529. Mrs. 'Arris Goes to Paris

Mrs. 'Arris Goes to Paris
Paul Gallico
1958
Around 160 pages

First Mrs. Pettigrew lives for a day, now we have Mrs. 'Arris getting a trip to Paris. There's something very pleasing about older women grabbing life by the balls. I am choosing to interpret this as empowering rather than condescending.

Ada Harris's accent makes her pronounce her name as Mrs. 'Arris. She is a cheerful charwoman and widow who becomes so fascinated by her employer's haute couture wardrobe that she resolves to go to the House of Dior in Paris to buy a dress of her own. 

Like Mrs. Pettigrew, this is an uplifting story about good people. I think it had a little less charm than Winifred Watson's novel had, but I still was very invested Mrs. Harris's happiness. It's nice to get a lighter entry to balance out the darker volumes on this List.

RATING: ***--

Interesting Facts:

Adapted to film in 1992 and 2022.

Followed by three sequels.

UP NEXT: Saturday Night and Sunday Morning by Chinua Sillitoe

528. Borstal Boy

Borstal Boy
Brendan Behan
1958
Around 390 pages

Because this is an autobiography, I had to venture to a different floor in my library than normal. It was dark and scary up there, and I had to take the stairs. I feel like all autobiographies are fiction. Nobody can be objective and truthful about their own life. 

Behan spent his formative years in what Americans would call a juvenile detention center, but the rest of the world calls a borstal. He bonds with the British prisoners despite his support of the Irish Republican Army. The novel uses working class Irish dialect, which makes it very authentic, and very difficult for outsiders to digest.

I wish I could stop hating on Irish authors as much as you do. I'm not faulting Behan for his choice to feature regional dialect, but it does come at the cost of isolating readers. It can still be a rewarding experience, but it's definitely more of a slog to get through. 

So overall a bit of chore, but the themes of unity and "we're not so different, you and me" were interesting, especially coming from Behan.

RATING: ***--

Interesting Facts:

Banned in Ireland for unspecified reasons until 1970.

UP NEXT: Mrs. 'Arris Goes to Paris by Paul Gallico

527. The Bell

The Bell
Iris Murdoch
1958
Around 300 pages

As I spent the last Iris Murdoch post squealing over her prose, you could probably guess that I was going to adore this one too. What can I say, the woman can do no wrong in my eyes.

Dora is a former art student who is married to a total drip, Paul Greenfield. Dora had previously left Paul, but they are giving it another go. And is there a more romantic place to reignite the spark in a marriage than a convent? Paul is studying the manuscripts that belong to the Abbey, and takes Dora along for the ride. They are joined on the train to the Abbey by Toby Gashe, who has just finished school and is going to stay in the Abbey until he goes to university, and James Tayper Pace, a member of the surrounding religious community. You can't have a Catholic story without some intense repressed homosexuality, so we also have Michael Meade on the roster, who once had an affair with a teenaged boy before he became a priest.

Murdoch really gives her characters free rein to drive the story. Her characters feel all too real, which especially stands out to me, as we have had our fair share of over the top performances lately. The richness of her imagery is truly unmatched. As a church outsider, Dora was the perfect lens through which to view the complex machinations of this small religious community.

I just love her so gosh darn much.

RATING: *****

Interesting Facts:

Adapted into a BBC mini series with Ian Holm.

Elizabeth Bowen described the book as "a masterpiece of direct narrative."

UP NEXT: Borstal Boy by Brendan Behan

526. The End of the Road

The End of the Road
John Barth
1958
Around 200 pages

I was blown away by The Floating Opera, so I successfully set myself up for disappointment with his second novel. This mostly felt like a retread of the themes that Barth had previously explored in his first book. Maybe if this had been my first Barth experience, it would seem fresher.

Jacob Horner becomes paralyzed at the Pennsylvania Railroad Station in Baltimore. An unnamed doctor takes him under his care at a private therapy center, and suggests he get a job teaching. Jacob secures a teaching position at Wicomico State Teachers College, and befriends Joe Morgan and his wife Rennie. He begins an affair with Rennie. I guess Barth was really into threesomes.

There are two women in this novel, and both women like to be hit by their partner, as a sign of "respect." In general, the women behave in an over the top manner and act as though they are always verging on hysterics. 

That being said, I do enjoy Barth's style and I find some of the interactions amusing. But I think I've had enough of the throuples. 

RATING: ***--

Interesting Facts:

Adapted into a film in 1970, and rated X for the graphic abortion scene.

Critics and Barth both condemned the film.

