The not-good-enough book list 1

Robert Crowther Jun 2026

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Time of writing, the Guardian newspaper has published a list of 100 best novels of all time, ‘voted for by authors, critics and academics worldwide’. After comment, this was followed by an answer poll of Readers top 100 novels of all time, gathered from a response of, I picked, 3000 readers.

The newspaper has tried this before. In 2015 a guy called Robert McCrum creaated a list The 100 best novels written in English. Wikipedia reported ‘…both praise and criticism’. It was followed by The best novels in English: readers’ alternative list.

These are not the only lists. The BBC in 2003 ran The Big Read—a year in compilation and over 700,000 votes (for the same material and comment, try Wikipedia, The Big Read). With a more accurate title of the ‘Nation’s Best‐Loved Novel’. Admittedly biased, but perhaps that’s a good thing (?) the publisher Penguin has a Must Read Classic Books list. A web‐search will find may more lists, lists, lists.

So here is what else. No, it’s not another list. Also useful, Wikipedia’s guesses at best‐selling fiction authors of all time.

Unclassic writers

There’s this a group of writers, mostly women…. They write well. But they don’t aim at classics, don’t sell themselves as fine writers. They tend to write distinctive material. plots and scenarios they feel urgency about. They’re not well represented on the lists. Hardly at all,

Not much is it? Though other lists may do a little better.

These are the kinds of writers I am talking about. They’re usually prolific,

A Judgement in Stone Ruth Rendell

An illiterate woman is hired to work for a family. She covers her disability and misunderstands her employer’s kindnesses, which leads to appalling results. Ruth Rendell mostly worked with thrillers. A psychological interest was more than character, it drove plots. She wastes not a line. Widely read, especially by those who like the craft, possibly why there are many TV and film adaptions. A kind of writer who never makes lists.

Crow Road Iain Banks

About a young man in his late teens (I recall) who looses his father and, beyond that, is concerned with the mysterious disappearance (possibly dead?) of an uncle Rory. This is cue for family secrets. Ian Banks is in this section because he’s a writer with many ideas (check the first sentence) with flowing style. Covering the forms Ian Banks explored is impossible with one book selection, this is his most well‐known. He made a living, and many followed his writing.

The Life and Loves of a She Devil Fay Weldon

The main character disposes of a drab life of expectation, marriage, family and society, then sabotages her ex‐husband and his new wife, gathers semi‐legitimate riches and sets in on the ex‐husband’s life. Because she takes what she could not have, described by the author as ‘envy’, not ‘revenge’. Fay Weldon’s writing is colorful and every line sparks. Fay Weldon worked in several media successfully—TV scripts, plays, non‐fiction. This, the crash‐handling and the non‐stop challenge may why I’ve never heard anyone say she was, and she was, good (want proof, try Wikipedia).

I suppose some may place Edith Wharton, Virginia Wolfe, Elizabeth Bowen, Patricia Highsmith or James Tiptree here, but they all lead with style.

With all this kind of writing missing, the question comes up what is the murk that constructs these lists? One possibility is that the lists are sales promotion—‐there’s nothing more modern than to ask for feedback only to perform a sleight of hand to promote product. A conspiracy worthy of these authors. That would account for numb repetition, but popularism has its own emotional calcification too.

Fantasy

The genre of magical world. Qualified, because that definition covers titles in other sections. This section is mostly adult‐orientated stories. As a category, the lists would seem to represent. For example,

Though ‘His Dark Materials’ has vanished recently. Was it the new books? The failure of the film and TV adaptions?

And where are these? I don’t think I’m asserting personal interest, I’ve heard them spoken of often. To name the series,

Earthsea Ursula Le Guin

Loosly connected books that became five. Wizards and peoples, but more in common with a Far East sense of societal harmony than… there are no wars. Loved across the world. I can only think these books are low‐key so people carry Earthsea books inside them, rather than remembering for some winning list.

Gormenghast Melvyn Peake BBC

Slow‐plotted adventures that go places others don’t. “He throws words like paint”, said Anthony Burgess. Did they get overvoted for some reason? Anyone who reads them never forgets.

I suspect these have not sold as many as those listed. Because, economists tell us, sales are related to value.

