Guardian Newspaper 1000 Novels discussion

My long list of 'to-read' books was put together from different sources. The Guardian published the 1,000 novels list in a weekly supplement, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading through each section and noting the ones I wanted to read. I then went on to use various other sources, which I will post as a list at some point, and eventually found I had a long list of good books to read!

I am interested in how others choose their books; personal stories of browsing well hidden bookshops or of inheriting a lorry load of literature are positively encouraged!

I follow my own developing interest in a topic or author and assemble my core reading list from that using internet research. Usually it starts off as something I'm just curious about, such as mythology, and if I'm intrigued I keep going in that vein.

I joined goodreads because I wanted suggestions from the catalog and from other users on both building my topical lists and also exposure to new material that I wasn't aware of or wouldn't have chosen myself. I've used book lists like the one this group is based on, but without a community to suggest and discuss, I tend to read on very narrow topics and mostly non-fiction. Goodreads has been very helpful to me, and this group should be a good structure for broadening my reading.

I now have a pretty long list, too :)

Anthony wrote: "Serendipity."

I've been too concerned about "wasting my time" with a book to allow much serendipity :)

I like how you describe reading being pleasure and leisure, and how many discoveries you've made from being open to serendipity!

I hope that reading from this list nudges us all in that direction! And that it feels more like a menu than a list for you :)

Anthony, what I like about this sort of thread is that it's possible to gain further ideas for books. Barbara Kingsolver is a wonderful writer, so as you also like her work I am going to try some of the other authors you mention.

I heard her being interviewed on a BBC book show, it was interesting and thankfully it wasn't a disappointment - which can sometimes happen with authors! An interesting thing she revealed is that she takes very great care over the titles of her books.

Anthony wrote: "Brazzaville Beach"

Looks good, I've added it to my ever-growing list!

I think you are raising some intriguing points; I will start a new discussion thread because the question about separation of author and book is one with no straightforward answer, I feel there might be some interesting thoughts around this!

I am pleased to find a fellow Kingsolver fan. Have you read Pearl S Buck? She writes about China, wonderful writer.

My friends and partner all excel in one sporting field or another. None are interested in reading anything other than newspapers or the odd trashy novel on holiday. I'm the odd fat one that walks my dogs all day and reads. When I mention a book I think they would relate to or that made me think I see their eyes glaze over…

Reading has always been a solitary pleasure since I was a child. I used amazon for recommendations on what I'd already read and also plucked books at random from various 100 must read books lists.

I always liked about 20 books to chose from when deciding which new novel to read (thats exploded since good reads whoops!) But, hey, its a hobby! I believe you should never feel that you must read a book, you should want to devour it!

Slowly trying to articulate my thoughts about books I've read into words since I joined this website and integrate with groups about monthly reads. You friendly bunch seem the ones to develop this with! :-)

I'm so glad you've joined us, Linzi :)

I think reading is a unique hobby because it is solitary and very comforting personally but also social, not just through fora like this one but also in the sharing of ideas among the readers and the author...

Thank you ch! It's lovely to be a part of a nice friendly group on here :-) And you have summed up the pleasure of a good book and where it can take you with thoughts and perspectives so beautifully in your last comment :-) x

I have kept lists of books I wanted to read for about 35 years. Some, I checked off, sooner or later. Some, I decided I'd outgrown. Others are still waiting for me. They are mysteries, SF, novels, poetry, politics, history, Judaica, social criticism. Very rarely, biography. Once in a blue moon, essays. I write them down when I read good reviews or (like Anthony) when I've read something good by the author and go on a tear through the rest of her or his work. But I still haven't read all of Dickens!

I admire your list, Dennis :) Mine I started only recently.

You read from a wide variety of genres. I was impressed that the Guardian list, although exclusively novels, covered so many subjects. There seems to be something there for everyone.

Are any of the books from this list on your list as well?

Some of mine are, but not as many as I expected, so there will be surprises!

Sarah wrote: "I am interested in how others choose their books; personal stories of browsing well hidden bookshops or of inheriting a lorry load of literature are positively encouraged!
..."

I am in the process of acquiring a lot of books, if not quite a whole truck load :)

My parents are culling their collection in preparation for a move. In addition, I picked up ~25 books today from my local library's annual book sale! Out of that, more than half were from the Guardian's list & were books I probably wouldn't have heard of otherwise. I was particularly happy to find Cider With Rosie as for some reason that title has been calling to me lately...

Other titles I picked up included:
The African Queen
Night
A Fine Balance
Underworld
I Capture the Castle
Cat's Eye...

I joined goodreads to read more frequently and I am not going to shy away from saying that it has been a struggle and an attraction to read. The good news is that I am getting there. Recently I did the following to add books to my reading list:
Asked friends for recommendations
Looked up manbooker & Pulitzer Prize winners
Listened to book review podcasts
Guardian, Telegraph and Waterstones proved very helpful
Joined a reading group which forced me to read some books
Often look at Prezzie Obama's reading list too ;)

I have a metal list of "you should have read by now" .
So I only just recently read my first by Isabel Allende. But also the many classic and Western Canon of either writers of authors
When I can I follow the professional reviewers based on the degree of their enthusiasm.
A lot of what I have pending but in possession has come from these and some now gone reading group discussions.
And sometimes I latch on to a writer and do not let go until there are no more.