UP NEXT: The Bell by Iris Murdoch

525. The Once and Future King

The Once and Future King
T.H. White
1958
Around 640 pages

Fantasy novels are rare on this List, so I tend to gobble them up like a greedy giant panda gorges on bamboo. This certainly isn't my favorite fantasy story, but I enjoy Arthurian tales as much as the next nerd. And I've seen every episode of Merlin (though I will deny that if you bring it up later).

Like most fantasy novels, this is a hefty lad, weighing in at over 600 pages. The Once and Future King is divided into four parts, starting with The Sword in the Stone and ending with The Candle in the Wind. We get the story of Arthur, from his early childhood training with Merlyn to his ultimate demise. As is the tradition with fantasy novels, the beginning is fairly light-hearted and the tone gradually darkens as the series progresses. 

No novel is written in a vacuum, and even though the story takes place in 14th century, it's clear the story was written for post World War II audiences. There are heavy themes involving the potential disastrous consequences of leaving evil lunatics in charge. As a fantasy fan, I was able to spot many places where my favorite authors had drawn inspiration from. I particularly enjoyed the sequence when Merlyn transforms Arthur into various animals to teach him how to be a good king. It reminded me of a favorite series from my childhood, the Animorphs (don't judge).

An essential read for any fantasy/Arthur lover. I will forever ship Merlin and Arthur.

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

Fantasy historian Lin Carter called it "the single finest fantasy novel written in our time, or for that matter, ever written."

X2 begins one scene with Magneto reading The Once and Future King in his prison cell.

UP NEXT: The End of the Road by John Barth

524. Jealousy

Jealousy
Alain Robbe-Grillet
1957
Around 105 pages

We've seen jealous husbands on this List roughly 500 times, so I thought a story that entirely centered on an angry husband watching his wife through the blinds would be rather boring. But Robbe-Grillet puts his own spin on the formula, and he doesn't overstay his welcome.

Hardly anything happens here. Our unnamed narrator watches his wife (who is only referred to as A.) interact with their neighbor Franck, and reads into every little movement the two make. As we clearly have an unreliable narrator on our hands, it's hard to tell what's suspicious and what's ordinary.

I think we all have the voice in our head that tells us our partner may be cheating on us, and this novella is an exploration of what would happen if we completely uncorked those emotions and let our paranoia run rampant.

Of course, like any stake out, it gets a little tedious by the end. But it was a cool experiment nonetheless.

RATING: ***--

Interesting Facts:

The French title: "la jalousie" is a play on words that can be translated as "jealousy", but also as "the jalousie window."

UP NEXT: The Once and Future King by T.H. White

523. Voss

Voss
Patrick White
1957
Around 450 pages

That book required a lot of pages to tell me what I already know: Australia doesn't want you there.

Our main character, Voss, is based on the real life explorer Ludwig Leichhardt, who disappeared while on expedition in the 19th century. Voss sets out to cross Australia with a party of settlers and Aborigines, but still maintains a strong connection with Laura, whose uncle is the patron of the expedition. Um, it doesn't go well.

You would think this story would be a lot more adventurous and exciting than it turned out. I guess this novel is less concerned with our physical plane and more interested in exploring the metaphysical and religious side of things. I don't have a lot of patience with characters experiencing strange visions and I was disappointed we didn't get more action packed sequences.

Still, it's always nice to hear from Down Under, since Australian writers are rare on this List.

RATING: ***--

Interesting Facts:

Listed among the top 100 greatest novels written in English by the Guardian.

Plans to film a movie adaptation, starring Mia Farrow and Donald Sutherland, fell through.

UP NEXT: Jealousy by Alain Robbe-Grillet

522. The Midwich Cuckoos

The Midwich Cuckoos
John Wyndham
1957
Around 240 pages

Well, if the above picture doesn't convince you to check this creepy story out, I don't know what will. I regularly binge horror movies so children slowly turning their necks is my jam. This was a fun novel, just as fun as The Day of the Triffids. 

All the women of child-bearing age suddenly become pregnant in the village of Midwich. The women give birth to 30 girls and 31 boys, who are clearly not human. The Children, as they are dubbed, all have golden eyes, silver skin, and telepathic powers. 

I adored this novel. Just like he did with The Day of the Triffids, Wyndham immediately creates an intriguing world with a fascinating premise. I already feel like normal pregnancy resembles an alien parasite, so I found this set up delightfully unsettling. I thought this story had a more satisfying ending than Triffids, even if it is slightly more fun imagining a Piranha Plant chasing the characters on skateboards.

Luckily, we have one more Wyndham to look forward to.

RATING: *****

Interesting Facts:

Wyndham abandoned a sequel after just a few chapters. 

