The Violent Bear It Away by Flannery O'Connor

The novel revolves around a young boy, Francis Tarwater, raised by his religious fanatic great-uncle in the backwoods of the American South. After his uncle's death, he is torn between following his uncle's wish for him to become a prophet, and the allure of a more conventional life presented by his educated uncle, Rayber. The story is a deep exploration of religious extremism, the struggle between free will and destiny, and the power of prophecy.

The 1596th greatest book of all time

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Total Points: 233

Since this book was first published in 1960, there is a penalty of 0%. The age adjusted score is 233.0.

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.