Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die discussion

Questions are always welcome!

Post your question here and one of the moderators will get back to you as soon as possible.

There are many "Lists" you can look at and vote on within Goodreads, such as Best 19th century fiction". Does anyone know how the ranking works for these?
Obviously the number of votes is most important, but books with the same number of votes get different numbers of points, so I know there are other factors. The ranking within voters' books (which they show in first place vs a lower place) and the average GR score?

Anyone can vote for up to 100 books on a list. The first ranked gets 100 points, the second 99, and so on until the 100th ranked gets 1 point. The list ranking is decided by the total number of points, not votes, so a book that 5 people rank 1st will place above a book that 50 people rank 100th.

David wrote: "Anyone can vote for up to 100 books on a list. The first ranked gets 100 points, the second 99, and so on until the 100th ranked gets 1 point. The list ranking is decided by the total number of poi..."

Great explanation David. Thank you

Cphe wrote: "What happened to the link to the combined list.?

It seems to have disappeared, I was using it to mark off and keep tract of what I had read so far."

Which link were you using?

Cphe wrote: "Found it!....thanks"

Just out of curiosity, which one do you use? And is it in an easily accessible place?

David wrote: "Anyone can vote for up to 100 books on a list. The first ranked gets 100 points, the second 99, and so on until the 100th ranked gets 1 point. The list ranking is decided by the total number of poi..."

So the book's average rating on Goodreads doesn't figure into its' points for the ranking?

Karen wrote: "Cphe wrote: "Found it!....thanks"

Just out of curiosity, which one do you use? And is it in an easily accessible place?"

I like to refer to a googledocs sheet with this url: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

It's read-only so you can't check off what you read unless you print it and use a pen/pencil on your paper copy. I don't know who maintains it. but it does get updated for new edition by someone.

George P. wrote: "So the book's average rating on Goodreads doesn't figure into its' points for the ranking?..."

No, the GR rating doesn't mean anything on the LISTOPIA lists. Its order is totally determined by reader votes.

Can someone tell me when was the last time books were added to Boxall's list.....and do we know if more will be added in the future? And if so, when?

Hello, I am new. Is it possible to ask for reading buddies in this group? I just started (chapter 3) Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go and already I am dying to discuss it with someone.

Hi Isa!

Welcome to the group! We are all your reading buddies! The whole group is ready to discuss the list books with you.
Start a discussion thread and others will comment. Based on your message, I can suggest a discussion under 'Which list book did you just start?', 'Specific list authors' or 'Specific list books'.

There already is a thread for Never Let Me Go:

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

It hasn't been active in a while but once you start commenting maybe others will join!

Ed wrote: "Can someone tell me when was the last time books were added to Boxall's list.....and do we know if more will be added in the future? And if so, when?"

The last time books were added to the list was in 2018. The orginal book was published in 2006 and books were added/deleted in 2008, 2010, 2012, and 2018. The Spreadsheet (under Helpful Stuff) has a list of all the Boxall books and when each was added and/or deleted.

As for if and when a new edition will come out, only the publisher knows.

George P. wrote: "Karen wrote: "Cphe wrote: "Found it!....thanks"

Just out of curiosity, which one do you use? And is it in an easily accessible place?"

I like to refer to a googledocs sheet with this url: https:/..."

You should be able to create a copy of the Google spreadsheet. Then you would be able to edit your copy. If you were looking for a way to mark which ones you've read. :)

No question here, just want to say thank you to the new mods who are working so hard to improve our group!

RJ from the LBC wrote: "No question here, just want to say thank you to the new mods who are working so hard to improve our group!"

Thank you, RJ!

Hello! Sorry if this a silly question but which list should we be following? Is it the one in the other thread? But it crosses over a couple of years... :s

Fishy wrote: "Hello! Sorry if this a silly question but which list should we be following? Is it the one in the other thread? But it crosses over a couple of years... :s"

Most of us use the combined list of 1315 total Boxall books from all 5 editions (2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, and 2018).

Thank you! Just checked and I've only read around 20 books. Have a longgg way to goooooo

Fishy wrote: "Thank you! Just checked and I've only read around 20 books. Have a longgg way to goooooo"

You may want to take a look at this Topic -- Short Books on the List (https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...). Go to the very end and you will find a list of over 200 books that are less than 200 pages.

