The war and paper rationing made it hard to get any book published in 1942. No wonder novella-length fiction pops up in this list more often than usual. I've read almost none of these. Most I've never heard of.
I voted for Waugh over Steinbeck.
― Compromise isn't a principle, it's a method (Aimless), Tuesday, 16 February 2021 00:09 (three years ago) link
Especially in France where stuff like the Vercors was illegal and published clandestinely
― Tsar Bombadil (James Morrison), Tuesday, 16 February 2021 06:00 (three years ago) link
Surprised by some things being new here like The Robe and Meet Me In St Louis since I would have 5hought them earlier. & some things being this early. Donovan 's Brain cos it was filmed in the 60s with Hitler's brain being the transplant wasn't it? Then transformed into being about another appendage in a song by the Angry Samoans.
I think I started bu didn't finish the Screwtape Letters about the demon's messages home to his dad or whatever. A cunning ruse of a way for an Xian to talk about human foibles innit.
I don't remember seeing that Jim Thompson title before. Thought I was familiar with a lot of his work.
― Stevolende, Tuesday, 16 February 2021 07:14 (three years ago) link
was wondering if i should read the screwtape letters in a spirit of know your enemy but life's too short, also what's the point in being enemies with someone who died 60 years ago.
― ledge, Tuesday, 16 February 2021 11:01 (three years ago) link
James, Maigret In Exile was the other Simenon they listed. I have no real rationale for which one I chose.
Saturnin by Zdeněk Jirotka -- Czech version of Jeeves & Wooster except that Jeeves is a bomb-throwing anarchist; fun
Ok, sold!
― Daniel_Rf, Tuesday, 16 February 2021 11:09 (three years ago) link
I haven't read many of these.
Of the 75 Maigret novels there are very few that aren't thoroughly entertaining, and this one is no exception. For detective series quantity + quality, Simenon is the world champion.
The High Window is not as good as the first two of Chandler's much shorter detective series, but it's a strong entry and gets my vote here.
― Brad C., Tuesday, 16 February 2021 16:15 (three years ago) link
screwtape letters is lewis at his most infuriating. the thing is just so cold and airless, like twain’s letters from the earth if it had been written by someone with no sense of humor.
― (The Other) J.D. (J.D.), Tuesday, 16 February 2021 18:00 (three years ago) link
I've only read the Chandler and didn't find it hugely memorable.
― Vanishing Point (Chinaski), Tuesday, 16 February 2021 21:18 (three years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.
― System, Wednesday, 17 February 2021 00:01 (three years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.
― System, Thursday, 18 February 2021 00:01 (three years ago) link
Embers is good but didn't feel like voting for that
― xyzzzz__, Thursday, 18 February 2021 07:40 (three years ago) link
Wherein We Elect Our Favourite Novels of 1943
― Daniel_Rf, Friday, 19 February 2021 16:09 (three years ago) link