|
|
HiveMind Veteran user 303 Posts |
http://www.randomhouse.com/modernlibrary/100best/novels.html
There is an interesting list here, comparing the Boardlist to a Readers list. What are your thoughts on this list contrast? I will withold my own opinions for a moment.
"Free will is an illusion." - B.F. Skinner
|
Jonathan Townsend Eternal Order Ossining, NY 27297 Posts |
HM,
I guess the battle of the books has been fought and lost. LRHubbard? AynRand? FrankHerbert:Dune? Not readers lists in any case. May as well just cede the competition to TVGuide and let StevenKing, TomClancey and JKRowling take the rest by pagecount. Tolkien???
...to all the coins I've dropped here
|
HiveMind Veteran user 303 Posts |
Sadly, I heard that the Scientologists
offered a buy back incentive to its members in order to get Hubbard's books in the top range. This might be false info but I have heard it in more than one place, and it seems to fit with the way of the Scientologist. As for Ayn Rand, I like some of her stuff. I read anthem quite a while ago, and I am reading Atlas Shrugged but I already believe they don't have a place in the top 25. I loved Dune, and much of the series that followed. Same thing, I don't think it belongs in the top 25. LOTR. I believe that does have a spot in the top 25, maybe not 4 but I really appreciate Tolkein's work especially as a linguistic and cultural explorative. (also this list was compiled long before the movies so that had no influence) Animal Farm, 1984, Grapes of Wrath, Lord of the Flies, The Catcher In The Rye... alot of easy classics, ok yeah, yeah... A Clockwork Orange. I will always love this book, but only the complete, 21 chapter version and not the americanized version that the movie was made after. I would slip this in the top 100, though where I do not know. I have some computer science texts that would fit better in the top 100 list than some of the books I saw there...They have a crummy plot but at least one does not feel that they have engaged in some necromantic enervation when finished reading them, as some of those top 100 books must... Battlefield Earth? Help us if that belongs in 3rd place.
"Free will is an illusion." - B.F. Skinner
|
Jonathan Townsend Eternal Order Ossining, NY 27297 Posts |
might suggest some books for a pop list:
Frank Herbert: Dosadi Experiment John Bruner: Stand on Zanzibar C. S. Lewis: The Screwtape Letters James Joyce: Portrait of the Artist... Ernest Hemmingway: The Old Man and the Sea William Buroughs: Naked Lunch Umberto Eco: The Name of the Rose Philip K Dick: UBIK William Gibson: Neuromancer ... and do check out the technical notes on the lectures by LRonHubbard. Amazing. Though certainly not as if 'the best books written/published in the last century, just as good books. :) -Jonathan
...to all the coins I've dropped here
|
snilsson Regular user Stockholm, Sweden 186 Posts |
Carter Beats the Devil by Glen David Gold probably never will make the top 100 list but it might well be the best novel about magic and magicians. Great fun. Not to be missed.
|
Chrystal Inner circle Canada/France 1552 Posts |
I'm a bit puzzled as to why the Readers List had chosen so many of Ann Rand and Hubbards's novels. I have read some of their material but admit not a big fan.
Egads! Milton's Paradise Lost didn't make the list? Oh well, on the other hand I can see why. :O) What about Clan of the Cave Bear? I'm suprised that didn't make the top 50. Was happy however, that my two favorite, Lord of the Rings and To Kill a Mockingbird were both there. Very suprised that Portnoy's Complaint was listed by the Board as while no doubt funny not a literary masterpiece but that's just my opinion. Which makes me question who "The Board " is? I would be interested to find out. I was pleased that I have read many of the books on both list but have not yet read "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance". I am now curious about that one and will have to try to find it in my many forays in second hand book shops. Thanks Hivemind, Jontown and Snilsson for your input I enjoyed this post very much. |
HiveMind Veteran user 303 Posts |
Glad you enjoyed it! I think its odd to see
so many Rand and Hubbard novels too.
"Free will is an illusion." - B.F. Skinner
|
hitmouse Loyal user 249 Posts |
Quote:
On 2003-02-25 13:45, snilsson wrote: Hmmm... Carter is great fun, and although at the moment it is riding high in the lists, I would dispute that it is the best novel about magic and magicians. This is of course a matter of opinion, but can I suggest two other contenders: The Magus by John Fowles The Deptford Trilogy by Robertson Davies These have been around for years now, and although they are still in print, they are not being heavily hyped, so some people may not be aware of them. They are great literature in their own right (which Carter isn't really) as well as excellent reading. |
Platt Inner circle New York 2011 Posts |
It's an interesting list. It just doesn't get any better than "Grapes of Wrath," "Slaughterhouse-Five," "Portnoy's Complaint," and "The Sun also Rises."
However after suffering through books like "the Moviegoer," "Bellow's "Henderson the Rain King," and the absurdly boring "The Sheltering Sky," I've decided not to use these 100 books as any sort of recommendation list. As always, to each their own.
Sugar Rush is here! Freakishly visual magic. http://www.plattmagic.com
|
The Magic Cafe Forum Index » » Not very magical, still... » » 100 Best Novels List (0 Likes) |
[ Top of Page ] |
All content & postings Copyright © 2001-2024 Steve Brooks. All Rights Reserved. This page was created in 0.02 seconds requiring 5 database queries. |
The views and comments expressed on The Magic Café are not necessarily those of The Magic Café, Steve Brooks, or Steve Brooks Magic. > Privacy Statement < |