On July 20, 1998, Modern Library put out a call to readers, asking them to vote on what they thought were the 100 best novels written in the English language during the 20th century. Modern Library closed the voting three months later, after nearly a quarter-million people had voted. I can’t resist lists like that one and I’m nearly finished with it. It’s been a fine journey.
One of the books on that list is James Joyce’s basically incomprehensible, 628-page tome, “Finnegan’s Wake.” Pick it up sometime if you’re looking to improve your powers of concentration while becoming even more confused than you already are.