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20 Classic Books To Read Before You Die
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Daniela-26
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 11:08 am    Post subject: 20 Classic Books To Read Before You Die Reply with quote

I found a post by Glynis from April last year and have decided to get through this list by the end of the year. Also, I think most if not all are on the 1001 Books list too so I'll be killing two birds with one stone!

Here is the link:
http://uktv.co.uk/index.cfm/uktv/Drama.stepbystep/aid/574462  

And here is the list as it stands with me so far:

1: Moby Dick by Herman Melville The first 250 pages are wonderful but never got through the rest!
2: 19 Dead Souls by Nikolai Gogol (I've heard great things about Gogol and look forward to reading my first novel)
3: Bleak House by Charles Dickens My favourite Dickens novel ~ the characters are amazing and the atmosphere is all consuming I can actually imagine myself walking through the streets.
4: Moll Flanders by Daniel Defoe
5: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen A great novel with fantastically drawn characters ~ who couldn't love Mr. Darcy
6: The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte
7: Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray
8: Middlemarch by George Eliot
9: War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy

10: Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert I found this one a little disappointing and slow but glad I've read it. It's the first one for me while doing this challenge, so hope it gets better!
11: Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky
12: Daniel Deronda by George Eliot
13: Scarlet and Black by Stendhal

14: Persuasion by Jane Austen My favourite Austen novel
15: Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad A wonderful novel ~ had to read it twice to really 'get it'
16: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain Not one of my favourites I had to read this for my English degree  
17: The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde I adore Oscar Wilde's wit and this is a great novel
18: Tristram Shandy by Laurence Sterne
19: Dracula by Bram Stoker I love this novel, it is fantasically atmospheric and I love its exploration of the ideas of disintegration and the relationship between the East and Wesr
20: Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte One of my all time favourite reads ~ I read it for my A Level in English and have read it a number of times since.

I hope I can get through the other 11 by the end of the year! Looks like one a month from now! Better get my skates on  



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blueflower
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 4:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

1. Moby Dick by Herman Melville - nearly bought this in Asda when it was one offer - but didn't.2:
19 Dead Souls by Nikolai Gogol
3: Bleak House by Charles Dickens
4: Moll Flanders by Daniel Defoe
5: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
6: The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte
7: Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray
8: Middlemarch by George Eliot
9: War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy Started to read this but had so much trouble with the Russian names that it spoilt the story.  So I am now listening to a audit book and it is much better.
10: Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
11: Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky
12: Daniel Deronda by George Eliot
13: Scarlet and Black by Stendhal
14: Persuasion by Jane Austen
15: Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
16: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
17: The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
18: Tristram Shandy by Laurence Sterne
19: Dracula by Bram I loved this one which was a surprise.  I only read it becasue it got so many mentions in The Historian.  I thought Bram Stokers ideas of women where very condescending but it is how things were when the book was written.
20: Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

So I have only read one so I will have to live a long time to get through them all. But I have seen them on TV - can I get away with that.
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Daniela-26
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 4:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

blueflower wrote:
So I have only read one so I will have to live a long time to get through them all. But I have seen them on TV - can I get away with that.


I don't know about you blueflower but I can't read a book if I've seen an adaptation or the movie! So in my world it counts!  
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blueflower
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 4:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Daniela-26 wrote:
blueflower wrote:
So I have only read one so I will have to live a long time to get through them all. But I have seen them on TV - can I get away with that.


I don't know about you blueflower but I can't read a book if I've seen an adaptation or the movie! So in my world it counts!  


I usually think that but must admit  I enjoyed Jane Eyre even though I had seen lots of different versions.  And I thought I knew the story of Dracula but the book was better.  Wondering about reading Wuthering Heights as I have seen that so often it has put me of the book a bit.
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Daniela-26
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 6:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I've only seen the Laurence Olivier movie (which I love!) and the book is so different. Even more dark and brooding than the film, definitely one of my favourite books and worth a go  
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annecater
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 7:00 pm    Post subject: Re: 20 Classic Books To Read Before You Die Reply with quote

1: Moby Dick by Herman Melville - I've never even considered this one!
2: 19 Dead Souls by Nikolai Gogol - I've never even heard of this one!
3: Bleak House by Charles Dickens - not read
4: Moll Flanders by Daniel Defoe - not read
5: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen - read years ago, I keep promising myself I will re-read these
6: The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte - loved this years ago
7: Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray - not read
8: Middlemarch by George Eliot - not read
9: War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy - not read and dont think I ever will!
10: Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert - not read
11: Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky - not read
12: Daniel Deronda by George Eliot - not read
13: Scarlet and Black by Stendhal - not read
14: Persuasion by Jane Austen - not read
15: Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad - not read
16: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain - enjoyed this
17: The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde - not read
18: Tristram Shandy by Laurence Sterne - not read
19: Dracula by Bram Stoker - not read
20: Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte - loved this years ago

Oh dear, a disgraceful show from me on this list!
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1001 Challenge Books read in 2009 - 3
1001 Challenge Books read in 2008 - 8
1001 Challenge Books read in 2007 - 13
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eightlegs
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PostPosted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 7:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

1. Moby Dick by Herman Melville
2: 19 Dead Souls by Nikolai Gogol
3: Bleak House by Charles Dickens
4: Moll Flanders by Daniel Defoe
5: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
6: The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte read and loved
7: Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray
8: Middlemarch by George Eliot enjoyed
9: War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
10: Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert read but can't really remember!
11: Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky
12: Daniel Deronda by George Eliot
13: Scarlet and Black by Stendhal
14: Persuasion by Jane Austen  have just bought to read
15: Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad on TBR
16: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
17: The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
18: Tristram Shandy by Laurence Sterne
19: Dracula by Bram Stoker
20: Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte read and enjoyed but preferred Jane Eyre!

