The 100 best books of the 21st century

The Guardian, 2019. A critics list, ranked. See the original list

We use only the titles, authors and places from this list. 56 novels from it are in The Novel Index.

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6
Cover of The Amber Spyglass

The Amber Spyglass

Philip Pullman, 2000

  • Critics' Darling

On 1 of the 20 lists it was eligible for

29

A Death in the Family

Karl Ove Knausgaard, 2009

  • Critics' Darling

On 1 of the 20 lists it was eligible for

31
Cover of The Argonauts

The Argonauts

Maggie Nelson, 2015

  • Critics' Darling

On 1 of the 15 lists it was eligible for

33
Cover of Fun Home

Fun Home

Alison Bechdel, 2006

  • Critics' Darling

On 1 of the 14 lists it was eligible for

47
Cover of Persepolis

Persepolis

Marjane Satrapi, 2000

  • Critics' Darling

On 1 of the 17 lists it was eligible for

69

The Infatuations

Javier Marías, 2011

  • Critics' Darling

On 1 of the 11 lists it was eligible for

71

Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth

Chris Ware, 2000

  • Critics' Darling

On 1 of the 18 lists it was eligible for

77

Signs Preceding the End of the World

Yuri Herrera, 2009

  • Critics' Darling

On 1 of the 20 lists it was eligible for

80
Cover of Stories of Your Life and Others

Stories of Your Life and Others

Ted Chiang, 2002

  • Critics' Darling

On 1 of the 17 lists it was eligible for

82
Cover of Coraline

Coraline

Neil Gaiman, 2002

  • Critics' Darling

On 1 of the 19 lists it was eligible for

90

Visitation

Jenny Erpenbeck, 2008

  • Critics' Darling

On 1 of the 11 lists it was eligible for

91
Cover of Light

Light

M John Harrison, 2002

  • Critics' Darling

On 1 of the 19 lists it was eligible for

99
Cover of Broken Glass

Broken Glass

Alain Mabanckou, 2005

  • Critics' Darling

On 1 of the 12 lists it was eligible for

The lists that agree with this one most

ListBooks in common
The 100 best books of the 21st century (The New York Times, 2024)18
Costa (Whitbread) Novel Award (winners and shortlists) (Costa, 1971-2021)12
The 100 best novels of all time (The Guardian, 2026)8
100 novels that shaped our world (BBC Arts, 2019)8
Women's Prize for Fiction (winners and shortlists) (Women's Prize Trust, 1996-)12