Speaking of good books...

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Grandpa

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Mar 2, 2014
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About 30, and some of the ones I hadn't read I realized should be on my reading list, and there were others that I had that I wished I hadn't
I read only half of The DaVinci Code and just couldn't make myself read any more. I think I counted that one, but in my defense, it felt like I read for ages to get that far (lol).
Agreed, except I did make it through. How they can call out The DaVinci Code as some classic literature and leave out The Adventures of Tom Sawyer or The Red Badge of Courage or Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance or any number of others is somewhat perplexing.

I kinda also wished they'd included The Scarlet Letter. It was a dreadful story, but at least I finally could've seen some bragging-rights benefit for having slogged through that turgid mess. (Yes, that's my opinion. I'm sorry if that's blasephemous to others.)
 

Dana Jean

Dirty Pirate Hooker, The Return
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Apr 11, 2006
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About 30, and some of the ones I hadn't read I realized should be on my reading list, and there were others that I had that I wished I hadn't

Agreed, except I did make it through. How they can call The DaVinci Code as some classic literature and leave out The Adventures of Tom Sawyer or The Red Badge of Courage or Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance or any number of others is somewhat perplexing.

I kinda also wished they'd included The Scarlet Letter. It was a dreadful story, but at least I finally could've seen some bragging-rights benefit for having slogged through that turgid mess. (Yes, that's my opinion. I'm sorry if that's blasephemous to others.)
Somewhere on this board I used those exact same words about The Scarlet Letter. I called it a slog fest. Hated it.
 

Grandpa

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Mar 2, 2014
9,724
53,642
Colorado
I've only got like 25...feeling inadequate. Shouldn't Lord of the Rings count for 3? Please?
Sure, it can.

But why worry? A person can have a lifetime of good reading without cracking a single book in that list. I mean, there's some wonderful books there, don't get me wrong, but there's thousands and thousands of other great reads, and some of them classic as well, that aren't included. Heck, start with the Iliad. Don't forget Stephen King. Philip Marlowe. Edgar Allen Poe. As noted above, Mark Twain. And so on. A lifetime worth.
 

skimom2

Just moseyin' through...
Oct 9, 2013
15,683
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USA
Sure, it can.

But why worry? A person can have a lifetime of good reading without cracking a single book in that list. I mean, there's some wonderful books there, don't get me wrong, but there's thousands and thousands of other great reads, and some of them classic as well, that aren't included. Heck, start with the Iliad. Don't forget Stephen King. Philip Marlowe. Edgar Allen Poe. As noted above, Mark Twain. And so on. A lifetime worth.

Absolutely. It was just a bit of fun, and curious what they decided were 'must read' books.
 

carrie's younger brother

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Mar 8, 2012
5,428
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NJ
Only 36 for me and I was an English lit major in college and have my secondary education credentials. I couldn't check off the complete works of Shakespeare since I honestly have not read everything. The same for Shelock Holmes/Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. There are also books on there I would never read, like The Time Traveler's Wife or Bridget Jones. Just not my thing. Also, it's the rare person who had read the entire Bible. I know I haven't.
 

skimom2

Just moseyin' through...
Oct 9, 2013
15,683
92,168
USA
Only 36 for me and I was an English lit major in college and have my secondary education credentials. I couldn't check off the complete works of Shakespeare since I honestly have not read everything. The same for Shelock Holmes/Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. There are also books on there I would never read, like The Time Traveler's Wife. Just not my thing.
I got the first two by the skin of my teeth--I read my last Shakespeare play ("A Winter's Tale") last spring, and my daughter convinced me to read the Conan Doyle just this winter. I barely finished them last week. Time Traveler's Wife was one of those that I found curious in its inclusion. I have read it (Eh. It was okay.), but I wouldn't consider it a classic.
 

carrie's younger brother

Well-Known Member
Mar 8, 2012
5,428
25,651
NJ
About 30, and some of the ones I hadn't read I realized should be on my reading list, and there were others that I had that I wished I hadn't

Agreed, except I did make it through. How they can call out The DaVinci Code as some classic literature and leave out The Adventures of Tom Sawyer or The Red Badge of Courage or Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance or any number of others is somewhat perplexing.

I kinda also wished they'd included The Scarlet Letter. It was a dreadful story, but at least I finally could've seen some bragging-rights benefit for having slogged through that turgid mess. (Yes, that's my opinion. I'm sorry if that's blasephemous to others.)
Where does it say these books are "classic literature?"
 

Dana Jean

Dirty Pirate Hooker, The Return
Moderator
Apr 11, 2006
53,634
236,697
The High Seas
Only 36 for me and I was an English lit major in college and have my secondary education credentials. I couldn't check off the complete works of Shakespeare since I honestly have not read everything. The same for Shelock Holmes/Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. There are also books on there I would never read, like The Time Traveler's Wife or Bridget Jones. Just not my thing. Also, it's the rare person who had read the entire Bible. I know I haven't.
I have. I have also read the Book of Mormon and I'm getting ready to start The Quran.