The Woman in the Dunes by Kobo Abe

This novel tells the story of a schoolteacher and amateur entomologist who travels to a remote seaside village to collect insects. He is tricked into staying the night in a house at the bottom of a sand pit with a mysterious woman, who spends her days shoveling back the ever-encroaching sand. As the days pass, the man realizes he has been trapped and is forced to help the woman with her endless task, leading to a strange and consuming relationship filled with existential dread and fascination.

The 6574th greatest book of all time

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Total Points: 51

Since this book was first published in 1962, there is a penalty of 0%. The age adjusted score is 51.0.

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.