The BBC believes that most people will have read only 6 of the 100 books below. How many have you read?
(Tip: The average Goodreads member has read 23 out of 100 books on this list).
Interestingly, the BBC never actually made this declaration. The list was created by an unknown individual and spread around the internet as a meme called The BBC Book List Challenge. It was probably loosely based on another list of books that was the result of a survey carried out in 2003 by the BBC in which three quarters of a million people voted to find the nation's best-loved novels of all time.


http://www.listchallenges.com/kaunismina-bbc-6-books-challenge

I've read 64 on the list, but the list cheats.

It's lists the Complete Works of Shakespeare and Hamlet as seperate entries.

So i've really read 63 ... and the list is only 99 books long.

I was surprised that only one book of John Irving's made the list ... but it's my favourite .. A Prayer for Owen Meany ... so i'll forgive them.

But damn, he's good. One of my favourite authors.

Both Brideshead Revisited and The Great Gatsby are read nearly yearly by me. Recently I drove down to Montgomery to the F Scott Fitzgerald house and museum. Amazon now has an original series about Zelda Fitzgerald called Z - The Beginning of Everything.

AiA wrote on Jul 20^th, 2017 at 1:39am:

Both Brideshead Revisited and The Great Gatsby are read nearly yearly by me. Recently I drove down to Montgomery to the F Scott Fitzgerald house and museum. Amazon now has an original series about Zelda Fitzgerald called Z - The Beginning of Everything.

I haven't read Brideshead Revisited but have read and thoroughly enjoyed Gatsby.

Never saw the movie.

mothra wrote on Jul 20^th, 2017 at 1:41am:

AiA wrote on Jul 20th, 2017 at 1:39am: Both Brideshead Revisited and The Great Gatsby are read nearly yearly by me. Recently I drove down to Montgomery to the F Scott Fitzgerald house and museum. Amazon now has an original series about Zelda Fitzgerald called Z - The Beginning of Everything. I haven't read Brideshead Revisited but have read and thoroughly enjoyed Gatsby. Never saw the movie.

The early 80's Brideshead Revisited series is first class. Remarkable. Gatsby was played by Redford in the 70's with Coppola directing and is worth watching. The Dicaprio Gatsby - don't bother.

Oh i think i might have seen the Coppola one. It rings a bell anyway.

A book that i think truly deserves to be on that list is The Famished Road by Ben Okri. Scored a Booker Prize. A brilliantly unique and thoroughly captivating story.

It can take the place freed up by having Hamlet there twice.

you have done well.

23 for me

I have only read 17 on the list.

Lord of the Rings
Harry Potter – full series
Holy Bible
Wuthering Heights
1984
Tess
Catch 22
Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy – 42
Winnie the Pooh
Animal Farm
The Da Vinci Code
Load of the Flies
Dune
Dracula
The Secret garden
Charlettes Web
The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes

I never was a reader when young and now read for work and for pleasure only pursue various authors when on leave.

Quite a few of them were on school reading lists ... or the school reading lists of my brothers, so i read them when they were finished.

A few more at uni.

But i'm an avid reader. Something i encourage in my children.

Any books you would see on the list that weren't there, Sprint?

how come this book is not on the list ?


https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f0/PrideandPrejudiceandZombiesCover.jpg

Super Nova wrote on Jul 20^th, 2017 at 2:02am:

I have only read 17 on the list. Lord of the Rings Harry Potter – full series Holy Bible Wuthering Heights 1984 Tess Catch 22 Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy – 42 Winnie the Pooh Animal Farm The Da Vinci Code Load of the Flies Dune Dracula The Secret garden Charlettes Web The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes I never was a reader when young and now read for work and for pleasure only pursue various authors when on leave.

Have always meant to read Sherlock Holmes. I'm told it's very good.

I'll get round to it one day.

No Martin Cruz Smith or John Le Carre on the list, disappointingly.

I have hardly read any of the feminine books on that list, so should try a few.

Sprintcyclist wrote on Jul 20^th, 2017 at 2:04am:

how come this book is not on the list ? https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/f/f0/PrideandPrejudiceandZombiesCover.jpg

LOL! Ummm ... i wonder ...  ;D

Sprintcyclist wrote on Jul 20^th, 2017 at 2:05am:

I have hardly read any of the feminine books on that list, so should try a few.

