I’ve always wanted to read more of the books mentioned in “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die”. I will never make the full list and I don’t intend to, but I like the thought of trying to read some of the works. And I think I’ve found the perfect challenge to do just that. Thus, I am joining the 1% Well-Read Challenge, hosted by 1morechapter: the goal is to read 13 of the books listed in either the 2006, 2008, or 2010 list before 30 April 2011.
My tentative reading list is as follows:
White Teeth – Sadie Smith
Fingersmith – Sarah Waters
A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian – Marina Lewycka
Cloud Atlas – David Mitchell
The Garden Party – Katherine Mansfield
The Poisonwood Bible – Barbara Kingsolver
Women in Love – D.H. Lawrence
The House of Mirth – Edith Wharton
Vanity Fair – William Makepeace Thackeray
Evelina – Fanny Burney
The Picture of Dorian Gray – Oscar Wilde
Uncle Tom’s Cabin – Harriet Beecher Stowe
The Scarlet Letter – Nathaniel Hawthorne
Mary Barton – Elizabeth Gaskell
Books Read:
- The Awakening – Kate Chopin
- Candide – Voltaire
Good list. I’m alo going to join the challenge. I have a love em/hate em attitude with list. But I’ve decided to read some of he book on the 1001… list. At least use the list to fill in some of the gaps in my reading.
Hm.. This list has done several things for me, including making me all excited about figuring out which books I’d like to read next and thinking that you’re reading something that is worthwhile according to someone. But I have to admit that most of the time after I’ve made that list I continue to ignore it and want to go my own way exploring other fiction.
I was eying this challenge as well. I think I probably have more than 13 books from the lists already on my tbr shelf so I might as well join! I quite enjoyed The Poisonwood Bible, and I have waiting to read:
A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian – Marina Lewycka
Women in Love – D.H. Lawrence
The Scarlet Letter – Nathaniel Hawthorne
I have had Women in Love forever but for some reason just keep putting it off!
My boyfriend owns “A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian”, but he has yet to find it back – so I have to wait a while with reading that one. I have both of the other books you mentioned waiting on my shelves, I just never got around to reading them.
I’ve been meaning to read The Poisonwood Bible, since it’s about missionaries, but I have yet to order it somewhere.
Fingersmith!! That’s one of my favourite books ever
I’ve heard so many good things about Fingersmith. I’ve never read anything by Sarah Waters and she seems to be a favourite writer of many bookbloggers, so I thought that I had to give her a try.
I have tried this challenge for the past two years and haven’t completed it, but I’ll do it again. fingersmith and Poisonwood Bible are also on my list from last year carrying over.
I’m not sure if I’ll succeed either. Classics always require more reading time, or so it seems to me. I usually read them in holidays, because I feel I have the time required to read them then.
I’ll be interested to see what you think of both Fingersmith and Poisonwood Bible.
Ooh, you have yet to read Fingersmith. Enjoy!
There are some great books on the list!
Yes, I have yet to read it! It seems to be a favourite of everyone, so I couldn’t resist adding it to my list.
There are about four or five on your list that I love! I’ve seen this challenge and I’m trying to resist! Have fun with it!
It’s so hard to resist challenges, good luck on that!
I’m working on this challenge informally – at the end of the year I am always glad to see I have chosen a few from the list without even trying. Good luck with it.
Thank you. Working on it informally seems a good approach. I think this is one of the challenges I am most likely to fail.
This is the third year Michelle’s had this challenge and I’m enjoying it immensely. I can certainly recommend The Picture of Dorian Gray, Uncle Tom’s Cabin, and The Scarlet Letter. I’ll be interested in what you think of them. I have White Teeth, History of Tractors and Poisonwood Bible on my shelves so I guess it’s time I got to them this year. Have fun.
I love you list and there are a few I can only recommend: Sarah Waters, Edith Wharton, Oscar Wilde and Zadie Smith. Beware, even though everyone should have read ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin’ at some point (it’s a classic, nonetheless) it’s a very tedious read. It’s a rewarding one, but it takes some time to get through it, at least that’s what it was like for me.
Have fun with the challenge!
I might still change my list and if I find Uncle Tom’s Cabin a bit too hard to get through right now, I’ll save it for some other year. Thank you for your comment and advise
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