Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die discussion
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How many of the 1001 books have you read?
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K.D.
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Apr 02, 2010 02:44AM
I already finished 92 out of the 1001-2010 list. I have around 232 in my bookshelf waiting for me. My brother has around 100 that he will hand those over to me once he is done.
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112 for me. But then again, I have to take exception to this list. It is too short on early 20th century literature and too long by far on novels written in the last 20 years. It´s a very inadequate list.
I have read 62. I have 5 titles from the list on my "abandoned" shelf.
How do we count? No. 311 of the 2010 list, for example, is Anthony Powell's "A Dance to the Music of Time". This has twelve (12) volumes/books. If I read them all, is that counted as 12, or only as one?
How do we count? No. 311 of the 2010 list, for example, is Anthony Powell's "A Dance to the Music of Time". This has twelve (12) volumes/books. If I read them all, is that counted as 12, or only as one?Anthony Powell's series is only counted as one entry on the list.
127, perhaps more. Some look familiar and I think I may have read them 20 years ago or so but I didn't mark any I wasn't sure of.
I just joined this group tonight and have read 34 of the books on the list. I am reading The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde.
Charity wrote: "How do we count? No. 311 of the 2010 list, for example, is Anthony Powell's "A Dance to the Music of Time". This has twelve (12) volumes/books. If I read them all, is that counted as 12, or only as..."I agree, Charity. It is confusing to start referring this as 1,021 instead of 1,001 books. However, I have a question: LOTR and Regeneration are clearly trilogies. But for The Hitchhiker's Guide to Galaxy, Douglas Adams call it as a trilogy but it is composed of 5 or 6 books. The list has The Hitchhiker's Guide to Galaxy as an entry. Does this mean we will read only the first book? I mean it is clear for example for Regeneration Trilogy, only the 1st and 3rd books are listed so are required to read only those 2 (but I will read them all). In the case of Hitchhiker's does it refer to the series or only the first book?
i just joined this group and found a copy of the 2006 list on line I have read 20 of the books already. does anyone know where I can find a newer verson?
At the bottom of the group's home page there are a couple of links to different sites. There's also a 1001 things (CDs, movies, books, etc) website, but I don't have the link for you.
In my humble opinion, I think it's your own personal choice as to how to count books, and which books of a series are "required." I mean really, nobody is reporting on your progress, nobody is going to penalize you if you read the first book of Hitchhiker, you know? I think you get more out of it if you read the whole series (they've fast reads anyway) but if you read the first and don't want to continue, don't. That's my take, anyway : )
Saying, in effect, that you can do anything you want since no one gives a damn about it. That's true, in a way. But what, then, is the point of having this 1001 group and/or joining it if the attitude is: read what you like, we don't care?
I never said nobody gave a damn. That's pretty harsh.If I didn't care I wouldn't be in the group, reading the books on the list either, right? I'm just saying sometimes the choice can be your own. Would you berate someone from setting down a book they truly didn't enjoy?
48 as of today. I just checked out the new list and found many more.
On the multi-book question, if it would help any, you could consider a trilogy as one really long book that had to be cut into three parts for ease of reading... Personally, I know that I will never finish this list but it is kinda fun trying. Besides, the books chosen for the monthly book read from the list are ones that I wouldn't necessarily pick up on my own but that are often pleasant surprises. So I am not as concerned about how I score what I have read but rather about discovering new and interesting books.
I would hope the people using this list would feel that they can cut people some slack. I'm a firm believer in live and let live. I don't think any of us have a right to judge how or why anybody else is reading.
Paula wrote: "I never said nobody gave a damn. That's pretty harsh.If I didn't care I wouldn't be in the group, reading the books on the list either, right? I'm just saying sometimes the choice can be your o..."
as far as counting, if you download the spreadsheet (see other links for this), it has a ticker at the top that tells you how many you have "read" and how many "to be read" and then what the two percentages end up. That's how I've been keeping track....it's seems the easiest (rather than me counting every time or whatnot). Since this isn't my only book group, it's cerntainly not the only list I'm working from, BUT this list is also a "book" so any cocerns about "which book" the list is referring to, You could always check the actual BOOK that has this list. That should clarify specifically which book they are referring to and WHY it's on the list. The books are actually quite interesting to check out. I know my local library has all three books: 2006, 2008 & they just got the 2010 edition in.
167, and about ten started but unfinished. I have The Rainbow in my library queue. I just signed up for this group- what a great idea!
I've read about 39 and still counting.
