Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die discussion
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Which LIST books have you read that turned out not being LIST books?
I read The Overcoat because I thought it was on the list. Also, I meant to get a copy of The Threepenny Novel because it's on the list, but I didn't pay enough attention and got The Threepenny Opera instead...same story but written as a play. Maybe I'll cheat a little and let it count anyway...
I read The Road by Cormac McCarthy thinking it was on the list. Was disappointed to discover that it was not. He has about four others on the list that I am yet to read.
I'd read I, Claudius and was absolutely convinced that it was on the list - it appears on practically every other list of so-many-books-to-read - but no, it doesn't show on any of the lists after all. The only Graves about seems to be Count BelisariusAn extremely odd omission, but it's not too bad, as I wanted to read it anyway.
Oh, and I asked my grandmother for her copy of East of Eden because I knew that several Steinbecks are on the list - but apparently not this one.
Genia wrote: "I'd read I, Claudius and was absolutely convinced that it was on the list - it appears on practically every other list of so-many-books-to-read - but no, it doesn't show on any of the ..."Ha! I have I, Claudius, on my bookshelf. Got it because I thought it was on the list.
Now, to quote the immortal Hermes Conrad, "I'd like to put the little bastard in a sack and toss the sack in a river and hurl the river into space."
actually, I'm looking forward to reading it.
Sandi, I too thought that East of Eden was on the list. I would encourage you to read it anyway as it was a fantastic book and well worth the time.
Genia wrote: "I'd read I, Claudius and was absolutely convinced that it was on the list - it appears on practically every other list of so-many-books-to-read - but no, it doesn't show on any of the ..."Me too!
Also read a Tree Grows in Brooklyn and Sophie's Choice thinking they were list books.
Sissy wrote: "Genia wrote: "I'd read I, Claudius and was absolutely convinced that it was on the list - it appears on practically every other list of so-many-books-to-read - but no, it doesn't show ..."a tree grows in brooklyn here too and this isn't even brooklyn!
The Scarlet Pimpernel!I didn't read it specifically because I thought it was on the list, but was definitely surprised when I found that it wasn't. Thought I must have been spelling something wrong when I couldn't find it on the spreadsheet!
I thought Fahrenheit 451 was on the list until I went to mark it off. I'm glad I thought it was on the list though because pretty much all I've been reading lately is list books and I probably wouldn't have read it.
I've gone through the list, more than once, hoping to find The Book Thief on there. I know it's not, but it's such a wonderful book that I keep hoping it'll show up!
Jennifer W wrote: "I've gone through the list, more than once, hoping to find The Book Thief on there. I know it's not, but it's such a wonderful book that I keep hoping it'll show up!"Totally agree with you Jennifer!! It was so endearing ...
Why no Ken Follett books on the list? I'm horrified. :) Pillars of the Earth, World Without End, Fall of Giants etc etc - the long list goes on ...
Julia wrote: "Why no Ken Follett books on the list? I'm horrified. :) Pillars of the Earth, World Without End, Fall of Giants etc etc - the long list goes on ..."I'd argue that Follett should be represented just by the sheer variation in his work. Ever read Eye of the Needle? Wonderful!
My nine-year-old son went on a tour of a cathedral downtown and someone in his group asked, "How do you build a cathedral?" The priest replied, "Uh... well, just read The Pillars of the Earth."
I did this with The Left Hand of Darkness. I thought it was on the list. . . it is on a lot of other lists. (Mainly sci-fi, but still.)I have also done the opposite, too. Where I have read a book for fun or something else and then find that it actually is on the list. Like The House of the Spirits, I read it because I had read one of Isabel Allende's other books and when I was checking off a different book later I found it on there.
Ruth wrote: "Julia wrote: "Why no Ken Follett books on the list? I'm horrified. :) Pillars of the Earth, World Without End, Fall of Giants etc etc - the long list goes on ..."I'd argue that Follett should b..."
Ha-ha - I had a good laugh now about what the priest said. :) Haven't read "Eye of the Needle" yet - it's on my must read list. I've read about 10 books of Ken Follett - all brilliant!!
I did the exact same thing with House of the Spirits - funny!Jen wrote: "I have also done the opposite, too. Where I ..."
Any Alexander McCall Smith fans out there?
This isn't exactly something I read because I thought it was on the list, but I just realized there is no Shakespeare whatsoever. I guess that is because they are plays, but it still seems utterly bizarre to me.
Julia wrote: "Any Alexander McCall Smith fans out there?"You can find one here. Find his Lady Detective, Precious, absolutely delightful.
Ruth wrote: "Julia wrote: "Why no Ken Follett books on the list? I'm horrified. :) Pillars of the Earth, World Without End, Fall of Giants etc etc - the long list goes on ..."I'd argue that Follett should b..."
Now that's funny! I just finished reading that and now pay much more attention whenever I drive by one.
Denae wrote: "This isn't exactly something I read because I thought it was on the list, but I just realized there is no Shakespeare whatsoever. I guess that is because they are plays, but it still seems utterly ..."I know. I've wondered the same thing. But it's also sort of refreshing.
Mikela wrote: "Julia wrote: "Any Alexander McCall Smith fans out there?"You can find one here. Find his Lady Detective, Precious, absolutely delightful."
Absolutely yes!! I really want to read all the others. I'm busy with "The Unbearable Lightness of Scones" - one of the Scotland series - absolutely love this writing style!!
Let's add Alas, Babylon to this list, um and Ubik.
Robin wrote: "Denae wrote: "This isn't exactly something I read because I thought it was on the list, but I just realized there is no Shakespeare whatsoever. I guess that is because they are plays, but it still ..."And Shakespeare didn't write novels. This is a list of novels, yes?!
