Best Books of the Decade: 1980s

1.
The Handmaid’s Tale (The Handmaid's Tale, #1)
The Handmaid’s Tale (The Handmaid's Tale, #1) 4.15 avg rating — 2,322,696 ratings
2.
Ender’s Game (Ender's Saga, #1)
Ender’s Game (Ender's Saga, #1) 4.31 avg rating — 1,449,625 ratings
3.
The Color Purple
The Color Purple 4.27 avg rating — 737,109 ratings
4.
Matilda
Matilda 4.33 avg rating — 1,072,606 ratings
5.
Beloved (Beloved Trilogy, #1)
Beloved (Beloved Trilogy, #1) 3.97 avg rating — 476,879 ratings
6.
The Name of the Rose
The Name of the Rose 4.14 avg rating — 387,235 ratings
7.
Watchmen
Watchmen 4.39 avg rating — 585,752 ratings
8.
It
It 4.24 avg rating — 1,227,279 ratings
9.
The Unbearable Lightness of Being
The Unbearable Lightness of Being 4.11 avg rating — 524,748 ratings
10.
The Remains of the Day
The Remains of the Day 4.14 avg rating — 343,988 ratings
11.
The Joy Luck Club
The Joy Luck Club
by: Amy Tan
3.97 avg rating — 703,386 ratings
12.
The Pillars of the Earth (Kingsbridge, #1)
The Pillars of the Earth (Kingsbridge, #1) 4.35 avg rating — 809,373 ratings
13.
Love in the Time of Cholera
Love in the Time of Cholera 3.94 avg rating — 535,532 ratings
14.
A Prayer for Owen Meany
A Prayer for Owen Meany 4.24 avg rating — 332,368 ratings
15.
The Restaurant at the End of the Universe (The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, #2)
The Restaurant at the End of the Universe (The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, #2) 4.20 avg rating — 309,552 ratings
16.
The Alchemist
The Alchemist 3.92 avg rating — 3,429,833 ratings
17.
The Clan of the Cave Bear (Earth's Children, #1)
The Clan of the Cave Bear (Earth's Children, #1) 4.10 avg rating — 278,674 ratings
18.
The Mists of Avalon (Avalon, #1)
The Mists of Avalon (Avalon, #1) 4.13 avg rating — 211,200 ratings
19.
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe
Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe 4.28 avg rating — 321,350 ratings
20.
Misery
Misery 4.23 avg rating — 815,495 ratings
21.
Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History (Maus, #1)
Maus I: A Survivor's Tale: My Father Bleeds History (Maus, #1) 4.39 avg rating — 365,546 ratings
22.
Perfume. The story of a murderer
Perfume. The story of a murderer 4.04 avg rating — 530,003 ratings
23.
Lonesome Dove (Lonesome Dove, #1)
Lonesome Dove (Lonesome Dove, #1) 4.56 avg rating — 222,263 ratings
24.
The Silence of the Lambs (Hannibal Lecter, #2)
The Silence of the Lambs (Hannibal Lecter, #2) 4.25 avg rating — 578,126 ratings
25.
Hatchet (Brian's Saga, #1)
Hatchet (Brian's Saga, #1) 3.79 avg rating — 439,385 ratings
26.
Number the Stars
Number the Stars 4.19 avg rating — 608,360 ratings
27.
A Confederacy of Dunces
A Confederacy of Dunces 3.89 avg rating — 291,750 ratings
28.
A Light in the Attic
A Light in the Attic 4.36 avg rating — 470,695 ratings
29.
The Witches
The Witches 4.18 avg rating — 420,234 ratings
30.
Howl’s Moving Castle (Howl’s Moving Castle, #1)
Howl’s Moving Castle (Howl’s Moving Castle, #1) 4.29 avg rating — 426,716 ratings
31.
The Cider House Rules
The Cider House Rules 4.17 avg rating — 192,653 ratings
32.
Blood Meridian, or, the Evening Redness in the West
Blood Meridian, or, the Evening Redness in the West 4.16 avg rating — 204,403 ratings
33.
Pet Sematary
Pet Sematary 4.08 avg rating — 668,748 ratings
34.
Midnight’s Children
Midnight’s Children 3.98 avg rating — 130,698 ratings
35.
The House of the Spirits
The House of the Spirits 4.29 avg rating — 304,550 ratings
36.
