian doctor scarred by a forbidden love and the brutality of war. Spanning continents and decades—from a Japanese prison camp to a chance meeting on the Sydney Harbour Bridge—it explores the impossibility of love and the fragility of life. At its core, the novel is a poignant meditation on human suffering, sacrifice, and fleeting moments of connection.
The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton
Set in 1866 on the New Zealand goldfields, The Luminaries follows young Walter Moody as he becomes embroiled in a web of mystery surrounding a missing man, a suicide attempt, and a hidden fortune. As Moody uncovers the secrets of twelve local men who meet in secret, he is drawn into a complex, fate-driven conspiracy. Richly atmospheric and brilliantly crafted, this novel blends historical fiction with a captivating ghost story and a gripping narrative.
Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel
The dramatic downfall of Anne Boleyn unfolds as Henry VIII’s disillusionment with her grows, spurred by her failure to provide a male heir and her alienation of the nobility. As whispers of adultery and treason swirl, Thomas Cromwell is tasked with orchestrating her fall, navigating a perilous web of political alliances and betrayals. With Anne and her powerful family resisting to the end, the novel explores the high cost of power and the price of loyalty in Tudor England.
The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes
Follows middle-aged Tony Webster as he is forced to confront a past he had long since buried. When a mysterious legacy brings his childhood friends back into his life—one from the grave, another still present—Tony must reevaluate his understanding of himself and his life. With psychological depth and emotional sophistication, Julian Barnes crafts a compelling novel that explores memory, regret, and the passage of time.
The Finkler Question by Howard Jacobson
Julian Treslove, a BBC worker, reconnects with old friends Sam Finkler, a Jewish philosopher, and Libor Sevcik, a widowed former teacher. Their evening of reminiscing about love, loss, and regret takes a dark turn when Treslove is attacked after leaving their gathering. This event forces him to confront his identity and the complexities of friendship, grief, and the life he has lived. Julian Barnes masterfully explores the emotional intricacies of memory, loss, and self-discovery in this deeply reflective novel.
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
Delves into the tense, politically charged atmosphere of 1520s England, where Henry VIII’s desire to annul his marriage to Catherine and marry Anne Boleyn threatens the stability of the kingdom. Thomas Cromwell, a master manipulator and ambitious strategist, navigates the shifting tides of power to secure Henry’s wishes, but his success comes at a personal cost. Hilary Mantel’s novel explores the complex interplay of power, loyalty, and ambition in Tudor England.
The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga
Tells the dark, witty, and morally complex story of Balram Halwai, a man who rises from poverty in rural India to become a successful entrepreneur. Narrating his journey over seven nights, Balram reveals how he outwits the oppressive structures of society, starting as a servant to a wealthy family before committing murder to break free. With sharp insights into corruption, class, and ambition, this debut novel is a compelling exploration of a man’s pursuit of freedom in a deeply flawed world.
The Gathering by Anne Enright
Follows Veronica Hegarty as she returns to Dublin for the wake of her brother Liam, who drowned at sea. As she reflects on their shared past and a secret from their childhood, Veronica uncovers the complex, painful legacies of family betrayal and redemption. Anne Enright weaves a poignant and insightful narrative, exploring the intricacies of memory, love, and the haunting effects of buried truths across generations.
The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai
An embittered judge in a remote Himalayan house lives a quiet life until his orphaned granddaughter, Sai, arrives. The judge’s cook, preoccupied with his son Biju’s struggles in New York, watches over her. Kiran Desai’s novel explores the intersecting lives of these characters, delving into themes of colonialism, modernity, and the emotional turmoil of joy and despair.
The Sea by John Banville
Max Morden, a middle-aged Irishman, returns to the seaside town where he spent his childhood summers, following the death of his wife, Anna. He seeks solace from grief but is also drawn back to his memories of the Graces, a wealthy family with whom he experienced love and death for the first time. The novel weaves Max’s reflections on the past, particularly his relationship with Anna, his daughter Claire, and the other figures in his life, as he uncovers the lasting impact of memory and loss. Written with emotional depth, it explores the complexities of love, grief, and the passage of time.
The Line of Beauty by Alan Hollinghurst
20-year-old Nick Guest moves into the Notting Hill home of the Feddens, a wealthy and politically prominent family. As the 1980s unfold, Nick becomes entangled in the Feddens’ lives, navigating a world of politics, privilege, and ambition. His love affairs with a black clerk and a Lebanese millionaire contrast sharply with his own desires for beauty and power. The novel explores themes of love, class, politics, and identity, offering a richly textured and emotionally charged narrative that captures the complexities of social and personal life in an era of excess and change.
