Books

This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.

1. 1. Atonement

   

   Atonement is a powerful novel that explores the consequences of a young girl's false accusation. The narrative follows the lives of three characters, the accuser, her older sister, and the sister's lover, who is wrongly accused. This false accusation irrevocably alters their lives, leading to the accused's imprisonment and eventual enlistment in World War II, while the sisters grapple with guilt, estrangement, and their own personal growth. The novel is a profound exploration of guilt, forgiveness, and the destructive power of misinterpretation.

   The 181st Greatest Book of All Time

2. 2. The Cement Garden

   

   The story revolves around four siblings who are left to fend for themselves after the untimely death of both their parents. The death of their mother, the second parent to die, forces them to hide her body in the basement to avoid being separated by social services. The siblings create their own dystopian world within the confines of their home, leading to a disturbing exploration of their relationships, particularly between the two oldest siblings, as they grapple with the loss, isolation, and burgeoning adolescence.

   The 1688th Greatest Book of All Time

3. 3. Saturday

   

   "Saturday" is a novel that unfolds over a single day in London, following the life of a successful neurosurgeon. His day is disrupted by a violent encounter with a petty criminal, which leads to a series of tense situations that force him to confront his values, his family's safety, and his view of the world. The narrative explores themes of love, fear, and the randomness of life, all set against the backdrop of a post-9/11 world.

   The 3334th Greatest Book of All Time

4. 4. The Child in Time

   

   A man's life is dramatically altered when his young daughter is kidnapped during a routine shopping trip. As he grapples with the loss, he also deals with a failing marriage, a best friend who becomes a government official, and a strange time-warp phenomenon. The narrative delves into themes of parenthood, loss, and the fluidity of time, while exploring the protagonist's struggle to maintain his sanity amidst the chaos.

   The 6600th Greatest Book of All Time
5. 5. Enduring Love

   

   This novel opens with a dramatic and tragic hot-air balloon accident that brings together two strangers, Joe Rose and Jed Parry. While Joe is a science journalist in a stable relationship, Jed is a deeply religious man who becomes obsessed with Joe following their brief encounter. This obsession quickly escalates into a harrowing and unrelenting psychological pursuit, testing the limits of Joe's rationality and his relationship with his partner, Clarissa. As Joe becomes increasingly consumed by Jed's delusional fixation, the narrative delves into themes of love, faith, and the complexities of the human psyche, culminating in a suspenseful exploration of how a single moment can irrevocably alter the course of multiple lives.

   The 7056th Greatest Book of All Time

6. 6. In Between The Sheets

   

   The book is a collection of short stories that delve into the complexities of human relationships and the darker sides of human nature. Each story explores themes such as desire, loneliness, and the often unsettling aspects of intimacy, showcasing a range of characters who find themselves in morally ambiguous or emotionally challenging situations. Through sharp prose and vivid storytelling, the narratives reveal the intricate and sometimes disturbing layers of the human psyche, leaving readers to ponder the boundaries between love, obsession, and alienation.

   The 8915th Greatest Book of All Time

7. 7. On Chesil Beach

   

   Set in 1962 England, the story follows a young couple, Florence and Edward, on their wedding night at a hotel near Chesil Beach. As they grapple with their anxieties and inexperience, their differing backgrounds and expectations lead to a profound misunderstanding. The narrative delves into their inner thoughts and emotions, exploring themes of communication, societal pressures, and the complexities of intimacy. The couple's inability to bridge their emotional divide ultimately shapes the course of their lives, highlighting the impact of unspoken fears and desires.

8. 8. La Ley Del Menor

   

9. 9. Solar

   

   The novel follows the life of Michael Beard, a Nobel Prize-winning physicist whose career and personal life are in decline. As he navigates a series of personal and professional crises, including a failing marriage and a stalled career, Beard becomes involved in a renewable energy project that could potentially revolutionize the fight against climate change. However, his self-destructive tendencies and moral shortcomings threaten to undermine his efforts. The story explores themes of human folly, the complexities of scientific ambition, and the urgent need for sustainable solutions to environmental challenges.
10. 10. Nutshell

    

    The novel is a unique retelling of Shakespeare's "Hamlet," narrated by an unborn fetus who overhears a plot by his mother, Trudy, and her lover, Claude, to murder his father, John. Set within the confines of Trudy's womb, the fetus provides a witty and philosophical perspective on the unfolding drama, grappling with themes of betrayal, morality, and existentialism. As he becomes increasingly aware of the sinister plan, the fetus contemplates his own role and potential influence on the events outside, blending dark humor with a profound exploration of human nature and relationships.