At Swim Two-Birds by Flann O'Brien
This novel is a complex, metafictional work that weaves together three separate narratives. The first is about a lazy, hard-drinking college student living with his uncle, the second is about a devilish Pooka and a loquacious old man, and the third is about a fictional character named Finn who seeks revenge on his author for creating him poorly. The narratives eventually intersect in a unique and humorous way, challenging traditional ideas of story structure and character autonomy.
The 341st greatest book of all time
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Total Points: 1019
This book was first published in 1939
11 Lists
- score: 150 -- 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die - 2006 (Weight: 150)
- score: 120 -- Books of the Century - 1999 (Weight: 120)
- score: 95 -- In Which These Are the 100 Greatest Novels - 2011 (Weight: 93)
- score: 94 -- 20th Century's Greatest Hits: 100 English-Language Books of Fiction - 1999 (Weight: 93)
- score: 93 -- Donald Barthelme’s Reading List - 1985 (Weight: 93)
- score: 84 -- Top 50 Irish Novels - 2003 (Weight: 78)
- score: 81 -- TIME Magazine All Time 100 Novels - 2005 (Weight: 81)
- score: 81 -- 100 Best Novels Written in English - 2015 (Weight: 81)
- score: 78 -- As if You Don't Have Enough to Read, Fiction Edition - 2011 (Weight: 78)
- score: 71 -- 100 Best Novels in English Since 1900 - 2014 (Weight: 69)
- score: 69 -- D. G. Myers’ 50 Greatest English Language Novels - 2009 (Weight: 69)