2007-03-23 13:20:23 · 11 answers · asked by The Encyclopædia 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
If you've never heard of this, here is the link...
http://www.randomhouse.com/modernlibrary/100best.html
2007-03-23 13:21:45 · update #1
I've gotta say, this is not a very good list. I love reading, but I didn't like a single book on the list. The closest I can come is 'Atlas Shrugged' which is on the reader's list, and a couple of the sci-fi books that are on there...
Of course this is a list of what is arbitrarily considered 'artistic or important' in the world of literature. I personally believe that the book should be readable on its own merits of telling a good story over and above trying to convince the reader that the author is brilliant or has a better understanding of how the world works. In my opinion, books that make these kinds of lists generally have already failed in the most important aspect: is it a good story.
But that's just me, my tastes vary. My favorite author is George RR Martin, and you're not likely to see him listed on anything like this... ever. Thank Goodness!
2007-03-23 13:33:07 · answer #1 · answered by Jon S 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Board's List (which I think is a little too high-falutin')
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A House For Mr. Biswas (Naipaul)
1984 (Orwell)
On The Road (Kerouac)
Readers List (which I think is actually pretty darn good):
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A Prayer for Owen Meany/
The World According to Garp (anything by John Irving)
Stranger In A Strange Land/
The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress (anything by Robert Heinlein)
Lord of the Rings (Tolkein)
Sometimes A Great Notion (Kesey)
---as far as I'm concerned, Irving/Heinlein/Tolken/Kesey can do no wrong. Especially Irving and Heinlein. They are two of the greatest writers I have ever read, and I've read all of their stuff.
2007-03-23 23:54:00 · answer #2 · answered by Amy B 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Gone With the Wind by Margeret Mitchell
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
2007-03-23 20:48:02 · answer #3 · answered by white oleander 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I clicked on the 100 best novels link:
of the board's list Catcher in the Rye is my vote
of the reader's list To Kill A Mockingbird wins
2007-03-23 20:31:21 · answer #4 · answered by nic h 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I can't say I've read the 100 novels, but my vote is for Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. It is an early work of stream-of-consciousness that is not so difficult as Ulysses. And from a writer's perspective, it is interesting to see the writer's perspective.
2007-03-23 20:28:33 · answer #5 · answered by RMZ 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I <3 to read, but I honestly haven't read any of those! For school, we are about to read The Call Of The Wild, by Jack London, but I heard from people who read it, and they said it is very graphic and sad, and not good.
However, on the rival list they link to (below), I'd have to say
13. Charlotte's Web by E.B. White
2007-03-23 20:50:50 · answer #6 · answered by Adara B 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ender's Game or Hitchhiker's Guide
Practically everyone at my school's reading Hitchhiker's Guide-it's crazy! We're hauling around the 6 volume edition, whether paperback, hardback, or leather, and randomly quoting stuff all the time.
2007-03-23 21:00:15 · answer #7 · answered by cstravagante 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are so many wonderful books on this list that makes it hard to choose just one. But, if I had to choose, my favorite would be Their Eyes Were Watching God
2007-03-23 20:37:32 · answer #8 · answered by "Hello, I Love You" 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My favorite from that list is Heart of Darkness. Favorite all time is Wuthering Heights, though.
2007-03-24 01:00:20 · answer #9 · answered by Cat Loves Her Sabres 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Call of the Wild
2007-03-23 20:33:47 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