Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die discussion
Popular Topics
>
How many of the 1001 books have you read?
Cindy wrote: "Paul wrote: "Can anyone suggest something a little more light hearted. I was thinking hitchhikers guide to the galaxy. Can anyone suggest any others?"It's not SF, but have you read [book:Lucky Ji..."
Hi Cindy,
I don't mind if it is SF or not... I noticed that Dirk Gently... was on there. The long dark tea time of the soul was on the 2006 list as well so all three are on my to-read list. I picked up an omnibus edition a couple of weeks ago so I'm looking forward to getting stuck in. I will certainly check out Kingsley Amis. Have you read The old Devils or the green man? I see they are or were also on the list.
Many thanks.
Sadly I haven't read the other two K. Amis books on the list. The Green Man looks particularly amusing. I did read one by his son, Martin Amis, London Fields, it was dark and twisted and convoluted. I liked it, but it was nothing like his dad's work.
Of the 1001 books listed, I have read only 40 - that's 0.03.8% only! I won't ever read all of course. The guy who compiled this list, did he read all those books? I guess when children enter kindergarten, their parents have to be given the list for their children! Seriously, though, I think the list is rather biased. I was surprised that Fear of Flying was listed! When I read that book several years ago, I concluded it was the ramblings of a middle-aged woman.
Misspeaches wrote: "Teresa wrote: "I haven't yet bought this book, although I've been drooling over it at Borders enough to justify the purchase! Is there an actual list, or did you flip through and count up your rea..."Thanks! I never could get the spreadsheets to work, but I did find the original listing on Listology. I've read--or attempted to read and failed--quite a few as an Eng Ed major, but this should keep me busy for a lifetime!
I was a bit surprised; I went through the title index and found I had read about 150 of them. Still, only 15% through the whole list (less than that if we figure in those that have been added since the edition I have).
45 total from both lists. 3.5%!20.5 books a year to finish the list before I die.
My 16th birthday is in a little over a week though, so that number is going to go uuuuhp.
Ugh.
Erik wrote: "45 total from both lists. 3.5%!20.5 books a year to finish the list before I die.
My 16th birthday is in a little over a week though, so that number is going to go uuuuhp.
Ugh."
LOL. I just had my 54th birthday, so I think you have a much better chance!
Woo hoo! Just crossed 10% mark for all 3 lists combined (130 books total)!!!
35... not too bad for not really reading all that often. I actually hadn't even planned on reading through them. When I joined this group, I got lucky in that alot of the books I've already read (and seriously enjoyed) were on the list.
Mike wrote: "I have 14 that I have read, 3 that I am currently reading, and 49 that I have on my to-read list.It's not impressive, but damn it I'm 16 and trying."
I think you're doing pretty ok =)
It is very impressive to hear of 16 year olds who have already done so much reading! Brilliant!
Becky where did you get the combined list?
I've started this book last year. So far I've read 20 of the 1001 books
Ana wrote: "Becky where did you get the combined list?"You can find it here Becky.
http://johnandsheena.co.uk/books/?pag...
Paul wrote: "Ana wrote: "Becky where did you get the combined list?"You can find it here.
http://johnandsheena.co.uk/books/?pag..."
Thanks Paul
Amanda wrote: "I have read 19 so far, but I was curious, has anyone actually read the entire book 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die?"I don't think anyone has yet...if they have, they haven't said so!
Paul wrote: "The last couple of list book that I’ve read have been quite dark… First I read American rust, which deals with the depression in small town America and an accidental murder. Next up was The Gatheri..."Cold Comfort Farm, Stella Gibbons
King Lear of the Steppes by turgenev. Very nice.
I don't know that many people CAN read the whole list. Some books are available only in languages other than english. That rules out most of the western world, myself included. I'm going to have to settle for 998. I'm on 21 now so onwards and upwards!!
can you name some of those not available in English? How come almost all have English titles? thanks Paul
Thanks for the suggestions Jessica and Joselito. I had a run where every book from the list I picked up from the list was tragic and depressing.I took a break from the hard core stuff and read some of the kids books. I'm reading Things Fall Apart now, which I'm enjoying a lot more than I expected.
Paul wrote: "Ana wrote: "Becky where did you get the combined list?"You can find it here Becky.
http://johnandsheena.co.uk/books/?pag..."
I thank you, too, Paul. Now I finally have a frame of reference.
I've read 54...though I didn't count the ones I read in or around the time I was at school, because either I can't remember them or anything I learnt from them or I was too young to really appreciate them...
I just finished How Late It Was, How Late (what a trial that was), and I'm happy to announce that I have now read 300 books from the list! That was my target for 2010, so now I guess I have to come up with a new target... or just let myself read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
Joselito, in order to read Land by Kyongi-ni Park you're going to need to learn either Korean or French. Not sure of any other books not translated into English but I've still got about 250 left to read.
thanks. But I wonder, if "Land" is not in english, why is its title in English?
