Can you recommend some of the best 21st - century fiction novels for beginners?

Sure. 'The Little Prince' by Antoine de Saint - Exupéry is a great choice. It's a short and charming book with deep philosophical undertones. Another good one is 'Charlotte's Web' by E.B. White. It's a heartwarming story about friendship between a pig and a spider.

Sure. 'Ready Player One' is a great start. It's full of exciting adventures in a virtual world that's easy to understand and engaging. Another good one is 'The Martian'. The story of survival on Mars is straightforward and the science is explained in a way that's accessible to new readers.

Sure. 'In the Woods' by Tana French is a great thriller. It has a really engaging mystery set in Ireland. The characters are complex, and the setting adds to the overall mood of the story. Then there's 'Big Little Lies' by Liane Moriarty which, while also having elements of drama, has a strong thriller aspect with its mystery and the secrets the characters are hiding.

Sure. 'Platform' by Michel Houellebecq is a significant work. It deals with themes of globalization, tourism, and sexual relationships in a rather cynical and critical way. It's a reflection of the modern world through Houellebecq's often controversial lens.

Yes. 'The Scarlet Letter' by Nathaniel Hawthorne is a significant novel. It's about a woman who is punished for adultery in a Puritan society. 'Moby - Dick' by Herman Melville is a classic tale of Captain Ahab's obsessive quest for the white whale. 'Jane Eyre' by Charlotte Bronte is a beautiful love story of a young governess and her employer, Mr. Rochester, and also deals with themes of class, gender, and morality.

Sure. 'The Girl on the Train' is a great 21st - century crime novel. It tells the story from the perspective of an unreliable narrator who may have witnessed a crime. Then there's 'The Widow' which also has a very engaging plot. The widow of a suspected murderer has her own secrets to hide. And 'I'll Be Gone in the Dark' by Michelle McNamara is also excellent as it's about the hunt for the Golden State Killer.

Sure. 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' by Stieg Larsson is a great one. It has a strong female lead, Lisbeth Salander, who is a hacker and helps solve a decades - old mystery. The story is full of dark secrets and complex relationships.

I really like 'Ancillary Justice' by Ann Leckie. It has a really interesting take on artificial intelligence and empire - building. The main character, Breq, is a former ship's AI who is on a mission of revenge. The book also explores themes of gender and identity in a unique sci - fi setting.

Yann Martel's 'Life of Pi'. This book tells the incredible story of a boy stranded on a lifeboat with a Bengal tiger. It's a story about survival, faith, and the power of storytelling. It has been widely praised for its imaginative plot and deep philosophical undertones.

One of the best 21st - century fiction novels is 'The Kite Runner' by Khaled Hosseini. It tells a powerful story of friendship and redemption against the backdrop of Afghanistan's tumultuous history. Another great one is 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' by Stieg Larsson. It's a gripping thriller with complex characters. Also, 'Atonement' by Ian McEwan is a beautifully written novel that explores themes of love, guilt, and the power of imagination.