Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These lists always make me laugh. So many books that were deemed "important" by old, mostly white people long ago. There are some newer books on there, of course.

The Guardian is out of the UK and it shows.

What's wrong with being white? Are we supposed to list books from every part of the globe? We live in a euro-centric culture and there is literally nothing wrong with that.

The list is definitely not just white people. There’s at least five from African American writers, one from the Caribbean, at least one from India, at least one from Korea, at least one Latin anmericqn, and at least two from Africa. That was just based on my clocking on a few so I suspect there are a lot more. Some Anglo bias is to be expected given that it’s a list generated by English speakers of books read in English.

Whoa! Out of 100, that's all they could find? That's sad.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:These lists always make me laugh. So many books that were deemed "important" by old, mostly white people long ago. There are some newer books on there, of course.

The Guardian is out of the UK and it shows.

What's wrong with being white? Are we supposed to list books from every part of the globe? We live in a euro-centric culture and there is literally nothing wrong with that.

The list is definitely not just white people. There’s at least five from African American writers, one from the Caribbean, at least one from India, at least one from Korea, at least one Latin anmericqn, and at least two from Africa. That was just based on my clocking on a few so I suspect there are a lot more. Some Anglo bias is to be expected given that it’s a list generated by English speakers of books read in English.

I think I’ve read 37 so not a lot but honestly I’ve forgotten most of them.
It’s heavier on Russian stuff than I’d expect. I’ve never loved Brothers K or war and peace although the others are great.
Missing Vonnegut which is somewhat surprising. I’ve never heard of the line of beauty but I guess that’s a British thing.

Has everyone forgotten about Milan Kundera? I feel like his stuff got a lot of buzz decades ago.
Also a little surprised Kite Runner isn’t on here, or Howard’s End, or Room with a View.

And I know people will roll their eyes a bit about 1984 but it’s iconic for a reason. It’s one of the few books that will stay with you for your entire life —both the big picture message and individual little bits (gave me a lifelong phobia of rata).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I like Middlemarch fine but it's not even my favorite Eliot (Daniel Deronda is). Dorothea is such a frustrating character.

She's frustrating, but also amazing. I don't need "likeable" characters, and her flaws are such a part of who she is. And she's so young! The novel does such an amazing job of showing her idealism turn into heartbreak and disillusion.

The novel was one of the first to approach secular humanism as an ideology and moral force separate from any faiths. You now understand why it's beloved of overeducated atheists of certain generations. Despite that the main character is dreary and pathetic and unsympathetic.

My response to the Guardian list is that it reflects the Guardian, warts and biases and prejudices and all, rather than the reading public. Just see their hysterical disclaimer and plea at the bottom of the page to give you an idea of what to expect from the people who had their say in creating this list.

But on the whole, it is a solid list of great books. The ranking itself is silly.

Anonymous wrote:I like Middlemarch fine but it's not even my favorite Eliot (Daniel Deronda is). Dorothea is such a frustrating character.

She's frustrating, but also amazing. I don't need "likeable" characters, and her flaws are such a part of who she is. And she's so young! The novel does such an amazing job of showing her idealism turn into heartbreak and disillusion.

I like Middlemarch fine but it's not even my favorite Eliot (Daniel Deronda is). Dorothea is such a frustrating character.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting list. Pretty solid, but still noticeably of-the-moment (for example, Wuthering Heights is way too high). Not many big surprises, although Middlemarch as #1? Top 20, ok. Top 10? Pushing it. Number one? That's verging on an lol.

https://www.theguardian.com/books/ng-interactive/2026/may/12/the-100-best-novels-of-all-time

discuss...

It's a list based on responder's votes. There are a couple of good ones on there, but I don't take this list seriously. Many of the titles are predictable choices and a few don't have the full or correct title. These aren't serious readers, imo.

Is there a list that isn't based on responders' votes?

Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting list. Pretty solid, but still noticeably of-the-moment (for example, Wuthering Heights is way too high). Not many big surprises, although Middlemarch as #1? Top 20, ok. Top 10? Pushing it. Number one? That's verging on an lol.

https://www.theguardian.com/books/ng-interactive/2026/may/12/the-100-best-novels-of-all-time

discuss...

It's a list based on responder's votes. There are a couple of good ones on there, but I don't take this list seriously. Many of the titles are predictable choices and a few don't have the full or correct title. These aren't serious readers, imo.

Is there a list that isn't based on responders' votes?

Anonymous wrote:These lists always make me laugh. So many books that were deemed "important" by old, mostly white people long ago. There are some newer books on there, of course.

The Guardian is out of the UK and it shows.

What's wrong with being white? Are we supposed to list books from every part of the globe? We live in a euro-centric culture and there is literally nothing wrong with that.

There are just too many good books to create a list that's meaningful. First of all, some books only spark during a certain era, some capture the zeitgeist and then fade away, and people read books at all different ages so are affected differently by them. There should be categories of best books IMO.

Thanks for the list! Just added Middlemarch to my summer reading list.

These lists always make me laugh. So many books that were deemed "important" by old, mostly white people long ago. There are some newer books on there, of course.

The Guardian is out of the UK and it shows.

The reason this list is missing obvious authors is because of the method. Everyone picking their top ten - authors will get missed. I mean, think about trying to pick your top ten with this broad parameter. It would be really hard to get past all but the most famous, "best", books.

No Anthony Trollope on that list is crazy.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Interesting list. Pretty solid, but still noticeably of-the-moment (for example, Wuthering Heights is way too high). Not many big surprises, although Middlemarch as #1? Top 20, ok. Top 10? Pushing it. Number one? That's verging on an lol.

https://www.theguardian.com/books/ng-interactive/2026/may/12/the-100-best-novels-of-all-time

discuss...

It's a list based on responder's votes. There are a couple of good ones on there, but I don't take this list seriously. Many of the titles are predictable choices and a few don't have the full or correct title. These aren't serious readers, imo.

Did you click on the list to see who the "readers" are? Pretty serious readers, I'd say.

meh. I meant what I wrote.