Best fiction books inspire and excite us. They take us to faraway lands and show us the demons lurking in our own. Regardless of the reason you want to pursue a great fiction book, a lot of us have more time at home to explore them. And more reason to do so in a weary world.
Read on to learn about 5 essential fiction books that you should add to your shelves. We’ve curated a selection of eclectic time periods and genres so that anyone can find something interesting to read.
Dune by Frank Herbert
Often considered the sci-fi/fantasy bible, Dune is a meticulous work. Therefore, it requires attention and time to get into its lore and language and go on its adventure. If you do, you’ll find a land of monsters, princesses, kings and their sordid kingdoms.
With the film adaptation in the works, now’s as good a time as any to see what the fuss is about.
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
This seminal dystopic novel by Ray Bradbury tells the story of a media-obsessed future that bans free thought. Citizens consume information without questioning it. Thus, they gorge on news and starve for books, which have all been banned by the government.
Fahrenheit 451 is as famous for its still-timely themes as its florid language. If you’re looking for dark sci-fi, it provides a worthy mental escape.
The Man Who Laughs by Victor Hugo
Maybe you want to escape even further back in time? The Man Who Laughs by Victor Hugo has been scaring, exciting, and intriguing readers since 1869. It tells the story of Gwynplaine, defaced since childhood by street performers into wearing a permanent smile. Now, he longs for the love of Dea, the blind performer he tours the streets with during the power-obsessed age of James II.
While not the most accessible book on this list, it provides a powerful look at England’s aristocracy even in the context of a romantic tragedy. And for comic book fans, the character in this story inspired Bob Kane to create the Joker for his Batman comics.
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn
For something more recent, try Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. This thriller novel tells the story of Amy Dunne, a star of children’s books who becomes bitter and disillusioned about her place in the world. She turns to torturing her husband as a way to get back at the world. The challenging best-seller still gets talked about today.
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
If you’ve ever wondered what society would be like without the symbols we lean on to make it meaningful, McCarthy has you covered. The Road is a study of history and dystopia but also a treatise on language. The sparse, imagistic style is unlike any fiction you’ve read.
What to Read Next?
Best fiction books differ depending on your mood and tastes. However, these 5 classics of fiction writing, old and modern, bring life to several genres and should do the same to your bookshelf. Consider these as your escape hatch from the world in the coming months.
