Very excited to share this with all of you.
Over the past few weeks, I’ve been sharing short videos on Instagram and TikTok exploring some of my favourite works of fiction. It’s an eclectic mix, not organising them through genre or when I read them. They are simply the books that I have encountered across my reading journey that left some mar on me.
They were not meant to be reviews, but are introductions to the ideas, history, and cultural significance that make these novels interesting to me.
I’ve gathered them here as the first volume of The Culturelist Library, where I hope to keep growing a collection of novels that have influenced the way I think about literature and storytelling.
Whether you’re searching for your next novel, rediscovering an old favourite, or simply curious about the stories behind some of literature’s most influential works, I hope this collection encourages you to pick up a book you might not otherwise have chosen and get reading.
Enjoy.
Legends of the Fall by Jim Harrison
An incredibly powerful and poignant read while simultaneously being concise and rich with detail. Not an easy feat! Published in 1979, Legends of the Fall is a powerful novella about family, love, war, and humanity's relationship with the natural world. Set against the backdrop of the First World War, Jim Harrison's modern classic remains one of the finest works of American literary fiction. I promise you, its the kind of story that stays with you for a long time.
Rendezvous with Rama by Arthur C. Clarke
This is a classic novel I wish they would adapt into a series. It feels like something Christopher Nolan would tackle. First published in 1973, Rendezvous with Rama is one of the defining science fiction novels of the twentieth century. Arthur C. Clarke replaces alien invasions with mystery and exploration, asking profound questions about curiosity, knowledge, and humanity's place in the universe.
A Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs
One of the most immersive, under appreciated science fiction novels and series of all time. Also, let me add, the film John Carter of Mars got a bad rep - it’s a good watch! Originally serialised in 1912, A Princess of Mars helped establish the planetary adventure genre that would later influence everything from Star Wars to modern fantasy. Edgar Rice Burroughs (love him) created an unforgettable vision of Mars, filled with warring kingdoms, heroic quests, and one of literature's most enduring romantic adventures.
Get the A Princess of Mars book
The Merlin Trilogy by Mary Stewart
As a diverse author Mary Stewart, who from a sentence level is really mind boggling, is not read enough today. Her Merlin Trilogy is beautiful. The story reimagines the Arthurian legends through the eyes of Merlin, blending historical fiction with fantasy. Beginning with The Crystal Cave, the trilogy offers one of the most compelling and influential retellings of King Arthur, Merlin, and post-Roman Britain.
Atonement by Ian McEwan
Do not read this book unless you have a box of tissues close by, do not read this book if you don’t want a story to live with you for a long time. Ian McEwan's Atonement is a modern classic that explores memory, guilt, love, and the consequences of a single mistake. Set before and during the Second World War, it remains one of the most celebrated novels of the twenty-first century and a masterclass in literary storytelling.
The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien
Everyone knows of the Tolkien classic, but how many of you have actually read it? Recently? Do it now. Especially if you have children! First published in 1937, The Hobbit transformed modern fantasy and introduced readers to the world of Middle-earth. Rich with mythology, adventure, and beautifully crafted prose, it remains one of the greatest novels to read, or read aloud, at any age.
Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier
The film is inspired by the novel, the novel inspired by teh painting, the painting inspire by one housemaid called Griet. It’s the circle of art! Inspired by Johannes Vermeer's iconic painting, Tracy Chevalier's bestselling historical novel imagines the story behind one of the world's most famous works of art. Blending art history with fiction, it explores creativity, class, family, and the relationships that may have existed behind the canvas.