The Guardian books you must read before you die thread (with a bit Marylin horn thrown in) (1 Viewer)

[Cornu Ammonis]

@GO 1000 novels everyone must read: the definitive list | Books | theguardian.com

 

[jonah]

@GO 1000 novels everyone must read: the definitive list | Books | theguardian.com

Obviously I'm bored, so I just counted hoe many I've read using this

I got 280. Thought I'd do better actually

 

[Lili Marlene]

Obviously I'm bored, so I just counted hoe many I've read using this

I got 280. Thought I'd do better actually

I've posted this before but you were probably off in a huff ignoring thumped at the time, we've all been there.

Anyway, the only list that matters:

The Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge - How many have you read?

 

[nooleen]

the guardian list looks like someone tipped out their bookcase on the floor and told an intern to type up the first 1000 titles

 

[jonah]

I've posted this before but you were probably off in a huff ignoring thumped at the time, we've all been there.

Anyway, the only list that matters:

The Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge - How many have you read?

I did WAY better in that one: 220/339. Actually impressed with how Rory Gilmore I am now.

 

[Lili Marlene]

LOL I got 82 in the Guardian list.

 

[nooleen]

i would've scored better if there'd been a few more tintins and john grishams

 

[Lili Marlene]

i would've scored better if there'd been a few more tintins and john grishams

That's kind of the thing about these lists. Read one book by a 100 different authors and you appear especially well read, read 10 books each by 10 authors and you come across like a buffoon.

 

[David Kronenbourg]

94 in the Guardian list. It's a weird list. Really random.

 

[jonah]

Yeah, some of it makes sense, like staples are there, but there's other stuff that's just.. bizarre and not even that good. I prefer Rory's list. I did better.

 

[ann post]

That's kind of the thing about these lists. Read one book by a 100 different authors and you appear especially well read, read 10 books each by 10 authors and you come across like a buffoon.

This has a lot to answer for

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[Lili Marlene]

Yeah, some of it makes sense, like staples are there, but there's other stuff that's just.. bizarre and not even that good. I prefer Rory's list. I did better.

haha

I think Rory's list shows a bit of character; it's probably just what Amy Sherman-Palladino was reading while making the show mixed with what she read and wished she read growing up but at least that's got a viewpoint.

A list like the Guardian's is trying to come across as impartial but a little inspection shows it's bias towards western and, well, dead white male's canonical works. Same as ever. Doesn't make it a bad list but at least admit your biases.

or whatever.


I wish i had read more of them

 

[David Kronenbourg]

Yeah, some of it makes sense, like staples are there, but there's other stuff that's just.. bizarre and not even that good. I prefer Rory's list. I did better.

There's two James Lee Burke novels on it. I don't understand this. He's a contempory crime writer little known outside the genre. He's a good writer but hardly essential.

 

[jonah]

haha

I think Rory's list shows a bit of character; it's probably just what Amy Sherman-Palladino was reading while making the show mixed with what she read and wished she read growing up but at least that's got a viewpoint.

A list like the Guardian's is trying to come across as impartial but a little inspection shows it's bias towards western and, well, dead white male's canonical works. Same as ever. Doesn't make it a bad list but at least admit your biases.

or whatever.


I wish i had read more of them

Well said.

I liked that Rory's list had Judy Blume. Though not her best work *tut tut*

 

[Lili Marlene]

There's two James Lee Burke novels on it. I don't understand this. He's a contempory crime writer little known outside the genre. He's a good writer but hardly essential.

it's all over the shop, they chose the Tintin that might be the best one but only in the context of the rest of the series, and chose the first Asterix (i.e. the worst) because maybe no-one on their panel actually read Asterix as a kid?

It would be like me choosing a "best albums ever" and picking a Dylan and Led Zeppelin at random because I don't know their works but know they are in some way "important".

 

[Denny Oubidoux]

61.

I think I did worse on that other gilmore list or whatever it is. It's cool that we've all ended up talking about books in here.

 

[jonah]

61.

I think I did worse on that other gilmore list or whatever it is. It's cool that we've all ended up talking about books in here.

I beat Shaney!!! I am the reigning champion of Thumped culture.

 

[Cornu Ammonis]

50 on the Gilmore one
99 on the Guardian one

Feeling very intimidated by @jonah right now.

 

[Lili Marlene]

280 is pretty spectacular. Assuming she's read my 82 that's 200 classic books I haven't read...

I'd probably be a totally different person if I read them O_O

Share some knowledge @jonah

 

[Hector Grey]

What a load of bolix. Mind you, if I finished every novel I'd started, I'd have read about half of those books. But then, I only started them to impress some lady, because that's what you're supposed to be reading, or something.