The Greatest Novel of the 20th Century
 

I like OOT's literary kick.

OFOTCN is my vote. It is as close to the perfect novel as I have read.

Re: The Greatest Novel of the 20th Century
 

Cuckoo's Nest is great. For the "important" novels, I'm going with The Plague (Camus).

For my fave, tho, it's Farewell, My Lovely (Chandler).

Re: The Greatest Novel of the 20th Century
 

Hard to beat Huck Finn.

Re: The Greatest Novel of the 20th Century
 

20th century novels...

Re: The Greatest Novel of the 20th Century
 

Catch 22

Re: The Greatest Novel of the 20th Century
 

My sample size is tiny, but I love OFOTCN as well.

Re: The Greatest Novel of the 20th Century
 

Catcher in the Rye?

Re: The Greatest Novel of the 20th Century
 

Ulysses by Joyce.

Re: The Greatest Novel of the 20th Century
 

The Sound and the Fury.

It's just brilliant.

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The Sound and the Fury.

It's just brilliant.

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i'm pretty particular about things and i respect your opinion (and obviously that of many others) but i think it is the biggest piece of garbage. I've read through it too many times wanting to shoot myself more and more with each unbearable word.

I would actually be interested to hear someone who respects it (as you obviously do) explain why they hold it in such high regard.

Re: The Greatest Novel of the 20th Century
 

Because its the stepping stone to Absolom Absolom , the real reason we read Faulkner.

Re: The Greatest Novel of the 20th Century
 

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I like OOT's literary kick.

OFOTCN is my vote. It is as close to the perfect novel as I have read.

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my fiance, who is a literature major will probably laugh at me, but what is OFOTCN?

Re: The Greatest Novel of the 20th Century
 

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

Re: The Greatest Novel of the 20th Century
 

I would vote for Blindness, with Catch-22 and Mockingbird also receiving votes.

Re: The Greatest Novel of the 20th Century
 

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Ulysses by Joyce.

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Yup. While many people are posting their favorites, no one can refute Ulysses as the most important work of this past century. Far more qualified people than our resident "experts" on OOT have almost unanimously declared this book #1.

Re: The Greatest Novel of the 20th Century
 

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OFOTCN is my vote. It is as close to the perfect novel as I have read.


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This is the greatest novel of the 20th Century? It might be your favorite, but it's not the greatest. Don't get me wrong, I really loved the book too, but it's a little dated at this point; when people that were rebelling against the establishment became the thing they were fighting. It's like saying "The Electric Kool Aid Acid Test" is the greatest piece of journalism.

Re: The Greatest Novel of the 20th Century
 

The Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison.

KJS

Re: The Greatest Novel of the 20th Century
 

You are none too bright. This is a thread soliciting opinions. And the group think in the conservative literary establishment is almost as enormous as that at the RNC.

But let me guess, you are now going to claim to have read Ulysses, right?

How does one become qualified? Get literary degrees? Write books? Write criticism? Read?

Shutup already you elitist little prick.

Many people can refute Ulysses as the most important work of this past century. Many people have, and many people will continue to do so.

Is "Greatest" the "most influential on the literary establishment?" Seems like a pretty constrictive definition there, friend.

Re: The Greatest Novel of the 20th Century
 

"The Greatest" threads are kind of vague, well they are to me anyways. I guess they could be more specifically titled, like "The most influential X and why" or whatever, they often do seem to turn into favorites threads, which is still pretty interesting.

Ulysses is definitly one of my favorite books of all time as well, and I still don't understand close to all of it after reading it several times. Just reread Portrait too, not nearly as intense or perfectly crafted but a great read.

Re: The Greatest Novel of the 20th Century
 

I thought Catch 22 was good for the 1st half and unbearable for the second.

Re: The Greatest Novel of the 20th Century
 

Finnegans Wake got me. One of my many regrets from undergrad, before I become overly specialized in my present pursuits, was not taking a Joyce class on offer, from an absolutely excellent professor, that would have at least partially unlocked this complex and compelling, though ultimately too confounding, work for me.

Re: The Greatest Novel of the 20th Century
 

roflmao... what major themes of OFOTCN are outdated?

there is a little "more" to it than rebelling against the establishment. i mean jesus, did you even read the book or just watch the movie? it questions and tears at the fabric in which American society is based upon. the american dream is "outdated"? gee, i better go let some people know.

the form, structure, etc is spectacular as well.

Re: The Greatest Novel of the 20th Century
 

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You are none too bright. This is a thread soliciting opinions.

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Wow, thanks for the hostility. If it were solicting opinions it would ask for your favorite novel of the 20th century or one that influenced/inspired you the most.
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But let me guess, you are now going to claim to have read Ulysses, right?
How does one become qualified? Get literary degrees? Write books? Write criticism? Read?


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I have read sections of the novel and I don't claim to understand everything about it, but in claiming that it's the greatest I'm not stating my OPINION, but rather a widely held stance by most reputable literary critics.
And these critics got to the position of having their opinions listened to because they know what they're talking about.
Literary and art criticism are not as subjecive as most people think. Obviously critics are in turn criticized for having the"ivory tower" mindset, but there is a reason why they can claim one pice of work better than the other.
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Shutup already you elitist little prick.


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You just hurt your argument here buddy. Responding with unfounded personal animostiy to this situation? You're just an ass.