You should definitely read A Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood.

In fact, read anything by her ... but that one in particular.

Currently a brilliant series on SBS. So good and so very timely.

ok

mothra wrote on Jul 20^th, 2017 at 2:05am:

Have always meant to read Sherlock Holmes. I'm told it's very good. I'll get round to it one day. .

I read it last year while on leave. It is a short book but the first one was excellent read and tells you all you need to know about Holmes and Watson putting everything into perspective.

A must read.

I agree with you. I read to my daughter every time I take her to bed. Wife is a bookworm.

it is actually a good success indictor apparently... so it is important.

Re-read Mockingbird just last month. Actually, I need to buy an updated reprint of that book.

mothra wrote on Jul 20^th, 2017 at 1:33am:

I was surprised that only one book of John Irving's made the list ... but it's my favourite .. A Prayer for Owen Meany ... so i'll forgive them. But damn, he's good. One of my favourite authors.

Predictable list. Mainly classics most of which were required reading in high school. No Kurt Vonnegut, no Kafka, no Karl Marx....


bugger that list.

Oh, and no god damn Nelson Algren.

Yeah, bugger that list.

Kurt Vonnegut! Stopped me from going stark raving mad in my teen years.

Cat's Cradle and The Sirens of Titan being standouts.

In fact, the fact that they had Hitchhike's Guide to the Galaxy on there without it's obvious influence in Sirens of Titan is a bit of a jip.

There's no Jules Verne, no Edgar Alan Poe, no H.P. Lovecraft, no Dante Alighieri.

Totally bugger that list.

Charlotte's Web, what an utterly depressing piece of crap that book was.

Marla wrote on Jul 20^th, 2017 at 6:30am:

Oh, and no god damn Nelson Algren. Yeah, bugger that list.

A very UK-centric list, all in all.

But you're right. Mostly classics.

I wouldn't put Tess of the D'Urbervilles on there. I yawned through that book. Forced to read it in year 9. Far From the Maddening crowd i have not read.

But Thomas Hardy was a bore ... like his great influence William Wordsworth.

But then again, i'm not a fan of Romanticism.

Marla wrote on Jul 20^th, 2017 at 6:47am:

Charlotte's Web, what an utterly depressing piece of crap that book was.

I loved Charlotte's Web ... as a kid.

Read it to my kids.

Have you read any Thomas Keneally , Marla?

Great Australian author. Probably best know for Schindler's Ark ... from which Schindler's List was made.

He's worth a read. Good writer.

And Tim Winton. If you can get your hands on Cloud Street, do it ... and do it hard.

OOOh.. and David Malouf. Exceptional author.

Easy to list books that were written in the Romantic to Victorian Age. No James Fenimore Cooper? The Spy was one of my all-time fav reads.

http://www.cathysbookcorner.com/shop_image/product/000929.jpg

Cooper was the god damn appellation of American novelist. America could use a Harvey Birch right now.

Oh, and no Thoreau?  No god damn Makepeace Thackeray?
http://images.barnesandnoble.com/images/139810000/139814431.JPG

Hands up. Who here didn't think Laura Bell was one of the best characters ever to be written?

No Charles Kingsley?

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1a/Westward_Ho_by_Charles_Kingsley_-_1920_book_cover.jpg/250px-Westward_Ho_by_Charles_Kingsley_-_1920_book_cover.jpg

That book was required reading in high school. Love as motive influencing character and determining what action that it exhibited. Ah, Amyas Leigh.

I could on and on.

Yeah, bugger that list.

Thoreau was a dude. Civil Disobedience is a must read.

mothra wrote on Jul 20^th, 2017 at 6:55am:

Have you read any Thomas Keneally , Marla? Great Australian author. Probably best know for Schindler's Ark ... from which Schindler's List was made. He's worth a read. Good writer. And Tim Winton. If you can get your hands on Cloud Street, do it ... and do it hard. OOOh.. and David Malouf. Exceptional author.

I tried to read Markus Zusak's Book Thief but could not get into it.

