Top Ten Books I Can't Believe I Never Read
A meme from The Broke and the Bookish
1. All the Pretty Horses, Cormac McCarthy
2. The Crossing, Cormac McCarthy
3. Cities of the Plain, Cormac McCarthy --The Border Trilogy has been on my list of books to read for the longest time. I can't believe I haven't read them yet.
4. A House for Mr. Biswas, V.S. Naipaul --everyone who has read this book seems to rave about it. When am I going to get to it?
5. Lost Illusions, Balzac --Have you read this?
6. Tom Jones, Fielding
7. Pamela, Richardson
8. Absalom, Absalom, William Faulkner
9. Go Down, Moses, William Faulkner -- I've read The Sound and the Fury and As I Lay Dying several times each, and it's time for me to read the last two Faulkner titles (I've read all the rest, some more than once)...
10. Of Mice and Men, Steinbeck. I know, everyone else read this in 10th grade. I've read The Grapes of Wrath and East of Eden, but I've never read this slim classic everyone knows. Please don't tell my students!
That's my list of books I can't believe I haven't read. What's on your list?
16 comments:
Pamela is kind of overrated. Just saying :)
I don't know if I could even figure out what would be on the top 10 that I can't believe I've never read...I'm pretty sure it would go on and on and on...! But, classics usually come to mind -- Charles Dickens for sure, and Gulliver's Travels, Dante's Inferno, Edgar Allen Poe...I did read a bunch of Ernest Hemingway novels this summer, so I guess I don't feel so bad!
I've made it a priority to read more Faulkner. I have his two books that won Pulitzers on my TBR list.
Oh, and thanks so much for visiting and commenting on my blog.
I've not read any of those books. We never had any Steinback in high school or college, so don't feel too bad.
I almost put Tom Jones on my list (it's been on my shelf for eons as well...).
Here's my list..http://myreadersblock.blogspot.com/2010/08/top-ten-tuesday-is-weekly-meme-created.html
Of Mice and Men was okay - East of Eden was my favorite Steinbeck, with Grapes of Wrath a close second. In terms of his shorter work, I think The Pearl is my #1 of his.
I agree about Pamela.. it kind of bored me. And I haven't read any of those McCarthy books - have you read The Road? That was brilliant.
You never read 'Of Mice and Men?' :o I read it in 8th grade, actually.
I can't believe I haven't read:
'Jane Eyer'
things by Charles Dickens
'The Passage'
'Wuthering Heights'.
stay away from pamela. trust me.
Wonderful posting! I'm gonna do it too!
Now, about your ten--
I completely agree with everybody about "Pamela." Read it only if you truly want to.
Anything by Cormac McCarthy is, in my humble opinion, simply brilliant! The three you've listed, 'The Borderlands Trilogy,' is amazingly good. Personally, I view McCarthy as one of the great living American authors, and sort of our generation's Thomas Hardy too. While I enjoyed "The Road," I didn't think it was his best, it was very good. Beyond the three you've listed, I also highly recommend "Outer Dark."
Thanks for sharing! Cheers! Chris
Of Mice and Men is a two hour read that I thought was brilliant. I think it would be a wonderful book to use with students.
I'm a new follower! (I thought I already was, but, no, apparently I forgot to do something.)
Stop by my blog if you get a chance.
www.readerbuzz.blogspot.com
I think I'll join you in hanging my head in shame over not having read anything by Cormac McCarthy except The Road.
I think I should hang my head in shame about Faulkner and Steinbeck, although I'll admit there's a Steinbeck on my shelf waiting for me!
Other books I could add:
The House of Mirth
Catch 22
Heart of Darkness
Seven Pillars of Wisdom
Siddaharta
I'll stop there, lest I get carried away and can never hold my head up in public again!
Hope you're all gee-ed up for your guest post on Friday :)
terrific list. i cannot get through paradise lost and do not want my students to know!
@Brenna-not one man, woman or child stood up to defend Pamela!
@Coffee & a Book Chick-this list was pretty arbitrary! After all, the list of books I haven't read will always be longer than the list of books I have read!
@everybookandcranny-I do love Faulkner, and Absalom is now on my nightstand.
@tediousandbrief-it seems like every high school student now reads Of Mice and Men, but I never did.
@Bev-Tom Jones is looong!
@RoofbeamReader-East of Eden is #1 for me, then Grapes of Wrath! I just can't believe I never read Steinbeck's 2nd shortest book! I have read The Pearl though.
@Ashley-you would love Jane Eyre! Go read it right now!
@IngridLola-Pamela has no defenders! Not one!
@Christopher-I definitely need to go on a Cormac McCarthy binge very soon!
@readerbuzz-I know that I will like Of Mice and Men, I just have to sit down and read it!
@Amanda-I could go on & on with books I wish I had read but haven't yet! And yes, I am gee-ed up for my guest post! I'm going to Australia--sort of!
@Priya-I loved PL, but read that so long ago, in college. Now I just go back and read the bits I like, mostly Satan's speeches!
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