50 books to read before you die discussion
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100 Books to Read Before You Die
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Making our own list
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Mayra wrote: "Steve wrote: "Harry Potter is Scifi? not in my book, its fantasy, anything magicianesque is fantasy:)"no the main character in the Dresden files is Harry. Harry Dresden not Harry Potter."
Science Fiction and Fantasy can be so hard to classify because what one person thinks of as Fantasy another may think of as Science Fiction. Fantasy has been defined as fiction using elements of magic or supernatural; or using a fantastic element. Science Fiction has been defined as fiction using science as a base; or fantasy using science as an integral part of the story. Because both magic and paranormal are now being discussed as legitimate science possibilities could mos Fantasy be Science Fiction?
Ok wait, who is calling the 'paranormal' a legitimate scientific possibility? "they're heeeeeeeeeeeere" :)
I am, I am, I am! I did say 'are being discussed'. When I say that I guess I should be specific: 'superhero' powers are now becoming possible through genetic modification (superhuman strength); telepathy/telekinesis are now being researched by the scientific community as are ghosts; some studies have shown that dragons could actually have been dinosaurs (making them scientifically feasible); and lycanthropy (actually looking like a wolfman) is based on the scientific fact of man/women who have excessive hair/teeth thus making them look 'wolf-like'. So using the definition of Science Fiction - a work of fiction (a story that isn't true) that uses plausible science to drive the story. When we are able to scientifically explain so many more things in our world we get to use that science more often (and seemingly more radically) to create Science Fiction.
Okie dokie, in the cases you point to sure. Plus I have seen some lycanthropic gentlemen at the gym I do believe they are the missing link:)
Steve wrote: "Okie dokie, in the cases you point to sure. Plus I have seen some lycanthropic gentlemen at the gym I do believe they are the missing link:)"Lol
Steve wrote: "Okie dokie, in the cases you point to sure. Plus I have seen some lycanthropic gentlemen at the gym I do believe they are the missing link:)"Funny. That's got to be a story somewhere.
Mary wrote: "Because both magic and paranormal are now being discussed as legitimate science possibilities "There have been some scientific investigations into these things and the results have been pretty much conclusive that there is nothing to them. They may be being discussed as scientific possibilities, but not by credible investigators.
I've never cared for the grouping of science fiction and fantasy as the same genre. The line between them may not always be distinct, but there is a line.
Here's a few books I would like on the list.
The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared
Crime and Punishment
Tess of the d'Urbervilles
The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared
Crime and Punishment
Tess of the d'Urbervilles
Christine wrote: "Here's a few books I would like on the list.The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared
Crime and Punishment
[book:Tess of the d'Urbervilles..."
I downloaded Tess of the d'Ubervilles because it was mentioned in another book i read, but i haven't gotten around to reading it.
Mayra wrote: "Christine wrote: "Here's a few books I would like on the list.
The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared
Crime and Punishment
[book:Tess of..."
It's sad, like many of Hardy's novels.
The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared
Crime and Punishment
[book:Tess of..."
It's sad, like many of Hardy's novels.
Christine wrote: "Mayra wrote: "Christine wrote: "Here's a few books I would like on the list.The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared
Crime and Punishment..."
I started it recently. Not far at all. Pretty grim.
Buck wrote: "Mary wrote: "Because both magic and paranormal are now being discussed as legitimate science possibilities "There have been some scientific investigations into these things and the results have b..."
Buck, my husband Russell is like that too. Highly logical and needs proof.
In 2006, we were on the KZN South Coast and I took a photo of him standing on one of the beaches. The photo came out kinda warped with a man-sized glitch near to him- just empty space.
Logic: a glitch in the paper
Me: looks like a reflection, a soul, a ghost...
In 2007 that coastline flooded badly, unearthing parts of old ship wrecks, loads of debris, and three bodies in unmarked graves.
I'm not saying it's a ghost in the photo...
But if I have to choose between logic and imagination, my path lies with imagination.
And if imagination leads me astray, logical Russell has an eye out always.
