The Greatest Novel of the 20th Century

[InchoateHand]

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

[fsuplayer]

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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?

[InchoateHand]

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

[CD56]

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

[TheBlueMonster]

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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.

[TheBlueMonster]

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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.

[KJS]

The Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison.

KJS

[InchoateHand]

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.

[dibbs]

"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.

[scott8]

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