100 Best

[Anomaly]

[quote name='IcePrincessKRS' post='1373368' date='Aug 29 2007, 10:22 AM'] 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"[/quote]I love how Squirrel Nutkin get's maimed then slaughtered. I read that to my kids too. It's a classic deserving to be on the list. It's got a good moral. We're responsible for the consequences of our actions, even if we behave like a hooligan. My kids understood hooliganism by the age of 5.

[Theologian in Training]

So, ok then, two votes for Squirrel Nutkin

[fides quarens intellectum]

Austen - Pride and Prejudice, Persuasion, Mansfield Park

Bradbury - Fahrenheit 451

Dostoevsky - Crime and Punishment

Lewis - Screwtape Letters

Orwell - Animal Farm

Balzac - Eugenie Grandet

Cormier - The Chocolate War

Stowe - Uncle Tom's Cabin

White - The Once and Future King

that was fun!

Edited August 29, 2007 by fides quarens intellectum

[homeschoolmom]

You can read Squirrel Nutkin (and other Potter classics) online! Here:

[url="http://wiredforbooks.org/kids.htm"]http://wiredforbooks.org/kids.htm[/url]

[carrdero]

[quote name='missionarybelle' post='1373287' date='Aug 29 2007, 01:13 AM']OK those lists are written by men. that's all I will say. they ar missing out on some of the bst books life has to offer.[/quote]
The last great novel I read was Gunter Grass' [u]The Tin Drum[/u]. I am also surprised that this list did not include any graphic novels.

[Anomaly]

I feel humiliated. I double checked Nutkin. I was thinking Mr. Brown the Owl ate Nutkin after he lost his tail. My bad. Nutkin was merely maimed, not eaten afterwards.

[Theologian in Training]

[quote name='homeschoolmom' post='1373517' date='Aug 29 2007, 01:56 PM']You can read Squirrel Nutkin (and other Potter classics) online! Here:

[url="http://wiredforbooks.org/kids.htm"]http://wiredforbooks.org/kids.htm[/url][/quote]

Interesting.

[Didacus]

Those books in my opinion that must make the list:

Frankenstein (lessons in this story is so much more than the mere 'ugly yet beautiful' theme. It tackles questions such as if you play into evil it will consume you, evil breads evil and man does not have the right to play God)


Brave New Wrold - it was a prophecy, and it is the world in which we live in



Animal Farm and 1984, gotta match these two because 1984 is an elaboration, in essence, of animal farm. My favorite is animal farm, however in order of importance, 1984 is the more prominent owrk.



Death of Superman comic book - made me cry



To Kill a Mockingbird - Atticus Finch is what every common man should shoot towards


Death of a Salesman - The typical fate of the common man in real life



Le Bossu de Notre Dame (the Hunchback of Notre Dame) - Sad, romantic, Realistic, Historic, not enough can be said of this collosal classic



The Grapes of Wrath - Never abandoning your humanity while striving to conquer adversity.



'Au Nom de Tout Les Miens' (In the Name of All my Own) - Author Mr. Gray recounts his incredible true life story of survival as a jew during the WWII period. Simply inspiring, beauty of the human soul in the worst of adversities.


Dracula - The main theme of sin turning to evil and consuming your soul onto the second death is a theme within which all humans must struggle.



Now all that was the rest, above is the 'pack' for say. Below are my two absolute favorites and MUST BE IN ANY LIST's TOP TEN:


'Cyrano de Bergerac' - best play ever written, final stop.


Le Petit Prince (The Little Prince), Antoine de Saint Exupery
This is the most important piece of litterature in the 20th century. No one can possibly know and understand happiness without knowing at some level the secrets contained in this book. There is no such thing as a complete library without this book in the shelf (preferably in more than one language, since it is the most translated book of all time, including the Bible)


Well that's Didacus' list, since in the attack shop.

[dUSt]

Lord of the Flies by William Golding

A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole

A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain

The Knight by Gene Wolfe

Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean Auel

[Sojourner]

[quote name='dUSt' post='1373622' date='Aug 29 2007, 02:11 PM']A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole[/quote]
That is a fantastic book.

[Noel's angel]

To Kill A Mockingbird
Grapes of Wrath
Of Mice and Men
The Picture of Dorian Gray
Tarka The Otter (!!)
Animal Farm
Frankenstein
Winnie The Pooh
One Flew Over The Cukoo's Nest

Can't think of any more at the moment.

[Didacus]

Noel's angel,

'Of Mice and Men'

Ya, forgot that one. Excellent book and should be part of the list for sure!

[homeschoolmom]

[quote name='Anomaly' post='1373609' date='Aug 29 2007, 02:34 PM']I feel humiliated. I double checked Nutkin. I was thinking Mr. Brown the Owl ate Nutkin after he lost his tail. My bad. Nutkin was merely maimed, not eaten afterwards.[/quote]
Yeah, I was thinking, "what version of the book did you read???"

[Theologian in Training]

Wow, this is shaping up to be a very comprehensive, albeit amazing list. The books that seem to be on everyone's list is "To Kill a Mockingbird," "Frankenstein" and "Animal Farm," though I have to be honest, I only got through half of "Animal Farm," did not like it that much...maybe I can give it another try.

[Anomaly]

I think that a slow read and discussion of Robinson Crusoe by DeFoe (or Defoe, I don't remember) is mandatory. Considering when it was written (early 1700's) and the insights and questions regarding finding purpose in life, it's incredibly relevant to living in today's society. Unlike most 20th century novels, God isn't a rarely thought of concept, but a reality. It's surprising.