Vernon God Little by DBC Pierre
A darkly comedic debut following Vernon Gregory Little’s misadventures in small-town Texas and Mexico. Blending irreverence with humanity, it portrays a world of dysfunction while showcasing an unlikely hero born of desperate times.
Life of Pi by Yann Martel
A fantasy adventure about Pi Patel, a Tamil boy from Pondicherry. After a shipwreck, Pi survives 227 days adrift in the Pacific with a Bengal tiger named Richard Parker, exploring themes of spirituality and survival.
True History of the Kelly Gang by Peter Carey
Ned Kelly narrates his life in vivid, semi-literate prose as he evades the police. Seen as a criminal by authorities but a hero by Australia’s oppressed, Kelly recounts his rise from a troubled youth to the country’s most wanted outlaw, defying English rule until his capture and execution at 26. This is a gripping outlaw tale brought to life by masterful storytelling.
The Blind Assassin by Margaret Atwood
A masterfully layered novel that weaves together a family tragedy, a 1940s science fiction tale, and a gripping mystery. Narrated by Iris, who recounts her sister Laura’s death and its aftermath, the story blends colloquial 1930s-40s style with imaginative storytelling, culminating in a brilliant twist. This profoundly original work cements Atwood’s place as one of the most daring and talented writers of our time.
Disgrace by JM Coetzee
Set in post-apartheid South Africa, J.M. Coetzee’s Disgrace follows David Lurie, a middle-aged professor who leads a seemingly content, detached life. When he seduces a student, his actions trigger a series of events that upend his life, leaving him disgraced and confronting the consequences of his choices.
Amsterdam by Ian McEwan
On a cold February day, Clive Linley, a composer, and Vernon Halliday, a newspaper editor, reunite at the funeral of their former lover, Molly Lane. As they reflect on her life and connections—including to Julian Garmony, a controversial politician—they form a pact with unforeseen consequences. Ian McEwan’s Amsterdam explores loyalty, morality, and the complexity of human relationships.
The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
Set in 1969 Kerala, Arundhati Roy’s The God of Small Things follows twins Rahel and Esthappen as they navigate a fractured family and a world brimming with love, loss, and betrayal. When their English cousin Sophie Mol visits, their lives take an irreversible turn, unraveling secrets and tragedy. With lyrical prose and daring storytelling, Roy weaves a tale of innocence, change, and the enduring impact of small moments.
Last Orders by Graham Swift
Four men embark on a journey to fulfill London butcher Jack Dodds’s final wish to have his ashes scattered at sea. As they travel, Jack’s widow, Amy, mysteriously opts out, and their day unfolds into a poignant exploration of friendship, loss, and the hidden depths of ordinary lives.
The Ghost Road by Pat Barker
Follows psychologist William Rivers as he treats soldiers traumatized by the war, including Billy Prior, who returns to fight despite his disillusionment. Set against the brutal backdrop of trench warfare and Rivers’s reflections on a death-focused South Pacific tribe, the novel explores the devastating toll of war on individuals and society. With its blend of poetic intensity and gritty realism, it is a powerful and timeless masterpiece.
How Late It Was, How Late by James Kelman
Ex-con Sammy wakes up blind after a drunken brawl in Glasgow, only to face mounting challenges: his girlfriend vanishes, the police hound him for an unnamed crime, and he battles a bureaucratic maze for disability benefits. Written in raw, unfiltered Scottish vernacular, this darkly humorous and politically charged tale explores survival and resilience against overwhelming odds.
Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha by Roddy Doyle
A witty and poignant tale of a ten-year-old boy navigating the joys and confusions of childhood in 1968. Patrick Clarke’s world is filled with adventures, friendships, and family tensions, as he struggles to understand the cracks in his parents’ relationship and the complexities of growing up. Both hilarious and heart-wrenching, this novel captures the innocence and bewilderment of youth.
The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje
A hauntingly beautiful novel about four damaged lives converging in an abandoned Italian villa at the end of World War II. As a nurse, thief, sapper, and a nameless, burned man grapple with their pasts and identities, their shared experiences reveal pain, resilience, and the complexities of human connection. This masterful story glows with themes of memory, betrayal, and survival.
The Famished Road by Ben Okri
A modern classic blending vivid storytelling with a rich spiritual vision. Azaro, a spirit child in Nigeria’s Yoruba tradition, exists between life and death, narrating a world of hardship, love, and resilience. Combining tragedy and hope, this essential work explores the tension between the living and the spirit realm.
