If you enjoy reading books by Rachel Kushner then you might also like the following authors:
Jennifer Egan is known for her inventive and layered writing. One of her standout books, “A Visit from the Goon Squad,” weaves together the lives of characters connected to music and the passing of time.
The story jumps between perspectives and moments in their lives, showing how their choices shape them. There’s a chapter told through the format of a PowerPoint presentation, which sounds strange but works beautifully.
If you’re into stories with a unique structure and richly developed characters, Egan might be a great find.
Don DeLillo is an author known for exploring the complex layers of modern life through sharp and often unsettling stories. His novel “White Noise” focuses on Jack Gladney, a professor of Hitler Studies, who lives with his quirky family in a small college town.
The story takes off when a toxic chemical spill forces the town to evacuate, throwing Jack and his family into chaos. The book dives into themes like technology, fear, and how people process the idea of mortality.
It has a strange mix of humor and tension that makes everyday moments feel slightly surreal.
Rachel Cusk is known for her sharp exploration of human relationships and the way people reveal themselves through conversation. In her book “Outline,” the story unfolds through a series of interactions between the narrator, a writer teaching in Athens, and the people she meets.
Each character shares personal stories, exposing their inner lives while reflecting on the narrator herself. The novel creates a fascinating sense of intimacy through its dialogue and the way meanings emerge in what’s said and unsaid.
Claire Messud is a writer known for crafting intense and introspective narratives about complex characters. Her book, “The Woman Upstairs,” centers on Nora Eldridge, a quiet elementary school teacher who feels trapped in an unfulfilled life.
When the Shahid family enters her world, she is drawn to their vibrant, artistic lives and feels a connection she has long craved. The story captures Nora’s longing, her anger, and her search for meaning in ways that feel raw and relatable.
Fans of Rachel Kushner will appreciate how Messud explores ambition and identity through characters teetering on the edge of transformation.
Zadie Smith writes with a storyteller’s ease, creating characters and worlds that feel alive. One of her best-known books, “White Teeth,” explores the lives of two families in London over several decades.
It’s filled with vivid personalities, cultural clashes, and generational struggles.
The friendship between Archie and Samad, two men bound by their shared history in World War II, drives much of the story, while their children face their own challenges in a modern, multicultural city.
Smith captures the messiness of life with humor and heart, making her stories unforgettable.
Jonathan Franzen writes novels that explore family dynamics and the complexities of modern life. His book “The Corrections” focuses on the Lambert family, whose lives are shaped by secrets, regrets, and personal struggles.
The story brings together parents and grown children as they gather for one last Christmas at home. Each family member grapples with their own failures while past tensions bubble beneath the surface.
It’s a sharp, emotional look at how people try—and often fail—to connect with the people closest to them.
Nicole Krauss writes with a sense of intimacy and depth that makes her stories feel personal. One of her best-known books, “The History of Love,” weaves together the lives of a lonely Holocaust survivor and a young girl searching for answers after her father’s death.
The story moves between past and present, connecting moments of love, loss, and the impact of a forgotten manuscript. Fans of Rachel Kushner’s emotionally rich storytelling might enjoy how Krauss brings humanity to her characters.
Margaret Atwood is a Canadian author known for her imaginative storytelling and sharp insights about society and power. One of her most well-known books, “The Handmaid’s Tale,” is set in a dystopian future where women have been stripped of their rights.
The story follows Offred, a woman forced to serve as a handmaid in a strict, theocratic regime. Her life is controlled by those in power, but she secretly clings to memories of freedom and plots of rebellion.
It’s a deeply unsettling world, but the strength of Offred’s voice keeps you turning the pages.
Lydia Millet is a writer who creates stories that are sharp and inventive, often blending humor with deeper human themes. In her novel “A Children’s Bible,” a group of kids on a summer trip with their inattentive parents faces a series of escalating disasters.
The kids see themselves as more responsible than the adults and try to navigate the chaos that unfolds, including extreme weather and societal breakdown. The book explores big issues through the eyes of young characters, bringing a fresh perspective to heavy topics.
Dana Spiotta is an author who explores themes of identity, relationships, and culture with sharp storytelling. Her novel, “Stone Arabia,” follows a brother and sister navigating family bonds and personal dreams.
Denise struggles with aging and caretaking, while her brother Nik constructs an elaborate fictional legacy for himself as a rock star. The story paints a vivid picture of obsession, memory, and how we make sense of our lives.
Readers who enjoy Rachel Kushner’s mix of personal conflict and cultural commentary may find Spiotta’s work intriguing.
Junot Díaz writes with a sharp, energetic style that pulls readers into the lives of his characters.
His book, “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao,” tells the story of a Dominican-American boy obsessed with fantasy novels and cursed by a family history that seems impossible to escape.
Set across generations, it explores the weight of the past on the present, the struggles of identity, and the enduring scars of political oppression in the Dominican Republic.
Díaz weaves humor and heartbreak as the story moves between Oscar’s dreams and the harsh realities around him.
Colson Whitehead is an author known for weaving history with powerful storytelling. One of his celebrated books, “The Underground Railroad,” reimagines the historic network that helped enslaved people escape, turning it into a literal underground train system.
The story follows Cora, a young woman fleeing slavery, as she moves through different states, each with its own frightening reality. Whitehead’s way of blending surreal elements with history creates an unforgettable journey through Cora’s fight for freedom and survival.
Karl Ove Knausgård writes with an intense focus on the everyday, bringing out the rawness and beauty in ordinary life. His series “My Struggle” dives into his own life, covering everything from family relationships to his creative frustrations.
In the first book, “A Death in the Family,” he reflects on his childhood and the sudden loss of his father. The way he describes the small, private moments of grief feels almost hauntingly intimate.
If you’re drawn to Rachel Kushner’s sharp and detailed storytelling, Knausgård offers a similarly vivid, deeply personal style.
Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is a Nigerian author whose books explore themes of identity, culture, and human relationships. Her novel “Half of a Yellow Sun” is set during the Nigerian Civil War and follows the lives of five characters whose paths intertwine in unexpected ways.
There’s Olanna, a university lecturer from a wealthy family, and Ugwu, her young houseboy who witnesses the changes in their lives as the war escalates. The story also brings in Richard, a British expatriate fascinated by Nigerian culture.
The book paints a vivid picture of love and loyalty in a time of conflict. If you enjoy stories with deep characters and richly described worlds, Adichie’s work might be for you.
Rebecca Makkai is an author who writes rich, character-driven novels with emotional depth. One of her most celebrated works, “The Great Believers,” connects the AIDS crisis in 1980s Chicago to the life of a woman in the present day.
The story follows Yale Tishman, an art gallery director, and his friendships during a time of loss and fear. Decades later, Fiona, the sister of one of Yale’s friends, searches for her estranged daughter in Paris.
It’s a heartfelt book about love, memory, and the way the past never fully leaves us.