Literararary

[frozen_wishes]

Over the weekend, I managed to make myself feel very low brow and inferior by looking at this website. Out of the 1001 books listed there, I've read 55, and most of those are due to an almost embarrassing obsession with Jane Austin. Feeling in the mood for self-improvement, I marched myself over to the library on my lunch yesterday and hunted out

Comments

[javez_tmf]

Well, I was surprised at having managed 65 of them. It was rather noticeable that well over half of that wasn't this century, or even last century, but pre-1900. In fact, a lot was pre-1800.

Was unsurprised to see Tolkein in there twice.

Was surprised and very pleased to see David Gemmell - Legend in there too!

:o)

[frozen_wishes]

I'm very glad the pre-1900 category was there as I have read quite a few classics and it probably doubled my total. Amusingly, I recognised a lot of the pre-1800 books from references Jane Austin makes in Northanger Abbey, although I've never read them before.

What, no Meg and Mogg?

[black_marx]

I've read only 12 of them!
Glad to see one of my favourite books (Ragged Trousered Philanthropists) and the voted best book of the 20th Century (Lord of the Rings). Also I noticed 'Oranges are Not the Only Fruit' on the list, a book I read due to borrowing from you and I believe it is still on my bookshelf awaiting return to you.

Thief!!!

[frozen_wishes]

Ah ha! I was wondering where that one had gone!

Actually, I don't think I'm going to be able to take it back any time soon: in fact, I'm actually trying to palm off all my books on my long-suffering friends and acquaintances in preparation for my impending house move so feel free to keep it or pass it on to someone else/leave it in a ramdom place for someone to find.

Re: Thief!!!

[black_marx]

Fair enough, it can stay on my shelf until you collect it and in the meantime I'll feel free to lend it to anyone who might appreciate it.

How about you list some books of yours that you are trying to palm off and I make take some more from you for my bookshelf.

Re: Thief!!!

[frozen_wishes]

I'm trying to get rid of almost all of them! I'll make a list later and do an entry to see if anyone else wants to rescue some. :)

[ms_siobhan]

I've had Atonement on my shelf for ages but have never quite got my ar+e in gear to read it. I think its because The Cement Garden made me feel quite disturbed for ages.

I've just started reading A Short History of Tractors in Unkranian, and so far so good. Its already had me laughing out loud on the bus.

I had a look at the list and realised I had only read 1 book from the list from the 21st century and not that many of the others.

[ms_siobhan]

Hint noted, am sure I will have finished it by the time we meet :-)

There was a trailer for the film version of Atonement before La Vie En Rose the other day, it didn't grab me as it looked like a load of dreary-ness.

[frozen_wishes]

Exactly like the book in other words! ;P

[frozen_wishes]

If we can count books I recognise, I would probably have at least a few hundred on my list!

There were a few gaping holes in the list. Terry Pratchet for example.

[javez_tmf]

Totally agree. How Men At Arms and Wee Free Men weren't on there is beyond me!

I must admit, I did cheat a little in my count. I said I'd read Crime and Punishment. I've sort of read it - well, the first 50 pages or so - about a dozen times, but can't get beyond them. :o(

I noticed that whoever compiled the list REALLY likes J M Coetzee. Don't get me wrong, I've read Disgrace, and it was pretty good. But I think there's about 5 or 6 of his on there....

[frozen_wishes]

Crime and Punishment - same here! I just couldn't stay awake! Maybe I should try again though. It took me several attempts to read War and Peace and I ended up getting really into it when I eventually got past a certain point. (I seem to remember doing a livejournal update about Natasha, Pierre and the progress of the French invasion of Russia a couple of years ago)

I don't think I've read any J M Coetzee - or heard of him for that matter. As I said, I a lowbrow and inferior. ;)

[frozen_wishes]

Wow, that's impressive. Think you've got the highest score so far!