The Modern Library 100 Best Novels Project

Why this project?

On August 1, 2009, I found myself among the unemployed. Due to severe budget cuts, I lost my job at the public library–a job I truly loved and miss a great deal. Instead of becoming depressed, I decided I would make the most of my predicament. In between applications and job interviews, I would become a better, more avid reader. I would read those books I should have read in college but didn’t; I would finally make a dent in my personal collection. In addition to reading, I was determined to spend more time practicing my writing. I soon realized I could combine the two aspirations into one interesting project.

Inspiration for this reading and writing project came from two major sources. The first was A.J. Jacobs’ book The Know-It-All: One Man’s Humble Quest To Become The Smartest Person In The World. Published in 2004, The Know-It-All chronicles Jacobs’ experiences reading the entire Encyclopedia Britannica. My second source of inspiration came from Nick Hornby, one of my favorite authors. An avid reader and book buyer, Hornby wrote a series of articles for McSweeney’s “Believer” magazine in which he recounted the books he bought and read that month. These articles were later compiled into three books: The Polysyllabic Spree, Housekeeping vs. the Dirt, and Shakespeare Wrote For Money.

It was shortly after reading these books that I stumbled upon the Modern Library’s list of the 100 Best Novels of the 20th century. Reading over the list, I knew I had found my project.

Why the Modern Library’s list?

In 1999, The Modern Library compiled its list of the 100 Best Novels of the 20th century. The titles were selected by a distinguished board including Maya Angelou, Gore Vidal, A.S. Byatt, and Joyce Carol Oates to name a few. In addition to the Board’s List, a Reader’s List was also compiled based on votes submitted by readers.
Several other “100 Greatest” lists exist, including those compiled by Time and Newsweek. In contrast to the Modern Library series, these lists go further back in time and represent more genres, including poetry and the graphic novel.

I chose to read the Modern Library’s Board’s List for a number of reasons. First, I felt it to be more authoritative, more literary. Sure, The Watchmen (one Time magazine’s 100 all-time novels, by the way) is an important graphic novel, but to remove it from its genre and place it on a list that does not include a work as important as Ulysses just doesn’t jibe well with me. Second, I prefer fiction to non-fiction. For those who may be interested, the Modern Library also compiled a non-fiction 100 Best list, as well. Third, I prefer modern literature. The prospect of having to read Pride and Prejudice and/or Jane Eyre (books I loathed reading as a student) was less than appealing to me.

A Couple of Final Notes...

I am not the first (nor will I be last, I’m sure) to undertake such a project. A quick Google search will show that there are indeed others out there reading these same novels and blogging about their experience. I am setting out on this journey not to steal anyone’s thunder, but rather to explore those corners of the world of literature that are currently uncharted to me. If any of my fellow travelers happen to read this blog, I welcome and encourage your comments.

As for the order in which I intend to read these novels, I have decided to read them in numerical order starting with Ulysses at #1 and working my way down to The Magnificent Ambersons at #100. The list is top-heavy with rather weighty books, both in length and in content. Being out of work should allow me the time to get off to a good start on this project. Once I am working again I should be able to fit the remaining books into my spare time quite nicely.