What are some of the works that have more-or-less remained on your 'I'll read it soon' list forever? I've got an extensive list, and some of them would include: Moby Dick by Herman Melville Neuromancer by William Gibson (and more cyberpunk, generally) The espionage novels of John Le Carre The plays of Christopher Marlowe Pamela & The History of Sir Charles Grandison by Samuel Richardson The Old Testament by Yahweh and various others (I've read selections & excerpts from time to time, but I've not yet mustered the necessary wherewithal to read it fully) The History of the Kings of Britain by Geoffrey of Monmouth The Gallic Wars by Julius Caesar History of the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides 1984 by George Orwell Brave New World by Aldous Huxley We by Yevgeny Zamyatin The Western short stories of Louis L'Amour Some of the Western novels of Zane Grey The Regeneration trilogy by Pat Barker Possession by A. S. Byatt The novels and stories of Ray Bradbury Le Morte d'Arthur by Sir Thomas Mallory The Leatherstocking adventures of James Fenimore Cooper The stories of H. P. Lovecraft The novels of H. G. Wells The First Circle by Aleksandr Isaevich Solzhenitsyn Nova & Dhalgren by Samuel R. Delany The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien Some of these have been on my list since I was around 16. Specifically, the selections by Byatt, Barker, Gibson, and Le Carre. And Fenimore Cooper has been on my list since I was 14 - I was given The Last of the Mohicans one summer holiday, didn't read it, always said I would, and still haven't.
Most of my ridiculously large list (measured in 4 digits) is a decade or longer on there, so I will try and find the absolutely oldest. L'morte d'arthur and the once and future king. Both have been there since 1992...thats 25 years. Gone with the wind, been on my list since my mother was reading it. 23 years? 1984, 2001 a space Odyssey, and forever war. 20 years War and peace. Despite being a huge fan of Leo Tolstoy and reading everything else he wrote, I still haven't read this one. 18 years or longer.
Man, what's even the point of having a list in the thousands? You're not going to be able to read 80% of it in your lifetime, unless you devote your entire life to reading. Not read it, but I've read something similar when I was 15, but taking place in the Outback of Australia instead...The Thorn Birds. Very easy and fast read. You could be done with it in a couple of days. Had a massive effect on me when I was young. 5/5
I ask myself that a lot, usually followed by removing a pittance. (Hey I'm hating Harry potter, so after book I'll stop.) Also note, I worked on a similarly sized TBW list of movies in college. Finishing several thousands, including a few (1001 more movie to see) movie lists. I bet my feeling was that this will be just as quick and easy....not. Now it's a matter of prioritizing. Not wasting my time, and removing unwanteds, not being horribly successful.
I have read only one The Constant Gardener, which I really enjoyed. I would love to read more by him, in particular, The Karla Trilogy. This one I read and translated during my years of Latin. I didn’t particularly enjoy it as it was set by my teacher and the translation took over from the potential enjoyment of the narrative. I have read it twice. The second time, about three years ago, was even more impacting than the first time round. I have a shelf at home with unread books given to me since my mid teens, which I carry with me every time I move. Somehow I don’t seem to nibble at it but the opposite: it just gets fatter and fatter. These are some titles: By José Saramago, I have Blindness and The Gospel According to Jesus Christ. By Primo Levi If This Is A Man and The Truce The Divine Comedy by Alighieri. Embers by Sándor Márai. I have also many books by Spanish and Iberoamerican authors on my list, e.g. Cortázar, Rulfo, María del Valle Inclán, Unamuno, Delibes etc.
From your list I've read Moby Dick, one Le Carre (Tinker...), 1984 twice, Brave New World (required or I would not have), all of Louis L'Amour if that's even possible many of the books twice or more but I'm still buying and reading the short story collections as they're published), several Zane Grey, Le Morte, Wells' sci-fi novels, The Hobbit. I share the rest of your list with you. Off the top of my head I'm finding it hard to remember the many on my list. I had to read Crime and Punishment and Canticle for Leibowitz for school. So I checked out a few top 100 book lists on the net and I'm quite surprised with how many essential books I've read. My self-esteem needed that. From those lists I have not read: To Kill A Mockingbird, it was required also but I skipped it anyway. The Art of War Atlas Shrugged Paradise Lost The Federalist Papers The Thin Red Line The Prince Currently on my Kindle but will probably never get read: Dragon Wing and Dragons of Autumn Twilight Elantris Death of the Necromancer-and yet I've read many other of her books-this just went to the first page Warbreaker Diamond Age Snow Crash Neuromancer Wool Perdido Street Station-read The Scar though Do Androids Dream... The Canterbury Tales Conan Swan Song Sailing to Sarantium-still haven't read any Kay
I cheated by seeing the film. I really should read it, though. All these I want to read. How come? I thought you had gotten into Stephenson lately? Also, the Sailing to Sarantium/Lord of Emperors duology is probably my favourite Kay of the ones I've read (not read them all). It's slow, covers so many characters so well, builds methodically to a smashing climax, and is topped off with a solid, very poignant denouement. Which I suppose is like most of Kay's books.
Thanks for the Kay info. I hope I read him someday. Many books. I can't get into the contemporary timeframe Stephenson books, or any author actually.
I loved it once I tuned into its southern speech. I also enjoy C McCullers, The Ballad of the Sad Café and The Heart of the Lonely Hunter are excellent works although not particularly cheerful. I also have them sitting in my Kindle. I always feel lazy about Elantris. Sooner or later, I will read Conan.
I have not wanted to pick up any Brandon Sanderson since I picked up Elantris when it came out in paperback. I'm probably being unfair, since he might have gotten better. Then again, his next trilogy after Elantris had no appeal for me what-so-ever. I think I'm in the minority with that trilogy, though.
I have only read by him Mistborn#1 It was entertaining enough but nothing special. I kind of forgot to continue with this series. I have experienced the same thing with Butcher's The Dresden Files. People praise him so much that I have read the first two books in the series. I found them rather mediocre. However, I keep reading the series takes off with book three...
I liked but didn't love Mistborn. But I love the Stormlight first two books. When I finished Words of Radiance I thought it was the best epic fantasy that I have read. Now it's just up there with the best, Malazan being the best.
update. this inspired me to get moving on the permenant TBR list. I posted 7 books I have read 4 of them in the last year (War and Peace, 2001 space odyssey, 1984, l'mort d'arthur)
yeah, I did a whole list of same era dystopian novels. this was number three from best to worst. We~ Yevegany Zamyatin Animal Farm~ Orwell 1984~ The Sleeper Awakes~ Wells The Last Man~ Shelley (I read this last year) bad. Utopia ~ Thomas More Brave New World~ Huxley Anthem~ Ayn Rand
I have added We to my list. I read Animal Farm when I was 15 or 16. I think it is time for a reread to see how it holds up.
