Cat and Mouse by Günter Grass

"Cat and Mouse" is a novel that centers around a group of boys living in Danzig during World War II. The story is narrated by one of the boys, who recounts the life of his friend, whom they call "the great Mahlke", a boy with a large Adam's apple. Mahlke's attempts to prove himself a hero despite his physical oddity, his obsession with a sunken ship, and his eventual expulsion from school and enlistment in the war form the heart of the narrative. The novel explores themes of identity, guilt, memory, and the devastating impact of war on the individual and society.

The 1755th greatest book of all time

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Total Points: 216

Since this book was first published in 1961, there is a penalty of 0%. The age adjusted score is 216.0.

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.