This book is #9 on the Modern Library Top 100 list. I’m not sure why, or actually I am: the book, a semi-autobiographical portrait of the author, follows a man with mommy issues who uses women until he falls for a feminist woman who outplays him at his own game. It must have been catnip to the mostly-male judges panel.

With this book I have finished the _9s on the list, and am looking forward to some more variety in the 8s.