Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Overall I think that it’s a pretty good list, but no “All the Light We Cannot See”?! Also shocked “The Dutch House” didn’t make it. Surprised by #1 and #2 as well, I enjoyed both (especially the Warmth of Other Sons) but wouldn’t have put them in the top 5. I probably would have selected Wolf Hall or the Underground Railroad as #1.

I love Ann Patchett but found The Dutch House boring.

I think Tom Hanks ruined the book for me. I can't stand it after 30 minutes. I will have to pick up the book and read it.

Anonymous wrote:What is Station 11 and Tomorrows are doing on this list? Pachinko is way too high.

I like Pachinko but agree with you.

Anonymous wrote:Overall I think that it’s a pretty good list, but no “All the Light We Cannot See”?! Also shocked “The Dutch House” didn’t make it. Surprised by #1 and #2 as well, I enjoyed both (especially the Warmth of Other Sons) but wouldn’t have put them in the top 5. I probably would have selected Wolf Hall or the Underground Railroad as #1.

I start Wolf Hall and could not continue.

Anonymous wrote:I was really disappointed that Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norell wasn't on the list despite being on those of multiple authors. That book is amazing.

I agree with you.

Anonymous wrote:I read never let me go, and enjoyed it, But don’t consider it any kind of masterpiece the way remains of the day was. To me it was about as good as Klara and the sun. Good, made me ponder things, but not best of a century type stuff.

Surprised that all the light you cannot see didn’t make it. Someone thought the goldfinch was better literature than all the light?

Capitalization would make your comment easier to read. Just a thought.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is Station 11 and Tomorrows are doing on this list? Pachinko is way too high.

Disagree about Pachinko, but when I saw Station Eleven on the list I said “What?!” out loud.

I LOVED Station Eleven but read it pre-COVID. Also loved Pachinko.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Oh I am SO glad A Little Life didn’t make the list. If A Little Life has no haters, I’m dead.

I think you can hate the trauma of the book without hating the book.

I hate both

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is Station 11 and Tomorrows are doing on this list? Pachinko is way too high.

Disagree about Pachinko, but when I saw Station Eleven on the list I said “What?!” out loud.

I liked Station Eleven but it was the first of multiple novels with similar themes and then Covid came along, which I think weakened its premise. When it came out, it was solid.

Feel the same way. Liked it fine; novels since have been so meh. Not sure I’d put it on any “best of” list, though.

Anonymous wrote:No Namesake? Or did I miss it?

Oh wow that’s one of my top of all time…

Anonymous wrote:Oh I am SO glad A Little Life didn’t make the list. If A Little Life has no haters, I’m dead.

I think you can hate the trauma of the book without hating the book.

House in the cerulean sea is another that could’ve made the list but didn’t, I think.
That one is a really enjoyable read.

That's the problem with their method. When you ask 500 people to list their top ten books of the century, most of them (and I think I'd do the same) are going to list personal favorites. They aren't going to think about big picture - like intentionally picking authors of different cultural backgrounds, books from various genres, books in translation, important nonfiction topics, etc. unless the books naturally fit in to their personal favorites. And it's just more likely that more mainstream books are going to picked most often and everyone's less mainstream books weren't chosen by enough people to make the list.

I also think we probably don't have enough distance yet to create a good list of 21st century books. But I still think it's been fun to look through and talk about!

I'd have had A gentleman in Moscow on the list for sure.

I'm surprised Ann Patchett's Bel Canto was her only one on the list, although that is my favorite. I'd maybe put Tom Lake - it's too recent, but I think it might be one of the great covid books. I liked very much her take on covid being good for family togetherness, which is a take I sometimes hear from mother friends (with older kids!). Maybe that's too recent for real judgement.

I do think these lists are better when at least fiction and non-fiction are separated.

Within fiction, I often think the genre books get overlooked. I think I might add 3-body problem. There's been such a resurgence in romance books - including books with characters with disabilities, or the growth of LGBTQ+ romance - it seems a shame they'll never be represented on a list like this. Plus there's a new focus on STEM-heroines that's been delightful. Or look at the rise of romantasy, sure much of which is kinda crap, but there are gems. It's rare for Horror, suspense, thrillers, or classic mysteries too, to be on lists like this.

JK Rowling? I think I'd have the Casual Vacancy on the list, though low, in the 80-100 range. Frankly given what it did for publishing I'd maybe put a Harry potter book on the list, too.

On the non fiction side, I'd have liked to see more science-focused, nature focused books. I've just started reading The Comfort of Crows which is phenomenal, but too recent to be on the list, I think. But staring into the face of climate changes, the books documenting those changes should be on the list. Maybe something by Diane Ackerman should be on the list. Or Sy Montgomery.

I read never let me go, and enjoyed it, But don’t consider it any kind of masterpiece the way remains of the day was. To me it was about as good as Klara and the sun. Good, made me ponder things, but not best of a century type stuff.

Surprised that all the light you cannot see didn’t make it. Someone thought the goldfinch was better literature than all the light?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Any Italians here? I heard that the Neapolitan quartet books are much better in English. Curious to hear it that’s true.

I really struggle with these books - I've read too. I feel like they are overwrought and full of self importance. I've chalked some of it up to the translation - someone is ALWAYS saying something ironically when i think they mean sardonically or maybe sarcastically. The overuse of irony drove me crazy.

Whoops, that was supposed to be I've read the first two. As I recall, the second book ends in a cliffhanger, and I thought I'd pick up the third, but I just never to bring myself to do it.

There's two books on the list I DNF, which is very rare for me. Life After Life just became so tedious when she had to keep going back and reliving and reliving and reliving. The Spanish Flu just broke me, and I when i told my book club that they laughed and said you'll never make it through the WWII section. So I gave up.

I also could not make it through The Sympathizer. It was too dark and depressing.