For a beginner, 'The Little Prince' by Antoine de Saint - Exupéry could be a great start from the 'goodreads best epic novels'. It's a simple yet profound story about a little prince from another planet who visits Earth and learns about human nature through his encounters. 'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen can also be considered. It may not seem like a typical epic at first, but it's an epic in terms of the detailed portrayal of the social world and the characters' emotional journeys within it.
I would recommend 'Animal Farm' by George Orwell. It's a short but powerful epic - like allegory. It uses animals on a farm to represent different aspects of society and politics, making it easy to understand the deeper meaning. Also, 'A Wrinkle in Time' by Madeleine L'Engle is a good option. It's a science - fiction epic that takes the young protagonists on a journey through different dimensions to save their father and the universe, and it has a lot of relatable themes for beginners.
Some of the well - known 'goodreads best epic novels' include 'The Lord of the Rings' by J.R.R. Tolkien. It's a classic with a vast and detailed world full of different races and a great battle between good and evil. Another one could be 'War and Peace' by Leo Tolstoy, which not only tells a story of war but also delves deep into the lives and relationships of the characters during that era.
Another great one is 'Moby - Dick' by Herman Melville. This novel is not only about the hunt for a white whale but also delves deep into themes like obsession, fate, and the power of nature. It has complex symbolism and a very unique narrative style.
There are many possible books. 'Jane Eyre' is a great one from the list. It's about a young woman's journey of self - discovery, love, and independence. 'Moby - Dick' is also a significant work. It delves into themes of obsession, the power of nature, and man's struggle against the unknown. And 'The Hobbit' with its adventure - filled story of Bilbo Baggins could be among the 'goodreads best novels'.
On Goodreads, 'Middlemarch' by George Eliot is an epic. It's a detailed portrait of a provincial town and its inhabitants. The story weaves together multiple plotlines and characters, showing the social and political climate of the time.
One of the well - known detective novels on Goodreads could be 'The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes' by Arthur Conan Doyle. It's a classic with brilliant deductive reasoning.
Some of the well - known books on Goodreads' best fiction list might 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 could be 'Pride and Prejudice' by Jane Austen, which is famous for its portrayal of love and social class in 19th - century England.
One of the highly regarded 2017 fiction books on Goodreads was 'The Handmaid's Tale' by Margaret Atwood. It's a dystopian novel that explores themes of women's rights and a totalitarian society. Another great one was 'Big Little Lies' by Liane Moriarty. It has a complex web of characters and a mystery at its core. And 'Lincoln in the Bardo' by George Saunders was also well - liked, with its unique narrative style and exploration of life and death.
Some of the books might include 'The Underground Railroad' by Colson Whitehead. It's a powerful novel that reimagines the Underground Railroad as an actual railroad system underground, exploring themes of slavery, freedom, and the African - American experience in a unique and impactful way.
There were likely many great books on that list. 'An American Marriage' by Tayari Jones was also a significant work. It delved into the complex relationships within marriage and race in America. Without having the exact list in front of me, it's hard to name them all, but these are some of the well - received books around that time that might have made it to the list.
One of the books could be 'Exit West' by Mohsin Hamid. It's a story about a young couple in a war - torn city who find mysterious doors that lead to other parts of the world, exploring themes of displacement, love, and the global refugee crisis.