86 for me. but I've got about 11 others that I actually own but haven't read yet, so hopefully by the end of the year I'll have 97 :)
Paula wrote: "I never said nobody gave a damn. That's pretty harsh.If I didn't care I wouldn't be in the group, reading the books on the list either, right? I'm just saying sometimes the choice can be your o..."
But you did not say "sometimes". You said "it's your own personal choice as to how to count books". No "sometimes" there.
I agree with you that on the individual level the reader can decide for himself how to count and what to read. But we are here in the "How many of the 1001 books have you read?" forum. So how to count--and a consensus on this--are perfectly legitimate and relevant inquiries. The heading of the forum is a question. Joining in, a person has to give an answer to the question. If, for example, I've read nothing from the list but ELEVEN (11) of the twelve books comprising Anthony Powell's "A Dance to the Music of Time", how do I answer the question: a. zero, b.11 or c. 11/12 of one?
Joselito, I feel as though you are trying to draw me into an argument, of which I want no part.You asked a question. I offered my opinion. I thought that was what this group is about. I did not expect to be chastised for my opinion.
Perhaps you would prefer I quietly say "a. zero," with no further explanation. In the future I will make sure to avoid this group.
I've read 94, but I haven't even heard of many of the books on the list.
Paula wrote: "Joselito, I feel as though you are trying to draw me into an argument, of which I want no part.You asked a question. I offered my opinion. I thought that was what this group is about. I did not e..."
Paula, you gave your opinion, and I merely disagreed. I did not, and never intended to, "chastise" you.
The inquiry was like this: there's a Hitchhiker entry in the 1001 list. That's one of the 1001 books we must read before we die. The author calls it a "trilogy" but actually it appears to have 5 or 6 books. So do we read all, or only the first three? People made this 1001 list. They take the form of recommendations. The compilers, in effect, recommend that we read those mentioned in the list. So the question is whether the recommendation for this Hitchhiker entry, which the author calls a trilogy, is to read the first 3 only or all 5 or 6 books in the series? It therefore goes into the INTENTION of those who included this entry in the 1001 list. Your answer, however, was: 1.it's one's personal choice how to count books; 2. it's one's personal choice also to determine what books are "required"; 3. no one is monitoring one's progress anyway; 4. no one is also penalizing anyone anyway; and 5. if one reads a book in a series and feels like stopping, then he should stop.
It only did NOT answer the question, but it clearly translates into : do what you like, no one cares.
Please don't leave. Invite me as your friend instead.
Paula wrote: "Joselito, I feel as though you are trying to draw me into an argument, of which I want no part.You asked a question. I offered my opinion. I thought that was what this group is about. I did not e..."
Paula, I hope you stay in the group - I've enjoyed your comments.
I agree with Paula's comment that it is people's personal preferences on how they check off a book - just my opinion, but if people feel differently then they can come up with a group consensus. And I think the statement that she doesn't care came across as criticism and was a bit harsh. As someone else said in this thread 'live and let live'. Come on - 1001 books! There is plenty to discuss without sniping.
And Paula, please stay!
I did not like the tone in your first reply to Paula either, Joselito; and "bit my tongue" rather than say so at first. I can understand why she felt chastised. All comments from this group up to that point have been polite and respectful of each others' opinions. I do hope that tone is re-established now, and we can go back to what has been normal for us----with Paula as a continued member.
234 is my number according to the spreadsheet. I count individual books I've read. For instance, I read four of the 12 books in the "Dance to the Music of Time" series.I did not care to read any more (I had gotten all I felt was there for me in this series), so I marked the series as read. After reading four books, it was just too painful to leave it as unread! I did the same thing with the "Clarissa" series. Weird how we get so attached to our accomplishments and feel cheated if we can't take credit for them -- at least to ourselves! :)
It seems to me the list is arbitrary in how it deals with series. At least I don't see a logic behind why the Barker series should be treated differently than "Dance to the Music of Time". I just assumed it had something to do with the publishing industry, how the books were first printed and released perhaps: but I really don't know. I think deciding on our own individual methods of "taking credit" is at least as rational as the list is in this regard! (If anyone can enlighten us otherwise, please do!)
I have never looked on this group as a source of competition either, only sharing; so I really am not concerned with how others count their books. The whole commitment is to further our education, to self-improve, to read "the best" in fiction,isn't it? That and just challenge ourselves to meet our own goals? How can anyone (or group) dictate to another how to measure that?
All that said, I have no problem if a consensus method is established for counting individual vs series books the way the group wants to -- for the purpose of apples to apples counting. I'm willing to do that also; but I'll still, for myself, keep counting mine the way it "feels" right to me..
is the list on goodreads - 1001 books to read... the one we should craoss ref to? which list do we use and where do you access it?
