AMJ Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 72, but I've read parts of many of the others. I'm not going to finish Owen Meany or Watership Down just to impress the BBC, but there are others on there (Lolita, The Shadow of the Wind, War & Peace) that I've started a few times and intend to finish some day. And Dickens, do I really need to read that much Dickens?? I was amused that they seemed to be padding the list a bit (listing both The Chronicles of Narnia plus the 1st book in the series) to help us get a few. I much prefer Rabbit Hill, by Robert Lawson, to Watership Down. But I'm likely based -- Mr. Lawson was friends with my grandmother. : ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forget-Me-Not Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 I've read 39. Maybe 38 if you don't count The Lion, the Witch, and The Wardrobe twice :D I've seen multiple iterations of this so-called "BBC List". It changes each time. This list lost me at the Da Vinci Code. No way in this wide world is that required reading for anyone! I agree. And I love this: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/10049454/Dont-make-fun-of-renowned-Dan-Brown.html I've read 19 from the Rory Gilmore list :) What is the "Gilmore list", please? Got a link or any information on it? Yes, link! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMJ Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 Meh, lol. I think most people here could get through most of these books, maybe not all, but most. Do people realize what amazing conversations about God characters have in Dostoyevsky books? You can see the beginnings of the "affluenza" in Gatsby. Some of these books just say *so much* about our society and/or the common experience of man. Many of the problems in society people think are new, but most of them are *not* new. Reading tells us that. Plus, there is a scene in the second Bridget Jones book that is so funny that I cried and rolled on the ground. It would be worth reading both books just for that scene, IMO (said scene is *totally* lacking in the movie, BTW). I saw the movie, and from what I hear I should read the books. The movie didn't thrill me, but the things you all are saying have me thinking the books might. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amy in NH Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 40 even Now I have a list to work from... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom-ninja. Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 Yes let me save you from wasting time. The Great Gatsby is one of the worst books ever written. That's not just my opinion. Its a fact. I wouldn't even be willing to line my cat's litter box with it. You and I need to have a long and serious discussion because I can't allow you to talk about Gatsby like that. I am just a giant book slut. This should be a t-shirt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMJ Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 I think I only read one of them at school. I read Shakespeare, Dickens and Hardy, but not those particular works. But, as I said, this isn't a 'best of' list but a 'much loved' list. And the lack of US works reflects the UK education system - until recently, one rarely read outside of Brit lit, unless in a foreign language. ETA: here's an article about the meme. L Thank you! Now that was an informative read, and entertaining, too. I'm still working my way through the comments -- they are entertaining, as well. And I'm glad to see that Terry Pratchett WAS on the original list. Facebook Meme Maker has a lot to answer for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forget-Me-Not Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 No problem. http://www.listchallenges.com/rory-gilmore-reading-challenge Thanks! I've read 49 there, though my overall percentage would be smaller, haha. I like this list better though. There are several more on there I'd like to get to . . . Eventually. One bite at a time I guess! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redsquirrel Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 People, it's just a list of top selling books. It isn't recommended by anyone or required or 'what you need to read to be a smart person'. It is just a list of books that have sold well. It's just fun to see how many you have read. Lol, I've never see that gilmore list. But, I've never seen the show either. My score on that is 114. There was a fair bit of crossover. Both have The Davinci Code and Time Traveler's Wife and 5 People you meet in Heaven. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMJ Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 I agree. And I love this: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/10049454/Dont-make-fun-of-renowned-Dan-Brown.html Hilarious! Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMJ Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 No problem. http://www.listchallenges.com/rory-gilmore-reading-challenge Thank you! I like this list better (I scored 85 out of 300+, so it's not just because of my score). It included Brigadoon and Encyclopedia Brown! A lot more of materials I was assigned in school were on this list, with many more I found along the way to read for fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Audrey Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 64 here, but really... it counts Hamlet twice and Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe twice, so I think it should really just be 62. I agree the list seems random. I also agree that Tolkien was hard to finish. I had to for a class, though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMJ Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 I got 23. But, honestly, I hate these types of lists. Who decides these things?? There are some on the list I don't plan to ever read such as "The Lovely