From sweeping historical drama to post-apocalyptic dystopia, and from Booker to Pulitzer and Murakami to McEwan, here is a countdown of the best novels of the first two decades of the 21st century. Note: Whilst Irene Nemirovsky’s magisterial Suite Francaise was published in 2004, the text was written during World War II, and is therefore not included in this list. 50 Life After Life - Kate Atkinson (2013) 49 On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous - Ocean Vuong (2019) 48 The Tiger’s Wife - Tea Obreht (2011) 47 Vernon God Little - DBC Pierre (2003) 46 Leaving the Atocha Station - Ben Lerner (2011) 45 The Fifth Season - NK Jemisin (2015) 44 IQ84 - Haruki Murakami (2010) 43 Lincoln in the Bardo - George Saunders (2017) 42 Small Island - Andrea Levy (2004) 41 The Sellout - Paul Beatty (2015) 40 Brooklyn - Colm Toibin (2009) 39 The Flamethrowers - Rachel Kushner (2013) 38 Oryx and Crake - Margaret Atwood (2003)