Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die discussion
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How many of the 1001 books have you read?
I'll have to wait until I get home to try opening the doc--I'm on a work computer for the next few days, and it limits what I can view. I should get a chance to look at it mid-week.
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I would--thank you! Would it be so..."
Great job!! I was able to download the spreadsheet to Microsoft Excel without any problems.
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https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
I used the spreadsheet with every single book across all versions that some kind user posted a while back; I had to edit it some they got some names wrong (Japanese surnames were mistaken for given names, for example and Portuguese surnames ..."
Thanks, the link worked fine for me. I compared it to the list I have of Boxall authors I have read, and they were all on it (some were filed differently- I found it odd that some American authors who use a middle/maiden name were filed under that middle name rather than surname, such as Charlotte Perkins Gilman under "Perkins" and Edgar Rice Burroughs under "Rice" while some Hispanic authors were filed under their second surname, rather than primary, such as Alfredo Bryce Echenique of Peru under "Echenique").
I found four authors who were double-entered: Amis, Martin & Dos Passos, John & Melville, Herman & Moore, Lori. So, my total of 767 seems to be correct after subtracting those.
Thanks for letting me know, I'll get around to fixing it. 'Frish, Max' was also double filed, along with 'Perez Galdós, Benito'. I also noticed some authors were filed under their middle names, that's the way the original list had them. For example, 'Eça de Queirós' was filed under 'E' when it should be under 'Q'.
In my version of the main list, that I also edited, 'Gilman' was filed under 'G', it is indeed odd to have her under 'P'. 'Haggard' should also be under 'H' and not under 'Rider'.
The original list also double filed 'Llosa' both under 'Vargas' as 'Llosa', I corrected this but am sure I did not find all errors.
Also, 'Machado de Assis' should not filed under 'M' but as 'de Assis' (I'll go with this but usually Portuguese names do not count 'de' when filing names. For example, my last name is 'de Castro' but my name is filed under 'C'. But since that is the way gr has filed such names, I'll go with that in order to make it easier for English speakers to locate it).
Whoever did the main list had all the hard work, including all titles, authors, and versions of the list. I just did some copy and paste with a bit of editing.
In order to avoid confusion, I will follow the filing as per gr. So since 'Vargas Llosa' as filed as such- as opposed to 'Llosa', it will go under 'V'. Same for 'Bryce Echenique', that's how gr files the name so it will go under 'B'.
Odds are there are quite a few other misfiled names of this nature, hopefully users will find them and let us know.
Please pardon my ignorance. I know the list is based on a book, but does it get updated every 2 years or does the author no longer do that? Will there be a 2020 update to the list? Thank you for your help.
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There was a 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, and 2018.
So it started that way. Then took longer for the newest edition. Not sure if there will be a 2020 or if they will wait until 2024.
So I just took the quiz 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die (All Editions Combined 2018 Update) and got 52 books. I don't really think I'll get to everything. But I can use the list as a starting off point. Also, I want to do Are You Well-Read in World Literature? in which many of the books are on both lists. I might see what books overlap and focus on those.
Jackie wrote: "So I just took the quiz 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die (All Editions Combined 2018 Update) and got 52 books. I don't really think I'll get to everything. But I can use the list as a starti..."I took that quiz and only got 12 books out of 1000. I guess I will stick with the 1001 list since I have gotten 106 now. I am 66 and will never finish any list unless it is very short!!
Vikki wrote: "Jackie wrote: "So I just took the quiz 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die (All Editions Combined 2018 Update) and got 52 books. I don't really think I'll get to everything. But I can use the l..."I realize I will never read all the books. I took the quiz for World Lit and only got 14 so I'm in the same boat. However, I find my reading has been very USA centric and I want to branch out. I don't feel I need to read everything, but I can try to finish as much as possible before my death. And have fun doing it.
Speak for yourselves. I intend to live until I finish all of them. :)
James wrote: "Speak for yourselves. I intend to live until I finish all of them. :)"Hahahaha.
I just reached 200 titles recently.
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I'm pretty sure you must!! It's in the title of the book.
It's not called 1001 Books You Might Wanna Read Before You Die
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Nice going! Welcome to the 200 club.
I've been working on the list for a few years now and am at 270/1001 on the newest list but 352/1315 on the complete list (all editions combined). I downloaded the app that makes it so much easier to track but I recently found that it was no longer available for downloading. I hope not to lose the version I have on my phone because Im a little obsessed with it lol.
I'm new to knowing about this list and would like to know the criteria for being on it? There are several on there that I've read and didn't like at all. There are many I've read and loved that aren't on there. Can anyone fill me in?
I don't know Boxall's particular strategy or criteria, but there is no list of 'great' books that doesn't something included or left off that I disagree with. At some point, the bias of the selectors will have to show through, I think, simply to narrow it down to a manageable number (and 1001 is really pushing it). In the end, I think that's why I'm so attracted to these lists--half the fun is arguing against some who got in and arguing for some who got left out.
There's another thread around here somewhere dedicated to books people think should be on the list and aren't. You aren't alone if you got some favorites gone AWOLETA: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
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Hi Deborah.
A lot of their thinking can also be gleaned from the book itself. My library has it. If yours does, it's worth checking out. Maybe a few times.
