981. Elizabeth Costello

Elizabeth Costello
J.M. Coetzee
2003
Around 225 pages

I don't know the exact stats, but I am fairly certain that Coetzee is at least tied for most representation on the List. None fall below the pretty good mark, so we'll let him keep his one percent of the total List. I'd much rather knock off some Roth, Rushdie, and Faulkner.

But on to the novel at hand. Elizabeth Costello is a celebrated Australian writer in her sixties, who is well known for writing a reimagining of Ulysses from the point of view of Molly Bloom. Ugh. Personally, I love stories about writers, and at this point in his career, Coetzee is well-positioned to reflect on all the trappings that come with literary success.

Anyway, this is a moving portrait of a novelist jam-packed with all the philosophical ideas under the Grecian sun, with an unforgettable ending. Let's go vegetarians!

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

Adapted into a chamber opera.

UP NEXT: Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami