50 books to read before you die discussion

Do you think any other book deserves a spot on this list?

Sunset Song by Lewis Grassic Gibbon.
Germinal by Emile Zola.
Germinal is hard going in terms of subject matter but so well written and such amazing imagery and message.

But there are so so many more we could all add, I'd be here all day.

I'd add Orlando by Virginia Woolf and Nights at the Circus by Angela Carter. But they are books that really touched me. I'm not sure they'd provoke the same emotions in everyone.

Coming home by Rosamunde Pilcher

Atlas Shrugged
The Fountainhead
these are life changing books....

Its all so individual...what makes a book memorable and significant. If I were to add a book to the list it would be We Have to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver. I will never forget the intensity and horror of the story nor the beautiful writing style.

And then there were none by Agatha Christie

Oliver Twist by Charles Dickins

In cold blood. By Truman Capote. I will never think of nature vs nurture and the death penalty in the same way ever again. Should be essential reading for all especially those who live in states where the death penalty can be given.

The Jungle by Upton Sinclair

Uncle Tom's Cabin

I would add Two books

Burnt Shadows - Kamila Shamsie
Five People You meet in Heaven - Mitch Albom

Gone With the Wind and Lonesome Dove.

A Bell for Adano by John Hersey won the Pulitzer Prize in 1945. It's a wonderful book that seems not to be well known.

The Book Thief by young Australian author Markus Zusak is destined to be a modern classic.

Buck wrote: "A Bell for Adano by John Hersey won the Pulitzer Prize in 1945. It's a wonderful book that seems not to be well known.

The Book Thief by young Australian author Markus Zusak is destined to be a m..."

I just finised Book Thief, i liked it and i just saw the movie trailer. I picked it up and didnt know it was being made into a movie.

The Guardian newspaper has published a list of 100 great reads which is quite interesting, some are the same as on this 50.

http://www.theguardian.com/books/2003...

Schindler's List is an excellent book.

Christine wrote: "The Guardian newspaper has published a list of 100 great reads which is quite interesting, some are the same as on this 50.

http://www.theguardian.com/books/2003..."

Interesting. There are many books on this list that I don't even know about.

Bleak House - by Dickens (actually, anything by Dickens)
The Master - by Colm Toibin - for beautiful, exquisite writing

Agnes wrote: "Bleak House - by Dickens (actually, anything by Dickens)
The Master - by Colm Toibin - for beautiful, exquisite writing"

I agree, anything by Dickens should be on the list.

The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver.

The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner Amazing book.

Beloved Toni Morrison Actually, anything by Toni Morrison. She is amazing.

Whitney my love by Judith Mcnaught,
Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle, and Alfred Hitchcock's 'the three investigators' series

The Orphan Master's Son. By Adam Johnston Stunning story, an adventure even, where personal sacrifice, both of one's morals and of one's self is backlit by epic deceits; deftly crafted in an original but highly digestible narrative structure. Deserves its Pulitzer Prize for its accessibility as much as for its ambitious, scrupulous fiction. Don't you dare not read this treasure; it deserves you, as do the flinted lives it illuminates in this dark, dark state. I made up a word there; bet you spotted it, but it made my point. Please do read this: risk takers deserve their rewards - like Adam and his cast.

Dickens is the absolute best. Period.

Kenneth wrote: "Dickens is the absolute best. Period."

ditto and I hate when people say he made the magical jump to make the happy endings, he blended so many sub plots believingly it was ridiculous.

the guardian list is full of the usual suspects, but any list of books within the last couple hundred years should have cormac mccarthy period...

what is with the naipaul fella? He is on my 1001 books to read before you die like 4 times, has anyone read him?

Middlemarch- George Elliot
We need to talk about Kevin- Lionel Shriver

everyone says that about Elliot, I looooooved Silas Marner, it reminded me of my gramps, he was so old and bitter and mean, but his grand kids could do no wrong and he would do anything for them, and the old miserly midas'esque Silas was just like that he turned into a loving and caring father. Great story and great theme.

I guess I need to read middlemarch.

Yup!

I'm a huge George Eliot fan! I even did my dissertation on her, examining the artist figure in her works. Brilliant, warm, complex, sympathetic - she was an extraordinary woman.
I agree - Silas Marner is a wonderful book.
Agnes Irene

The Art of Racing in the Rain a heartwarming story told from the point of view of the dog. It sounds sappy, but it's very good.

A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving. Having just read Dickens' A Christmas Carol reminded me of Owen Meany's portrayal of the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. This book is quite memorable.

The Scarlet Letter - Nathaniel Hawthorne
Fahrenheit 451 - Ray Bradbury

I've never actually read Dracula but I think it should be on this list as it started the whole vampire thing

I just read Dracula for the first time this past October. Very good. Interesting style. I'm not sure if I'd put it in a top 50, but I would rate it over a few of the ones already on this list.

I'd like to add Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta. I'll say nothing. I would let the book speak for itself.

Little Women, The Fault In Our Stars, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas and any books written by me

lol

A River Runs Through It by Norman Maclean is one of the most beautifully written books I've read in a long time. If only I had read it before we complied our own list of 100, I would surely have nominated it.

It is a beautiful book, Buck, and, if I remember right, it was his only novel (although semi-autobiographical?). I remember wishing that he'd written at least a dozen.

Leah wrote: "I would say Of Mice and Men. It's extremely significant."

I've just recently read it. It's incredible

Leah wrote: "It's so amazing."

We created our own list in January- it's there. My favorite Steinbeck thus far

I'm in the middle of The Grapes of Wrath. I had forgotten what a powerful writer Steinbeck was! I loved Of Mice and Men and East of Eden (and Travels with Charley), but The Grapes of Wrath just kind of grabs you and holds on no matter how hard you try to get free of it.

The Baron in the Trees - Italo Calvino
It was whimsical and lovely. Beautifully written.

War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy

Ana wrote: "War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy"

It's bizarre that's it's not here, right?

Lisa wrote: "Ana wrote: "War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy"

It's bizarre that's it's not here, right?"

Anna Karenina is on our bookmark list. There is no more than one per author.

How good is War and Peace? I sometimes balk at very long novels, and nineteenth century prose is not my favorite. War and Peace is on my library wish list, though it has quite a few in the queue ahead if it. It is often listed among the great novels, but so is Joyce's Ulysses.

Am I going to enjoy War and Peace?

I really enjoyed it. A lot happens, it's not hours and hours of nothing...
It's available on project Gutenberg too.
I'm not sure what I can equate it too though.

Ulysses is on my book list for after finals...

Lisa wrote: "Ulysses is on my book list for after finals..."

What? You haven't read it yet? I thought you had read just about everything. I'm waiting for your review/critique/comments.

Buck wrote: "Lisa wrote: "Ulysses is on my book list for after finals..."

What? You haven't read it yet? I thought you had read just about everything. I'm waiting for your review/critique/comments."

LOL
Cut me some slack, I've read 3 textbooks this week and too many articles. My recreational reading will be light and fluffy until after finals...

I had a very weird conversation with someone the other day. They told me they are afraid to read. Because if they read too much, they would run out of books and never have anything to read...