1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die
Thanks for this info, Sean. I'll check out Boxall.
Only 14, sadly... at the 18th percentile.
I recently joined and more or less start out the journey with 39 books. End of next year I should break the 100 if everything goes well.
I just did the online checklist and looks like I've read 108 - so many more to go though!
I have been lurking on this list for a long time. Past time to actually post occasionally.Yesterday I used the online checklist to see how many I have read. I only checked books that I am sure I have read. There are so many that are very familiar but I no longer remember if I actually read the book. ( I am over 70 and many read books start to blur out ).
By that list I have read 114, not great considering my age. Some of the familiar books may be "have read" but I need to revisit them to figure that out.
I recently lost my account on Goodreads by accident. Poof - gone - not to be recovered said the support people. I had about 2000 books ( read and want to read) entered over the last 6-7 years. I am rebuilding my book list and have recovered about half now. I did have tags for Boxalls Books. I need to make sure I get my new entries marked and using the latest lists.
ADVICE - On your books page - download your books - do it now - set up a reminder to download at least once a month.
L_Gail wrote: "I have been lurking on this list for a long time. Past time to actually post occasionally.Yesterday I used the online checklist to see how many I have read. I only checked books that I am sure I ..."
Sorry for your loss (mean this to be light hearted). Have fun with your revisit.
Your post made me think about the advice part even before I got to it.
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Yesterday I used the online checklist to see how many I have read. I only checked books that I am sure I ..."
That's terrible!! Thank you so much for the advice. And welcome to our wonderful group!
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I have my list in document on my desktop computer and also in the Dropbox app. I try to remember to update the dropbox doc about every 2 months. I also have a paper copy of the 1001 book with check marks, but it's the old edition, so only has those books. I would hate to lose my list as you did.
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Everyone is welcome. A person who is abusive, or repetitively extremely vulgar could potentially get kicked out, but I've never know that to happen. The general discussion category,
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group... has at least a hundred different threads that you can read and post to, though some haven't been used for quite a while.
I'm finished for the year at 314. Now to set some goals for 2021, and run to the public library for my next read.
I finish this year with 350 from the List. I plan to focus on the List more in the year to come.
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I read slightly more total books this year though. My total # of list books is now at 357.
In 2020 I’ve read 51 list books, which is a little below average, but not much.
I read 34 list books (and a few others that are part of a series) and reread one list book.I read across four languages; English, Portuguese, Spanish and Japanese.
For 2021 I'd like to hit 100 books by women, which is a tall ask.
I was able to knock out 39 this year, which surprised me when I saw it was that many.
I have now read 711 books from the Boxall 2006 edition, and of the 315 books added in later editions I have read 95.
Made it through 485, 80 in the quarantine year of 2020 alone.
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I read 50 list books, which was little more than I thought. I'm now at 327, I would like to reach 275 but I'm probably going to read less list books this year. Women I would like to read more because last year I read 71 books and only 9 were by women...
I am reading from the combined list. I have completed 672/1315. I hope to read another 100 list books in 2021.
Humm, I am amazed at the volume of reading the classics. I read 7 in 2020 and I was thinking of setting a goal to read 10 classics next year : )
I am currently reading Dr. Zhivago.
not all list books are created equal. Reading Les Miserables or Count of Monte Christo (or even for me Anna Karenina) is a huge challenge. I find it hard to keep focus. I can read maybe 10 books each year from the list if I push it. I guess I am a slow reader. Currently at around 100.
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I found that it's a bit of an acquired skill. The more I read, the better I understand. I find that I am able to focus and understand philosophically heavy literature much better now than I was just two years ago.
Going by the 2006 list, I've read 199. I do quite well in the older classics, but post-1960, I've read only about 20-30. Trying to catch up though: reading 21st Century 'classics' now: Pulitzer and Man Booker prize winners.
Mia wrote: "I read 50 list books, which was little more than I thought. I'm now at 327, I would like to reach 275 but I'm probably going to read less list books this year. Women I would like to read more becau..."Feel free to join us here:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group...
I am at ~346 books right now on the combined list, on listchallenges. I'm currently reading Don Quixote and The Elegance of the Hedgehog, so possibly I'll be at 348 going into February. I still have a couple Waugh novels to finish, but I finished all of the Waugh audiobooks on youtube so far. Until we get interlibrary loan back, I'm having to be more creative finding books from the list to read, but my goal is to pass 400 by the end of 2021.
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Jamie I'm nearly even with you, The Savage Detectives made 361 for me. I would also like to reach 400 total by the end of the year. I'm less ambitious than you, as I'm closer to it now. I'm reading three more now, two of which are rather long: The Glass Bead Game and The Magic Mountain, which both happen to be by German authors.
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You recently passed having read half the books, very impressive!
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I would--thank you! Would it be something you could post on a group thread?"
Sure, let me know if you can open this link and if so I'll just start a thread so it can be widely shared:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...
I used the spreadsheet with every single book across all versions that some kind user posted a while back; I had to edit it some they got some names wrong (Japanese surnames were mistaken for given names, for example and Portuguese surnames with more than one term were misfiled; not that it at all matters considering how comprehensive it was, if it were me compiling it, it wouldn't be half as accurate) so it is very likely there are other mistakes I failed to see or authors I accidentally cut.
So take it with a grain of salt.