If you enjoy reading novels by E.L. Doctorow then you might also like the following authors:
Don DeLillo is an American author known for exploring modern culture and its impact on individuals. His novel “White Noise” follows a college professor, Jack Gladney, who teaches Hitler Studies and lives with his quirky family in a small town.
The story takes a turn when a chemical spill creates a disaster that forces the town to evacuate. It’s a sharp and darkly humorous look at how people cope with fear, media, and the endless noise of modern life.
The strange mix of mundane family moments and the looming sense of disaster keeps the book fascinating. Fans of E.L. Doctorow might appreciate how DeLillo blends historical awareness with deep questions about society.
Toni Morrison is a master of telling stories that focus on African American history and identity. Her novel “Beloved” takes place after the Civil War and follows Sethe, a woman who escapes slavery but cannot escape its haunting grip.
She lives with her daughter in a house that is believed to be haunted by the spirit of her dead child. The arrival of a young woman who calls herself Beloved forces Sethe to confront the choices she made to protect her children.
The book explores love, memory, and the fight to reclaim one’s humanity.
John Dos Passos is known for his modernist take on American society in the early 20th century. His book “Manhattan Transfer” paints a vibrant picture of life in New York City, capturing the energy and struggles of its people.
The story moves through the lives of various characters, such as Ellen Thatcher, an ambitious actress navigating relationships and ambition, and Jimmy Herf, a journalist seeking meaning in a restless city.
The book doesn’t follow one hero but instead weaves together different lives to show the highs and lows of urban existence.
Thomas Pynchon is known for his complex and layered novels that mix history, culture, and mystery. One of his famous works, “Gravity’s Rainbow,” is set during the tail-end of World War II. The story follows characters obsessed with a secret German rocket program.
It intertwines conspiracies, science, and strange twists. The narrative feels unpredictable, moving through espionage, war zones, and surreal events that blur the line between fact and fiction.
It’s a book that lingers with you, making you think about its strange connections long after you finish it.
Philip Roth is known for his ability to explore the struggles and complexities of American life with sharp observation and wit.
One of his well-regarded novels, “American Pastoral,” tells the story of Seymour “Swede” Levov, a successful businessman and former high school athlete. His seemingly perfect life unravels when his daughter becomes involved in a violent political movement during the 1960s.
The book captures the clash between generations and the churning chaos beneath the surface of a calm, prosperous world. Roth takes the reader through a life that begins in promise but veers into unexpected heartbreak and disillusionment.
Norman Mailer was an author known for blending fiction with history, creating stories that feel grounded in real events.
One of his best-known books, “The Naked and the Dead,” follows a group of American soldiers during World War II as they navigate the terrors of war and the tension of clashing personalities.
The story gives a raw look at the soldiers’ struggles with fear, authority, and survival. Mailer captures the impact of war on both individuals and groups without sugarcoating the experience. His characters feel alive, their flaws and courage making them unforgettable.
Saul Bellow was an American author known for exploring deeply human stories through vibrant characters and wit. One of his standout works, “Henderson the Rain King,” follows Eugene Henderson, a wealthy yet restless man craving meaning in his life.
He travels to Africa and becomes entangled with indigenous tribes, where he’s unexpectedly declared a rain king. The novel is filled with humor and philosophical musings, as Henderson wrestles with his inner turmoil in a setting both strange and transformative.
Bellow’s writing makes you feel connected to the character’s chaotic search for purpose.
Barbara Kingsolver is an author who writes richly-detailed stories that often explore history, family, and connections to place. Her novel, “The Poisonwood Bible,” tells the story of a missionary family from Georgia who moves to the Congo in the 1950s.
The story focuses on the Price family, especially the four daughters, as they struggle with their father’s rigid beliefs and adapt to life in a village far different from anything they’ve ever known.
Each chapter is narrated by a different family member, showing how their perspectives shift in the face of political turmoil and personal loss. The way Kingsolver brings each voice to life keeps the story deeply personal and memorable.
Colum McCann is an author celebrated for his ability to weave history and fiction together in a way that feels seamless. His novel “Let the Great World Spin” is set in 1970s New York and begins with the story of a man walking a tightrope between the Twin Towers.
From there, the book connects the lives of several characters, from an Irish immigrant priest to a grieving mother in the Bronx. Their lives intersect in unexpected ways, creating a portrait of a city both vibrant and fractured.
Fans of E.L. Doctorow’s attention to the past and layered storytelling might find McCann’s work engaging and full of life.
Margaret Atwood is a Canadian author known for her ability to weave thought-provoking worlds that often reflect our own.
One of her most famous books, “The Handmaid’s Tale,” is set in a dystopian society called Gilead, where women are stripped of their rights and forced into rigid roles.
The story follows Offred, who serves as a Handmaid, a woman whose sole purpose is to bear children for the ruling class. Through Offred’s perspective, readers experience the oppression, fear, and faint flickers of resistance in a world where every move is controlled.
The writing is sharp, and the world feels chillingly real. If you enjoy stories that explore humanity through the lens of history rewritten or reshaped, this would be fascinating to pick up.
William Kennedy is an American author known for his stories set in Albany, New York. His novel, “Ironweed,” paints a stark picture of the Great Depression and follows Francis Phelan, a washed-up baseball player who returns to his hometown.
Francis grapples with guilt after accidents and mistakes from his past. The book gives a close look at the lives of the homeless and the ghosts that haunt them, both real and imagined. Kennedy’s writing captures the humanity of people who are often overlooked.
If you enjoy E.L. Doctorow’s historical settings and flawed characters, you might find Kennedy’s work worth checking out.
David Mitchell is an author known for his creative storytelling and layered narratives. One of his most fascinating works is “Cloud Atlas,” a novel made up of six interconnected stories that take place in different times and places.
These range from a 19th-century journal kept during a Pacific voyage to a dystopian future where clones fight for survival. Each story is connected to the next, creating a puzzle that slowly reveals a bigger picture about human nature and the cycle of history.
It’s a book that takes you across centuries and genres, always keeping you curious about how everything ties together.
Jhumpa Lahiri writes stories that focus on family, identity, and the struggles of immigrating to a new culture. One of her most well-known books, “The Namesake,” follows the life of Gogol Ganguli, the American-born son of Bengali immigrants.
It explores his journey from childhood to adulthood as he grapples with his unusual name and the weight of his family’s traditions. The book paints a vivid picture of what it feels like to straddle two worlds, making the small, everyday moments deeply personal and emotional.
Lahiri’s style is straightforward and full of heart, bringing readers close to her characters in a way that feels natural and moving.
Kazuo Ishiguro is known for creating stories that explore memory, identity, and human connection. One of his well-loved books, “The Remains of the Day,” follows Stevens, an aging English butler, as he looks back on his life of service.
Through his quiet reflections, the story reveals his loyalty to a master whose moral compass was deeply flawed, as well as the personal sacrifices Stevens made in the name of duty. The book paints a vivid picture of postwar England and captures the ache of missed opportunities.
It’s layered with questions about purpose and the weight of choices we make. Ishiguro’s writing has a way of tugging at emotions without feeling forced.
Michael Chabon crafts novels filled with rich detail and vibrant storytelling.
In “The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay”, he explores friendship, ambition, and the golden age of comic books, while “The Yiddish Policemen’s Union” imagines an alternate history with a unique detective story at its heart.
Fans of E.L. Doctorow might appreciate Chabon’s ability to weave historical settings into imaginative narratives, blending depth with a sense of adventure.