Well, 'The Price of Salt' by Patricia Highsmith is very influential. It was a rather bold work for its time in depicting a lesbian relationship. 'Boy Erased' by Garrard Conley is also significant. It tells the true story of a young man's experience in a conversion therapy program, which is an important topic related to the LGBTQ community. And 'We Are Everywhere: Protest, Power, and Pride in the History of Queer Liberation' is a great book that chronicles the history of the LGBTQ movement, and is influential in terms of awareness.
I think 'The Well of Loneliness' by Radclyffe Hall is quite influential. It was one of the first major works to deal with lesbianism. 'Howl' by Allen Ginsberg also had an impact as it was part of the Beat Generation and had LGBTQ undertones. 'Angels in America' by Tony Kushner is a very important play with LGBTQ themes that has had a big influence on the representation of the community in theater.
One of the most influential is 'They Both Die at the End' by Adam Silvera. It has a diverse cast including LGBTQ characters and deals with themes of love and mortality. Another is 'The Song of Achilles' by Madeline Miller which reimagines the relationship between Achilles and Patroclus in a way that emphasizes their love. 'Heartstopper' by Alice Oseman is also very influential, especially among younger readers as it portrays a sweet and positive LGBTQ relationship in a school setting.
Well, 'The Great Gatsby' is among the most influential fiction books. F. Scott Fitzgerald's work explores themes of wealth, love, and the American Dream. 'Lord of the Flies' by William Golding is very influential too. It shows how quickly civilization can break down when people are left to their own devices. And don't forget 'Harry Potter' series by J.K. Rowling. It has not only been a global phenomenon but also influenced a whole generation's view on magic, friendship, and good vs. evil.
I think 'To Kill a Mockingbird' by Harper Lee can be considered in this regard. Although not directly about motherhood in the obvious sense, Scout's relationship with her father is also influenced by the absence of her mother. It makes us think about how a mother's role could have been and how Scout's view of the world is shaped in part by this lack, which is an interesting take on motherhood in a fictional context.
I think 'Red Clocks' was quite influential. Its portrayal of a world with limited reproductive rights for women sparked a lot of discussions. It made people think about how easily women's rights could be eroded and the importance of fighting for them.
Well, 'The War of the Worlds' by H.G. Wells is really important. It was one of the first to depict an alien invasion, which has influenced countless science fiction works since. 'Foundation' by Isaac Asimov is also a big one. His ideas about psychohistory and the long - term development of civilizations are very thought - provoking. And then there's 'Ender's Game' by Orson Scott Card, which looks at military strategy and the nature of leadership in a sci - fi context.
The top 10 most influential fiction books are likely to include 'The Great Gatsby' by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Its themes of the American Dream, wealth, and love are still relevant today. 'Lord of the Rings' by J.R.R. Tolkien is also very influential. It created a whole new world of fantasy that has inspired countless other works in the genre. 'Moby - Dick' by Herman Melville, with its complex exploration of obsession and the human struggle against nature, is another influential work.
I think 'The Second Sex' by Simone de Beauvoir is very influential. Although it's more of a philosophical exploration, it has had a huge impact on feminist thought and inspired a lot of fiction works. 'The Yellow Wallpaper' by Charlotte Perkins Gilman is also a key one. It shows the psychological oppression of women in a patriarchal society in a very vivid way. And 'Mrs. Dalloway' by Virginia Woolf is influential as it portrays the inner thoughts and experiences of a woman in a complex social setting.
I think 'Brave New World' by Aldous Huxley is quite influential in historical fiction. It predicted many aspects of modern society based on the trends of its time. 'The Color Purple' by Alice Walker is also important. It tells the story of African - American women in the early 20th century, shining a light on their struggles. And 'One Hundred Years of Solitude' by Gabriel García Márquez, while set in a fictional town, reflects on the history of Latin America in many ways.
'Leaving Las Vegas' by John O'Brien. It's a powerful and tragic story of a man who has given up on life and uses alcohol as his way to numb the pain. It was so impactful that it was made into a movie as well.
Definitely 'Moby - Dick'. This book is not just about a man's obsession with a white whale. It has deep philosophical undertones and is a masterful exploration of human nature, fate, and the relationship between man and nature. It has influenced many other works of literature with its complex themes and unique narrative style.