The best 50 books of the last 50 years

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The books:
1973 - Dead City by Shane Stevens
1974 - The Rats by James Herbert
1975 - The Eagle Has Landed by Jack Higgins
1976 - Let's Go Play at the Adams' by Mendal Johnson
1977 - The Shining by Stephen King
1978 - Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin
1979 - The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter
1980 - The Shadow of the Torturer by Gene Wolfe
1981 - Red Dragon by Thomas Harris
1982 - V for Vendetta by Alan Moore and David Lloyd
1983 - The Anubis Gates by Tim Powers
1984 - The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks
1985 - Lonesome Dove by Larr McMurtry
1986 - Maus by Art Spiegelman
1987 - Beloved by Toni Morrison
1988 - Touching the Void by Joe Simpson
1989 - From Hell by Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell
1990 - I was Dora Suarez by Derek Raymond
1991 - The Cipher by Kathe Koja
1992 - The Secret History by Donna Tartt
1993 - A Simple Plan by Scott Smith
1994 - The Fermata by Nicholson Baker
1995 - Zombie by Joyce Carol Oates
1996 - A Game of Thrones by George RR Martin
1997 - Always Outnubered, Always Outgunned by Walter Mosley
1998 - Blood Red Rivers by Jean Christophe Grange
1999 - The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snickett
2000 - The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon
2001 - Mystic River by Dennis Lehane
2002 - Fat Ollie's Book (87th Precinct, #52) by Ed McBain
2003 - We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver
2004 - Notice by Heather Lewis
2005 - The Devotion of Suspect X (Detective Galileo, #1) by Keigo Higashino
2006 - Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
2007 - The Terror by Dan Simmons
2008 - The Given Day by Dennis Lehane
2009 - 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami
2010 - Room by Emma Donoghue
2011 - The Dictator's Handbook: Why Bad Behavior is Almost Always Good Politics by Bruce Bueno de Mesquita and Alastair Smith
2012 - My Friend Dahmer by Derf Backderf
2013 - Nunslinger by Stark Holborn
2014 - Through the Woods by Emily Carroll
2015 - Finders Keepers by Stephen King
2016 - Laws of the Skies by Gregoire Courtois
2017 - My Absolute Darling by Gabriel Tallent
2018 - Milkman by Anna Burns
2019 - The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead
2020 - Blacktop Wasteland by SA Cosby
2021 - Tell Me I'm Worthless by Alison Rumfitt
2022 - Mary by Nat Cassidy
2023 - Julian by Fleur Pierets
_____
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________
Music: Who's Afraid of Halloween by Alfred Grupstra from Pixabay

[@sghettinona]

Happy 51 to You 🎉

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thank you!

[@BookChatWithPat8668]

Happy Birthday, dear Olly! Wishing you all that is good in the year to come! 🥰

[@M-J]

Happy 51 trips around the sun Olly! Here’s to a great year! Cheerio! 🎉

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thanks MJ!

[@CliffsDarkGems]

Happy Birthday Olly! 🎉 So many incredible books mentioned. My favorites are The Shining, The Wasp Factory, Touching The Void, The Cipher, We Need To Talk About Kevin, and The Terror, Thank you for all the other great recommendations, many of which are on my tbr.

[@fiberartsyreads]

This was great! A few of my faves here too. Happy Birthday!!

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thanks, Crystal!

[@clancyconnolly495]

Happy birthday, Olly! I hope the day is absolutely incredible and the year is a good one! This book list is excellent- and very honestly, I was planning on reading The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay in May but was dragging my feet because it sounds a bit dull, but your rave review really gave me the boost I need to pick it up! Lots of other fantastic books I can't wait to check out- great list!!

[@lindah5910]

Happy Birthday, Olly! I just ordered Tales of the City by Maupin. I was raised in San Francisco, California and love it dearly to this day (even though I misguidedly moved about 2 hours distant several decades ago - alas, woe is me). I was a senior in high school in 1979-1980 and don't know how voracious reader me missed this one. Looking forward to reading it and thanks for the recommendation.

[@TheMike28212]

Happy Birthday! Great list of books. I watched The Eagle Has Landed so many times as a kid. I recently picked up a copy of the book and look forward to reading it. Some of the others you mentioned that I haven't read but are on my tbr include The Anubis Gates, I was Dora Suarez, The Cipher, The Devotion of Suspect X, and Notice.

[@jennystout8600]

Great list! The Terror is one of my all-time faves. Also love The Shining, The Bloody Chamber, From Hell, Maus, and some of the others. You've given me a few books to add to my TBR pile.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thank you! Hope you enjoy them!

[@Tokayd13]

Happy Birthday! Fun video. I've read 15 of your choices, and I have 3 on my bookshelves waiting. And I'm adding a couple from your list to my "want to read" list.

[@ConstantlyRead]

Happiest of Birthdays to you Olly! I absolutely love your content. Thank you for the wonderful recommendations!

[@eriebeverly]

Happy Birthday! And what an interesting list and great breakdowns. It was nice to see Blood Red Rivers make it into the top 51.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thanks Erie! Yeah it’s a great book

[@diamondslashranch]

Happy Birthday 🎉and I’m so glad you got round to reading Nunslinger one of my all time favorites.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

It’s great isn’t it!

[@thndrstd]

Happy birthday! Thank you for continually adding to my already gigantic want-to-read pile! :)

[@helenshaw9234]

Happy birthday 🎉! Great video. Loads more interesting books to add to my pile, I just wish I could read as fast as you do!😂

[@Keeva-]

Happy Birthday! 🥳 Really enjoyed this and put a few more titles on my tbr list. The Rats is still one of my favourite horror books. I forget how old it is sometimes!

[@CriminOllyBlog]

It really is great! Thank you 😊

[@markmorris2514]

First of all, happy birthday, Olly! Secondly, what a terrific and varied list! I completely agree with you re many of the books I've also read -- The Shining, A Simple Plan, The Secret History, Blacktop Wasteland etc -- and I've scribbled down several titles to follow up that I'd never heard of before -- The Devotion of Subject X, The Laws of the Skies, My Absolute Darling, The Nickel Boys... Many thanks once again for adding to my (already vast) TBR list!

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thanks Mark! Hope you enjoy all of them, I’m pretty sure you will.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Just got home and in a piece of perfect birthday timing the ARC of your new book had arrived from Flame Tree 👏🏻

[@nathanfoung2347]

Happy Birthday Olly, its a great list, i was furiously writing some of titles l hadnt heard of done. My TBR got smashed in a good way. Cheers.

[@tyghe_bright]

I've been thinking about Fantasy for non-Fantasy readers you might enjoy: The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Gaiman On Stranger Tides or Declare by Tim Powers (Alternate history with light magic and fantasy creatures-Stranger Tides is pirates and the Fountain of Youth, Declare is WWII spies) Who Fears Death by Nnedi Okorafor (African post-apocalypse with magic) Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel (literary, magical realism, romance) That Time I Got Drunk and Saved a Demon by Kimberly Lemming (adventurous and spicy)

[@alex_greco_sc]

Happy Birthday sir 🎂!! Incredible books were mentioned. I updated my reading list, thx

[@PeculiarNotions]

Happy Birthday! An interesting list, and even thought I'd never heard of Nunslinger before, I have to get a copy.

[@richardjenkins4208]

Happy Birthday, Olly. Some great choices and ideas in here. Thanks!

[@FireflyFalling]

Happy Birthday! 🎉 agreed with so many books on this list! I’m going to have to go back and re-read some of them now!

[@amyschmelzer6445]

I bought The Shining and Beloved this weekend at a used library sale. I liked my read of Lonesome Dove last year. I own Milkman but haven’t read it yet. Blacktop Wasteland was not my cup of tea. I haven’t read any others on your list. I found a McBain at the library sale and thought of you so I had to get it. Lady, Lady, I Did it!

[@CriminOllyBlog]

That’s a good McBain! Hope you enjoy it.

[@tyler2610]

I always think of him as well when I see a McBain book at Goodwill or a second hand shop. I haven’t picked one up yet

[@CriminOllyBlog]

@@tyler2610 😊

[@Mex.Libris]

Happy birthday Olly! 🎉 I'm making this into a to-read list. 😎 Hope this eventually gets a sequel with a list of the runner-up books.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thank you! There were definitely a lot of years where it was a tough choice to pick just one book

[@wallhagens2001]

Happy birthday! 🎉

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thank you!

