Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks
"Birdsong" is a historical novel that explores the horrors of World War I through the eyes of Stephen Wraysford, a young Englishman. The narrative alternates between Stephen's passionate love affair with a married woman in pre-war France and his experiences in the trenches of the Western Front. The novel also includes a subplot set in the 1970s, where Stephen's granddaughter tries to unravel the mystery of her grandfather's past. The book is a poignant exploration of love, war, and the endurance of the human spirit.
The 1241st greatest book of all time
Ranking Details:
Our ranking system awards points to books based on their appearance and position on curated lists. Here's how it works:
Unranked Lists: For lists without specific rankings, each book receives points equivalent to the list's weight. This approach recognizes the book's inclusion on prestigious lists.
Ranked Lists: Books on ranked lists receive points in two ways:
- Base Points: Initially, every book is awarded points equal to the list's weight, acknowledging its significance.
- Bonus Points: Additionally, books earn bonus points based on their ranking. The total bonus pool, equal to 100% of the list's weight, is distributed among the books, with higher-ranked books receiving more points.
Exponential Distribution: The distribution of bonus points follows an exponential model. This means the top-ranked book (#1) receives significantly more bonus points than those further down the list (e.g., #100). Our algorithm ensures that higher placements are rewarded more generously, reflecting the achievement of a top rank on any given list.
This scoring system ensures that each book's ranking reflects both its presence on multiple lists and its positions within those lists, providing a comprehensive measure of its acclaim and popularity.
List Date Penalty Feature
In our continuous effort to provide the most accurate and fair rankings, we have introduced a new feature: the List Date Penalty. This feature aims to reduce recency bias in our rankings by applying a penalty to books based on their publication dates relative to the list's publication date.
How It Works
- Publication Date Comparison: For each book on a list, we compare its publication date to the publication date of the list.
-
Penalty Application:
- Maximum Penalty: If a book was published in the same year as the list, it receives the maximum penalty, as we believe it hasn't had enough time to stand the test of time.
- Proportional Penalty: Books that were published in the years leading up to the list's publication date receive a proportional penalty based on the number of years they have been available.
- No Penalty: Books that were published more than a specified number of years (max age for penalty) before the list's publication date do not receive any penalty, acknowledging their enduring relevance and influence.
Why This Matters
By mitigating recency bias, the List Date Penalty feature helps to ensure that books that have had more time to be evaluated by readers and critics are given their due weight. This results in a more equitable and historically balanced ranking that truly reflects the greatest books of all time.
Total Points: 245
This book was first published in 1993
13 Lists
- score: 76 -- 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die - 2006 (Weight: 180)
- score: 56 -- 30 Books Every Adult Should Read Before They Die - 2006 (Weight: 130)
- score: 39 -- 100 Books to Read in a Lifetime - 2014 (Weight: 70)
- score: 20 -- The Big Read - 2003 (Weight: 50)
- score: 18 -- My Favourite Book - Australian Big Read - 2004 (Weight: 50)
- score: 14 -- 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read - 2009 (Weight: 30)
- score: 10 -- Waterstone's Books of the Century - 1997 (Weight: 40)
- score: 3 -- 50 Essential Reads by Contemporary Authors - 2004 (Weight: 10)
- score: 1 -- The Best War and History Books of All Time - 2014 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- Waterstones' Top 25 Books of the Last 25 Years (2007) - 2007 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- As if You Don't Have Enough to Read, Fiction Edition - 2011 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- The Modern Library: The Two Hundred Best Novels in English Since 1950 - 2011 (Weight: 1)
- score: 1 -- 50 Books to Read Before You Die - 2015 (Weight: 1)