The novel follows the story of a depressed and overweight man who moves with his two daughters to his ancestral home in Newfoundland, Canada, after his unfaithful wife dies in a car accident. There, he begins to rebuild his life, working as a reporter for the local newspaper, The Shipping News, and learning about the harsh realities of the fishing industry. As he delves into his family's history, he begins to find a sense of belonging and a new love. The story explores themes of family, identity, and the power of place.

The book follows the life of Calliope Stephanides, a Greek-American hermaphrodite, who narrates her epic story starting from her grandparents' incestuous relationship in a small village in Asia Minor to her own self-discovery in 20th century America. The novel delves into themes of identity, gender, and the American dream, while also providing a detailed history of Detroit through the eyes of three generations of an immigrant family.

The novel is a final look into the life of Harry "Rabbit" Angstrom, a former high-school basketball star, now in his mid-fifties, overweight and grappling with several health issues. Despite his success in business, his personal life is in shambles, with his wife addicted to alcohol and his son to drugs. Harry, struggling with his mortality, is trying to understand his past and make sense of his future, while dealing with the changing American society and the consequences of his own choices.

This novel is a modern retelling of Shakespeare's King Lear, set on a 1000-acre farm in Iowa. The story revolves around three daughters whose father decides to divide his land among them. The eldest two daughters are compliant with their father's decision, but the youngest daughter objects, leading to familial discord. The novel delves into themes of power, jealousy, and the dark secrets that can tear a family apart.

The novel tells the story of Gogol Ganguli, a second-generation Indian-American, who struggles with his unique name and his dual cultural identity. Born to immigrant parents from Kolkata, India, Gogol is named after the famous Russian author, Nikolai Gogol, a decision that shapes his life in unexpected ways. As he grows up, he finds himself torn between his parents' traditional Indian values and his desire to fit into mainstream American society. This internal conflict is further complicated by his relationships with women of different cultural backgrounds. The book explores themes of identity, cultural assimilation, and the immigrant experience.

The book follows the life of a young boy who survives a terrorist bombing at an art museum, which kills his mother. In the confusion following the explosion, he steals a priceless Dutch painting, The Goldfinch, which becomes his secret treasure and eventually draws him into the criminal underworld. The narrative explores themes of loss, survival, and the power of art to shape human destiny.

Set in a poor rural community in Mississippi, this novel follows the story of a pregnant teenage girl named Esch and her three brothers as they navigate their lives in the days leading up to Hurricane Katrina. Their mother is dead and their father is a neglectful alcoholic, leaving the siblings to fend for themselves. The book explores themes of poverty, racism, and survival, showcasing the resilience and strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity.

The book is a graphic novel that tells the story of Jimmy Corrigan, an awkward and lonely man in his mid-thirties. Jimmy has lived his entire life under the thumb of his overbearing mother. When he receives a letter from his estranged father, whom he has never met, he embarks on a journey that takes him from his home in Chicago to a small town in Michigan. Along the way, the narrative delves into the lives of his ancestors, revealing a history of loneliness and disappointment that seems to be repeating itself in Jimmy's own life.

"Independence Day" is a story about a middle-aged real estate agent named Frank Bascombe, who is going through a mid-life crisis during the Fourth of July weekend. The novel delves into Frank's struggles with his career, his troubled relationship with his son, his romantic life, and his existential questions about life and his place in the world. The narrative is a reflection on the American Dream, the pursuit of happiness, and the complexities of modern life.

The book is a collection of 13 interconnected short stories revolving around Olive Kitteridge, a retired schoolteacher living in a small town in Maine. Olive is a complex character with a prickly exterior but a deep well of emotion and empathy beneath the surface. Through her interactions and relationships with various town residents, the book explores themes of love, loss, aging, and change, painting a rich portrait of a community and its inhabitants.

"We Need To Talk About Kevin" is a gripping and unsettling novel that explores the complex relationship between a mother and her troubled son. Told through a series of letters written by the mother to her estranged husband, the book delves into the aftermath of a horrific school massacre committed by Kevin. As the mother reflects on her own guilt, fears, and doubts, she questions whether her own actions and choices played a role in shaping Kevin's violent nature. This thought-provoking and chilling narrative explores themes of nature versus nurture, parental responsibility, and the profound impact of tragedy on a family.

The novel explores the journey of a 13-year-old boy, his drug-addicted mother, and his baby sister as they travel through Mississippi to pick up their white father from the state penitentiary. The story is steeped in the harsh realities of poverty, racism, and struggle, and is further complicated by the presence of a ghost from the family's past. It's a haunting tale about the legacy of trauma and the power of family ties.

The novel explores the life of Tashi, an African woman who voluntarily undergoes the traditional ritual of female circumcision, a decision that haunts her as she moves to the United States, marries, and bears children. The emotional and physical repercussions of this act, along with her struggle to understand and reconcile with her cultural heritage, form the heart of the story. The narrative presents a powerful critique of the practice, highlighting its traumatic consequences on women's lives while also exploring themes of cultural identity, tradition, and personal freedom.