[@lisag618]

Happy birthday Olly 🎂 So many great books here that I was just nodding along going 'yep agree'. I must read Blacktop Wasteland next as not read that one yet...and I've spotted more than a couple for rereads 😅

[@GuiltyFeat]

Happy birthday. Some excellent choices there. Nice to see some love for "Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned" which may be my favourite Mosley across all his series books.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thank you! And yes, Socrates Fortlow needs more attention - I think he's an amazing creation

[@philhack4317]

Hi Oli, happy 51st! That's a great list. Love your channel and wanted to make some recommendations myself as a birthday gift. So firstly, Brian Evenson's Last Days is a twisted detective horror novel that feels tailor-made for you. Secondly, Stephen Graham Jones's The Least Of My Scars is a total page-turner about a serial killer. I remember you rating one of Jones's works as best horror book of 2021. Lastly, another Stephen Graham Jones book, It Came From Del Rio, is fantastic. Unfortunately, it's out of print, and I know you've championed out-of-print books before.... You've got a knack for resurrecting forgotten classics, right? Anyways, keep up the good work, and thanks for all the great books you've introduced to me.

[@krzysamm7095]

Happy Birthday Olly. May you have a blessed new year filled with hope, joy, wonder and love.

[@bartboon3432]

Happy birthday Olly!

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thank you!

[@marconacher01]

Happy birthday, Olly, and thank you for this video. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I’m glad you’ve included a few graphic novels. I wouldn’t mind seeing more graphic novels reviewed in your channel. (I know you review manga quite often.) I don’t know if you’ve already done it, but I’d love to watch a video of yours titled “My favourite 100 books of all time”, or something like that. Many other BookTubers have done something similar. The books don’t even have to be arranged in order of preference, it could be done chronologically. It would give us viewers lots of great recommendations, I’m sure.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thank you! I might do that sometime

[@yelisieimurai]

What a great list! Happy birthday Olly! (maybe too late but..). One of mine favorite books of all time are here: Lonesome Dove, Game of thrones, Adventures of Cavalier and Clay. I have added several books to my TBR.)

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thank you! Hope you enjoy whatever you end up reading

[@TheMadAfrican1]

What an incredible list of bangers, plus some I've not heard of (tellingly all the ones I don't know are from the last few years!). And happy belated to you, sir.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed the list!

[@elliotthales66]

This was the first video of yours that I watched and I decided to give The Wasp Factory a try because of it! I’m happy to say that i’m now subscribed and Wow that was a good book! Leaves me with confidence that I’ll enjoy some of your other recs! Thanks Olly!

[@lyndaslittlelibrary]

Happy birthday! I agree with most of the ones I've read, some of my favourite books are on here (The Wasp Factory, Sharp Objects, The Terror, The Nickel Boys) but holy moly Touching the Void. Am I the only one who found that to be an absolute slog? I love mountaineering books, but that one was so hard for me to get through

[@brettrobson5739]

Many happy returns, Olly. Can't say I agree with your list, but that's the whole point of these things. Good job on only having two authors repeat. I could never manage that. There would be a LOT of Vonnegut & Moorcock on my list.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thank you! I think there were actually three (Moore, Lehane and King) and that I misspoke, but hopefully no-one noticed!

[@georgeparkes3863]

Amazing list! Lots to add to my pile of shame. Thank you! Have a fantastic birthday year (we’re allowed now we’re 50+!) 😄👍

[@inanimatecarbongod]

Happy 51st! I'm creeping up on my 50th in November. I've actually got The Bloody Chamber and The Wasp Factory on my list of possibilities for Horror May-hem. Might move them up the list as you rate them so highly. I had no idea Touching the Void was a book, nor that it came out in 1988. Saw the documentary and thought it was amazing. I remember enjoying the film of Blood Red Rivers (The Crimson Rivers) though haven't read the book.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Yeah the Touching the Void film is great!

[@angelwalker979]

Great list! Loved Room! And the Shining, and A Simple Plan. The Rats trilogy is a favorite too, The Wasp factory has been on my tbr forever lol. My friend Dahmer sounds good too! Happy Birthday! 🎂🎈🎉

[@Unpotted]

Such a diverse group of writers with an interesting range of subjects. This list is saved for future reference. Hope you enjoyed your birthday, Olly! Thank you for all that you contribute to BookTube! 😊 😺✌️

[@keithparker1346]

I wish i had a broad taste in literature but it's almost limited to reading 1960s 1970s sci-fi and the occasional book about politics or just some left field idea

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it.

[@robertlynn7746]

Happy birthday 🎈🎂 wow what a great idea, and a great list of books too 😊

[@juliewillis8182]

Happy birthday! Thanks for the interesting list!

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thank you!

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thank you!