I have learned to avoid book stores. Too dangerous

Not sure where to put this, but I thought I throw out the fact that another group I'm in is going to read Hyperion by Dan Simmons starting in April. The plan is to take 2 months to do it, with weekly discussions based on the natural breakdown of the book. It's a longer book, and might not get picked here because of that.

Anyway, if any of you are interested, here's a link to the discussion (which hasn't started--just background stuff for the moment):

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

The group's private, so you'll have to join if you'd like to participate, but no worries--I'm one of the mods and everyone here is a shoe-in. Not trying to poach members--I just thought I'd mention it in case anyone was interested.

I have always wanted to read that book. If my schedule clears some in April, I might like to join you!

We'd be glad to have you!

TY, Brian :))

Awesome - I really want to read that one. I'm in! TY Brian :-)

Should I wait to join until I know if I'll have time for the read or not, or should I join now?

It's a small group, which is kind of cool, but I don't want to make anyone uncomfortable by having a non-participatory member in the midst, if it turns out my schedule isn't cleared enough to join in

You won't bother anyone. There's over a hundred people who've joined and probably 10 who comment with any frequency. Another 10 have at least commented once, and the rest...? I don't know. If you join and then decide not to participate, no harm no foul.

Thx, Bryan :)

our group read Hyperion in April 2016, thread here:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

all old threads can be added to at any later date as and when people get round to reading them and/or have anything they want to add to the discussion...

I didn't realize this group had already read it. Sorry, Darren, if I stepped on any toes--I didn't really expect it to come up for discussion over here because of the length.

no probs Bryan - just wanted to point out available options!

A few years ago I got bored with my reading because I usually pick the same safe books, from the same safe writers (safe as in, I know I will be entertained).
So I was looking for a way to spice up my reading and to read the classics I should have read ages ago but didn't because school compulsory reading put me off.
So I found the BBC Big Read list and was given the 1001 books you... book and this list. I'm slowly reading my way through those lists, but picking a book and actually reading it is still a struggle.
So I've joint this group to use the monthly books to try and read books I wouldn't pick (provided I can actually get hold of a copy)

Angelique wrote: "A few years ago I got bored with my reading because I usually pick the same safe books, from the same safe writers (safe as in, I know I will be entertained).
So I was looking for a way to spice u..."

When sometimes I have a problem choosing a book from my to-read shelf because I can decide (and I don't have a mood for a specific story), I use a simple generator of random numbers (from Google). And what book is in such a way choose - I read ;-) A good way to catch up with so many postponing titles ;-)

Mela wrote: "Angelique wrote: "A few years ago I got bored with my reading because I usually pick the same safe books, from the same safe writers (safe as in, I know I will be entertained).
So I was looking fo..."

Yeah, I do that occasionally too, but having a possibly good book discussion afterwards is a much bigger incentive for me to actually read the book ;-)

Angelique - it looks like Northanger Abbey and Steppenwolf will be our books for July - do you think you might be joining in either/both of those?

Darren wrote: "Angelique - it looks like Northanger Abbey and Steppenwolf will be our books for July - do you think you might be joining in either/both of those?"

I've made reservations at the library for both, so hopefully yes!

I am retired and have a lot of time to read. By reading I mean listening to audiobooks.

I read a number of books simultaneously. In the last few months I’ve had time to read 20 books simultaneously.

The foundation of my yearly reading is built in December when another Goodreads group posts a number of reading challenges (for this year 13). Of those 13 challenges, I chose seven for this year.

The books I selected for those seven come to 66 books. For the Goodreads yearly challenge I have challenged myself to read 125 books, I’m already above 90 so I’ll probably change that to 150 soon.

At any time half the books I’m reading are books from those December challenges and half are books that I choose as I plan my monthly reading.

I plan two months ahead. I’ve already selected my July and August books to read. When I nominate books in this group, they are books that I am planning to read in the next couple of months. The Guardian 1000 list is a standard source in building my reading plans.

I have a couple hundred unread audiobooks that I already own, so I review those when considering what to add to my challenge books for a particular month. I read literature, science fiction, young adult, children’s books, nonfiction, history, science, medicine, etc. I don’t use a Goodreads “to read” system, rather put books that I want to read on Amazon wish list. There are hundreds of books on those lists.

I participate in the nomination and voting on this groups polls, but the books that are chosen to be read, I have already read.

Dave wrote: "... I participate in the nomination and voting on this groups polls, but the books that are chosen to be read, I have already read..."

Yeah, I have that problem too. Sometimes I will reread, especially when it is a book I loved or conversely one I don't remember well. But usually I just select another book from the list to read, which can aggravate the problem in the future. However, this group does provide me with the incentive to read books from the list that I wouldn't pick for myself.

Apologies if this is mess located, However this seems to be a more active thread.

This is more in the way of a general comment. I am now about half way into Ford M. Ford's . It would seem that this group has take in up at least in parts several times.
I have already posed that I care little for Gordian list , esp as it has long since left the 1000 behind.

However FMF had a major following in in a book store I liked in New Orleans, and I have seen these books mentioned in a lot of places.
Score this one for the Guardian. This is a lot of reading and every time I think something is padded, I hit 5 to 15 pages of amazing wordsmanship. Next the padding from 50 pages back suddenly becomes important.
I hope some one else is reading this, please let me know so we can share.