The Sun Also Rises - HemingwayDescartes Bones - Russell Shorto
The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
The Stand - Stephen King
Night - Elie Wiesel
Tried to make it various as far genres and uncommon as far titles go :) My list isn't a list of my favorites by far but ones you should sure read before you die.
On the current subject of the supernatural, I believe that if it's something you can imagine... then it is real. If not in our own world then somewhere, somewhen else in existence. You have to believe there is more to it and more out there than what the scientific world can explain. If not, then that's saying that the human mind is the most powerful tool, being, whatever in existence. And if that's the case then who is to say it can't create extra-natural phenomena in the natural world?
"This is the sh*t I say when nobody is listening" -Mike Garmany
Christopher wrote: "The Sun Also Rises - HemingwayDescartes Bones - Russell Shorto
The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
The Stand - Stephen King
Night - Elie Wiesel
Tried to make it various as far genres and uncommon a..."
Added
Awesome comment
Buck wrote: "Mary wrote: "Because both magic and paranormal are now being discussed as legitimate science possibilities "There have been some scientific investigations into these things and the results have b..."
Who are we to say what is credible - at one time credible science said the earth was round, that the universe revolved around the earth, that God created man, that man just evolved. With these examples it was not the scientific community (at least by itself) that said these were not acceptable it was the ruling governments who in the end ultimately made them legitimate. I say that because it is the government's who fund scientific research without which it is so much more difficult to obtain 'credibility'.
I have enjoyed these postings, thanks to all, especially our moderators for allowing us to get slightly off-target on Science Fiction.
Christopher wrote: "The Sun Also Rises - HemingwayDescartes Bones - Russell Shorto
The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
The Stand - Stephen King
Night - Elie Wiesel
Tried to make it various as far genres and uncommon a..."
Loved The Kite Runner and Night, enjoyed The Stand. There are some really interesting books some I have read and some that I'm going to be adding to my To Be Read List.
Mary glad to hear it. The Stand is my all-time favorite :)
I'm not a Stephen King fan, but was blown away by 11/22/63. It was very poignant since I lived through the Kennedy assassination.
Mayra, I'm really a vagrant which is also the name I've given myself to all that I write. There are so many good books that I've only heard of from friend such as you and Lisa. My list would include1. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
2. The Millennium Trilogy by Steig Larrson
3. The Godfather by Mario Puzo
4. How Green was my Valley by Richard Llewellyn
5. Along came a Spider by James Patterson
6. Green river running Red by Ann Rule
7. Angels and Demons by Dan Brown
8. Eleven Minutes by Paulo Coelho
9. To kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
10. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
Narayanan wrote: "Mayra, I'm really a vagrant which is also the name I've given myself to all that I write. There are so many good books that I've only heard of from friend such as you and Lisa. My list would includ..."Out of your 10 books i have read 2, and 4 more are on my toread list, 2 of which i actually own just havent gotten around to them.
My mom really likes Paulo Coelho, but she reads him in spanish. I have read 3 books by him that friends have lent me. I might go into my moms "library" and attempt to read Eleven Minutes in spanish.
Hi so I just read the first message instead of reading all the comments as there are too many. But myself here are my five books people should read before they die. 1) my mad fat diary & my madder fatter diary (helps you understand things, helps you get through things and plainly an easy read)
2) Half Bad (I fell in love with this on the first page, that's all I can say)
3) The Last Battle (final book in the c.s Lewis series The Chronicles of Narnia)
4) Paper Towns (I'm gripped and I'm not even half way yet)
5) Anne of Green Gables (I read this a long time a go and loved it, it's just a lovely read)
For my fifth I really struggled between The Picture Of Dorian Gray and Anne of Green Gables... I love them both, but I had to make a choice
~Fran
I only have 3 books that I think everyone should read before they die that were not on the list:1) Speaker For the Dead by Orson Scott Card
2) The Silmarillion by J.R.R. Tolkien
3) The Camulod Chronicles by Jack Whyte*
*The Camulod Chronicles is also known as the Dream of Eagles series in Canada and some other countries
Fran wrote: "Hi so I just read the first message instead of reading all the comments as there are too many. But myself here are my five books people should read before they die. 1) my mad fat diary & my madder..."
