Jack Kerouac's On the Road: My Thoughts and Musings

Long held as one of the defining works of the "Beat" era in literature, Jack Kerouac's On the Road is a novel I intended to explore for many years, but for whatever reason continually chose not to. The concept of the novel fascinated me, and I tend to like the idea that the Beat generation felt unbound by many of the barriers in literature prior to that, and the free-flow styling of the language reminiscent to jazz is one that I enjoy. The desire to not strictly adhere to an expected literary structure I feel can sometimes make more honest, naturalistic writing than say, stubbornly intending to have every line follow the laws of iambic pentameter. What I discovered after reading the book is that while I liked it, I didn't love it. Not that it is a weak novel; the craftsmanship throughout is great, and I love the way most of the prose is presented, and there are elements of the book I genuinely do adore. At the same time, I can't claim quite as much admiration for the work as others have.

Overview

On the Road is practically the most logical title this book could possess, because at its core its a road trip story, or to put it more accurately, a story detailing 4 particular road trips. The story that unfolds is based on actual events involving the author and his close friend Neal Cassady (whose names in the novel are changed to Sal Paradise and Dean Moriarity, at the request of his then publisher), and there cross-country travels. Throughout the course of the story Sal tries to broaden his horizons through a series of incidents and life experiences often provoked and orchestrated by Dean, an out-of-control, flamboyant, wild embodiment of the Beat ethos. The story is somewhat of an unorthodox coming of age and details the bizarre directions friendship can often lead.

What I Enjoyed

Dean Moriarity. Granted, he is not the only quality part of the book (I'll get to those in a moment), but he is easily the most fascinating character in the book, and in some ways could be considered the hero of the novel (or an unrelentingly pathetic figure, which is probably just as competent a perception). Dean makes a lot of choices that can be considered reprehensible. As he mentions near the conclusion of the novel, "you spend your whole life of non-interference with the wishes of others, including politicians, and the rich, and nobody bothers you, and you cut along and make it your own way". The genius of the character is that no matter how manipulative and self-absorbed Dean is, he still manages to be consistently endearing and lovable as a character. I also love the commentary on friendship throughout the novel; despite what transgressions those close to you have committed, the fact that they have been so inter-weaved with such important and profound moments of your life somehow leaves an indelible impact on you and a host of fond memories. I also enjoyed the free-flowing style of the writing (which I heard in its original format, written on a monstrously long, single spaced scroll, was even more so).

What I Didn't Agree With

Despite the book being admittedly strong and for the most part entertaining, there are certainly moments where the story feels very sluggish, especially moments in the first two travels documented in the book. Some of the rapid and spontaneous way in which Sal travels feels somewhat jarring when you are reading, and despite the fact that this is apparently accurate to what actually occurred (as this is a memoir in a way as well), it doesn't always make for engaging material. One of the books greatest strength as well is also somewhat of a weakness; Dean's outlandish antics were seen as heroic and independent through the eyes of the Beat moment, and I certainly can respect and admire that, but I can also see how people would think its tragically pathetic. Once again, I can't commit to which view I personally uphold, but both have their merits.

Does it Belong On the List?

Certainly. Whether you enjoy the content or not, the writing style definitely did provide new opportunities and explorations of content that were not considered as accessible before. Also, the Beat movement absolutely deserves to be represented on this listing, and since this is considered one of the pinnacles of that period it is only fair it is included.

Next on the List

I can't say for certain, but I believe I will be reading George Orwell's 1984 next, a book that I have read before and loved but not revisited since my high school years.

Philip K. Dick's Ubik: My Thoughts and Musings

The first novel I read of Philip K. Dick's was Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, a very intellectual exploration of the science fiction genre which served as the basis for the film Blade Runner. The two things that I gathered from that first encounter with Dick are as follows: a) for a skilled writer his book titles are either absurdly brilliant or are just ridiculous (I've yet to decide) and b) Dick's style of sci-fi is among the most literary and original I had read. When I learned one of his novels, Ubik, was selected for this list, I was intrigued despite the fact I had honestly never heard of the book, and therefore my window of knowledge of the title was non-existant. But being a sci-fi geek and of course finding excitement in any chance to explore new territory in that literary genre was one of the primary reasons this was the next book I read on the list.

