LibraLibra
Score Classic
What it's about
Don DeLillo imagines the life of Lee Harvey Oswald, from troubled teenager to a man who sees himself as an agent of history, and the plot by disgruntled CIA operatives to stage a failed attempt on President Kennedy's life to turn the nation against communism. Then history takes over.
Why it's worth reading
It was a finalist for both the National Book Award and the National Book Critics Circle Award. It's a gripping blend of fact and fiction about the Kennedy assassination.
You'll love it if you liked
White Noise
Underworld
The Best and the BrightestGood to know
It's fiction, though it uses real people and events. It's dense but compelling.
By the numbers
- Readers69 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics47 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller14 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #113 of the 309 literary novels we rank
- #299 of the 762 classics we rank
- #982 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Adventurous, Moving, Thought-provoking
More by Don DeLillo
If you like this, read next
The Color Purple
The Caine Mutiny
East of Eden
I, Claudius
A Room of One's Own
Angle of ReposeExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Libra worth reading?
Yes. It was a finalist for both the National Book Award and the National Book Critics Circle Award. It ranks #982 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 73.2 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Libra about?
Don DeLillo imagines the life of Lee Harvey Oswald, from troubled teenager to a man who sees himself as an agent of history, and the plot by disgruntled CIA operatives to stage a failed attempt on President Kennedy's life to turn the nation against communism. Then history takes over.
How long does it take to read Libra?
About 12 hours (468 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Libra?
If you liked it, try White Noise by Don DeLillo, Underworld by Don DeLillo or The Best and the Brightest by David Halberstam.