Top 20 Best Books of All-Time
Do you have a hard time deciding which book to read next? With so many options to choose from, it can seem downright overwhelming to make what should be a simple decision.
I find myself wasting a good 20 minutes looking over my book shelves debating which book I want to read. If I could read them all simultaneously, that would be great, but I prefer to devote my time and attention to one book at a time.
Usually, I’ll pick a book that a friend recommended or that received fabulous online reviews. And guess what? I’m giving you some book recommendations to help you with the conundrum of what to read next!
I’ve been a bookworm for almost my entire life. My mom said I was a fussy baby and toddler and the only thing that would calm me down was when she read to me. To this day, I still find solace in the pages of a good book.
Books are subjective. What one person may love, another may be bored to tears reading.
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Friends of mine raved about The Time Traveler’s Wife. I read about 1/2 way through before abandoning it. I just could not get into the story.
The way I judge a book is how it makes me feel. Am I drawn into the story so much that I don’t even notice what is going on around me? Do I care about the characters? Does it evoke emotions – good or bad? Do I think about the book long after it ends?
These are all factors that play into how I personally judge a book and decide whether its mediocre or a spectacular read.
Though I’m not doing as many book reviews as I used, I am still plowing through the books on my bookshelf. Once in a while, a true gem comes along.
I’m sure you have your own list of favourite books and today I’m sharing mine. I imagine that this list will evolve as I continue to devour more books. If you are looking for some book recommendations, this is a great list to refer to!
Top 20 Best Books of All-Time
Check out my top 20 books of all-time (in random order).
- The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons
- Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
- The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins
- Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
- Wildflower Hill by Kimberley Freeman
- The Map of Time by Felix J. Palma
- Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
- Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
- The Great Gatsby F. Scott Fitzgerald
- You by Caroline Kepnes
- I Am Pilgrim by Terry Hayes
- Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
- Not Without My Daughter by Betty Mahmoody
- Left Neglected by Lisa Genova
- White Oleander by Janet Fitch
- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by JK Rowling
- Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank
- Flowers in the Attic by VC Andrews
- And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie
- The Memory Keeper’s Daughter by Kim Edwards
For the list people out there, I have a free Books to Read printable to help you keep track of the books you are coveting. The neat freak in me gets pleasure from checking the boxes on the list. (Is that weird!?).
Fill out the form below to get the free printable sent to your inbox.
Have you read any of my top picks? If so, which ones? Also, let me know YOUR favourite book because I’m always looking for books to add to my list!
You might also like Books to Read in 2022.
Happy Reading!
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White Oleander is one of my all-time favourite books. Movie never lived up to the book, just because the book was so long and epic that a feature length movie never could have done it justice. Would likely have been a Netflix series if made today. Once I saw that book I knew your list was good.
Yes! That book still Haines me after 15 years! Looking forward to checking out a few of your faves that I haven’t read! Geisha one of my top 5- great list!
*haunts
Flowers in the Attic! I can remember reading VC Andrews with my mom! We enjoyed reading and sharing our thoughts! I’m thrilled with your list! One author I really enjoy and recommend is Isabelle Allende. She is a terrific story teller with an interesting back story to match! I’d suggest starting with The a house of Spirits or Daughter of Fourtune…Inez of my Soul, Paula… you just can’t go wrong. Allende is now writing some young adult novels which I have not read but I’m sure she is brilliant when delivering those tales as well! Great Book Blog!
I have read several of the books on your list and agree that they are excellent novels. However, I would never include The Girl on the Train and Gone Girl on this list! To me they are simply commercial books written to make money. I just finished Paula Hawkins’ other book Into the Water and was SOOOO disappointed in it. It was such a waste of time. A really terrible book! You seem to have combined some true classics with some contemporary best sellers that, to me, just cannot be compared.
I would like to add The Life of Pi to this list. Actually, there are so many beautifully written books out there, but that one was quite unique as well as being masterfully written. Thanks for a few ideas!
Memoirs of a Geisha is in my top 5 favorites. Can’t wait to read some of these. A couple more to look at are The Red Tent by Anita Diamant and The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. Another on my top 5 is Left to Tell by Immaculee Ilibagiza.