The Greatest Books of All Time, Part I
Pages Past Bookstore; Greensboro, North Carolina
Now, I know this list may be slightly subjective, as most lists are; however, I do believe it has something of interest for every reader. The following works of fiction are not only a pleasure to peruse, but also provide the foreground for thought-provoking questions revolving around morals, destiny, and character. And who doesn't love spending the day thinking about deep, poignant things such as that!? :P
1. The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald
"F. Scott Fitzgerald? What did he ever do to you?!" - Ted 2
Putting aside the influence this work of fiction has had on pop culture and mainstream media, The Great Gatsby truly is one of the greatest American novels of all time. Was Jay Gatsby a romantic dreamer, loyal to a fault? Or was he simply a crook, selfish in his designs and egotistical in his ambitions? That is something we will always argue over, as Fitzgerald so expertly makes sure that we don't ever truly find out who or what Jay Gatsby's true motivation was. We only see him through the eyes of the narrator, Nick Caraway. And, as we all know, what Susie says of Sally says more about Susie than Sally.
Most of us were first introduced to Gatsby during our high school days, yet I don't believe that we fully grasp its tenacious grip on the American Dream, and what that means to us, until we've read it for a second, third, or (like me) fifth time. We most likely don't even grasp its depth after reading it a dozen times. Each word, each sentence has such meaning; the words fit and flow together so beautifully, it's as though Fitzgerald found the perfect painting, carved it into a thousand pieces, and crafted a puzzle whose lasting effects would haunt us for decades.
2. Family Happiness, Leo Tolstoy
What has Tolstoy written that has not been magnificent? ... Exactly. Family Happiness verges on the bittersweet, through which we are able to vividly identify ourselves with each character. Such acute intuition and dignified prose is second to none. Really, anything by Tolstoy is worth reading, and I'd suggest starting with Family Happiness. Mostly, of course, because it is a classic, but partly because it is not a mile long and does not weigh more than your first-born child :)
3. The Forsyte Saga, John Galsworthy
As I always say, there are only two types of people in the world: those who like Irene, and those who don't. If you've read The Forsyte Saga, you'll know why.
The Forsyte's are an old, well-to-do family who reside in London. They prize property as the highest good a man can achieve. In their view, without property (or wealth), what good is a man? Sensible, practical, reliable; these are words that are synonymous with the name Forsyte. Ahhhh, but then... love comes into play. And so does Irene.
Formidable. A great work exploring human nature, prejudice, family, and love.
4. The Cape Cod Lighter, John O'Hara
Ah, now here's a real treat for you. I was introduced to John O'Hara through a very close friend, quite possibly a mentor to me, and he suggested Butterfield 8. I loved it. And although The Cape Cod Lighter is arranged differently, my adoration fares high just the same. A collection of 23 short stories, each one seemingly more profound than the last. Seldom have I encountered a collection of short stories that has left me with an "aha!" moment after each, or a pressing compulsion to re-read the last page. A really beautiful piece of work.
5. An American Tragedy, Theodore Dreiser
Heart-wrenching to some, grotesquely immoral to others, An American Tragedy is a truly gripping novel that deals with family, love, success, and the costs of ruthless ambition. Written in 1925, it follows the hunger for financial and social gain of that generation, although perhaps it is more fitting to the present day. The novel centers around Clyde Griffiths and his moral weaknesses, despite his charming and ingratiating manner. Based off of the murder of Grace Brown in 1906, Dreiser followed the criminal case and saved newspaper clippings about the murder until its denouement in 1908, when the charged criminal, Chester Gillette, was sentenced to execution via the electric chair. Interesting that Dreiser chose the same initials for his character as Chester Gillette.
Compelling, heartbreaking, and a pure classic.
For the next installment of The Greatest Books of All Time, I will discuss novels that follow a more light-hearted path. They're read more for pleasure, wit, and enjoyment, rather than poetic views of life.
See you then! And thanks for reading!
Ika