Set in the early 1960s in Jackson, Mississippi, the story revolves around three main characters: two black maids and a young white woman. The maids, who have spent their lives taking care of white families and raising their children, agree to share their experiences with the young woman, who is an aspiring writer. The book offers a poignant and humorous look at the complex relationships between these women, while also exploring the racial tensions and social changes of the era.

A teenage boy navigates the complexities of life after his mother is brutally attacked on their reservation in North Dakota. As the legal system fails to bring justice due to jurisdictional issues, the boy takes matters into his own hands. The novel explores themes of tribal law, justice, and the transition into adulthood, all set against the backdrop of Native American culture and history.

"Home" is a deeply emotional narrative that explores the themes of faith, redemption, and the complexity of family relationships. The story revolves around the Boughton family, particularly the prodigal son, Jack, who returns home after twenty years. His struggle to fit into the family and society, and his sister Glory's attempts to help him, form the crux of the story. The book delves into their past, revealing secrets and regrets, and provides a profound reflection on love, loss, and forgiveness.

The novel follows the life of twin brothers born from a secret union between an Indian nun and a British surgeon in Ethiopia. Their mother dies during childbirth and their father disappears, leaving them to be raised by two doctors at the mission hospital where they were born. The story spans several decades and continents, and explores themes of love, betrayal, medicine, and the complexity of family ties. One of the brothers, a gifted surgeon, flees to America after a political revolution in Ethiopia, while the other remains and struggles with the challenges of practicing medicine in a developing country.

"Empire Falls" is a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel that explores the life of Miles Roby, a man who has spent his entire life in a decaying, blue-collar town in Maine. Miles, a kind-hearted man, runs the Empire Grill, a local diner, and dreams of escaping the town and his manipulative, wealthy boss. The novel delves into the complex relationships and social dynamics of the town, examining themes of love, loss, and the economic decline of small-town America.

The narrative revolves around the lives of two boyhood friends navigating through their complicated lives in the 1980s. One of them is a bisexual man mourning the loss of his lover to AIDS, and the other is a straight man who's been in love with his friend since childhood. Their lives intertwine with a bohemian woman who dreams of having a child. The three of them form an unconventional family, exploring the complexities of relationships, love, and the concept of home.

The book is a profound exploration of love, loyalty, and justice, centered on a young African American couple whose lives are shattered when the husband is wrongfully convicted of a crime he didn't commit. The narrative delves into the emotional turmoil that ensues, as the wife struggles with her obligations to her husband and her own desires for happiness. Through a series of letters exchanged between the couple during the husband's incarceration, and the perspectives of those entangled in their plight, the story examines the complexities of marriage, the impact of racial injustice on personal relationships, and the resilience required to overcome profound adversity.

"The Crossover" is a heartfelt and poetic novel that follows the journey of a talented young basketball player named Josh Bell. Set in a world of sports and sibling rivalry, Josh faces challenges both on and off the court as he navigates the complexities of family, friendship, and first love. Through Alexander's lyrical writing style, readers are taken on an emotional rollercoaster that explores themes of identity, loss, and the power of perseverance.

"Everyman" is a profound exploration of the common human experience as it recounts the life of its unnamed protagonist. The book explores themes of mortality, regret, and the human condition through the lens of an everyman character. The protagonist's journey through life, with all its joys, sorrows, achievements, and failures, is a contemplation on aging, death, and the inevitable decline of the body. The narrative is a stark and unflinching examination of the human experience, offering a poignant meditation on the nature of life, death, and humanity.

The novel delves into the complexities of race, family, and morality in a small town in upstate New York during the 1950s and 1960s. It follows the intertwined lives of a white girl from a dysfunctional family and an African American boy from a stable, loving home who become bound together by a violent act that shapes their future. As they grow up, each struggles with the weight of the secret they share and the racial tensions of their community, while trying to find their own paths to redemption and understanding amidst the societal pressures and personal hardships they face.

The novel delves into the complex relationship between a Chinese-American woman and her mother, who carries with her the weight of a tumultuous past from her life in China. As the mother finally reveals her harrowing experiences of survival during wartime, secrets of love, loss, and betrayal, the daughter begins to understand the resilience and sacrifices that have shaped her mother's life. Through this unveiling of family history, the novel explores themes of cultural identity, the immigrant experience, and the enduring bonds between mothers and daughters.

This novel follows the life of Marietta Cook, a tall, resilient African American woman from the Gullah community in South Carolina, as she endures the hardships and complexities of the American South. Through her journey, we witness her strength and determination as she raises her twin sons, contends with racial and social challenges, and strives to maintain her cultural heritage. The narrative, rich with Gullah dialect and traditions, paints a vivid portrait of a woman's struggle for survival and dignity against a backdrop of historical events that shape her community and the nation.