My Bookman and I went for a lovely bike ride today. During our ride he asked what I planned to blog about later. I replied that I hadn’t thought of anything yet and asked if he had any requests or suggestions. He suggested a list of books I had not read that it seemed everyone else had. Hmm, sounds good to me.
Here then are a dozen books that it seems everyone has read but me:
- The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown. I have no plan or desire to read this one but when talking face-to-face with people about books they are almost all surprised that I have not read this and insist that I should because it is soooo good. I’ve have become adept at saying “it’s just not my cup of tea.”
- The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson. I hadn’t originally ever planned to read this one but it does sound good so I will be diving in sometime.
- The Handmaids Tale by Margaret Atwood. I have no idea why I have not read this. Atwood is one of my favorite authors and this gets raves. It might be because sometimes when everyone raves about a book I get a stubborn contrariness and refuse to jump on the bandwagon. I know, pretty stupid in this case. I’ll get to it one of these days.
- The Road Cormac McCarthy. Seems like if someone hasn’t read this they have at least seen the movie. I have neither read it nor seen the movie. I do believe I have a copy of the book somewhere. I think it’s such a downer of a book I have been waiting for the right moment to read it. But I am beginning to think there is no right moment. Ok, maybe not a good idea to read it if I’m feeling sad, but otherwise it probably won’t make a difference.
- The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie. I meant to read this when it first came out and the fatwa against Rushdie was issued. I wanted to be seen reading it in public to support intellectual freedom. I was in college at the time though and had no money and had to get it from the library but there were so many holds on it that I just eventually gave up and never read it. I own a copy now but still haven’t read it.
- Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding. I have no intention of reading this book even though I have heard it is actually pretty good. I feel with its success and the movie and all the knock offs that I know everything there is to know about it so don’t have to read it.
- The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. I meant to read this one when it was still new. My husband read it and liked it. But other things caught my attention and I never got around to it. Not sure that I will now since I kinda already know what happens.
- The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield. It seems like everyone read this when it came out a few years ago and there was lots of buzz. It just never caught my fancy. Not sure if I will ever manage to get around to reading it.
- Beloved by Toni Morrison. I am slightly embarrassed I haven’t read this one. It’s a modern classic right? They even teach it in schools these days. I saw the movie but that doesn’t count. I want to read it but there are so many other books I want to read too and you know how the longer you don’t do something the harder it is to do it gets to be? That’s what is happening with this book.
- A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley. I have always intended to read this and I can’t say why I haven’t. You know the saying the road to Hell is paved with good intentions? Well my road to Hell is paved with all the books I meant to read but never got around to and with each step a different book will be scolding me and telling me how I missed out and aren’t I sorry now?
- The Hours by Michael Cunningham. I made the mistake of seeing the movie first and it totally put me off the book. I know the book is good. I just haven’t been able to get past Nicole Kidman and her fake nose.
- Gilead by Marilynne Robinson. I read her book Housekeeping in a women’s lit class in college and liked it lots so I was so excited when this book came out and I was going to read it, I really was. I don’t know why I never did. I still want to read it. I’ll have to dig it out from its hiding place and make sure it makes it onto the reading soon pile. Yes, I have a reading soon pile. Doesn’t everyone?
There they are, twelve books books I haven’t read but it seems everyone else has. What books are on your list?
1 is definitely not my cup of tea either (I did read it, though). 2 I’m completely on the fence about… a lot of people seem to love it, but others tell me that it’s one of those books that presents violence against women voyeuristically under the pretence of denouncing it, which really puts me off. 3, 4 9 and 11 were wonderful, I thought. And the others would be on my list too
OK, I have read 1, 3, 8, 9, 10, and 11. I can say you’re not missing good writing with 1, although I admit I turned the pages. Three is awesome. I enjoyed 8, but I’m a fan of that strain of gothic literature it pays homage to, so perhaps that was why I enjoyed it so much. Nine is, of course, incredible. Ten I thought was great, too. Smiley managed to recreate every major incident from the play (barring one) that I can think of, and it was quite a feat to turn a Shakespearean play into a quintessentially American story. I did not care for 11. I actually liked the movie better, and I rarely say that. Of course, I also haven’t read Mrs. Dalloway, and that might be why I didn’t like the book as much.