Adapted into a television series last year. I'll have to check it out!

Margaret Atwood called this Wyndham's chef d'oeuvre.

UP NEXT: Voss by Patrick White

521. Blue of Noon

Blue of Noon
Georges Bataille
1957

Around 155 pages

Here's another erotic novel, which on this List, means it's going to be disgusting, rather than titillating. This one stands out from the pack by including necrophilia. 

Henri Troppmann is torn between three women before the Spanish Civil War. There's Lazare, a Marxist Jew and political activist. There's also "Dirty" Dorothea, who is our traditional alcoholic prostitute. Then there's Xenie, a young woman who nursed him back to health in Paris. 

So, like I said, this novel is doing its best to repulse the reader, and might I say, accomplished this feat with aplomb. Are we ever going to get a truly sexy novel on this List? I'm starting to be concerned as to the proclivities of the Powers That Be. 

Oh well, I'll keep obeying their Law, no matter how freaky it gets. Zero stars.

RATING: -----

Interesting Facts:

Published by Jean-Jacques Pauvert, who also published Sade's works and The Story of O. Is it just a coincidence his name sounds like pervert?

UP NEXT: The Midwich Cuckoos by John Wyndham

520. Homo Faber

Homo Faber
Max Frisch
1957
Around 230 pages

I was disappointed to discover that there are only two Frisch novels on the List. It really feels like he is flourishing as a writer, and this was a marked improvement from I'm Not Stiller. Maybe this is him hitting his peak. Mother knows best (and yes, you should be concerned that I'm now referring to the List as Mother).

Walter Faber is a successful engineer traveling through Europe and America. He begins an affair with an art student Hanna, and she becomes sick with child. Faber gets a job in Baghdad, and they agree to split up and abort the pregnancy. Some Oedipal adventures ensue.

This story heavily hinges on coincidence, but that seems to fit the themes of Greek tragedies pretty well. I really admired Frisch's writing style, which was contemplative but kept the story moving. Despite the questionable actions of the characters, he didn't moralize. 

Worth a read, and I look forward to looking into more of his work, when I am finally free from this blog's mortal coil.

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

Adapted into a movie in 1991.

UP NEXT: Blue of Noon by Georges Bataille

519. On the Road

On the Road
Jack Kerouac
1957
Around 310 pages

This is the quintessential disenfranchised young male novel. I was once very eager to appeal to that demographic, so naturally gobbled this up. But much like the quintessential disenfranchised young male, it turned out not to be my taste.

Our narrator Sal Paradise, an obvious stand in for Jack Kerouac, admires the carefree attitude of his friend Dean Moriarty, a less obvious stand in for Neal Cassady, because I didn't know who that was. I think Dean has inspired a generation of douchebag characters, who are really fuck ups, but are painted as philosophers. 

Every generation seems to have this group of partying youngsters. Now that we are done with the Bright Young Things, we have the Beat Generation. I am not particularly scandalized by the behavior in this novel (the List has burned all the humanity out of me by this point), I just don't find this aimless meandering particularly compelling to read about.

That being said, this novel does perfectly capture a certain moment in American culture, so it holds some historic interest. But all of these characters were insufferable, and my eyes had quite the rolling work out.

RATING: ***--

Interesting Facts:

Jack Kerouac wrote a letter to Marlon Brando, suggesting that he play Dean Moriarty while Kerouac would portray Sal Paradise in a film adaptation. Brando never responded to the letter.

The manuscript was typed on what Kerouac called "the scroll" - a 120-foot scroll of tracing paper sheets that he cut to size and taped together.

UP NEXT: Homo Faber by Max Frisch

518. Pnin

Pnin
Vladimir Nabokov
1957
Around 185 pages

The beginning of this novel closely follows the usual plot of my nightmares. Pnin is a Russian professor on his way to a guest lecture, only to discover that he is on the wrong train. When he tries to board a bus, he realizes he doesn't have his papers, and then he has a seizure. If he was suddenly forced to sing karaoke, it would literally be straight from my sleeping brain.

The rest of the story follows our hapless protagonist, who is constantly getting manipulated into spending money on his ex wife. I think we can all relate to Pnin, somebody who has good intentions, but consistently falls flat on his face. At least I can. Nabokov has compassion for Pnin, probably because he had Pnin-like tendencies himself, so we never feel like we are laughing at the main's character expense. We are more shaking our fists at the world for treating our poor Pnin baby this way.

It's very impressive that Nabokov was able to create someone as repulsive as Humbert Humbert and as likable as Pnin. That man had range.

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

Pnin is Nabokov's response to Don Quixote, which he had read a year earlier.

