The other day I found a list from TIME about the 100 best English-language novels from 1923 to the present. The complete list is here.

The list is impressive, to say the least. Books such as "All The King's Men", "American Pastoral" by the great Philip Roth, "Neuromancer", "1984" and "On the Road" by Jack Kerouac. It is a list that, from its very subject matter, makes me salivate at the prospect of reading.Sadly, I have not heard or even seen copies of several of these books and I consider myself to be an avid reader.

I started reading novels when I was four years old and I haven't stopped yet. Not a day goes by that I don't have a book tucked under my arm or waiting at home to be cracked open.

My point is, whenever there are greatest lists or best of lists, I always wonder, "says who?" I've read "The Blind Assassin" by Margaret Atwood. Good book, but, one of the greatest ever? I don't think so. I was also (the horror!) bored by "To Kill a Mockingbird."

The list was put together by Richard Lacayo and Lev Grossman. They drew up lists and compared, then searched out other novels that they hears was great. So, as with any great or best of list, it is the opinion of the writers. Make no mistake, it is an impressive list. I'm just not sure that when it comes to novels, you can ever say this one or that one is the greatest ever. It's all relative.