If you enjoy reading books by Bernhard Schlink then you might also like the following authors:
Ian McEwan is a British author known for his thoughtful and deeply human stories. His novel “Atonement” explores how a young girl’s false accusation changes the course of several lives forever. The story moves through key moments in history, from a summer in 1930s
England to the chaos of World War II. The characters wrestle with love, regret, and the weight of responsibility in ways that feel heartbreakingly real.
McEwan’s writing brings a mix of emotional depth and historical reflection that might resonate with readers who enjoy Bernhard Schlink’s work.
Julian Barnes is a British author known for exploring themes of memory, love, and loss in his novels. One of his books, “The Sense of an Ending,” follows Tony Webster, a retired man reflecting on his youth after a mysterious bequest reconnects him with his past.
The story unravels through Tony’s recollections, but what he remembers doesn’t always align with the truth. As secrets from his school days and early relationships come to light, the book raises questions about how people reshape their memories to suit their own narratives.
It’s a quietly powerful tale that leaves readers thinking about how time changes perspective.
W.G. Sebald was a German author known for weaving memory, history, and personal reflection into his work. His novel “Austerlitz” follows Jacques Austerlitz, an architectural historian who slowly uncovers his past as a Jewish child sent to England during World War II.
The story moves through haunting landscapes and moments of discovery, as Austerlitz pieces together the fragments of his identity. Sebald’s writing often blurs the line between fiction and memoir, filled with photographs that add a unique layer to the narrative.
Kazuo Ishiguro is a thoughtful and precise writer whose stories often explore memory, loss, and the weight of the past.
One of his most well-known novels, “The Remains of the Day,” follows Stevens, an English butler reflecting on his years of service to a wealthy lord in the years leading up to World War II.
As Stevens journeys to visit an old colleague, he begins to question the choices he made and his loyalty to a man whose morals were far from admirable. The novel captures the quiet struggles of a man who has dedicated his life to duty, only to realize too late what it cost him.
J.M. Coetzee is a South African writer whose stories often explore human struggles in complex social and political landscapes. His novel “Disgrace” follows a professor who faces a scandal that forces him to leave his career behind.
Retreating to his daughter’s farm in post-apartheid South Africa, he confronts tensions that expose deep divisions in society and within himself. The book captures moments of personal and societal transformation through a lens that feels raw and honest.
Alexander McCall Smith is best known for his heartwarming and thoughtful stories that explore human connections and everyday life.
One of his most well-loved books, “The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency,” introduces Precious Ramotswe, a clever and compassionate woman who opens a detective agency in Botswana.
The book follows her as she solves local mysteries, helping her neighbors with problems that range from missing people to suspected fraud. The vivid descriptions of Botswana and the kindness of the characters give the story a cozy and uplifting feel.
If you enjoy storylines that focus on human experiences without unnecessary drama, this might be a perfect fit.
Per Petterson is a Norwegian author who writes intimate and atmospheric stories about ordinary lives shaped by loss, family ties, and memory. His book “Out Stealing Horses” follows Trond, a man living in solitude after a tragic loss.
As he reflects on his past, he recalls his teenage years in the countryside and his relationship with his father, set against the backdrop of occupied Norway during World War II.
The quiet beauty of the landscape and the hidden tensions in the relationships create a vivid picture of Trond’s life. Fans of Bernhard Schlink may enjoy the way Petterson explores personal histories and the weight of choices.
Jenny Erpenbeck is a German author whose writing often explores history, memory, and how personal lives are shaped by larger events. In her book “Go, Went, Gone,” she tells the story of a retired professor who becomes involved with a group of refugees in Berlin.
His quiet, structured life begins to change as he learns about the struggles these men face. The book doesn’t shy away from showing the challenges of immigration and identity while also reflecting on how individuals connect across different worlds.
It’s thoughtful and engaging, and it offers a perspective that feels personal yet tied to bigger questions.
Patrick Modiano is a French author known for stories centered on memory, identity, and the shadows of history. In his novel “Dora Bruder,” he uncovers the life of a Jewish girl who disappeared in Nazi-occupied Paris.
Through fragments of records and personal reflection, he reconstructs her life and the world she lived in, immersing readers in a haunting and unforgettable search for truth.
Fans of Bernhard Schlink may enjoy Modiano’s quiet narratives, which are deeply rooted in personal and historical exploration.
Sebastian Faulks is a British author known for his beautifully written novels that often explore heartache, history, and the human condition.
One of his most iconic works, “Birdsong,” is set during World War I. It follows Stephen Wraysford, a young Englishman, as he navigates a passionate love affair in pre-war France and later faces the horrors of life as a soldier in the trenches.
The story moves between haunting depictions of the battlefield and personal moments that reveal the ways war reshapes lives. Faulks creates vivid, emotional portraits of his characters, making their struggles feel real and unforgettable.
Colm Tóibín is an Irish author known for his thoughtful and emotionally rich stories. His novel “Brooklyn” follows Eilis Lacey, a young Irish woman who leaves her small town for a new life in 1950s America.
Torn between two worlds, she faces difficult choices about love and belonging. The quiet yet powerful moments of her journey make the story unforgettable. Fans of Bernhard Schlink may enjoy how Tóibín focuses on personal struggles shaped by larger historical or cultural shifts.
Michael Ondaatje is a writer known for his poetic and immersive storytelling. One of his novels, “The English Patient,” is set during the final days of World War II in a bombed-out villa in Italy.
The story weaves together the lives of four people—a nurse, a severely burned man, a thief, and a sapper. The burned man, who may hold secrets about a tragic love affair, is at the heart of the book.
It’s a story about memory, love, and how the war shapes their lives in unexpected ways.
Haruki Murakami is a Japanese author known for his surreal and atmospheric storytelling. His novel “Norwegian Wood” follows a young man named Toru, who reflects on his college days in 1960s Tokyo.
The story explores his relationships with two very different women, Naoko and Midori, and the emotional weight of love, loss, and memory. The book has a quiet, dreamlike quality but also dives into raw human emotions that feel deeply real.
Readers of Bernhard Schlink might enjoy how Murakami weaves personal reflection into a backdrop of historical change.
Anne Enright is an Irish author known for writing about family relationships and the emotional lives of her characters. Her novel “The Gathering” follows Veronica Hegarty as she returns to her large Irish family after her brother Liam’s death.
As she prepares for his funeral, Veronica reflects on their childhood and unearths buried family secrets. The story captures the raw tensions between siblings and the heavy weight of grief while exploring memory and the ways it shapes us.
If you enjoy intimate storytelling and characters confronting the past, you might find yourself drawn to her work.
William Boyd is a writer known for creating rich, character-driven stories. In his novel “Any Human Heart,” he follows the life of Logan Mountstuart, a writer whose personal journals reveal the highs and lows of his existence.
Logan crosses paths with historical figures, experiences war, and struggles with love and betrayal. The book feels deeply personal, as if you’re peeking into someone’s private world, and it gives a moving portrait of an ordinary life shaped by extraordinary events.