Apparantly it has now been translated into English, Amazon even has 5 new copies for sale if you're prepared to pay over 100 pounds.I think the books on the list are all given their titles in English reguardless of the language they were written in, would be quite interesting to see what that list would look like. It might even make me look quite intellectual.
Deanne wrote: "Apparantly it has now been translated into English, Amazon even has 5 new copies for sale if you're prepared to pay over 100 pounds.I think the books on the list are all given their titles in Eng..."
I just picked up an "Acceptable" copy from Barns & Noble for £17. It has a 4-6 week lead time though (as I live in the UK). I will be relisting it on eBay when I've read it.
Joselito wrote: "can you name some of those not available in English? How come almost all have English titles? thanks Paul"Last time I checked The Taebek Mountains was available in its original language - Korean and it was translated into French but not English.
Thanks Emu. So it was in Korean/French but the title was "The Taebek Mountains"?
Joselito wrote: "Thanks Emu. So it was in Korean/French but the title was "The Taebek Mountains"?"No, actually the title is only in English on the 1001-list and apparently here on Goodreads.
I've only managed to find the actual book in French (as I do not speak, read or write Korean it is a bit difficult to search for the book in that language).
http://www.amazon.fr/cha%C3%AEne-mont...
I am working on the 2006 version, and just finished book 90. I can't wait to reach the 100 milestone!
Stephanie wrote: "Laura wrote: "198. Feel like I've got a pretty good momentum going."Wow - good for you! I've just hit 24 - yuck, I have a long way to go. My list would be higher if I counted high school reads,..."
i'm in the same boat on that one. i have 15 or 20 i read in high school, and i'm thinking of taking them off my "read" shelf as well.
I agree. I read a lot of the books at school but I'm only counting books that I’ve read in the last 2 months since I found the list(s). – In addition to a couple that had a big impact on me when I first read them and are still firmly in my mind.Thus my currant total is 21.
(I hope to be pushing 25 soon as I have several books due back at the library next week that can’t be renewed!!)
Just got to 75% of the original list, and at 61% of the 2006 list, still finding lots of books worth reading.
I have read 9! Currently reading 1.
at the moment my spreadsheet stats say 95 books read (9.4%). I think I'm going to reach my 10% goal for 2010.
Paul wrote: "I agree. I read a lot of the books at school but I'm only counting books that I’ve read in the last 2 months since I found the list(s). – In addition to a couple that had a big impact on me when I ..."
75%! How many books is that and when did you start the list?
75%! How many books is that and when did you start the list?
Wow you are all way ahead of me....I think I have read six books on the list....
Yeah me too.. I think I'm only at about 16 now.
I'm on 71, which I'm a little disappointed by if I'm honest :) Thought I'd read a bit further and wider than that!Still, plenty to go at...
I think I was a part of this group a while back, left, and now I'm back. Hi!I'm up to 205 off the list, but I haven't kept very good track of which Boxall edition. Mostly I try to use this site as a reference which I can only assume has the latest updates to The List. I'm currently working on #206 (Lucky Jim).
Shardae75% of the list is 751, I started reading from the list in 2006 when I got a copy of 1001. I'd already read 28 but I'm a bookaholic.
Still finding books on the list to read but it gets harder as the number decreases. I've bought very few of the books as I've got them from libraries, I've just requested a couple from my local and will pick them up tomorrow.
Deanne wrote: "Shardae
75% of the list is 751, I started reading from the list in 2006 when I got a copy of 1001. I'd already read 28 but I'm a bookaholic.
Still finding books on the list to read but it gets ha..."
Congrats to you 751 books in just 4 years. What is the average number you read each month? I'm just trying to find a fixed goal in my head to help me better achieve this, it would help if i had a set number of books I was shooting for each month, rather than thinking of it as 1001 books to read before I die it makes it feel like I will never get there.
75% of the list is 751, I started reading from the list in 2006 when I got a copy of 1001. I'd already read 28 but I'm a bookaholic.
Still finding books on the list to read but it gets ha..."
Congrats to you 751 books in just 4 years. What is the average number you read each month? I'm just trying to find a fixed goal in my head to help me better achieve this, it would help if i had a set number of books I was shooting for each month, rather than thinking of it as 1001 books to read before I die it makes it feel like I will never get there.
Read about 20 books a month, usually have 2 on the go but it depends on the size of the book. I've got a copy of Clarissa I keep meaning to start but it's 1500 pages long. I remember seeing a TV series of Clarissa years ago with Sean Bean as Lovelace, but I have a feeling the ending is sad.I've got nearly three weeks off work so I'll try to read it then.
Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die
Books mentioned in this topic
Kidnapped (other topics)Ragtime (other topics)
Lives of Girls and Women (other topics)
Lives of Girls and Women (other topics)
Lives of Girls and Women (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Robert Louis Stevenson (other topics)E.L. Doctorow (other topics)
E.L. Doctorow (other topics)
Thomas Hardy (other topics)
Emily Brontë (other topics)
More...
It's not SF, but have you read Lucky Jim? Very light-hearted and witty. Since you liked Hitchhikers, did you notice Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency is also on the list?