Random House's list of the 100 best novels, along with the 100 best as chosen by their readers. Apparently the readers really, really like Ayn Rand and L. Ron Hubbard.
Of course, I was immediately turned off by the RH's number one. Ulysses? Really? That's the best you can do? I was an English major and I wouldn't read the damn thing again if you paid me. I actually find the list a little pretentious. No Hemingway until #45? Please. Two Henry James novels in the top 30??? Have any of you ever read Henry James? They used to use his novels instead of anesthetic before operations. They've got The Maltese Falcon, but nothing by Chandler? No The Big Sleep? I might just have to go down to Random House and bitch-slap someone. Or pay Kenny to do it.
P.S. One upside: It doesn't deserve #7, but I really like Catch-22.
Um, i like Henry James. But yes, the list is pretentious.
ReplyDeleteThe Board's list may not be pretentious enough: the READERS are the ones who put Thomas Pynchon on the list, as well as other difficult reads like ABSALOM, ABSALOM!
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