Recs if you like Herzog...

Based on the list/book published in 2006, general editor Peter Boxall.

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

Time Magazine’s All-Time Best 100 English Language Novels from 1923 to 2005 as published in 2005.

This isn't MY list. These are the foundational texts of the Western Canon. Up until the early 1900s, these were unquestionably part of any educated person's background. Austen, Lewis, Twain, James, Sayers, Tolkien....what do you think they grew up reading that informed the genius works they created? Their masterpieces didn't materialize out of thin air. This list is by no means comprehensive, but you'll be off to a solid start.

Time Magazine’s compilation of the 100 best novels published since 1923.

(101 because “The Berlin Stories” is an omnibus of “Mr Norris Changes Trains” and “Goodbye To Berlin.”)

Books with iconic first line!

While I’m trying to diversify, my book knowledge is still predominantly Western, please drop books with iconic first lines from all around the world!

Behold: yet another of my 2 a.m. deep dives - this time into epistolary literature! The list starts with some of the earliest examples of the form and follows it into the present day, from stories told through letters and diaries to those built from emails, texts, transcripts, and other documents. Whether you’re a longtime fan or completely new to this genre, what interests you most about it?

(A quick note: I put this list together using Wikipedia, blog posts, and Reddit threads. I did my best to keep everything in chronological order, but a few mistakes may have slipped through - it was 2 a.m., after all. If you have any suggestions on what else I should add, I’d love to hear it!)