[@nekromatica]

Happy fricken birthday, always looking forward to your videos

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thank you!

[@sueloguejohnson8929]

Happy birthday! Of those I have read, I totally agree they are wonderful books.

[@allgirlreview433]

Happy birthday! The Shining is my pick for 1977 too.

[@majelthesurreal5723]

It is great to have this list. Some of the books you have mentioned before and I want to get to them. I read Holly but not Finders Keepers, what's up with that? Hoping it is in the QM2 library. I'm coming to the UK next Sunday. :>))) Going to Daunt. 7 weeks in the UK. YAY!

[@marywilson3633]

Happy Birthday!🎉🎂 😊

[@bookinhand_]

Happy Birthday Olly!! 🎉🎉❤ hope it's an amazing one !

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thank you!

[@ericostlund125]

Happy Birthday, dude!

[@johnmooney9403]

Hi Olly really enjoyed this video. Some of these excellent novels I have actually read. I purchased From hell by Alan moore. Heard so many good things about this particular graphic novel.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thanks John - glad you enjoyed it!

[@davebrzeski]

I couldn't comment on my favourites for each year, as I'd never be able to work out what was published in which year, but I certainly didn't disapprove of any of your picks. Happy birthday.

[@srj108]

Enjoyed that, thanks.

[@troytradup]

Happy Birthday, Olly!

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thanks, Troy!

[@heidifogelberg3544]

Arguing with a list that is A) subjective in every way and B) probably subject to some mutability with moments of I Forgot That One! ... not a good use of time. I've read 4 of them and liked 3 of those. The other may have been a function of external forces. I own probably 15 others. Looks like I have work to do ... Oh. And happy birthday, and many happy returns with awesome books every day!

[@im1ru122]

I love lists like this which a) make a nice chunk in a group and b) are each given a *very brief* synopsis. A number of these I did not know; some are intriguing and I will look into them. YES! to: 'The Bloody Chamber', 'MAUS' and 'We Need to Talk About Kevin'. HAPPY BDAY!

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed the list

[@buff_mermaid]

Happy birthday Olly!!

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thank you!

[@CinePhill]

Great list! Handclap for Alan Moore who I collect as you know and Dora Suarez by Raymond who I recommend to you 😉 Lehane as well whom I love and George R.R Martin is going to be under the sod before the series ends! Kavalier and Clay also which I flew through. I turned 47 not long after you last month, so there must be something 😂

[@CinePhill]

Oh and Jack Higgins!! I re-read a load of his books last Christmas after fracturing my leg. Loved him as a teen, Eagle is probably his best written. I read 8 or 9 I think some rereads but I ended up with a checklist of his tropes and repeated sentences which didn’t annoy me just me me giggle at the speed at which he could write one or two books a year. Almost the Moorcock of men’s adventure thrillers I’d say.

[@pantherkult3126]

happy birthday! i have read seven of those and my favorites of those were let's go play at the Adams' which came out in my year of birth, a great start!, the shining, wasp factory and a game of thrones. I thought, I read the cipher, but after checking the German name I found out I had read bad brains. I bought the terror while watching the video. I'm pretty sure, I started red dragon as a teenager but didn't finish it for whatever reason. lonesome dove is on my tbr. I'm not a crime or thriller reader, really, so those aren't really for me, unfortunately.

[@wendyvilla2904]

💚🖤 Happy Belated birthday 🎂 🥳 🎉 May you be blessed with many more!

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thanks Wendy!

[@PumpkinFinch]

Happy birthday!!!!!

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thank you!

[@DDB168]

I agree with the non-fiction choices 👍 And happpy birthday.

[@AmbitiousSpiderSA]

Happy Birthday! 🎊

[@kyliehart2228]

Happy birthday olly.!🎉

[@LauraBCReyna]

I've only read 2 of the titles on your list but own copies of several others. Just about to read Game of Thrones!... Happy B-day from California! 🎉😃

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thank you! Enjoy GOT!

[@ilFanEditore]

Happy birthday!!!

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thank you!

[@pandittroublejr]

Happy Birthday... 🎉🥰🎉🥰🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thank you!

