October 24, 2005
Playing Favorites
I've been ruminating over Time Magazine's list of the 100 best English-language novels from 1923-present (of which I've read about 15%). It's a curious list. I was surprised to see two thematically similar SF novels (Neuromancer and Snow Crash), along with two fantasy classics (you can probably guess which ones). It's nice to see the genres getting some love, but I might have picked someone like Bradbury over Stephenson. A lot of the selections are relatively recent, as well. Never Let Me Go was released just this year, while White Teeth and The Blind Assassin were published in the last five. And to not include anything by John Irving seems negligent almost to the point of criminality.
Lists like this are silly, anyway. It's impossible to pick 100 books and declare them artistically superior to all of their peers; such declarations being inherently subjective and more than a little arbitrary. But I'm curious to know what other works you think should have been included in the list. It might give me some ideas for my next book run.
Posted by wintermute2_0 at October 24, 2005 07:50 PM
Comments
Farenheit 451/Bradbury wasn't listed. That is one frightening novel. At least the possibility of book burning and banning frightens ME!
Posted by: Susan at October 24, 2005 08:27 PM
I'll take the bait.
My favorite book is "A Suitable Boy" by Vikram Seth. My only complaint is that when I've reread the book the characters make exactly the same mistakes again.
Posted by: Rosie at October 24, 2005 10:09 PM
I was going to say "Watchmen" by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons... but it's already on the list! Unbelieveable.
Posted by: Ross at October 25, 2005 11:39 AM