Well that's 4 for me. And a couple to be read but I'm not sure I'd ever bother with some of them.
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PostPosted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 12:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

1: Bleak House by Charles Dickens
2: Moll Flanders by Daniel Defoe
3: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
4: The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte
5: Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray
6: Middlemarch by George Eliot
7: Persuasion by Jane Austen
8: Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

 well I've read 8 of them, not too sure that I will attempt any others this year.
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Daniela-26
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PostPosted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 4:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I think this month it's going to be Madame Bovary, when I get round to it! I've got absolutely loads of books I want to read and now I want The Other Boleyn Girl as I saw the movie trailer and had completely misunderstood Philippa Gregory's style! Oh well another to add to the list then...I'm going to have to start smuggling these in past my husband somehow as we have no more room in the house for books!!!  
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PostPosted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 5:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The Other Boleyn Girl is fantastic Daniela, as are all her historic Tudor novels. I am currently reading The Queen's Fool which is great.
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Daniela-26
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PostPosted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 5:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Oh Ok eightlegs you've twisted my arm...I'll just have to go and get it tomorrow   !
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PostPosted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 6:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Didn't realise I was going to get te blame but you can use me as an excuse! And you'll find room for more books, I have little stacks and rows all over the place.

And of course, your perfect excuse is RISI, ie "oh no, I haven't bought a book I've swapped it for one I already had" so no extras!
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Daniela-26
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PostPosted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 7:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

GENIUS  
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PostPosted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 9:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The shame of it... I haven't read any of these books  

However on my tbr (amongst many others) are:

1. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
2. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky
3. Persuasion by Jane Austen
4. Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
5. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

Will have to get these 5 read as part of my 2008 reading challenge.  
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Daniela-26
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PostPosted: Mon Feb 04, 2008 9:30 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I think I should have planned ahead more as I have so many books I want to read before Madame Bovary, but I will be disciplined and give it a go!  

You've got some good one's on there Heathera WH is my fave of the bunch!
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PostPosted: Tue Feb 05, 2008 12:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Daniela-26 wrote:

You've got some good one's on there Heathera WH is my fave of the bunch!


I've wanted to read Wuthering Heights for a long time, it's one of those books that I can't believe I haven't read before. MUST prioritise it on my huge tbr list....  
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PostPosted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 6:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Great idea for a personal challenge Dani - might have to join you, esp if you're planning on reading Madame Bovary (unless you've already read it?). Have had it on my tbr for a while.

Must admit I prefer reading the book before seeing the TV adaptation, but sometimes seeing the TV version of a book I hadn't considered reading makes me want to read it. Gwen, you should read Wuthering Heights, one of my favourite reads, would love to know what you make of it.

Right, here's how I fair in this list:

1. Moby Dick by Herman Melville - really should read this.
2. 19 Dead Souls by Nikolai Gogol  - never heard of it!
3: Bleak House by Charles Dickens - want to read
4: Moll Flanders by Daniel Defoe - want to read
5: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen - One of my favourite reads
6: The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte - read this over 10 yrs ago. Must read again and watch the adaptation featuring Toby Stephens as I'm a bit mad for him at the mo.
7: Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray
8: Middlemarch by George Eliot - on TBR
9: War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
10: Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert - on TBR
11: Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky
12: Daniel Deronda by George Eliot - want to read
13: Scarlet and Black by Stendhal - not heard of this
14: Persuasion by Jane Austen - on tbr
15: Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
16: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain - on tbr
17: The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde - read years ago
18: Tristram Shandy by Laurence Sterne - really want to read this
19: Dracula by Bram - great read
20: Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte - fantastic. A favourite.
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Daniela-26
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PostPosted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 7:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I still haven't got round to Madame Bovary, Glynis. I'm consoling myself with the fact I have two weeks of the month yet if I'm to stick to my one a month strategy!! I really want to stick to this as I there are so many classics out there to sink my teeth into.  
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PostPosted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 7:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Glynis wrote:
---- Gwen, you should read Wuthering Heights, one of my favourite reads, would love to know what you make of it.


I will have to have a Bronte reading session before Howarth.
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PostPosted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 8:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

2.  Dead Souls by Nikolai Gogol  - was on my reading list for Russian Studies but left it out!!  However I have read some Dostoevsky (sp) and some others I've forgotten!!
3: Bleak House by Charles Dickens - want to read
5: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen - read and enjoyed
10: Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert - loved this, part of my French course - have since re-read both in French again and English
11: Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky - read this one as part of my above mentioned Russian Studies course
13: Scarlet and Black by Stendhal - read and enjoyed as part of my French course
14: Persuasion by Jane Austen - enjoyed this
16: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain - read a long time ago - I think I liked it?
17: The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde - loved this
20: Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte - another favourite

That's 8 read and one I'm interested in reading.  I don't know if I'd have ventured to read some of them if they hadn't been on the exam syllabus of my degree but they were great.  



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