“This is one of those books that I had always meant to read but just never got around to. I assumed that reading it would be good for me but not exactly fun, sort of like exercise, shredded wheat, or CSPAN. Boy, was I wrong!
Booth Tarkington's 1919 Pulitzer Prize winner simply sizzles with stylish writing, memorable characters, and a fast-paced plot that portrays the disintegration of a stagnant family dynasty overrun by the advent of automotive technology. More than 90 years after the book's publication, its themes are still relevant: class warfare, the lure of technology, the price of progress, and the power of love to both blind and bond.
The Modern Library edition that I read included a list of the 100 greatest English-language novels of the 20th century. The Magnificent Ambersons was #100 on the list and Ulysses was #1, but I haven't read about half of the titles in between. I've got my work cut out for me, and I can't wait!”