Detectives

Before the Second Wold War, and even after, there was a prejudice against detectives. Lists give,

Not read the last one, sure the lists contain others. That first for sure good writing. Though I note old.

So I wanna ask, I am at a loss, I shout “WHERE IS…”,

Sparkling Cyanide Agatha Christie

Writer of puzzle boxes. I’m choosing this one, neither ‘Hercule Poirot’ nor ‘Miss Marple’, because I nominate as cranking on best book title ever. Add, as I recall, this book told from points of view, not a detective. As always, immaculate text. Raymond Chandler maybe right when he ‘criticised the artificiality’ (Wikipedia), which overlooks that Raymond Chandler was being his interesting self by avoiding comment on style or ingenuity. Beyond that, not in lists. Puzzle.

Maigret Georges Simenon

At a time when the detective was still posh, Raffles, Philo Vance, or historical, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Maigret slugged it out in Paris and other département, digging through the murk of human life with his “almost cowlike stupid look”. A breakthrough in writing and society, the argument for taking thrillers as literature. Readers across the world. I can only think the output, one book every six months for twenty five years, and the consistency, means there is no obvious standout title. Which means people wouldn’t know which to pick.

Da Vini Code Dan Brown

A professor from a posh American University and a police‐woman who knows code follow a sequence of word games, physical locks and mystical ceremonies to find the Holy Grail. Written in basic and enthusiastic language. Here to spur the overheated minds of conspiracy theorists. Probably one of the bestselling books ever. See, behind lists, if you can unlock the code, you can find and wield the power that controls their readers.

Pulp Detectives

When Raymond Chandler’s ‘The Big Sleep’ arrived, one review called it ‘an open sewer’. It’s on one list,

Fine.

Where is,

Red Harvest Dashiel Hammet

Laconic machine‐gun solution for a dirty town. Or ‘The Glass Key’, ‘The Maltese Falcon’ (is on McCrum), or ‘The Thin Man’? Dashiel Hammet changed style for each one, but was always bitten‐off with unexpected moves. All hits, all made into film, all provable influential. I think people don’t wanna vote for texts loaded with literary jokes, nasty truths, cartoon drama and machine guns. ‘fessing it’s good, but I can’t be serious?

The Lady In the Lake Raymond Chandler

Rich folk holiday in rural idylls, then wind up dead. My fave, though Raymond Chandler found it hard to write. Any of the others, even the murky, compromised ‘Playback’, deliver. His grind of the American language was the way of the film script for forty years. Then to mention, changing the American language itself. Suspect this audience not voting.

I, the Jury Mickey Spillane

In which detective Mike Hammer drinks, aches, kicks and shoots a way to vengeance through a world loaded with drugs, sex, bullets and suicide. Told in lean text sometimes cobbled but that often hits with pulp‐fiction weight. Sold by the lorry‐load, and popular across the world—appears high in ‘most‐translated’ lists. I don’t think list contributors even know of these readers. And some things are not acceptable, though list compilers don’t say that of their lists, do they?

Modern thrillers

Is it just the old story that people won’t vote for what they used to see as ‘pulp fiction’ and now call ‘airport literature’?

There will be more….

Off list, who hasn’t actually enjoyed,

The Firm John Grisham

Young accountant/lawyer gets more than he expected when he signs a contract too‐good‐to‐be‐true. John Grisham is a laid‐back, solid, informed and enthusiastic writer. Unsettling legal issues in small‐town America became his play, and he’s found new material for book after book. I suppose most people wouldn’t want to admit they enjoyed this. It’s all the things I’ve said, and thoughtful, original and inventive, but is it too melodramatic to be a ‘favourite’?

Battle Royale Koushun Takami

Why for this then? A book from Japan, about young teens conscripted into what I would call a speculative future societal game. Brutal‐but‐true fact to deliver, through real characters and fantastic action. The book and film go a step further in opening out moral and personal decisions. Huge hit in it’s own country. Book was backed from an award, and the film pulled from release, amid concerns about how they reflected society now. So… how much of list voting depends on availability?

Roland Barthes pointed out that the selection of items to fit together i.e. a list, is an act of creativity, as much as the choices themselves.

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