Titles from classic literature which should be read by everyone.
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4.30 avg rating — 4,861,217 ratings
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4.16 avg rating — 2,347,235 ratings
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4.20 avg rating — 5,543,708 ratings
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4.21 avg rating — 848,518 ratings
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3.93 avg rating — 5,976,125 ratings
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7

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4.33 avg rating — 1,036,855 ratings
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8

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3.90 avg rating — 2,177,465 ratings
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9

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4.30 avg rating — 4,496,582 ratings
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10

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4.17 avg rating — 2,483,551 ratings
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11

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4.33 avg rating — 2,512,033 ratings
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12

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4.09 avg rating — 946,668 ratings
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13

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3.80 avg rating — 879,782 ratings
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14

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4.28 avg rating — 712,195 ratings
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15

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4.44 avg rating — 654,154 ratings
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16

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3.92 avg rating — 1,026,015 ratings
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17

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4.03 avg rating — 1,002,288 ratings
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18

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4.41 avg rating — 3,179,626 ratings
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19

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4.06 avg rating — 613,169 ratings
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20

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3.88 avg rating — 1,018,416 ratings
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21

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4.02 avg rating — 1,494,153 ratings
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22

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3.80 avg rating — 3,923,428 ratings
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23

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4.05 avg rating — 993,799 ratings
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24

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3.90 avg rating — 2,865,288 ratings
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25

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3.84 avg rating — 1,206,513 ratings
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26

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3.91 avg rating — 1,924,435 ratings
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27

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4.14 avg rating — 1,911,037 ratings
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28

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4.31 avg rating — 1,260,724 ratings
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29

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3.44 avg rating — 925,879 ratings
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30

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3.88 avg rating — 430,641 ratings
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31

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4.13 avg rating — 218,249 ratings
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32

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3.70 avg rating — 3,228,927 ratings
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33

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3.87 avg rating — 954,575 ratings
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34

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4.29 avg rating — 1,100,273 ratings
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35

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3.81 avg rating — 1,328,316 ratings
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36

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4.10 avg rating — 941,088 ratings
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37

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4.15 avg rating — 786,059 ratings
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38

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3.84 avg rating — 304,370 ratings
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39

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4.24 avg rating — 3,172,643 ratings
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40

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3.91 avg rating — 307,990 ratings
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41

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4.03 avg rating — 1,431,667 ratings
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42

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4.33 avg rating — 1,123,779 ratings
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43

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4.10 avg rating — 348,429 ratings
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44

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4.08 avg rating — 886,644 ratings
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45

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4.22 avg rating — 2,031,332 ratings
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46

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3.83 avg rating — 86,700 ratings
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47

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4.25 avg rating — 732,022 ratings
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48

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4.04 avg rating — 180,842 ratings
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49

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4.58 avg rating — 1,053,969 ratings
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50

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3.79 avg rating — 498,204 ratings
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51

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4.48 avg rating — 57,770 ratings
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52

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3.93 avg rating — 515,085 ratings
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53

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4.50 avg rating — 1,140,334 ratings
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54

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3.57 avg rating — 620,498 ratings
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55

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4.02 avg rating — 4,619,430 ratings
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56

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4.11 avg rating — 524,784 ratings
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57

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4.31 avg rating — 1,481,374 ratings
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58

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3.92 avg rating — 243,929 ratings
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59

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4.03 avg rating — 208,097 ratings
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60

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3.95 avg rating — 285,170 ratings
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61

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3.96 avg rating — 280,676 ratings
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61

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3.97 avg rating — 2,877,261 ratings
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63

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4.40 avg rating — 297,413 ratings
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64

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3.53 avg rating — 238,981 ratings
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65

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4.18 avg rating — 7,469 ratings
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66

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4.56 avg rating — 25,826 ratings
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67

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4.17 avg rating — 368,865 ratings
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68

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4.28 avg rating — 758,104 ratings
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69

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4.54 avg rating — 735,463 ratings
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70

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4.02 avg rating — 114,928 ratings
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71

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4.14 avg rating — 231,067 ratings
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72

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3.92 avg rating — 10,057 ratings
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73

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4.02 avg rating — 17,546 ratings
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74

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4.30 avg rating — 328,416 ratings
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75

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3.97 avg rating — 227,900 ratings
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76

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3.77 avg rating — 204,109 ratings
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77

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3.99 avg rating — 891,295 ratings
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78

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3.68 avg rating — 333,237 ratings
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79

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4.09 avg rating — 1,306,950 ratings
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80

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4.23 avg rating — 221,956 ratings
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81

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3.97 avg rating — 167,502 ratings
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82

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3.98 avg rating — 106,725 ratings
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83

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4.16 avg rating — 69,200 ratings
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84

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3.81 avg rating — 133,593 ratings
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85

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4.03 avg rating — 1,062,705 ratings
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86

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really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 40,000 ratings
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87

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4.05 avg rating — 260,934 ratings
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88

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3.85 avg rating — 458,928 ratings
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89

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4.21 avg rating — 1,218,573 ratings
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90

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4.12 avg rating — 1,116,489 ratings
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91

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3.50 avg rating — 350,215 ratings
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92

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3.89 avg rating — 278,850 ratings
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93

