Reading List Completists discussion

As a reading-list enthusiast, I bought the Peter Boxall 1001 Books to Read Before you die with the full intention to read more of them.

As it stands I'm at 87, I actually thought it would be more! Lot of work to be done ;-)

There's a list challenges list available: https://www.listchallenges.com/1001-b...

and a goodreads list if you want to count your own numbers:
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/9...

Cool list! I've read quite a few books on this list that are not on Goodreads since I read them before I started keeping track. Still there are quite a few books on there that are either on my TBR or will at some point make it there. I think I'm going to bookmark the goodreads list!

Wow - what a list! I am going through it now - I am noticing some duplicates . . .

I got 105 - once you get to the last few pages of the checklist I swear they are just making books up!

Also, one major complaint I have with this list is that there are so few modern must reads. Out of the whole list, I bet there are not even 100 from the past 40 years. There should be much more representation from the recent era (IMO).

Matthew wrote: "I got 105 - once you get to the last few pages of the checklist I swear they are just making books up!

Also, one major complaint I have with this list is that there are so few modern must reads. O..."

Yes, I also made that observation. I think it's partly due to Boxall making his selection at a fixed point in time. The most recent books are from 2008, which is already a shockingly long time ago... But still, if you count back 40 years, 1979, there are 260 books selected.

What I like about this, subjective, selection is that it is beautifully printed (though it doesn't count itself in the 1001 ...) and each book is accompanied with an interesting essay that defends the selection of the book and tries to offers some historical context. That's for instance what convinced me not to give up on The Once and Future King ;-)

Jessica wrote: "Matthew wrote: "I got 105 - once you get to the last few pages of the checklist I swear they are just making books up!

Also, one major complaint I have with this list is that there are so few mode..."

Really, 260!? Seemed much lower, but okay! :)

To quote one of my favorite movie quotes "When I am wrong, I say I am wrong" - The Dad in Dirty Dancing

I have read 172 books on this list.

Ugh wow. 125 read. List challenges was my de-stress method. Alternately, “what will I read next?” At least until I found this group. So many books I haven’t even heard of, but yet, not compelled to go research most of them. Interesting.

Liane wrote: "Ugh wow. 125 read. List challenges was my de-stress method. Alternately, “what will I read next?” At least until I found this group. So many books I haven’t even heard of, but yet, not compelled to..."

You hit the nail on the head - so many must reads that do not spark any interest. But, that's why we feature so many lists. Hopefully something of interest occasionally makes it into the monthly selection.

Last year 87, this year 122! Yay

I am purposefully reading my way thought this list but still might need another 30 years or so :-)

Went from 172 last year to 186 this year.

Looks like I was at 105 last time, now I am up to 126!

Up to 135 on this list.