Fiction

werdna

(1,252 posts)

4. A word on who generated the list and by what criteria were used.

Sat May 16, 2026, 08:43 AM

Yesterday

As Stephen King points out, compiling a list of the greatest novels of all time is an impossible task. King is one of more than 170 novelists, critics and academics the Guardian polled for their top 10, ranked in order, which we tallied to compile an overall 100. But, as he argued, 10 books is “not enough!. . . Is the best novel one that changes the genre, society or the individual? One that captures the zeitgeist, or has an afterlife far beyond its pages. Or a novel that scorches itself so deeply into your soul you can remember exactly when and where you were when you first read it? None of these criteria on their own is enough.
https://www.theguardian.com/books/ng-interactive/2026/may/16/story-behind-100-best-novels-all-time

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irisblue intheflow Ponietz biophile scipan

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The Guardian's 100 best books of all time [View all] Ponietz Yesterday OP

Looks like I need more time biophile Yesterday #1

There's always audiobooks! DaBronx Yesterday #2

True, but I'll still need the extra years! biophile 21 hrs ago #14

Audiobooks thru the library? irisblue 23 hrs ago #6

No Grapes of Wrath? mountain grammy Yesterday #3

Well, it's a British-generated list, so intheflow 23 hrs ago #10

I chalked up to that excuse for not including On The Road by Kerouac 70sEraVet 23 hrs ago #12

A word on who generated the list and by what criteria were used. werdna Yesterday #4

No A Room of One's Own by Wolfe, 1929, but the descendant The HandMaids Tale irisblue 23 hrs ago #5

I curious about your use of "descendant" here. intheflow 23 hrs ago #9

Wolffe book was about a womans need for financial independence & space to be her authentic self irisblue 20 hrs ago #15

I've read 17 pfitz59 23 hrs ago #7

Surprisingly enough NewLarry 23 hrs ago #8

This message was self-deleted by its author Ponietz 21 hrs ago #13

41 Heart of Darkness Make7 17 hrs ago #16

Heavy emphasis on the 19th and early 20th centuries. yardwork 23 hrs ago #11

Ninety seven? Make7 17 hrs ago #17