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

Judith: I always get confused by this as well. I think Keroac's On the Road is on the list, however. I could not get past the first few pages however, without wanting to offer myself up as an editor.

I read Amtiv Ghosh's 'Hungry tide' only to realise that it was 'Shadow lines' I should have read.

Still a great book, and pleased to have read it. Trotted off and purchased 'Shadow lines'. I plan to read it soon.

I just read Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close thinking it was definitely on the list. Ah well, I enjoyed it anyway, insofar as one can 'enjoy' something with such a painful, melancholic tone.

Tara wrote: "I just read Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close thinking it was definitely on the list. Ah well, I enjoyed it anyway, insofar as one can 'enjoy' something with such a painful, melancholic tone."

I think the movie has either just come out or will be out soon- I have heard advertisements for it on the radio.

I am reading Blindness by Jose Saramago; there is a book titled Blindness on the list, but by another author. Saramago has several books on the list, but not this one. Very interesting book, though! : )

Halfway done with Raymond Chandler's The Big Sleep, which should be on the list and which I still cannot believe is not.

la wrote: "Halfway done with Raymond Chandler's The Big Sleep, which should be on the list and which I still cannot believe is not."

It IS most definitely on the list!! Along with The Long Goodbye and Farewell My Lovely which was removed after the 2006 list.

Tanya wrote: "la wrote: "Halfway done with Raymond Chandler's The Big Sleep, which should be on the list and which I still cannot believe is not."

It IS most definitely on the list!! Along with The Long Goodbye..."

Thanks! I just checked again and it was. I must have missed it when I was looking for it.

All three are CLASSICS and should be on anyone's list.

I really thought The Wind in the Willows was on the list. But it's on the BBC 200 list at least...

I thought that "Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell", and "We Need to Talk About Kevin" were on the list(s), but I guess not. "Kevin" is a movie now though with Tilda Swinton, and John C. Reilly.

I got The Red Badge of Courage because I thought it was on the list, but apparently it isn't.

I was sure I'd get credit for Canterbury Tales, but alas...

Sandi wrote: "I got The Red Badge of Courage because I thought it was on the list, but apparently it isn't."

Yeah, I thought it might have been included also, Sandi.
Also "All The King's Men" by Doctorow....Oh well, American lit has quite a showing on the list as it is!

Fahrenheit 451. I'm still SHOCKED to find that it never made the list. Great injustice.

The Scarlet Pimpernel is one of my favorite books. It is a pleasure to read regardless!


Tanya wrote: "The Scarlet Pimpernel!

I didn't read it specifically because I thought it was on the list, but was definitely surprised when I found that it wasn't. Thought I must have been spelling something wro..."

Washington Square by Henry James. Thank God it was a short one. I would hate to invest time in a 1000 page book that turned out to be off the list!

I was really surprised to discover that neither History: A Novel by Elsa Morante nor Lonesome Dove were on any of the three lists. Lonesome Dove I can see dismissed, at least, by the Morante really threw me for a loop. it's considered one of the X best novels of the 20th century. Why isn't it in there?

in your opinion, Genia, why do you think it should be there?

Was delighted to find a copy of Manon Lescaut in a second hand shop. Distraught to find it not on the list. Am reading it anyway.

Started Atwood: Oryx and Crake a few days ago. Turns out it is not on the list. Good book anyway.

Just double checking, "She's Come Undone" by Wally Lamb is not on any of the 4 lists, right? (Or any of his books, really.)

Hima wrote: "Just double checking, "She's Come Undone" by Wally Lamb is not on any of the 4 lists, right? (Or any of his books, really.)"

Correct, none of Wally Lamb's books are on the 1001 lists.

Done it again. Finished The Kite Runner. Turns out it is not on the 1001-list, but on the Guardian 1000-list. It should be on the 1001-list IMHO.

The Heart is a Lonely Hunter. Why it's still not on the list, I'll never know.

I'm surprised I, Claudius or any Robert Graves books are not on the list. Listening to I, Claudius right now anyway--it's much more humorous than I thought it would be.

J wrote: "Done it again. Finished The Kite Runner. Turns out it is not on the 1001-list, but on the Guardian 1000-list. It should be on the 1001-list IMHO."

I really thought The Kite Runner WAS on the list. I read it about a year ago, and was sure it was on there. Wonder if it dropped off?

It didn't drop off that I can see. I have the app that shows all four versions in one and I was so sure too because I thought I saw it, but it's not on the list for any of the versions that I can see.

The Little Black Book of Stories by AS Byatt
Did enjoy it though.

Kayla wrote: "It didn't drop off that I can see. I have the app that shows all four versions in one and I was so sure too because I thought I saw it, but it's not on the list for any of the versions that I can see."

Same here. I just HAVE to believe it was on one of them though....lol. It is not a book that would have interested me and that I would have intentionally chosen to read unless it was on the list. It is not a genre that I particularly care for, although it was a good book. :) I am just stubborn and I guess and must have imagined it. Maybe it was on a copy of the original lists that someone else edited and posted somewhere and that is where I got it. Hmmmmm.....oh well.

The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka.

Read "The Wind-Up Girl" instead of "The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle " !!!!!

So I stumbled across this feed a couple of days ago and it made me double check my list. All the ones I had checked off were correct but now I find that Doctor Faustus, which I had read for another challenge and had chosen because it rang a bell, I recognized because it is on the 1001 list. Unfortunately, I read the original play by Christopher Marlowe instead of the book written later by Thomas Mann. Guess I made the mistake after all! Had to share! Looks like I need to look that list over a bit more :-P

The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux. I am surprised it isn't on the list.

Rob wrote: "I am reading Blindness by Jose Saramago; there is a book titled Blindness on the list, but by another author. Saramago has several books on the list, but not this one. Very interesting book, though..."

I made the same mistake, Rob - really enjoying Blindness, tho!

Another mistake I made was The Makioka Sisters by Jun'ichirō Tanizaki. One of his other books, Some Prefer Nettles, is on the list, but I haven't tracked it down yet. I did like Makioka Sisters though, so I'm eager to find it!

Wendy wrote: "Another mistake I made was The Makioka Sisters by Jun'ichirō Tanizaki. One of his other books, Some Prefer Nettles, is on the list, but I haven't tracked it..."

TMS is well worthy of the 1001 title, which just goes to show the merit in using the list as a guideline rather than the straight and narrow.

^ This is true! I like the approach of wandering about the list, alternately grazing, going off on a reading tangent, straying and wandering back. Stumbling accidentally on excellent non-list books is a huge bonus!

Wendy, I am the same way. My OCD moments make me try to stay true to the list. Then I find a book on my shelf and read it only to find it is not on the list. But, having enjoyed it, I relax a little and pick something else that is on the list. the vicious cycle continues...lol