The Ballad of the Sad Cafe and Other Stories, a 1951 novel by Carson McCullers, is often regarded by critics as her masterpiece. This narrative revolves around a complex love triangle set in a small southern town during the 1940s.

As I Lay Dying, a novel by William Faulkner published in 1930, features the dying matriarch Addie Bundren, who shares many traits with Pearl Tull from Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant. Both novels also exhibit some structural similarities.

Anne Tyler's 1985 novel, The Accidental Tourist, which was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize, tells the story of a travel writer struggling to cope with the death of his only son.

The Portable Chekhov, released in 1947, contains twenty-eight short stories, two plays, and a vibrant selection of letters. This collection showcases Anton Chekhov, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most prolific Russian writers.