If you enjoy reading books by Hernan Diaz then you might also like the following authors:
Marilynne Robinson is an author known for her thoughtful and deeply human stories. Her novel “Gilead” takes the form of a letter written by John Ames, an aging preacher in a small Iowa town.
He reflects on his life and family, addressing his young son in hopes of leaving him something meaningful. The book explores faith, memory, and the bond between generations, with a quiet beauty in how it captures everyday life.
If you’re a fan of Hernan Diaz and stories with layered characters and themes, Robinson’s work could be a great fit.
Lila Bowen is the pen name of Delilah S. Dawson, an author who weaves Westerns with fantasy in a way that’s hard to put down. One of their standout books is “Wake of Vultures,” the first in *The Shadow* series.
It follows Nettie Lonesome, a biracial, genderqueer protagonist raised in the Wild West. After killing something that shouldn’t exist, Nettie begins to see a world full of monsters and magic hidden beneath the surface.
The story has gritty landscapes, supernatural encounters, and a fierce lead who discovers strength by facing the unknown. Fans of tales with deep characters and strange twists may find this an exciting read.
Colson Whitehead is an author who knows how to craft stories that stick with you. One of his standout novels, “The Underground Railroad,” reimagines the historical escape network as a literal train system running beneath the ground.
The story follows Cora, a young enslaved woman, as she fights for freedom, encountering dangers and harsh truths about America’s past. Whitehead weaves a narrative that combines historical details with imaginative elements, creating a book that feels unique and powerful.
Jonathan Franzen is known for creating rich, character-driven stories that explore family and societal dynamics. His novel “The Corrections” follows the Lambert family as they navigate their individual struggles and come together for one last Christmas at their parents’ home.
The book moves through the lives of each family member, revealing their flaws and desires. From Alfred, the aging patriarch battling Parkinson’s, to Chip, a drifting academic with a failed career, every character feels real and complex.
Franzen examines how the past shapes relationships and how people grapple with change. If you’ve enjoyed the layered narratives in Hernan Diaz’s work, Franzen’s storytelling might pull you in.
Lauren Groff is an author known for crafting rich and thoughtful novels that explore human ambition and relationships. Her book “Matrix” is a reimagining of the life of Marie de France, a 12th-century poet.
The story follows Marie as she’s exiled from court to a struggling abbey, where she rises to power and transforms the community into a place of strength and self-sufficiency. The novel focuses on themes of leadership and vision, set in a fascinating historical backdrop.
Fans of Hernan Diaz might enjoy Groff’s ability to weave complex characters and ambitious narratives.
Téa Obreht is an author known for her rich storytelling and vivid characters. Her novel, “The Tiger’s Wife,” weaves together myth and history through the lens of a young woman reflecting on her grandfather’s life in a Balkan country recovering from war.
Central to the story are the mysterious encounters her grandfather had with a deaf-mute woman, known as the tiger’s wife, and a deathless man who claims he cannot die. The book balances moments of tenderness and wonder with the struggles of a world marked by upheaval.
If you like the layered narrative style of Hernan Diaz, you might enjoy how Obreht builds connections between her characters and the past.
Richard Powers is an author who explores human connections to the natural and scientific world. His book “The Overstory” weaves together the lives of several people who become linked through their relationships with trees.
The stories range from an artist photographing a dying chestnut tree to a scientist uncovering how trees communicate. The characters’ paths intersect, showing how deeply lives can be shaped by the environment and the world around them.
Cormac McCarthy is an author known for his sparse, powerful prose and stories that explore human struggles against harsh landscapes.
One of his notable books, “No Country for Old Men,” follows a man named Llewellyn Moss, who stumbles upon a drug deal gone wrong in the Texas desert and walks off with a bag full of money.
This decision sets off a violent chain of events, as a relentless hitman named Anton Chigurh hunts him down. The story pulls you into a world where morality and survival clash under a blazing, unforgiving sun.
McCarthy’s writing brings the tension and desolation of the world vividly to life.
Jennifer Egan is a celebrated author known for weaving together unique characters and groundbreaking storytelling. Her novel, “A Visit from the Goon Squad,” explores the lives of people connected to the music industry across decades.
The story introduces figures like Bennie Salazar, a music producer, and Sasha, his assistant, whose lives intersect in surprising ways. The book shifts perspectives and timelines, revealing how time changes people and relationships.
It’s a brilliant look at ambition, loss, and how people redefine themselves.
Yaa Gyasi is an author known for her thoughtful explorations of history and identity. Her novel, “Homegoing,” traces the lives of two sisters and their descendants across generations. One sister is married off to a British colonizer; the other is enslaved and taken to America.
The book moves forward through time, showing how their choices ripple through history, shaping their families in Ghana and the United States. Gyasi creates vivid characters, painting a story that spans centuries while still feeling deeply personal and relatable.
If you’re drawn to stories about legacy and the weight of the past, this might catch your attention.
Don DeLillo writes thought-provoking novels that explore modern life and its tensions. His book “White Noise” focuses on Jack Gladney, a professor of Hitler Studies, and his family’s muddled existence in a small college town.
The story shifts after an airborne toxic event disrupts their lives. DeLillo captures the oddities of daily routines and the unsettling fear of death in a way that feels both intimate and unsettling.
Readers drawn to stories that mix ordinary moments with bigger, existential questions might find this author compelling.
Rachel Kushner is an author known for writing vivid, thought-provoking novels. One of her books, “The Flamethrowers,” follows Reno, a young artist in the 1970s, as she explores New York’s art scene and becomes entangled with people tied to money, politics, and power.
The story also moves to Italy, showing her connection to a family controlling a motorcycle empire. The book shifts between personal ambition and the impact of larger, shifting forces in society.
It’s richly layered with characters who feel alive and environments that pull you in completely.
George Saunders is an author known for blending sharp wit with deep emotion. His book “Lincoln in the Bardo” stands out as a unique reading experience. The story unfolds in a graveyard, where President Lincoln visits the tomb of his young son, Willie.
The narrative is told through the voices of restless spirits, each with their own struggles and regrets. It’s an imaginative and moving exploration of love, loss, and the ties that hold us together.
Ann Patchett writes stories that often explore human connection and unexpected relationships. One of her most well-known books, “Bel Canto,” takes place during a hostage situation in an unnamed South American country.
A group of terrorists storms a lavish party at a wealthy businessman’s home, only to find themselves in a standoff that stretches on for months. During this time, the hostages and captors form surprising bonds, navigating a strange new existence together.
The story includes an opera singer, a translator, and various others, all caught in this unusual shared experience. It focuses on how people adapt to extraordinary circumstances.
Paul Auster writes stories where characters often find their lives shaped by chance and unexpected connections. In his novel “The New York Trilogy,” he blends mystery with deep questions about identity.
The book follows a writer who becomes a private detective, uncovering strange and puzzling events that pull him into a tangled world of stories within stories.
Fans of layered narratives from authors like Hernan Diaz may enjoy how Auster explores the unexpected paths a life can take.