This is a selection from the Modern Library list of the 100 best novels of the 20th Century (with GEMs highlighted). The list includes links for several associated items which may be available online for each book: (a) Wikipedia page, (b) e-book, and (c) audiobook. There is also a column called “More info” with links to optional posts on each book.
Note that the list is sortable by each column. (Multiple levels of sorting are possible by sorting more than one column in succession, from lowest to highest.) You can also do an instant filtering of the table by entering a character string in the ‘Search’ field.
Based on my personal preferences, I have not included all the books on the Modern Library’s top 100 list, including its highest-ranked book Ulysses. My tastes in literary fiction, which I believe line up with most people’s, lean towards good storytelling and interesting characters rather than elegant prose, long passages which don’t advance the story, and a stream-of-consciousness narrative style which is often favored by critics but which the majority of readers find boring. I believe the best books combine elegant writing with a great plot, which makes you want to keep turning the pages to see what happens next. In my opinion, only about half the books on the Modern Library meet these criteria, and I hope most of the visitors to this site will agree!
Please share any comments or suggestions on this list by filling out this form. You can use the same form to express interest in becoming a contributor to the site and also request downloadable PDF files for many of the books below.
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