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How We Picked the List

By Richard Lacayo | October 16, 2005 | +

Welcome to the massive, anguished, exalted undertaking that is the ALL TIME 100 books list. The parameters: English language novels published anywhere in the world since 1923, the year that TIME Magazine began, which, before you ask, means that Ulysses (1922) doesn’t make the cut. In May, Time.com posted a similar list, of 100 movies picked by our film critics, Richard Corliss and Richard Schickel. This one is chosen by me, Richard Lacayo, and my colleague Lev Grossman, whom we sometimes cite as proof that you don’t need to be named Richard to be hired as a critic at TIME, though apparently it helps. Just ask our theater critic, Richard Zoglin.

For the books project, Grossman and I each began by drawing up inventories of our nominees. Once we traded notes, it turned out that more than 80 of our separately chosen titles matched. (Even some of the less well-known ones, like At-Swim Two Birds.) We decided then that we would more or less divide the remaining slots between us. That would allow each of us to include books that the other might not have chosen. Or might not even have read. (Ubik? What’s an Ubik?) And that would extend the list into places where mere agreement wouldn’t take it.

Even so, there are many titles we couldn’t fit here that we’re still anguishing over. Djuna Barnes’ Nightwood dropped in and out. Aldous Huxley’s Point Counter Point hovered for a while at the edges. There were writers we had to admit we love more for their short stories than their novels—Donald Barthelme, Annie Proulx, Flannery O’Connor, Eudora Welty. We could agree that some of Gore Vidal’s novels are an essential pleasure, but it’s his non-fiction that’s essential period. Then there was the intellectual massif of Norman Mailer, indisputably one of the great writers of our time, but his supreme achievements are his headlong reconfigurations of the whole idea of non-fiction, books like Armies of the Night and The Executioner’s Song. Dawn Powell, Mordechai Richler, Thomas Wolfe, Peter Carey, J.F. Powers, Mary McCarthy, Edmund White, Larry McMurtry, Katherine Ann Porter, Amy Tan, John Dos Passos, Oscar Hijuelos—we looked over our bookcases and many more than 100 names laid down a claim. This means you, Stephen King.

This project, which got underway in January, was not just a reading effort. It was a re-reading effort. It meant revisiting a lot of novels both of us had not looked into for some time. A few titles that seemed indispensable some years ago turned out on a second tasting to be, well, dispensable. More common was the experience I had with Saul Bellow’s Herzog, about a man coming to terms with the disappointments of midlife by directing his questions everywhere. It was one of the first adult novels I attempted in late adolescence. It left its treadmarks on me even then, but this time his experienced heart spoke to me differently.

There were also first time discoveries. Having heard for years that Richard Yates’ Revolutionary Road was one of the great but underappreciated American novels, I searched it out. I have spent the months since then pressing it into the hands of anybody who will take it, including yours. Their Eyes Were Watching God, Zora Neale Hurston’s great story of a black woman surviving whatever God and man throws at her, was not part of the required reading list when I was in school. It is now part of my personal canon. Henry Green? Hadn’t read Henry Green. Finally read Loving. Loved it.

Lists like this one have two purposes. One is to instruct. The other of course is to enrage. We’re bracing ourselves for the e-mails that start out: “You moron! You pathetic bourgeoise insect! How could you have left off…(insert title here).” We say Mrs. Dalloway. You say Mrs. Bridge. We say Naked Lunch. You say Breakfast at Tiffanys. Let’s call the whole thing off? Just the opposite—bring it on. Sometimes judgment is best formed under fire. But please, no e-mails about Ulysses. Rules are rules.

Next: Tell us your thoughts about TIME's ALL-TIME 100 Novels

Related Topics: all-time 100, Books, fiction, novels, All-TIME 100, Books, Books, Populist

Your Opinion

Tell us your thoughts about TIME's ALL-TIME 100 Novels

By TIME Staff | October 16, 2005 | +

Some of Your Responses:

You guys got about 30 right. You need to rework this list, fast.
Nomi
Laytonsville, MD

We are so blessed to have too many REALLY GREAT books from which to choose, that a list of 100 could never begin to incorporate a fraction of them. But I must say, if you are going to narrow it to 100, Ender’s Game, Dune and The Wheel of Time should be in there. Oh and Amy Tan’s Joy Luck Club!!! I could go on and on.
Alison Moore
Bixby, OK

A nice list. There is no way to please everybody, of course – there are too many competing standards for how to judge a book as one of the greatest of the past 80+ years. That being said, I would have chosen The Long Goodbye over The Big Sleep as Chandler’s contribution. The Big Sleep is a great novel, but The Long Goodbye is Chandler at his most mature, transcending the detective genre and becoming a thriller with the emotional depth to compare to any novel from any genre.
Michael Ferges
Phoenix, AZ

The list seems to be too American male-centric. A female view could have included Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant, Five Quarters of the Orange by Joanne Harris, Anna’s Book by Barbara Vine, The Secret History by Donna Tartt. Glad at least Posession and The Blind Assassin were included.
Maria
Manila, Philippines

What about Lonesome Dove? Several McMurtry novels are worthy of the list, but Lonesome Dove is a masterpiece. In it, McMurtry creates timeless, larger-than-life characters who wrestle with issues of honor, personal sacrifice & selflessness.
David Young
Benbrook, TX

As with any list, you can never satisfy everyone. Picking the top 100 books is very challenging, do you pick the most socially influential books, the most popular, etc. The criteria used is so interpretive. My list would include books that influence young readers to read more. While Harry Potter, Series Of Unfortunate Events , etc. are not necessarily great literary works like a War and Peace, they do have significant influence on getting young readers to read more. And this is what writing is all about, getting preople to read more and think about what they have read.
Al Bischoff
Highland, MD

You were right! Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is the better John Le Carre novel! And East of Eden should replace The Grapes of Wrath too. But I can’t believe you left off The Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe and Accidental Tourist. Ann Tyler is one of my favorite authors.
Monica Bouweraerts
Camarillo, CA

What about Anita Diamants The Red Tent? A female opinion is definitely missing.
Candy
Milwaukee, WI

I’m sure it took a lot of work to come up with this, but leaving out Paul Auster is a MAJOR mistake. He should be there at least twice.
Rosa Kruger
New York, NY

You missed The English Patient. What an oversight! Also, you can tell that this list was compiled by two men; women would have selected a somewhat different list, I think.
Beth Creveling
Perkasie, PA

Thank you for not including any Harry Potter. I would have lost all respect for TIME magazine if that had been included (they are okay books, they’re just nowhere near list worthy). The list, however, seems to be missing Dune, and anything from Asimov, Bradbury, and HP Lovecraft. These are serious errors of judgement.
Matthew
Tacoma, WA

One of my 5 favorites that didn’t make the list: THE PRINCE OF TIDES by Pat Conroy. He is one of the few writers who can pull you right into the characters he writes about and make you feel that you’re involved in what happens to them.
Marsha Striesfeld
Marietta, Georgia

Thank you so much for including Watchmen on your list. It truly is an important work in English literature, and basically allowed graphic novels and comic books to take off into the millions of different directions that they have today. Do not be surprised if Alan Moore is the first graphic novelist to win a Nobel Prize.
Alexa Dickman
Newton, MA

WHY ISN”T THE HARRY POTTER SERIES ON THERE!!?? IT DEFINITLEY SHOULD BE ON THERE!!
Robin
Seattle, WA

I think you’ve done a very fine job here. I appreciate the attention paid to “niche” genres (Sci-fi, childrens lit, graphic novels), and while I have some personal favorites that didn’t make the list; Watership Down. I think you’ve captured a great cross-section of the art of the novel over the past 100 years or so.
Dave Provost
Cape Cod, MA

Where is Ayn Rand and John Irving? I checked your list twice, I can’t believe you did not list either author. Not to be sexist, perhaps you need a female opinion. Susan Sayfan
Longwood, FL

I was disappointed that the Kite Runner was left off your list. I found it to be truly thought provoking and have recommended it to all my friends. I was glad to see my favorite book, To Kill A Mockingbird, on your list.
Mary Ann Doerr
Dansville,NY

Great list except for one – how did Possesion get on there? That book was awful. It was slow, boring, and too long. I had to struggle to get to the end.
Sara
Johnson City, NY

Red Harvest may be a seminal novel
of the genre, but that shouldn’t qualify it as listworthy. Your list should have either of Harriet Arnow’s two great novels and I’d vote for Hunter’s Horn. Annie Dillard’s The Living should be there and at least one of Thomas Harris’ thrillers, Black Sunday or Silence of the Lambs, representing the best of the thriller genre.
Dave DeInnocentis
Andover, Ma

Where was A Farewell to Arms?
John
Sayville, NY

How can we take this list seriously when you left off the great American novel: Lonesome Dove? Back to the drawing board for you.
David Scheiderer
Los Gatos, CA

I like the list, as it gives me some nice titles to seek out when I have some spare time next, but I am disquieted by the lack of science fiction titles on it. Neuromancer is a fine choice, but there are so many fine titles in the genre, Enders Game, Foundation, and Dune , just to name a few.
Kenneth Alford
San Antonio, Texas

Why did you not include one horror novel on that list? Certainly Richard Matheson’s I Am Legend or Stephen King’s The Shining deserve a spot if Snow Crash deserved one???
Andrew
Tampa, FL

John Irving’s books are among my favorite novels. The World According to Garp and A Prayer for Owen Meaney are masterful stories and I am a better person for having read them. I also find Richard Adams’ book, Watership Down one that I can never forget. I read the book first in 1979, and think about Hazel and Bigwig everytime I see a wild rabit.
William Cannon
Coffeeville, AL

It’s wonderful that you chose Are You There God? It’s me, Margaret to include in your list. It was a wonderful book for just the right time in a young girl’s life. Every girl I knew read it. And I think parents were happy that kids were able to get true, accurate information – without their own embarassment.
Maria
Albany, New York

One title comes to mind when I am asked what is the greatest book ever written: The Fountainhead, by Ayn Rand. It celebrates individuality in the face of societal pressures to constantly comform and comply. Not only is it a great book, but the philosophy running through this novel is one that should be brought forth in schools around the world.
Dina Evanson
Syosset NY