I reviewed some of these books on my blog.
I’ve read 8/12 on that list, but the only ones that were really memorable were: The Road, Lovely Bones and Handmaid’s Tale — all highly recommended.
What a fun idea! OK:
1. I did read this, and enjoyed it as silly, silly fun. But it’s certainly not a must-read.
2. We have this, and I haven’t read it yet, although everyone says YOU HAVE TO. I am not compelled, and don’t even know what it’s about, although I’ll probably get to it at somepoint.
3. My first Margaret Atwood, and not my favorite. But worth reading for sure.
4. I have zero desire to read The Road.
5. Also on my TBR *someday* list… but I have a feeling that day may never come.
6. Haven’t read it. Don’t know if I will. Dislike chicklit.
7. I actually really liked this one.
8. I really enjoyed The Thirteenth Tale but wasn’t as wowed by it as everyone else seems to be. But still a good fall/winter read.
9. I read this one and liked it a lot. I am not really a Toni Morrison fan but I did like this.
10, 11, 12: Havne’t read, and probably never will. Although on second thought, I think I *have* read The Hours, but it was clearly not very memorable.
Fun list. I may have to do one of these myself!
I’ve read exactly half of those on your list: numbers 4, 7, 8, 10, 11 and 12. I also own beautiful, first edition copies of “The Satanic Verses” and ” Beloved” but have never really been tempted to read either of them. The first was bought as an investment (actually bought two copies and traded one later for a perfect first edition copy of “The World According to Garp). As for “Beloved,” I own 10 first edition copies that I picked up on various remainders tables before the book hit the big time – just had a feeling that it would do well…those are worth a few bucks now and I plan to trade them for other books I want and can’t afford to buy.
Of the ones I’ve read, I would recommend “The Hours,” “A Thousand Acres” and “Gilead.” I still want to read “The Handmaid’s Tale”…the others, no.
1. I managed to read it before it had had much hype. I enjoyed it because I love religious conspiracy stories.
2. I’m on the 3rd book right now. Much smarter than Dan Brown, but not exactly literary. Deals with some interesting issues (government corruption, prostitution rings) with kickass heroine.
3. Like it, but not her best.
4. Hated it. Way overrated.
6. Entertaining. More substantial than meets the eye.
7. Holds absolutely NO interest for me whatsoever. I refuse to read this.
8. A great rainy weekend under the blankets kind of a book. But I don’t remember anything about it.
Haven’t read the others on your list, but don’t feel compelled to.
Top of my list is Life of Pi (I WILL read it someday). Also, Michael Ondaatje’s In the Skin of the Lion and Anne-Marie MacDonald’s Fall on Your Knees. I guess I’m not a very good Canadian.
I’m wondering if I might not be too contrarian for my own good as I have no desire to read any of those books primarily because I sell them all day at Barnes & Noble. Gonna have to think about this.
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I’m going to do as others have done and go through your list. I’ve read most of the books on this one, but BELIEVE me there are many, many classics and popular books that I have not read that I should have read.
1. I read it when it was popular. It was entertaining. That’s about it.
2. I really liked this one. I thought that it was very mod-European, which is not a genre that I’m very familiar with. I’m also not much of a reader of mysteries, so this was a leap for me. I liked it, but many others have not. It’s long.
3. Brilliant! If you’re into dystopian lit in the slightest, this is where it’s at. Oodles to think about and great plot twists and just plain good writing. Highly recommend.
4. One of my favorite books, hands down. (Of course this list has about a 1,000 titles on it–but this title is near the top!) Everything about this book is brilliant. And, the movie version is very true to the book. So, if you run out of time…Naw, just read the book. I don’t think that you’ll be sorry.
5. Never read it. Read other books by Rushdie; was not a fan.
6. Never read it. Have seen the movie 10 times (or more). Funny-seeming. I’m not big on funny.
7. It’s okay. There are a ton of holes in the plot and it’s a little creepy, but I guess that makes sense given the subject matter. I did not love the movie version and did not think that it was true to the book.
8. Never read it. Hasn’t caught my fancy either.
9. Wow. I hate that this book is made fun of by people. I feel like they either didn’t read the book or didn’t get it. Because what’s funny about slavery and rape and dead children? I have no idea. Beautifully written, and haunting. And that’s no joke.
