100 Best

[Theologian in Training]

I have a question though, since I never read it, why is "Lolita" on all of the lists? Isn't it about a person attracted to an underage girl?

[Lil Red]

boy, i feel very uneducated because i have read like 2 books on the whole list

i'll post my favs tomorrow.

[kateri05]

lolita is about that, but also considered a literary classic.

go figure

[Starets]

I don't read novels anymore. My major was English and History so I have certainly read a lot of novels.
Some of my favourites, in no particular order:
Morte D'Arthure = Malory
Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, Leaf by Niggle = Tolkein
Space Trilogy = Lewis
Lord of the Flies, The Inheritors, Darkness Visible = Golding
Excalibur (an arthurian fantasy set in Mobile, Alabama) = Laubenthal
The Man who was Thursday = Chesterton
Charles Williams
Lovecraft
Magic Kingdom for Sale series = Brooks
The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie, The Driver's Seat, The Comforters = Muriel Spark
Rasselas, The Fountains = Sam Johnson
The Collector = fowles
A Handful of Dust = Waugh

That's all I can think of right now. there are certainly others.

[Farsight one]

[quote name='Theologian in Training' post='1373298' date='Aug 29 2007, 01:32 AM']I have a question though, since I never read it, why is "Lolita" on all of the lists? Isn't it about a person attracted to an underage girl?[/quote]
Yes. He's attracted to underage girls in general, and he goes on a road trip with lolita, who then "leaves" him for another grown man, etc, etc. It's fairly detailed in some places, so if you don't have a strong stomach, don't read it, but it is an excellent book all the same.


Also, why are there short stories on the list? Flannery O'Connor's "A Good Man is Hard to Find" is excellent, but it's not a book.

And War of the Worlds should be high on that list. Excellent book.

Finnegan's Wake clearly has something to do with Ireland. I must read it.

Edited August 29, 2007 by Farsight one

[homeschoolmom]

Where was this list at the beginning of the summer when I had tons of time to read????

To Kill a Mockingbird is my all-time favorite. I do love Animal Farm, too, though. Now I'm excited to get readin'.....

I'm like you, Theo, I look at those Barnes and Noble tables and think I missed something somewhere....

eta: We should have a book club. Remember when PM had a book club?

[Anomaly]

I've read close to 1/2 of the books between the two threads. That's what happens when your mom is a school librarian and you have older sibilings whose version of playing school is teaching us younger ones to read at the age of 4.
I'm sorely disappointed that Dickens, DeFoe, Bradbury and Issac Asimov aren't on there.

Edited August 29, 2007 by Anomaly

[homeschoolmom]

How is "To Kill a Mockingbird" not on the first list???

[IcePrincessKRS]

[quote name='Theologian in Training' post='1373280' date='Aug 29 2007, 02:01 AM']That was randomhouse Radcliffe did a "rival" list found here [url="http://www.randomhouse.com/modernlibrary/100rivallist.html"]http://www.randomhouse.com/modernlibrary/100rivallist.html[/url] a lot of the same[/quote]

I read, for certain, TWO off the first list and 6 off this one. I thought I was pretty well read but this just makes me feel illiterate!

I was a little disappointed not to see more of what I consider classics on the list--
Frankenstein, The 3 Musketeers, Dracula, The Works of Edgar Allan Poe, The Count of Monte Cristo, The Canterbury Tales, Faust, Crime and Punishment, anything by Jane Austin, the Brontes, Shakespeare (and a host of other authors)... shoot, there's a bunch more that are sitting in boxes in my mother's basement waiting for me to remember their titles.

[homeschoolmom]

It would be interesting to have them broken down... say 20th century... or American authors... or world lit.... etc.
Then you could pick from different categories... and be really well-rounded.

[Theologian in Training]

Most of you have realized the same thing I did, hence the reason for this thread. Although, there are some great "classics" on that list, I felt it was still incomplete, which is why I asked you guys to tell me what you feel should also be on that list. Based on that, I am going to compile another list of those I must read and get some darn discipline and actually do that. I miss being an English major, I would have to read a book a week, alas, that is no longer the case. In fact, I would be lucky to read a book a month and, to me, that is really sad. Besides, the last book I read was by no means a "classic" and the only reason I read the whole thing is because it was by a favorite contemporary author of mine and I loved his book "Einstein's Dreams."

Thanks to everyone who has contributed thus far.

[IcePrincessKRS]

[quote name='Theologian in Training' post='1373358' date='Aug 29 2007, 10:02 AM']Most of you have realized the same thing I did, hence the reason for this thread. Although, there are some great "classics" on that list, I felt it was still incomplete, which is why I asked you guys to tell me what you feel should also be on that list. Based on that, I am going to compile another list of those I must read and get some darn discipline and actually do that. I miss being an English major, I would have to read a book a week, alas, that is no longer the case. In fact, I would be lucky to read a book a month and, to me, that is really sad. Besides, the last book I read was by no means a "classic" and the only reason I read the whole thing is because it was by a favorite contemporary author of mine and I loved his book "Einstein's Dreams."

Thanks to everyone who has contributed thus far.[/quote]

I know what you mean. I was a literature major, too! Then I had kids and all I seem to read is things like "Squirrel Nutkin" and "Brown Bear, Brown Bear". So I have taken up bringing my girls to story hour at the library every week and picking up a book or two for myself while I'm there. This ensures that I read at least one book a week. Its a very small library so my choices are pretty limited (mostly modern authors) but at least I'm reading [i]something[/i].

I'd also add Lloyd Alexander to the list (author of the Prydain Chronicles). I think he is, perhaps, a little more youth-oriented but everyone should read the Prydain Chronicles.

[homeschoolmom]

[quote name='IcePrincessKRS' post='1373368' date='Aug 29 2007, 09:22 AM']This ensures that I read at least one book a week.[/quote]
It does? For me, it only ensures that I check out a book or two each week, set it on my shelf... max out the renewing and end up with fine. I wish I knew the magic that ensures that I am able to actually read it...

[IcePrincessKRS]

Its the same thing that drives me to exercise a couple times a week: it'd be a waste if I didn't. If I DO read or exercise no one can say "I told you you never would." Basically it boils down to pride. I read in the afternoon when my kids are playing quietly (after I've cleaned up the apartment and Matt has come and gone from his lunch break), and then for a bit after they've gone to bed.

[Sojourner]

A newer book I read and loved is "Shadow of the Wind" by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. Great book. Originally in Spanish.