THE 100 BEST NOVELS? PT.2

 So here's my take on the next ten novels on the list:

11. Under the Volcano, Malcolm Lowry, 1947.  Lowry's novel is the dark, brooding story of an alcoholic member of the British consul residing in Quauhnahuac, Mexico.  Told over the course of one day (which just happens to be The Day of the Dead), the consul considers his life, drinks heavily and gets a surprise visit from his estranged wife, who's trying to repair their relationship.  As you might imagine, this isn't the happiest of stories, and at times I found its bleakness tough to get through.  Still, this may inspire a lot of people to quit drinking, and that's something.  DO I THINK THAT IT DESERVES TO BE ON THE LIST? Yes, but not so high up.

12.  The Way of All Flesh, Samuel Butler, 1903. A semi-autobiographical novel that traces 4 generations of one family, it's main theme is about the hypocrisy of the Victorian era church of England.  The main character, Ernest, finds himself becoming a priest and then losing his faith as his attempts to "save" the poor fail.  As an atheist, I'm sympathetic to this viewpoint, but the book's style is a little too formalized and dull for me to completely recommend it.  DO I THINK THAT IT DESERVES TO BE ON THE LIST?  Again, yes, but not so high up.

13.  1984, George Orwell, 1948.  One of the most influential (and widely referenced) novels every written, Orwell's masterpiece continues to entrance.  Although his target at the time was Communist Russia, its themes of government dominance and surveillance were (and are) universal.  Truly, people who have never even heard of this novel know the words "Big Brother".  Yes, this is a very bleak novel (with an unforgettable ending), but it's one that still should be read and revered.  DO I THINK THAT IT DESERVES TO BE ON THE LIST?  Yes, obviously.  In fact I think it should be higher.

14.  I, Claudius, Robert Graves, 1934.  Based on many historical texts, Graves tells the true story of unlikely Roman Emperor Claudius from his own point of view.  His depiction of ancient Rome as a hotbed of deceit, murder and madness makes for mostly gripping reading, with Claudius's mother Livia standing out as particularly sadistic character.    DO I THINK THAT IT DESERVES TO BE ON THE LIST?  Yes.

15.  To the Lighthouse, Virginia Woolf, 1927.  The first novel on the list written by a woman, this is about a large family over the space of a decade.  It's an unusual novel in which there is little plot or dialogue, with most of it made up of different interior monologues by separate characters.  This makes it a challenging read, but one well worth trying.   It's actually very moving in some passages, especially towards the end, and the self doubting nature of aspiring painter Lily clearly reflects Woolf's own feelings about her art.  DO I THINK THAT IT DESERVES TO BE ON THE LIST?  Yes.

16.  An American Tragedy, Theodore Dreiser, 1925.  Dreiser's excellent look at sexual relationships and class consciousness is a story that never dates.  A young man from a poor family has social ambitions, including marrying into a wealthy family.  But a woman from his past interferes, and he goes to drastic measures to deal with her unwanted pregnancy.  Based on a true story, this is gripping stuff.  DO I THINK THAT IT DESERVES TO BE ON THE LIST? Yes.

17.  The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, Carson McCullers, 1940.  McCullers is the second female author on the list, and honestly, I had never heard of her before.  For me, this novel was a revelation, and it's one of my favorite books on the list.  McCullers perspective of the American South in the 1930's  feels totally different  than that of, say Faulkner.    With it hints of homosexuality and discussions of radical political beliefs, McCullers's novel doesn't feel dated at all.  Great. DO I THINK THAT IT DESERVES TO BE ON THE LIST? Oh, Yes.

18.  Slaughterhouse Five, Kurt Vonnegut, 1969.  Vonnegut's surreal, funny, unusual style is an acquired taste for some.  Personally, I mostly love his work (I've read quite a few of his books), and this is probably his masterpiece.  Although it has a crazy, science fiction plot about a man unstuck in time, much of it is about Vonnegut's own experiences as a soldier in WWII during the bombing of the German town of Dresden. Episodic (to say the least), and don't expect it all to make sense.   DO I THINK THAT IT DESERVES TO BE ON THE LIST?  Yes, and I think that Mother Night should be too.

19.  Invisible Man, Ralph Ellison, 1952.  The first novel written by a person of color, Ellison's wild, poetic, and sometimes surreal recount of one black man's life and his activities in  a civil rights group is often mesmerizing.  I imagine that it was considered even more surprising in 1952! The cynical view that Ellison takes of both unions and civil rights groups can make the story seem almost too down beat, but it's never boring. DO I THINK THAT IT DESERVES TO BE ON THE LIST?  Yes.

20. Native Son, Richard Wright, 1940.  This is the second book on the list by a person of color.  Wright's uncompromising, brutal and often violent look at race relations in America packs a wallop decades later.  A young black man  goes to work for a white family as a servant, which leads to shocking tragedy.  Although there may be one too many long discussions about Marxism, this is a mostly deeply engrossing and powerful novel. DO I THINK THAT IT DESERVES TO BE ON THE LIST?  Yes.