Overview

Trying to explain the plot and story of Ubik is almost an exercise in futility, as the story and the directions it takes create an almost hallucinogenic experience for the reader. The genesis of the story involves a businessman named Glen Runciter, who has been carrying on private conversations with his deceased wife Ellen. You see, in this world, if someone is on the verge of dying, they can be placed in a state of muted consciousness called "half-life" rather than be allowed to fully perish, and can then be called upon for an extended period of time to have a minimum level of communication with whoever wishes to speak to them, for a fee of course. This half-life concept forms half of the central idea, as well as another ongoing story which involves a group of telepaths organized by Runciter, and a mysterious woman named Pat, who apparently has the ability to identify telepaths but through her ability can also appear to plunge individuals into a representation of the past, seemingly at will. The novel soars through different time periods, so fast so that even the characters and reader are thrown for a loop just when they have become complacent in the new setting. One of the figures being manipulated in this fashion, Joe Chip, begins to investigate why this is occurring and why a mysterious remedy known as Ubik seems to show up in each incarnation.

What I Enjoyed

The first thing I must commend Ubik on is the startling effect it has on the reader. The paths and directions Ubik takes you on at times feels very hallucinogenic, as you never feel you are on stable ground in the novel. At times this can be distracting and frustrating, but for the most part it works well in the novel in creating a very disorienting and somewhat chilling experience within the text of the novel. One of the great things I am noticing in Dick's work is the attention to detail he employs, and the relentlessly original take on science fiction (which, even though I love the genre, has at times strayed far away from originality) he has. Many sci-fi authors use the genre simply to create fantastical worlds and experiences, which is certainly interesting in itself and effective, but Dick describes the actions and events in his novels in a way that makes them feel almost attainable despite the fact that they are not scenarios that exist. Dick doesn't just create a fictionalized world but conceptualizes how it would have to work to seem somewhat plausible.

What I Didn't Agree With

Though I enjoyed this novel quite a bit, and it certainly provided a lot for me to ponder after I finished it, it still has a few issues that can't be avoided. The characters in the novel at times don't have the highest level of emotional depth. While Dick's stories tend to be so fascinating and work so well that this isn't a vital necessity, I think some stronger emotive qualities from his cast could have benefited the story. And even though the nature of the novel makes it a reading that is meant to be disorienting and confusing, that doesn't subtract from the fact that as the reader it gets grating at moments (though Dick is good enough to minimize the erosion this can cause on the quality of the story).

Does it Belong on the List?

Perhaps. I don't want to say the book doesn't belong on the list, first of all because I think it is a terrific book, and second of all I think it is a very smart, articulate entry into the science fiction genre. But I can't decide because I know there's a possibility a couple of titles exist in the genre that are more deserving. Some of them are books that I know from a literary standpoint are not as expertly composed but that admittedly I enjoyed more (Ender's Game being a good example, or perhaps something from Robert Heinlen), but I also don't know if this is the pinnacle of even Dick's writing. I preferred the aforementioned Androids to this, and from what I understand about Minority Report and Man in the High Castle, they are typically better received by his diehard fans. I'm on the fence with this one, but don't let that condemn the book: it is a great work of science fiction that definitely creates a unique mood in its reader.

Next on the List

Jack Kerouac's On the Road, one of the works considered to be an essential writing of the Beat generation.

Alan Moore's Watchmen: My Thoughts and Musings

Since I read Watchmen for the first time several years ago, I have read Watchmen in its entirety at least five times, and this was my sixth time taking it in. In addition to that, I have visited passages and images from this comic countless times, and when I saw that Watchmen had made the list I am currently journeying through, I was ecstatic to explore the intricacies of the story once again. Why? Because Watchmen is unquestionably the Citizen Kane of the comic book medium, and there hasn't been a single reading where it hasn't yielded new wonders and ideas that I hadn't read in my previous explorations of its pages.

Overview

Watchmen is set in an alternate reality 1985, where Richard Nixon has been re-elected several times and is still the current President, the war in Vietnam was incredibly brief and was a victory for the United States, and while superheroes were once prevalent, they have been forced into retirement by government legislation. The mystery of the tale begins when one of the two government-endorsed crime fighters, The Comedian, is beaten and murdered. This prompts an amateur investigation into the identity of the killer by Rorshach, a sadistic vigilante who never gave up his super-hero career and now dispenses of criminals while evading the law. In the course of his travels Rorschach encounters several of the costumed avengers he worked with in the past, some of whom challenge his objective and others whom reluctantly work with him to discover the truth and motives behind The Comedian's murder.