Marla wrote on Jul 20^th, 2017 at 7:08am:

mothra wrote on Jul 20th, 2017 at 6:55am: Have you read any Thomas Keneally , Marla? Great Australian author. Probably best know for Schindler's Ark ... from which Schindler's List was made. He's worth a read. Good writer. And Tim Winton. If you can get your hands on Cloud Street, do it ... and do it hard. OOOh.. and David Malouf. Exceptional author. I tried to read Markus Zusak's Book Thief but could not get into it.

Oh i loved it. But i read it to my kid.

Maybe it helps if you can see it through that lens.

Are you getting the series of A Handmaid's Tale over there? Or has Thrump outlawed it?

No Umberto Eco on the list either. A great shame.

How on god's green earth the damn Da Vinci Code made it is beyond me. It's a shameless ripoff of The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail and the Templar Revelation ... which while non-fictions, outline the entire plot of Da Vinci.

mothra wrote on Jul 20^th, 2017 at 7:06am:

Thoreau was a dude. Civil Disobedience is a must read.

Thoreau was definitely influenced by Emerson and in a lot of ways acquired his style of writing but unlike Emerson, Thoreau was a genius as composing the epigrammatic sentence and anyone who can stay that focused upon his love of nature and solitude made his books distinctive reads.

mothra wrote on Jul 20^th, 2017 at 7:11am:

Are you getting the series of A Handmaid's Tale over there? Or has Thrump outlawed it?

It seems to be popular here, though I have not seen it.

After a quick look - I've only read 3 of them.

Marla wrote on Jul 20^th, 2017 at 7:17am:

mothra wrote on Jul 20th, 2017 at 7:11am: Are you getting the series of A Handmaid's Tale over there? Or has Thrump outlawed it? It seems to be popular here, though I have not seen it.

Have you read the book?

In any event ... watch the series. It is poignant ... and timely.

No, I have never read the book.

Bobby. wrote on Jul 20^th, 2017 at 7:19am:

After a quick look - I've only read 3 of them.

You can read, Blooby?

Amazing.

Marla wrote on Jul 20^th, 2017 at 7:24am:

No, I have never read the book.

I'm surprised. Do it. It's utterly brilliant.

So are all of Margaret Atwood's books. Oryx and Crake being an absolute standout.

Is BBC trying to book shame us?  19 for me.

Marla wrote on Jul 20^th, 2017 at 6:45am:

There's no Jules Verne, no Edgar Alan Poe, no H.P. Lovecraft, no Dante Alighieri. Totally bugger that list.

Yeah while everybody at school was into that Tolkien rubbish I was into those.
And how about Isaac Asimov?

I only got 15 from that list.  ::) ::)

mothra wrote on Jul 20^th, 2017 at 1:33am:

I was surprised that only one book of John Irving's made the list ... but it's my favourite .. A Prayer for Owen Meany ... so i'll forgive them. But damn, he's good. One of my favourite authors.

I think I'd put Bears ahead of Meany, but I do remember reading it in one sitting, which is rare for me.

John Smith wrote on Jul 20^th, 2017 at 8:08am:

I only got 15 from that list.  ::) ::)

Johns current reading list  ;D ;D ;D
https://www.booktopia.com.au/books-online/children-teenagers-young-adults/picture-books-early-learning/little-golden-books/cYBT-p1.html

Gordon wrote on Jul 20^th, 2017 at 8:06am:

Marla wrote on Jul 20th, 2017 at 6:45am: There's no Jules Verne, no Edgar Alan Poe, no H.P. Lovecraft, no Dante Alighieri. Totally bugger that list. Yeah while everybody at school was into that Tolkien rubbish I was into those. And how about Isaac Asimov?

Only room in your head for one book at a time?

I suffered through many books at school ... but i read them. Did a chapter a night then sent myself off to sleep with the book i was really into.

mothra wrote on Jul 20^th, 2017 at 7:13am:

No Umberto Eco on the list either. A great shame.

No it's not, it's perfectly understandable. I try to make it a point to finish every book I start no matter how bad it may be, but with 'The Name of the Rose' I found my limit. It is the only book I haven't been able to finish. Terrible.

