Well, many of the top 20 new fictions often have strong characters. For example, in 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo', Lisbeth Salander is a complex and memorable character. They also tend to deal with contemporary issues. 'The Water Dancer' tackles the issue of slavery and its aftermath. And they usually have engaging plots. 'The Hunger Games' has a very gripping plot that keeps readers hooked from start to finish.
The top 20 new fiction works usually have diverse themes. Some might be about love and relationships like 'Me Before You', which is a heart - wrenching love story. Others could be about self - discovery, such as 'Wild' where the protagonist goes on a journey to find herself. In terms of style, they can range from simple and easy - to - read like 'The Rosie Project' to more complex and literary works like 'Infinite Jest' which requires more in - depth reading and analysis.
One characteristic is their ability to create immersive worlds. Take 'Lord of the Rings' for example (if it were among the new fictions), it creates a fully - fledged fantasy world that readers can get lost in. Another aspect is that they often offer fresh perspectives. 'The Hate U Give' gives a unique perspective on police brutality and the Black Lives Matter movement. And many of them are well - written in terms of language use, like 'The Goldfinch' which has beautiful descriptions and a rich vocabulary.
Well, some of them might have had very unique settings. For example, as I mentioned before, 'The Underground Railroad' had this really interesting take on the historical concept of the underground railroad. It made it into a literal railroad underground, which was very creative.
Often, they involve some sort of apocalyptic or post - apocalyptic setting. This could be due to natural disasters like in 'Lucifer's Hammer' with the comet strike, or man - made disasters such as nuclear war in 'Alas, Babylon'.
Most of the top 100 historical fictions are known for their immersive settings. They make you feel like you are in that historical period. Take 'Gone with the Wind' for instance. You can almost smell the gunpowder and feel the heat of the South during the Civil War. Also, they usually have complex plots. 'I, Claudius' has a web of political intrigue in the Roman Empire. And they often explore important historical themes such as power, love, and social change.
Take 'The Midnight Library'. One characteristic is its thought - provoking concept. It makes readers think about the different choices and paths in life. It also has a very relatable protagonist. For 'Hamnet', its strength lies in its detailed historical setting and vivid portrayal of family relationships.
These works in the 'top 100 new historical fiction' are often great at bringing history to life. They do this by using vivid descriptions of the settings, from the bustling streets of ancient Rome to the battlefields of the American Civil War. The stories are also not just about historical events but how those events impact the lives of ordinary people. So we get to see history from the perspective of the common man or woman, which makes it more relatable and engaging.
They are often fresh in concept. For example, they might introduce unique settings like in 'The City We Became' which has a very creative take on cities coming to life. Also, the characters are well - developed. In 'Pachinko', we see multi - dimensional characters with complex emotions and motives.
Some of the top New York Times fiction works often include novels by well - known authors like 'To Kill a Mockingbird' by Harper Lee. It's a classic that has long been beloved for its exploration of racial injustice in the American South through the eyes of a young girl.
The works by top women in science fiction often have strong character development. For example, Ursula K. Le Guin's characters are complex and multi - dimensional. Also, they tend to explore social issues. Octavia E. Butler's works look at race and power dynamics. And many of them have unique world - building. Mary Shelley's 'Frankenstein' created a whole new concept of a created being in a fictional world.
Often, the works of these authors are genre - based. Agatha Christie's mystery novels follow a set pattern within the mystery genre. There is usually a crime, a set of suspects, and a detective figure who solves the mystery. This familiarity with the genre is part of what makes these books popular and 'cheap' in the sense of being easy to consume. Also, the language used is not overly complex, so it can be understood by a broad range of readers, including those who may not be highly educated in literature.
Often, their works have a strong sense of cultural identity. For example, in Toni Morrison's works, the African - American cultural heritage is vividly presented. The language she uses is rich with the rhythms and idioms of the black community.