Posted by Steven on 23/5/2011, 9:42:13, in reply to "Re: The Magus"
76.186.51.185
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: ... the (deservedly) much maligned Modern
: Library 100 Best Novels of the 20th Century list ...
For all its flaws, the list did accomplish one thing: It got me interested twelve years ago in reading literary fiction. I started with #2 on the list, The Great Gatsby.
A question for everyone: What would you change about the list? Which books would you drop off? What would you add? (This is easier than trying to make our own list from scratch, and the numbers don't have to match.)
Here is a link to the list: 100 Best Novels « Modern Library
I don't care at all, by the way, for the "Reader's List," a popularity poll that was obviously disproportionately influenced by Scientologists and Libertarians.
The criteria for the "Board's List" are that it be an English-language novel first published in the 20th Century. One of the listed books clearly does not meet that test: Darkness at Noon was written in German, not English. Some may also claim that the various series (e.g. USA Trilogy, Parade's End, Alexandria Quartet) shouldn't be included as such, but I'm inclined to allow it.
The books I would most likely drop from the list:
Appointment in Samarra
Studs Lonigan Trilogy
Kim
Loving
The Postman Always Rings Twice
The Ginger Man
The Magnificent Ambersons
The Secret Agent
I would also drop Finnegans Wake. It is an impressive achievement to be sure, but I doubt that even James Joyce himself could understand more than half of it if he hadn't been the one to write it. I "read" it, but I was doing well to make sense of one line per page.
I would probably replace Henderson the Rain King with Herzog, and Death Comes for the Archbishop with My Antonia.
Books I would definitely add:
Gravity's Rainbow
Blood Meridian
Housekeeping
The French Lieutenant's Woman
Wise Blood
Possession
Toni Morrison needs to be on the list, probably with Beloved, but possibly with Song of Solomon (which I haven't read, so I can't say).
Other books I might add if I could find room:
Rabbit, Run
Disgrace
The Conservationist
A Fine Balance
The God of Small Things
The Golden Notebook
A Confederacy of Dunces
There are, by the way, several other lists comparable to the Modern Library's available online. I can provide some links if anyone is interested.
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