The Painted Bird by Jerzy Kosinski

"The Painted Bird" is a dark and harrowing novel set in Eastern Europe during World War II. The story follows a young, unnamed boy of unknown ethnicity who is sent by his parents to live in a remote village for safety. However, he is instead subjected to brutal violence, abuse, and superstition by the superstitious peasants. The book explores themes of survival, human cruelty, and the loss of innocence in the face of war and hatred.

The 1349th greatest book of all time

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Total Points: 279

Since this book was first published in 1965, there is a penalty of 0%. The age adjusted score is 279.0.

This is to prevent newer books from reaching super high on the ranked list of the greatest books of all time. The greatest books should also stand the test of time.