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Contemporary

Explore books in the Contemporary category

35 books in this category

Normal People

Normal People

Sally Rooney

A novel about the complex relationship between two young people navigating love, friendship, and class.

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You Had Me at Hola

You Had Me at Hola

Alexis Daria

A romance novel about a soap opera star and a telenovela actor who must navigate their relationship under public scrutiny.

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Evenings and Avenues

Evenings and Avenues

Stuart Dischell

A poetry collection exploring themes of urban life, relationships, and existential reflection.

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Dig Safe

Dig Safe

Stuart Dischell

A poetry collection by Stuart Dischell, exploring themes of life, memory, and the search for meaning.

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Backwards Days

Backwards Days

Stuart Dischell

A poetry collection that captures the nuances of human relationships, emotions, and self-reflection.

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Alien vs. Predator

Alien vs. Predator

Michael Robbins

A poetry collection that blends pop culture references with humor and social commentary.

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Children with Enemies

Children with Enemies

Stuart Dischell

A poetry collection exploring themes of conflict, humanity, and personal reflection.

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Girl, Woman, Other

Girl, Woman, Other

Bernardine Evaristo

A novel following the lives of twelve interconnected characters, exploring themes of race, gender, and identity in Britain.

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The Hours

The Hours

Michael Cunningham

A novel that interweaves the lives of three women, inspired by Virginia Woolf’s *Mrs. Dalloway*, exploring themes of life and art.

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The Echo Maker

The Echo Maker

Richard Powers

A novel about a man with a rare brain disorder, exploring themes of memory, identity, and environmental science.

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Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You

Someday This Pain Will Be Useful to You

Peter Cameron

A coming-of-age novel about a young man’s search for identity and belonging in contemporary New York.

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The Goldfinch

The Goldfinch

Donna Tartt

A novel following a young man whose life is shaped by a tragic event and an obsession with a painting, exploring themes of loss and beauty.

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Where'd You Go, Bernadette

Where'd You Go, Bernadette

Maria Semple

A comedic novel about a mother’s mysterious disappearance, exploring themes of family, identity, and social expectations.

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The Casual Vacancy

The Casual Vacancy

J.K. Rowling

A dark comedy set in a small English town, exploring themes of class, politics, and social conflict.

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Infinite Jest

Infinite Jest

David Foster Wallace

A complex novel exploring addiction, entertainment, and family dynamics, blending dark humor with philosophical themes.

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Necessary People

Necessary People

Anna Pitoniak

A psychological thriller about ambition, friendship, and betrayal among young professionals in New York.

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While I Was Gone

While I Was Gone

Sue Miller

A novel about a woman confronting her past and re-evaluating her life, exploring themes of identity and regret.

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The Topeka School

The Topeka School

Ben Lerner

A novel exploring American culture and politics through the lens of a high school debate champion in Kansas.

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White Teeth

White Teeth

Zadie Smith

Follows the intertwined lives of two families in London, exploring themes of multiculturalism and identity.

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Stargirl

Stargirl

Jerry Spinelli

A young adult novel about individuality and nonconformity, following a unique girl named Stargirl as she navigates high school life.

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Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage

Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki and His Years of Pilgrimage

Haruki Murakami

A novel about a man’s journey to reconnect with old friends and understand past betrayals, blending existential themes with Murakami’s surreal style.

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Fifty Shades of Grey

Fifty Shades of Grey

E L James

A romance novel about a young woman’s relationship with a wealthy man, exploring themes of desire and control.

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The Book of Form and Emptiness

The Book of Form and Emptiness

Ruth Ozeki

A novel about a boy who begins hearing the voices of inanimate objects, exploring grief, reality, and self-acceptance.

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Rodham

Rodham

Curtis Sittenfeld

A fictional reimagining of Hillary Clinton’s life if she had not married Bill Clinton, exploring ambition and gender.

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Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Jonathan Safran Foer

A novel about a young boy dealing with the loss of his father after 9/11, mixing themes of grief and healing.

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Open House

Open House

Elizabeth Berg

Novel about rediscovery and personal growth after a life change.

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That Motel Weekend

That Motel Weekend

James Donner

Novel exploring quirky characters and weekend events.

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Behold the Dreamers

Behold the Dreamers

Imbolo Mbue

Novel about a Cameroonian immigrant family navigating the American Dream in New York City.

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Commonwealth

Commonwealth

Ann Patchett

Novel about family, loyalty, and shared secrets spanning five decades.

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Conversations with Friends

Conversations with Friends

Sally Rooney

Novel about complex relationships among young adults in contemporary Dublin.

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Freshwater

Freshwater

Akwaeke Emezi

Novel exploring identity, spirituality, and mental health through the life of a Nigerian woman.

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Songs in Ordinary Time

Songs in Ordinary Time

Mary McGarry Morris

Novel about a dysfunctional family and complex relationships in a small town.

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Olive, Again

Olive, Again

Elizabeth Strout

Sequel to *Olive Kitteridge*, following the life of Olive and others in her town.

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Anxious People

Anxious People

Fredrik Backman

Fictional story centered on a hostage situation and human connections.

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The Unfolding

The Unfolding

A.M. Homes

Fictional exploration of political and social issues in contemporary America.

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