Big Books of 2026

Listopia > Book Lists Voted on by Dan (29 Lists)



Rain of Gold by Victor Villaseñor
Books White People Need to Read
1,306 books — 1,560 voters
World Without End by Ken FollettThe Name of the Rose by Umberto EcoThe Pillars of the Earth by Ken FollettWolf Hall by Hilary MantelAgincourt by Bernard Cornwell
Medieval and Renaissance historical fiction
463 books — 420 voters

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz ZafónCaptain Alatriste by Arturo Pérez-Reverte
Historical Fiction - Spain / Portugal
131 books — 27 voters
Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtryHawaii by James A. MichenerThe Complete Aubrey/Maturin Novels by Patrick O'BrianLondon by Edward Rutherfurd
Best Historical Fiction
7,406 books — 25,586 voters

A Column of Fire by Ken FollettThe Winds of Winter by George R.R. Martin
2017 releases you are super excited for!
209 books — 197 voters
The Pillars of the Earth by Ken FollettWorld Without End by Ken FollettExodus by Leon UrisLonesome Dove by Larry McMurtryA Falcon Flies by Wilbur Smith
Big Page Count, Epic Historical Fiction
200 books — 242 voters

The Exorcist by William Peter BlattyDracula by Bram StokerThe Shining by Stephen KingThinner by Richard BachmanPet Sematary by Stephen King
Scariest books of all time
639 books — 732 voters
Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns GoodwinTruman by David McCulloughJohn Adams by David McCulloughAmerican Lion by Jon MeachamWashington by Ron Chernow
Positively Presidential (nonfiction)
368 books — 69 voters

The Hobbit, or There and Back Again by J.R.R. TolkienA Is for Alibi by Sue GraftonMaster & Commander by Patrick O'BrianA Test of Wills by Charles ToddThe Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
series that are worth reading from the beginning
291 books — 127 voters
Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha ChristieThe Da Vinci Code by Dan BrownA Time to Kill by John Grisham
100 Mysteries and Thrillers to Read in a Lifetime: Readers' Picks
2,208 books — 4,466 voters

The Godfather by Mario PuzoRed Dragon by Thomas HarrisFlashman by George MacDonald Fraser
Rooting for the Bad Guy
683 books — 1,467 voters
John Adams by David McCulloughTruman by David McCullough
Pulitzer Winners: Biographies & Autobiographies
121 books — 203 voters

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper LeeThe Hobbit, or There and Back Again by J.R.R. TolkienThe Catcher in the Rye by J.D. SalingerLord of the Flies by William GoldingOf Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
100 Books to Read in a Lifetime: Readers' Picks
15,264 books — 17,476 voters
Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtryTrue Grit by Charles PortisThe Grapes of Wrath by John SteinbeckLittle Big Man by Thomas BergerDead Man's Walk by Larry McMurtry
Best Westerns
1,376 books — 1,501 voters

The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. TolkienHarry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. RowlingHarry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. RowlingHarry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. RowlingThe Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
The Book Was Better Than the Movie
1,561 books — 18,689 voters
Sharpe's Havoc by Bernard CornwellSharpe's Eagle by Bernard CornwellSharpe's Tiger by Bernard CornwellSharpe's Rifles by Bernard CornwellMr. Midshipman Hornblower by C.S. Forester
Napoleonic Wars (Historical Fiction)
110 books — 74 voters

Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtryTrue Grit by Charles PortisLittle Big Man by Thomas Berger
Literary Westerns
283 books — 386 voters
The Alienist by Caleb CarrThe Name of the Rose by Umberto EcoThe Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz ZafónA Test of Wills by Charles ToddThe Dante Club by Matthew Pearl
Best Historical Mystery
2,070 books — 4,531 voters

The Age of Gold by H.W. BrandsThe Grapes of Wrath by John SteinbeckRain of Gold by Victor VillaseñorThe Choirboys by Joseph WambaughThe New Centurions by Joseph Wambaugh
Best California Books
434 books — 216 voters
Master & Commander by Patrick O'BrianThe Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre DumasMr. Midshipman Hornblower by C.S. ForesterH.M.S. Surprise by Patrick O'BrianThe Mauritius Command by Patrick O'Brian
Napoleonic Novels
193 books — 100 voters

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper LeeThe Grapes of Wrath by John SteinbeckThe Outsiders by S.E. HintonThe Odyssey by HomerOne Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey
Best Page-Turners with Redeeming Social Value
8,061 books — 5,738 voters
John Adams by David McCulloughTruman by David McCulloughTeam of Rivals by Doris Kearns GoodwinMornings on Horseback by David McCulloughAmerican Lion by Jon Meacham
Best Presidential Biographies (nonfiction)
467 books — 524 voters

Rain of Gold by Victor VillaseñorTo Kill a Mockingbird by Harper LeeThe Hobbit, or There and Back Again by J.R.R. TolkienThe Grapes of Wrath by John SteinbeckThe Once and Future King by T.H. White
Favorite Books
14,360 books — 9,965 voters
The Three Musketeers by Alexandre DumasThe Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre DumasTreasure Island by Robert Louis StevensonThe Man in the Iron Mask by Alexandre DumasThe Merry Adventures of Robin Hood by Howard Pyle
Swashbucklers
559 books — 498 voters

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper LeeHarry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. RowlingThe Catcher in the Rye by J.D. SalingerGreen Eggs and Ham by Dr. SeussTolkien On Fairy-stories by J.R.R. Tolkien
Books That Everyone Should Read At Least Once
31,546 books — 120,090 voters
Of Mice and Men by John SteinbeckThe Grapes of Wrath by John SteinbeckThe Tortilla Curtain by T. Coraghessan BoyleThe Maltese Falcon by Dashiell HammettL.A. Confidential by James Ellroy
Novels Set in California
919 books — 367 voters

The Outsiders by S.E. HintonLonesome Dove by Larry McMurtryFear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. ThompsonThe Name of the Rose by Umberto EcoThe Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
Best Books of the 20th Century
7,807 books — 49,789 voters
Rain of Gold by Victor Villaseñor
Chicano Chicana Chicanx
161 books — 101 voters

Flashman in the Great Game by George MacDonald FraserMaster and Commander by Patrick O'BrianFlashman and the Redskins by George MacDonald FraserFlash for Freedom by George MacDonald FraserRiver God by Wilbur Smith
Best Historical Fiction Books that Are Actually Historical Fiction
2,518 books — 2,757 voters