Chaos Reading discussion

Hello, Chaosians!

Book Riot recently published an article about becoming "well-read" in 100 books. It's generating a bit of controversy (50 Shades? Seriously?), but some might find it interesting.

I made a Listopia List here on Goodreads, in case anyone wants to go vote on the titles they think actually deserve to be there.

The original article is up on the Book Riot website, in case you want to read it.

Karen wrote: "Hello, Chaosians! Book Riot
recently published an article about becoming "well-read" in 100 books. It's generating a bit of controversy (50 Shades? Seriously?), but some might find it intere..."

Controversial indeed! For one thing, any list is going to be completely subjective, although the author does say it's according to their own definition of "well-read". There's also a cultural element at play, that speaks to predominantly mainstream US culture. Then there are all the religious texts - which is more about theology/philosophy than being "well-read" I would have thought.

Turns out I've read 16 of them, but I really don't think that's in any way meaningful. Some were children's books, and some (like Gone Girl & The Fault in Our Stars) seem unlikely to make a mark in the annals of literary history.

Interesting, and obviously guaranteed to produce controversy. The list is ridiculous, but I like the idea in the article of how people would define 'well-read'. I also like the definition the writer comes up with, except for "a special interest in the work of one’s immediate culture", and "an emphasis on the writing of the current day". I don't believe 'well-read' needs to include reading whatever the latest literary craze is.

My definition would include the idea about a wide reading experience; including different cultures and genres, and classics as well as modern literature. Where someone puts the emphasis is up to them, but I'd say at least a familiarity with all of the above. I think trying to make a 'required reading' list is shaky at best. I think it's very possible for several people to be well-read without having a single book in common. Although it's maybe unlikely.

P.S. So no one thinks it's sour grapes, and as a not-so-humble-brag, I've read 68 of the books on the list.

I hold no delusions of being well-read myself, but I still had to laugh at the number of those books I started and discarded. Like Candide, Romeo and Juliet, Dune and Frankenstein!

Speaking of books I've discarded, I'm surprised Umberto Eco didn't make an appearance.

I love lists like this. They're always controversial and seem totally arbitrary and I'm always like "Seriously? X made it but Y didn't?" ...but mostly I just really like checking things off lists.

On that note, I've read 30 of them.

I've read 33, and I'm not necessarily proud of all of them, lol.