The Guardian is publishing a series called 1000 Novels Everyone Should Read. I almost didn't read it; my "to be read" list is so long already I fear I'll never get through it. The last thing I need is 1000 more novels on the list. Or even, charitably allowing myself to believe I've read at least a quarter of these 1000 novels, seven hundred and fifty more novels.
But I couldn't resist.
The list of Crime Novels is divided into three parts. Teach313 will be happy to see that Trent's Last Case is listed in Part One. I'm not sure of the exact definition of "Crime Novel" -- it seems that the Guardian is taking the broadest view and categorizing a novel as a crime novel if the plot involves a crime. The list, thus, encompasses mysteries and thrillers and spy novels. It also includes some odd choices.
According to the Introduction (which uses the Humpty Dumpty story as an example):
The classic mystery story is about a crime already committed, a past event the investigation has to reconstruct. A thriller involves a future threat to Humpty [Dumpty]— an enemy's plan must be stopped. A thriller's thrills are frequent, whereas a crime writer can get away with one corpse. It's obvious which genres the Agatha Christie whodunnit and the 007 spy novel belong to, but between them are sub-genres — courtroom duel, psychological thriller, suspense novel, crime caper, criminal-centred fiction — not so easily classified.
Crime-centered fiction is a fairly broad category that I can go along with as a general matter. But then I found To Kill a Mockingbird on the Part Two list. To Kill a Mockingbird is a Crime Novel? Well, there is an alleged crime in it. A black man is accused of raping a white woman. And the reader does discover the truth of the matter. There is a courtroom scene, but it isn't really presented as a duel. More like a slaughter. Is it a crime novel because it is "crime centered?" I wouldn't think so. The center, I think, is the coming of age story not the story of the crime. Am I wrong? Or is The Guardian wrong? What do you classify as a Crime Novel?
By the way, here is the link to Part Three so that you have them all.
I'm back but soooo tired. I do intend to write up something about my trip and publish it ... somewhere. But I'm waiting for my photographer to upload her photos.
ReplyDeleteIn the meantime, my sore feet are up and I'm reading book and enjoying the peace and quiet.
I get told that "I must read" a book and my initial reaction is "Well maybe but first I have to decide if I care about your opinion". I get told that 1000 times and my reaction is "take your ego for a vacation, it's obviously working overtime."
ReplyDeleteAnd having looked at a few of their lists, I'm definitely not impressed. It's, not surprisingly, very British-centric (and white male centric) and when it goes off the Brits, the books seem to always be by big name authors. And apparently there's very little that must be read that wasn't written in English-speaking countries.
But more than that, I simply object to the concept that there is any book that "everyone" must read. People have their own needs, their own desires, and their own tastes. Just because a book informs, moves, and enriches me doesn't mean it will do that for someone else.
Oh yeah, welcome home and can't wait to hear about (and see) the trip. :)
If how you respond to a "Top XXXX List" says something about you, then my response says I'm a competitive bastard. I am, sort of. I enjoy the competition, but winning and losing isn't as important as playing with people you like and respect. Now losing to someone you dislike and disrespect, well, I guess I am a bastard then. But shouldn't I be? I mean, come on. What does Gore really feel about W?
ReplyDeleteWith that initial digression put clumsily aside, I'll get to the point. I've read 32 of the 123 mystery books (26%).[While I was writing this, Kidspeak counted and had read 40 or 41. But she admitted that hers were mostly trash - airport reading. At least I think that she said something like that.]
I agree with andi that the list is heavily Anglo-centric (nee British) and male. But, as I am Anglophilic (in mysteries) and male (in all things), these attributes probably slide past me somewhat. I'm curious, andi, what female crime novelist do you think have been overlooked? I thought about Denise Mina. Her Glasgow trilogy is excellent. I was not pleased to see Patricia Cornwell on the list. I'm tired of her politics, gunlust, and serial killers. I am starting a movement to boycott books and movies about serial killers. That plotline has been done to death. But Patricia Highsmith, excellent choice. Everything she wrote is worth reading.
As for overlooked writers, the most obvious, to me that is, are Peter Robinson and Boris Akunin. Possibly, Charles Todd, the mother and son writing team, also. (To me the greatest mystery is how a mother and son can collaborate, but that's another issue.)
