BookRank

Best of the year

Best books of 1970

14 highest-rated books first published in 1970.

← 19691971 →

Why 84, Charing Cross Road is #1

84, Charing Cross Road (Helene Hanff) scores 8.4/10 from 234 ratings — 0.3 points ahead of Runaway Ralph in second place.

The score is a weighted average across 3 independent rating sources. A title with few ratings is pulled toward the category average, so a handful of enthusiastic reviews cannot outrank a book that thousands of readers have judged. Method →

  1. 84, Charing Cross Road
    84, Charing Cross RoadHelene Hanff · 1970 Biography & memoir234 ratings
    8.48.4 / 10
  2. Runaway Ralph
    Runaway RalphBeverly Cleary · 1970 Fantasy113 ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  3. The Bluest Eye
    The Bluest EyeToni Morrison · 1970 Literary fiction461 ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  4. The Trumpet of the Swan
    The Trumpet of the SwanE. B. White · 1970 Middle grade93 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  5. The Crystal Cave
    The Crystal CaveMary Stewart · 1970 Fantasy108 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  6. Play It as It Lays
    Play It as It LaysJoan Didion · 1970 Literary fiction153 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  7. Ringworld
    RingworldLarry Niven · 1970 Science fiction849 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  8. This Perfect Day
    This Perfect DayIra Levin · 1970 Science fiction50 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  9. Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You?
    Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You?Dr. Seuss · 1970 Classics56 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  10. A Maze of Death
    A Maze of DeathPhilip K. Dick · 1970 Science fiction60 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  11. Nine Princes in Amber
    Nine Princes in AmberRoger Zelazny · 1970 Fantasy420 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  12. Swords and Deviltry
    Swords and DeviltryFritz Leiber · 1970 Short stories112 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  13. I Will Fear No Evil
    I Will Fear No EvilRobert A. Heinlein · 1970 Science fiction52 ratings
    7.47.4 / 10
  14. Love Story
    Love StoryErich Segal · 1970 Romance88 ratings
    7.37.3 / 10

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