What I Enjoyed

Characters, characters, characters! If I had to single out one factor that makes this story so endearing to me it would have to be the amazing cast of players that comprise the story we know as Watchmen. None of them feel like stock characters or tired cliches. Even the few that are depicted in a way that makes you feel they will be relegated to stereotypes defy those conventions. Take Dr. Manhattan, the classic "god among men" hero. Yes, there are the typical Christ-like images that are associated with the figure, and the wide breadth of ability the character possesses. But he is also a study in how such a figure would begin to lose touch with his humanity, and mankind in general. In fact he becomes so far removed from human nature as a result of his omnipotent stature that he spends much of the novel nude (clothes are of little concern to him, as is the human form in general) and even isolates himself on Mars for a time. Rorschach, the "hero" of the novel, is another fascinating figure. He is easily one of the most beloved figures in the novel, and he is completely psychotic. And yet, out of everyone in the comic, he is the only person who consistently has a moral code he strictly adheres to, and possibly the only figure in the book who never chooses to compromise his objectives. Regardless of how questionable and outrageous his behavior is, there is a purity to his actions that makes him alluring. And of course, then there's The Comedian himself. A superhero who was honored by the President and became a media darling as a government-sponsored costumed figure. He is also an attempted rapist, chauvinist, murderer, and general opportunist when it involves his own selfish ideas. This perfectly illustrates one of the central themes of Watchmen; superheroes are susceptible to the same human flaws as regular people. Some are vile violent people, other are criminally insane, others hate the superhero life but feel pressured to from outside influences, and some live for the thrill of the superhero life regardless of what good it does for the world. This story revealed that superhero tales are actually effective when you can look at the mask of the hero and see a living, breathing human being underneath.

What else is there to gather from the text of the novel? An unrelenting wealth of concepts and philosophies, but I will limit to to only a handful for the purpose of this observation. One of the ultimate questions the story poses is if a heroic act is really that heroic if atrocious actions have to be taken to bring that heroism to fruition. This is one of the few stories where the world has become a safer, more civil place at the conclusion of the tale, and yet the conclusion is still crushingly depressing and unjust. I also appreciated even more the scenes involving the therapist who is trying to reach Rorschach and reform his disturbing behavior. The scenes revealing the erosion of his marriage and personal life as a result of the disturbing nature of his patient and his obsession with trying to understand him seemed very effective and believable. This takes up an entire issue of the series and never ceases to be dull or distracting. In fact, Watchmen has very minimal action, especially for the world of superhero comics. This is, at its heart, a noir set in more recent times, and has much more in common with Dashiell Hammett than Stan Lee.

What I Didn't Agree With

It is very difficult for me to have a critical eye on a work that I admire and love as much as this one, but even some of the most engrossing stories have areas that could use improvement. Though I think the ending of the story is incredible, a few of the elements that are a part of the ending I could have done without or altered slightly. Beyond that, there are likely other issues with the book, but they have not been observed effectively by this reader.

Does It Belong on the List?

I am not exaggerating when I say that seeing Watchmen on this list of the most important novels since 1923 is a detail that overjoyed me. I love the rich world of literature, and I love the world of comics as well, and I feel there are those beautiful moments where those two converge to create a truly exceptional work of fiction. Watchmen may seem on the surface a simple crime story involving costumed heroes, but at its core it is a character study of a collective of complex, colorful, deeply flawed individuals and how their interactions and decisions can have such a powerful impact on the shape of society. I find myself very insulted by the few elitist voices in literary circles who claim that Watchmen doesn't belong on these sort of lists simply because it incorporates images into the storytelling process. Watchmen is an original story, a fascinating story, and one that manages to incite deep thought and fascination every time I return to it. It's spot on this list and its fixture in literary history is well-deserved.

Next on the List

The science fiction story Ubik by Philip K. Dick. While I am very familiar with Philip K. Dick (author of Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? which was adapted for the screen as Blade Runner, and We'll Remember It For You Wholesale, the inspiration for the film Total Recall. It's apparent one thing Dick could not write was an effective film title), I had actually never heard of Ubik until I discovered this list, so I am interested to see how it is.

