The 100 Best Novels of the 20th Century

January--Samuel Butler, The Way of All Flesh

January 21 @ 7:30 p.m.

To my great surprise, 31 people showed up for our first discussion! Not many people had read the novel, but we had a really spirited discussion about the Modern Library list, some of its biases, some of its surprises, and some of its merits. I had never read this novel before, and I liked it very much. I'm not sure I would rate it this highly, but I think I can see why the committee did: the novel is really engaging, and a savage satire of almost every aspect of modern life.

February--Malcolm Lowry, Under the Volcano

February 18 @ 7:30 p.m.

March--John Steinbeck, The Grapes of Wrath

March 25 @ 7:30 p.m.