BookRank

Best of the year

Best books of 1981

21 highest-rated books first published in 1981.

← 19801982 →

Why A Light in the Attic is #1

A Light in the Attic (Shel Silverstein) scores 8.5/10 from 368 ratings — 0.1 points ahead of The Soul of a New Machine 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. A Light in the Attic
    A Light in the AtticShel Silverstein · 1981 Poetry368 ratings1
    8.58.5 / 10
  2. The Soul of a New Machine
    The Soul of a New MachineTracy Kidder · 1981 History116 ratings
    8.48.4 / 10
  3. The Ionian Mission
    The Ionian MissionPatrick O'Brian · 1981 Historical fiction51 ratings
    8.28.2 / 10
  4. Midnight's Children
    Midnight's ChildrenSalman Rushdie · 1981 Historical fiction305 ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  5. The Claw of the Conciliator
    The Claw of the ConciliatorGene Wolfe · 1981 Fantasy176 ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  6. Sharpe's Eagle
    Sharpe's EagleBernard Cornwell · 1981 Historical fiction59 ratings
    8.18.1 / 10
  7. Noble House
    Noble HouseJames Clavell · 1981 Historical fiction53 ratings
    8.08.0 / 10
  8. Ramona Quimby, Age 8
    Ramona Quimby, Age 8Beverly Cleary · 1981 Children’s books102 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  9. Red Dragon
    Red DragonThomas Harris · 1981Filmed 2002 Thriller662 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  10. What We Talk About When We Talk About Love
    What We Talk About When We Talk About LoveRaymond Carver · 1981 Short stories189 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  11. Sandkings
    SandkingsGeorge R. R. Martin · 1981 Science fiction57 ratings
    7.97.9 / 10
  12. God Emperor of Dune
    God Emperor of DuneFrank Herbert · 1981 Science fiction923 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  13. Night Probe!
    Night Probe!Clive Cussler · 1981 Adventure51 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  14. VALIS
    VALISPhilip K. Dick · 1981 Science fiction185 ratings
    7.77.7 / 10
  15. Johnny Mnemonic
    Johnny MnemonicWilliam Gibson · 1981 Science fiction74 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  16. The Eyes of Darkness
    The Eyes of DarknessDean Koontz · 1981 Thriller203 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  17. Gorky Park
    Gorky ParkMartin Cruz Smith · 1981Filmed 1983 Crime & mystery103 ratings
    7.67.6 / 10
  18. The Keep
    The KeepF. Paul Wilson · 1981 Horror56 ratings
    7.47.4 / 10
  19. Strata
    StrataTerry Pratchett · 1981 Science fiction79 ratings
    7.47.4 / 10
  20. Cujo
    CujoStephen King · 1981 Horror671 ratings
    7.27.2 / 10
  21. Roadwork
    RoadworkStephen King · 1981 Thriller167 ratings
    7.07.0 / 10

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