And who, I wonder, compiled the provocative list? I am suspicious of all "best books lists," and this one does nothing to dispel my cynical suspicions.
Here we go again. . . yet another attempt to generate a canon. I've read probably 75 percent of what's on this list, so I can agree with some of this canon about what's worth reading. Nonetheless, the question is begged: so, who made up this list, this time, and what were their agenda and criteria? In some ways this is a list of books taught in high school, so they must be good, right?, interlaced with other choices not taught in high school but which some critics think ought to be. Most of the books on the list published in the 1990s are of extremely debateable merit: popular, certainly, but enduring? Perhaps not.
What, no Pyetr Turgidovsky?
ReplyDelete..and of all the Murakami novels, why choose 'Sputnik Sweetheart'?
I've read 23 on the list, though much of the second half the list wouldn' interest me anyway.
ReplyDeleteChristopher, that's funny -- I also read 23. Probably not the same 23. Well, some of the same 23, for sure.
ReplyDeleteAnd who, I wonder, compiled the provocative list? I am suspicious of all "best books lists," and this one does nothing to dispel my cynical suspicions.
ReplyDeleteFrank, your title for this post is perfect ... I really enjoy the discussions that lists such as these inevitably provoke.
ReplyDeleteHere we go again. . . yet another attempt to generate a canon. I've read probably 75 percent of what's on this list, so I can agree with some of this canon about what's worth reading. Nonetheless, the question is begged: so, who made up this list, this time, and what were their agenda and criteria? In some ways this is a list of books taught in high school, so they must be good, right?, interlaced with other choices not taught in high school but which some critics think ought to be. Most of the books on the list published in the 1990s are of extremely debateable merit: popular, certainly, but enduring? Perhaps not.
ReplyDeleteAt least no one put "The Road" on this list.
Oh, by the way, the list gets several publication and writing dates for these books flat out wrong. (One of the most obvious being "Maus.")
ReplyDeleteOne would think they'd at least proofread for that first.