The Book Thief/Markus Zusak A brilliant book that is relatively unknown because it is Australian. Because it reads on so many levels it must appeal to a muck larger audience than it originally appears to reach.
Besides a brilliant story, the book is gentle instruction in good writing. It's a book that makes you want to meet in real life the characters. Liesel could be one of the great heroines of modern fiction.

I must be different. I've read 9 books on the top 100, 6 I thought were bad, 1 was good in JR High, and 2 were good. There is only 3 others I would like to read.

Are we suppose to ask why? And, are we allowed to direct comments at a specific person?
What are the nine books out of the top100? Why are they bad? When I read a book I'm interested in the writing. The subject or the opinion might be abrasive to me, but the writing can still be good,very good. When writing convinces or compels we usually conclude its the truth. Some people see that as dangerous. I see it as writing, good writing.
Its up to us and our teachers to see when good writing in not the truth. Its not up to us and our teachers to not read it.

Sorry. Just making an observation how far off from the list. I didn't mean to offend or prompt any questions. I understand different people have different tastes.

I disagree somewhat on good writing. If you can't keep your reader interested, it isn't good writing. There again, everyone has different tastes.

The ones I thought were bad were Little Prince, 1984. Animal Farm, Flowers for Algernon, Great Gadsby, and Romeo and Juliet. I just didn't get The Little Prince or Flowers for Algernon. I gave up on it Flowers for Algernon. It just seemed manufactured and trite.

For me, Shakespeare is good only when he has interesting characters. Hamlet and McBeth are captivating, Romeo and Juliet are forced and I guess his attempt at a chick flick. Where the Red Fern Grows and the Outsiders were great when I was a kid. Where the Red Fern Grows seems sappy in retrospect and The Outsiders is a book for kids, good for that age group.

George Orwell's Animal Farm was fascinating only trying to pick out who he was talking about with the various animals. I'm never motivated by scare tactics and generally insulted when people try to scare me into action because they want me to quit thinking.

The Odessy and McBeth are on the list and they do captivate the reader. They grab hold and whisk you along. I could feel the story happening around me. However, in pointing out different tastes, my son read The Odessy at 14 and was bored out of his mind.

Sorry for the long post.

What do think of "Mien Kampf","The Tropic of Cancer", The Grapes of Wrath" "The Diary of Anne Frank"? All are controversial and constantly subject to censorship. The American Library Association publishes a list of the most objectionable books and these consistently make the list.
Does individual taste determine good writing?
I don't think so. An individual my find a book uninteresting but it also might be good writing. Personal taste shouldn't be a qualifier of good writing.The craftsmanship of a writer may be brilliant but the content wholly unacceptable. I fear when we say personal taste defines quality. The above books are good writing; the content, or message, or purpose my be awful, bitter, hurtful, obscene, and most of all dangerous but the writing is still good. We need a different perception of writing. We need to find ways to acknowledge accomplishment without making it binding to the content.
I like long posts. I like to see people thinking, questioning, communicating, and behaving in a literate way.

Craftsmanship of a writer can be subjective. Who says what is good writing? I never bought into formulas deciding good art. What makes good writing is something you can read through and understand the writer's point.

I never read Mein Kampf and never will. I know the reality of Hitler fulfilling his struggles. I don't need to read it and I'd have a tainted view, so wouldn't do any good. I'd rather spend my time on something else.

Never cared to read The Diary of Ann Frank and have no clue what The Tropic of Cancer is about.

I have read The Grapes of Wrath and have mixed feelings. His characters were believable and relatable. His story bogs down at times and his writing style can be cumbersome, for the lack of a better word.

Are scare tactics ever intended to make people think?

hey chappies!!! I couldn't find the books of Ayn Rand on the first page. How can they miss "atlas shrugged" and "the fountainhead"? its preposterous.

what a pity!!! while cheap books like new moon and twilight are on the first page, a true classic like 1984 by goerge orwell is at 120th position in the user rating!!! what kind of dumb users visit this site?I came to this site by mistake and shall never come back here again. Its for the dumbos and gals I guess!!!

sorry

I'm a high school English teacher and most of those books have been required reading at several different levels. I take responsibility for the lack of appreciation and understanding. I did not do a good enough job of teaching understanding of literature, appreciation of art, and the ability to articulate thoughts and ideas.
I'd slow down on the name calling.
I am interested in why those books are not rated higher too. Unfortunately, we have to wait for the test of time. However, I predict in 10 years most those books at the top of the list will be gone but the "1984's" "The Great Gatshy's" "The Flowers for Algernon" and "Animal Farm's" will still be on the list and probably in the same relative places. I know that new books have new appeal. But no matter what you are talking about, from cars to chocolate to condoms, quality will out.
As a teacher it bothers me someone will bash Shakespeare for irrelevant, inappropriate reasons. There are any number of criticisms of Shakespeare, psychological, dramatic and theatrical, and audience, so most readers over the centuries would not object to calling "Romeo and Juliet" a "chick flick" because on one level that is what it had to be. But there's more than one level of meaning or understanding and to deny that or not appreciate that is a disservice.
Quality is not subjective, theme and content are.

You just cant beat Lord of The Rings.

What happened? Has everyone stopped reading? Or, at least stopped commenting on their reading?
I find it curious how books go in waves of popularity. Right now anything about vampires and werewolves is a bestseller. Thanks Anne Rice.
A little more than a decade ago the rage was semi-gothic novels. One of the most popular was "The Secret Garden". Now its not even on the list. However, classic gothic novels like "Wuthering Heights" and "Pride and Prejudice" are still on the list. It interests me greatly that this is so. I have an opinion why but would like to hear others ideas.

I will NEVER forget this book!
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/80...

I'll never forget Hush, Hush... and not in a good way. That was pretty much the worst thing I've ever read.

No offense but, apart from some of the titles, this list should be called "yet another list of young adults books"...

Tiger saga all the way :)

recently read fifty shades of grey and consider it "fifty shades of fucked up"...but are n't we all?
very well written book and I do love this genre>:)

Don wrote: "The Book Thief/Markus Zusak A brilliant book that is relatively unknown because it is Australian. Because it reads on so many levels it must appeal to a muck larger audience than it originally appe..."

i absolutely agree; the book thief is my favourite book and is one of the most powerful novels i have ever read

Klo wrote: "sorry"

Don't apologize to the intellectual snobs. this is a good list

thanks Alice

I know I still have "The Nixon Tapes" as "currently reading" however it's absolutely fascinating and I won't ever forget it. I hope my choices are okay for this list. Great list!! ~*Happy Reading, Everyone*~ :)