Read Any Good Books? Some Decent Suggestions... [Archive]

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JDanRyan

Oct 19, 2003, 07:06 AM

Saw this on the AP today, at http://customwire.ap.org/dynamic/stories/B/BRITAIN_TOP_NOVELS?SITE=NYBUE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT. All said, not a bad selection of finalists...

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Oct 18, 9:39 PM EDT
BBC Unveils Britain's Top 21 Novels

LONDON (AP) -- Britons' favorite novels range from works by Charles Dickens to J.R.R. Tolkien, though many hold a nostalgic affection for the books read during childhood, according to a BBC list unveiled Saturday.

The British Broadcasting Corp. listed 21 contenders for the title of Britain's favorite novel, based on votes from 140,000 people. A list of the top 100 was announced in May.

Saturday's list includes classics such as Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice," Charlotte Bronte's "Jane Eyre" and Dickens' "Great Expectations," alongside recent best sellers, including Louis de Bernieres' "Captain Corelli's Mandolin" and Sebastian Faulks' "Birdsong."

Children's classics include "Winnie the Pooh" by A.A. Milne, "The Wind in the Willows" by Kenneth Grahame, and "The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe" by C.S. Lewis.

J.K. Rowling, who had four titles in the top 100, is represented by "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire," the fourth book in her series about the boy wizard.

American novels make a strong showing, with J.D. Salinger's "The Catcher in the Rye," Joseph Heller's "Catch-22," Margaret Mitchell's "Gone With the Wind," Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird" and Louisa May Alcott's "Little Women" on the list.

The books will be profiled in a television series, with a winner chosen by viewers' votes to be announced in December.

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The list, in alphabetical order of title:

"Birdsong" - Sebastian Faulks

"Captain Corelli's Mandolin" - Louis de Bernieres

"Catch-22" - Joseph Heller

"The Catcher in the Rye" - J.D. Salinger

"Gone with the Wind" - Margaret Mitchell

"Great Expectations" - Charles Dickens

"Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire" - J.K. Rowling

"His Dark Materials" - Philip Pullman

"The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" - Douglas Adams

"Jane Eyre" - Charlotte Bronte

"The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe" - C.S. Lewis

"Little Women" - Louisa May Alcott

"The Lord of the Rings" - J.R.R. Tolkien

"Nineteen Eighty-Four" - George Orwell

"Pride and Prejudice" - Jane Austen

"Rebecca" - Daphne du Maurier

"To Kill a Mockingbird" - Harper Lee

"War and Peace" - Leo Tolstoy

"The Wind in the Willows" - Kenneth Grahame

"Winnie the Pooh" - A.A. Milne

"Wuthering Heights" - Emily Bronte

On the Net:
www.bbc.co.uk/bigread (http://www.bbc.co.uk/bigread)

Copyright 2003 Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Tim

Oct 19, 2003, 10:28 AM

Have read 3 of them (LOTR,Hitchhiker's Guide,and To Kill A Mockingbird.)
2 I wish were on there:
Brave New World by Huxley
The Hobbit (which is needed to understand parts of LOTR)

IWantToTellYou

Oct 19, 2003, 05:00 PM

Originally Posted By beatlegirl9977:
I bet The Scarlet Letter would be on the list (even though I never liked that one)I just finished reading this book a few weeks ago, and let me tell you, I didn't like it either!

I really want to read "War and Peace"...I have heard lots of good things about it. Although, I have noticed it is a very large book...I may not have time to read it.

Lynner

Oct 19, 2003, 05:31 PM

I've read seven of the books on the list. Tried reading Catch 22 years ago, but just couldn't get into that one. It's good to know that people still enjoy reading great books.

joelcrowservo

Oct 19, 2003, 05:41 PM

I actually am not much on American authors (or poets), with the exception of John Irving and Hemingway.
I've certainly read(and adore)the "Chronicles of Narnia" by C.S. Lewis, but Tolkien, eh. Can't get into him. As for Orwell, I prefer "Animal Farm" or "Brave New World".

beatlegirl9977

Oct 19, 2003, 11:43 PM

Notice how most of those are 'classics' we read at some point in high school or college anyway? I guess it goes to show us that we struggle through books like Pride and Prejudice in high school for a reason. images/icons/wink.gif

Out of the list, I've read many of them (as I mentioned, in school, mostly). Catcher in the Rye and Jane Eyre would be my top two favorites from that list.

