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sun surfer · 01-22-2015, 01:43 AM

BBC has just released a list of the best books of the century so far, compiled from votes by a sampling of critics. In order, they are:

1. Junot Díaz – The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao (2007)
2. Edward P Jones – The Known World (2003)
3. Hilary Mantel – Wolf Hall (2009)
4. Marilynne Robinson – Gilead (2004)
5. Jonathan Franzen – The Corrections (2001)
6. Michael Chabon – The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay (2000)
7. Jennifer Egan – A Visit from the Goon Squad (2010)
8. Ben Fountain – Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk (2012)
9. Ian McEwan – Atonement (2001)
10. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie – Half of a Yellow Sun (2006)
11. Zadie Smith – White Teeth (2000)
12. Jeffrey Eugenides – Middlesex (2002)
13. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie – Americanah (2013)
14. W. G. Sebald – Austerlitz (2001)
15. Elena Ferrante – My Brilliant Friend (2011)
16. Alan Hollinghurst – The Line of Beauty (2004)
17. Cormac McCarthy – The Road (2006)
18. Zadie Smith – NW (2012)
19. Roberto Bolaño – 2666 (2004)
20. Shirley Hazzard – The Great Fire (2003)

Link Here

A couple of notes on the list - It's from BBC international, and is already drawing criticism for being U.S.-focused. Also, two books are from the 20th century (2000 is part of the 20th century) which I find a silly mistake on their part and sort of makes the list feel noticeably flawed right out of the gate.

Aside from that, I find this very interesting. I admit I'm a fan of these kinds of lists as long as I more or less trust the sample group (the Modern Library 20th century list despite its faults, and I'm also a fan of the Norwegian Book Club's list of the best 100 books ever because of the international scope of who they asked even though the results are Scandinavian-heavy, but I digress).

I'm especially interested in a 21st century list like this because I just find so much clutter in new books. Even with well-reviewed books, there are just so many. There hasn't been time for the much of the cream to rise to the top like with older books. So this at least gives me a picture of some books that critics are starting to coalesce around as being at the top of the pack of newer books.

I've only read two books on this list - White Teeth and The Road. The Road was great, but White Teeth was only so-so, although the person who originally recommended it to me had raved about it so I know it has its fans. I've also seen the film of Atonement but haven't read the book - it was amazing though so I want to read the book (I also saw The Road film after reading the book and thought it was really well done too).

I'd already heard of a number of the others but didn't know some of them were quite so well regarded as to be on a list like this. I'll certainly be looking into many of these.

So, how many have any of you read from this list and what did you think of them? Any books anyone think is missing from this list?

01-22-2015, 01:43 AM	#1
sun surfer languorous autodidact ✦ Posts: 4,235 Karma: 44667380 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: smiling with the rising sun Device: onyx boox poke 2 colour, kindle voyage	Best Books of the 21st Century BBC has just released a list of the best books of the century so far, compiled from votes by a sampling of critics. In order, they are: 1. Junot Díaz – The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao (2007) 2. Edward P Jones – The Known World (2003) 3. Hilary Mantel – Wolf Hall (2009) 4. Marilynne Robinson – Gilead (2004) 5. Jonathan Franzen – The Corrections (2001) 6. Michael Chabon – The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay (2000) 7. Jennifer Egan – A Visit from the Goon Squad (2010) 8. Ben Fountain – Billy Lynn’s Long Halftime Walk (2012) 9. Ian McEwan – Atonement (2001) 10. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie – Half of a Yellow Sun (2006) 11. Zadie Smith – White Teeth (2000) 12. Jeffrey Eugenides – Middlesex (2002) 13. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie – Americanah (2013) 14. W. G. Sebald – Austerlitz (2001) 15. Elena Ferrante – My Brilliant Friend (2011) 16. Alan Hollinghurst – The Line of Beauty (2004) 17. Cormac McCarthy – The Road (2006) 18. Zadie Smith – NW (2012) 19. Roberto Bolaño – 2666 (2004) 20. Shirley Hazzard – The Great Fire (2003) Link Here A couple of notes on the list - It's from BBC international, and is already drawing criticism for being U.S.-focused. Also, two books are from the 20th century (2000 is part of the 20th century) which I find a silly mistake on their part and sort of makes the list feel noticeably flawed right out of the gate. Aside from that, I find this very interesting. I admit I'm a fan of these kinds of lists as long as I more or less trust the sample group (the Modern Library 20th century list despite its faults, and I'm also a fan of the Norwegian Book Club's list of the best 100 books ever because of the international scope of who they asked even though the results are Scandinavian-heavy, but I digress). I'm especially interested in a 21st century list like this because I just find so much clutter in new books. Even with well-reviewed books, there are just so many. There hasn't been time for the much of the cream to rise to the top like with older books. So this at least gives me a picture of some books that critics are starting to coalesce around as being at the top of the pack of newer books. I've only read two books on this list - White Teeth and The Road. The Road was great, but White Teeth was only so-so, although the person who originally recommended it to me had raved about it so I know it has its fans. I've also seen the film of Atonement but haven't read the book - it was amazing though so I want to read the book (I also saw The Road film after reading the book and thought it was really well done too). I'd already heard of a number of the others but didn't know some of them were quite so well regarded as to be on a list like this. I'll certainly be looking into many of these. So, how many have any of you read from this list and what did you think of them? Any books anyone think is missing from this list?