Possession by AS Byatt
A spellbinding blend of romance, wit, and intellectual mystery. Two young scholars uncover the lives of Victorian poets through letters, journals, and poems, unraveling a tale of intertwined passions and ideas. This literary sensation masterfully contrasts the past and present in a journey of discovery.
The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
In the summer of 1956, Stevens, a devoted butler at Darlington Hall, embarks on a motoring trip through the West Country. Over six days, the journey becomes a reflective exploration of Stevens’s past and England’s history, touching on fascism, two world wars, and an unfulfilled love between him and the housekeeper.
Oscar and Lucinda by Peter Carey
A captivating tale of love and ambition set in mid-19th century Australia. The novel follows Oscar, a gambling English clergyman, and Lucinda, a driven Australian dreamer, as they forge an unlikely partnership amid the vibrant backdrop of a young nation. Carey’s visionary storytelling leads to a stunning and unforgettable conclusion.
Moon Tiger by Penelope Lively
Elderly Claudia Hampton, a renowned historian, reflects on her life from a London hospital bed. Her imagined “history of the world” becomes an intimate account of her own life, marked by independence, complex relationships, and a tragic wartime romance with Tom, a British tank commander. This poignant novel explores memory, love, and the passage of time.
The Old Devils by Kingsley Amis
Humorously and poignantly explores aging through the lives of Welsh couples who fill their days with drinking, reminiscing, and complaining. Their routine is upended when old friends Alun Weaver, a celebrated writer, and his captivating wife, Rhiannon, return, rekindling rivalries and romances. Hailed as Amis’s finest work, this novel offers a candid and compassionate look at the complexities of growing older.
The Bone People by Keri Hulme
A powerful exploration of identity and connection, centered on three outcasts of mixed Maori and European heritage. Kerewin Holmes, an isolated artist, is drawn into the lives of Simon, a mute and enigmatic boy, and his foster father Joe, whose tenderness is shadowed by violence. This visionary novel weaves a mystery, a love story, and a profound examination of cultural intersections in New Zealand.
Hotel du Lac by Anita Brookner
Follows Edith Hope, a romance novelist who retreats to a Swiss hotel to escape her life’s complications. Among a cast of love’s misfits and exiles, she confronts her own desires when a worldly man challenges her restrained existence. Witty and incisive, this novel is a masterful exploration of love and self-discovery.
Life and Times of Michael K by JM Coetzee
Set in a war-torn South Africa, Michael K embarks on a journey to return his dying mother to her rural home, only to be left alone in a chaotic, violent world. After being imprisoned, he escapes, seeking dignity and a connection to life amidst turmoil. This novel deeply explores the human need for spiritual sustenance and personal integrity in a fractured world.
Schindler’s Ark by Thomas Keneally
Recounts the true story of Oskar Schindler, a German industrialist who saved over 1,100 Jewish workers from the Nazis during World War II. Through a series of vivid stories, the novel explores Schindler’s transformation from a self-serving profiteer to an unlikely hero, alongside other key figures like his wife Emilie, the brutal SS commandant Amon Goeth, and factory manager Itzhak Stern. This powerful narrative delves into the complexities of virtue, the value of human life, and the role of witnesses in the Holocaust.
Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie
Follows Saleem Sinai, born at the moment of India’s independence, whose life is deeply intertwined with the nation’s history. Alongside 1,000 other children born during that hour, Saleem possesses telepathic powers that connect them all, with their lives reflecting and amplifying national events. A rich family saga and magical realist tale, the novel offers a vivid portrayal of India and its people, standing as a monumental work of fiction and a masterful exploration of history and identity.
Rites of Passage by William Golding
Edmund Talbot, sailing to Australia in the early 19th century, keeps a witty journal to entertain his godfather back in England. Amidst growing tensions on the overcrowded warship, the arrival of Reverend Colley stirs animosity among the crew, leading to a devastating event that plunges him into a world of shame more perilous than the sea itself. This novel explores human flaws, power dynamics, and the weight of shame in a confined, harsh environment.
Offshore by Penelope Fitzgerald
On the Battersea Reach of the Thames, a diverse group of eccentrics and outcasts live on houseboats, their lives shaped by the river’s tides. Among them are Maurice, a male prostitute and receiver of stolen goods, Richard, a stoic ex-navy man, and Nenna, an abandoned wife struggling with her domestic situation. As Nenna’s troubles deepen, the relationships within this quirky community become increasingly interconnected, blending comedy and complexity.
