Loved Joker? These are the list of 8 books that feel similar to that of the movie
1. Crime and Punishment
Imagine this: you’re feeling poor, lost, and like the world is stacked against you.
Deep down, you have these big ideas about justice and greatness, but they clash with the harsh reality around you.
That’s where Raskolnikov, the main character in Crime and Punishment, finds himself. He commits a terrible crime, and it eats away at him. This book isn’t just about the crime though; it’s about the mind-bending guilt and his struggle to find any kind of peace afterwards.
The Joker’s slow descent into madness and his warped views on society definitely have echoes of Raskolnikov’s struggle.
2. American Psycho
Okay, this one is intense.
Think of a world obsessed with appearances, where designer clothes and fancy restaurants matter more than anything else.
That’s Patrick Bateman’s life in American Psycho.
He seems perfect on the outside — successful, handsome, the whole nine yards.
But underneath?
There’s a monster lurking.
This book takes you on a twisted ride through Bateman’s mind — his emptiness, his rage, and the chilling violence he masks so well.
Like the Joker, Bateman hides his true nature, showing us how a seemingly normal person can harbor unimaginable darkness.
3. The Metamorphosis
This one is trippy and unsettling, but in a way that sticks with you for a long time.
Gregor Samsa, a regular guy with a regular job, wakes up one morning transformed into a giant insect.
Talk about a bad day, right?
It’s not a graphic horror story, it’s more about his family’s reaction to him, how society treats him differently, and his own feelings of being totally isolated and alienated from the world.
There’s a parallel here to Joker — Arthur Fleck wants to connect and contribute, but he keeps getting pushed to the fringes, becoming more and more invisible until he snaps.
4. Fight Club
Come on. You already know about the movie but trust me the book is even better.
Especially that line that comes out of the book —
If you feel like shit, everyone you hate wins
In case you don’t know, now this book is about a guy who feels trapped in his boring life, drowning in stuff he doesn’t need.
He finds release and a strange sense of power in underground fight clubs.
It’s a wild ride exploring the dark side of masculinity, tearing down the idea of a “perfect” life, and searching for something real in a world that feels fake.
Similar to Joker, it questions society’s rules and how they can break a person.
Like Arthur Fleck, the narrator craves a revolution that shatters the status quo, even if that revolution is destructive.
5. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
This book takes place in a mental institution, where a rebellious and charismatic guy named McMurphy shakes things up.
He challenges the rigid authority of the nurses, particularly the cold and controlling Nurse Ratched.
It’s a battle between free-spirited rebellion and oppressive systems.
Think about Joker and his defiance against the institutions and people he feels have mistreated him.
Both McMurphy and the Joker become symbols for others — their actions sparking dissent and a questioning of the powers that be.
6. The Yellow Wallpaper
This is a short but incredibly powerful story about a woman trapped both physically and mentally.
Doctors prescribe her complete bed rest in a room with disturbing yellow wallpaper.
She’s cut off from any stimulation, her thoughts are constantly dismissed, and she slowly starts to unravel.
This story echoes themes of societal confinement and a lack of control over one’s own life — similar to how Arthur Fleck feels trapped within a system that ignores and mistreats him, leading to his mental breakdown.
7. A Clockwork Orange
This one gets pretty dark and is written in a unique slang invented by the author.
The main character, Alex, is an ultraviolent young gang leader who revels in chaos and destruction. He eventually gets caught and undergoes an experimental treatment designed to turn him away from violence — but it raises questions about messing with someone’s free will, even if they are a terrible person.
The Joker, like Alex, delights in mayhem and challenges the traditional notions of morality.
Both question society’s methods for dealing with those deemed “deviant”.
Does punishment truly change someone?
8. The Catcher in the Rye
Holden Caulfield, the narrator of this classic novel, is a cynical teenager railing against everything he sees as fake or pretentious in the adult world.
He feels disillusioned, lost, and desperately wants to protect the innocence he sees in children.
Holden’s cynicism and difficulty fitting into society are reminiscent of Arthur Fleck’s alienation in Joker.
Both characters struggle to find a place where they feel understood and valued, leading to a sense of isolation that borders on mental instability.
So, which one are you reading tonight?
Also, do you have any more books that should be added to the list?
Let me know in the comment section below.