Robin wrote: "And Shakespeare didn't write novels. This is a list of novels, yes?! "No, there is some non-fiction on the lists.
Which can get confusing, because it's supposed to be a list of novels. It also contains some short stories and non-fiction though.
Sandi wrote: "Which can get confusing, because it's supposed to be a list of novels. It also contains some short stories and non-fiction though."And poetry
I don't look closely enough at the list to know what has been taken off (and primarily only reference the 2006 list anyway), so I didn't realize The Brothers Karamazov made the chopping block. I'm surprised by that - and I haven't even read it yet.
Amanda wrote: "I read The Brothers Karamazov because it was on the list and then realized it had been taken off. That was pretty much the moment I lost faith in the list and started using it more as a..."I'm going to read it anyway.
Amanda wrote: "I read The Brothers Karamazov because it was on the list and then realized it had been taken off. That was pretty much the moment I lost faith in the list and started using it more as a..."I also now use "the list" only as a guide to good books that I might not otherwise be exposed to. Have no intention of reading all 1001+ as many have zero appeal to me but have found it very helpful in my quest for worthwhile books. There are simply so many good books out there that I won't waste my time reading something that I won't enjoy simply because it has been deemed a must by someone else.
Mikela wrote: "I also now use "the list" only as a guide to good books that I might not otherwise be exposed to. Have no intention of reading all 1001+ as many have zero appeal to me but have found it very helpful in my quest for worthwhile books. There are simply so many good books out there that I won't waste my time reading something that I won't enjoy simply because it has been deemed a must by someone else. "My sentiments exactly. Additionally, there are many books that I will enjoy that aren't on anyone's list but perhaps my own. I thoroughly enjoy Wallace Stegner, Anne Tyler, Richard Russo, Louise Erdrich, Annie Proulx, and some others and have no intention of giving any of them up.
Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Mikela wrote: "I also now use "the list" only as a guide to good books that I might not otherwise be exposed to. Have no intention of reading all 1001+ as many have zero appeal to me but have found..."Exactly. To be honest I sometimes feel overwhelmed with all the books I want to read. I actually have 3 categories. "to read" are books that I have and want to get to, "consider" are books that I have but haven't decided how much I want to read them, and then the "look-for" list that I don't have but am keeping my eyes out for. Figure at the rate I read of 100+ books a year I'll be lucky to ever get them all finished. This is particularly true since I keep reading books that aren't on any of my 3 category list. Oh well, it keeps me out of trouble.
Riona wrote: "Agreed with all of you above, the list is a suggestion. I've actually only marked 100-150 or so on it that I want to read, though I'm sure that number will grow. There are tons that I have no inter..."What I like about the list is that it introduces me to authors I would never come across left to my own designs. I don't particularly pay attention when I grab a book if it is on the list or not, just started this discussion because I have purchased several books that I thought were on the list but were not and I've enjoyed them all, which is another boon about the list! Also using the word list this much makes me feel like I'm in some sort of Orwellian dystopia. The List is watching...
Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Mikela wrote: "I also now use "the list" only as a guide to good books that I might not otherwise be exposed to. Have no intention of reading all 1001+ as many have zero appeal to me but have found..."I love Wallace Stegner!
Robin wrote: "Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Mikela wrote: "I also now use "the list" only as a guide to good books that I might not otherwise be exposed to. Have no intention of reading all 1001+ as many have zero ..."How wonderful, looked up Wallace Stegner and have now discovered another author that looks worth reading. Thank you.
Tom wrote: "Riona wrote: "Agreed with all of you above, the list is a suggestion. I've actually only marked 100-150 or so on it that I want to read, though I'm sure that number will grow. There are tons that I..."The benefits of not only the list but also this group is that books and authors discussed are worth considering (that's code for "my taste"). So many of the books on the what's popular reading lists just aren't my cup of tea, although there are exceptions. Would much prefer to have recommendations from friends with similar taste and group members.
Especially if you're an academic! He writes characters who are. Yay for Stegner!
I've read so many books on the list which I never would have considered, some I've hated , some I've loved and some which I've merely liked.Read all sorts of books on and off the list, particularly as I love crime novels.
Deanne wrote: "Read all sorts of books on and off the list, particularly as I love crime novels."
I really appreciate that the group bookshelf lists the mysteries on the list.
I read March by Brooks the one about Little Women's dad thinking it was on list. Still worth it.
Jessica wrote: "I read March by Brooks the one about Little Women's dad thinking it was on list. Still worth it."I loved this book! What did you think?
I like the list because it keeps me aware of books that I've forgotten about or maybe wouldn't have thought to read. However, I read a lot off the list - several which were mentioned here - and I'm glad that I did. I use the list as more of a guide when I'm not sure which book to read next or I"m looking for something new.
Just started Watership Down - could have sworn it was on the list.
Sissy wrote: "Just started Watership Down - could have sworn it was on the list."Another good one! So many books.. so little time...
Amy wrote: "Sissy wrote: "Just started Watership Down - could have sworn it was on the list."Another good one! So many books.. so little time..."
Here here!!
Judith wrote: "A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley"Oh, my. That should be on the list!
i just bought Wives and Daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell and even though 3 i think for Elizabeth Gaskell is on the list, this apparently isn't, i was so upset because i don't usually buy books for the sake of buying, i borrow from libraries, now a lot of people discouraged me saying it was a boring, never-ending book that i can't bring myself to even pick it up
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these are books you read because you thought they were on the list and when you went to check them off you could not find them because it turns out they weren't!
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l'morte d'arthur, the virginian, and the sheltering sky.