Comments on: The 100 Best English-Language Novels of the 20th Century http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/05/the-100-best-english-language-novels-of-the-20th-century/ The Neat Side of the Web Wed, 25 Nov 2009 20:31:04 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Angelo88 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/05/the-100-best-english-language-novels-of-the-20th-century/comment-page-1/#comment-1534757 Angelo88 Wed, 04 Mar 2009 06:04:13 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/05/the-100-best-english-language-novels-of-the-20th-century/#comment-1534757 I'm not going to be pretentious and say how many of the books on the list I've read, but I will say that any list without Tolkein - whose work is the greatest, bar-none, of the twentieth century - or the living master/human word-safe, Cormac McCarthy, is petty, and, to say the least, uninspired. I'm not going to be pretentious and say how many of the books on the list I've read, but I will say that any list without Tolkein - whose work is the greatest, bar-none, of the twentieth century - or the living master/human word-safe, Cormac McCarthy, is petty, and, to say the least, uninspired.

]]> By: MikeB http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/05/the-100-best-english-language-novels-of-the-20th-century/comment-page-1/#comment-1519369 MikeB Fri, 27 Feb 2009 18:08:20 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/05/the-100-best-english-language-novels-of-the-20th-century/#comment-1519369 Pfft, a fraudulent list without the works of Dan Brown!!! ;) Seriously though, 4 of the top 10 but only 9 of the top 100. Pfft, a fraudulent list without the works of Dan Brown!!! ;)

Seriously though, 4 of the top 10 but only 9 of the top 100.

]]> By: shay98 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/05/the-100-best-english-language-novels-of-the-20th-century/comment-page-1/#comment-1381110 shay98 Thu, 15 Jan 2009 01:46:36 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/05/the-100-best-english-language-novels-of-the-20th-century/#comment-1381110 i have read four. Novel in English language has remained a weaker genre as compared to Russian,French and Spanish author who could encompass bigger characters in larger environment and place them in the conflict which thrived at all levels. i have read four. Novel in English language has remained a weaker genre as compared to Russian,French and Spanish author who could encompass bigger characters in larger environment and place them in the conflict which thrived at all levels.

]]> By: Scooter http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/05/the-100-best-english-language-novels-of-the-20th-century/comment-page-1/#comment-1348417 Scooter Tue, 06 Jan 2009 22:26:35 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/05/the-100-best-english-language-novels-of-the-20th-century/#comment-1348417 Great Gatsby sucks... any list without Tolkien is fail. Great Gatsby sucks...

any list without Tolkien is fail.

]]> By: Gellner http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/05/the-100-best-english-language-novels-of-the-20th-century/comment-page-1/#comment-1348404 Gellner Tue, 06 Jan 2009 21:57:39 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/05/the-100-best-english-language-novels-of-the-20th-century/#comment-1348404 I didn't see Stranger in Strange Land by Heinlen, The Old Man and The Sea by Hemingway and no Tolkien. What a sham this list was! I didn't see Stranger in Strange Land by Heinlen, The Old Man and The Sea by Hemingway and no Tolkien. What a sham this list was!

]]> By: Idil http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/05/the-100-best-english-language-novels-of-the-20th-century/comment-page-1/#comment-1348201 Idil Tue, 06 Jan 2009 19:49:19 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/05/the-100-best-english-language-novels-of-the-20th-century/#comment-1348201 The Great Gatsby was not so great. Any of Hemingway's novels were better. The Great Gatsby was not so great. Any of Hemingway's novels were better.

]]> By: Prairie Dog http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/05/the-100-best-english-language-novels-of-the-20th-century/comment-page-1/#comment-1346085 Prairie Dog Tue, 06 Jan 2009 06:06:22 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/05/the-100-best-english-language-novels-of-the-20th-century/#comment-1346085 I also started Ulysses a couple times, and the only other Joyce book I've tried to read was Finnegan's Wake, so yeah, not a real fan here. I occasionally believe the literati give a great deal of credit to authors if they make their work nearly incomprehensible to the less erudite. Coincidentally just finished Grapes of Wrath. Very depressing of course, but I did enjoy it and had a hard time putting it down. I have a bad habit of picking up the dialect of whatever I am watching/reading, so for a while I was drawling and droppin' the en's offa words an' such. I also started Ulysses a couple times, and the only other Joyce book I've tried to read was Finnegan's Wake, so yeah, not a real fan here. I occasionally believe the literati give a great deal of credit to authors if they make their work nearly incomprehensible to the less erudite.

Coincidentally just finished Grapes of Wrath. Very depressing of course, but I did enjoy it and had a hard time putting it down. I have a bad habit of picking up the dialect of whatever I am watching/reading, so for a while I was drawling and droppin' the en's offa words an' such.