10. Entertaining. Interesting take on Hamlet. And farming/ small town America. Solid. I’m not passionate about it, but not unhappy to have read it.
11. Have not read it, but I have it and saw the movie. Sorta counts? I don’t know. I don’t think that I really want to read this one. But, maybe I will. Or maybe I’ll just let it sit on my shelf for another 5 years. We’ll see.
12. I didn’t like this one. I read about 75 pages or so and had enough. But, I didn’t like Housekeeping, either. Maybe Robinson’s books are just not for me.
I am embarrassed that there are entire collections of works that I’ve never read. Here are my 12 authors that I’ve never read (never mind single titles!):
1. Leo Tolstoy
2. James Joyce
3. William Faulkner
4. Joseph Heller
5. Ayn Rand
6. The Brontes (Yes, all 3)
7. Cervantes
8. Chinua Achebe
9. Albert Camus
10. Marcel Proust
11. Thornton Wilder
12. J.K. Rowling (crazy, huh?!)
So, there’s no shame in this fact. I’m always happy to think that there’s no way that I’ll ever exhaust the possibilities of my chosen field–reading. Books will always be here for us. Thanks for opening up this topic for conversation!
12.
6. D. H. Lawrence
I’ve only read half those books and some, like you, I mean to read, but as time goes by it seems harder and harder to pick them up. If I could just stop adding to my pile, I might make some progress. Hmm. Now there’s a thought, stop accumulating new books. I have loads of books like this–the first that comes to mind is Anne Tyler’s Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant. Maybe I should go pick it up now. And I’ve yet to read any of the Larsson books but I do have the first two and am looking forward to reading them.
Oh, fun! I do love a list!
1. Read it. Hated it. I can understand why people find it entertaining but far to many people told me before I read that that they learned so much from it. Um, they didn’t learn anything that’s actually true, though.
2. Haven’t read it. Don’t plan to. Like Nymeth, I’ve heard it’s exploitative; plus, the writing has gotten mixed reviews.
3. Loved it. I realize I’m not convincing you to read it, given that you’ve avoided it because of the acclaim, but it is very good. On my reread soonish list, actually.
4. I listened to the audio and loved it. It is grim though, but I like grim.
5. Haven’t read it, but I intend to someday. I have it on my someday list as my next Rushdie, but it may take years.
6. You probably do know most of what there is to know without having read it, but it is the best of its type.
7. I thought this one was okay. I liked it a lot when I read it, but the effect wore off pretty quickly.
8. Haven’t read it, although I did once own a copy that I gave away in the recent bookshelf culling frenzy. I may take it out of the library sometime. It looks like something I could enjoy, but not a likely candidate for abject love.
9. I read this a couple of years ago and liked it an awful lot, but it didn’t blow me away. It was my first Morrison, and I want to read more.
10. Never read it. No particular plans to, but no objection to the idea either. That’s pretty much Jane Smiley’s work in a nutshell. I read one of her books, liked it, willing to read more but not putting much effort into it.
11. No intention of reading it because I did not like Mrs Dalloway. I have seen the movie and thought it was okay.
12. One of my all-time, it-changed-my-life favorites. But *I* haven’t read Housekeeping.
I’ll have to ponder what would be on my own list. There are some authors I’m embarrassed that I haven’t read.
@Teresa, but, really, at everyone else, too:
Regarding your last point, that there are authors you are embarrassed you haven’t read: it just happened to catch me when I’m feelin’ all philosophical.
Is there really, truly, such a thing as an author anyone should feel embarrassed for not having read? Keep in mind we’re not discussing the reading of specialist literature for our job and/or vocations. This is reading essentially for entertainment. I have never read a book by either Cormac McCarthy or Jodi Picoult or, for that matter, Toni Morrison, and I have no plans to do so in my foreseeable future. For that matter, I’m probably only going to read about – just a guess, here – another ten or twenty books this year, tops, and probably none of them are going to be on anyone’s best seller lists.
I can understand regret for not reading this or that, but embarrassment?
[pauses, thinks, surprises self]
At some point in the last few months I have made one heck of a drastic existential shift regarding books. Has this happened to anyone else here, this experience of book-ennui?