UP NEXT: On the Road by Jack Kerouac

517. Doctor Zhivago

Doctor Zhivago
Boris Pasternak
1957
Around 600 pages

Before I checked this one off, this was the most "classic-y" novel I haven't read. Now that I've finished Doctor Zhivago, The Fountainhead snags that illustrious title. I expect that classic to retain the title for the remainder of my lifetime.

It's been awhile since I read a Russian novel, where everybody is named Andrei, Ivan, and Nikolai. It definitely gets confusing, as Pasternak refers to a character by multiple names, without making it clear that he is talking about the same person. Our protagonist is Yuri Zhivago, a physician and poet caught up in the tumultuous time between the Russian Revolution in 1905 and World War II. It's crazy to think that a country endured so many traumas in such a short time. 

The main thread of this novel is the relationship between Lara and Yuri, and it's probably one of the most romantic novels we've had on this List. As with most romantic stories, the characters behave in an over the top manner, but they are mostly in reactive mode due to the insane political climate of the time. Pasternak was very brave for his stance on socialism. Apparently when he handed the manuscript in, Pasternak said, "You are hereby invited to watch me face the firing squad." We'll add him to our hall of Bad Asses, with Erskine Childers and Romain Gary.

This is a fascinating setting for a story, but I didn't really connect to the characters. I don't think he portrayed women realistically. Still, I would agree that this is an essential read.

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

Pasternak was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature the year after publication, an event that embarrassed and enraged the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.

Part of the Russian curriculum for high schoolers since 2003.

UP NEXT: Pnin by Vladimir Nabokov

516. The Wonderful O

The Wonderful O

James Thurber
1957

Around 75 pages

Once again, the List trolls us by randomly including a children's book. Why this choice when there's an entire other list for 1001 Children's Books? Stay in your own lane, children's books. I'll see you at the company picnic.

The letter O is banished from the island Ooroo by a pair of pirates, Black and Littlejack. Black's mother once got stuck in a porthole, and since they couldn't pull her back in, they had to push her out, so naturally the letter O is deeply triggering.

Thurber has a deep mastery of language, so his stories are fun to read, even if they are aimed toward a younger audience. I also enjoyed the illustrations, which perfectly fit the whimsical nature of this story. A fun break from the heavier entries on this List, even if there is Rule Breaking involved.

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

It was one of several of Thurber's works illustrated by his friend Marc Simont after Thurber went blind in the 1950s.

UP NEXT: Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak

515. Justine

Justine
Lawrence Durrell
1957
Around 250 pages

This is the first novel in a tetralogy, but thankfully, I do not feel compelled to read the remainder of the series.  Even I have my obsessive limits. This was okay, but I wasn't blown away, despite the unique setting.

Our narrator is unnamed, which is a technique that isa little tired. He is a struggling Irish writer who falls for the beautiful Justine during his time in Alexandria. Like most titular female characters in novels penned by men, Justine is more of a symbol than a developed, believable person. Personally, I'm over women of color having to shoulder the representation of all things exotic.

The structure is sort of all over the place, I guess due in part to it being one part of a larger work. This one doesn't stand out to me, particularly stacked against the heavy hitters we've been treated to recently.

RATING: **---

Interesting Facts:

He was predeceased by his younger daughter, Sappho Jane, who took her own life in 1985 at age 33. After Durrell's death, it emerged that Sappho's diaries included allusions to an alleged incestuous relationship with her father. Ick.

Adapted into film in 1969.

UP NEXT: The Wonderful O by James Thurber

514. Giovanni's Room

Giovanni's Room
James Baldwin

1956
Around 225 pages

We are pretty starved for intersectionality in 1956, and I believe James Baldwin has been our only contestant so far on this List. This is remarkable in itself, but luckily Baldwin is also a talented storyteller as well. 

Our protagonist, David, is left alone in Paris after his girlfriend Hella leaves for Spain to contemplate his proposal (always a good sign). David begins an affair with an Italian man, Giovanni. David is highly conflicted due to his internalized homophobia, toxic family situation, and desire to have a "normal" family.

David is a white man, but his queerness qualifies him as a social "other," and Baldwin uses this connection to illustrate his experience as a black man. I guess upon publication, many felt that Baldwin was abandoning his black identity for a gay one. God, it's so frustrating that Baldwin had to divide himself in this way, because the audience at the time couldn't grasp that a black man could have dimensions, other than, you know, being black.

This is a complicated story, and Baldwin handles the nuances perfectly. And it's nice to get some bisexuality representation, which is always rare.

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

In 2019, the BBC News listed Giovanni's Room on its list of the 100 most influential novels.

