The Golden Notebook by Doris Lessing
The novel centers around a woman named Anna Wulf, a writer who keeps four notebooks, each representing a different aspect of her life: her experiences in Africa, her current life in London, a novel she is writing, and her personal experiences. As Anna's mental state deteriorates, she attempts to unify her fragmented self in a fifth notebook, the golden notebook. The novel explores themes of mental breakdown, communism, the changing role of women, and the fear of nuclear war.
The 134th greatest book of all time
If you're interested in seeing the ranking details on this book go here
This book is on the following lists:
- 6th on The Ideal Library (Book)
- 24th on The 100 Greatest British Novels (BBC)
- 29th on Koen Book Distributors Top 100 Books of the Past Century (themodernnovel.com)
- 59th on 20th Century's Greatest Hits: 100 English-Language Books of Fiction (Larry McCaffery)
- 61st on The Novel 100: A Ranking of the Greatest Novels of All Time (The Novel 100)
- 76th on Entertainment Weekly's Top 100 Novels (Entertainment Weekly)
- 89th on The Telegraph’s 100 Novels Everyone Should Read (Telegraph)
- 96th on 100 Best Books to Read by Women Authors (Good Housekeeping)
- #ThisBook (#ThisBook)
- As if You Don't Have Enough to Read, Fiction Edition (New York Times)
- Harold Bloom's The Western Canon (The Western Canon (Book) by Harold Bloom)
- The Modern Library: The Two Hundred Best Novels in English Since 1950 (The Modern Library (Book))
- 75 Books by Women Whose Words Have Changed the World (Women's National Book Association)
- 100 Great 20th Century English-language Works of Fiction by Women (Feminista!)
- TIME Magazine All Time 100 Novels (TIME Magazine)
- 87 Books Written by Women That Are So Good, You Won't Be Able to Put Them Down (Pop Sugar)
- Top 100 Works in World Literature (Norwegian Book Clubs, with the Norwegian Nobel Institute)
- 100 Most Influential Books of the Century (Boston Public Library)
- From Zero to Well-Read in 100 Books (Jeff O'Neal at Bookriot.com)
- 40 Essential Feminist Books to Read for Women's History Month (Harpers Bazaar)
- 100 Best Novels Written in English (The Guardian)
- 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die (The Book)
- 222 Best Books of All Time That Deserve a Spot on Your Bookshelf, With Picks from Bestselling Authors and Indie Booksellers (Parade)