If you want a more emotional and deep read right away, 'Me Before You' would be a great choice. It will make you laugh and cry, and it has a very profound exploration of love and sacrifice. The characters are well - developed and the story is very engaging.
One great 21st - century Western novel is 'The Goldfinch' by Donna Tartt. It has a complex and engaging plot that follows the life of a young boy who becomes involved with a valuable painting after a tragic event. Another is 'Wolf Hall' by Hilary Mantel. It offers a vivid look into the court of Henry VIII. And 'A Little Life' by Hanya Yanagihara is also a notable one, though it's quite intense, exploring themes of friendship, trauma, and the human condition.
Some great 21st - century fantasy novels include 'A Song of Ice and Fire' series by George R.R. Martin. It has complex characters, political intrigue, and a vast world. Another is 'The Name of the Wind' by Patrick Rothfuss. It tells the story of Kvothe, a legendary figure, with beautiful prose and a captivating plot.
If you like stories with a strong female lead, 'Jane Eyre' would be a great first choice. The relationship between Jane and Mr. Rochester is complex and full of mystery. And the gothic elements like the old manor house add to the overall allure of the story.
Haruki Murakami's '1Q84' is also a great choice. It's a complex and surreal story set in an alternate version of 1984 Tokyo. Murakami's unique writing style, with its blend of the ordinary and the extraordinary, makes this book a fascinating read. There are themes of love, mystery, and the search for self.
I think 'The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao' by Junot Díaz is a top - notch 21st - century novel. It's about a Dominican - American family and their experiences, with Díaz's unique writing style that combines humor and tragedy. 'My Year of Rest and Relaxation' by Ottessa Moshfegh is also great. It delves into the mind of a young woman who decides to hibernate for a year. And 'Gilead' by Marilynne Robinson is a beautiful, introspective novel about a pastor writing letters to his son.
Well, 'Call Me by Your Name' by André Aciman is a remarkable 21st - century romance novel. It beautifully captures the intensity and confusion of first love. 'Attachments' by Rainbow Rowell is also good. It shows a different kind of love story that develops in an office setting. Also, 'The Kiss Quotient' by Helen Hoang is worth mentioning. It features an autistic heroine and a heart - warming love story.
If you're new to 19th - century Russian novels, I'd recommend starting with 'Crime and Punishment'. It has a fast - paced plot that grabs your attention from the start. The story of Raskolnikov and his moral dilemma is really engaging.
'The Snowman' by Jo Nesbø is also highly regarded. The detective Harry Hole has to track down a serial killer who leaves behind snowmen at the crime scenes. Nesbø's writing is gripping, and he creates a very tense and cold - feeling atmosphere throughout the novel, which adds to the overall sense of mystery and danger.
One of the best to start with is 'Vision in White'. It beautifully weaves the story of a wedding photographer. The characters are well - developed and the chemistry between them is palpable. It gives you a great taste of Nora Roberts' style of writing romance.
The 21st century is an era full of opportunities and challenges. We should read books that can inspire us to think and grow, to help us broaden our horizons and improve our self-awareness. Here are some books that I think are worth reading in the 21st century: 1.One Hundred Years of Solitude (Garcia Márquez): This is a magical realism novel that tells the story of seven generations of a family and deeply probes into the fate and destiny of mankind. 2 A Short History of Humanity (Yuval Harari): This is a popular book about human history. It explains the development of human beings from the Stone Age to the modern era in a simple way, helping us better understand the nature of human civilization. 3."Dedication: How to Become a Powerful Person"(Copper Mining): This is a book about personal growth and career development. It helps readers better understand themselves, find goals, and realize their value by telling some practical experiences and techniques. The Little Prince (Antoine de Saint-Exupéry): This is an eternal fairy tale that tells us the true meaning of growth, friendship and love, and also makes us reflect on our own lives and existence. 5 "Three-Body"(Liu Cixin): This is a science fiction novel that talks about the confrontation between alien civilizations and humans. It explored the future and destiny of human civilization and also made us think about technology and civilization. These books can not only help us broaden our horizons and improve our self-awareness, but also inspire our thoughts and emotions, allowing us to grow and improve through reading.