Because They Made a List... Modern Library Top 100 Books of the 20th Century (Books 81-90) I used to think I was qualified to write actual reviews of these books. I am not. So 20 years into this effort, I've dumbed it down for the good of us all and now just write a few sentences. 90. Midnight’s Children … [Read more...]
Modern Library Top 100 Book Reviews 91-100
Because They Made a List... Modern Library Top 100 Books of the 20th Century (Books 91-100) I used to think I was qualified to write actual reviews of these books. I am not. So 20 years into this effort, I've dumbed it down for the good of us all and now just write a few sentences. 100. The Magnificent … [Read more...]
Non-CT Travel, Hikes, Books, & Movies
Non-CTMQ Everything I Feel Like Chronicling Not in or Related to Connecticut I've resisted putting this together in some cohesive way for years. Many years. But as I've settled on the major sections of this website, I realized I have a few outlying subjects that simply never fit in elsewhere. Granted, many of these … [Read more...]
ML79: A Room With a View
"By George!" Modern Library # 79 1908, E.M. Forster If you're reading this page you've probably seen the acclaimed movie version of this book. I have not seen the acclaimed movie version, nor do I intend to see the acclaimed movie version. It's not that I'm some kind of weirdo bibliophile weirdo, it's just … [Read more...]
ML60. The Moviegoer
”I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.” “U2?” Modern Library # 60 1961, Walker Percy This is another one of those books that is more than it appears to be at first blush. Of course, as per usual, I’m not smart or literary enough to have picked up on all the existential stuff and nods to Kierkegaard and … [Read more...]
Modern Library’s Top 100 Novels
Just Read 2002 - 2039 or so Outside of all the regular CTMQ stuff, I have other goals. One of those goals is to read The Modern Library Top 100 English novels of the 20th century. If all goes well, I hope to finish the entire list around retirement age. This little scheme began in 2002 as an agreement with Hoang … [Read more...]
Top 100 Modern Library Books Tally
At the turn of the century, the Modern Library, whomever they may be, came out with a list of their Top 100 English Literature novels of the 20th Century. Criticism abounded and many more lists and counter-lists were developed. But I had met a girl in 2000 who agreed to tackle the whole list with me, plodding slowly … [Read more...]
ML70a. Justine
Disrupt, Corrupt or Interrupt Me Modern Library # 70a 1957, Lawrence Durrell While only a quarter of the way through the Modern Library list, I can’t help myself from making the following bold statement: Lawrence Durrell might just be the best writer I’d never heard of before being “forced” to read his stuff. That … [Read more...]
ML64. The Catcher in the Rye
If a Body Meet a Body, Give Them This Book Modern Library # 64 1945, J.D. Salinger [I write CT Beer Reviews too. They aren't typical beer reviews at all - like this one in particular which, if you're reading this page, you may enjoy a little bit.] I begin this review with a plea: If you haven’t read this book … [Read more...]
ML56. The Maltese Falcon
Twisting the Night Away Modern Library # 56 1929, Dashiell Hammett I read an article a couple weeks ago lamenting the current state of television with respect to the asinine obsession with ridiculous plot twists and shocking (for the sake of shocking) surprises. I didn’t watch Lost but know enough to know that I … [Read more...]