Are “The Magnificent Ambersons” the most irritating family in all of literature? Probably not, but young George Amberson Minafer* and his mother drove me batty straight through this book. It’s well written, and it’s a very good The Times, They Are a-Changin’ story. But let me tell you: All these tragedies have me questioning my commitment to my Modern Library 100 project.** Here’s hoping the next book is a bit more light-hearted.

*I haven’t seen the A&E adaptation, but it looks like they nailed the casting.
**But not, of course, to Sparklemotion. My commitment to Sparklemotion is above reproach.