Recs if you like Buddenbrooks: The Decline of a Family...
German to the core
Translated german language literature that is considered by many to be "core" reading from the modern and contemporary eras - meaning 1880 onwards, making it very readable. ๐ฉ๐ช๐ฆ๐น๐จ๐ญ I usually kept it to one book per author to make this a starting off point (sometimes added additional faves). Suggestions welcome!
Penguin's 100 Must-Read Classics
Penguin asked its readers in 2022 for the must-read classics. This is that list!
this reminds me of someone
Works of fiction that remind of their author's life.
A type of novel among other things called autobiographical fiction as I have learnt.
Recommendations always welcome!
Nobel prize winners in literature (authors)
Awarded annually to an author from any country, since 1901.
This list contains popular books from all the award winning authors.
Awards from 1901 -2025
Penguin's 100 Must Read Classics
I'm going to read every book every
German Classic Literature
a non-exhaustive collection of works
The Guardianโs The 100 Best Novels of All Time
A list published by The Guardian on 5/16/2026, as voted on by authors, critics, and academics worldwide.
Top 100 Books! (According to The Guardian)
The Guardian Top 100 Best Novels
Multi-generational books
The intricate connections between past, present and future are explored through multiple generations. They offer fascinating insights into history and complex family dynamics.
1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die
I tried to find the latest version (2026).
Stranger than Fiction
A list of โroman รก clefโs, or fictionalized versions of true stories
The Hemingway List
The books Ernest Hemingway thought every aspiring novelist should read
Chonky books
600+ page books for when you want to get stuck in and live in a novel for a while. Variety of genres. All standalones.
The Guardian's 100 Best Novels of All Time
In May 2026 the Guardian published a list of the 100 greatest novels published in English of all time. The list was created based on votes from authors, critics, and academics.
Due to an error, the list originally included The Go-Between by L.P. Hartley instead of The Stranger by Albert Camus. Both are included here, as an unofficial 101 best novels
Family Saga
Books in which family is more than just a backdrop. Sagas that span generations, complex relationships, family secrets, inherited trauma, conflicts, loyalties, and stories that resurface in each new generation. Regardless of genre, era, or setting, what matters here are family bonds and their impact on the lives of the characters. From sweeping multi-generational epics to intimate stories about families that are hard to love, but even harder to escape.