If they did a similar study in the U.S., I wonder how the final list would differ. I bet The Scarlet Letter would be on the list (even though I never liked that one), and probably The Great Gatsby as well.

Siobhan

Oct 20, 2003, 04:34 AM

I have read three of the books on the list. I have a few of the others, but I haven't gotten around to reading them yet. I'm working on it though.

My favourite has to be Great Expectations. This was the first Dickens book, and probably the first classic, I ever read, and I still love it.

Paolo Meccano

Oct 20, 2003, 05:07 AM

Originally Posted By beatlegirl9977:
If they did a similar study in the U.S., I wonder how the final list would differ. I bet The Scarlet Letter would be on the list (even though I never liked that one), and probably The Great Gatsby as well.There was a TV programme where a panel discussed the top 100 books that were voted for and the consensus was that 'The Great Gatsby' should have been in the top 3. The list isn't that accurate anyway: authors were restricted to one title each in the final 21, and they couldn't have taken books borrowed from public libraries into account otherwise the likes of Catherine Cookson would have made the final placings...

Rellevart

Oct 20, 2003, 05:49 AM

Well also I'd think something like this is hopelessly biased because who (other than maybe me) is going to admit that their favorite book is some popular trashy novel rather than a Great Work of Literature? Maybe this forum just attracts a bunch of intellectuals, but I tell you, when I ride the train home at night, there are a lot more people reading Nora Roberts and John Grisham than there are reading Dickens or Jane Austin, yet these "favorite books" surveys are always full of the classics because nobody wants to admit to reading for entertainment.

Lynner

Oct 20, 2003, 06:10 AM

Well, I enjoy many of the classics, as well as trashy novels. My fave "trashy" novel would probably be the book, "Scruples". I read it many times over the years. Most romance/trashy novels, I won't read more than once, but the "classic"? Well those I'll read over, and over, and over...well, you get the idea.

I must be one of the few people that really did not care all that much for "The Great Gatsby". It was alright, but I've never had the desire to read it again.

BrazilianFlag

Oct 20, 2003, 08:50 AM

Originally Posted By Rellevart:
Well also I'd think something like this is hopelessly biased because who (other than maybe me) is going to admit that their favorite book is some popular trashy novel rather than a Great Work of Literature? Maybe this forum just attracts a bunch of intellectuals, but I tell you, when I ride the train home at night, there are a lot more people reading Nora Roberts and John Grisham than there are reading Dickens or Jane Austin, yet these "favorite books" surveys are always full of the classics because nobody wants to admit to reading for entertainment.I get your point, Rell, but I believe it all depends on how you look at the situation. Some people believe stuff like J.K. Rowling or Phillip Pullman IS trashy, compared to Austen or Dickens...

I don't know much about Grisham and I don't know Nora Roberts at all (really! What does she write?), but I have to agree with you that some people would not be caught dead reading "trashy" things. Kinda of what happens to some "smutty" fanfic!

Hari's Chick

Oct 20, 2003, 09:34 AM

Originally Posted By Rellevart:
Well also I'd think something like this is hopelessly biased because who (other than maybe me) is going to admit that their favorite book is some popular trashy novel rather than a Great Work of Literature? What are your favorite trashy novels? images/icons/smile.gif

Rellevart

Oct 20, 2003, 09:46 AM

Originally Posted By Hari's Chick:
What are your favorite trashy novels? images/icons/smile.gif You know, the funny thing is that so many of them are so disposable, I don't even remember the titles or authors half an hour after finishing them, but they were so much fun at the time... images/icons/smile.gif

HMVNipper

Oct 20, 2003, 10:04 AM

Originally Posted By Lynner:
I must be one of the few people that really did not care all that much for "The Great Gatsby". It was alright, but I've never had the desire to read it again.Nope, Lynn, you aren't alone -- of books I've read by F. Scott Fitzgerald, I think "The Great Gatsby" is okay...but I think "The Beautiful and Damned" is a far better book! At least I thought so.

Dr.WinnieO'Boogie

Oct 20, 2003, 10:47 AM

I liked the Great Gatsby, I dunno why. Just did.
My grandmother lives within walking distance from
F. Scott Fitzgeralds grave. It's quite lovely.

But There is one book I wanted to mention that is one of my favourites...Even Cowgirls Get The Blues
By Tom Robbins
Sweet Jeeeebus! That is a good book!
Great story about a girl...with big thumbs...
I shall say no more. graemlins/laugh1.gif

Winnie graemlins/laugh4.gif

PaulisMine

Oct 20, 2003, 12:06 PM

*joins Rell* Hey, we're NObrow over here!
What are YOU lookin' at?????

Love,
PaulisMine, future trashy romance novel author images/icons/smile.gif

[ Oct 20, 2003, 01:07 PM: Message Edited By: PaulisMine ]

missfab9

Oct 20, 2003, 12:09 PM

Originally Posted By Rellevart:
<blockquote>Quote:<hr />Originally Posted By missfab9:

And Rell, let me don't agree to your guess: "it's hopelessly biased"...I don't think soThat's ok. I don't mind being the only lowbrow in the bunch. images/icons/wink.gif <hr /></blockquote>Oh My... I feel ashamed
graemlins/blush3.gif * Does my post really sound like an insult? I didn't mean to hurt you, Rell! images/icons/smile.gif *
It seems like I made an ass of myself, posting such a high-blown (or high-brow?)reply. graemlins/images/icons/confused.gif
* graemlins/joker.gif

Rellevart

Oct 20, 2003, 01:04 PM

Originally Posted By missfab9:
* Does my post really sound like an insult? Oh no no no, don't worry!! images/icons/smile.gif I was just joking!! images/icons/smile.gif images/icons/smile.gif

JulianTheory

Oct 20, 2003, 11:04 PM

I would have to add to the list the Wheel of Time Series by Robert Jordan. Magnificent piece of work, it is. It is up there with LotR in the fantasy world. Anyway, it's an awesome series, now go read it! images/icons/wink.gif

Danoota64

Oct 20, 2003, 11:07 PM

smutty, huh?

I read Harold Robbin's "A Stone for Danny Fisher" a hundred years ago only because Elvis' best movie, "King Creole," was loosely based on it. Wow, i sure wish Elvis played the guy in the book!

I always liked Judith Krantz's stuff. "Princess Daisy" stands out. Remember, Ringo was in the tv movie! I think this was where i first noticed Rupert Everett.

As for recently read, i highly recommend Marsha Moyer's new book, "Last of the Honky Tonk Angels." Great story.

and anything by Marian Keyes!

graemlins/peace.gif

missfab9

Oct 20, 2003, 11:16 PM

I DO love the Classics really!! And I've read 5 books of the list(if to count Winnie. Why they didn't notice 'Alice In Wonderland'?): THE CATCHER IN THE RYE, GONE WITH THE WIND, JANE EYRE, WAR AND PEACE. 'The Catcher..' is one of my all time fave book (if not #1). 'Gone with the wind' and 'Jane Eyre' - I've read them when I was schoolgirl. And 'War and Peace' I've read in the college and don't feel like reading it once more.
BTW, in my country all students have to read 'WaP', this book is of obligation, sort of.. I've read 'Catcher..' and 'Jane..' in two languages - russian and english. I've specially ordered them online (Amazon).
And Rell, let me don't agree to your guess: "it's hopelessly biased"...I don't think so..Anyway, what's the use of making clever out of oneself here? Members don't care too much about it, I guess. And Btw, if you come over to me, you would see that my bookshelfs filled up with Classics and among the others you can find here
Folkner, Vonnegut, Joyce, Kerouac, Marquez, Castaneda, Hardy, Wells, Dostoevsky, Kafka, Bulgakov, Dovlatov... I really love it and don't think it's phoney. So, thanks for this topic JDanRyan, and that would be great to discuss some books.

Rellevart

Oct 20, 2003, 11:33 PM

Originally Posted By missfab9:

And Rell, let me don't agree to your guess: "it's hopelessly biased"...I don't think soThat's ok. I don't mind being the only lowbrow in the bunch. images/icons/wink.gif