Oh my gosh, thank you!! I was just wondering if there was a list for shorter books. This group really is so nice! ^__^

Fishy wrote: "Oh my gosh, thank you!! I was just wondering if there was a list for shorter books. This group really is so nice! ^__^"

I don't know about that. Karen is overdoing it on the niceness... making the rest of us look bad... :P

Sean wrote: "Fishy wrote: "Oh my gosh, thank you!! I was just wondering if there was a list for shorter books. This group really is so nice! ^__^"

I don't know about that. Karen is overdoing it on the niceness..."

LOL! What can I say, I was a teacher!

Hi, I'm sorry if my question is really stupid but I can't seem to find the list anywhere. I know I have scanning it here before but now I really can't seem to find it nowhere. Will someone please direct me? Thankyou <3

Nike wrote: "Hi, I'm sorry if my question is really stupid but I can't seem to find the list anywhere. I know I have scanning it here before but now I really can't seem to find it nowhere. Will someone please d..."

The folder "Helpful Stuff" contains a link to the Spreadsheet which you can download through Google Docs -- https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

You can also find lists of the books for each edition of the Boxall book in the folder "1001 Book List" (https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group...) and especially in the Topic "1001 BOOKS YOU MUST READ LIST: 2006 * 2008 * 2010 * 2012 * 2018 Versions" -- (https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...)

Does that help? You can find the folders on the Group Homepage.

Karen wrote: "Nike wrote: "Hi, I'm sorry if my question is really stupid but I can't seem to find the list anywhere. I know I have scanning it here before but now I really can't seem to find it nowhere. Will som..."

Thankyou so very much, Karen =)!<3

How do I see the list? I can’t find a link.

Angela wrote: "How do I see the list? I can’t find a link."

Karen posted a couple of links with the list three posts up from this one.

Hi, I'm new! Is this the list? https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

How does it compare to Harold Bloom?

Yes. That is the list.

Harold Bloom put together his list about 10 years before Peter Boxall.

Bloom's compilation of Western Canon is just as it sounds. It tends to focus on only a few authors (I believe 26). All from the "West".

Two interesting points....

Boxall's list is often criticized for including too many works from the same authors. While that's exactly what Bloom was trying to do.

Boxall's original list of 1001 when it came out in 2006 was much more heavy in western literature (white male authors) than the current 1001. 2008 saw the largest change to the list as over 200 titles were removed and replaced. The replacements turned the list much more international. Focusing on many more works from the East, from authors of color, and female authors. Many will still argue that the list still has a long way to go in this respect. Female authors and many cultures are still said to be way underrepresented.

You asked a very general question. And it's a good topic. I'm sure others will chime in.

How do I respond to another member’s post? How can I edit or add on to my own posts?

Becky wrote: "How do I respond to another member’s post? How can I edit or add on to my own posts?"

You have to do it on the website. The app does not support it.

On the website, your post will have 3 choices in the bottom righthand side of the post -- reply / edit / delete.
Click on edit to edit your post. When you click reply, the comment box will contain the name of the person you are replying to.

Hi,

I would be so grateful if someone would help me and explain how the "HOW MANY 1001 BOOKS DO YOU PLAN TO READ IN 2021?-challenge" on top of the site works. I have filled in a modest goal but how will I make updates with the books I've read? I have no clue of how to make it function. Please, help me. Thank you so much

Nike wrote: "Hi,

I would be so grateful if someone would help me and explain how the "HOW MANY 1001 BOOKS DO YOU PLAN TO READ IN 2021?-challenge" on top of the site works. I have filled in a modest goal but ho..."

It counts any books that you read this year and put on the shelf you specify in the challenge. So for example, when I set up my challenge I set the shelf to 1001-books, so any time I read a book this year and put it on my 1001-books shelf, it will count towards the challenge.

Lianne (The Towering Pile) wrote: "Nike wrote: "Hi,

I would be so grateful if someone would help me and explain how the "HOW MANY 1001 BOOKS DO YOU PLAN TO READ IN 2021?-challenge" on top of the site works. I have filled in a modes..."

Aha, I'll try and do that. I noticed that a shelf with that name has turned up without me knowing how it came about. Thank you so much!

Karen wrote: "Becky wrote: "How do I respond to another member’s post? How can I edit or add on to my own posts?"