Vladimir Nabokov's Lolita: My Thoughts and Musings

When beginning this journey through this "All-Time Top 100 Novels" list referenced in this blog, I knew several of the titles contained subject matter and topics which were highly controversial to the casual reader. The fact that I chose Russian author Vladimir Nabokov's classic Lolita as the first book on this list I would be exploring only reinforced this fact. This tale of a middle aged male's unlawful and immoral romance with a prepubescent girl is a story that still resonates today as very relevant and thought-provoking. And what is probably most surprising, this is also a very funny novel.

Overview

The story of Lolita is told in flashback, extracted from the writings of a man who is in prison recounting what led him to said imprisonment. Using the supposedly fictitious name of Humpert Humpert in the text, the narrator takes us through his immigration to the United States, where he encounters 12 year old Lolita, a mischevious and stubborn "nymphet" whom the author is infatuated with. He slowly begins to cultivate a plan to isolate Lolita from any outside influences so that he may have her for himself. Even after he achieves this objective, he tries to have an authentic relationship with a young girl whom he has no business being romantically involved with, all the while feeling the pressure of his own guilt and the threat of his crime being discovered.

What I Enjoyed

There is much in the novel that is very strong. First and foremost, this is a novel that has a large wealth of humor, much more than I expected. Though I knew this was a satire, I didn't know how comical the situation was played, especially since the topic of pedophilia is one that is considered risque to mine for comedy. It works here though; the narrator's description of his obsession with Lolita is described in a highly refined and dignified manner, and the fact that his actions are the exact opposite is continually humorous and intentionally hypocritical of the character. It's also amusing that the "nymphet" Lolita that he fawns over in such a flowery, poetic fashion seems to have no class, dignity, or real signs of "lady-like grace". In fact she's an obnoxious little brat. Several of the supporting players are funny as well, the most prominent of these is the writer Clare Quilty, who even in the face of danger is funny, if not funnier because of it.

The book also seems to be a competent examination in regards to the thought process of pedophiles in reality. At one point after Lolita has left the narrator behind, he confesses his motives by stating: "I would be a knave to say, and the reader a fool to believe, that the shock of losing Lolita cured me of pederosis. My accursed nature could not change, no matter how my love for her did". This seems to echo the opinion that those who are compelled to commit these types of heinous crimes are never truly reformed. The psychology of this type of individual is one of the ideas that is most prominently expressed in this novel.

It should also be noted that one of the general ideas in this novel that I discovered was the idea that the narrator continually wants Lolita to act more mature, and when she finally acquires some level of maturity she inevitably outgrows her adult suitor because he himself is truly juvenile. This theme reminded me of the classic Woody Allen film "Annie Hall" quite a bit (and not to mention, the novel itself seems to have been the frame for Woody's own personal life).

What I Didn't Agree With

Early in the novel there is a major death that occurs, that I found too coincidental. I get that the scene was being played for ironic purpose, and the message came through clearly, but I felt it was implemented in the book in a way that tied things together a little too perfectly in that particular instance. And while it certainly isn't the focus of the book I wish more was expanded on as to what occurred to the characters in the present tense in which the story is being recollected. Some of the prose seems to get too focused on how masterful it is with the English language; Nabokov was a Russian writer, as I stated before, and this was his first novel composed in English. While his first effort in the language reveals an astounding mastery of English language, wordplay, and a truly articulate mind, there are moments where the mastery of the language just seems a little too forced upon the reader. Thankfully these moments are few and far between, and most of the time the prose is a delight to read because of this complexity.

Does It Belong On This List?

Absolutely. Even without the content this is a very rich example of richly designed and applied prose, and Nabokov's style of writing is both highly intelligent and even fun to read. But the enduring popularity of the novel is in the fact that it depicts an unspeakably taboo relationship in what is essentially an honest manner, and even dares to be humorous about it. And yet even though it does take this direction with the material, it never loses sight of the the immorality of the act, and in fact the narrator's own defense serves to further condemn his actions. This is a daring novel that dissects controversial material rather than just exploit it for shock value.

Next on the List

Alan Moore's masterful graphic novel Watchmen. I have read this 12-issue comic miniseries in its entirety no less than 5 times, but any excuse to explore it once more I will certainly take advantage of, and the nature of this endeavor will likely provoke me to explore the material from a different perspective.

