The Magnificent Ambersons - #100

I definitely forgot I started this blog. Excellent job, self. I finished The Magnificent Ambersons about a month ago, and the impression which has yet to leave me about this novel is, "How did this make any 'top' list?" It wasn't that I didn't enjoy the book- I did. I read it in two days, and was interested throughout. The issue I had with the book was that it was eminently predictable. The entire time I knew that the prodigal son of the town- the self-entitled and saccharinely arrogant George- would eventually reach the "comeuppance" the entire population desired of him. Of course once this happened he was forced to realize the error of his ways- that even the poor have some personal worth. Whatever. I did really enjoy the fact that it was set during the Industrial Revolution. I feel as if there aren't enough fictional works which document the vast changes which resulted during the rise of the automobile. While the symbolism and imagery related to this revolution were rather dull and very predictable, the subject matter (at least for me) was a welcomed change. The characters included in this novel were also just too "pure" in their personal symbolism. George so perfectly represents the crumbling aristocratic class, while Lucy exemplifies the smart and industrious youth of the era. They were boring. The love triangle between their parents, however, was far more interesting. Isabel, George's mother, has always been in love with Lucy's Father, Eugene. Eugene and Wilbur (George's father) were both suitors of Isabel in their youth- with Isabel ultimately choosing the traditional and stalwart Wilbur. After his death, and the reunion of Isabel and Eugene, their romance is rekindled. Isabel is representative of the American masses, in my mind- initially wary of industrialization, but ultimately accepting. Score one for this plot line. Overall, pretty solid. Top 100? Disagree.

In the beginning, there was confusion.

I have always loved to read. It's basically been the driving force of my life, and the books that I've read have had a huge impact on my personality (for better or for worse). In the twenty years that I've been a reader I've gone through thousands of books. Looking through my library, though, I realized that at the ancient age of 27 I've forgotten even the most basic plots of many of them. I can't even remember the names of the protagonists from novels which I've loved. It's like I've never even read them... which is unsettling. So, I decided to tackle the Modern Library's 100 Best Novels- hopefully both the board and reader lists- and document my analysis and thoughts about them. By publishing this journey I want to create a concrete memory for myself, so I can better remember the time and attachment I have with these novels. I don't want to let another twenty years of reading slip by!