The MoviegoerThe Moviegoer
Score Classic
What it's about
Binx Bolling, a stockbroker in the New Orleans suburbs, is about to turn thirty. He spends his days selling mutual funds and dating his secretaries, and his evenings at the movies, which feel more real to him than life. In the week before Mardi Gras, his aunt asks him to look after his troubled cousin Kate, and Binx, on what he calls 'the search', tries to find something that matters.
Why it's worth reading
It won the National Book Award and is on both the TIME and Modern Library lists of the best novels. It's a quietly funny novel about modern emptiness.
You'll love it if you liked
The Catcher in the Rye
A Confederacy of Dunces
The StrangerGood to know
There's little plot; it's mostly Binx's thoughts. Kate's struggles include a suicide attempt.
By the numbers
- Readers1 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics94 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller15 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 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
Why it made the list
Reads as
Thought-provoking
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Sophie's ChoiceExplore the best-of lists
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Quick answers
Is The Moviegoer worth reading?
Yes. It won the National Book Award and is on both the TIME and Modern Library lists of the best novels. It ranks #1,824 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 65.4 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The Moviegoer about?
Binx Bolling, a stockbroker in the New Orleans suburbs, is about to turn thirty. He spends his days selling mutual funds and dating his secretaries, and his evenings at the movies, which feel more real to him than life. In the week before Mardi Gras, his aunt asks him to look after his troubled cousin Kate, and Binx, on what he calls 'the search', tries to find something that matters.
How long does it take to read The Moviegoer?
About 6 hours (242 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has The Moviegoer won?
National Book Award (Fiction) winner (1962).
What should I read after The Moviegoer?
If you liked it, try The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger, A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole or The Stranger by Albert Camus.