Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die discussion
1001 Book List
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Books that should be on the list
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May 08, 2008 10:13PM
Faust.
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Well for novels I was surprised that neither East of Eden or The Heart is a Lonely Hunter was on there.I also wonder what kind of books they are selecting, it's not quite novels, because they have Ovid's Metamorphoses, which isn't quite a novel. If Ovid is on there how come Homer isn't? Yeah it's not in prose, but only because that was the literature form at the time.
Also, if not limited to novels, why not include plays...Tracing the history of literature and not including Shakespeare seems kind of off.
And, if you are instead looking at books that have changed society, the fact that it's missing any religious books is kind of surprising. Maybe the author didn't want to get in trouble for listing any of them along with a bunch of fiction, but still, you aren't going to find a book that altered the world more than the old testament, new testament or the koran.
I totally agree that Orson Scott Card's Ender's Game should be on the list as well as Island of the Blue Dolphin. And forgive me if I missed it on the list, but I think Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury should be on there, too, if it isn't already.
I also think that The Book Thief by Markus Zaduk should be included. I included this book and excluded Finnegan's Wake.
I would make a very different list, and I especially agree with all of the posts that complain about an author having several books on the list. Obviously, it's about the writer of the 1001 books book's opinions, so we have to live with that. There are many books on the list that I have tried but been unable to choke down. But I have enjoyed quite a few of them. About Finnegan's Wake -- I do not know a human being who has read it.
I am shocked and dismayed to see that Wind in the Willows is not on the list. I must have read it five or six times when I was growing up, and I hated to read back then.
I think I mentioned beforehand that I own a different version of the book. That's right, for some reason, my dutch edition looks quite different and has a lot of different authors in there! Although it seems quite forced to put 40 (!) dutch books in there just for the heck of it, I actually appreciate the dutch version quite a bit. For me, there is more variety in that version. For instance, it only lists two Ballard's and twor Atwood's and introduces a lot of authors, especially from all over Europe, whose name I have never heard but who seem very worthwile to check out. I like to have both versions, actually. The "standard" one for checking off books from famous or semi-famous western writers and the dutch edition for the more obscure choices. I never thought about having to finish either one of them, though!
I was wondering about Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell. I actually looked over the list I have read only a few of the more recent books and I was not impressed. I liked more of those in the 1800s and earlier. But even some of them were not so grand! I know people rave about Thomas Hardy but to me reading him was such a chore!!! I think a better list would be maybe a list of authors instead of books. I know I have heard of a lot of these authors, but some I had not heard of...that is more of the type of information I need. When I find an author I like I want to read a lot of their stuff and maybe other authors like them. Maybe we ought to create a list of 1001 authors you may want to read before you die list!!! More options!!!!
Darn, now you'll all know I'm part lizard. Mark, I've actually read it twice. You won't catch me saying it is a work for everyone, nor that it's easy once you get into it; in fact you'll not hear me say it's better than Ulysses. But I have read it an know a couple of other humans who have too. Think of it as a literary scavenger hunt!
I get your point, Leslie, about building a list of authors instead of books; but there is one drawbackthat I can think of. If someone has never been exposed to a prolific author such as Falkner, Irving,etc., the users of the list would receive no guidance on which one to pick to see if they enjoy him/her. Sometimes reading a writer's books in sequence can be very helpful in getting the full benefit of the read. Also, many authors' works are uneven, meaning not all their work is up to their highest standards. Atwood, McEwan and Oates come to mind as examples there.
I tend to pick and author and read several of his/her works too, Leslie; but I'm just trying to remember also how this site has helped me choose authors that are new to me. What do you think?
I'd like to build our own book list with no arbitrary number to reach for the total!
I'll add this one to my ever-growing wish list!Thanks, Logan and Kara.
Interesting, Smarti! That sort of explains the heavy emphasis on English-speaking authors on the American version...It also implies calculated marketing strategy ---again. I think several of us have already speculated on the $ emphasis as the central purpose for its compilation.
I only read the first 20 comments or so, if this is already mentioned than I apologize.I don't know if anyone has read The People's Act of Love by James Meek. It is a phenomenal book, definitely should be on the list.
