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Best Books of the 20th Century

1

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4.26 avg rating — 6,133,752 ratings
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2

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4.19 avg rating — 4,609,335 ratings
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3

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4.47 avg rating — 10,071,199 ratings
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4

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3.93 avg rating — 5,248,240 ratings
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5

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3.99 avg rating — 3,891,903 ratings
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6

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4.29 avg rating — 3,981,293 ratings
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7

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4.32 avg rating — 2,115,593 ratings
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8

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3.97 avg rating — 2,421,817 ratings
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9

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3.80 avg rating — 3,528,739 ratings
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10

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4.24 avg rating — 2,803,028 ratings
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11

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4.01 avg rating — 907,602 ratings
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12

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4.11 avg rating — 972,718 ratings
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13

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3.99 avg rating — 1,858,278 ratings
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14

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4.31 avg rating — 1,208,643 ratings
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15

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3.88 avg rating — 2,550,958 ratings
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16

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4.58 avg rating — 4,194,243 ratings
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17

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4.12 avg rating — 2,482,997 ratings
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18

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3.69 avg rating — 2,908,070 ratings
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19

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4.10 avg rating — 1,371,016 ratings
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20

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3.88 avg rating — 851,374 ratings
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21

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4.41 avg rating — 539,868 ratings
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22

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4.14 avg rating — 2,050,914 ratings
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23

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4.39 avg rating — 2,811,577 ratings
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24

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4.20 avg rating — 733,117 ratings
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25

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4.02 avg rating — 1,097,912 ratings
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26

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4.15 avg rating — 2,002,700 ratings
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27

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4.38 avg rating — 323,345 ratings
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28

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4.20 avg rating — 1,837,966 ratings
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29

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4.43 avg rating — 3,935,998 ratings
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30

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4.27 avg rating — 651,699 ratings
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31

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3.98 avg rating — 1,203,610 ratings
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32

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3.80 avg rating — 1,150,527 ratings
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33

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4.31 avg rating — 1,375,661 ratings
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34

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4.38 avg rating — 1,128,223 ratings
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35

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4.56 avg rating — 905,684 ratings
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36

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4.48 avg rating — 970,818 ratings
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37

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4.37 avg rating — 1,246,599 ratings
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38

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4.29 avg rating — 466,281 ratings
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39

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4.05 avg rating — 963,345 ratings
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40

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4.08 avg rating — 481,267 ratings
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41

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3.91 avg rating — 3,063,075 ratings
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42

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4.31 avg rating — 980,774 ratings
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43

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4.09 avg rating — 660,393 ratings
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44

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4.31 avg rating — 776,660 ratings
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45

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4.27 avg rating — 686,708 ratings
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46

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3.69 avg rating — 390,402 ratings
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47

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3.86 avg rating — 1,061,543 ratings
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48

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4.10 avg rating — 744,503 ratings
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49

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3.94 avg rating — 505,346 ratings
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50

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4.16 avg rating — 1,172,619 ratings
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51

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4.50 avg rating — 198,365 ratings
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52

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4.07 avg rating — 772,529 ratings
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53

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4.24 avg rating — 630,116 ratings
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54

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4.35 avg rating — 761,621 ratings
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55

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4.11 avg rating — 470,593 ratings
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56

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4.14 avg rating — 365,068 ratings
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57

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4.24 avg rating — 321,154 ratings
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58

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4.27 avg rating — 1,364,981 ratings
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59

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4.24 avg rating — 1,004,565 ratings
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60

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4.35 avg rating — 344,082 ratings
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61

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4.16 avg rating — 852,357 ratings
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62

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4.34 avg rating — 764,694 ratings
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63

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4.29 avg rating — 354,294 ratings
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64

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4.13 avg rating — 1,340,795 ratings
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65

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4.23 avg rating — 1,843,498 ratings
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66

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3.61 avg rating — 411,668 ratings
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67

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3.79 avg rating — 445,483 ratings
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68

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3.75 avg rating — 128,112 ratings
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69

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3.95 avg rating — 436,271 ratings
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70

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4.07 avg rating — 460,834 ratings
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71

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really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 249,888 ratings
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72

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3.89 avg rating — 275,764 ratings
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73

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4.14 avg rating — 629,714 ratings
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74

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3.97 avg rating — 683,613 ratings
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75

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3.98 avg rating — 293,892 ratings
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76

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3.88 avg rating — 323,590 ratings
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77

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3.85 avg rating — 182,263 ratings
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78

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4.10 avg rating — 228,760 ratings
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79

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really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 712,870 ratings
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80

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4.21 avg rating — 290,914 ratings
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81

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3.98 avg rating — 347,810 ratings
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82

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3.82 avg rating — 322,220 ratings
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83

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3.91 avg rating — 188,080 ratings
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84

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4.21 avg rating — 672,851 ratings
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85

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4.11 avg rating — 407,216 ratings
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86

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4.35 avg rating — 413,733 ratings
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87

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3.84 avg rating — 201,969 ratings
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88

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4.53 avg rating — 191,307 ratings
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89