You have to do it on the website. The app does not support it.

On the website, your post will h..."

Thank you! No wonder I was having such a hard time - I was using the app.

For the challenge How many 1001 books do you plan to read" for a certain year like 2022, can I just designate my existing 1001 books Shelf, or do I need to set a new Shelf for the year -which is what I did?

George P. wrote: "For the challenge How many 1001 books do you plan to read" for a certain year like 2022, can I just designate my existing 1001 books Shelf, or do I need to set a new Shelf for the year -which is wh..."

Just designate your existing shelf.

Where can I find the Discussion for Autumn of the Patriarch? (December '22 group read) I've looked everywhere & can't find it!
Thank you

Carol wrote: "Where can I find the Discussion for Autumn of the Patriarch? (December '22 group read) I've looked everywhere & can't find it!
Thank you"

Oops! I will post it right now!

Hi mods and everyone - I have a suggestion for a big book read for 2023 - from this TikTok post https://vt.tiktok.com/ZS8BSWdb7/ from [@]hernryeliot who is doing a readalong of Clarissa (Samuel Richardson) Clarissa, or, the History of a Young Lady

Apparently in 2023 the date of each letter lines up with the days of the week so it's a readalong by date! It's the longest novel writtten in the English language so extra motivation to read it will be nice!

I'm going to do the readalong and thought other 1001 peeps might be interested, or it might make a good big read for the year.

Michelle wrote: "Hi mods and everyone - I have a suggestion for a big book read for 2023 - from this TikTok post https://vt.tiktok.com/ZS8BSWdb7/ from [@]hernryeliot who is doing a readalong of Clarissa (Samuel Ric..."

Thanks for sharing this! Despite the fact that I'm still suffering through Les Mis after starting it in early 2021, and have sworn I wouldn't touch another massive tome for a while... I might actually do this lol.

Michelle wrote: "Hi mods and everyone - I have a suggestion for a big book read for 2023 - from this TikTok post https://vt.tiktok.com/ZS8BSWdb7/ from [@]hernryeliot who is doing a readalong of Clarissa (Samuel Ric..."

Lianne (The Towering Pile) wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Hi mods and everyone - I have a suggestion for a big book read for 2023 - from this TikTok post https://vt.tiktok.com/ZS8BSWdb7/ from [@]hernryeliot who is doing a readalong of Cla..."

Sounds interesting! I will post this in the February newsletter.
Thanks for sharing the information.

Not a question, but I really want so say thank you for taking the time and effort to write the newsletter every month!

Riley wrote: "Hi! When is the monthly read thread for a given month typically created? I noticed that the thread for July 2023's monthly read hasn't been created yet."

The monthly read starts on the 15th of each month and finishes on the 14th of the following month. The discussion thread will go up on the 15th of each month.

That's the way the original moderators set it up and it has continued that way through several moderator changes.

Caroline wrote: "Not a question, but I really want so say thank you for taking the time and effort to write the newsletter every month!"

Thank you, Caroline! I hope it is helpful. If you have any suggestions, I would love to hear them.

Hey!

I'm just wondering, what's the general consensus about books where you've seen the film? Do people mark it as read or do you guys still read the books despite seeing the film?

Also, what if you come across a book that doesn't interest you at all or begin reading a book and realise you won't be able to finish it, what happens then?

Thanks!

Hannah wrote: "Hey!

I'm just wondering, what's the general consensus about books where you've seen the film? Do people mark it as read or do you guys still read the books despite seeing the film?

Also, what if..."

I think the general consensus is that the book counts for the list, not the movie. In most cases, the book is so much better than the movie, and you miss so much character development, plot, and side stories if you just watch the movie. Personally, I rarely find the movie better than the book.

As to books that don't interest you, that is your personal decision. Some members of the group decide to just read what they like, and others love to complete lists and plan to read everything on the list.

I would say that the journey is more important than the completion of the list. Books you are not interested in now may speak to you at a later stage of your life. For long or difficult books, I will just read a few pages a day while reading other list books that interest me more.

Karen wrote: "Hannah wrote: "Hey!

I'm just wondering, what's the general consensus about books where you've seen the film? Do people mark it as read or do you guys still read the books despite seeing the film? ..."
Thank you!