In 1999, Giovanni's Room was ranked number 2 on a list of the best 100 gay and lesbian novels compiled by The Publishing Triangle.

UP NEXT: Justine by Lawrence Durrell

513. Seize the Day

Seize the Day
Saul Bellow
1956
Around 130 pages

I am not a Bellowfellow, and yet, the List is forcing me to read seven of his works. At least this one was short and marginally more interesting than his other works. There I go again, gushing all over the place.

Tommy Wilhelm is a failed actor in his 40s (I don't think you're a failure if you haven't made it by then, but for the purposes of this story, he's a loser). He is a separated from his wife, who won't grant him a divorce, and is estranged from his two sons. He also has a complicated relationship with his father, which is further complicated when he moves into the same building.

So Tommy spends the entire novel pretty much whining, and I can't help but compare this to The Floating Opera, which also featured a day in the life of an unhappy protagonist. But John Barth was funnier and his characters were less irritating. I also found the ending to be anti-climatic. I'm not complaining that this was a short novel, but it did feel rather incomplete. 

Our streak had to end sometime.

RATING: **---

Interesting Facts:

Adapted into a film in 1986 starring Robin Williams. Ew.

UP NEXT: Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin

512. The Floating Opera

The Floating Opera
John Barth
1956
Around 275 pages

Wow, two unexpectedly brilliant novels in a row! Surely the List will not let us enjoy ourselves this much without something up its sleeve. There's a storm comings laddies.

Our story is narrated by Todd Andrews, who is fully aware he is telling us a story. It felt like a throwback to Thackeray and Fielding days, when authors took on the personas of gracious hosts entertaining a dinner party. And I personally find the technique very charming. Anyway, Todd has decided to kill himself but resolves to behave as normally as possible on the Big Day. Todd has a fascinating history, having survived the war and the suicide of his father. He is also currently sleeping with a married woman, Jane, and is good friends with her husband Harrison.

This is Barth's first published work and I could kind of tell he was nervous and self conscious. But I thought this tic made the story more endearing. I guess that sounds condescending, but I truly enjoyed his meta analyses of why he was making certain storytelling choices. I'll be curious to see if he continues this style as he gains more confidence as a writer.

This is a nihilist work, but like all great nihilist works, it's funny too. For a first work, this is incredible.

I am now officially a Barther.

RATING: *****

Interesting Facts:

New York Times reviewer Orville Prescott called the "odd" book dull, labored, and flat, saying "It is impossible to believe that anyone who took such relish in his own sense of humor, in Maryland rye and in lovemaking would consider suicide for a moment."

UP NEXT: Seize the Day by Saul Bellow

511. The Roots of Heaven

The Roots of Heaven
Romain Gary
1956
Around 375 pages

Well, that was unexpected. Based on the title, I was expecting some war drama with a heavy religious themes. Instead, it's a book about elephants, the third noblest creatures on Earth (after giant pandas and platypuses). I did see that this was adapted into an unsuccessful movie in 1958. I can only imagine how offensive that was.

There's an outlaw on the loose in French Equatorial Africa. Morel, a survivor of a concentration camp, is a Frenchman on a crusade to save the elephants from hunters. If it were possible to marry a literary character, Morel might just be the one (he can duel with Mr. Darcy over my affections). Morel is a headache to the higher ups, who cynically believe that Morel cares little about elephants and is merely using them as a symbol. Like any good outlaw, he makes the men angry and the women swoon.

Hunting is unfathomable to me, and of course, reading about the ivory trade was immensely upsetting. But as several characters point out, you can't have a modern country with elephants walking around. Of course, I don't care about that, I just want a baby elephant to try to sit on me because it doesn't realize how heavy it is.

Romain Gary sounds like he was a real bad ass during the War. Of course, this is a white man savior type story, but I think intention and context matter here. I think having a World War II survivor wage this battle is poignant, and I appreciated that the characters weren't blind to the metaphor in-universe.

A surprisingly good read, I always love it when they sneak up on me like that.

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

Huston later said of the film adaptation that it "could have been a very fine film. And largely owing to me was not a good film at all."

UP NEXT: The Floating Opera by John Barth

510. The Lonely Londoners

The Lonely Londoners
Sam Selvon
1956
Around 140 pages

Okay, the hot streak had to come to an end at some point. We were flying awfully close to the sun. While this is by no means a terrible novel, it's not quite as good as the previous three masterpieces. I get spoiled fast. 

What I would give to be a lonely Londoner! I love novels that take place in London, as I can actually recognize the locations, even if the novel takes place hundreds of years ago. My old Tube stop even got a shout out (Great Portland Street, what up!). Of course, this novel focuses on the difficult life of West Indian immigrants in post war England, so it's not exactly a glowing review of the city.