We have to keep in mind that the list is books evidently we should read before we die. However, no reason is given. If it is good books, than the list could definitely be altered. If it is books that are more well-known, then possibly it could be altered but it would seem more reasonable for some of the books that are there (for example, Toni Morrison's collection). It all depends on whether we should read them because they encompass the art of literature or the culture of literature.
I've only read the first page of the discussion so I don't know if anyone else mentioned them, but the two that really surprized me are the Iliad and the Odyssey. They are the very beginning of novels yet not included. They are still as entertaining and exciting today as when they were first published.
I only looked at the list posted, so far. But I did not see any Patricia Highsmith, for instance. And where is the Kite Runner, by Khaled Hosseini? What about 'My Name is Red,' by Orhan Pamuk.There are others, I am sure, that are omitted.
Lianna, the list you have been using, is it the same as the one in the book (I haven't got the book, yet).
I agree, there are too many of some authors, and yet not enough of some and none of some.
Also, if you are going to include essays, I am totally appalled that plays and poetry are not included. Shakespeare, for goodness sake, maybe the greatest writer of them all is omitted
This list is published in 2005, so it will not be able to include books after that year, such as "The Kite Runner" mentioned by Writermyst. Books that should be included:
Divine Comedy, Four Classics of Chinese Literature (Dreams of the Red Mansion et al), Wuxia novels by Jinyong, Religious books (Qur'an, Bible, Upanishads...).
Remove a few entries from Ian McEwan, J.M. Coetzee and writers who have more entries than they should deserve, then we have room for these ommited books.
Thanks, Charity.I LOVE that list. It has many of the books that I did read and
a few that I must. I am gratified that it included one of Patricia
Highsmith (The Talented Mr. Ripley), and 'The Little Prince.'
This list has so many gems that are 'spot on.'
Christophe, I did not realized the year it was published - however - I saw a lot of other books from other eras omitted; such as the ones that were given on the list of the '100 Bookish Characters.'I agree, there are too many repetitions. Like numerous entries of Iris Murdoch.
I once had a list given to us by the English Department's Chairman.
A required reading list, which still makes more sense today than this list of '1001.' It all the classics and was a well-rounded list, not based on the 'culture of literature' as much as on the art of literature.
Glad you like it, Writermyst. 'Bookish Characters' list is good stuff. :-)
L,M,N,O,P should be on the list, very clever book where the letters of the alphabet are removed until only the letters L,M,N,O and P are left. Author still manages to write a series of letters between the characters using just those 5 letters. When one of the characters was thrown off the island for the illegal misuse of a banned letter had to go back to find the single letter as I missed it the first time.
Writermyst-Although I failed to mention it previously, I'm happy to report that The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith is one the '1001 Books' list as well. :-)
Yeah, there is a lot of good stuff all over this site! It is really getting addicting just reading the posts! Now, I have a new obsession to distract me from reading and writing more. (Prior to this, I was writing reviews, on another site, called Yelp. But this site is WAYYY better! I love how I can review all the books I have read and the ones I have in common with others, and its nice to see so many people still reading.
Charity, I am sorry, but I think I mentioned that I never actually had this 1001 list! But it's great to know those were not left out. I am going on vacation, and I will be actually trying to read some books, and I will miss you guys!
Deanne, That sounds fascinating. I am new on the site - what book is that?
Ella Minnow Pea is actually the name of the book.:) Can't remember the author.
Ella Minnow Pea by Mark Dunn, borrowed it from a friend in New Zealand.
I'm missing Hans Fallada on this list. Especially his great books "Little Man, What Now?" and "Every Man Dies Alone". A must read!
Another author that should have at least one, if not two books. Agathy Christie, and she's even English, doesn't have a single book on the list. Either Death on the Nile, or Murder on the Orient Express, or both, should be on the list. Writermyst, Do you still have that reading list from the Department Chairman? I had a '100 greatest books' list from a College professor and I've lost it. I thought it was a great list and can't remember half of it. It would be great to get a copy of your list if you still have it.
Thanks!
Keldon:"The Murder of Peter Ackroyd" by Agatha Christy is #642 on the list, but I'm pretty sure that is the only Christy book that made it. I don't even agree that it is the best choice from all her work!
