100 Best Novels (Really?)

Today I checked out the 100 Best Novels list (whatever, I was watching Ellen too) to see how many I had read and if there were any I still wanted to read. As I was perusing the list I started to realize I was seeing the same names over and over again. Very few were women. I counted the books written by women and didn't have to use my toes. Out of 100 novels, only 10 were written by women. And none were by Jane Austen.


What?!


Overall, I've either read most of the books or something else by the authors represented. I did find three books to check out:

THE DEATH OF THE HEART by Elizabeth Bowen

UNDER THE NET by Iris Murdoch

THE PRIME OF MISS JEAN BRODIE by Muriel Spark


Someday I'll write my own list. And instead of waiting til number 15 to include a book by a woman, the top 10 will all be by women. Or maybe I'll make a list of the top 100 books written by women and leave men out entirely. The reader's list of the top 100 (opposed to the "official" list) had 6 of the top 10 books written by the same woman: Ayn Rand. I don't actually like her writing. I purchased Atlas Shrugged years ago, read 10 pages, and accidentally left it on a bus. I didn't call lost and found. I figured someone else would have a better use for it. And though her books are considered novels, they are actually loosely veiled philosophy.

I have downloaded the ereader software from B&N, the same stuff in the Nook. I'm in a bit of a quandary. I like the experience of reading the book, and I like carrying the book w/ me (as long as I don't leave it on a bus). The portable readers are too expensive. I did purchase one book for the ereader on my computer, and it is saving room on my bookshelf. While I enjoy my mysteries, I don't necessarily need to have the physical book cluttering up my apartment. And the hardcovers are much cheaper in ebook format. I do feel strongly about supporting the publishing business, but the ebook format is actually easier for lesser known authors to break into. So there's my dilemma.

If I decide to purchase the three books off the best novel list I will probably purchase the actual book. They would be worth owning. They can join the multiple copies of Jane Austen's novels on my shelves, the ones that should have been on the list.