This book was the first I read for my Modern Library reading challenge (http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/no... and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modern_L...). I thought the book's plot moved slowly, but I liked the dry wit and subtle humor in the voice of the narrator. I'm not sure what moved Modern Library to rank this books within the best 100 of the 20th century, however.

This book follows the Amberson family, a prominent Midwest family at the the turn of the century. The family has a single scion, George Amberson Minafer, who has grown up rich and spoiled, with no interest in any career. The family's fortunes slowly deteriorates as the country changes around them while they remain mired in the past. Ultimately George is left on his own, and we learn whether he is able to grow out of his previous selfish behavior.

I enjoyed reading this books for its descriptions of fin-de-siecle fashion (especially the mustaches) and homes, but found the plot irritating, and wanted to yell at some of the characters, who never seemed to learn anything.