@cameronwood: Whatever embarrassment I feel is just from my self-imposed desire to be well read, but then to realize that I haven’t read some really significant author, so how well-read could I be. But we can’t read everything, so how well-read is well-read?
This is good, haven’t read one of them either
Gone is the guilt:-) Maybe one day I will read Gilead and The Hours as they are on my shelf. The rest .. I really don’t know.
Nymeth, very brave of you to read Da vinci code even if it wasn’t your cup of tea. At least you don’t get looks from people like there is something wrong with you for not having read it. I had not heard that about the Larsson book. Hmm. Glad to hear so many others on my list you have read and enjoyed!
Dana, my husband read Da Vinci Code when it first came out because he was selling books at the time and he grumbled his way through. I’ve wanted to read the Smiley because I love King Lear but I have thought more about rereading Lear than I have about reading Smiley. Mrs. Dalloway is one of my all time favorite books which is probably another reason I didn’t like the movie and one reason why I have been so hesitant to read the book.
diane, should I ever get around to reading those, I am glad I have some good books to look forward to!
Daphne, glad you enjoyed the list. It is interesting to see what everyone is saying they have read or haven’t read. I may have to do some TBR pile shuffling because of it
Sam, good call on buying the two first editions of Satanic Verses and trading one for a first of Garp! And smart investment in Beloved too! Interesting though that you have never been tempted to read either of them.
Isabella, it’s funny that you enjoyed Thirteenth Tale but don’t really remember anything about it
I can say I have read Life of Pi. I really liked it a lot. Haven’t read the others you mention though. I hope they don’t revoke your Canadian citizenship because you haven’t read them 
Cameron, hmm, yes, I suppose selling them all day makes it difficult to want to read what everyone else is reading, makes you want to seek out the book less read. I go through book slumps now and then but they usually only last a few weeks. I think people are embarrassed about not reading certain authors because of the cultural ideal of what it means to be well read. There are authors, and perhaps the educational system is partly to blame and critics as well, that you are supposed to have read to count yourself as a good reader, and who among us doesn’t want to be considered a good reader? I think we all fall into the trap now and then.
Mrs. DeRaps, I do like dystopian fiction so that is another oddity about me never having read Handmaid’s Tale. I have read other Rushdie books and liked them but I cna’t help but be curious about this one given the global uproar. I like your list of 12 authors. I’m impressed that you have resisted reading Rowling’s books!
Danielle, stop accumulating books? We are like sharks that if they stop swimming they will die; if we stop getting new books, well I don’t want to think about it
Teresa, heh, that cracks me up about Da Vinci Code too, people saying they learned so much from it. You make a great endorsement for Gilead. From what I have heard of it it is very different from Housekeeping. I think we all have authors we are embarrassed to admit we haven’t read. As much as we would like to, we can’t read everything, but it’s worth trying, right?
catharina, you haven’t read any of these either? I don’t feel so lonely anymore
1. People have “learned so much” from it? Like what? I read it when it came out and I freely admit it was fun. But what could you possibly learn from it?
2. This is one that I wanted to read when it came out but now the hype is squelching my desire to read it.
3. This one has been on my list forever. Is it just me, or do books that are on your to-read list for a long time start to look less and less appealing as the months and years go by?
4. Not interested.
5. Flipped through it. I know, that may not be the best indicator of whether I would like this particular book or not. Anyway, I decided against putting it on my to-read list.
6. Same as you. Saw part of the movie and sure, funny and all that, but don’t need to read it now.
7. Doesn’t appeal to me.
8. I did read it. I don’t recommend it nor do I caution against it.
9. On my to-read list but like #3, is languishing there.
10. Read it many years ago. (Incidentally, I grew up on a 1000-acre farm.) I loved it until the end. The end was a cop out.
11. Never even thought of reading it.
12. Almost picked it up three different times at the library. And after you’ve done that to a book, it means you will never. ever. read it.
On my list: Tale of Two Cities (I know!), War and Peace (unforgiveable!), The Story of a Childhood by Marjane Satrapi, The Name of the Rose by Eco, and Galileo’s Daughter by Sobel.
@andalucy: The people I know who said they learned something from The DaVinci Code actually bought into at least some parts of the Jesus and Mary Magdalene thing. They were very excited about the whole idea.
