What’s the Best Book of the Past 125 Years?

[TotallyOz]

#1 did not surprise me. But, #2 did! I love it and have read it countless times (as I did with number 1). But, shocked with number 2. #4 and #5 is also at the top of my all time favorites.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/12/28/books/best-book-winners.html

[caeron]

#2 more or less spawned an entire genre that is alive and vibrant today. 

I mostly don't find these lists that interesting since they always skew to the recent and are more popularity contests than anything.

It's like asking "who is the best artist in the last 125 years?" It's a meaningless question that is just a vote on personal taste, never mind the mixing of different genres and forms of art/books.

I have, however, also read #2 several times.  😀

[Pete1111]

I admit not subscribing to the NYTimes.  (Washington Post, yes)

and since I don't subscribe, not sure what NYT means by "greatest book"   

 

These books I recall as being impactful to me

• The Color Purple
• At Swim, Two Boys
• The King Must Die
• A Boys Own Story
• Narcissus and Goldman
• Watership Down
• Giovanni's Room

 

[TotallyOz]

4 hours ago, Pete1111 said:

I admit not subscribing to the NYTimes.  (Washington Post, yes)

and since I don't subscribe, not sure what NYT means by "greatest book"   

 

These books I recall as being impactful to me

• The Color Purple
• At Swim, Two Boys
• The King Must Die
• A Boys Own Story
• Narcissus and Goldman
• Watership Down
• Giovanni's Room

 

The Winner - To Kill a Mockingbird  By Harper Lee

2. The Fellowship of the Ring By J.R.R. Tolkien

3. 1984 By George Orwell

4. One Hundred Years of Solitude By Gabriel García Márquez

5. Beloved By Toni Morrison

[caeron]

Both the post and the times allow you to share subscriptions with another person, so I have one to the post that I share with my mom, and she shares her times subscription with me. Not a bad deal for us.

[Lonnie]

On 12/30/2021 at 6:53 PM, TotallyOz said:

The Winner - To Kill a Mockingbird  By Harper Lee

When Harper Lee exposed Atticus Finch as a racist bigot...  many people refused to believe it...preferring to continue living in a dream world.

https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/11/books/review-harper-lees-go-set-a-watchman-gives-atticus-finch-a-dark-side.html

[bigvisc]

1984 was the one that i liked the most out of that top 5. It's a very powerful book and keeps you hooked til the end. 

I tried to read the Lord of the Rings but gave up halfway through the first book. Just not my thing.