Spanking The Maid by Robert Coover

The book is a surreal and repetitive narrative that delves into the complex power dynamics between a maid and her employer. Each day, the maid attempts to perform her duties perfectly, cleaning her employer's house, but invariably fails, leading to her being spanked for her transgressions. The story unfolds in a cyclical pattern, exploring themes of obsession, ritual, dominance, and submission. The interactions between the characters are charged with psychological tension, blurring the lines between reality and fantasy, as the reader is drawn into the strange, dream-like world of the maid's never-ending struggle for perfection and the employer's insatiable need for control.

The 8215th greatest book of all time


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Total Points: 45

Since this book was first published in 1982, there is a penalty of 12.8%. The age adjusted score is 39.24.

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.