I can be rather obsessive and decided to compile three different "Top 100" lists to see what books they shared in common. I discovered 25 books that were on all three lists and started there (skipping a few that seemed unbearable like Ulysses by James Joyce).
Ranking them 1-15 would be nearly impossible but here are 15 of my absolute favorites:
1) Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
-This was this first one I decided to read (because it was one of the shortest) and I quickly realized how awesome novels could be
2) To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
3) As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner
4) Catch 22 by Joseph Heller
- The first novel to make me laugh out loud while reading
5) Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
6) Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
8) Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
9) A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway
11) Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut
12) Lord of the Flies by William Golding
14) All Quiet On the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque
15) The Road by Cormac McCarthy
- I realize this has not stood the test of time like the others but I have little doubt that it will. McCarthy is one of my absolute favorite authors - he is brilliant.
These are my top 15 so far .... which novels are on your top list?
Great list! I have not read many classic novels, but of the four that I have read from your list, I would put two in my top list: "To Kill a Mockingbird" and "The Lord of the Rings". I would also put "A Tale of Two Cities" near the top. It sounds like I'm going to have to give Cormac McCarthy a try.
ReplyDeleteI think it's only fair to add that A Farewell to Arms was the first novel to make you cry outloud.....
ReplyDeleteYou just reminded me of Kurt Vonnegut--I love him.
Also, maybe you should read some more novels written by women...just to round out your literary experience a little more...might I suggest Wuthering Heights? Seriously, it's amazing.