I believe this is our first writer from Trinidad and Tobago. We've had stories that cover these themes before, but Selvon manages to make this distinct by using a creolized form of English. Utilizing a distinct dialect is risky, but it worked here. I didn't find it hard to understand, and it really contributed to the unique feel of the novel.

London is a real melting pot and this book captures how lonely city life can be, even if you are part of a community.

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

Included on the "Big Jubilee Read" list of 70 books selected by a panel of experts to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's platinum jubilee in June, 2022.

UP NEXT: The Roots of Heaven by Romain Gary

509. The Lord of the Rings

The Lord of the Rings
J.R.R. Tolkien 
1954-1955
Around 1200 pages

The first volume, The Fellowship of the Ring, was released on my birthday July 29, just 41 years off. Truly, this must portend great things for me (terrible but great). As I have squealed before on this blog, I am a huge Lord of the Rings fan. That being said, I fully understand why 1200 pages of Middle Earth might be a slog for some people. But I just have so much fun with this universe, that I never tire of reading about these characters, even if they are just walking.

This was originally intended to be part of a two volume set with the The Silmarillion, but for economic reasons was split into three novels. We pick up after the Hobbit, with Bilbo Baggins celebrating his eleventy first birthday. Hobbits are so damn charming. Bilbo passes the Ring he stole from Gollum to his heir Frodo, who is our quintessential fantasy hero. Gandalf the Wizard of course, knows what's up, and starts Frodo on an epic quest to destroy the One Ring in the fires of Mount Doom and save Middle Earth from evil.

I wish Tolkien had spent a little more time on the practical world-building questions, (i.e. how does the economy work? Where are all the women?), but that's just a personal preference. He is obviously a master at creating a world that you just want to disappear into, provided you didn't have to be an orc. He's also a very moral and quotable author, and makes you feel like good will always triumph over evil.

The characters are also unforgettable; I will be in love with Aragorn until the day I die. Samwise Gamgee is also one of my favorite characters in literature, and Merry and Pippin warm my shriveled heart. This story contains everything you want in an adventure: heroic battles, fantastical beasts, and the power of love and friendship conquering all. Post War Europe needed this.

RATING: *****

Interesting Facts:

Over 150 million copies sold.

The work was named Britain's best novel of all time in the BBC's The Big Read.

"Tolkienian" and "Tolkienesque" have entered the Oxford English Dictionary.

UP NEXT: The Lonely Londoners by Sam Selvon

508. The Talented Mr. Ripley

The Talented Mr. Ripley
Patricia Highsmith
1955
Around 290 pages

1955 is shaping up to be an impressive year. This novel is sandwiched by two of my favorite entries on this List, which is stiff competition, but this book is no slouch either. And I am not just praising this book because it gave me an excuse to put up a picture of Jude Law. I see enough of him in my private time.

Tom Ripley is a young man doing whatever it takes to make a living in New York City. He is approached by Herbert Greenleaf, who wants his son Dickie to return to the United States and join the family business. Tom exaggerates his relationship with Dickie to make Herbert think they are old friends, so Herbert invites Tom to go retrieve his son from Mongibello (a fictional resort town in Italy). Once there, Tom is able to weasel is way into Dickie's and his girlfriend Marge's life, until they begin to resent his presence. 

Wow, two psychotic characters in a row. Just like Humbert Humbert, Tom Ripley is a master manipulator and it's fascinating to watch his schemes play out. Ripley is also paranoid and insecure, and I felt his apprehension waiting for the other characters to catch on. Highsmith did an excellent job building tension. It's one of those books that you don't want to put down.

I would also recommend the film version, as it's a faithful adaptation with an excellent cast.

RATING: *****

Interesting Facts:

Patricia Highsmith was fascinated by snails and brought them with her to parties.

In 2019, the BBC News listed The Talented Mr. Ripley on its list of the 100 most inspiring novels.

UP NEXT: The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien

507. Lolita

Lolita
Vladimir Nabokov
1955
Around 330 pages

Here's a dating tip from me to you. Don't say that you like this book, or your date will think you are a pervert. However, in the safe and asexual sphere of this blog, I can admit freely that I thought this was brilliant, often misunderstood, novel.

Humbert Humbert is the immediate example that comes to mind when I think of the term "unreliable narrator." He is obsessed with girls ages 9 to 14, due to a childhood trauma. When searching for a new living situation in New England, he meets widow Charlotte and her 12 year old daughter Dolores. Humbert instantly becomes obsessed with Dolores and schemes his way into their lives. I can't believe this book was adapted into a Broadway musical before it's been adapted as a straight up horror film.

