71–80 of 84 posts
Nice. But very Eurocentric. Where are Kalidas , Mahfouz , Soyinka or the Mahabharata?
I find this other list more deserving of this title: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bokklubben_World_Library If only because it's less french oriented, but also maybe because it starts with one of my favorite.
> I find this other list more deserving of this title How is a list spanning over the last 40 centuries deserving of the tile "Books of the Century by Le Monde"? Why would the "Epic of Gilgamesh" or the "Book of Job" be on a list of 20th century books? > ... it starts with one of my favorite. From that same Wikipedia page: “The books selected by this process and listed here are not ranked or categorized in any way;”…
everyone else is in alphabetical order
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Out of interest, why does that seem a strange methodology?
Starting with only 200 titles in the survey, for a final list of 100, seems off to me for starters. Every book surveyed has a 50% chance of making “book of the century”
Or put another way “Every book surveyed” does a lot of heavy lifting here.
Why are some numbers skipped? E.g., 58 [59 60] 61 [62] 63 64 65 66 67 68 [69] 70
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Ulysses was written in Paris, where James Joyce lived, and was published in Paris by the now legendary Shakespeare & Co. The US and UK banned it for being obscene. When I don't know, I ask and don't judge (and lacking omniscience, I don't judge anyway).
It's completely irrelevant where it was written, where it was published and where it was banned, I'm talking about how it is seen today. It is possible I am getting this wrong -certainly possible, since I'm taking this impression from English speaking sites like this, that I attribute to the US what should be attributed to England -, but I have seen no argument so far that even strives the point I made.
If anything, it's surprising that English-speaking countries like it so much.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
If you found Ulysses confusing, what would you think of Finnegan's Wake ? Ulysses is practically a children's book in comparison. As for the lack of 1984, Orwell was an important author sure, but not particularly a good one. People read 1984 and Animal Farm for the messages, not for the exquisite prose that someone like Joyce can manage.
Sorry, I haven't tried to read that one. If it's even more, hm, abstract?, then I won't ever try. Note that 1984 is listed, just as "Nineteen Eighty-Four". I missed it when searching, didn't think of searching for "Orwell" instead. I'd disagree with you about its quality, I remember it fondly (well, as much as possible given the topic of having one's identity erased), it was a powerful experience - and I do remember…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Were these books easier to read when they were written? If not then it's like being forced to untangle the mind of a twisted person. Finally a job for the LLM's that we can all be thankful for outsourcing.
Using your mind to "untangle" is the whole point and pleasure of reading. Using llms to expand your understanding of it makes sense, but "Outsourcing" the reading not so much.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
It's completely irrelevant where it was written, where it was published and where it was banned, I'm talking about how it is seen today. It is possible I am getting this wrong -certainly possible, since I'm taking this impression from English speaking sites like this, that I attribute to the US what should be attributed to England -, but I have seen no argument so far that even strives the point I made.
Of course it's relevant to how it's seen today. French culture nurtured the author, a French publisher published it, and France didn't ban it while other countries did. This is all evidence that the book was well-liked in France when it was published, and there's no reason to think that would change over time. If anything, it's surprising that English-speaking countries like it so much.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Of course it's relevant to how it's seen today. French culture nurtured the author, a French publisher published it, and France didn't ban it while other countries did. This is all evidence that the book was well-liked in France when it was published, and there's no reason to think that would change over time. If anything, it's surprising that English-speaking countries like it so much.
I disagree, those aren't relevant factors. Just based on those facts it's possible there was one sponsor in France who published the book and then it bombed, never to be read by a significant amount of the public. That it wasn't banned is normal in a free society, but also says nothing about its popularity.
The sad thing is how many aren't available. I'm not sure I saw any living authors there. I see no reason why copyright should extend beyond the lifetime of the author.
(Author of Midnight’s children)