Gordon wrote on Jul 20^th, 2017 at 8:20am:

John Smith wrote on Jul 20th, 2017 at 8:08am: I only got 15 from that list.  ::) ::) Johns current reading list  ;D ;D ;D https://www.booktopia.com.au/books-online/children-teenagers-young-adults/picture-books-early-learning/little-golden-books/cYBT-p1.html

I think I've got about half of those.  :D :D :D :D

John Smith wrote on Jul 20^th, 2017 at 9:14am:

mothra wrote on Jul 20th, 2017 at 7:13am: No Umberto Eco on the list either. A great shame. No it's not, it's perfectly understandable. I try to make it a point to finish every book I start no matter how bad it may be, but with 'The Name of the Rose' I found my limit. It is the only book I haven't been able to finish. Terrible.

Gobsmacked. I loved it to pieces. Read it a bunch of times.

mothra wrote on Jul 20^th, 2017 at 9:17am:

John Smith wrote on Jul 20th, 2017 at 9:14am: mothra wrote on Jul 20th, 2017 at 7:13am: No Umberto Eco on the list either. A great shame. No it's not, it's perfectly understandable. I try to make it a point to finish every book I start no matter how bad it may be, but with 'The Name of the Rose' I found my limit. It is the only book I haven't been able to finish. Terrible. Gobsmacked. I loved it to pieces. Read it a bunch of times.

yeah, my wife said the same thing. She first put me onto it. (it was the first book she recommended I read). But after that, I stopped listening to her recommendations  :D :D

Have you seen the fillum at least? Great movie.

mothra wrote on Jul 20^th, 2017 at 9:22am:

Have you seen the fillum at least? Great movie.

nope. I find books are always better than movies. If the book was that bad, the movie has to be worse

mothra wrote on Jul 20^th, 2017 at 8:54am:

Gordon wrote on Jul 20th, 2017 at 8:06am: Marla wrote on Jul 20th, 2017 at 6:45am: There's no Jules Verne, no Edgar Alan Poe, no H.P. Lovecraft, no Dante Alighieri. Totally bugger that list. Yeah while everybody at school was into that Tolkien rubbish I was into those. And how about Isaac Asimov? Only room in your head for one book at a time? I suffered through many books at school ... but i read them. Did a chapter a night then sent myself off to sleep with the book i was really into.

Why the insult, was it called for?

I'm by no means a voracious reader and have to really enjoy what I'm reading or the letters just start to look like blah.

At least we've bonded over Irving, right?

Gordy, i suggest you read back and see who started it.

Have you the capacity for self reflection?

I'm going to throw another into the mix which may possible make an American list, Stephen King, The Body (Stand by me).

mothra wrote on Jul 20^th, 2017 at 1:36pm:

Gordy, i suggest you read back and see who started it. Have you the capacity for self reflection?

What me teasing John about golden books (followed by 3 laughing faces)? 
That's in line with the non-malicious teasing between John and I but as usual, you're just being mean and questioning my mental capacity.

Gordon wrote on Jul 20^th, 2017 at 1:44pm:

mothra wrote on Jul 20th, 2017 at 1:36pm: Gordy, i suggest you read back and see who started it. Have you the capacity for self reflection? What me teasing John about golden books (followed by 3 laughing faces)?  That's in line with the non-malicious teasing between John and I but as usual, you're just being mean and questioning my mental capacity.

Nope. It was saying while all the other kids were buggered up on Tolkein, you were reading more important stuff.

Self reflection has never been a strong suit or you, has it?

mothra wrote on Jul 20^th, 2017 at 1:46pm:

Gordon wrote on Jul 20th, 2017 at 1:44pm: mothra wrote on Jul 20th, 2017 at 1:36pm: Gordy, i suggest you read back and see who started it. Have you the capacity for self reflection? What me teasing John about golden books (followed by 3 laughing faces)?  That's in line with the non-malicious teasing between John and I but as usual, you're just being mean and questioning my mental capacity. Nope. It was saying while all the other kids were buggered up on Tolkein, you were reading more important stuff. Self reflection has never been a strong suit or you, has it?

There you go, trying to see me always in the worst light.

I didn't say what I was reading was more important, I simply stated I didn't like Tolkien and found it really obvious which is just a matter of taste. I just couldn't see what all the fuss was about.

I was also into rubbish like The Hardy Boys  :D

Gordon wrote on Jul 20^th, 2017 at 1:44pm:

What me teasing John about golden books (followed by 3 laughing faces)?

nothing wrong with golden books. I read my kids at least 2 a day for the first 2 or 3 years of their lives.

