50 books to read before you die discussion

Our group list originated on a metallic bookmark.



This bookmark is supplied by Ink Media, a wholesaler of gifts and stationery to booksellers.

Ooh...I want to track this down and buy it as a reward when I finish all 50 books! :)
But that means I have to get through Ulysses...

You can do it. Some of us have, but as yet I know of no one who has enjoyed it.

I expect that this list was made something like the way our list of 100 was made, compiled by one person or several people, winnowed down to 50. Putting more on a bookmark would have made the print too small. I guess that the primary purpose of the bookmark was to promote the sale of books by booksellers.

this is very interesting I built a book case and I am doing a faux back with all my fave titles painted on so if there isn't a book there it still looks like it

I joined this group because of this bookmark, one of my favourite bookmarks :)

Buck wrote: "Our group list originated on a metallic bookmark.



This bookmark is supplied by Ink Media, a wholesaler of gifts and stationery to booksellers."
What an item! Wish could lay my hands upon it.

Narayanan wrote: "Buck wrote: "Our group list originated on a metallic bookmark.



This bookmark is supplied by Ink Media, a wholesaler of gifts and stationery to booksellers."
What an item! Wish could lay my hands..."

You can get it on ebay and amazon

I checked. Too much postage for me. :-) I'm too used to Prime 2 day free shipping.

Shermaya wrote: "Narayanan wrote: "Buck wrote: "Our group list originated on a metallic bookmark.



This bookmark is supplied by Ink Media, a wholesaler of gifts and stationery to booksellers."
What an item! Wish ..."
Thanks

Buck wrote: "You can do it. Some of us have, but as yet I know of no one who has enjoyed it."

I enjoyed Ulysses! But then again James Joyce and Irish literature have been the focus of both my advanced degrees!

Give it a try and read a guide along with it to help you keep your bearings.

Jessica wrote: "I enjoyed Ulysses! But then again James Joyce and Irish literature have been the focus of both my ad..."

Jessica, it would be fabulous to do a Ulysses group read with a knowledgeable interpreter. Would you be up for that?

I agree Longhare, that would be awesome.
Jessica, would you be willing?

your list is too american flavor

Uri wrote: "your list is too american flavor"

Make some suggestions. Maybe start a new thread for an international bookmark?

The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon.
The little prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.
Blindness by José Saramago
The giving tree by shell silverstein

Also , It doesn't have to be such a bestseller.
people like things as britney spears. so quality is not always measured by success.

Uri wrote: "The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon.
The little prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.
Blindness by José Saramago
The giving tree by shell silverstein

Also , It doesn't have to be such a best..."

The bookmark was made for sale in American bookstores, so it's not surprising that it may have an American slant. In the picture at the top of this thread, the names of eight authors are visible and only two of them are American.

We compiled out list of 100 ourselves, ( https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... ) so presumably it reflects the tastes of the group members, a sizable proportion of whom I'd guess are Americans.

Since joining this group about a year ago, I've read three of the four you listed. Don't let The Bookmark restrain your reading. You can start threads on any books you like, and if the group members have read them, especially if they particularly liked or disliked them, I'll bet you get at least some discussion.

What if we make a new thread and call it "books you love, that didnt make the list" ?

I think I've seen this one at my local bookstore, although it may just be a similar one.

I bought the bookmark! I was just browsing a bookstore I've never been to before and saw it so I had to buy it.

I need to get it too, if not as a prize when i finish maybe before for some motivation to finish. Then i can show it off. :)

I got the bookmark last year when I went to the Oxford Literary Festival, it's sold in the gift shop next to the new cafe in the Weston Library.

got the bookmark years ago at a barns and noble. My cat hates it because of the noise it makes when I accidently drop it on the floor ;-)

Some are good. Buuuuut I don't see any book of Dostoevsky. And why people have to read The Bible???? Why is a must?

Ona wrote: "Some are good. Buuuuut I don't see any book of Dostoevsky. And why people have to read The Bible???? Why is a must?"

There are great authors besides Dostoevsky who are not on the bookmark list of 50. That's why we made the list of 100 Books They Didn't Tell Us About https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/.... Dostoevsky is on it.

No one must read the bible.

I think the Bible is on the list because there are so many works of literature that reference the Bible.

Shermaya wrote: "I joined this group because of this bookmark, one of my favourite bookmarks :)"

This is why I started the group when I came across this at Barns and Noble one day... and now thanx to Lisa and Buck and Christine the group keeps going because I haven't been around for a while.

Mayra wrote: "Shermaya wrote: "I joined this group because of this bookmark, one of my favourite bookmarks :)"

This is why I started the group when I came across this at Barns and Noble one day... and now thanx..."

Hi Mayra. [Buck waves from across the crowd]

Buck wrote: "Mayra wrote: "Shermaya wrote: "I joined this group because of this bookmark, one of my favourite bookmarks :)"

This is why I started the group when I came across this at Barns and Noble one day......"

Hi :) You guys have really kept the group going. I'm going to try and connect more often and participate more.

Mayra wrote: "Buck wrote: "Mayra wrote: "Shermaya wrote: "I joined this group because of this bookmark, one of my favourite bookmarks :)"

This is why I started the group when I came across this at Barns and Nob..."

Hi Mayra. Welcome back

Christine wrote: "Mayra wrote: "Buck wrote: "Mayra wrote: "Shermaya wrote: "I joined this group because of this bookmark, one of my favourite bookmarks :)"

This is why I started the group when I came across this at..."

Hi, Thanx. :) I hope to be back more often.

I'm curious. Is there any particular order to this list? Although LOTR is important, I wouldn't think it would it is THE most important.

You will have to ask Barnes and Noble as someone must have compiled the list for them.

Michael wrote: "I'm curious. Is there any particular order to this list? Although LOTR is important, I wouldn't think it would it is THE most important."

I think the order is probably random, Michael. We could even question why some books were on the list and others were not.

I would add Shakespeare's play Hamlet to this list. Definitely - to read. If you have not read, and have not even watched. Please do not look, but take the time to book. It will delight you, hook you, interest and distract you from everyday life. Well, if your genre is in doubt, you can read reviews from critics or any hamlet essay, you can understand whether it is worth starting.