Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die discussion

Even if a much better novel than 100 years of solitude was written, there are plenty of books that might be replaced in the list and which are much lower quality than García Marquez's novel. I would actually remove Love in the Time of Cholera before 1oo years of solitude, because like it or not it was the foundational novel not just for magic realism, but for the Latin American literary boom which boosted authors like Carlos Fuentes, Julio Cortázar, Mario Vargas Llosa and Juan Carlos Onetti, not to mention how influential it has been with foreign authors such as Toni Morrison. Removing it from the list would be like removing Ulysses or War and Peace. And I too would lose all faith in the list if that were to happen.

So agree with you, Lauli! Great argument!

Just finished the heart is a lonely hunter, great book which has never been on the list, Shame.

Deanne wrote: "Just finished the heart is a lonely hunter, great book which has never been on the list, Shame."

Wonderful book, Deanne. You're so right. Carson McCullers was a woman ahead of her time in writing that book.

Deborah wrote: "Deanne wrote: "Just finished the heart is a lonely hunter, great book which has never been on the list, Shame."

Wonderful book, Deanne. You're so right. Carson McCullers was a woman ahead of h..."

I absolutely agree. The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter is one of my all-time favorites. I felt such a kinship with Mick when I read it in middle school. I can't believe a classic like that, which influenced me so much when I was younger, could be so completely overlooked.

I am agreeing with all you Lonely Hunter advocates. While I hesitate to say any book MUST be read before you die, I was suprised to not see this on the list given the other titles that are.

IN PRAISE OF OLDER WOMEN by the Hungarian Stephen Vizinczey. Like Lonely Hunter it's in the 501 Must Read Books list.

Lauli wrote: "I'm reading The Odyssey at the moment and finding it surprisingly delightful. Leaving that aside, aren't The Iliad and The Odyssey two of the foundational books for world literature? Ho..."

I have been wondering why these were not on the list. I don't understand why these were excluded but The 120 Days of Sodom and Other Writings was included. I won't be reading this one.

Flora wrote: "Lauli wrote: "I'm reading The Odyssey at the moment and finding it surprisingly delightful. Leaving that aside, aren't The Iliad and The Odyssey two of the foundational books for world ..."

Someone explained that the Odyssey and Iliad are considered poems, so they're not included. Go figure.

Hmmm....they don't seem like any poetry I have ever read. But I'm not expert.

well, technically they are poems, but they're certainly on any list of literature you don't want to miss. I had to read "The Odyssey" in college and then read it 20 years later and couldn't believe how good it really was!

Bill wrote: "well, technically they are poems, but they're certainly on any list of literature you don't want to miss. I had to read "The Odyssey" in college and then read it 20 years later and couldn't believe..."

I completely agree. I recently read The Illiad and loved it. I didn't expected to like it nearly as well as I did because of all the battle scenes. I'm certainly glad I didn't pass it up.

"The Odyssey" and "The Iliad" would be joined by other classic epics like Virgil's "Aenid," "Paradise Lost" and "Beowulf," all of which are fictional narratives and worthy of the list, but they're not prose works.

Cynthia wrote: "I take the approach of making my very own list. I use the 1001 must read list as a guide, rejecting outright about 20% of them--too many by a single author, not written in my native language..."

This is exactly how I use the list. I've actually replaced some of the titles on the list that I have no intention of reading with titles I have read that I feel are worthy of being on it! Am I close-minded for outrightly rejecting some books that I don't like the sound of? Maybe, but I feel that is my prerogative as a reader.

Pop-splat by Ian Martin should definately be on this list - it's one of the most entertaining, invigorating and thought-provoking books I've read in the last couple of years.Another great South African book is Acid Alex by Al Lovejoy. Just such a pity these books aren't more well known. Pop-splat

Here is a good quote from Roberto Calasso's The Marriage of Cadmus and Harmony regarding the Iliad.

"Every notion of progress is refuted by the existence of the Iliad. The perfection of the first step makes any idea of progressive ascension ridiculous."

Linda wrote: "Cynthia wrote: "I take the approach of making my very own list. I use the 1001 must read list as a guide, rejecting outright about 20% of them--too many by a single author, not written in my native..."

That's exactly what I did, glad to see I'm not the only one :)

Well Bunyans Pilgrim's Progress was in the 2006-edition but was removed. This strikes me as odd. Just read the introduction to this book in the "1001":

"One of the most popular works ever written in the English language, John Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress continues to be published in new editions, remain on bestseller lists, and retain an enduring relevance today."

You can't say that of many of the books from that period on the list. Pilgrim's Progress is a highly imaginative work of fiction. And it's the only book chosen from this author.

Reading How Green Was My Valley by Richard Llewellyn, beautifully written book which should be on the list.

I was so sad and disappointed when I saw Pilgrim's Progress dropped from the list. It's one of the most-sold books of all time. I love it, have read it numerous times, and teach it in my lit. classes. Maybe it was too religious in nature for the publishers to keep on the list? Guess they'd rather see socialist and existentialist garbage added...

I feel like I've already posted this, but "As I Lay Dying" by Faulkner IMO really should be on the list.

Tony
off to check out some of this "socialist...garbage" ;)

Another goodreads group recently posted a pointer to an article about under-appreciated literature:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001...

There is mention of a Guardian article -- a list of 50 'unjustly slighted' books -- "How Did We Miss These?" Here is that list...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2007/...

Is anyone familiar with these 50 books? I have ordered Elizabeth Jenkins' The Tortoise and the Hare from that list. I haven't read it, but seems it should be included in the 1001. It is not on the 2006 1001 list, perhaps it has been included in the updated lists? It's going on my TBR shelf.

I just started The Long Ships from this list, and I am loving it.

Summer Sisters- by Judy Blume?