]]> By: Anastasia http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/05/the-100-best-english-language-novels-of-the-20th-century/comment-page-1/#comment-1345852 Anastasia Tue, 06 Jan 2009 04:48:52 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/05/the-100-best-english-language-novels-of-the-20th-century/#comment-1345852 I've read half of Ulysses and Portrait, three pages of Gatsby and all of The Sound and the Fury! Have to check out the full list to see how far else I need to catch up with the rest of the literary world. I've read half of Ulysses and Portrait, three pages of Gatsby and all of The Sound and the Fury! Have to check out the full list to see how far else I need to catch up with the rest of the literary world.

]]> By: Karleigh http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/05/the-100-best-english-language-novels-of-the-20th-century/comment-page-1/#comment-1345825 Karleigh Tue, 06 Jan 2009 04:39:29 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/05/the-100-best-english-language-novels-of-the-20th-century/#comment-1345825 The Grapes of Wrath is my least favorite book of all time, so I always take these kinds of lists with a grain of salt. I think they based their list on literary merit and style, not intrigue and plot, which is why most of us read. The Grapes of Wrath is my least favorite book of all time, so I always take these kinds of lists with a grain of salt. I think they based their list on literary merit and style, not intrigue and plot, which is why most of us read.

]]> By: benn http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/05/the-100-best-english-language-novels-of-the-20th-century/comment-page-1/#comment-1344781 benn Mon, 05 Jan 2009 23:08:51 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/05/the-100-best-english-language-novels-of-the-20th-century/#comment-1344781 I've read Ulysses, The Great Gatsby, Lolita, and Catch-22. To me The Great Gatsby was the only one that really deserves to be here because it remains relevant. Ulysses and Lolita are too obscure to be "great" and Catch-22 is too dated. The one book which I'd put on there is Fifth Business by Robertson Davies. I've read Ulysses, The Great Gatsby, Lolita, and Catch-22. To me The Great Gatsby was the only one that really deserves to be here because it remains relevant. Ulysses and Lolita are too obscure to be "great" and Catch-22 is too dated. The one book which I'd put on there is Fifth Business by Robertson Davies.

]]> By: vmos http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/05/the-100-best-english-language-novels-of-the-20th-century/comment-page-1/#comment-1344772 vmos Mon, 05 Jan 2009 23:06:07 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/05/the-100-best-english-language-novels-of-the-20th-century/#comment-1344772 gunfunbler, moby dick is 19th century innit? Anyway this list is egregiously missing "Bill the galactic hero on the planet of the hippies from hell" and "the 13and a half lives of captain bluebear" just because a book has pictures doesn't mean it's not a great work of literature gunfunbler, moby dick is 19th century innit? Anyway this list is egregiously missing "Bill the galactic hero on the planet of the hippies from hell" and "the 13and a half lives of captain bluebear"

just because a book has pictures doesn't mean it's not a great work of literature

]]> By: Scott-O http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/05/the-100-best-english-language-novels-of-the-20th-century/comment-page-1/#comment-1344571 Scott-O Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:45:41 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/05/the-100-best-english-language-novels-of-the-20th-century/#comment-1344571 I read 12 of the 100. Nine were read because I was required to read them in school so perhaps I can really only claim 3? I read 12 of the 100. Nine were read because I was required to read them in school so perhaps I can really only claim 3?

]]> By: violet http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/05/the-100-best-english-language-novels-of-the-20th-century/comment-page-1/#comment-1344483 violet Mon, 05 Jan 2009 21:10:52 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/05/the-100-best-english-language-novels-of-the-20th-century/#comment-1344483 Want to chime in with another plug for Cormac MacCarthy. Read Child of God if you can get past the subject matter, which is about as horrible as it can get. Not for the squeamish, but the language is utterly breathtaking. Want to chime in with another plug for Cormac MacCarthy. Read Child of God if you can get past the subject matter, which is about as horrible as it can get. Not for the squeamish, but the language is utterly breathtaking.

]]> By: gunfumbler http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/05/the-100-best-english-language-novels-of-the-20th-century/comment-page-1/#comment-1344391 gunfumbler Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:37:30 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/05/the-100-best-english-language-novels-of-the-20th-century/#comment-1344391 Absolutely absurd for the list not to include Moby Dick. And, @JPFC: your inability to get through/enjoy Ulysses is explained in full by your love of Atlas Shrugged. Absolutely absurd for the list not to include Moby Dick.

And, @JPFC: your inability to get through/enjoy Ulysses is explained in full by your love of Atlas Shrugged.