Gordon wrote on Jul 20^th, 2017 at 1:52pm:

mothra wrote on Jul 20th, 2017 at 1:46pm: Gordon wrote on Jul 20th, 2017 at 1:44pm: mothra wrote on Jul 20th, 2017 at 1:36pm: Gordy, i suggest you read back and see who started it. Have you the capacity for self reflection? What me teasing John about golden books (followed by 3 laughing faces)?  That's in line with the non-malicious teasing between John and I but as usual, you're just being mean and questioning my mental capacity. Nope. It was saying while all the other kids were buggered up on Tolkein, you were reading more important stuff. Self reflection has never been a strong suit or you, has it? There you go, trying to see me always in the worst light. I didn't say what I was reading was more important, I simply stated I didn't like Tolkien and found it really obvious which is just a matter of taste. I just couldn't see what all the fuss was about. I was also into rubbish like The Hardy Boys  :D

Whilst people like me read what was required of them (a chapter a night) and spent the rest of the time reading what we wanted.

Hence my "couldn't keep two books in your head" comment. For what it's worth, there's at least a half a dozen books on my bedside table at any given time.

Have you finished having a sulk now? Or would you like to carry it on further?

mothra wrote on Jul 20^th, 2017 at 2:04pm:

Gordon wrote on Jul 20th, 2017 at 1:52pm: mothra wrote on Jul 20th, 2017 at 1:46pm: Gordon wrote on Jul 20th, 2017 at 1:44pm: mothra wrote on Jul 20th, 2017 at 1:36pm: Gordy, i suggest you read back and see who started it. Have you the capacity for self reflection? What me teasing John about golden books (followed by 3 laughing faces)?  That's in line with the non-malicious teasing between John and I but as usual, you're just being mean and questioning my mental capacity. Nope. It was saying while all the other kids were buggered up on Tolkein, you were reading more important stuff. Self reflection has never been a strong suit or you, has it? There you go, trying to see me always in the worst light. I didn't say what I was reading was more important, I simply stated I didn't like Tolkien and found it really obvious which is just a matter of taste. I just couldn't see what all the fuss was about. I was also into rubbish like The Hardy Boys  :D Whilst people like me read what was required of them (a chapter a night) and spent the rest of the time reading what we wanted. Hence my "couldn't keep two books in your head" comment. For what it's worth, there's at least a half a dozen books on my bedside table at any given time. Have you finished having a sulk now? Or would you like to carry it on further?

I have about 500 books in my kindle ;) but one on the go.
I'm not sulking, just taking you to task for always trying to cast me in the worst possible light, even when we could have bonded over a favorite author.

Own your poo , Gordy.

You want respect from me, try starting out with it.

I only ever return serve.

8 out of 100. The BBC is very much right. And I am a literature minor. I still have history books I had for university that I have not read for the last 20 years. Only restarted reading them the other week.

My daughter has a NSW  education login that can access a lifetime of reading material right onto her ipad.

Amazing

mothra wrote on Jul 20^th, 2017 at 2:03am:

Quite a few of them were on school reading lists ... or the school reading lists of my brothers, so i read them when they were finished. A few more at uni. But i'm an avid reader. Something i encourage in my children. Any books you would see on the list that weren't there, Sprint?

I kept going through the list, and I noticed that there were a number of books that I had been meaning to read, but never got around to reading. I was surprised that I meant to read these over a decade ago but never did.

If I got through my list of 100 books for men to read, I should be able to knock off a few of those books on this list. But I might only read about 40 on this list, had I finished the 100 on my personal to-do list.

Gordon wrote on Jul 20^th, 2017 at 10:48pm:

My daughter has a NSW  education login that can access a lifetime of reading material right onto her ipad. Amazing

You can access many books online, if you go looking for them. I subscribe to audiobooks online, and let people read to me while I game.

UnSubRocky wrote on Jul 20^th, 2017 at 10:51pm:

mothra wrote on Jul 20th, 2017 at 2:03am: Quite a few of them were on school reading lists ... or the school reading lists of my brothers, so i read them when they were finished. A few more at uni. But i'm an avid reader. Something i encourage in my children. Any books you would see on the list that weren't there, Sprint? I kept going through the list, and I noticed that there were a number of books that I had been meaning to read, but never got around to reading. I was surprised that I meant to read these over a decade ago but never did. If I got through my list of 100 books for men to read, I should be able to knock off a few of those books on this list. But I might only read about 40 on this list, had I finished the 100 on my personal to-do list.