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4.44 avg rating — 2,493,225 ratings
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90

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4.14 avg rating — 314,058 ratings
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91

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4.20 avg rating — 599,318 ratings
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92

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4.17 avg rating — 91,107 ratings
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93

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3.80 avg rating — 183,742 ratings
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94

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4.07 avg rating — 349,553 ratings
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95

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3.96 avg rating — 222,458 ratings
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96

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4.16 avg rating — 403,386 ratings
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97

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4.17 avg rating — 290,349 ratings
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98

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3.64 avg rating — 152,058 ratings
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99

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4.28 avg rating — 1,359,241 ratings
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100

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4.36 avg rating — 327,744 ratings
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7,860 books · 50,993 voters · list created May 29th, 2008 by deleted user.
64 likes · 
Lists are re-scored approximately every 5 minutes.


The Crimson Fucker 435 books
225 friends
Michael 726 books
285 friends
Joro 3692 books
53 friends
Jessica 7953 books
1359 friends
MBP 7219 books
157 friends
Ruth 2634 books
374 friends
Sherry 1442 books
358 friends
Maria 3793 books
229 friends

More voters…


Comments Showing 1-50 of 510 (510 new)


message 1: by Gary (new)

Gary Jane Austen? Oscar Wilde? Louisa May Alcott? Charles Dickens? William Shakespeare? Alexandre Dumas? Bram Stoker's Dracula?

None of those are 20th century.


message 2: by Laura (new)

Laura Uh, yeah, what Gary said. Hello?


message 3: by Dottie (last edited Jun 20, 2008 08:13PM) (new)

Dottie Picture of Dorian Gray first published 1891 doesn't belong in 20th century books. 19th century

Oops -- you guys already caught these. Another one -- Bronte.


message 4: by Mark (last edited Feb 25, 2009 03:38AM) (new)

Mark Desrosiers Similarly, Three Cups of Tea was published in 2006... is there an easy way to delete these? Or should this list take a Braudelian view of the "long 20th century"? ;)


message 5: by [deleted user] (new)

Some of those definitely aren't 20th century


message 6: by Ashley (new)

Ashley There are a lot of those 19th century books, but now there are also many that are 21st century as well i.e. The Host and the most recent Harry Potter books. Is there any way to delete them?


message 7: by Laura (new)

Laura I was getting all annoyed because they had a couple books that were published after 2000, but then I realized that I had just voted for Pride and Prejudice....I wish that there was a way to delete books that didn't fit the critieria...or maybe if the list was programmed to automatically check the publication date and tell you whether or not you could add it to the list...


message 8: by Wifey (last edited Jun 25, 2008 08:48AM) (new)

Wifey Why isn't Celine or Saint Exupéry or Borges on this list? I call bullshit. Or i don't know... Vonnegut?


message 9: by Kelly (new)

Kelly Um, people? Jane Austen novels and/or Jane Eyre are in NO WAY 20th century novels, whatever thousandth reprinting that they're on right now that happens to have taken place in that century.


message 10: by Bryan (new)

Bryan It's called the "best books" of the 20th century, so why does everyone seem to be restricting themselves to novels?


message 11: by jessica juniper (new)

jessica juniper There are several books on here that are not from the 20th Century...Jane Austen, The Brontes, and Joyce plus many more...can someone fix this please!


message 12: by Bebe (new)

Bebe Parsons Um, Pride and Prejudice and Jane Eyre are not 20th c reads. Come on guys!


message 13: by [deleted user] (new)

Dracula was written on 1897, not in 20th century for sure.


message 14: by Bluestem (new)

Bluestem Could we move Time Traveler's Wife to the 21st Century list?


message 15: by bup (new)

bup THE KING JAMES BIBLE!?

THE BOOK OF MORMON!?

And it's amazing how many votes Pride and Prejudice has gotten - 30!


message 16: by Lexi (last edited Feb 25, 2009 02:51AM) (new)

Lexi Several books not written in the 20th century:

Twilight, New Moon, and Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas (I think)

Don't get me wrong, these are all great books but they don't belong on this list! Please check dates (or at least use common sense) before adding books to a date-specific list!


message 17: by Matthew (new)

Matthew you couldn't be more right, throw in Kafka, as well. then the non-20th century books, along with the pop fiction books on the list?


message 18: by Megan (new)

Megan Vonnegut should definetly be on this list.


message 19: by Laura (new)

Laura If you think so, why not add Vonnegut to the list? Seems simpler than complaining about it.


message 20: by Stacy (new)

Stacy The 20th century seems to have lasted for more than two hundred years. I have to agree with the poster who commented on the lack of nonfiction. What about Backlash by Susan Faludi? Something by John Krakauer or David Sedaris?


message 21: by Laura (new)

Laura Guys. You are aware that you can, you know, add any book you want to this list, right? If you think something belongs on the list yet is not there, ADD IT YOURSELF.


message 22: by Todd (new)

Todd Johnson This list appears to be restricting books based on the "published" date for some random (default?) edition, rather than the often-available "first published" date. This would explain why Pride & Prejudice (1813) can make the list, but it doesn't want me to add To the Lighthouse (1927).


message 23: by Sarah (new)

Sarah Gah!! The books on this list that were not written in the 20th century are hurting my OCD. Is there any way to edit? To remove books from the list that others have added?


message 24: by Mommy (new)

Mommy where is THE WORLD ACCORDING TO GARP by John Irving?


message 25: by Ashley (new)

Ashley It's there (page 2), but if there's anything you think should be on any list, add it yourself.


message 26: by Kenneth (new)

Kenneth oh boy some real chestnuts. C'mon Where's your Henry Miller. He is only the greatest American author of that century. and seriously, what's up with the book of Mormon?


message 27: by Nathanimal (new)

Nathanimal The Book of Mormon? #4? Really guys?

