From the winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, here is the universally acclaimed novel—winner of the Booker Prize and the basis for an award-winning film.

This book is quiet, precise, and absolutely devastating. The Remains of the Day follows an English butler looking back on his life, trying to make sense of duty, dignity, and the choices he made—or failed to make. Ishiguro writes with such restraint that the emotional weight sneaks up on you.

I picked this one because it’s a masterclass in subtle storytelling. It asks big questions—about regret, memory, and what a life is really made of—without ever raising its voice. If you like slow burns that hit hard, this is the one.