The Vampire Lestat (The Vampire Chronicles, #2)
The Vampire Lestat (The Vampire Chronicles, #2)
by: Anne Rice
4.11 avg rating — 212,561 ratings
37.
Life, the Universe and Everything (The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, #3)
Life, the Universe and Everything (The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, #3) 4.16 avg rating — 246,177 ratings
38.
Norwegian Wood
Norwegian Wood really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 696,510 ratings
39.
V for Vendetta
V for Vendetta 4.26 avg rating — 320,826 ratings
40.
The Essential Calvin and Hobbes: A Calvin and Hobbes Treasury
The Essential Calvin and Hobbes: A Calvin and Hobbes Treasury 4.65 avg rating — 122,977 ratings
41.
A Time to Kill (Jake Brigance, #1)
A Time to Kill (Jake Brigance, #1) 4.12 avg rating — 820,136 ratings
42.
The Gunslinger (The Dark Tower, #1)
The Gunslinger (The Dark Tower, #1) 3.91 avg rating — 650,095 ratings
43.
The Bonfire of the Vanities
The Bonfire of the Vanities
by: Tom Wolfe
3.92 avg rating — 85,391 ratings
44.
Different Seasons
Different Seasons 4.36 avg rating — 216,972 ratings
45.
The Prince of Tides
The Prince of Tides 4.26 avg rating — 213,966 ratings
46.
So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish (The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, #4)
So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish (The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, #4) 4.09 avg rating — 182,127 ratings
47.
The BFG
The BFG 4.23 avg rating — 516,076 ratings
48.
The Hunt for Red October (Jack Ryan, #3)
The Hunt for Red October (Jack Ryan, #3) 4.12 avg rating — 385,127 ratings
49.
The Color of Magic (Discworld, #1; Rincewind, #1)
The Color of Magic (Discworld, #1; Rincewind, #1) 3.99 avg rating — 413,563 ratings
50.
White Noise
White Noise 3.86 avg rating — 123,828 ratings
51.
Presumed Innocent (Kindle County Legal Thriller, #1)
Presumed Innocent (Kindle County Legal Thriller, #1) 4.09 avg rating — 124,232 ratings
52.
Foucault’s Pendulum
Foucault’s Pendulum 3.91 avg rating — 73,671 ratings
53.
The Bean Trees (Greer Family, #1)
The Bean Trees (Greer Family, #1) 4.01 avg rating — 169,124 ratings
54.
A People’s History of the United States: 1492 - Present
A People’s History of the United States: 1492 - Present 4.08 avg rating — 259,666 ratings
55.
Hyperion (Hyperion Cantos, #1)
Hyperion (Hyperion Cantos, #1) 4.27 avg rating — 285,881 ratings
56.
Wyrd Sisters (Discworld, #6; Witches, #2)
Wyrd Sisters (Discworld, #6; Witches, #2) 4.16 avg rating — 127,773 ratings
57.
Contact
Contact 4.15 avg rating — 149,983 ratings
58.
Mort (Discworld, #4; Death, #1)
Mort (Discworld, #4; Death, #1) 4.24 avg rating — 265,320 ratings
59.
The Hotel New Hampshire
The Hotel New Hampshire 3.93 avg rating — 67,944 ratings
60.
The Bourne Identity (Jason Bourne, #1)
The Bourne Identity (Jason Bourne, #1) 4.05 avg rating — 439,110 ratings
61.
The Accidental Tourist
The Accidental Tourist 3.90 avg rating — 107,774 ratings
62.
Redwall (Redwall, #1)
Redwall (Redwall, #1) 4.14 avg rating — 126,664 ratings
63.
Christine
Christine 3.86 avg rating — 258,455 ratings
64.
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark 4.06 avg rating — 71,342 ratings
65.
Speaker for the Dead (Ender's Saga, #2)
Speaker for the Dead (Ender's Saga, #2) 4.11 avg rating — 267,165 ratings
66.
Guards! Guards! (Discworld, #8; City Watch, #1)
Guards! Guards! (Discworld, #8; City Watch, #1) 4.34 avg rating — 228,857 ratings
67.
Alanna: The First Adventure (Song of the Lioness, #1)
Alanna: The First Adventure (Song of the Lioness, #1) 4.27 avg rating — 135,445 ratings
68.
