Five of the best books shaped by lists
- Lists provide a therapeutic and organizing function in literature, helping characters manage their lives.
- Fictional works like 'Orbital', 'Caroline's Bikini', and 'High Fidelity' explore the complexities of human emotions through the lens of lists.
- These narratives highlight the limitations of lists while also showcasing their power to document and influence human experiences.
In a world overwhelmed by information, lists serve as a therapeutic and addictive tool, providing order and clarity. Fictional lists, such as those in Samantha Harvey's 'Orbital', illustrate how characters manage their time and space aboard the International Space Station, revealing their inner thoughts and struggles through the act of listing. Kirsty Gunn's 'Caroline's Bikini' explores the obsession with documenting unrequited love through various lists, highlighting the limitations of lists in capturing the entirety of human experience. Nick Hornby's 'High Fidelity' features Rob, a record-shop owner who navigates his breakup through Top 10 lists, emphasizing the inadequacy of enumeration in understanding complex emotions. The narrative also reflects on the deeper implications of lists, as seen in the historical context of Oskar Schindler, who used lists to save lives during the Holocaust, transforming a dehumanizing tool into a means of salvation. Shaun Usher's 'Lists of Note' compiles 125 diverse lists, ranging from ancient records to personal inventories, showcasing the breadth of human experience captured through lists. This collection includes everything from workmen's absences in ancient Egypt to Galileo's shopping list, illustrating the significance of lists across time and culture. Ultimately, these works reveal the multifaceted nature of lists in literature, serving as both a reflection of human experience and a commentary on the limitations of categorization. They invite readers to consider how lists shape our understanding of life, love, and history.