Read what you enjoy. Don't be guilted by lists like this. Guided perhaps but have fun.

Marla wrote on Jul 20^th, 2017 at 6:47am:

Charlotte's Web, what an utterly depressing piece of crap that book was.

I must have missed that one. That takes my reading number to... 9. It was read to me in primary school, and I thought it great.

UnSubRocky wrote on Jul 20^th, 2017 at 11:00pm:

Marla wrote on Jul 20th, 2017 at 6:47am: Charlotte's Web, what an utterly depressing piece of crap that book was. I must have missed that one. That takes my reading number to... 9. It was read to me in primary school, and I thought it great.

What about watership down?

Read about 18 and about 5 I am not sure may have. A number of others I will get around to eventually if I live long enough.

Gordon wrote on Jul 20^th, 2017 at 11:01pm:

UnSubRocky wrote on Jul 20th, 2017 at 11:00pm: Marla wrote on Jul 20th, 2017 at 6:47am: Charlotte's Web, what an utterly depressing piece of crap that book was. I must have missed that one. That takes my reading number to... 9. It was read to me in primary school, and I thought it great. What about watership down?

I have never heard of that one.

I have "The penguin history of the world" by J.M. Roberts to read before the end of the year. 1109 pages of small text writing that takes me about 2 minutes a page to read. Full of good information. I have bookmarked page 30: Chapter "the possibility of civilisation".

Then I have the 7 Game of Thrones books to read. Read a few pages of the first book, before putting that aside as a "later in the year" read.

My men's book list is as follows:

https://content.artofmanliness.com/uploads/100%20must%20read%20books.pdf

Once I am through that, perhaps 5 years down the track, I should be well read on a lot of topics. I seem to find that I would understand the world a lot better if I get through the readings. Except, I might leave the bible off the list. That book is becoming more and more irrelevant to me.

It's all fiction.

Postmodern Trendoid III wrote on Jul 21^st, 2017 at 4:39pm:

It's all fiction.

I could have sworn there was a cleaning manual in there.

Maybe next year, Mistie.

Big Donger wrote on Jul 21^st, 2017 at 5:25pm:

Postmodern Trendoid III wrote on Jul 21st, 2017 at 4:39pm: It's all fiction. I could have sworn there was a cleaning manual in there. Maybe next year, Mistie.

I wish we had more wetbacks in Sydney, I could get a cleaning Manuel.
My cleaner's name is Hong.

9 I think. A lot of them I wasn't sure whether I had seen the movie, read the book, or both. It kind of puts you off reading the book if you have already seen the movie.

I've read thousands of books in my lifetime but only seven from that list. No mention of Jules Verne, H.G. Wells or Edgar Rice Burroughs. The lesser know works of these men are just as good as the the famous ones. There should be more American authors on their list,  Martin Caidin, Clive Cusslar, Vince Flynn and Brad Thor have written excellent stories. Even that shameless liberal Steven King should have been on the list.

60
lots of "girls" books and arty farty stuff on that list.

I've read so many more good books not included.

Even at school I got to read "Day of the Triffids", not 1 real sci-fi book on the list.
No HG Wells, Jules Verne, John Wyndham, Asimov, Clarke, Moorcock, etc, etc, etc..

Oh wait Dune was on the list.

What about some real adventure stories like Robin Hood, Ivanhoe, King Solomon's Mines, etc, etc... 
Just The 3 Musketeers....

What a sorry list that is.

What about....  Thomas, Ludlum, DeMille, Cruz-Smith, Moorcock, Eddings, Rice Burroughs....

What about The History of The Runestaff, The Belgariad

mothra wrote on Jul 20^th, 2017 at 2:41pm:

Own your poo , Gordy. You want respect from me, try starting out with it. I only ever return serve.

