#123. "On Writing" by Stephen King

For several generations, Stephen King has been one of the most influential authors when it comes to genre fiction. Both in terms of quantity and quality, he has released a great amount of work that has reshaped pop culture and has made him one of the most respected voices. Given that he's also one of the most accessible famous authors from the 20th century, it makes sense that he would want to write a book sharing some of his secrets. While it's far from the academic aura of other texts, King manages to break down "On Writing" to a language that connects him to his reader by showing that everyone is capable of becoming an author with enough hard work. As someone who used to write schlocky horror stories for b-movie magazines, he knows very well the struggle to be accepted. The results are at times insight, others soporific, but overall it's one of his most staggering works in his career for how it tears back the curtain of what one would expect and shows the humanity that goes into a fairly daunting process.

#122. "The Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde

While he only wrote one novel in his lifetime, Oscar Wilde made every line count in "The Picture of Dorian Gray" with one of the most elegantly written explorations of vanity and death. Every line is treated as one of the most important things ever done, and in doing so not only captures the characters' high sense of self, but reflects a dark romanticization that Wilde has with life itself. As an artist, he can't help but look at this story through several media, whether it be art or performance, and understand their functions within our lives. With an opening chapter that centers around deconstructing the concept of criticism, this is a highly intellectual experience that still allows for emotions to strike fiercely when necessary. For a man who knew how to provoke, his balance of humor and tragedy here makes for one of the most satisfying 20th century reads one can have. 

#121. "The Punch" by Noah Hawley

For most people, Noah Hawley is best known for his work on TV. Shows like Fargo and Legion find him exploring the limitless potential of what serialization can provide. With a colorful cast of characters, he's continually pushing boundaries and discovering something more sublime buried underneath. However, there's something more curious to be found in his fiction, notably the stripped-down gimmicks that focus instead on dysfunctional families. "The Punch" is a book that sounds like a very tired tale of a family coming to terms with devastating events. Even if that's true, Hawley has proven himself to be a great writer no matter where his page lies, and here he brings a colorful personality to characters each emotionally devoid of something inside. It's a series of character studies that are at times delightful and at others tragic. As a whole, "The Punch" lives up to its title by having the moments that resonate be painful, like a punch to the gut. It's a familiar story, but one so personal that it's difficult to not appreciate.

#120. "Wicked" by Gregory Maguire

Even in a world that's indebted to origin stories and recontextualizing classics, Gregory Maguire has a very unique perspective in mind. "Wicked" sounds like it would be a bit too novelty, giving The Wicked Witch/Elphaba from L. Frank Baum's masterpiece "The Wizard of Oz" a sympathetic backstory that turns her from villain to hero. The results have lead to a successful Broadway show adored by millions and an upcoming film. With that said, fans of the more mainstream takes may find a lot of difficulty in grappling with this version of the story. While it does plenty to add a dark, disturbing tone to the carefree world they once knew, the back half gets buried in a complicated mess of ideas that aren't nearly as successful, often removed or changed for later adaptations. As far as a concept goes, Maguire has released an impressive work. In terms of execution, it's much more difficult to praise.

#119. "Vineland" by Thomas Pynchon

In the pantheon of post-modernist literature, there are few authors as beguiling as Thomas Pynchon. With his World War II novel "Gravity's Rainbow," he defied the potential of what constituted literary prose. It was at times brilliant and other times juvenile, creating a world where intellects butted heads with idiots with some frequency. What was it all for? Nobody is entirely sure, and that's part of the fun for the anomaly of a reclusive author. If there's any fault with "Vineland," it's that it had to follow up such a behemoth of a novel. For those who lobbed tons of criticism against his previous work, there's a good chance that they will come away appreciating what he achieves here so much more. With that said, it's become considered a minor work by Pynchon and for good reason. It plays all the hits, finding the hippie movement growing old as a new conservative age comes. There's a lot of head-butting and music motifs. It's entertaining even if it doens't quite have the home run appeal fans would like.

#118. "The Body Artist" by Don Delillo

 

As a writer, there's a lot to like about Don Delillo. Over his career, he's done an excellent job of capturing the human condition with insight and humor, often forcing the reader to recontextualize the world around them. While he's better known for his bigger novels like "White Noise," there is something to be said for his shorter writing, such as the novella "The Body Artist." The idea of trying to boil down everything that matters to the author in such a short space means that every page is economic, forcing only the important details to emerge. The results are a bit muddled and don't fully meet their potential, but it's a decent exercise from an author who is known for always taking surprising turns and creating worlds that are much more complex than they initially appear.

#117. "Alice Through the Looking Glass" by Lewis Carroll

 

In the world of children's literature, there have been few characters who are curious and curiouser than Alice. With endless adaptations over the past century on stage and screen, Lewis Carroll's defining creation has inspired audiences to find the absurd in everyday life. With zippy prose and playful language, Wonderland is a world that comes to life all too easily. What's more impressive is that even with an inventive original story, credit should be given to "Alice Through the Looking Glass" for being more than a retread of what's come before. Sure, it's another visit through the crazy world of characters, but like the best of sequels, it builds on what came before and creates a strong companion to the original. In fact, one could argue that this features some of the greatest moments Carroll ever wrote.