Bones" & "The Great Gatsby" for example. So, I don't feel bad that I'm on the lower side of things. Why only some of Austen & Tolstoy''s works? No fair, I read "Brother's Karamazov" which is not on the list. Makes no sense. I've read "Moby Dick". I'd like to know why it's on the list other than the fact that it's old. More than 1/2 of the book is outdated science information (Whale phrenology anyone???) . That's a couple months of reading I'll never get back. Ugh. How about "Portrait of a Lady" - read that - it's old - and awful. LOL What about "Don Quixote"??? - it's old - and awesome!! It's withstood the test of time much longer than several others on the list. speaking of which, "The Davinci Code"??!! What the heck?? It's pulp fiction. Why don't we add a Barbara Cartland book too then?? Let's add The Curse of the Concullens! Truly abysmal Gothic romance, and a hilarious read. As I understand it the author actually wanted to write a truly formulaic Gothic novel, mostly to poke fun. In that light it's a gem! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Anne in CA Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 I am only at 45, but I have read many classical books that are very deserving to be on any list. All those Jane Austin books? A couple would have shown you are versed in Austin, lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lady Florida. Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 If you were to ask the students from my high school class (not including AP english students) to take this quiz and not include any works assigned in college then we could all easily fall at 6 or less... I'm pretty certain. Unless they just pick up this stuff for fun on the side. It makes me wonder about the target age group. Maybe in 10 or 20 years some of the people who have only read 6 will be able to tick off more from that list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Mungo Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 If you want a real challenge, scroll down on the screen under where it tells you your score. Click on "The Rory Gilmore reading challenge." :) I have read 160 of these, *many* of them as part of my lit major. I am actually sort of surprised of some of the ones I haven't read. For example, I had not read the particular Edith Wharton on the list, even though I *love* her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prairiewindmomma Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 66...I never get lists like these; what are the criteria behind what they've chosen? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kareni Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 ...I guess I am just a giant book slut. This should be a t-shirt. Here you go. One Two Regards, Kareni Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluemongoose Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 Well I didnt do much better on the second list...only 51. Maybe list makers dont like all the same books I do. :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ElizabethB Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 These lists kinda piss me off in a way. I've read thousands of awesome, valuable books, but not necessarily on those lists. I want to make my own list of must-reads. I'm completely serious! Watch for my thread, "Quill's 100 Books Everyone Should Read." Make one! I will promise to pick one or two I have not read off of your list and read it!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in Australia Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 46 I haven't read much fiction in the last 5 years as I have been studying my degree. Lots of the titles on the list do bnot interest me at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMJ Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 Here you go. One Two Regards, Kareni Wonderful! Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMJ Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 55, but I didn't give myself credit for books I read in high school and honestly don't remember (Gatsby, Tess). And I've read maybe 7 Shakespeare plays but didn't give myself credit for the Complete Works. Heck I bet Harold Bloom skipped at least one verse of those histories. I am so sad to hear that some people only read a tiny handful of these in high school. That's ridiculous. Please do keep in mind that some of the listed books were published after many of us graduated from high school. We were reading a lot of other stuff, such as John Steinbeck and Pearl S. Buck. Now there's a couple of authors worth revisiting. Hmm, we just got a trial membership to Audible. I wonder if they have any works from Steinbeck or Buck? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alessandra Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 Read about 60, lots of older classics, not enough modern. As I get older, I tend towards non- fiction, but I need to expand my fiction horizons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Night Elf Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 I don't remember reading much in my Honors English class in high school. Either we didn't read much or they were not memorable then. I only remember The Outsiders and The Lord of the Flies. I remember I was supposed to read The Catcher in the Rye for some test but I read the Cliff Notes only. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nrg Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 62--including most of the more sketchy titles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhschool Posted May 30, 2014 Share Posted May 30, 2014 27...now I have a summer reading list! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G5052 Posted May 31, 2014 Share Posted May 31, 2014 Interesting list. I've read 59. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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