List: The 20th Centrury's Greatest Hits by American Book Review

The Public Burning

Robert Coover

Under the Volcano

Malcolm Lowry

Two mountain chains traverse the republic roughly from north to south, forming between them a number of valleys and plateaus.

Underworld

Don DeLillo

He speaks in your voice, American, and there's a shine in his eye that's halfway hopeful.Parla la tua lingua, l'americano, e c'è una luce nel suo sguardo che è una mezza speranza.

Midnight's Children

Salman Rushdie

I was born in the city of Bombay . . . once upon a time.

Crash

J. G. Ballard

Vaughan died yesterday in his last car-crash.

the man in the high castle

Philip K. Dick

For a week Mr. R. Childan had been anxiously watching the mail.

Housekeeping

Marilynne Robinson

My name is Ruth.

The Recognitions

William Gaddis

Even Camilla had enjoyed masquerades, of the safe sort where the mask may be dropped at the critical moment it presumes itself as reality.

Catch-22

Joseph Heller

It was love at first sight.

The Stain

Rikki Ducornet