Titles from classic literature which should be read by everyone.
1

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4.30 avg rating — 4,817,090 ratings
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3

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4.16 avg rating — 2,328,820 ratings
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4.20 avg rating — 5,481,338 ratings
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4.21 avg rating — 844,890 ratings
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6

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3.93 avg rating — 5,931,363 ratings
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7

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4.33 avg rating — 1,026,464 ratings
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8

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3.90 avg rating — 2,068,696 ratings
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9

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4.30 avg rating — 4,464,261 ratings
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10

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4.17 avg rating — 2,466,372 ratings
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11

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4.33 avg rating — 2,486,343 ratings
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12

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4.09 avg rating — 941,254 ratings
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13

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3.80 avg rating — 875,401 ratings
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14

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4.28 avg rating — 708,863 ratings
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15

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4.44 avg rating — 641,891 ratings
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16

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3.92 avg rating — 1,020,528 ratings
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17

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4.41 avg rating — 3,157,971 ratings
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18

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4.03 avg rating — 996,192 ratings
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19

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4.06 avg rating — 610,199 ratings
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20

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3.88 avg rating — 1,013,954 ratings
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21

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4.02 avg rating — 1,480,423 ratings
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22

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3.80 avg rating — 3,901,171 ratings
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23

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4.05 avg rating — 985,681 ratings
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24

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3.83 avg rating — 1,195,850 ratings
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25

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3.90 avg rating — 2,843,139 ratings
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26

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3.91 avg rating — 1,897,269 ratings
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27

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4.13 avg rating — 1,886,460 ratings
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28

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4.31 avg rating — 1,257,662 ratings
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29

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3.44 avg rating — 921,274 ratings
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30

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3.88 avg rating — 428,465 ratings
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31

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4.13 avg rating — 216,075 ratings
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32

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3.70 avg rating — 3,207,151 ratings
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33

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3.87 avg rating — 947,657 ratings
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34

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4.29 avg rating — 1,085,195 ratings
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35

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3.81 avg rating — 1,316,487 ratings
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36

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4.10 avg rating — 933,781 ratings
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37

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4.15 avg rating — 779,041 ratings
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38

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3.84 avg rating — 303,026 ratings
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39

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4.24 avg rating — 3,157,545 ratings
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40

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4.03 avg rating — 1,408,098 ratings
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41

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4.33 avg rating — 1,115,940 ratings
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42

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3.91 avg rating — 305,889 ratings
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43

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4.10 avg rating — 347,244 ratings
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44

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4.08 avg rating — 879,372 ratings
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45

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4.22 avg rating — 2,019,557 ratings
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46

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3.83 avg rating — 86,191 ratings
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47

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4.25 avg rating — 723,184 ratings
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48

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4.04 avg rating — 179,536 ratings
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49

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4.58 avg rating — 1,043,829 ratings
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50

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3.79 avg rating — 494,862 ratings
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51

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4.48 avg rating — 57,692 ratings
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52

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4.50 avg rating — 1,128,564 ratings
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53

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3.93 avg rating — 510,830 ratings
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54

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3.57 avg rating — 616,899 ratings
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55

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4.02 avg rating — 4,567,907 ratings
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56

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4.11 avg rating — 521,158 ratings
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57

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4.31 avg rating — 1,475,458 ratings
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58

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3.92 avg rating — 242,966 ratings
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59

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3.95 avg rating — 283,074 ratings
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60

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3.96 avg rating — 278,190 ratings
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60

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3.97 avg rating — 2,847,063 ratings
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62

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4.40 avg rating — 296,469 ratings
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63

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3.53 avg rating — 238,163 ratings
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64

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4.19 avg rating — 7,413 ratings
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65

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4.03 avg rating — 206,637 ratings
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66

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4.56 avg rating — 25,722 ratings
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67

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4.17 avg rating — 366,545 ratings
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68

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4.28 avg rating — 753,472 ratings
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69

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4.54 avg rating — 731,884 ratings
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70

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4.02 avg rating — 114,349 ratings
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71

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4.14 avg rating — 225,329 ratings
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72

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3.92 avg rating — 9,972 ratings
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73

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4.02 avg rating — 17,537 ratings
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74

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4.30 avg rating — 326,912 ratings
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75

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3.97 avg rating — 226,444 ratings
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76

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3.77 avg rating — 203,100 ratings
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77

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3.99 avg rating — 887,790 ratings
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78

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3.68 avg rating — 331,870 ratings
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79

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4.09 avg rating — 1,298,681 ratings
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80

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4.23 avg rating — 221,423 ratings
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81

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3.97 avg rating — 166,519 ratings
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82

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3.98 avg rating — 106,094 ratings
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83

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4.16 avg rating — 68,514 ratings
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84

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3.81 avg rating — 133,249 ratings
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85

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4.04 avg rating — 259,026 ratings
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86

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3.85 avg rating — 455,013 ratings
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87

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4.21 avg rating — 1,205,123 ratings
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88

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4.12 avg rating — 1,107,607 ratings
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89

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3.50 avg rating — 348,151 ratings
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90

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4.03 avg rating — 1,053,468 ratings
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91

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3.89 avg rating — 277,047 ratings
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92

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4.07 avg rating — 133 ratings
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93

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really liked it 4.00 avg rating — 39,661 ratings
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94

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4.01 avg rating — 166,322 ratings
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95

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3.99 avg rating — 318,734 ratings
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96

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3.74 avg rating — 143,421 ratings
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97

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4.24 avg rating — 49,270 ratings
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98

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3.83 avg rating — 176,799 ratings
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99

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4.17 avg rating — 1,298,831 ratings
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100

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3.57 avg rating — 272,739 ratings
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509 books · 630 voters · list created February 5th, 2010 by jb Byrkit (votes) .
191 likes · 
Lists are re-scored approximately every 5 minutes.


jb 2640 books
73 friends
Lisa 7513 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
27 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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