As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner
The narrative unfolds through the eyes of 15 different characters over 59 chapters. It is the story of the death of Addie Bundren and her poor, rural family's quest and motivations—noble or selfish—to honor her wish to be buried in her hometown of Jefferson, Mississippi. As the Bundren family undertakes a journey to fulfill Addie's last wish, they face many hardships and personal revelations. The novel explores themes of existentialism, death, and the nature of family relationships.
The 66th 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.
Total Points: 2629
This book was first published in 1930
28 Lists
- score: 151 -- The Top 10: The Greatest Books of All Time - 2007 (Weight: 150)
- score: 140 -- El Pais Favorite Books of 100 Spanish Authors - 2008 (Weight: 138)
- score: 133 -- The Ideal Library - 2024 (Weight: 129)
- score: 126 -- 100 Life-Changing Books - 2006 (Weight: 126)
- score: 115 -- The 100 Best Novels of the 20th Century - 1999 (Weight: 114)
- score: 108 -- The 16 Greatest Books of All Time - 2008 (Weight: 99)
- score: 106 -- The Best Southern Novels of All Time - 2009 (Weight: 96)
- score: 102 -- Best Books Listed for High School Students - 1984 (Weight: 102)
- score: 99 -- The New Lifetime Reading Plan - 1999 (Weight: 99)
- score: 96 -- 1000 Novels Everyone Must Read - 2009 (Weight: 96)
- score: 94 -- Quintessential American Fiction, According to the Rest of the World - 2015 (Weight: 90)
- score: 93 -- Radcliffe's 100 Best Novels - 1998 (Weight: 90)
- score: 93 -- Masterpieces of World Literature - 1991 (Weight: 93)
- score: 92 -- The Modern Library | 100 Best Novels - 1999 (Weight: 90)
- score: 90 -- Select 100 - 2015 (Weight: 90)
- score: 81 -- The Novel 100: A Ranking of the Greatest Novels of All Time - 2004 (Weight: 81)
- score: 81 -- The 100 Greatest Novels - 2007 (Weight: 81)
- score: 81 -- 50 Books to (Re-)Read at 50 - 2012 (Weight: 81)
- score: 81 -- How to Read Literature Like a Professor: A Reading List - 2003 (Weight: 81)
- score: 81 -- The 100 Greatest Novels of All Time: The List - 2003 (Weight: 81)
- score: 81 -- How to Read and Why - 2000 (Weight: 81)
- score: 81 -- The Book of Great Books: A Guide to 100 World Classics - 2001 (Weight: 81)
- score: 81 -- 100 Best Novels Written in English - 2015 (Weight: 81)
- score: 78 -- The 500 best books of all time from Culture Café users - 2008 (Weight: 78)
- score: 75 -- Harold Bloom's The Western Canon - 1994 (Weight: 75)
- score: 69 -- The College Board: 101 Great Books Recommended for College-Bound Readers - 2002 (Weight: 69)
- score: 66 -- The Complete 500: OCLC - 2024 (Weight: 66)
- score: 51 -- The 80 Books Every Man Should Read - 2015 (Weight: 51)