Also, andi, the "must read" label is annoying to me as well. I am allergic to conformity demands, and the directive tone of such lists makes me want to avoid these books. The value of this list lies in the commentaries, and I've marked a few to search for on my next trip to John K. King's Used Book Wonderland. Over 750,000 (and counting) used books, neatly arranged on narrow shelves covering six floors of an old brick warehouse. And not 5 miles from my home. If you can't find something, and alibris is no help, send me the title and I'll check out the King.
Books aside, welcome back to Arch City, mary, and we're ready to hear about your DC adventure whenever and wherever you pull it all together.
Welcome back Mary. Looking forward to your DC trip write-up.
ReplyDeleteAndi, agree w/ you. I always consider the opinion/tastes/etc. of the recommender for most things ... books, movies, restaurants, clothing ... lol. Even have anti-recommenders: those ppl whose tastes are so different from mine, that anything they suggest is something to decline and anything they dislike is something to consider. Heh.
Hi Teach -- it's really nice to see/read you.
Hello, Oliva.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the nice greeting.
In my earlier prolix comment I forgot to respond to mary's question about what is a crime novel. I agree that the Guardian's definition is too broad. Mockingbird isn't a crime novel to my thinking. I'd classify it as a coming of age novel, although that doesn't quite seem to capture it. The whole categories issue has its limitations.
ReplyDeleteHow's this for a working definition of a crime novel? A novel in which a crime, and/or the consequences of the crime, occupy a central place. By consequences, I mean the search for the criminal or a psychological examination of the effects of the crime. Too vague?
How about - crime, who?, how?, why?, aha!, nope, aha really, nope again, damn this must be the one, yup.
A novel in which a crime, and/or the consequences of the crime, occupy a central place.
ReplyDeleteI think I might change the concept of "central" to some concept of focus. I think the focus of the novel has to be a crime - either one that already occurred or one that is being attempted. That's why I don't think Mockingbird is a crime novel - the crime isn't the focus even though it is a central plot point.
Now ... why on earth they put The Andromeda Strain on the list at all is beyond me. Do you remember any crime in that novel? I admit I read it a long time ago - but I don't remember any crime. Or Jurassic Park for that matter. Why is it on the list?
I liked the descriptions on these lists. I did not know, for instance, that Ed McBain was the screenwriter Evan Hunter who did the screenplay for The Birds.
And how much did Richard Price's publisher pay to get his 2008 book put on this list. Not that I've read it, but I find it hard to believe it could make anyone's list of "must reads" that quickly.
Hi Andi and Olivia. I love lists; if I find one new book to read on a list of 100 that I actually enjoy I consider it a successful list.
I would have added Lindsey Davies to the list. Lack of American writers doesn't bother me - in fact, that's why I read the Guardian, to find non-American books. Although I did decide to pick the book that was American AND by a female author to write about.
By the way, Star Wars fans, this is hilarious. The plot of Star Wars told by someone who has never seen the films.
ReplyDeleteYour motion to amend the proposed definition is hereby seconded.
ReplyDeleteThe crime in the Andromeda Strain and Jurassic Park is Michael Crichton's writing.
Hi Teach. Since I don't like the list's concept, it's not so much that I think that any particular person ought to be put on it but that their list was too narrow (white, male, English-speaking, primarily British) to be taken seriously as the list of books I have to have read before I die -- with only a thousand books, they spend three of those precious slots on Ian Fleming?
ReplyDeleteI like lists too, Mary, but I disliked the concept for this one too much to really care what they put on it. And it wasn't that there were few Americans on it; it was those they put on were all "big name" authors as were the non-English speaking writers which makes me think that once they left their area of expertise, they really were just putting books on that had big reputations or had authors with big reputations. If they had done a list of the "1000 books we like so much, we wish you'd read them, too", I wouldn't have had any gripes about the list.
You are right about Ian Fleming. I don't get that either.
ReplyDeleteWe could correct the Guardian's errors by making our own. If anyone's interested, let's talk about it. I know that I couldn't come up with 1,000 on my own. I do insist that "Trent's Last Case" makes the list.
Well I wouldn't do the Guardian's list but I could probably contribute to the list of books we like so much, we want other people to read them ... oh hell, who am I kidding, I can't do lists; I can't stop dithering over what to include and what to leave off long enough to actually put something on the list.
ReplyDelete