Humbert Humbert is a deceiver, and he deceives himself most of all. He is an immensely complicated character, and I'm deeply impressed with Nabokov's skill at portraying his mindset. I wouldn't go as far as to say he's a sympathetic character, but he's a deft enough manipulator that he still manages to influence our perception of events, even though we all know he is a sick rapist. 

Unlike many novels on this List that want us to repulse us for repulsions' sake, Nabokov manages to humanize Humbert, which is no small feat as a writer. Also, for a novel that could easily become mired in psychology, Nabokov keeps the plot moving along and makes this a very fast read.

One of my favorite openings of all time too, and it deserves to be quoted here:

“Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins. My sin, my soul. Lo-lee-ta: the tip of the tongue taking a trip of three steps down the palate to tap, at three, on the teeth." You can tell Nabokov was a gifted poet as well.

RATING: *****

Interesting Facts:

Adapted several times for the stage, opera, ballet, and a Broadway musical.

Orville Prescott, the book reviewer of the New York Times, hated the book, describing it as "dull, dull, dull in a pretentious, florid and archly fatuous fashion."

Banned in France for two years.

UP NEXT: The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith

506. The Last Temptation of Christ

The Last Temptation of Christ
Nikos Kazantzakis
1955
Around 510 pages

I like pissing off the Catholic Church as much as the next person who was forced to endure CCD programming as a kid. In 1963, a priest in Wisconsin, forbade one of his parishioners from returning the library copy of this novel, arguing "that it would be a mortal sin to make it available to others." Of course, that makes me want to distribute them at every street corner, even if I wasn't really a fan of the prose. 

Well, we all know the story, although this version of Jesus is a bit more human than his other holier depictions. Kazantzakis' Jesus struggles with doubt, fear, and affection for Mary Magadelene, while Judas gets a more positive edit.

Of course, I'm not religious so the fact that people got their panties in a bunch over yet another reinterpretation of their favorite superhero seems a bit silly to me. I think it is still a pro Christian novel. I don't find this story quite as fascinating as the rest of the population, although I do love the songs from Jesus Christ Superstar. The style was very over the top, which was appropriate for a story depicting trippy visions and hysterical mobs. 

But not a very enjoyable read for me.

RATING: **---

Interesting Facts:

Banned in Singapore in 1988.

In 1955, the Holy Synod of the Greek Orthodox Church in Athens attempted to have all of Kazantzakis' books banned in Greece, arguing that The Last Temptation of Christ "contains evil slanders against the Godlike person of Jesus Christ."

UP NEXT: Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

505. A World of Love

A World of Love
Elizabeth Bowen
1954
Around 160 pages

Like Wyndham Lewis, Elizabeth Bowen is largely forgotten by today's audiences. But unlike in the case of Wyndham Lewis, her obscurity is tragic and not the result of the cosmos protecting us from unreadable prose.

Jane is a young woman living at a decaying Irish manor with her parents, sister, and Cousin Antonia, an eccentric older relative. Jane discovers love letters in the attic from Guy, a soldier who died in World War I, addressed to her mother. In an almost gothic way, Jane's uncovering of the past unleashes the ghost of Guy among her relatives, who choose to ignore/romanticize the past.

You can tell that Bowen enjoyed writing ghost stories, as she puts an almost supernatural spin on this story about characters haunted by the past. I appreciated that the relationships between the female characters were given center stage.  

It's a shame more people aren't Bowenbabies (I'm trying out different fanbase names).

RATING: ****-

Interesting Facts:

Supernatural fiction writer Robert Aickman considered Elizabeth Bowen to be "the most distinguished living practitioner" of ghost stories. 

UP NEXT: The Last Temptation of Christ by Nikos Kazantzakis

504. The Trusting and the Maimed

The Trusting and the Maimed
James Plunkett
1955
Around 220 pages

Short story collections are acceptable on this List, if the book is obscure enough. I had never heard of James Plunkett, but he just might be my favorite Irish author after this entry. Considering he is up against Joyce and Beckett, it's sort of a no-brainer.

This is a collection of twelve stories that all take place in Ireland in the 40s and 50s. My favorite story was actually the titular "The Trusting and the Maimed" which partially took on the perspective of an injured bird, which is pretty damn creative. I also appreciated "The Scoop," where some Irishmen in a pub tell a gullible Englishman where to find the IRA. 

It's hard to measure this entry amongst the others on this List, as short stories are an entirely different ferocious beast from the novel, which is also a vicious creature (can you tell I have been trying to write a lot lately?). So I'll just say I enjoyed the stories, and it was fun to experience Ireland in a digestible way. You really get a better sense of the anger and resentment in a post colonial Ireland, when the language and grammar isn't so distracting.

