Recs if you like The Magic Mountain...

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

Books recommended by musician Lucy Dacus, a solo artist and member of the band boygenius. Pulled from her goodreads list.

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.

Fiction (and some non-fiction) across genres featuring plagues, poisons, palace physicians, healers, and pre-antibiotic chaos. If it involves herbs, plagues, questionable remedies, court intrigue, or a morally complex healer experimenting in the corner, I want it.

A list published by The Guardian on 5/16/2026, as voted on by authors, critics, and academics worldwide.

The Guardian Top 100 Best Novels

People who like to read long books rise up! These are classics that are longer than 500 Pages. Feel free to recommend more!

A reading list that I thought I’d share consisting of all the books on the Brink Literacy Project’s tarot deck. I’m going for completionist and this is here for anyone who’d like to keep track and do the same, or who wants to read classic literature paired with tarot cards 🤗

(Apart from the first five, all books are in order, starting with the Major Arcana, and moving Ace to King through the Wands, Cups, Swords, and then Pentacles suit).

the most beloved of classics!

Originating in the late 1800s and continuing until the end of World War II, works of the modernism movement feature new and innovative styles, a break from traditional writing, and attempts to recontextualize literature in response to both the devastation of the series of global conflicts between 1900-1950 and the emergence of new technology, ideas, and world order. Subgenres of modernism include absurdism, surrealism, dadaism, and stream of consciousness.

These authors won for all their life’s work, but here’s each of their most notable books to get you started!

Not all authors are listed.

books i've seen jess read or mention while watching gilmore girls. if i'm missing any, please comment!!

This website ranks global literature using "best of lists" from over 700 sources. I compiled this list with the nonfiction % set to 50%.

Books with more than 800 pages.

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

Compilation of all weekly readalongs

This list is from the BookTube Channel "Tristan and the Classics" in 2022. It is compiled from quite a few best or most influential book lists. He does have a disclaimer on how everyone will have their own top 50 list. He also talks about how the books are just a list of books. However, there is one that I am not sure I will ever read. The YouTuber, also said he would never read the same book.