Readers Have Thoughts About the ‘Best Books of the 21st Century’

When the Book Review published a list of the 100 Best Books of the 21st Century last week, hundreds, then thousands, of readers weighed in, lamenting what was missing and trading reading recommendations in the comments. Others voted in a reader’s Top 100 poll — stay tuned for that list. Responses have been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Some of you liked the list!

Ferrante, truly, forever. A major feminist Bildungsroman covering the slings and arrows of the second half of the 20th century deserves the No. 1 spot. — Kerry Gaertner, Beacon, N.Y.

What I love about lists like these is that they can serve as a lifelong syllabus or homework assignment, not to mention a reason to pick up a book you would never have anything to do with otherwise. Would I have picked up Anthony Powell’s A DANCE TO THE MUSIC OF TIME series without Modern Library’s list of the top novels of the 20th century? Not likely, and what a shame that would be. I don’t read much fantasy, but now my interest is piqued by THE FIFTH SEASON. I never would have given it a second glance, but now I mean to read it. And that’s a wonderful thing. — Becky Lake, Santa Clarita, Calif.

In some ways, this list is flawed. But, in other ways, it is brilliant. Who cares what the actual list is. If it gets me, you and lots of other people reading these and lots of other books, then we are better off for having it in the world! Stop quibbling and open a book. — Tom Braun, Ann Arbor, Mich.

This is exactly how literary prizes should be run: You ask a large, diverse, but uniformly brilliant group of people about the best books they’ve read over a significant period. You don’t ask four people to speed-read 300 books, and then make a decision in two days. This article provides a far more thoughtful, useful aggregation of expert opinion. — Raphael B. Folsom, Norman, Okla.

Others weren’t crazy about it.

A predictable list. A disappointing list. So much political correctness. That can’t be good for art. — Joyce Marshall, Provence, France