The Tin Drum by Günter Grass
The novel tells the story of Oskar Matzerath, a boy who decides on his third birthday that he will stop growing and remain a three-year-old forever. Oskar is gifted with a tin drum by his mother, which he uses to express his emotions and thoughts. Living in Danzig during the rise of Nazi Germany, Oskar's refusal to grow is a form of protest against the adult world. The book is a blend of magical realism and historical fiction, providing a unique perspective on the horrors of World War II and the post-war era in Germany.
The 91st greatest book of all time
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Total Points: 2558
This book was first published in 1959
40 Lists
- score: 181 -- 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die - 2006 (Weight: 180)
- score: 177 -- Top 100 Works in World Literature - 2002 (Weight: 200)
- score: 158 -- Harenberg Buch der 1000 Bücher - 2005 (Weight: 160)
- score: 154 -- Zeit Literaturkanon - 2012 (Weight: 146)
- score: 153 -- The Bigger Read List - 2003 (Weight: 160)
- score: 151 -- For The Love of Books - 1999 (Weight: 180)
- score: 148 -- 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read - 2009 (Weight: 140)
- score: 126 -- Books Of The Century - 1999 (Weight: 150)
- score: 122 -- Best German Novels of the Twentieth Century - 1999 (Weight: 140)
- score: 116 -- 100 Books, 100 Companions - 2023 (Weight: 110)
- score: 105 -- The 100 Best Novels of the 20th Century - 1999 (Weight: 118)
- score: 100 -- As if You Don't Have Enough to Read, Fiction Edition - 2011 (Weight: 100)
- score: 84 -- Books that Shaped the Century - 2020 (Weight: 80)
- score: 79 -- 40 Most Important Books, 1927-2001 - 2001 (Weight: 86)
- score: 75 -- ZEIT-Bibliothek der 100 Bücher - 2009 (Weight: 71)
- score: 75 -- 100 Best Books - 2010 (Weight: 70)
- score: 63 -- The 100 Best Novels Of All Time (Runners-Up) - 2026 (Weight: 60)
- score: 57 -- Big Read (German) - 2004 (Weight: 60)
- score: 54 -- "Our Readable Century", The Best Books of the 20th Century -- Honorable Mention - 2000 (Weight: 60)
- score: 51 -- Kanon na koniec wieku (Canon at the end of the century) - 2002 (Weight: 50)
- score: 48 -- Harold Bloom's The Western Canon - 1994 (Weight: 60)
- score: 45 -- 50 Memorable Books from 50 Years of Books to Remember - 2005 (Weight: 46)
- score: 33 -- Der Kanon (The Canon) - 2006 (Weight: 33)
- score: 32 -- Waterstone's Books of the Century - 1997 (Weight: 40)
- score: 32 -- In Which These Are the 100 Greatest Novels - 2011 (Weight: 30)
- score: 29 -- The Novel 100: A Ranking of the Greatest Novels of All Time - 2004 (Weight: 30)
- score: 29 -- 50 Essential Reads by Contemporary Authors - 2004 (Weight: 30)
- score: 17 -- Robert McCrum's top 10 books of the twentieth century - 2000 (Weight: 20)
- score: 10 -- The 100 Best Novels in Translation by Boyd Tonkin - 2019 (Weight: 10)
- score: 10 -- The Telegraph’s 100 Novels Everyone Should Read - 2009 (Weight: 10)
- score: 10 -- Readers’ Top 100 Novels Of All Time - 2026 (Weight: 10)
- score: 9 -- The 100 Greatest Novels of All Time: The List - 2003 (Weight: 10)
- score: 4 -- An Expert's 200-Book List - 1973 (Weight: 10)
- score: 1 -- Our Users' Honorable Mention Favorite Books of All Time - 2024 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- 50 Classics You Must Read Before You Die - 2024 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- 1,000 Books to Read Before You Die: A Life-Changing List - 2018 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- 100 German Must-Reads - 2018 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The 100 Best Books in the World - 2021 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- 501 Must-Read Books - 2006 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- PEN Translation Prize - Yearly Book Award (Weight: 1)