Paula, I'm sorry to hear that you're leaving the group over one rude person. I just joined the group myself. I agree everyone's entitled to their own opinion. I though this was for fun some people shouldn't be so serious. The point is to read books you wouldn't normally read. Read for pleasure. Learn a few things. HAVE FUN. :)
I agree with Melissa 100%.However, the Hitchhiker question is still unanswered.
Joselito wrote: "I agree with Melissa 100%.However, the Hitchhiker question is still unanswered."
I think what they are saying is to count it as 1 because it is listed as 1. Someone recommended to read all the 5 or 6 books for better appreciation since those are easy reads anyway.
Joselito, the write up of it in my copy of the book (2006 edition) indicates they are referring to the first book, not the series title, when they say "The Hitchhikers's Guide to the Galaxy". So you would only need to read the first of the series, in this case, to count it.
That's good. thank you. Simple, direct answer. So the editors recommend the reading of only the first book. This was important to know not really of any concerns of keeping up score, but because each of the entries in the list is there for a reason. They were not whimsically picked. So if there is a series, it is important to know what the recommendation is, i.e., whether to read the entire series or only one or some of the books included therein. If, for example, the recommendation is just to read the first volume, that means that the editors, after consultations/discussion/studies had decided that to get whatever worth/enjoyment there is in that entry, it is enough to just read one volume, not the entire series, so that the time and effort one would have exerted/spent in reading them (which may bring only a redundant, diminishing joy) can very well be spent in reading those others in the list to beat the deadline with the Grim Reaper.
Joselito wrote: "How do we count? No. 311 of the 2010 list, for example, is Anthony Powell's "A Dance to the Music of Time". This has twelve (12) volumes/books. If I read them all, is that counted as 12, or only as..."According to the way the book 1001 Books...is set up, sometimes you read the whole as in A Dance to the Music of Time but only one as in Hitchhiker's Guide to Galaxy. The book only mentions the first book. (I am reading the first edition). In Mervyn Peake's Gormenghast trilogy, the first and second books are given separate listings, the third is not included. So if you are to be literal, you would need to know how the book is noted in the book, 1001 Books.... Many people make their own rules, it depends on one's personal style. I tend to be literal. I also do not think I will ever finish the books, besides being older and having too little time and too many books, the goal is a moving target.
Thank you too.I will be literal too.
My next question is, Why did Titus groan?
Joselito wrote: "Thank you too.I will be literal too.
My next question is, Why did Titus groan?"
Titus Groan. Groan is the last name of the rulers of Gormenghast. He will be the 77th Earl of Gormenghast.
You are very educational. I like you. I will put that in my to read list.
10 from the 2006 edition. I've started at least 15 of them, but never quite finished, and at least another 15 are on my list of books to read. I think I'm reading 4 now, maybe 5 (reading 5 or 6 books total right now). Not impressive at all, but I'm only (almost) 21 and haven't gotten to read much the past couple of years since my daughter was born.I've read 8 from the 2008 list. A ton of those are on my list to read, as well.
Joselito wrote: "That's good. thank you. Simple, direct answer. So the editors recommend the reading of only the first book. This was important to know not really of any concerns of keeping up score, but because ea..."Exactly. I do not like wasting time reading series. I have a hard time giving that much time to one author. Your insight into the author's intent, I think, is right on target.
Hi there, I just joined the group. I went thru the list and I've read 109 books. I don't know if that's good or not but I'll keep plugging away.
109? That's even more than my "read-remembered" books in the 1001 list.I also have, of course, my "read-forgotten" and "may-have-read" lists. These are books in the 1001 list which give me a strong sense of deja vu but couldn't remember their plots anymore or what they are all about. If all these will be counted, I've certainly read more than 109.
95 so far. With an average rate/year of 100. I will still need 9 years to finish all these 1001 books!
I've read 35, only added 3 since joining the group a few months ago. But with three kids, also learning to knit and starting my own indeximg business, it's not too shabby. But since the weather has gotten nice, I've slowed down even more. Good thing it's a long-term goal!
I'm at 40 so far, and I've at least as many shelved and waiting to be read. That's still pretty pitiful, when you think there's a thousand on the list, but I'm sure there are plenty of very fine books that should also be read, and have been read that don't appear on that very singular list.
Megan wrote: "I have read only 57 of the novels on the list, but I keep plugging away at it. "I have read 47 and plan to join the group. Talk to you on the 15th.
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