Recs if you like Wide Sargasso Sea...
Classics Not Written by Straight Cis White Men
I've seen so many people say they don't read classics as they aren't diverse, and I wanted to give some suggestions that are.
This is a list of classics written by authors who are not Straight, Cis, White, and Men as the title suggests. I am also aiming to include a variety of cultures and regions in this list. If your looking for something more focused (e.g. diverse US classics) check out the lists I posted in the comments.
Suggestions are more than welcome!
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Literature of the Global South
Writing and voices from outside of the white Western canon. Fiction and Non-fiction with an emphasis in diaspora, decolonization, global history, and resistance narratives from around the world. Features African, Asian, Central American, South American, Caribbean, and Middle Eastern voices.
Began with many recommendations from Jamin Anderson (@jaminanderson__ on Instagram) and has expanded with the help of the Pagebound community.
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Books So Good They Wrote A Song About It
Just a fun little list of books that have inspired songs. Please list the book and the song with the artist in your suggestions, or if it's a concept album based on a book, just include the book and the album with the artist. I will not be including any books by JKR, Neil Gaiman, or Orson Scott Card, or songs by Iced Earth. Will not be adding musicals based on books, songs written for films based on books, or songs that are classic poems to music.
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1001 Books to Read Before You Die
Based on the list/book published in 2006, general editor Peter Boxall.
2
Lucy Dacus Recommendations 💛
Books recommended by musician Lucy Dacus, a solo artist and member of the band boygenius. Pulled from her goodreads list.
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Spinoffs Galore!
A list for books based on the works of other writers (or: authors copying each other’s homework 🙂↕️). Suggestions welcome!
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books that look like skincare packaging
me + sake on a Saturday night = this list lol idk what is happening or even what the requirements are, it's just a vibe? u kno?? 💖💖💖
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I gotta finish my reading challenge 🏃🏻🏃🏻♀️🏃
Short books that you can read in a sitting, to help you achieve your yearly reading goal 🤭🥳 Feel free to mention anything else from the list, I'm so glad to add & check them out 😁
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Niche Classics
Overlooked, lesser known classics from all over the world and of many genres.
This list also exists as a book club on Fable under the same name.
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Penguin's 100 Must-Read Classics
Penguin asked its readers in 2022 for the must-read classics. This is that list!
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classic shorties
For when reading a classic feels too daunting. Classics under 200 pages!
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diverse global classics
a list of classics with a focus on global and marginalised authors.
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Reading the Caribbean
Caribbean and diasporic novels, plays, poetry, and non-fiction books.
4
Penguin's 100 Must Read Classics
I'm going to read every book every
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50 Great Classic Novels Under 200 Pages
As seen on Lithub
1
classic women's canon
classic & modern classic literature by women. limiting myself to one book per author. please let me know who i've missed!
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Decolonize Your Bookshelves in 50 Books
This list is based on the book by Joan Anim-Addo, Deirdre Osborne, and Kadija Sesay (This is the Canon: Decolonize Your Bookshelves in 50 Books)
As the title suggests, the book aims to broaden readers’ horizons. The list contains works by non-white, mostly female authors.
7
1925-2024: 100 Years of Popular Books
The most popular book of each year according to Goodreads (Posted by Sharon on April 1, 2025). In order of oldest (1925) to newest (2024)
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The Guardian’s 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.
0
weird girlhood(s)
the books that are most interesting, inventive, and complex for the girlhood studies grad student in me. whose “girlhood” are we talking about? i’m thinking of girlhood as a liminal, queer, socially constructed, often traumatic, uncanny space.
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