group discussion
topic:
Books that SHOULD be on the list but aren't
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What books have you read which you felt deserved to be on the list but had been overlooked.
Some books I think should be on the list are:
The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls
Light in August by William Faulkner (I know there are already a few books of his on the list, but this one should definitely be on there too)
The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand (I was very surprised to see that Ayn Rand had been completely excluded from the list)
BTW-I'm going off of the 2006 list so I apologize if any of these books were later included in the 2008 one.
The Red Badge of Courage, Tom Sawyer, The Good Earth, and Roots should be on the list, to name a few.
I agree about...well..everything already mentioned! The absence of Ayn Rand was really suprising to me, actually.
The absence of Ayn Rand lends substance to the list! What drivel. Awful prose, simpleton storylines, and works only marginally as an economic persuasion. Agree with Tom Sawyer, though Huck Finn did make the list.
Both Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead deserve to be on the list. I would also include Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follet and The Giver by Lois Lowry. Even though it is technically Young Adult, it has a powerful message that applies to all ages.
I have seen Ayn Rand described as "a talented typist" and do not feel her absence on this list at all: of the very few 'did not finish' books in my life, hers are two."The Giver" is extremely powerful, and my first reaction was that this should be sold by prescription only, like "Goodnight, Mr. Tom," another YA.
Chel, you took the titles out of my mouth! Red Badge of Courage, one of the first realistic war stories, should be there, and definitely something by Pearl Buck. I also feel that leaving Ray Bradbury off the list is a big oversight - Fahrenheit 451 should be there at least. And I was annoyed/surprised that Pilgrim's Progress was dropped from the 2006 list. BTW I LOVE The Giver, one of my all-time favorites, but a little too juvenile for this list perhaps (?).
The Dollmaker by H. Arnow, Another Roadside Attraction by Tom Robbins, Travels with Charlie by Steinbeck are a few of my choices.
I will certainly concur with Red Badge of Courage, The Good Earth or something else by Pearl Buck, Fahrenheit 451, Pilgrim's Progress, and anything by Steinbeck. I agree the Giver is probably too young, but it is such a great book.
There are 3 works by Steinbeck on the list: Grapes of Wrath, Of Mice and Men (his two best IMO) and Cannery Row.
I actually meant to reply that they could add Travels with Charlie as anything by Steinbeck is great IMO. Sorry for the confusion.
Linda wrote: "Chel, you took the titles out of my mouth! Red Badge of Courage, one of the first realistic war stories, should be there, and definitely something by Pearl Buck. I also feel that leaving Ray Bradbu..." I agree about Bradbury. I nominate Dandelion Wine and/or The Martian Chronicles.Alas,never read Fahrenheit 451. One of those books you think you know without having read it.





