I think one of the most interesting things this kind of poll raises is ultimately what values the voter decides are most important. I went with my gut, but I bet underneath that there's something more specific at work.
I did not vote for Infinite Jest, but I have a real soft spot for it because I read it the summer after I finished grad school as I was playing out the remainder of my lease in Lake Charles, LA, slowly selling all my possessions before heading back home to Chicago. Eventually I was down to a bed roll and comforter, a lamp, a bowl and spoon, a dog, and a copy of Infinite Jest.
This book seems to attract people in transition. I read it 100 pages per week while transitioning careers with my friend who was transitioning to motherhood who knew someone who read it while transitioning cities with someone who was transitioning out of a long term relationship. Maybe the appeal is the structure it provides while still seeming like chaos.
That's really interesting to think about. I know that I liked having this one thing that I could go back to night after night, particularly once I'd sold my TV. I knew that I wasn't going to run out, and that if I finished it, I could probably just start over and do it again.
Right, that’s definitely part of the appeal for any book that long, but this one especially since it’s pretty all consuming. I started in January because I knew it’d take me through the hardest months of Chicago winter. This book and I would come out on the other side together.
A Little Life, To Kill a Mockingbird and A Gentleman in Moscow; no other book describes the gut wrenching live long affects of serious trauma like A Little Life, Amor Towles had me thinking I was living in the Metropol and To Kill A Mockingbird is a jewel.
Charlotte's Web, because really, Charlotte, Wilbur and the inimitable Templeton. Enough said. (personal note - I used to say that my lifetime favorite books were Lord of the Rings and Charlotte's Web. I would now add War and Peace to that list). Thanks, John, for sending this.
It's interesting to see what's left out - it really doesn't cover all 125 years - but doesn't that indicate that it's very difficult to maintain such importance/influence/relevance/recognition for such a long period of time. And important for what reason and to whom? I went with those that had a significant social impact, but even that impact can be fleeting. Which had the greatest esthetic impact would be a different list (and the candidates seem to skew more towards the former rather than the latter).
To Kill a Mockingbird, Handmaid’s Tale, Grapes of Wrath. Each one for being a great work of art, but also for having major social impact.
I think one of the most interesting things this kind of poll raises is ultimately what values the voter decides are most important. I went with my gut, but I bet underneath that there's something more specific at work.
Thanks for the recommendation, looking forward to it!
My votes:
1) Beloved because magical realism has never been so powerful.
2) The Handmaid’s Tale for that scene where all the bank accounts are frozen.
3) Infinite Jest for the embarrassing proselytizing to all your friends, “I know, I know, but once you hit page 450 it really flies!”
I did not vote for Infinite Jest, but I have a real soft spot for it because I read it the summer after I finished grad school as I was playing out the remainder of my lease in Lake Charles, LA, slowly selling all my possessions before heading back home to Chicago. Eventually I was down to a bed roll and comforter, a lamp, a bowl and spoon, a dog, and a copy of Infinite Jest.
This book seems to attract people in transition. I read it 100 pages per week while transitioning careers with my friend who was transitioning to motherhood who knew someone who read it while transitioning cities with someone who was transitioning out of a long term relationship. Maybe the appeal is the structure it provides while still seeming like chaos.
That's really interesting to think about. I know that I liked having this one thing that I could go back to night after night, particularly once I'd sold my TV. I knew that I wasn't going to run out, and that if I finished it, I could probably just start over and do it again.
Right, that’s definitely part of the appeal for any book that long, but this one especially since it’s pretty all consuming. I started in January because I knew it’d take me through the hardest months of Chicago winter. This book and I would come out on the other side together.
A Little Life, To Kill a Mockingbird and A Gentleman in Moscow; no other book describes the gut wrenching live long affects of serious trauma like A Little Life, Amor Towles had me thinking I was living in the Metropol and To Kill A Mockingbird is a jewel.
I still haven't read A Gentleman in Moscow and it eats at me every time someone mentions it!
Read it as a gift to yourself this holiday season
Charlotte's Web, because really, Charlotte, Wilbur and the inimitable Templeton. Enough said. (personal note - I used to say that my lifetime favorite books were Lord of the Rings and Charlotte's Web. I would now add War and Peace to that list). Thanks, John, for sending this.
Very hard to choose just one. Lonesome Dove is an all time favorite. A Fine Balance was my 2nd choice.
It's interesting to see what's left out - it really doesn't cover all 125 years - but doesn't that indicate that it's very difficult to maintain such importance/influence/relevance/recognition for such a long period of time. And important for what reason and to whom? I went with those that had a significant social impact, but even that impact can be fleeting. Which had the greatest esthetic impact would be a different list (and the candidates seem to skew more towards the former rather than the latter).