Well that bullsh.... ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

mothra wrote on Jul 20^th, 2017 at 8:54am:

Gordon wrote on Jul 20th, 2017 at 8:06am: Marla wrote on Jul 20th, 2017 at 6:45am: There's no Jules Verne, no Edgar Alan Poe, no H.P. Lovecraft, no Dante Alighieri. Totally bugger that list. Yeah while everybody at school was into that Tolkien rubbish I was into those. And how about Isaac Asimov? Only room in your head for one book at a time? I suffered through many books at school ... but i read them. Did a chapter a night then sent myself off to sleep with the book i was really into.

"I only return serve" :D :D :D :D :D :D :D

Mortdooley wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2017 at 3:22am:

I've read thousands of books in my lifetime but only seven from that list. No mention of Jules Verne, H.G. Wells or Edgar Rice Burroughs. The lesser know works of these men are just as good as the the famous ones. There should be more American authors on their list,  Martin Caidin, Clive Cusslar, Vince Flynn and Brad Thor have written excellent stories. Even that shameless liberal Steven King should have been on the list.

Totally....  many thumbs up. :)
(hate King though cant read him at all)

Marla wrote on Jul 20^th, 2017 at 6:45am:

There's no Jules Verne, no Edgar Alan Poe, no H.P. Lovecraft, no Dante Alighieri. Totally bugger that list.

Totally agree Marla.
Most of the stuff I wouldn't have read by choice...  but school makes you read lots of crap.

Interestingly, the BBC never actually made this declaration. The list was created by an unknown individual and spread around the internet as a meme called The BBC Book List Challenge.

Frank wrote on Jul 23^rd, 2017 at 11:37am:

Interestingly, the BBC never actually made this declaration. The list was created by an unknown individual and spread around the internet as a meme called The BBC Book List Challenge.

Yes there are a few "Goodreads" lists...  the Sci-Fi list is equally appalling.

Only one SciFi writer around nowadays who is worth reading: Neal Stephenson.

One of my fav authors is coming to town in September!
https://static01.nyt.com/images/2016/09/25/realestate/25WHATILOVE-slide-V9NQ/25WHATILOVE-slide-V9NQ-master768.jpg

Amor Towles
:D Oooooooooooooooooh, bugger yeah.  :D

For those of you who love a good mystery with several well thought out plot twist, this is for you. 
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51YCzUi5OJL._SX329_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg


http://www.amortowles.com/

...and my reading list for August 2017 like anyone gives a poo
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51cjK7ZQj9L._SX328_BO1,204,203,200_.jpg

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I try to read three to four books a month and then sell them back on Crapazon for a tremendous loss. We'll see how these do.

Marla wrote on Aug 5^th, 2017 at 7:22am:

my reading list for August 2017

You can read????

Super Nova wrote on Jul 20^th, 2017 at 2:02am:

I have only read 17 on the list. Lord of the Rings Harry Potter – full series Holy Bible Wuthering Heights 1984 Tess Catch 22 Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy – 42 Winnie the Pooh Animal Farm The Da Vinci Code Load of the Flies Dune Dracula The Secret garden Charlettes Web The Adventure of Sherlock Holmes I never was a reader when young and now read for work and for pleasure only pursue various authors when on leave.

My first five-star review: I inhaled Wuthering Heights with my groin
In Emerald Fennell’s hands we get the essence of women-directed sex. Sex through the female gaze. What women actually want. It’s dark. It’s filthy. Brace yourselves.


Cheeses!

26 from that list.

Some of them forced courtesy of English and English Literature studies both in High School and Teacher's College.

The Lord of the Rings
Jane Eyre – Charlotte Bronte
To Kill a Mockingbird
The Bible
Wuthering Heights
1984
Tess of the D'urbervilles
Catch-22
The Hobbit – JRR Tolkien
The Catcher in the Rye
Crime and Punishment – Fyodor Dostoyevsky
The Wind in the Willows
David Copperfield
Chronicles of Narnia
Emma – Jane Austen
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Animal Farm – George Orwell
Lord of the Flies
Dune
Moby Dick – Herman Melville
Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens
Swallows and Amazons – Arthur Ransome
Charlotte's Web - EB White
The Faraway Tree Collection - Enid Blyton
Watership Down - Richard Adams
Hamlet

I've read four.

