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

Zeejane wrote: "I'm excited to see what the new edition, being released next year, looks like...."

Zeejane just drops this in another thread as if it's not HUGE news and we shouldn't all be floored by it and full-on discussing it!

So? Here's the only information I found out. Set to release on February 8, 2022.

Anybody else have more info? Anybody want to speculate what will be new?

Sean wrote: "Zeejane wrote: "I'm excited to see what the new edition, being released next year, looks like...."

Zeejane just drops this in another thread as if it's not HUGE news and we shouldn't all be floore..."

They really need to do a better job with the additions. There were a lot of newer titles added to the last one that may not stand the test of time.

How many new books do you think they will add? Not too many, I hope as I planned to finish the list in 2022...

Sean wrote: "Zeejane wrote: "I'm excited to see what the new edition, being released next year, looks like...."

Zeejane just drops this in another thread as if it's not HUGE news and we shouldn't all be floore..."

This is the first I've heard of it! 'Intrigued' is the word that comes to mind.

Diane wrote: "Sean wrote: "Zeejane wrote: "I'm excited to see what the new edition, being released next year, looks like...."

Zeejane just drops this in another thread as if it's not HUGE news and we shouldn't ..."

You plan to FINISH next year?!? Good on you! That will be an amazing feat! :-)

Diane wrote: "Sean wrote: "Zeejane wrote: "I'm excited to see what the new edition, being released next year, looks like...."

Zeejane just drops this in another thread as if it's not HUGE news and we shouldn't ..."

I guess they‘ll add around 10 new titles. And I hope they‘ll make better choices this time. I wasn‘t too happy with their 2018 picks. There were some books I was sure they would add but none of them made it onto the list.

It'll be fun to argue the merits/lack of merits of the books they pick and discuss those they didn't.

I agree with Ellinor and Isabel. I don't think the new edition will bring any major changes, approx. 10 new titles will be all, I think.
Of those, I guess, a majority will be by women authors and/or by POC. Awareness of the overrepresentation of (white) men in offical canons will still be an important issue in 2022, so I think (hope!), they will make a point of including more authors from minority groups.
I'd also be willing to bet that at least one title will be by a Booker Prize Winner or Nominee (see 2010,2012 &2018 updates).

Has anyone got any guesses about which books may appear on the list? I am really excited about the new version. I hope it may be some books I have already read so my TBR list doesn't grow!

Oooo, exciting!

I don't know what they'll pick, but if I were picking, I'd add The Old Drift by Namwali Serpell. I'd cut one of the 4 million Ian McEwan books to add it for sure.

Definitely need to cut some Ian McEwan books. I hate to say it but others such as Charles Dickens, Samuel Beckett, and even Jane Austin should have some of their books trimmed down.
If I were picking, I'd add A Gentleman in Moscow and Foreign Affairs by Alison Lurie.

I was surprised by how many of the 2018 additions I had not heard of.

From (fairly) recently published books I would still like them to add Wolf Hall, The Silence of the Girls, The Mars Room and My Brilliant Friend.

And will they ever add a Georgette Heyer book? (no, because the list authors have serious issues with the genre of romance novels written by women). Venetia gets my vote. Although in the unlikely event that they put her on the list I think it would be An Infamous Army that they add.

Sorry Zeejane, I disagree about The Starless Sea. It was one of the biggest disappointments of last year for me and I thought it was totally forgettable. I enjoyed The Night Circus. I would kind of like to see Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell on the list. That novel blew me away when I first read it.

Emily wrote: "Has anyone got any guesses about which books may appear on the list? I am really excited about the new version. I hope it may be some books I have already read so my TBR list doesn't grow!"

Yes, and I hope that the ones deleted are ones that I have not yet read.

Angie wrote: "I agree with Ellinor and Isabel. I don't think the new edition will bring any major changes, approx. 10 new titles will be all, I think.
Of those, I guess, a majority will be by women authors and/..."

If winning a Booker Prize adds to the likelihood of getting on the list, then Wolf Hall has a chance and I hope it does get on the list. I'd also like to see Girl, Woman, Other added to the list. That would be two women and one who is a POC. Perfect!

I also hope Girl, Woman, Other will be added. I‘m pretty sure Wolf Hall won‘t make it onto the list. It was published in 2009 and the list has been updated three times and it was never added.

It will most likely be books published since 2018, which I don't really agree with. I think books need to demonstrate that they can stand the test of time before being added to a list like this.

Diane wrote: "It will most likely be books published since 2018, which I don't really agree with. I think books need to demonstrate that they can stand the test of time before being added to a list like this."

I completely agree. Sometimes the truly great books don't get noticed for a few years, while the ones hyped when they are published hardly are mentioned a while later.