Fran i just read Paper Towns and i really enjoyed it.
I also have a couple of suggestions for the "Must Read" list:1) A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
2) The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
Mary wrote: "I also have a couple of suggestions for the "Must Read" list:1) A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
2) The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver"
I've read A Prayer for Owen Meany. It is definitely memorable. I'm now reading The Cider House Rules also by John Irving and I am quite enjoying it too. Haven't read anything by Kingsolver yet, but she's on my radar.
I enjoy two of Kingsolver's other earlier works: "Pigs in Heaven" and "The Bean Trees". The "Poisonwood Bible" is my favorite Kingsolver novel.I also want to read the "Cider House Rules"
Ways of DyingA Chronicle of a Death Foretold
Pedro Paramo by Juan Rulfo
The House of Bernarda
Pride and Prejudice
Oh I take the last one back lolShadow of the Wind!
Buck wrote: "Mary wrote: "I also have a couple of suggestions for the "Must Read" list:1) A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
2) The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver"
I've read [book:A Prayer for Ow..."
I really liked A Prayer for Owen Meany & Cider House Rules.
I am new to this area but very excited at the thought of being active here. But as usual for me, I have a few questions. Is there one list of those books we are expected to read? And if so where do we post this to? If we are all reading from the same list, which one is it? Thanks in advance for any comments. Going to look for that metallic bookmark. Funny but when we travel I always look for bookmarks with the name of the country or a scene from the country. The most recent ones I have are from Australia and New Zealand.
Hi Nancy,
The list we are following is from the B&N '50 books to read before you die' bookmark. The full list is on the group homepage at the top. There was a lot of discussion about the books on the list and not on the list, so we decided to make our own list. We ended up with another 100 books to read. We also have an open nominations poll each month for books that are on neither list.
We have read the '50' books as a group read so we are starting again from the top, hence Lord of the Rings being one of this months group read. We also have two polls for the monthly group read, from the 100 list and the open nominations. This means we have a choice of three books each month as a group read.
You can read the list anyway you want, there is no compulsion to join the group reads although we love it when people join in the discussions.
We also have a 'progress' folder where you can chart your progress through the lists. We have discussion folders for the 50 books and when we group read a book, we add new a topic to the appropriate folder for that book.
Welcome to the group and I hope you enjoy reading with us.
The list we are following is from the B&N '50 books to read before you die' bookmark. The full list is on the group homepage at the top. There was a lot of discussion about the books on the list and not on the list, so we decided to make our own list. We ended up with another 100 books to read. We also have an open nominations poll each month for books that are on neither list.
We have read the '50' books as a group read so we are starting again from the top, hence Lord of the Rings being one of this months group read. We also have two polls for the monthly group read, from the 100 list and the open nominations. This means we have a choice of three books each month as a group read.
You can read the list anyway you want, there is no compulsion to join the group reads although we love it when people join in the discussions.
We also have a 'progress' folder where you can chart your progress through the lists. We have discussion folders for the 50 books and when we group read a book, we add new a topic to the appropriate folder for that book.
Welcome to the group and I hope you enjoy reading with us.
A few months ago, I was watching Denzel Washington tell Chloë Grace Moretz about his 100 book list that his wife read in the movie the Equalizer and found this list.The Equalizer (Denzel Washington) Reading Through the “Top 100 Books You Should Read Before You Die”
Just a few days ago. before finding this list here, I found this international booklist
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50 books to read before you die
Books mentioned in this topic
The Cider House Rules (other topics)A Prayer for Owen Meany (other topics)
The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared (other topics)
Crime and Punishment (other topics)
Crime and Punishment (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Audrey Niffenegger (other topics)Markus Zusak (other topics)
Garth Stein (other topics)
There's some amazing books here, my mouth watered putting the list together."
I like the idea of 'best books ever' and just keep adding to it as we continue.