Book List

[ethaisa]

So I've got a new project for myself. Below is a list from a MLA (Museum, Libraries and Archives Council) poll answering "Which book should every adult read before they die?". It's an interesting list, with the usual classical suspects, many of which I've already read (but should probably read again, and marked with *) but a number I haven't. So I'

Comments

[eumelosdrizzle]

Of those books, I have read:

*To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
*The Bible (admittedly not all of it - numbers isn't exactly riveting)
*The Lord of the Rings Trilogy by JRR Tolkien
*All Quite on the Western Front by E M Remarque
*The Lord of the Flies by William Golding
*Winnie the Pooh by AA Milne

We have Life of Pi in our house, does it really rank with the classics?

[ethaisa]

We have Life of Pi in our house, does it really rank with the classics?

Well, I haven't read it, so I can't offer a personal opinion, but it did win the Booker (and was shorted for the GGA, iirc) so maybe?

I will admit I was somewhat surprised to see three Dickens titles make the list: I would have put Bleak House up before David Copperfield and tied Tale of Two Cities with Great Expectations. Totally agree with the placement of A Christmas Carol, though, and if I could only pick on Dickens, despite my love of Bleak House I think it'd have to be CC.

[labrys6]

There are nine I have not read....one of which I WILL not. I hated the movie THAT badly: Clockwork Orange.

Some of the other eight, I have heard of: Poisonwood Bible, The Lovely Bones, and Life of Pi. The others aren't even on my radar yet:
His Dark Materials Trilogy, Birdson, The Curious Incident..., The Time Travelers Wife and The Master and Margarita.

Goodness knows when I would get time tho. And btw, tho' I usually find Coelho amusing and worth the time, of about 5 or 6 of his books, The Alchemist is my very least favorite.

[ethaisa]

I read Clockwork Orange before seeing the movie - I can't say I hated it (very powerful, disturbing commentary) but I was COMPLETELY boggled (and again completely disturbed) by the cult following it garnered. (Guys dressing up in droog costumes? Seriously twisted and completely unredeemably replusive.)

I've read some of Dark Materials but need to reread it in its entirity. (Ok, I know I spelt that wrong.)

Which Coelho title would you most suggest?

(I hear you on the time issue, however. I don't expect this will be a quick project to complete!)

[labrys6]

I liked The Valkyries and The Fifth Mountain much better. Even "Eleven Minutes" was better than The Alchemist, and I didn't particularly like that one. I found Coelho somewhat uncharacteristically patriarchal in "Alchemist".

[ethaisa]

Thanks! (Adding to library search list...)

[hazelbranch]

I have not read the majority of the books on this list. I guess that makes me bad. :p I have "Life of Pi" and "The Alchemist" if you want to borrow them at some point.

[ethaisa]

Bad, smad. Your tastes just lay elsewhere.

(And thank you! I will take you up on borrowing goodness when I'm done with the others you've already kindly lent me.)