The Cement Garden by Ian McEwan

The story revolves around four siblings who are left to fend for themselves after the untimely death of both their parents. The death of their mother, the second parent to die, forces them to hide her body in the basement to avoid being separated by social services. The siblings create their own dystopian world within the confines of their home, leading to a disturbing exploration of their relationships, particularly between the two oldest siblings, as they grapple with the loss, isolation, and burgeoning adolescence.

The 1863rd greatest book of all time

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Total Points: 213

Since this book was first published in 1978, there is a penalty of 6.4%. The age adjusted score is 199.37.

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.