That's Roger Ackroyd, Peter Ackroyd is an author on the list with about 3 books mentioned. Have to agree that it's not my favourite of her books. The man in the brown suit is my favourite, went through an Agatha Christie season as a teenager always preferred Miss Marple to Poirot.
The perks of being a wallflower, definitely. I know many people who have been touched by this book, including myself!
Roger, not Peter, of course! What a slip up! Do you think maybe I don't like the author Peter Ackroyd and perhaps want him murdered?! :) He is one of the ones responsible for the choices on the 1001 Books to Read Before You Die, and nobody is satisfied with the list!
Judith wrote: "He is one of the ones responsible for the choices on the 1001 Books to Read Before You Die, and nobody is satisfied with the list!"http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/23/boo...
Apparently, Peter Boxall wrote the following in an e-mail:“I wanted this book to make people furious about the books that were included and the books that weren’t, figuring this would be the best way to generate a fresh debate about canonicity, etc.,”
Books I'd add:
The Quincunx - Charles Palliser
Dune - Frank Herbert
Does really no one else besides me, Aaron and Writermyst find it odd that Shakepeare didn't make it to the list? I was really surprised when I first realized that. I mean, "1001 books you must read before you die", Shakespeare's plays would be one of the first things to come into my mind! At least some of his tragedies, Hamlet, Otello, Macbeth... right?
I was also surprised not to find Homer and Dante.(Daniel, loved the article, by the way =])
Daniel wrote: "Judith wrote: "He is one of the ones responsible for the choices on the 1001 Books to Read Before You Die, and nobody is satisfied with the list!"http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/23/boo......."
Thanks for this little tidbit of information, Daniel!
Judith, Luiza, glad to hear you liked the article. That's how I learned about this book in the first place. :-)I could be wrong, but I thought plays and poems are excluded from the list, hence the omissions of Shakespeare, Dante and homer.
Daniel wrote: "Judith, Luiza, glad to hear you liked the article. That's how I learned about this book in the first place. :-)I could be wrong, but I thought plays and poems are excluded from the list, hence ..."
oh that's right... i'd forgotten about that tiny detail. It's more of a novel-driven list...
Alright, I'll forgive the Shakespeare then. But I still can't forgive the Paulo Coelho part.
I feel a little out of left field when I think about how some Chicano literature should be added to the list. One of my favorites is Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya. Other books I would have liked to have seen (that are not particularly Chicano literature, actually not at all):
-The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck (one that's appeared a few times on this thread.)
-The Stars My Destination by Alfred Bester (early sci-fi, the author really is an unsung hero of the genre)
-Shane by Jack Schaefer (The quintessential western)
Some of my favorite selections of Jewish-American Literature:
-Kaaterskill Falls by Allegra Goodman
-The World to Come by Dara Horn (Phenomenal!)
-Absurdistan by Gary Shteyngart
Luiza wrote: "But I still can't forgive the Paulo Coelho part."I only read The Alchemist, and I'm glad it didn't make the list. Talk about simplistic! It's like he was talking to a small child. I hope his others books are not like this, or I'll have to change the title to '999 books you must read before you die'...
The Divine Comedy and Romeo & Juliet were good too. I wanted to stab romeo in the neck with a spoon though. He whines and acts like a little byatch.
Some books that should be on the list include The Red Badge of Courage, The Joy Luck Club, Good Earth, Sons, My Antonia, Fountainhead, Atlas Shrugged, Tom Sawyer, Fahrenheit 451, On the Beach, Jurassic Park, The Andromeda Strain, A Canticle for Leibowitz, Call of the Wild, White Fang, The Chosen, The Alchemist, Kite Runner, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. I'll add more as I think of them.
Please note that I have just switched from the older Boxall edition to the newer one (dropping from 89 to 67 books complete, aargh!) because I prefer its selection and Call of the Wild by Jack London is now on this list. Also, Pippi Longstocking is on the newer list. I changed lists by choice as the newer edition has a broader international selection which I appreciate and also, the 22 books I read dropped from the list were mostly excellent so I have no regrets.
Is there a book version of the new list? Or an officiel homepage?
Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die
Books mentioned in this topic
Gone with the Wind (other topics)Murder on the Orient Express (other topics)
The Haunting of Hill House (other topics)
Revolutionary Road (other topics)