A Course in Modern Classics: The Beginning

I have always had an unrelenting interest in reading, and it is a passion that has provided me with a wealth of knowledge and entertainment over the years. My interest in literature began at a very early age, and continued through high school, and when I arrived at college I continued to take countless English courses, hoping to expand the library of titles that I had explored and mentally digested.

However, the problem with classic literature that continually presents itself is this: it is intensely difficult to cover a large wealth of it, because that category is both broad and varied. Mark Twain is certainly classified as literature (and rightly so), but so is J.R.R. Tolkien; suffice it to say the similarities between the two are very minimal, and one of these authors doesn't seem to segue into the next with any level of ease. Classics can emerge from several different countries, genres, styles, eras, and countless different walks of life, so any attempt at exploring a reasonable survey of titles classified as "timeless" can be quite difficult. One of the other issues I personally encountered in both high school and college was the tendency to read some of the less acclaimed works from a famous author, rather than the titles with which they have attained their popularity. Trust me, I think Lord Jim by Joseph Conrad is a terrific book, and it is one I was required to read for college; but I would have much rather read Heart of Darkness in class, simply because on a social level it has always seemed more relevant. I would have loved to be assigned to James Joyce's Ulysses in college, if only because it is continually held among the best novels ever written. As of right now, I have yet to read it. But I have read Joyce's short story Araby so many times I could almost recite it.

It is because of these reasons and several others I decided to embark on a rather bold mission. A few years ago, TIME Magazine requested author Lev Grossman and Time critic Richard Lacayo put together a list of what they perceived to be the 100 Greatest Novels written since 1923. The genres of the titles ranged several different styles and genres, and the titles on the list for the most part are either benchmarks in their respective genres, or the originators of their respective genres. I have decided if I am going to acquire a better understanding of much of the classic literature I have missed out on, a more proactive approach will be necessary. Which is why I have decided to read all 100 titles on this list, and record my progress and observations regarding each of these titles through this blog. Well, actually, my list will have 101 titles: Ulysses by James Joyce is recognized as a title that ABSOLUTELY would have been included on this list had it not been published a year earlier, so I am including that title as well. Plus, I just want to read that book in addition, and the insistence that it should be included just provides another reason to check it out. To give you an idea as to what titles this list entails, here it is in its entirety (with Ulysses included. Hyperlinks are available for several of the entries):

A - B

1. The Adventures of Augie March (1953), by Saul Bellow
2. All the King's Men (1946), by Robert Penn Warren
3. American Pastoral (1997), by Philip Roth
4. An American Tragedy (1925), by Theodore Dreiser
5. Animal Farm (1946), by George Orwell
6. Appointment in Samarra (1934), by John O'Hara
7. Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret (1970), by Judy Blume
8. The Assistant (1957), by Bernard Malamud
9. At Swim-Two-Birds (1938), by Flann O'Brien
10. Atonement (2002), by Ian McEwan
11. Beloved (1987), by Toni Morrison
12. The Berlin Stories (1946), by Christopher Isherwood
13. The Big Sleep (1939), by Raymond Chandler
14. The Blind Assassin (2000), by Margaret Atwood
15. Blood Meridian (1986), by Cormac McCarthy
16. Brideshead Revisited (1946), by Evelyn Waugh
17. The Bridge of San Luis Rey (1927), by Thornton Wilder

C - D

1. Call It Sleep (1935), by Henry Roth
2. Catch-22 (1961), by Joseph Heller
3. The Catcher in the Rye (1951), by J.D. Salinger
4. A Clockwork Orange (1963), by Anthony Burgess
5. The Confessions of Nat Turner (1967), by William Styron
6. The Corrections (2001), by Jonathan Franzen
7. The Crying of Lot 49 (1966), by Thomas Pynchon
8. A Dance to the Music of Time (1951), by Anthony Powell
9. The Day of the Locust (1939), by Nathanael West
10. Death Comes for the Archbishop (1927), by Willa Cather
11. A Death in the Family (1958), by James Agee
12. The Death of the Heart (1958), by Elizabeth Bowen
13. Deliverance (1970), by James Dickey
14. Dog Soldiers (1974), by Robert Stone

F - G

1. Falconer (1977), by John Cheever
2. The French Lieutenant's Woman (1969), by John Fowles
3. The Golden Notebook (1962), by Doris Lessing
4. Go Tell it on the Mountain (1953), by James Baldwin
5. Gone With the Wind (1936), by Margaret Mitchell
6. The Grapes of Wrath (1939), by John Steinbeck
7. Gravity's Rainbow (1973), by Thomas Pynchon
8. The Great Gatsby (1925), by F. Scott Fitzgerald

