Closely Watched Trains by Bohumil Hrabal

"Closely Watched Trains" is a darkly humorous tale set in Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia during World War II. It follows the life of a young, inexperienced railway worker who is struggling with his sexual awakening while dealing with the harsh realities of war. The novel is a poignant exploration of the absurdity of life, the tragicomedy of human existence, and the power of ordinary people to resist oppression.

The 1614th greatest book of all time


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Total Points: 234

Since this book was first published in 1965, there is a penalty of 0%. The age adjusted score is 234.0.

This is to prevent newer books from reaching super high on the ranked list of the greatest books of all time. The greatest books should also stand the test of time.