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

Hello- I am new to this group but so grateful it exists! A way to combine my two favorite things - books and lists! One question... how often is this list changed? I noticed the extremely helpful excel spreadsheet has almost 300 changes including books dropped off the list. I own 15 of those dropped books, ugh!

The list comes from a published book, which was then updated and a new book published. My guess is it will be updated as long as its possible to sell updated editions. I don't know, though.

I would say, that the list was improved simply because they took off Cocaine Nights by Ballard. Also it appears to have become a more international.

Did they actually publish a new version of the book as well? I didn't realize that...

Maybe I made that up. I guess I thought they did, but I don't know why I thought that. If they didn't, that kind of changes my rationale for my previous statement and I take it back. I'll be quiet now and let somebody who might actually know the asnwer speak up.

Lol Denise :-)

I saw comments that there is a new updated 2010 list. is that coming out this month? Has it come out already?? I couldn't really find anything on the net (but I'm sure I just didn't look hard enough). Anyone have links to the new list or when it will be out? Any help would be great!

Yes, there is a revised and updated book being realeased on March 23,2010. This will be the 3rd edition of the book. All being by Peter Boxall. I preordered the book, because im totally NerdCore and obsessed with lists.

I wonder how you guys handle the new/updated lists? I have to admit I never possessed or read any of Boxall's books and I just joined this group before even finding out what it really was about. Since then, I found the spreadsheets and so on, and I really like the list and would - slowly - make my way through it. Still, the changes make me kind of listless - in the best sense of the word. I honestly don't understand how so many changes can happen in so little time without suspecting major economic interests. Probably many will cry out now and say: "Hey, didn't you realize this from the beginning?" Maybe I didn't, and so that's why I'm now a little bit disappointed. If Peter Boxall was able to defend his choice of books a year or so ago, he should definitely able to do so now - which shouldn't exclude adding new books, but I find it really hard to believe that so many of the 1001 very books I should read in life should change within so little time.

You're absolutely right, Julia. The list is there primarily to sell books. I'd also suggest that any book list has the hidden intent of stirring up controversy and discussion. Which leads back to point number one. And new editions just feed back into points two then one. :)

I think people in this group have their own way of going about the list/lists. I saw recently someone quite adamant that everyone should stick with whatever list they start with.

Personally, I'm just shooting for 1001 books off any combination of the lists. But it's such a personal challenge that there's no reason why you can't create your own rules!

From what I can tell the second book is a UK edition. I keep waiting for it to show up in my favorite used bookstores, but no luck yet. I do own the first version in book form, and it is a nice compilation. It provides a summary as to why each book is on the list, and contains pictures of authors and various book covers. There are some books I love that I never would have been attracted to if not for that little blurb. I find it to be one of those books that I can leave on the coffee table and will inevitably start a conversation when guests come over.

Julia wrote: "I wonder how you guys handle the new/updated lists? ... Still, the changes make me kind of listless - in the best sense of the word."

I see what you did there! ;-)

I expect that I will never complete any version of the lists, mostly because I don't choose to read solely, or even primarily, from the list(s). But I have an abiding fondness for checking things off, so if I am casting about for something to read, the list is a great place to find things. Particularly the classics, which I can download for free on my iPhone and always have a book around. Hence, I am reading "Far from the Madding Crown" - mostly when I am in madding crowds: stuck places I didn't expect to have a delay and therefore in need of a book. And quite enjoying it. I didn't care for Return of the Native, but as so many of Hardy's books are on the list I figured I'd give another one a try, something I wouldn't have done if not for the list! So I see it as a tool more than a goal.

Julia wrote: "I wonder how you guys handle the new/updated lists? I have to admit I never possessed or read any of Boxall's books and I just joined this group before even finding out what it really was about. Si..."

Your points here are well taken, but I suggest just adding one other to your thinking. Boxall uses a large committee of literary critics and authors to come up with his lists. He doesn't do it alone. I suspect new specialists and influences are present in each revision, and, therefore, new authors and/or books are focused on. It's all so subjective anyway, and no one could have read all the books that might be eligible for such a list. That is why I find value in studying all of them and tend to think, at least in some respect, added late or removed later, each book has some merit worth exploring for the sake of studying the development of fictional literature. That said, I think everyone should, as I do, pick and choose their reading material to suit their own goals, purposes for reading and tastes. These lists and others just offer a meritorious number to start from.

Well said Judith!

Judith wrote: "Julia wrote: "I wonder how you guys handle the new/updated lists? I have to admit I never possessed or read any of Boxall's books and I just joined this group before even finding out what it really..."

You've got a good point, Judith. It's not that I don't like the idea of the list (I'm also one of those who like checking things off) and I've discovered some great books through it I wouldn't have considered otherwise. I also appreciate the effort of making the list more international. It's fun, and I enjoy this group here, so probably no major harm done with the changing lists....

Gini wrote: "So I see it as a tool more than a goal.
"

Yes, I agree - there are so many on the list and so many NOT on the list(s) that I'm using it more as a guide to find books/authors I might otherwise have missed or disregarded.

I just joined up and found that two lists were confusing (how could it change? I get it now - thanks!) and now there's going to be a third...that sealed the deal. I decided to use the second list (because that's the one I started with) and I'll peruse the other two for the changes. :)

Gini wrote: "I expect that I will never complete any version of the lists, mostly because I don't choose to read solely, or even primarily, from the list(s). But I have an abiding fondness for checking things off, so if I am casting about for something to read, the list is a great place to find things."

Very well said! I agree with your approach 100%.

It seems that the list is updated every 2 years. The next edition is out in May 2010.

Yrinsyde wrote: "It seems that the list is updated every 2 years. The next edition is out in May 2010."

I agree.

Not impressed with this list at all. I have read several of these books, perhaps 40-50 in all, and don`t think much of this list. PERFUME by Patrick Susskind. What a piece of garbage. And it`s on this list!!! What a travesty!! The compiler doesnt know bad literature if it was under him in the toilet bowl.

I've read some of the introduction of the 1001 Books and it isn't a compilation of great literature - although it does contain some. What it sets out to do is select books that demonstrate the development of the novel from the earliest setting down of stories to the contemporary novel. So in this instance, the title of the book is misleading.

All this talk about the list in a book. What is the name of the book? And who is the author?

1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die-peter boxall

Thanks, Liz.