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📖 Literary Fiction · Canada

Best Literary Fiction Books from Canada

Literary fiction is fiction that prioritises style, language, and psychological depth over plot mechanics. Canada has produced some of the most internationally recognised works in literary fiction, with titles that have appeared on major prize lists and critical surveys worldwide. This page ranks the best literary fiction from Canada by editorial consensus.

#1
Cover of The Blind Assassin
literary-fiction

The Blind Assassin

Margaret Atwood· 2000
★Women's Prize for Fiction
Editorial Score82/100
#2
Cover of Life of Pi
literary-fiction

Life of Pi

Yann Martel· 2002
★Booker Prize
Editorial Score77/100
#3
Cover of The Stone Diaries
literary-fiction

The Stone Diaries

Carol Shields· 1995
★Pulitzer Prize
Editorial Score74/100
#4
Cover of The Handmaid's Tale
science-fiction

The Handmaid's Tale

Margaret Atwood· 1985
★Women's Prize for Fiction
Editorial Score71/100
#5
Cover of The English Patient
literary-fiction

The English Patient

Michael Ondaatje· 1992
★Booker Prize
Editorial Score68/100
#6
Cover of Anne of Green Gables
childrens

Anne of Green Gables

Lucy Maud Montgomery· 1908
Editorial Score50/100
#7
Cover of A Fine Balance
literary-fiction

A Fine Balance

Rohinton Mistry· 1995
Oprah's Book Club
Editorial Score45/100
#8
Cover of The Testaments
science-fiction

The Testaments

Margaret Atwood· 2019
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score41/100
#9
Cover of The Colony of Unrequited Dreams
historical-fiction

The Colony of Unrequited Dreams

Wayne Johnston· 1998
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score41/100
#10
Cover of Fugitive Pieces
literary-fiction

Fugitive Pieces

Anne Michaels· 1996
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score40/100
#11
Cover of Station Eleven
science-fiction

Station Eleven

Emily St. John Mandel· 2014
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score39/100
#12
Cover of Oryx and Crake
science-fiction

Oryx and Crake

Margaret Atwood· 2003
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score39/100
#13
Cover of The Tin Flute
literary-fiction

The Tin Flute

Gabrielle Roy· 1945
ALA Notable Books
Editorial Score38/100
#14
Cover of The Diviners
literary-fiction

The Diviners

Margaret Laurence· 1974
ALA Notable Books
Editorial Score38/100
#15
Cover of Unless
literary-fiction

Unless

Carol Shields· 2002
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score37/100
#16
Cover of Cat's Eye
literary-fiction

Cat's Eye

Margaret Atwood· 1988
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score37/100
#17
Cover of Alias Grace
historical-fiction

Alias Grace

Margaret Atwood· 1996
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score36/100
#18
Cover of The Book of Negroes
historical-fiction

The Book of Negroes

Lawrence Hill· 2007
commonwealth
Editorial Score33/100
#19
Cover of The Stone Angel
literary-fiction

The Stone Angel

Margaret Laurence· 1964
ALA Notable Books
Editorial Score32/100
#20
Cover of Surfacing
literary-fiction

Surfacing

Margaret Atwood· 1972
Kirkus Reviews
Editorial Score31/100
#21
Cover of The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz
literary-fiction

The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz

Mordecai Richler· 1959
ALA Notable Books
Editorial Score30/100
#22
Cover of Fifth Business
literary-fiction

Fifth Business

Robertson Davies· 1970
Editorial Score30/100
#23
Cover of The Jade Peony
literary-fiction

The Jade Peony

Wayson Choy· 1995
trillium
Editorial Score30/100
#24
Cover of Fall On Your Knees
literary-fiction

Fall On Your Knees

Ann-Marie MacDonald· 1996
Oprah's Book ClubKirkus Reviews
Editorial Score27/100
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