The Largesse of the Sea MaidenThe Largesse of the Sea Maiden
Score Modern
What it's about
Denis Johnson's final collection of stories, published after his death, contemplates old age and mortality and the unexpected ways the mysteries of the universe appear, following haunted characters who try to atone for the past, remember lost loved ones or come to terms with lifelong obsessions.
Why it's worth reading
It was a National Book Critics Circle Award finalist. Many consider it the crowning work of a great American writer.
You'll love it if you liked
Train Dreams
Tree of Smoke
The Things They CarriedGood to know
It's a short collection, best read slowly.
By the numbers
- Readers55 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics25 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller5 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz7 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #228 of the 309 literary novels we rank
- #1030 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1900 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Moving
More by Denis Johnson
If you like this, read next
All the Light We Cannot See
Americanah
A Little Life
The Help
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Quick answers
Is The Largesse of the Sea Maiden worth reading?
Yes. It was a National Book Critics Circle Award finalist. It ranks #1,900 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 64.8 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Largesse of the Sea Maiden about?
Denis Johnson's final collection of stories, published after his death, contemplates old age and mortality and the unexpected ways the mysteries of the universe appear, following haunted characters who try to atone for the past, remember lost loved ones or come to terms with lifelong obsessions.
How long does it take to read The Largesse of the Sea Maiden?
About 6 hours (225 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The Largesse of the Sea Maiden?
If you liked it, try Train Dreams by Denis Johnson, Tree of Smoke by Denis Johnson or The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien.