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

I would make a case for The Wind in the Willows. I would also make a case for Stuart Little, though I think I can understand why books like these don't make the list. It's just that these two books have charmed me as an adult as much as they did as a younger reader.

Nocturnalux wrote: "I don't even think it's a matter of picking a Greek or a Roman author, but more of choosing Greco-Roman authors that were representative of the literature of their time and/or whose echo has been c..."

I totally agree!

I looked through the children's list. Some surprising choices on there, I thought, especially since they have a YA list too.

I find it odd that some children's books are on the adult list, given that the other lists exist. I've been using the children's & YA lists to buy books for my sister's kids, and of course the whole Puffin library.

NYRB puts out a collection of children's classics. A favorite of mine from when I was a kid was Lizard Music by Daniel Pinkwater.

Here's a link to the website, if anyone is interested:

https://www.nyrb.com/collections/the-...

Ella wrote: "I find it odd that some children's books are on the adult list, given that the other lists exist. I've been using the children's & YA lists to buy books for my sister's kids, and of course the whol..."

I was surprised to see Catcher in the Rye on the list. I suppose it depends on what ages they consider 'children', but I find it hard to believe there are very many pre-teens that that book would be appropriate for, or who would be able to identify with it's themes.

Yes, I agree. Though I read it when I was very young, so maybe YA. But why is that on the kid list & Pippi Longstocking on the adult list? That's just so strange to me. The list has some weird things - they mostly rule out short stories, until they don't, etc.

Thanks so much for that link to the NYRB children's site. I love their adult books, and I just found several that look wonderful for my niece & nephews book club we have together.

Nocturnalux wrote: "And I'm sure others have mentioned this before but Elena Ferrante's tetralogy should be included. Troubling Love is featured but her magnus opus is missing."

The last book of the series was added in the latest edition. It doesn't make sense that all four books weren't included, since the last book is not a stand-alone book.

Diane wrote: "The last book of the series was added in the latest edition. It doesn't make sense that all four books weren't included, since the last book is not a stand-alone book."

Yes, I noticed this recently (hadn't paid attention to the 2018 update) and it really makes absolutely no sense, at all. Each volume is a direct continuation of the preceding one so including the forth one alone is just baffling.

Any idea why this decision was made?

Nocturnalux wrote: "
Any idea why this decision was made? "

They do this for several series that simply don't hold up without the rest of the books. (I've been working on creating a list of which ones NEED the whole series - or at least the ones working up to the included book v which ones really can be read alone.) The one that bothered me the most before this edition/addition was the Patrick Melrose series where the only included one is Mother's Milk, and it just is nowhere near as special if you don't read the whole series.

But these are not, by any measure, the only series books that are stuck on the list without the rest being included.

The Complete Peanuts (Volumes 1 - 26) by Charles Schulz is in the 5+ category on the Boxall Children's List and should be moved to the Boxall 1001 List. At an average of 300 pages per book, this works out to around 7,800 pages for the entire services. And in my humble opinion, Peanuts is appreciated more by adults than young children. And is entirely appropriate for readers of the Boxall 1001 list.

For example, August 1964 --
Linus -- I just finished reading "The Hound of the Baskervilles."
Charlie Brown -- Did you? That's one of my favorite books.
Snoopy -- It isn't one of my favorite books. I don't care for any story where the dog comes out second best!

And, November 1964 --
Lucy -- You're reading "The Brothers Karamazov?"
Linus -- Uh huh . . . I find it quite fascinating.
Lucy -- Don't all those Russian names bother you?
Linus -- No, when I come to one I can't pronounce, I just BLEEP right over it!

We need the humor!!!

Ha-ha. I actually have the first four volumes of the complete Peanuts--I'm ready to start the group read as soon as everyone else is!

Ella wrote: "Nocturnalux wrote: "
Any idea why this decision was made? "

They do this for several series that simply don't hold up without the rest of the books. (I've been working on creating a list of which ..."

That's good to know. I have Mother's Milk at home and it is one of the books I wanted to read next. Now I'll read the rest of the series first.

What about John Williams? Why isn't Stoner on the list? I always think it is, actually, but then I look and it doesn't seem to be.

Ella wrote: "What about John Williams? Why isn't Stoner on the list? I always think it is, actually, but then I look and it doesn't seem to be."

I just finished this, and it definitely deserves a place. I can't believe the Guardian list passed it over too.

Bryan "goes on a bit too long" wrote: "I just finished this, and it definitely deserves a place. "

LOL I think you give The Guardian too much credit, Bryan. 😉

The fact that they passed over John Williams is the least surprising thing ever; not only do they overlook Stoner but Augustus as well. Illiterate political rags of all convictions should not be making lists telling people what to read.

Pillsonista wrote: political rags of all convictions should not be making lists telling people what to read, ..."


Agreed. It's only that when one of the two overlook something that seems fairly obvious, the other seems to fill the gap

I finished:


Arthur & George by Julian Barnes
Rating: 4 stars
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

It's not on the list. But it should be.

I just finished:
Light in August by William Faulkner - 4 stars - My Full Review

I think this book is much more accessible than The Sound and the Fury or Absalom, Absalom! Not sure if accessibility is a criteria (probably not) but I think I would have had a more positive experience in reading Faulkner if I had read this instead of the other two when I was younger (and much of it flew over my head).

Joy D wrote: "I just finished:
Light in August by William Faulkner - 4 stars - My Full Review

I think this book is much more accessible than The Sound and the Fury or Absalom, Abs..."

I think if I were to recommend a Faulkner novel it would be the Snopes trilogy, and altho' any one of the three novels would suffice, the trilogy together reads like one long and unforgettable novel.

Janice (JG) wrote: "I think if I were to recommend a Faulkner novel it would be the Snopes trilogy, and altho' any one of the three novels would suffice, the trilogy together reads like one long and unforgettable novel. "

The thousand pages for all three is rather daunting, but I'll keep it in mind. I've only read the three I mentioned. I do own a copy of As I Lay Dying, which I'll get to at some point.

Bryan "They call me the Doge" wrote: "Ella wrote: "What about John Williams? Why isn't Stoner on the list? I always think it is, actually, but then I look and it doesn't seem to be."

I just finished this, and it definite..."

Just finished it (after putting it off for 30 or 40 years). Completely agree with you. An American classic.

Is Fahrenheit 451 not on the list? I'm surprised I can't find it considering there're other similar books listed.

That was always surprising to me as well.

Fahrenheit 451 and Their Eyes Were Watching God

S.L. wrote: "Fahrenheit 451 and Their Eyes Were Watching God"

I agree with you on Fahrenheit, Their Eyes is on the list, though.

Nocturnalux wrote: "S.L. wrote: "Fahrenheit 451 and Their Eyes Were Watching God"

I agree with you on Fahrenheit, Their Eyes is on the list, though."

Thanks. I finally found it on the spreadsheet. The author's last name is listed as Neale Hurston. I was looking under Hurston.

I would add:


The Friends of Eddie Coyle by George V. Higgins
Rating: 5 stars
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

A Good Man Is Hard to Find by Flannery O'Connor

Just finished Rogue Male by Geoffrey Household -- a classic. Really should be on the list if it isn't already.

S.L. wrote:
Thanks. I finally found it on the spreadsheet. The author's last name is listed as Neale Hurston. I was looking under Hurston..."

I like to use this spreadsheet. She's listed under "Hurston" there. You can type control-F and search it or use the little box at the top marked "find in sheet".
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

Thank you for sharing the spreadsheet. I saved a copy to my google docs disk.

Is this something you made? Someone else? Is it kept up with new editions of the 1001?

The Convert

I don't know if there is a way to recommend a book, but this one is my pick for a recent novel that will emerge as a classic. I was was awestruck by this historical novel.

Inkling?
Making Bombs For Hitler

Flowers for Algernon 💙 Always going to be one of my absolute favorites

A Woman of Independent Means by Elizabeth Forsythe Haily
Address Unknown by Kathrine Kressmann Taylor
West with the Night by Beryl Markham
Passionate Nomad: The Life of Freya Stark by Jane Fletcher Geniesse
Foreign Affairs by Alison Lurie
Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont by Elizabeth Taylor
Where River Turns to Sky by Gregg Kleiner
Peyton Place by Grace Metalious
Fettered For Life by Lillie Devereaux Blake
Vera by Elizabeth Von Armin
My Notorious Life by Kate Manning
Broken for You by Stephanie Kallos
Beachcombing for a Shipwrecked God by Joe Coomer
Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All by Allan Gurganus
Moloka'i by Alan Brennert
The World I Made for Her by Thomas Moran
A Virtuous Woman by Kaye Gibbons
The Wedding Dress by Gary E. Parker

Newer books that should be added:

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

The Dutch House by Ann Pratchett

Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

The Nix by Nathan Hill

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

A Man Called Ove by Fredrick Backman

Circe by Madeline Miller

The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

And at least one book by Neil Gaiman should be read before you die.

This list should include "The Collected Works" of various poets: Shakespeare, Donne, Keats, Wordsworth, Auden, Yeats, etc. Getting into the habit of reading good poetry is my top recommendation for readers.

Is it really true that "As I Lay Dying" is omitted? How can they omit the "duck-shaped woman all dressed up?"

I would add books by Evan Connell, Anne Tyler, Richard Yates, Stewart O'Nan, Anita Brookner, and probably several others.

Natalie wrote: "This list should include "The Collected Works" of various poets: Shakespeare, Donne, Keats, Wordsworth, Auden, Yeats, etc. Getting into the habit of reading good poetry is my top recommendation for..."

Most of the poetical works on the list are dramas or longer narratives like the Lusiads. I agree that the works of Shakespeare should be on the list as he is referenced by so many of the Boxall authors. I would also add Dante.

I wish he had considered poetic "units" -- for example "The Great Odes of John Keats" or "Dramatic Monologues of the Victorian period (bring us Tennyson, Browning and others); or "Lyrical Ballads" by Wordsworth and Coleridge, the works of Emily Dickinson, etc.

I think HAMLET and KING LEAR are the best guides to life.

Karen wrote: "Natalie wrote: "This list should include "The Collected Works" of various poets: Shakespeare, Donne, Keats, Wordsworth, Auden, Yeats, etc. Getting into the habit of reading good poetry is my top re..."

I agree with you both. I would add Goethe`s Faust too plus Homer.

Ellinor wrote: "I agree with you both. I would add Goethe`s Faust too plus Homer."

It's very odd how Faust isn't on the list. Two of Goethe's works did the cut and this one did not?

Nocturnalux wrote: "Ellinor wrote: "I agree with you both. I would add Goethe`s Faust too plus Homer."

It's very odd how Faust isn't on the list. Two of Goethe's works did the cut and this one did not?"

Three of his works are on the list actually (Werther, Elective Affinities and Wilhelm Meister). Faust is a play and that's why it's not on the list.

Ellinor wrote: "Nocturnalux wrote: "Ellinor wrote: "I agree with you both. I would add Goethe`s Faust too plus Homer."

It's very odd how Faust isn't on the list. Two of Goethe's works did the cut and this one did..."

Regarding plays on the list -- La Celestina by Fernando de Rojas, although usually regarded as a novel, is written as a continuous series of dialogues and can be viewed as a play, having been staged as such and filmed.

Isabel wrote: "I’m surprised that collected works of poetry, plays or epic sagas that are poetry have not been on the list. Some of the books on the list have been a series of short stories so not everything is a..."

That's one of the biggest points of criticism of this list. It's supposed to tell "the story of the novel" which of course leaves some scope for interpretation. But it's often inconsistent, sometimes adding titles clearly not matching the definition of a novel while omitting others (e.g. Homer whose works are very important, from a time when the concept of a novel didn't even exist).
We're not going to change this. But this thread is really interesting because it shows just how many readers are confused by these inconsistencies.

Some books on the List were originally written in poetic form but are not (always) translated that way. The Lusiads (possibly from the Dutch version of the list) and Eugene Onegin (definitely on the English version) were long poems -- an epic poem, in the former case.

And there are total oddities, like Swift's A Modest Proposal, that in no way contribute to the story of the novel!

On the other hand, Hilary Mantel's Wolf Hall should have been added to the list, especially after Bookers both for it and the sequel. I cannot understand its absence. Maybe somebody on the 1001 board personally dislikes her? None of her other books are on the List either. Primo Levi's The Periodic Table also belongs on the list.

I read from the Dutch version of the list as well, and from that one Arthur Japin's In Lucia's Eyes and Gerard Reve's The Evenings could have a place on the English list. I'd be happy to recommend a few items that could be removed to make room for them!!

Ellinor wrote: "We're not going to change this. But this thread is really interesting because it shows just how many readers are confused by these inconsistencies."

Very true.

I should also like to add that vast areas of the world are entirely omitted. I've said this before but there is not a single book from any Portuguese speaking African author. On the other hand, many white male authors- usually English speaking ones- have most of their bibliography included.

Here's one that should be WAY more widely read:
Strange Fruit by Lillian E. Smith

Published in 1944 and soon after that banned. (Apparently Eleanor Roosevelt convinced her husband to stop the ban from sending in through the US Postal Service.) Was a bestseller, but has lapsed into obscurity. A timeless, insightful, and engrossing tale of the pervasiveness of racism.

I’m very surprised that Herta Müller isn’t on the list. She is (a German speaking) Romanian, and a Nobel prize-winning author who writes with such poetic prose. The list really is lacking without her, and I think the list does need more representation from Romania so really hoping she makes the list next time.

The Streudlhof Steps by Heimito von Doderer. I think this would be on the list if it had been translated into English in the 50’s or 60’s but as it’s first translation only came in the last year it is not surprising that this was not better known.