Well, 'The Confessions of Catherine de Medici' by C. W. Gortner is also very popular. It provides a detailed look at the life of Catherine de Medici. The author does a great job of bringing her character to life and exploring the political and personal dramas she faced during the Renaissance.
Among the highly rated ones on Goodreads is 'The Birth of Venus' by Sarah Dunant. It's set in Florence during the Renaissance and follows the story of a young woman who defies the norms of her time. The descriptions of the art and the city are really captivating.
Some of the highly rated historical fiction books on Goodreads include 'All the Light We Cannot See' by Anthony Doerr. It's a beautifully written story set during World War II, following the lives of a blind French girl and a German boy. Another one could be 'The Book Thief' by Markus Zusak, which tells a heart - wrenching tale about a girl in Nazi Germany who steals books. And 'A Tale of Two Cities' by Charles Dickens is a classic that depicts the French Revolution vividly.
One great read in Goodreads' Renaissance historical fiction is 'Wolf Hall' by Hilary Mantel. It offers a vivid portrayal of Thomas Cromwell's rise to power during the Tudor period. The characters are richly drawn and the historical details are immersive.
One great Irish historical fiction on Goodreads is 'The Dubliners' by James Joyce. It gives a vivid picture of life in Dublin during a particular era. Another is 'Troubles' by J. G. Farrell which is set during the Irish War of Independence. And 'Brooklyn' by Colm Tóibín is also a popular choice, telling a story of an Irish immigrant in the US with a backdrop of Irish history.
One of the highly rated historical fiction books on Goodreads is 'All the Light We Cannot See' by Anthony Doerr. It's a beautifully written novel set during World War II, following the lives of a blind French girl and a German boy. Another great one is 'The Book Thief' by Markus Zusak, which tells the story of a young girl in Nazi Germany who steals books. And 'The Nightingale' by Kristin Hannah is also popular, depicting two sisters in France during the war.
Some of the top rated Goodreads fiction books include 'To Kill a Mockingbird' by Harper Lee. It's a classic that deals with themes of racism and justice in the American South. Another highly rated one is 'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen, which is known for its brilliant character development and exploration of love and social class. '1984' by George Orwell is also up there. It's a dystopian novel that warns about the dangers of totalitarianism.
One of the highly rated books in Goodreads fiction could be 'To Kill a Mockingbird'. It's a classic that deals with themes of racism and moral growth in the American South.
In Goodreads Fiction, 'One Hundred Years of Solitude' by Gabriel García Márquez is a highly rated book. It tells the multi - generational story of the Buendía family in the fictional town of Macondo. The writing is rich and filled with magical realism. 'Jane Eyre' by Charlotte Brontë is also a classic that is well - loved. The story of the strong - willed Jane and her relationship with Mr. Rochester is both romantic and thought - provoking.
One of the top books might be 'Circe' by Madeline Miller. It retells the story of Circe from Greek mythology in a very engaging way.
Some of the top - rated science fiction books on Goodreads include 'Dune' by Frank Herbert. It's a classic that has a richly detailed universe, complex characters, and deals with themes like politics, religion, and ecology in a science - fictional setting. Another highly rated one is 'Ender's Game' by Orson Scott Card, which tells the story of a young boy's training in a military - like space academy to fight an alien threat. 'The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy' by Douglas Adams is also very popular. It's a humorous and off - beat take on science fiction, following the adventures of an ordinary human in a vast and strange universe.
A third option could be 'Wolf Hall' by Hilary Mantel. It's set in the Tudor court and follows the rise of Thomas Cromwell. Mantel's writing is known for its historical accuracy and her ability to bring the past to life. The political intrigue and the complex characters make it a fascinating read for those interested in historical fiction. It's also been highly rated on Goodreads.