Attending classes tends to stunt the development of ideas in an inquiring mind... being addicted to academia tends to stifle thought .... it may always give one a few shelves on which to park ideas and thoughts to gather dust, but it is overly focused on what was written before.... and of course many deeply imersed in it gather dust all the time and scarcely know it.... though they know how to use the catch phrases and dystopian reasoning to think they impose their views....

I developed this stance after linking up again with a past GF who had become an 'academic' in the 'social sciences' ...she could offer nothing to the world but pat phrases and empty platitudes that ignored reality... but it's a good living ....

Captain Nemo wrote on Feb 10^th, 2026 at 10:44am:

26 from that list. Some of them forced courtesy of English and English Literature studies both in High School and Teacher's College. The Lord of the Rings Jane Eyre – Charlotte Bronte To Kill a Mockingbird The Bible Wuthering Heights 1984 Tess of the D'urbervilles Catch-22 The Hobbit – JRR Tolkien The Catcher in the Rye Crime and Punishment – Fyodor Dostoyevsky The Wind in the Willows David Copperfield Chronicles of Narnia Emma – Jane Austen The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe Animal Farm – George Orwell Lord of the Flies Dune Moby Dick – Herman Melville Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens Swallows and Amazons – Arthur Ransome Charlotte's Web - EB White The Faraway Tree Collection - Enid Blyton Watership Down - Richard Adams Hamlet

I think I got to 7 (from the list above) but the list has a few of the worst books ever written.  Half the books I did read were not good.

This is a great list for people who are up themself or genuine literary snobs. There are a few good books on the list that I have not read.

Read 23 from the original list.

26 for me also!

I loved reading The Faraway Tree collection to the kids at bedtime!
Funny thing is I was just thinking of those books lately and wanted to locate them.

Some classics like Robinson Crusoe not mentioned.
Amelia Jane …. That was one of my fave when younger.

Other books of oddity I read before watching the movie (the ones I can remember at moment!)
The exorcist.
Raise the Titanic.
To Sir With Love.

The book I received at end of grade 6 was Alice In Wonderland.
I still have that somewhere too!

In fact, I’ve kept all my high school text books (maths, English, geography, cookery, etc)
I’m considering donating to the high school society in our local town where they keep lots of memorabilia of the townships’ history.
Oh I’ve also kept my Pitman’s shorthand text books when I went to business college!

Is more than 7 of these covered in Australian schools ?

Sprintcyclist wrote on Jul 20^th, 2017 at 1:57am:

you have done well. 23 for me

Only 23 for me too.

I need to improve on that.

The Lord of the Rings = tick
The Hobbit = tick
Jane Eyre – Charlotte Bronte =No
To Kill a Mockingbird = watched movie with Gregory Peck
The Bible = No
Wuthering Heights = No
1984 = No
Tess of the D'urbervilles = No
Catch-22 = No
The Hobbit – JRR Tolkien = yes
The Catcher in the Rye =No
Crime and Punishment – Fyodor Dostoyevsky = No
The Wind in the Willows =Yes
David Copperfield = No
Chronicles of Narnia = movie yes
Emma – Jane Austen = no
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe = no
Animal Farm – George Orwell = yes
Lord of the Flies = movie yes
Dune
Moby Dick – Herman Melville = movie yes 1956 version.
Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens = Book & movie.
Swallows and Amazons – Arthur Ransome = No
Charlotte's Web - EB White - movie
The Faraway Tree Collection - Enid Blyton = no
Watership Down - Richard Adams = no - some cartoon work
Hamlet = no.

Read nearly all Lance Horner & Kyle Onstott books.

Wilbur Smith books : A Falcon Flies, Men of Men, The Angels Weep, and The Leopard Hunts in Darkness.

These in his Courtney series novels. 
1. When the Lion Feeds (1964)
2. The Sound of Thunder (1966)
     aka The Roar of Thunder
3. A Sparrow Falls (1977)
4. The Burning Shore (1985)
5. Power of the Sword (1986)
6. Rage (1987)
7. A Time to Die (1989)
8. Golden Fox (1990)
9. Birds of Prey (1997)
10. Monsoon (1999)

And a few other assorted novels.

Any such list that doesnt include Homer and the New Testament is deficient.

You cannot understand our civilisation without understanding Greece and Jerusalem. After them, you can have all sorts of lists but they are the source and grounding for them all.