Re: The Greatest Novel of the 20th Century
 

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there is a little "more" to it than rebelling against the establishment. i mean jesus, did you even read the book or just watch the movie?

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I've read the book.
For someone so into reading, I guess you didn't really read my post. I mentioned that SOME parts were dated, not the whole thing. I said nothing about the other themes that still hold true.

Re: The Greatest Novel of the 20th Century
 

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Literary and art criticism are not as subjecive as most people think.

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If I was the sort of person who could roll on the floor and laugh my ass off, I would be doing it now. Instead I'll just nod my head a little sadly, and encourage you to read more than excerpts. And maybe talk to one of those crazy "literary" critics about subjectivity. And its absolute nature.

Re: The Greatest Novel of the 20th Century
 

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The Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison.



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Yes. Perhaps one of the most important.

Re: The Greatest Novel of the 20th Century
 

Really, how so?

Re: The Greatest Novel of the 20th Century
 

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If I was the sort of person who could roll on the floor and laugh my ass off, I would be doing it now.

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YOu don't strike me as that, just a world class [censored] for attacking me for expressing a viewpoint that you (for some reason) find personally offensive.

I'm not going to get into a debate with you here. I would love nothing better than to set you up in an email correspondance with some REAL literary experts, but I don't think they'd appreciate being harrassed by someone who calls them a "prick"

Re: The Greatest Novel of the 20th Century
 

Wake owned me, I can't even begin to comprehend it. We discussed it briefly in a survey course but since most people in the class just about vomited upon seeing it not much time was devoted to it. I really wish we had a Joyce class offered at my school. Happy birthday BTW.

Re: The Greatest Novel of the 20th Century
 

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I have read sections of the novel and I don't claim to understand everything about it, but in claiming that it's the greatest I'm not stating my OPINION, but rather a widely held stance by most reputable literary critics.
And these critics got to the position of having their opinions listened to because they know what they're talking about.
Literary and art criticism are not as subjecive as most people think.

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sorry man, you're catching a lot of heat here, but this might be the saddest thing I have ever heard anyone say.

aside from your stance on life and art, um, TONS of qualified critics can refute Ulysses. Which literary community are you listening to, the modernists, the postmodernists? the writers themselves? the professional essaysists? professors?

Take the elliot's Wasteland as an example. Many modernists view it as the greatest poetic accomplishment in the history of the english language. Meanwhile one who is more postmodernly inclined might call it forced, contrived and stilted (no thread hijacks please, if anyone wants to discuss the merits of the wasteland, we can do so in the other thread)

they are opinions, and if the effort and thought and background has been put in to their development, then they are valid.

what a way to go through life, sheesh.

Re: The Greatest Novel of the 20th Century
 

Finnegan's Wake has always stumped me. I don't understand how anyone can read through that...every time I get a few pages deep, my head hurts. How many people can actually read that book and follow it start to finish? I'd wager not many.

Re: The Greatest Novel of the 20th Century
 

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I've read the book.
For someone so into reading, I guess you didn't really read my post. I mentioned that SOME parts were dated, not the whole thing. I said nothing about the other themes that still hold true.

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Don't get me wrong, I really loved the book too, but it's a little dated at this point; when people that were rebelling against the establishment became the thing they were fighting.

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um, i think i read fine.

Re: The Greatest Novel of the 20th Century
 

Wow, I've never gotten pissed off at people on this message board before. You're the one who started this "controversy" by declaring this thread "The Greatest Novel of the 20th Century" not, as I said "My favorite" or "most influential."
I was simply stating the WIDELY HELD OPINION. Of course people disagree and their points are perfectly valid. I never said they weren't. Maybe it's just my literary training that prompts me to read everything closely. You and my other attacker have oviously not read my entire post/s nor the context in which they appeared, but rather took pieces that offended you or made you angry and responded to them as a stand-alone excerpt. Look at the larger picture, look what I was responding to, understand the tone, actually read the Words.

I understand how important it is to be careful with your word selection.

Re: The Greatest Novel of the 20th Century
 

Sigh, I should have been more careful with my exact wording. I did put my foot in my mouth here. [img]/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]

I was just too irritated with the other poster to really put much thought into my kneejerk response to you.


I love making enemies on this website. [img]/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img]

Re: The Greatest Novel of the 20th Century
 

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I was simply stating the WIDELY HELD OPINION. Of course people disagree and their points are perfectly valid. I never said they weren't.

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no one can refute Ulysses as the most important work of this past century. Far more qualified people than our resident "experts" on OOT have almost unanimously declared this book #1.

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Whatever you say bud.

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Maybe it's just my literary training that prompts me to read everything closely...
I understand how important it is to be careful with your word selection.

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wow.

Re: The Greatest Novel of the 20th Century
 

not an enemy, i haven't been trying to attack you personally. i just take a few things seriously, this happens to be one of them.

Re: The Greatest Novel of the 20th Century
 

I think 1984 is up there.

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I don't understand the point of your posts. your 2 word responses leave much to be desired.

Re: The Greatest Novel of the 20th Century
 

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i just take a few things seriously, this happens to be one of them.

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If you take this seriously, make it a favorite/what do you think is.... post. Not a definitive "the greatest is." Sorry to catch you on semantics, but my original response was based on The Greatest criteria.

Re: The Greatest Novel of the 20th Century
 

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I don't understand the point of your posts. your 2 word responses leave much to be desired.

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well the bolded quotes point out your blatant contradictions.