H - I

1. A Handful of Dust (1934), by Evelyn Waugh
2. The Heart is A Lonely Hunter (1940), by Carson McCullers
3. The Heart of the Matter (1948), by Graham Greene
4. Herzog (1964), by Saul Bellow
5. Housekeeping (1981), by Marilynne Robinson
6. A House for Mr. Biswas (1962), by V.S. Naipaul
7. I, Claudius (1934), by Robert Graves
8. Infinite Jest (1996), by David Foster Wallace
9. Invisible Man (1952), by Ralph Ellison

L - N

1. Light in August (1932), by William Faulkner
2. The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe (1950), by C.S. Lewis
3. Lolita (1955), by Vladimir Nabokov
4. Lord of the Flies (1955), by William Golding
5. The Lord of the Rings (1954), by J.R.R. Tolkien
6. Loving (1945), by Henry Green
7. Lucky Jim (1954), by Kingsley Amis
8. The Man Who Loved Children (1940), by Christina Stead
9. Midnight's Children (1981), by Salman Rushdie
10. Money (1984), by Martin Amis
11. The Moviegoer (1961), by Walker Percy
12. Mrs. Dalloway (1925), by Virginia Woolf
13. Naked Lunch (1959), by William Burroughs
14. Native Son (1940), by Richard Wright
15. Neuromancer (1984), by William Gibson
16. Never Let Me Go (2005), by Kazuo Ishiguro
17. 1984 (1948), by George Orwell

O - R

1. On the Road (1957), by Jack Kerouac
2. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1962), by Ken Kesey
3. The Painted Bird (1965), by Jerzy Kosinski
4. Pale Fire (1962), by Vladimir Nabokov
5. A Passage to India (1924), by E.M. Forster
6. Play It As It Lays (1970), by Joan Didion
7. Portnoy's Complaint (1969), by Philip Roth
8. Possession (1990), by A.S. Byatt
9. The Power and the Glory (1939), by Graham Greene
10. The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1961), by Muriel Spark
11. Rabbit, Run (1960), by John Updike
12. Ragtime (1975), by E.L. Doctorow
13. The Recognitions (1955), by William Gaddis
14. Red Harvest (1929), by Dashiell Hammett
15. Revolutionary Road (1961), by Richard Yates

S - T

1. The Sheltering Sky (1949), by Paul Bowles
2. Slaughterhouse Five (1969), by Kurt Vonnegut
3. Snow Crash (1992), by Neal Stephenson
4. The Sot-Weed Factor (1960), by John Barth
5. The Sound and the Fury (1929), by William Faulkner
6. The Sportswriter (1986), by Richard Ford
7. The Spy Who Came in From the Cold (1964), by John le Carre
8. The Sun Also Rises (1926), by Ernest Hemingway
9. Their Eyes Were Watching God (1937), by Zora Neale Hurston
10. Things Fall Apart (1959), by Chinua Achebe
11. To Kill a Mockingbird (1960), by Harper Lee
12. To the Lighthouse (1927), by Virginia Woolf
13. Tropic of Cancer (1934), by Henry Miller

U - W

1. Ubik (1969), by Philip K. Dick
2. Ulysses (1922) by James Joyce
   
3. Under the Net (1954), by Iris Murdoch
4. Under the Volcano (1947), by Malcolm Lowry
5. Watchmen (1986), by Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons
6. White Noise (1985), by Don DeLillo
7. White Teeth (2000), by Zadie Smith
8. Wide Sargasso Sea (1966), by Jean Rhys

Details for this list can be viewed at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Time_magazine%27s_%22All-TIME%22_100_best_novels

Some of these titles I have already read, but for the purpose of this blog I intend to read them again, and perhaps I will have a new perspective when reading those texts now. Some of these works I am elated to read again (A Clockwork Orange, Watchmen) and some I am dreading having to revisit (Gone with the Wind). The primary reason I chose this list is that it contained many of the contemporary classics, and had enough of a broad range of categories represented that I felt it would make for an intriguing exploration. I am beginning this list with a book I have never read, Vladimir Nabokov's Lolita.