Sarah, Plain and Tall (Sarah, Plain and Tall, #1)
Sarah, Plain and Tall (Sarah, Plain and Tall, #1) 3.84 avg rating — 89,425 ratings
69.
The Drawing of the Three (The Dark Tower, #2)
The Drawing of the Three (The Dark Tower, #2) 4.24 avg rating — 282,786 ratings
70.
Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency (Dirk Gently, #1)
Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency (Dirk Gently, #1) 3.97 avg rating — 146,633 ratings
71.
The House on Mango Street
The House on Mango Street 3.69 avg rating — 222,897 ratings
72.
The Satanic Verses
The Satanic Verses 3.71 avg rating — 70,295 ratings
73.
A Brief History of Time
A Brief History of Time 4.21 avg rating — 466,942 ratings
74.
The Mammoth Hunters (Earth's Children, #3)
The Mammoth Hunters (Earth's Children, #3) 3.96 avg rating — 76,468 ratings
75.
Batman: The Killing Joke
Batman: The Killing Joke 4.36 avg rating — 236,000 ratings
76.
The Talisman (The Talisman, #1)
The Talisman (The Talisman, #1) 4.11 avg rating — 138,370 ratings
77.
Less Than Zero
Less Than Zero 3.60 avg rating — 95,127 ratings
78.
Chronicle of a Death Foretold
Chronicle of a Death Foretold 3.97 avg rating — 224,359 ratings
79.
The Polar Express
The Polar Express 4.32 avg rating — 246,413 ratings
80.
What We Talk About When We Talk About Love
What We Talk About When We Talk About Love 4.02 avg rating — 74,782 ratings
81.
The Valley of Horses (Earth's Children, #2)
The Valley of Horses (Earth's Children, #2) 4.04 avg rating — 94,549 ratings
82.
The Lover
The Lover 3.71 avg rating — 68,130 ratings
83.
The Stranger Beside Me: Ted Bundy: The Shocking Inside Story
The Stranger Beside Me: Ted Bundy: The Shocking Inside Story
by: Ann Rule
4.14 avg rating — 108,996 ratings
84.
Love Medicine (Love Medicine, #1)
Love Medicine (Love Medicine, #1) 4.01 avg rating — 28,024 ratings
85.
Patriot Games (Jack Ryan, #1)
Patriot Games (Jack Ryan, #1) 4.16 avg rating — 212,074 ratings
86.
Gorky Park (Arkady Renko, #1)
Gorky Park (Arkady Renko, #1) 4.04 avg rating — 69,057 ratings
87.
Housekeeping
Housekeeping 3.81 avg rating — 57,344 ratings
88.
Postmortem (Kay Scarpetta, #1)
Postmortem (Kay Scarpetta, #1) 4.03 avg rating — 252,284 ratings
89.
The Eyes of the Dragon
The Eyes of the Dragon 3.95 avg rating — 140,594 ratings
90.
Ramona Quimby, Age 8 (Ramona, #6)
Ramona Quimby, Age 8 (Ramona, #6) 4.11 avg rating — 72,914 ratings
91.
The Complete Maus
The Complete Maus 4.58 avg rating — 245,638 ratings
92.
Cold Sassy Tree
Cold Sassy Tree 4.02 avg rating — 104,859 ratings
93.
Firestarter
Firestarter 3.92 avg rating — 242,149 ratings
94.
The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and Other Clinical Tales
The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat and Other Clinical Tales 4.05 avg rating — 239,781 ratings
95.
The Shell Seekers
The Shell Seekers 4.20 avg rating — 118,226 ratings
96.
Galápagos
Galápagos 3.87 avg rating — 86,757 ratings
97.
The Light Fantastic (Discworld, #2; Rincewind, #2)
The Light Fantastic (Discworld, #2; Rincewind, #2) 4.01 avg rating — 164,460 ratings
98.
Many Waters (Time Quintet, #4)
Many Waters (Time Quintet, #4) 3.96 avg rating — 49,674 ratings
99.
Bright Lights, Big City
Bright Lights, Big City 3.80 avg rating — 36,180 ratings
100.
The Blue Sword (Damar, #1)
The Blue Sword (Damar, #1) 4.21 avg rating — 62,463 ratings
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