Anyway, let's not make a habit of this, Powers That Be. There are rules here.

RATING: ***--

Interesting Facts:

Plunkett grew up among the Dublin working class.

UP NEXT: A World of Love by Elizabeth Bowen

503. The Quiet American

The Quiet American
Graham Greene
1955
Around 180 pages

This was the first Graham Greene novel I read, not knowing I would end up falling for this guy. It's like reflecting on a first date with a person who turns out to be your soulmate. If you had known your life would change forever, you might have been more nervous or worn sexier underwear.

Thomas Fowler is a British journalist in his fifties who is covering the First Indochina War in Vietnam. He is living with his lover Phuong, who is only 20 years old. Phuong's sister wants her to find a suitable marriage, which Fowler cannot provide as he is already married. Fowler meets Alden Pyle, a CIA agent who, like many Americans, possesses an overly idealistic point of view that a cynical realist can utterly destroy in a ten minute conversation. Pyle falls for Phuong, and Fowler and Pyle continue to rub elbows and discuss their idealogical differences in an active war zone. 

I love how Greene writes dialogue, and the interactions between Pyle and Fowler form the backbone of this novel. Unfortunately, the discussions on imperialism will never lose their relevance. We get a wide range of perspectives, and it's clear Greene is drawing on real life personalities he encountered during his own years of coverage. 

The road to hell is paved by good intentions indeed.

RATING: *****

Interesting Facts:

In 2019, the BBC News listed The Quiet American on its list of the 100 most influential novels.

UP NEXT: The Trusting and the Maimed by James Plunkett

502. The Recognitions

The Recognitions
William Gaddis
1955
Around 980 pages

Praise Zeus, it's finally over. I felt like I just kept reading, and I wasn't getting any closer to the finish line. It's difficult to sustain your audience's interest for nearly a thousand pages, and William Gaddis failed to keep me engaged within the first few pages. So I knew this was going to be a slog.

Wyatt Gwyon is inspired to become a painter by The Seven Deadly Sins, a Bosch work that his father owned. He gets discouraged as all artists do, and moves to New York City. There, he meets Recktall Brown, who enlists him in a forgery scheme. There are many other stories interwoven into this one, and narratively, it is a very challenging novel.

Gaddis recognized (ho-ho) that this was not a reader friendly novel. So it's not a fun read. I get the sense Gaddis was trying to capture the essence of a painting in his work. The story is organized like a triptych, with many larger and smaller scenes happening at the same time. He also never identifies speakers. I do think good writing means that that readers can deduce who is speaking based on a strong sense of the characters, without dialogue tags. However, this was a very confusing story to begin with, so that choice just added to difficulty level. And why is making the experience of your book really grueling an admirable feat? I accomplished that in my debut novel with ease.

Pretty dull for a book with a character named Recktall. 

RATING: **---

Interesting Facts:

In 2005, Time included The Recognitions in its list of "100 Best English-language Novels from 1923 to 2005".

In 2002 writer Jonathan Franzen said that this novel was, "by a comfortable margin, the most difficult book I ever voluntarily read."

UP NEXT: The Quiet American by Graham Greene

501. The Ragazzi

The Ragazzi
Pier Paolo Pasonlini
1955
Around 260 pages

Yet another crossover episode! Pier Paolo Pasolini also appeared on the 1001 movie list, having directed 120 Days of Sodom. Yes, I have experienced that story in all sorts of ways, most recently in my nightmares. 

Pasolini was run over several times by his own car and his testicles were crushed with a metal bar. Probably due to his...artistic endeavors. It's always a bit eerie reading the novels of people who died gruesome deaths. We don't get a lot of murder victims on this List. And Pasolini is pretty creepy anyway, so it's an unsettling combination. This novel is centered on the exploits of Riccetto, a young street urchin, and his gang of misfits. It's like Oliver Twist, without the charm.

This wasn't crush-your-testicles terrible, but I found it to be a fairly slow read. I get the impression the main objective of this novel was to expose middle-class Italians to the seedy underbelly that exists in post war cities. He wanted to shock people, which I guess he did, although I was more mildly disgusted than completely aghast. 

Lucky for me this guy never came out with an album. 500 to go!

RATING: **---

Interesting Facts:

The government led by the Christian Democrats condemned its "obscenity." The communists did not approve of the book, as well, charging it with "artificiality, an absence of positive heroes, and, especially, a lack of 'perspective'".

UP NEXT: The Recognitions by William Gaddis