I haven’t read any of the Harry Potter books, nor anything by Stieg Larsson or Dan Brown. It’s conceivable that I’ll read some Rowling some day but I’m pretty sure I’ll never even try the other two.
I’m guilty of not reading Beloved as well! That and the girl with the dragon tattoo are next on my list
I also made the same mistake with the Hours and usually if I’ve seen the movie, I don’t read the book. I know it’s a mistake but feels like there are so many good books I have to read, I just don’t have enough time…
I know; excuses, excuses…
I have read The Handmaid’s Tale and The Thirteenth Tale and they were both really good! The Road was depressing and parts of it really annoyed me (the beginning, and the end!) the film was no different. I tried and gave up on Lovely Bones, Da Vinci Code and A Thousand Acres. Just not for me. All the others on your list I feel the same about: no desire to read them!
I’ve read six books from your list, and genuinely regret reading one of them (the Dan Brown, in case you’re wondering).
Can’t recommend The Road, The Hours and The Handmaid’s Tale highly enough.
I’ve read a few from your list and I definitely recommend The Handmaid’s Tale. That was my first Atwood so probably why it’s my favorite. The Lovely Bones I thought was good except for one part which just didn’t seem to fit in with everything else and it irritated me to no end. Now Bridget Jones, well that was the first chick-lit book I read and I really liked it but now I don’t know that I would have enjoyed it as much given that so many others have followed the same formula. The movie is really good though although it could be the eye candy
By the way, I’m totally copying this and putting up my own list tonight!
The list of books I haven’t read is so long and shaming that I do my best to repress my intolerable ignorance. As for The Road, it’s uncharacteristically optimistic for McCarthy to end on a positive, feel-good note. Feeling down? —Hit The Road, I say! Gilead, by the by, is hands down one of my all-time favorite novels and have made a habit, very annoying, I’m sure, of pushing it on all manner of people, from high-, to mid-, to low-brow readers. What’s one of your all-time favorite novels?
Ooo, this is very similar to a meme I’m planning on doing for my next post. Stay tuned…
Meanwhile, here you go:
1. If I didn’t live by the “Never say never” rule, I would say, “I’ll never read this one.” But, you know, the minute I say that, there will be some sort of Apocalypse or something, and I’ll survive, and the only book that will survive will be this one.
2. I’m in the middle of this one. The story is interesting, but it is brutally brutal (no other way to describe it), even for me, someone who thinks she’s pretty strong when it comes to graphic violence. That’s why I am in the middles of it. I had to take a break. Bob assures me I’ve gotten through the worst of it, though, so I will go on with it (because I’m dying to know whodunit).
3. This one would be on my road to Hell, paved with all the books I mean to read, as well.
4. Neither read nor seen the movie. I think I might just see the movie one day, though.
5. Was just never really all that interested.
6. Laughed my ass off. But, you’re right. You don’t really need to read it.
7. Loved it. Eagerly awaited her next novel and couldn’t get past page 20. So disappointing!
8. I read quite a lot of bad stuff about this one. Lots of people thought it was a rip-off of the classic Gothic novels, but I thought they missed the point and that it was actually a fantastic nod to those books. I also thought she did a great job of catering to the reader, even answering the sorts of burning questions at the end that most authors (frustratingly) don’t bother answering.
9. Didn’t like it. I think Toni Morrison is highly over-rated.
10. Meant to read it for years. Finally did. Couldn’t get through it. Didn’t like Moo, either, though, so probably Jane Smiley just isn’t for me.
11. Loved, loved, loved it! And I then had to go reread and read lots of Virginia Woolf, which was a wonderful added bonus.
12. Haven’t yet, but it’s in my TBR challenge, so I will.
I haven’t read several of these either. And for sure I will never read The DaVinci Code. I just can’t bring myself to do it! I haven’t read or seen The Road but I will definitely read the book. It is on my shelf just waiting for the right moment when I am in the mood for or can handle a grim story.
I have also read none of these. I did start Beloved but the fact that it was a ghost story turned me off. I am not into ghost stories.
I haven’t read 4, 5, 6, 9, 11 and 12 either…and I don’t plan to. Although The Road might be lurking on a shelf somewhere.
The Shack would be #1 on my list.
So glad you not only included, but also listed “Da Vinci Code” as #1!