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4.06 avg rating — 134 ratings
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94

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4.02 avg rating — 167,290 ratings
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95

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3.99 avg rating — 320,613 ratings
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96

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3.74 avg rating — 143,955 ratings
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97

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4.24 avg rating — 49,343 ratings
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98

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3.83 avg rating — 178,711 ratings
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99

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4.17 avg rating — 1,306,925 ratings
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100

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3.57 avg rating — 275,961 ratings
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509 books · 632 voters · list created February 5th, 2010 by jb Byrkit (votes) .
191 likes · 
Lists are re-scored approximately every 5 minutes.


jb 2646 books
73 friends
Lisa 7549 books
141 friends
Nelda 181 books
51 friends
DalalK. 266 books
9 friends
Christina 223 books
22 friends
Justine 316 books
1 friend
Anajoy-rusticgirl 3565 books
26 friends
Annie 862 books
107 friends

More voters…


Comments Showing 1-23 of 23 (23 new)

dateUp arrow    newest »

message 1: by jb (new)

jb Byrkit This is a work in progress list.....


message 2: by Jo (new)

Jo Lisa - I think you're my kind of literary girl. Is there some way we can chat through this site/list? I have been a voracious reader of quality literature for many years ( thanks to my upbringing, amazingly aewlf taught Welsh father, and finding my passion early) Have met very few people as eclectic in their tastes or widely read in the current canon ( and previous canons) . Language and what it reveals is my passion and while not confined to one genre or historical period - to me a book well written has an impact similar to what people claim music can do in their lives . Hope that doesn't seem to incoherent but time constriction here and have to sign off
Jo


message 3: by Albert (new)

Albert Great list. I'm very surprised you included Alan Watts, especially Does it Matter. Though it certainly is an interesting book.


message 4: by Sarah (new)

Sarah Unwin INTERESTING LIST


message 5: by Donna (new)

Donna Davis Hmm...I'm having a hard time seeing Artemis Fowl as a classic at all, but multiples w/in the series?


message 6: by Misfit (new)

Misfit Isn't It Pretty To Think So?

How does this quality for classics?


message 7: by Danna (new)

Danna NOT classic literature
The Kite Runner (2003, if ever - modern classic)
Isn't it pretty to think so (2012)
Artemis Fowl


message 8: by Ryan (new)

Ryan What? No Chekhov?


message 9: by Nicole (new)

Nicole Ðɑηηɑ wrote: "The Narnia Chronicles is so Christian, I think you should wipe it off"

Your comment is absurd and senseless. The Chronicles of Narnia will always be a classic, and trying to deny it that title simply because it is based off of Christianity is ridiculous. If you don't like to read anything that is considered Christian, then simply don't read it. But this classic literature should NOT be removed from this list. The Chronicles of Narnia will always be a classic, and that will never change just because it reflects Christianity.


message 10: by Danna (new)

Danna Nicole wrote: "Ðɑηηɑ wrote: "The Narnia Chronicles is so Christian, I think you should wipe it off"

Your comment is absurd and senseless. The Chronicles of Narnia will always be a classic, and trying to deny it ..."


That was a really stupid comment. I can't believe I wrote it!


message 11: by Dorottya (new)

Dorottya Such a nice idea for a list.
But. Whoever put in Coelho, the Hunger Games and John Green for the list does not understand the meaning of the term classic literature (I'm not saying those are in default bad books, but in no way classics).


message 12: by Danna (new)

Danna Removed for not being classified as 'classic' under any circumstances:
The AlchemistThe Fault in Our Stars


message 13: by Angela (new)

Angela The classic novels that intrigued me the most are picture of dorian gray, lolita, and les miserables. The list actually gave a good tip on what to read next.


message 14: by Allan (new)

Allan Black why do these lists always forget to include Dune by Frank Herbert it should definitely be up there


message 15: by Dennis (new)

Dennis Smith jennbunny wrote: "This is a work in progress list....."

I sure hope so. The best ones are not listed.


message 16: by Enhbaatar (new)

Enhbaatar Batmagnai Hi how could i read these literagures full version ? Pls help me


message 17: by Nirmal (new)

Nirmal Nizz I dn't belive in the ratings,it dsn't indicates the worthness of a literary work.


message 18: by George (new)

George Siordiya This list is a joke.


message 19: by Erin (new)

Erin Why would people of other countries need to read the American Constitution?


message 20: by BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) (last edited Apr 03, 2015 12:47PM) (new)

BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) I just removed 11 (!) duplicates, which is quite a lot, considering there are 285 books on this list now.


message 21: by BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) (last edited Sep 30, 2015 06:38AM) (new)

BookLovingLady (deceased Jan. 25, 2023...) George wrote: "This list is a joke."

I'm afraid I tend to agree... There are books on this list which I would definitely not consider 'Best Classic Literature Ever'. I mean, Harry Potter?? Come on people. I loved the Harry Potter books, but they can't possibly be considered classic literature... And there are several other titles mentioned here which this applies to as well.


message 22: by Oguz (new)

Oguz Eren A list named "best classic literature ever" should have at least 5-6 Russian novels among top 30. The first Russian novel is listed as 37th; it should be a joke.


message 23: by John (new)

John Baldwin I thought 187 was a wild choice


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