Five of the best books shaped by lists

In today’s information-saturated world, lists have become a go-to method for organizing our chaotic lives, offering both a sense of comfort and a hint of obsession. They provide clarity and focus, enabling us to navigate through the noise. Particularly in fiction, lists can reveal insights or shape perceptions, and when handled skillfully, they may elicit awe or unease.

Let’s explore some compelling literary works that showcase the remarkable impact of lists.

**Orbital by Samantha Harvey**
In *Orbital*, Samantha Harvey meticulously chronicles the daily life of Chie on the International Space Station, where mundane tasks like changing smoke detectors and monitoring mice come to life. Chie creates personal lists that serve as comforting rituals, much like habits formed during stress. The story unfolds not through conventional narrative arcs but through poetic descriptions and cyclical themes, weaving together the experiences of six astronauts and encouraging us to reflect on our own relationship with time and space.

**Caroline’s Bikini by Kirsty Gunn**
The story of Evan, a conflicted character in Kirsty Gunn’s *Caroline’s Bikini*, begins with a plea: “I really need you to write this story down for me.” As Emily takes on the role of transcribing Evan’s feelings about his unrequited love for his landlady, Caroline, she finds herself immersed in the storytelling process. The novel is rich with lists—detailing facts, furniture, conversations, and even lists of lists. Yet, much like the layering of a bikini, these lists never fully expose what’s hidden beneath. The narrative resonates with echoes of modernist titans like Joyce and Woolf as Emily strives to authentically capture Evan’s reality.

**High Fidelity by Nick Hornby**
In *High Fidelity*, Nick Hornby introduces us to Rob, a record shop owner who organizes his life through Top 10 lists. In Rob’s world, discussions are reduced to mere enumerations, as he proclaims, “Others have opinions. I have lists.” This cult classic follows Rob as he navigates a breakup and realizes that some facets of life resist simple categorization. While he may not be the most endearing of tragic comic protagonists, Rob’s journey encapsulates an era defined by lad magazines and listicles that significantly influenced cultural discourse.

**Schindler’s Ark by Thomas Keneally**
Originally released in the U.S. as *Schindler’s List*, Thomas Keneally’s Booker Prize-winning novel recounts the harrowing story of Oskar Schindler, a German businessman who saved over 1,000 Jewish lives during the Nazi regime. Ironically, Schindler employs the very instrument that stripped individuals of their humanity—the list—creating one to save his workers. As Keneally notes, “Oskar’s list, in the mind of some, was already more than a mere tabulation… It was a sweet chariot which might swing low.” The narrative also conveys the despair of those who were left, emphasizing that while the list symbolizes life, it also underscores an unimaginable absence.

**Lists of Note by Shaun Usher**
*Lists of Note* by Shaun Usher presents a visually captivating collection of 125 varied lists—from an ancient Egyptian record of workmen’s absenteeism to a list of murder suspects that JFK’s secretary wrote down following the assassination. It includes distinctive entries like Georges Perec’s food inventory for a single year and Galileo’s shopping list, making this book a delightful addition to any reading list.

Additionally, Sophie Ratcliffe’s forthcoming work, *Loss, a Love Story*, published by Northwestern University Press, further enriches her explorations in the realm of literature.