]]> By: mishelley http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/05/the-100-best-english-language-novels-of-the-20th-century/comment-page-1/#comment-1344323 mishelley Mon, 05 Jan 2009 20:09:34 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/05/the-100-best-english-language-novels-of-the-20th-century/#comment-1344323 I've read 52 of these. No "To Kill a Mockingbird" ?!? This list looks like it was put together by people who want other people to think they are smart and well read. Frankly, life is to short to read Joyce. I've read 52 of these.
No "To Kill a Mockingbird" ?!?
This list looks like it was put together by people who want other people to think they are smart and well read.
Frankly, life is to short to read Joyce.

]]> By: JPFC http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/05/the-100-best-english-language-novels-of-the-20th-century/comment-page-1/#comment-1344243 JPFC Mon, 05 Jan 2009 19:37:10 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/05/the-100-best-english-language-novels-of-the-20th-century/#comment-1344243 by thwe by, I've only read 18 on the list. "Atlas Shrugged" should have been included. by thwe by, I've only read 18 on the list. "Atlas Shrugged" should have been included.

]]> By: JPFC http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/05/the-100-best-english-language-novels-of-the-20th-century/comment-page-1/#comment-1344232 JPFC Mon, 05 Jan 2009 19:32:45 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/05/the-100-best-english-language-novels-of-the-20th-century/#comment-1344232 Who are they guys that write these lists and why is Ulysses always at the top of every one of them? I've tried to read it at least 5 times and can't get more than 50 pages in. And never met anybody that ever has admitted to reading it either. Who are they guys that write these lists and why is Ulysses always at the top of every one of them? I've tried to read it at least 5 times and can't get more than 50 pages in. And never met anybody that ever has admitted to reading it either.

]]> By: Moon http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/05/the-100-best-english-language-novels-of-the-20th-century/comment-page-1/#comment-1344180 Moon Mon, 05 Jan 2009 19:13:17 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/05/the-100-best-english-language-novels-of-the-20th-century/#comment-1344180 Shouldn't there be some P.G. Wodehouse on this list? Maybe "The Code of the Woosters"? Just because it's hilarious doesn't mean it isn't a great work of literature. Shouldn't there be some P.G. Wodehouse on this list? Maybe "The Code of the Woosters"?

Just because it's hilarious doesn't mean it isn't a great work of literature.

]]> By: Moon http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/05/the-100-best-english-language-novels-of-the-20th-century/comment-page-1/#comment-1344168 Moon Mon, 05 Jan 2009 19:08:31 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/05/the-100-best-english-language-novels-of-the-20th-century/#comment-1344168 I've read 6 of the top 10 and I started Ulysses several times. :P I've read 6 of the top 10 and I started Ulysses several times.

:P

]]> By: cleek http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/05/the-100-best-english-language-novels-of-the-20th-century/comment-page-1/#comment-1344032 cleek Mon, 05 Jan 2009 18:15:07 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/05/the-100-best-english-language-novels-of-the-20th-century/#comment-1344032 strange that Mockingbird isn't on there, nor Confederacy of Dunces. and yes, Cormac McCarthy is a great writer. i spent a few months reading everything of his i could find, and burned out on him, unfortunately. strange that Mockingbird isn't on there, nor Confederacy of Dunces.

and yes, Cormac McCarthy is a great writer. i spent a few months reading everything of his i could find, and burned out on him, unfortunately.

]]> By: Carpus http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/05/the-100-best-english-language-novels-of-the-20th-century/comment-page-1/#comment-1343981 Carpus Mon, 05 Jan 2009 17:55:48 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/05/the-100-best-english-language-novels-of-the-20th-century/#comment-1343981 You can tell this list comes from 'literary' critics. Note the almost complete lack of fantasy, science fiction (except '1984' and 'Brave New World' - both written by 'literary' writers), and mystery (except for nods to Dashiell Hammett and Norman Mailer, the latter of which I didn't think was that great a writer). How about 'The Lord of the Rings', 'Dune', or anything by Ray Bradbury or Raymond Chandler? You can tell this list comes from 'literary' critics. Note the almost complete lack of fantasy, science fiction (except '1984' and 'Brave New World' - both written by 'literary' writers), and mystery (except for nods to Dashiell Hammett and Norman Mailer, the latter of which I didn't think was that great a writer). How about 'The Lord of the Rings', 'Dune', or anything by Ray Bradbury or Raymond Chandler?

]]> By: Jake D. http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/05/the-100-best-english-language-novels-of-the-20th-century/comment-page-1/#comment-1343900 Jake D. Mon, 05 Jan 2009 17:20:08 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/05/the-100-best-english-language-novels-of-the-20th-century/#comment-1343900 I've been hearing a lot about Cormac McCarthy (He wrote the novel No Country for Old Men) lately, and how I need to read his stuff. My friend is going to lend me Blood Meridian today, and he keeps telling me I'm not going to like it because of McCarthy's style of writing. I looked into it and it's very poetic. I'm surprised he's not on this list. I've been hearing a lot about Cormac McCarthy (He wrote the novel No Country for Old Men) lately, and how I need to read his stuff. My friend is going to lend me Blood Meridian today, and he keeps telling me I'm not going to like it because of McCarthy's style of writing. I looked into it and it's very poetic.

I'm surprised he's not on this list.

]]> By: The Other Parker http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/05/the-100-best-english-language-novels-of-the-20th-century/comment-page-1/#comment-1343889 The Other Parker Mon, 05 Jan 2009 17:18:02 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/05/the-100-best-english-language-novels-of-the-20th-century/#comment-1343889 I was such a bookworm when I was a kid but somewhere along the line I lost it. I've read precious few of these books. I thought I was a more literate person than that. It's kind of humbling! These days it seems like all my reading is web surfing. But I should add that, though I've only read bits and pieces of Joyce's work, I'm surprised to see him so high on this list. Like others have commented on here, didn't he write mostly gibberish? I was such a bookworm when I was a kid but somewhere along the line I lost it. I've read precious few of these books. I thought I was a more literate person than that. It's kind of humbling! These days it seems like all my reading is web surfing. But I should add that, though I've only read bits and pieces of Joyce's work, I'm surprised to see him so high on this list. Like others have commented on here, didn't he write mostly gibberish?

]]> By: Lulu http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/05/the-100-best-english-language-novels-of-the-20th-century/comment-page-1/#comment-1343884 Lulu Mon, 05 Jan 2009 17:15:11 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/05/the-100-best-english-language-novels-of-the-20th-century/#comment-1343884 Read 9 of the 100, going to check out several on that list. I've always prefered the classics over modern literature, but should add that I only found this in my 20's while in school I hated that stuff. Read 9 of the 100, going to check out several on that list. I've always prefered the classics over modern literature, but should add that I only found this in my 20's while in school I hated that stuff.

]]> By: fanniefarkle http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/05/the-100-best-english-language-novels-of-the-20th-century/comment-page-1/#comment-1343578 fanniefarkle Mon, 05 Jan 2009 15:36:36 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/05/the-100-best-english-language-novels-of-the-20th-century/#comment-1343578 I've read 8 out of the top 10. Never even heard of Darkness at Noon. Will have to check that one out. I've read 8 out of the top 10. Never even heard of Darkness at Noon. Will have to check that one out.

]]> By: paco http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/05/the-100-best-english-language-novels-of-the-20th-century/comment-page-1/#comment-1343377 paco Mon, 05 Jan 2009 14:34:24 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/05/the-100-best-english-language-novels-of-the-20th-century/#comment-1343377 I've read about half of them. Of the half I haven't read, at least half of those are ones (like <i>Catch 22</i>) that I very much want to read. avraamov: Ulysses is still in English. It's Finnegan's that takes the real leap. I've read about half of them. Of the half I haven't read, at least half of those are ones (like Catch 22) that I very much want to read.

avraamov: Ulysses is still in English. It's Finnegan's that takes the real leap.

]]> By: tom m http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/05/the-100-best-english-language-novels-of-the-20th-century/comment-page-1/#comment-1343235 tom m Mon, 05 Jan 2009 13:50:11 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/05/the-100-best-english-language-novels-of-the-20th-century/#comment-1343235 Out of the 100, Ive read 2. Which is interesting considering that I have read about 10,000 books in my life. Out of the 100, Ive read 2. Which is interesting considering that I have read about 10,000 books in my life.

]]> By: Gail Pink http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/05/the-100-best-english-language-novels-of-the-20th-century/comment-page-1/#comment-1343211 Gail Pink Mon, 05 Jan 2009 13:46:04 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/05/the-100-best-english-language-novels-of-the-20th-century/#comment-1343211 How about "Catcher in the Rye"? How about "Catcher in the Rye"?

]]> By: ted http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/05/the-100-best-english-language-novels-of-the-20th-century/comment-page-1/#comment-1343132 ted Mon, 05 Jan 2009 13:25:05 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/05/the-100-best-english-language-novels-of-the-20th-century/#comment-1343132 Pretentious. Pretentious.

]]> By: avraamov http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/05/the-100-best-english-language-novels-of-the-20th-century/comment-page-1/#comment-1343003 avraamov Mon, 05 Jan 2009 12:45:18 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2009/01/05/the-100-best-english-language-novels-of-the-20th-century/#comment-1343003 ulysses? english language? that's debatable. ulysses? english language? that's debatable.

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