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The quickest way for a publication to get people arguing is to come out with a list of the “100 Best Somethings,” i.e., the 100 Best Movies of All Time, etc. The Observer newspaper in England has joined the listmaking fray with its list of the 100 Best Novels of All Time …

(observer. guardian. co.uk/review/story/ 0,6903,1061037,00.html).

Naturally the list is weighted toward Brits, and British men at that.

Still, there are some great entries (Jane Austen’s “Emma” is joined by more current classics such as Ian McEwan’s “Atonement” and “Money” by Martin Amis), as well as several questionable books that we’re sure are only read (under duress, no doubt) by English lit grad students.