I agree as well. I think putting books that have just been published is not a good idea.

I might predict
Hamnet
The Vanishing Half (which I read and it was just ok)
Summer
Shuggie Bain
The Nickel Boys
Ducks, Newburyport
Poor -- Edited.... poetry
Girl, Woman, Other
The Mermaid of Black Conch
Edited to add Luster to replace Poor
Edited to add The Death of Vivek Oji to round it off to an even 10

Anybody read any of these?

I've also seen An American Marriage on the list of Women's Prize for Fiction. I read that one and liked it.

Diane wrote: "It will most likely be books published since 2018, which I don't really agree with. I think books need to demonstrate that they can stand the test of time before being added to a list like this."

Yep. Anything that isn't at least fifty years old (exceptions for the truly excellent can be made, but those are few and far between) and is more of the previous list's same old, same old is just going to be more reason for me to keep building my own 1001 and only use the publications as guidelines.

this may not be all it's cracked up to be. I've been unable to confirm from the publishers (Barrons) that they are working on a new edition of the 1001 Books title. Here's what they just told me today

"We currently are not working on a new edition of 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die."

I've since written to Powells to ask them why they have a new edition listed as coming out in Feb 2022 (see https://www.powells.com/book/1001-boo...)

I will let you know their response. I think it might be an error as I doubt a bookshop would know more than the publisher in this regard.

In addition, in my long history of working with the publisher, I've never known a February release. It's always been October.

Arukiyomi wrote: "this may not be all it's cracked up to be. I've been unable to confirm from the publishers (Barrons) that they are working on a new edition of the 1001 Books title. Here's what they just told me to..."

Interesting. I'm anxious to hear Powell's response. Yet another 1001 mystery to be solved!

Is Powell's the authority of what new books are coming out? I understand they are the largest brick and mortar bookstore (been there!) ... but...

I'm only asking because the blurb that they have for the book is a very universal blurb used by countless online booksellers. Did everybody get it from Powell's? or did Powell's get it from some other authority?

Sean wrote: "Is Powell's the authority of what new books are coming out? I understand they are the largest brick and mortar bookstore (been there!) ... but...

I'm only asking because the blurb that they have ..."

Yes, it's listed on Book Depository with the same blurb and ISBN, as on Powell's. It used to be on Amazon too, but I can't find it now.

Very odd...

FYI, Book Depository is Amazon ;-)

Arukiyomi wrote: "FYI, Book Depository is Amazon ;-)"

Of course, you're right, Arukiyomi.

So, here's what Powells says:

"I have reached out to our supplier and to some of the internal webpage content rectifiers here at Powell's and we are attempting to fix the issue with this title. Unfortunately, it looks like our supplier hasn't received any indication that they will be receiving this title from the publishers, which is consistent with your information. Because of this we are attempting to remove this title from our webpage until we receive a firm yes or no on whether or not we will be receiving this title.

If we do receive copies of this title it will probably be closer to the release date, which is set for 2/8/2022.

Thank you for bringing this listing to our attention and I'm sorry for any confusion or frustration it has caused."

Looks like this is very unlikely to be a new edition I'm afraid. However, that means we don't have any more books to add to the list... just yet!

Arukiyomi wrote: "So, here's what Powells says:

"I have reached out to our supplier and to some of the internal webpage content rectifiers here at Powell's and we are attempting to fix the issue with this title. Un..."

Unless they make some sneaky little change!!

Kimberly wrote: "Definitely need to cut some Ian McEwan books. I hate to say it but others such as Charles Dickens, Samuel Beckett, and even Jane Austin should have some of their books trimmed down.
If I were picki..."

I would agree on cutting down some of the titles by authors. I think they should limit it to about 3 titles per author instead of loading the list down with a handful of authors getting 5-10 slots each. This would open things up a little for more diversity among the authors, countries, etc.

It's April now and supposedly this new edition (Amazon lists only a paperback 2022 edition) has been released almost two months ago. Has anyone seen it yet? The Googlesheet I refer to doesn't have any new 2022 books listed as yet.
Maybe it's just a cheaper edition of the last edition w/o any changes in books.

George P. wrote: "It's April now and supposedly this new edition (Amazon lists only a paperback 2022 edition) has been released almost two months ago. Has anyone seen it yet? The Googlesheet I refer to doesn't have ..."

Check the posts above by Arukiyomi -- he could not get any confirmation from the publisher and Powell's stated that it's supplier had not received any information that the book was forthcoming.

Amy the book-bat wrote: "Kimberly wrote: "Definitely need to cut some Ian McEwan books. I hate to say it but others such as Charles Dickens, Samuel Beckett, and even Jane Austin should have some of their books trimmed down..."

AMEN!