It's not even very well written! Despite being published in 1830 (and written, allegedly, mosty in the B.C.E)


message 28: by Sunil (last edited Jul 29, 2008 11:11AM) (new)

Sunil Hmmm,,,, No Bellow in first hundred. And you have Harry Potter.Shame.


message 29: by Matt (new)

Matt Ok, this is nuts. There are 19th century books appearing here, and there are 20th century books I can't add because there isn't a 20th century edition in the database.


message 30: by Alex (last edited Jul 29, 2008 11:55AM) (new)

Alex Though it's a disputed point, the Book of Mormon was written sometime between 2,000 B.C. and 1830 A.D. As beloved and influential as it may be, one thing it isn't is a book of the 20th Century. Putting it on this list just makes you look dumb.

Also: Holy Bible.


message 31: by Matt (new)

Matt And another thing, the Lord of the Ring's score is getting killed by the fact that two different versions of the book (as a single epic, and as a trilogy) are appearing on the list.


message 32: by Donitello (new)

Donitello I presume we're supposed to vote ONLY for the book that we think should occupy #1 spot?

That'll be easy, of course -- it's The Book of Mormon. (JOKING!!!!)


message 33: by Emily (new)

Emily I cannot believe Sometimes A Great Notion, Ken Kesey, is not in the top 100. I didnt even see it in the top 200.


message 34: by Giovany (last edited Jul 29, 2008 08:44PM) (new)

Giovany apoyen a Proust!!!!!!
lets stand for proust!!!!
aller Marcel, il est fantastique


message 35: by Layce (new)

Layce Parkinson An interesting assortment of books. One I could refer to for future reference.


message 36: by Jane (new)

Jane Henry James is missing, sorely. Too much JK Rowling and CS Lewis.


message 37: by Roxanne (new)

Roxanne Bethany The Tin Drum must be among the top 100...BB


message 38: by Michael (new)

Michael Kucharski It speaks to my heart and soul. It reaffirms that good can win out over evils. I have read it over 120 times since Thanksgiving, 1970.
And people... please remember, it is actually one book, not three, an a trilogy; that aspect was a business/publishing choice not a creative (the author's) choice.


message 39: by David (last edited Jul 30, 2008 06:17PM) (new)

David Young Sometimes a Great Notion is a Masterpiece.

The Harry Potter books are entertaining enough, but hardly in the same league.


message 40: by David (new)

David Young That's what I get for being a bookworm, I guess. Zero friends! Maybe I should wash more often.


message 41: by Paula (new)

Paula I'm not really thrilled that the Harry Potter books made this list....they really don't belong here !

What about : The Red Tent by Diamont ??

: The Celestine Prophies ??

: The Kite Runner ??

: A Thousand Splendid Suns ??

?????????????????????





message 42: by Rebecca (new)

Rebecca Seems like the Lord of the Rings series shouldn't be listed as a separate option with each of the 3 books also on the list.


message 43: by Lisa (new)

Lisa Did I miss something? I didn't see Le Miserables on the list???


message 44: by Ashley (new)

Ashley If something isn't on the list anywhere that you think should be, add it. That's the point.


message 45: by Gary (new)

Gary
_Les misérables_ was published in the 19th Century.


message 46: by Laura (new)

Laura Les Miserables was on the list, and was removed for the reason Gary states. If it's put back on, it will be removed again.


message 47: by Elizabeth (new)

Elizabeth I saw so many of my all time favorites! Mists of Avelon, Rebecca, Diary of Anne Frank, James and the Giant Peach even The Witching Hour! WOW! I guess as much as I read I consider something really great if after a couple of years and thousands of books later I still remember it then its pretty good.


message 48: by Marcus (new)

Marcus Did I miss Generation X: Tales for an Accelerated Culture?

Pretty big book of the 90's...it, ya know, coined the name ofr an entire generation...

There's a lot of books on this list, I could have missed it.


message 49: by Cindy (new)

Cindy The Harry Potter books enticed countless numbers of kids, who would never normally pick up a book when they could be playing a video game, to read. In my opinion, any book or series of books, that can do this deserves to be this list.


message 50: by [deleted user] (last edited Sep 06, 2008 12:57PM) (new)

Paula, it's the 21st century. The Kite Runner and it's sequel were released in THIS century, not eight years ago. I AM annoyed by The Pillars of the Earth, though.


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