[@Forgetthehorrorhere1]

Happy birthday pal 🎉

[@krisprepolec5616]

Being the same age as you (you precede me by 5 months), it might take me a bit to pick my 51 books. Here are a few off the top of my head: 2021: Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir 2020: Greenwood by Michael Christie 2019: Know my name by Chanel Miller 2018: The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton 2017: Into the drowning deep by Mira Grant 2016: Lovecraft Country by Matt Ruff 2006: The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield I would also pick Red Dragon and The Silence of the Lambs. I would have a hard time picking which volume of the Books of Blood by Clive Barker to pick.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Project Hail Mary was great! I’d struggle to pick one volume from the Books of Blood as well

[@MiruMSO]

Happy birthday! 🎉🎉

[@pandittroublejr]

Thank you... 🙏🏾🥰📚🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@viktorwolfe8333]

Greaaaaat ... (can you detect the sarcasm there?) You've just tremendously added to my already tremendous TBR pile. I know you were trying not to saturate the list with King titles, but you definitely got 1986 wrong. Should've been IT. :)

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Ha! - sorry not sorry

[@viktorwolfe8333]

@@CriminOllyBlog lol

[@Fantumh]

I've not actually read any of those. In a few cases I've read other books by a particular author, and in at least five cases I've seen the movie adaptation of the book. But it was still an interesting list. And happy birthday!

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed the list

[@bigaldoesbooktube1097]

Rapid fire recommendations 🔥

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Cheers Al!

[@drrumack2894]

Well, I've read 3 of them. (😮). Got David Seltzers Prophecy.. And *Young Frankenstein by Gilbert Pearlman in the post today. (*With a photo spread in the middle).

[@krisprepolec5616]

Happy birthday, Olly!

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thank you!

[@BlueEyedMatt42]

Happy happy birthday!!! 51! Not bad.

[@tectorgorch8698]

Very nice. I believe the only one I've read is My Friend Dahmer.

[@martinelanglois3158]

Happy Birthday !

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thank you!

[@ralphmarrone3130]

Happy Birthday!!!

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thank you!

[@Themrjoliveira]

Very surprised that you don’t have any B.Chambers on there or a R Laymon 😊

[@evapeat5020]

Happy birthday, hope you had a wonderful day

[@jennymcevoy8961]

Happy birthday Olly

[@babettesfeast6347]

Happy birthday- you look younger

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thank you! You can come again

[@ReadingIDEAS.-uz9xk]

Hi birthday to you. Makes me imagine you were reading books from age 1! Getting any books for your birthday by any chance?

[@ReadtoFilth]

I am ready to read the shining this Halloween

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Enjoy!

[@tommonk7651]

HBD, Olly! One complaint - The Eagle has Landed is good, but not better than Shogun....

[@CriminOllyBlog]

I still haven’t read Shogun. Need to give it another try

[@tommonk7651]

@@CriminOllyBlog I know your aversion to long books, but Shogun is a helluva book. I inherited it as a teenager in the 70s from my dad who was stationed in Japan during the Korean War. He raved about the book and about Japanese culture. He was right.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

@@tommonk7651 I'm pretty confident I'll read it at some point

[@chiming_]

Happy birthday 🎂 Ollie

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thank you!

[@75ciaran]

Happy Birthday Olly

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thank you!

[@ikeameltdown8012]

Happy birthday🎉

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thank you!

[@abbysweat9202]

I haven't read the book from my birth year so im going to check it out! You kept saying "fantasy" but I kept hearing "fancy"....so you kept saying "fancy novel" and I was like, "what's a fancy novel? Must be a british thing lol. I'm an idiot 😂

[@CriminOllyBlog]

😂😂😂 how funny

[@marik22cro]

Happy bday🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@novasite7795]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thank you!

[@JessicaSzempruch]

Happy birthday 🎉

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thank you!

[@user-kk5jt2po5o]

Happy birthday

[@jamie-578]

happy britday oivle

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thanks!

[@ghostfields]

happiest of birthdays hope it’s a good one!

[@CriminOllyBlog]

Thank you!

[@Wildcarde1]

happy Birthday

[@keithparker1346]

I would recommend Nothing Burns In Hell by Philip Jose Farmer a slightly weird noir thriller written by a sci-fi fantasy author Nice idea for a list btw

[@CriminOllyBlog]

I need to read some of this work, still haven’t!

[@keithparker1346]

Being a huge Farmer fan it's hard to give an objective starting point...as you tend to like pulp stuff and dark stuff maybe the novel Image Of The Beast is another one.

[@CriminOllyBlog]

@@keithparker1346 I think that's one I actually have!

[@TheTheMrplas]

Great! I cant wait for the next 50 books you just have to keep a healthy life xd