The book has been around since the early 1900s. In recent years we have experienced a boom of books available in ebook format. This past year I read The Three Muses by Yuval Noah Harari and this is my favourite story. It gave me an insight into the world that I had never felt before.
With a lot of us being isolated this season and people wanting to learn something new, reading a great novel can be a valuable tool. Books are easy to access and there is a large selection available today. For example Amazon Prime recently added several new series to its catalogue such as ‘The Queen’s Gambit’, ‘The Girl on the Train’, and ‘What Do We Talk About?’
The first thing to look at when you pick up your first novel is the cover art. If the characters are appealing, the characters should stand out from the rest of the book. This covers a theme that many readers may forget about – that not all novels have captivating characters. Some readers complain about the lack of character development and others complain about how boring it gets.
Sometimes it makes sense to follow just a few characters so maybe your characters seem dull and uninteresting. But if this is the case, stick with the storyline and trust you will find yourself falling in love with them. So here is a list of great writers to add to your reading list:
George Saunders Miller: “There is nothing he is more known than his two major books: Howards End and Death By Water.”- Stephen E. Oates (1993)
His most famous novel, which many call the classic American Novel, Death By Water. He wrote novels that made the Great Depression a period within the United States history unlike anything ever seen before. His work stood the test of time, setting our modern age against a backdrop of social revolution, racial injustice, political turmoil and economic exploitation. One of his greatest works can still be found in some libraries today. With death by water, I think he would hold true to his beliefs for long. Although perhaps in some contexts he might not be taken as the perfect writer.
Henry James:
He was one of England’s most influential authors. His short stories are set in London and often set thousands of characters in tiny spaces like railway stations or train stations. Not only did he create a language as beautiful as what’s popular now but he also wrote about social issues such as racism, class warfare slavery, and more. Henry James was a man who understood our current themes and ideas. He had strong ties in politics, education and science. As someone who writes fiction, I believe he would make a fantastic narrator for a horror novel.
Thomas Hardy (1879–1942):
The English philosopher and poet Thomas Hardy. Hardy was born into poverty and ended up working on a ship running between London and Southampton until his death. After writing his poems, he settled down with his family and married Lucy. Hardy grew up during the depression and witnessed the struggle faced by immigrants and displaced individuals. His short stories inspired him to write more on these topics. His most notable essay about immigrants was published in 1890 as an essay called ‘The Treatment of Alien Races.’ His essays have influenced almost every great American novelist.
John Steinbeck (1928–1994):
There would be few who have written so many non-fiction stories as well as one novel as John Steinbeck. You could write a book about his lifetime here and compare it to his fiction here.
John Dower and Kate Chopin:
The names on everyone’s lips at the moment are Kate Chopin, author of The Lottery, and John Dower, author of Of Mice And Men, The Chrysanthemums, The Monkey and Friends, and numerous other short stories such as Man with An Elephant’s Paw. Both were considered American icons of literature and often referred to as “the best American writings”. Many would claim the two had no equal and that the popularity of The Lottery would have continued even if they had other titles.
Both Chopin and Dower grew up during a decade of tremendous turmoil in America. Their backgrounds, both socially and geographically, were far apart. Yet their ability to convey the themes of hate and resentment are reminiscent of each other. These two men have made a name for themselves with their unique ability to deliver harsh words in ways few have done before. They are certainly not alone. There is a wealth of voices working on this project. From Anne Lamott to Joyce Carol Oates, these women have risen to shape these characters and shape them into complex human beings.
There are countless other writers, thinkers, philosophers and artists who speak loud and clear about the state of racial injustice in society. Who do you think should speak louder than John Dower at this point in time? Maybe one day the reader might decide that this is what we need to talk about the most. All of the above is my top five picks for best novels to read and I hope it helps you understand how different these works are from others, even more powerful stories, and how each stands out.
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