#12′s the only one of the above I’ve read, #5 the only other one in my possession, but have read other better Rushdie, and I think there’s other better Atwood & McCarthy to be had. Not much else that’s even tempting …
What a great list, and a great suggestion from the Bookman! I have read quite a few on your list, but I’ve never read Salman Rushdie or Toni Morrison. Nor have I read Thomas Hardy, Thomas Pynchon, Don Delillo, Turgenev, or indeed Alice Sebold. Or Jodie Picoult (is that her name?). So there are loads and loads of authors I’ve never read that everyone else has too!
BELOVED is one of my favorite books ever. It’s so complicated and beautifully written. There are a number on this list that I just wasn’t influenced by, though. If there is one you read, I’d say go for BELOVED, which probably won’t disappoint. I cannot imagine a movie of it!
I agree absolutely. There are a few good books on the list but BELOVED is THE one to move from read soon to read now Stefanie! I have read this twice, and would willingly read it again.
andalucy, I think the people who say they learned stuff from Dan Brown are the ones who go in for conspiracy theories
And it isn’t just you, I find that the longer a book resides on my to-read list the less likely I am to read it as well. I’m glad I ‘m not the only one with that difficulty!
Colleen, how did you manage to not read any of the Harry Potter books? You must have an iron will
Lua, so glad I am not the only one who made the mistake with The Hours. And if we didn’t have excuses, just think how boring things would be
Jeane, interesting that you didn’t like the beginning or ending of The Road. Usually books start off well, sag in the middle and revive at the end. Sounds like this one got it backwards!
anothercookie, I am glad you said which one you regretted reading otherwise I would have been a little crazy with wondering!
Iliana, I think at theis point the only thing that would tempt me to see the Bridget Jones moive would be the Colin Firth eye candy
Can’t wait to see your list!
Kevin, no need to feel ashamed about books you haven’t read! I’m sure your list of ones you have read is plenty long. it speaks well of a book when a person says they push it onto anyone they can. among my all-time favorite novels are Mrs. Dalloway and Great Expectations.
Emily, we must be on the same wavelength or something! Thanks for the warning on the Larsson book. I am also glad our roads to Hell have some of the same books on them which means we might be able to walk companionably together for a bit
Kathleen, I can’t bring myself to read Da Vinci code either. And I figure should I ever get around to The Road I will have to read it in the spring or summer because in the dead of winter would just be too much.
Ed, excellent that we share the list!
softdrink, I like that your books lurk
M.A., heh, it was accidentaly that it ended up at number one. I wasn’t going for any particular order, but that one turned out to be perfect.
nnyhav, I’ve all of Atwood ecept for Handmaid’s Tale and The Robber Bride so it seems in order to go for comletion I must read this one of these days even if it isn’t here best. I’ve read a couple other Rushdies but my curiosity about Satantic Verses is large. I’ve not read any McCarthy at all so we’ll see what ends up being my first.
Litlove, I am relieved you’ve not read Rushdie or Morrison, it means I am not completely hopeless! I haven’t read the other authors you mention either. Wait, I think I read a Turgenev story once. I have read Jodie Picoult once, long ago.
Rebecca, I will take your endorsement to heart and will give a mighty effort to get myself to read it
Well I haven’t read any of those either. :p I tried reading “The Road”, but the writing style really threw me off. The movie was so depressing that I couldn’t finish it–and that’s saying a lot, if you know how much I enjoy movies.
I tried reading “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”, but again, I didn’t care for the writing style (what can I say? Maybe I *am* a bit of a book snob sometimes). I might try again though, because the story sounds pretty cool.
I’d like to read “The Lovely Bones”, but I haven’t gotten around to it. I wonder if I have a copy somewhere….
Stefanie this is a great post that I’m sure to copy. I read and really enjoyed The DaVinci Code, but I went at it with the realization it was fiction and had no basis in fact. Good beach reading. I really tried to like The Thirteenth Tale, but just wasn’t all that impressed. I thought it was okay; not sure why it was a national best seller though. I have The Handmaid’s Tale and Beloved on my reading stack but there’s always something more compelling, so I might donate them to the next Big Book Sale. This was a great idea, Bookman.