Journey to the End of Night by Louis-Ferdinand Celine

absolutely my favorite book of all time, and possibly some of the most powerful prose of this century.

Foxontherun wrote: "Journey to the End of Night by Louis-Ferdinand Celine... absolutely my favorite book of all time, and possibly some of the most powerful prose of this century."


Here is one editorial review from Amazon:
"The terrifying French novelist, Louis Ferdinand Céline—an enormously powerful and slashing, satiric, misanthropic writer. But what power of the imagination!" -- James Laughlin, founder of New Directions

I'm close to putting it on my TBR shelf. Did you read it in its original French, or were you able to find its prose so powerful within a translation? And if so, which one?

Foxontherun wrote Journey to the end of the night by Louis-Ferdinand Celine.
This book is on the 2006 and 2008 list, not sure if it was still on the 2010 list.

The Known World by Edward P. Jones

What a devastating account of the age of slavery in the antebellum, and told in a unique narrative style.

I just read "The Killer Angels" by Michael Shaara and thought it was excellent. It won a Pulitzer. Perhaps another American historical fiction novel is not what the list needs, but it is such an exceptional war novel with all sides represented....I at least would like to know it was considered.

I ditto the nominations for "A Separate Peace", "The Good Earth", and again mention two of my all time favorites, "All the King's Men" and "Angle of Repose" for consideration as well.

Hubert wrote: "The Known World by Edward P. Jones

What a devastating account of the age of slavery in the antebellum, and told in a unique narrative style."

I have been wanting to read this book for quite some time...hell, if it WAS on the list I probably would have already! Need to remedy this.

Judith wrote: "I just read "The Killer Angels" by Michael Shaara and thought it was excellent. It won a Pulitzer. Perhaps another American historical fiction novel is not what the list needs, but it is such an ..."

I read this book several years ago and adored it. I agree - it would be a good addition to the list.

Janice Geranium wrote: "...a list of 50 'unjustly slighted' books -- "How Did We Miss These?" Here is that list...Is anyone familiar with these 50 books? "

Let's see, of those 50, I've only read The History of Rasselas: Prince of Abissinia by Samuel Johnson and A Good Man Is Hard to Find and Other Stories by O'Connor, both on the 1001 Books List. There's also one there by FM Ford that's on the LIST.

Linda wrote: ""The Odyssey" and "The Iliad" would be joined by other classic epics like Virgil's "Aenid," "Paradise Lost" and "Beowulf," all of which are fictional narratives and worthy of the list, but they're ..."

I absolutely agree, why there aren't any poetry work, they are classics as well. The list is called "1001 books" not "1001 prose." One of my favourites is Idylls of the King by Alfred Lord Tennyson

I Know This Much Is True by Wally Lamb

Something about this novel has completely captured my heart. Stilettos and Steel

East of Eden by John Steinbeck should most definitely be on there.
and I also think A Separate Peace should be on the list.

I agree that Ray Bradbury needs to be on this list. I am also very surprised that Ayn Rand is not on this list.

I also agree with Angle of Repose, The Road, A Separate Peace, and East of Eden.

I was wondering why Shakespeare wasn't included. I was not aware that there were no plays on the list. I guess that would also explain the absence of Federico Garcia Lorca.

Other books I would recommend:
The Help by Kathryn Stockett
The Farming of Bones or Krik? Krak! by Edwidge Danticat
First Love by Ivan Turgenev
A Thousand Splendid Suns or The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

Oh, goodness! I didn't realize The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini is not in the list. It should definitely be in the list.

I agree-although I would put A Thousand Splendid Suns on over The Kite Runner but at least one of them should definitely be on. And I think Krik? Krak! by Edwidge Danticat should be required reading for everyone so I guess that means I think it should also be on the list!

Tony wrote: "Hubert wrote: "The Known World by Edward P. Jones

What a devastating account of the age of slavery in the antebellum, and told in a unique narrative style."

I have been ..."

Never heard of this book, but it sounded so wonderful I just got the ebook for it from the library. Thank you for mentioning this book.

Diane wrote: "I agree that Ray Bradbury needs to be on this list. I am also very surprised that Ayn Rand is not on this list.

I also agree with Angle of Repose, The Road, A Separate Peace, and East of Eden.
..."

FYI- The movie- Atlas Shrugged (based on the book by Ayn Rand) is coming to theaters April 15th.

Stephanie wrote: "FYI- The movie- Atlas Shrugged (based on the book by Ayn Rand) is coming to theaters April 15th."

They actually made a movie? Wow. I really want to see that.

Edit. I checked Wikipedia and they've actually planned to divide the book into a trilogy. Very interesting.

Susanna wrote: "Stephanie wrote: "FYI- The movie- Atlas Shrugged (based on the book by Ayn Rand) is coming to theaters April 15th."

They actually made a movie? Wow. I really want to see that.

Edit. I checked Wik..."
I can't wait to see the movie- opening day is tax day in the USA- which I find VERY FITTING!
I knew this was only Part 1, but I did not know how many movies they planned on making it into. Thanks for the info.

why is there no shakespeare on the list?

Recently finished Wallace Stegner's Angle of Repose and Crossing to Safety, only to find they are not on the list! A found a similar shock in finishing East of Eden. Though I track books read on the list, I will continue to read great fiction, on the list or not.

vampirates series

Hannah wrote: "why is there no shakespeare on the list?"

I think they had only focused on prose so that exclude play and poems, too bad though.

If you think Anne Michaels' FUGITIVE PIECES deserve to be on the list you'll wonder, as I do, why her other novel, THE WINTER VAULT, isn't there too.

I'm surprised not to see Trilby (George Du Maurier) on the list.

THE WARS
by Timothy Findley

Let's have more Canadians on that list!