Ali Smith

Ali Smith is a Scottish author, playwright, academic and journalist. She is known for her novels, short stories, and plays, and has been shortlisted for the Booker Prize multiple times. Her works often explore themes of time, identity, and the fluidity of narrative.

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. How to be both

    This novel is a dual narrative that explores the interconnected stories of a 15th-century Italian Renaissance artist named Francesco del Cossa and a modern-day teenager named George. The book is divided into two parts, one set in the past and one in the present, and the order in which they are read can change the reader's interpretation of the story. The novel delves into themes of art, gender, sexuality, and the fluidity of identity, while also examining the ways in which we perceive and understand the world around us.

    The 2800th Greatest Book of All Time
  2. 2. There But For The

    There But For The is a novel that explores the interconnectedness of people's lives through the story of a man who locks himself in a room of a house he was invited to for dinner, and refuses to come out. The man's actions cause a media frenzy and bring together four individuals who have links to him, each revealing their own stories and perspectives. The book is a commentary on contemporary life, exploring themes of identity, memory, time, and the nature of connection and disconnection in society.

    The 3735th Greatest Book of All Time
  3. 3. Autumn

    "Autumn" is a post-Brexit novel revolving around the deep and complex friendship between an old man, Daniel, and a young woman, Elisabeth. Set in the United Kingdom, the story unfolds as Daniel lies in a care home slipping in and out of consciousness, and Elisabeth visits him, reading to him and reflecting on their shared past. The narrative weaves between the past and present, exploring themes of time, art, love, and political upheaval. It is a meditation on a world growing ever more bordered and exclusive, on what richness and worth are, on what harvest means.

    The 4783rd Greatest Book of All Time
  4. 4. The Accidental

    The novel centers around a woman named Amber who unexpectedly arrives and disrupts the lives of the Smart family while they are on summer holiday in Norfolk. Each family member - Eve, a writer, Michael, a university professor, and their children Astrid and Magnus - experience unique interactions with Amber, causing them to question their own realities. The mysterious woman's influence forces the family to confront their secrets, insecurities, and the false narratives they've created about themselves.

    The 8914th Greatest Book of All Time
  5. 5. Winter

    "Winter" is a contemporary novel that weaves together themes of family, politics, and history. Set against the backdrop of a cold, post-Brexit Britain, the narrative unfolds over a Christmas gathering at a crumbling house in Cornwall. The story centers around Sophia, a retired businesswoman, her estranged sister Iris, who is a lifelong activist, Sophia's son Arthur, and Lux, a mysterious guest who challenges the family's preconceptions and brings them together. Through a blend of reality and magical realism, the novel explores the complexities of human relationships, the nature of time, and the power of storytelling, all while offering a commentary on the state of modern society.

    The 11711th Greatest Book of All Time
  6. 6. Spring

    "Spring" is the third novel in a seasonal quartet that interweaves the personal with the political, capturing the contemporary zeitgeist through the lives of its characters. The story unfolds with the unlikely friendship between Richard, a grieving film director, and Brittany, a young, disillusioned detention center worker. Their paths cross with that of a mysterious and magnetic young girl named Florence, who possesses an extraordinary ability to change the world around her. Set against the backdrop of a divided and environmentally challenged Britain, the narrative explores themes of renewal, connection, and the transformative power of nature and human kindness in the face of despair and isolation.

    The 11711th Greatest Book of All Time
  7. 7. Summer

    The book is a poignant and timely conclusion to a seasonal quartet, weaving together the lives of characters across contemporary Britain with themes of history, art, nature, and politics. It captures the essence of the summer season, exploring the complexity of human relationships, the passage of time, and the interplay between the personal and the global. Through a narrative that is both fragmented and fluid, the story reflects on the human capacity for kindness and cruelty, connection and separation, and the ever-present impact of past events on the present day.

    The 11711th Greatest Book of All Time
  8. 8. Artful

    A Playful Exploration of Art and Literature

    "Artful" is a unique blend of fiction and essay, where a narrator haunted by the ghost of a former lover delves into themes of art, literature, and grief. Through a series of lectures that the ghost delivers, the book explores the connections between classical and contemporary works, weaving personal narrative with broader reflections on the human condition. The narrative is both a tribute to the enduring power of art and a deeply personal account of loss and love, challenging the boundaries between different literary forms to create a poignant meditation on the transformative power of storytelling.

    The 11711th Greatest Book of All Time