Readers have voiced their criticisms of the Guardian's recent list of the 100 best novels in English, calling it outdated and overly focused on serious, challenging works. Many argue that the list fails to serve as an accessible entry point for new readers and overlooks popular authors who could inspire a love of reading.
A List That Misses the Mark
Sarah Steiner of Croydon, London, expressed her initial excitement upon seeing the list but quickly became disillusioned. She questioned why so few modern books were included and why "best" often seemed to equate to misery. Steiner argued that the list would not help non-readers develop a reading habit, as it features daunting tomes like the longest-running case at Chancery (number 12) and a devastating account of bigamous marriages (number 70). Instead, she suggested curating a list of 100 "gateway" books that celebrate popular authors such as Agatha Christie, JRR Tolkien, Dan Brown, and JK Rowling. "Your judges may consider 'popular' to be a dirty word, but we should be actively celebrating the popular books that get people hooked," she wrote.
Missing Literary Giants
Alan Downie, emeritus professor at Goldsmiths, University of London, lamented the absence of Henry Fielding's Tom Jones from the list. He noted that George Eliot herself praised Fielding as the "great historian" in Middlemarch, and questioned whether Eliot, Charles Dickens, or even Jane Austen would have written as they did without Fielding's influence. Graham Mytton of Coldharbour, Surrey, pointed out that John Steinbeck and John Dos Passos, once widely read and influential, are now absent from both bookshops and the list. He called Steinbeck's East of Eden and The Grapes of Wrath "outstanding monuments about and of US history."
The 'Thud Factor' and Accessibility
Dr. James Taylor of London noted the "thud factor" of the list, with top 10 entries including massive works like In Search of Lost Time (4,200 pages), War and Peace (1,400), and Anna Karenina (850). He felt more inadequate than inspired, fearing he would lose the upper-body strength needed to tackle such heavyweights. Dave Patten of Taunton, Somerset, shared his struggle with Proust's In Search of Lost Time, finding it unreadable due to small type and double columns. He also questioned the omission of Evelyn Waugh, whom many consider one of the greatest novelists.
Lightheartedness Overlooked
Alan R. Watkins of Haddenham, Buckinghamshire, criticized the list for overlooking lighthearted and joyful works. He called for an alternative list that includes Douglas Adams, Spike Milligan, Terry Pratchett, Barbara Pym, and P.G. Wodehouse. Jim Hatley of Brighton added to the controversy, noting that Ulysses, a book few can finish, was ranked third, while only one Graham Greene novel made the cut and nothing by John Le Carré, John Fowles, or John Wyndham.
Praise for Middlemarch, But Missing Humor
Jennifer Basannavar of Twickenham, London, recalled a friend who envied her for never having read Middlemarch, wishing she could experience it for the first time. Stephen Joseph of Sheffield, however, was surprised that no reference was made to Middlemarch being hilariously funny, suggesting that humor might be considered unfitting for a masterpiece. Rhoda Koenig of London questioned whether popularity disqualified books, pointing out that All Quiet on the Western Front was deemed a pretty good novel by 50 million purchasers.
Final Thoughts
Alex Dickie of Edinburgh simply asked, "No Steinbeck. Really?" Stephen Friar of Painswick, Gloucestershire, declared Thomas Hardy's Tess of the d'Urbervilles the greatest novel ever written. The letters collectively highlight a desire for a more inclusive and balanced list that acknowledges both literary merit and the joy of reading.