The Sea, the Sea by Iris Murdoch
Charles Arrowby, a celebrated member of England’s theatrical world, retreats to a secluded seaside home to write a memoir about his past love affair with Clement Makin and his long-time entanglement with actress Lizzie. However, his plans unravel as strange and sometimes spectral events disturb his peace, forcing him to confront his own ego and the complexities of love, vanity, and forgiveness. Iris Murdoch’s novel exposes the deeper truths behind human motivations, set against a richly described landscape filled with mythological allusions.
Staying On by Paul Scott
Tusker and Lucy Smalley, a retired British couple, decide to remain in the small Indian hill town of Pankot rather than return to England. Surrounded by eccentric locals and the oppressive presence of their landlady, Mrs. Bhoolabhoy, they navigate the complexities of aging and love. This novel offers a poignant and humorous exploration of the end of an empire and the enduring nature of a forty-year relationship.
Saville by David Storey
A deeply insightful novel about Colin Saville, a brilliant young man struggling to fit in at his new grammar school after growing up in a mining village. As he grapples with tentative friendships, the tensions between his parents and himself, and his sense of being an outsider, the novel explores the challenges of finding one’s place in life and navigating social divides. With emotional depth and honesty, it offers a poignant portrayal of personal and societal conflicts.
Heat and Dust by Ruth Prawer Jhabvala
Set in 1920s colonial India, Olivia, a beautiful woman stifled by the social constraints of her marriage to an English civil servant. Seeking passion and freedom, she is drawn to the Nawab, a minor Indian prince involved in criminal activities, leading to a scandalous affair. When Olivia becomes pregnant, unsure of the child’s paternity, her resulting actions provoke a crisis that leaves a lasting mark on both her personal life and the British community.
The Conservationist by Nadine Gordimer
Mehring is a wealthy South African man who enjoys all the privileges his country offers, yet his possessions and relationships unravel. His wife, son, and mistress leave him, his workers grow indifferent, and the land itself seems to revolt, as drought and flood ravage his farm. The novel explores themes of loss, disintegration, and the disconnect between privilege and control.
Holiday by Stanley Middleton
Edwin Fisher visits the English seaside to confront the failure of his marriage to Meg, only to find her parents unexpectedly staying at the same resort, eager to reconcile them. As the past and Meg’s enigmatic nature resurface, deeper truths emerge, shifting perspectives in unforeseen ways. Winner of the Booker Prize in 1974, Stanley Middleton’s subtle and poignant novel offers a masterful portrait of English provincial life, rich in detail and emotional depth.
The Siege of Krishnapur by JG Farrell
Set during the 1857 Great Mutiny in India, focusing on a Victorian colonial outpost under siege by mutinous soldiers. As rumors of rebellion spread, the colonial community remains confident in their superiority, but when faced with the reality of siege, their moral and military arrogance unravels, exposing the brutal and flawed nature of their rule. J.G. Farrell’s novel, part of a trilogy on the decline of the British Empire, offers a powerful and satirical critique of colonialism.
G by John Berger
Tells the story of a young man’s passionate sexual journey across early 20th-century Europe. Exploring intimacy, loneliness, and the fleeting tenderness of human connections, Berger weaves these themes against historical backdrops like the failed Milanese revolution, the Boer War, and early aviation. This luminous work captures the search for meaning in both personal and historical moments.
In a Free State by VS Naipaul
Masterfully explores themes of emigration, dislocation, and human fragility in a post-colonial world. The novel follows two English travelers navigating an unnamed African country’s turmoil, exposing the blurred line between privilege and victimhood. Accompanied by four poignant supporting narratives, it is a haunting and incisive portrayal of displacement and survival.
The Elected Member by Bernice Rubens
Norman, a once-brilliant barrister and cherished son of a Jewish family in London’s East End, spirals into drug addiction and paranoia. His committal to a mental hospital strains his bond with his father, Rabbi Zweck, who grapples with guilt and failure. Only Bella, Norman’s devoted sister, bridges their pain, seeking the peace they all desperately need.
Troubles by JG Farrell
In 1919, Major Brendan Archer travels to Ireland to confirm his engagement to Angela Spencer, only to find her changed and her family’s Majestic Hotel in ruin. Amid crumbling rooms, feral cats, and growing unrest from Ireland’s “troubles,” the Major becomes drawn to the enigmatic Sarah Devlin. As the hotel’s decline mirrors the faltering British Empire, chaos unfolds both within and beyond its walls.
Something to Answer For by PH Newby
In 1956 Port Said, Townrow is summoned by the widow of his late friend Elie Khoury, who insists Elie was murdered, though others disagree. Amid suspicions involving Leah Strauss and British paratroopers, Townrow is forced to question his assumptions and confront his own moral culpability in a disorienting, chaotic world.
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