There’s often a kind of peer pressure when it comes to these popular books that everyone has read and you haven’t. It’s like being cut off from some shared experience and you just need to “get on the program”.
But I believe reading is as much about freedom and individuality. We are different because we read different things. I don’t have to read something just because everyone else has read it. I might take recommendations, but I don’t have to.
I guess my point is — it’s okay not to have to read something that everyone else does.
That said — I ADORE Steig Larsson.
Well, I didn’t like that the background events weren’t explained, nor that the ended seemed a bit open- I guess the author wanted the reader to be able to form some of their own ideas about what happened, but I just wanted more answers. A book full of depressing stuff and no good answers disheartens me.
Handmaids Tale is a must-read; Lovely Bones is crap, as is DaVinci Code. Just because “everybody is reading it” doesn’t make it good.
I’ve read 9-11 & liked them very much, but 12, I have given it a go three times and just can’t get past page 50–I feel very guilty about this since I loved her first book & feel like I should love this one just as much!
I have read 4 of the 12 books mentioned.
Handmaid’s Tale [<-- which I think is superb, a must read!]
The Road [<-- which I felt to be over-rated and over-hyped. Jim Crace's The Pesthouse which came out at the same time and had a similar theme is far superior]
The Satanic Verses [<-- I have mixed feelings about it]
Gilead [<-- sort of ho-hum about this one]
It is interesting that you mention the Stieg Larsson stuff. The other day I was sitting in a Starbucks, reading. Across from me, a woman sat down with one of these Larsson books [I know not which one, they all have similar covers] and she was just INTENTLY reading. She got up and left and a few minutes later another woman sat down in the same chair and from her satchel retrieved a Larsson book. The coincidence made me ask, "I see him everywhere, is it a good book?" to which she emphatically nodded and sang a few praises. It always amazes me when posthumously published stuff like this catches on…. someone who has survived Stieg Larsson is obviously making a fortune!
Of all popular books that I myself have not read, I guess I would think of all the Twilight books and the Harry Potter series. I have never read a book, nor seen a movie of any of these!
I’ll have to think about what might be on my own list. The Handmaid’s Tale is definitely on it — and Atwood period, since I STILL haven’t read anything of hers. I listened to the Da Vinci Code on audio, and that was a pretty good way to experience it because the bad writing wasn’t quite as apparent, and I enjoyed the suspense.
Don’t worry. I have only read three of them. DaVinci Code, Lovely Bones and Thirteenth Tale. All excellent and recommended but, still. Only three.
The Da Vinci Code was okay but undeserving of all that adulation. It didn’t help that I’d read the premise years before in Holy Blood, Holy Grail. The premise makes no sense to me, it negates the divinity. Maybe that’s my Lutheran upbringing?
The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson. Not really interested.
The Handmaids Tale by Margaret Atwood. Creeped me out!
The Road Cormac McCarthy. I have this and one day, I’ll read it.
The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie. Eh, not my thing.
The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold. Sorry I bothered reading it.
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield. I have it, maybe I’ll read it.
Beloved by Toni Morrison. She’s local but it’s a romance, right? Probably will never read it.
A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley. Hamlet? I thought it was King Lear. Maybe I’ll read it after all.
The Hours by Michael Cunningham. I really liked it. I should read more Virginia Woolfe.
Gilead by Marilynne Robinson. Looks interesting, haven’t read it.
@Cameron Wood – I had a shift towards new books/reviewed books with the rise of the blog – and no, I’m not embarrassed that I haven’t read any particular author. There are a few authors/books I’m surprised I haven’t read yet – but there’s so much out there, past and present to choose from. There’s also the question of who is judging and why. Do I care for their good opinion? Probably not.
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OK, I can’t resist joining in this one, albeit late (as I’ve just returned from 10 days away:
I have not and have no intention of reading: 1, 2, 6 and 8.
I have read and loved – in other words, I highly recommend them to you as significant books (says she pompously!): 3, 4, 9.
I have read and enjoyed well enough at the time: 7, 10, 11.
And that leaves those I would like to read: 5, and 12 (started but lost it and by the time I found it again the group I was reading it for had moved on – I liked what I read and plan to finish it one day).
I have seen very few of the movies made from these films: only 6 (fun, no need to read I reckon), and 11.
How annoying is it to have everybody telling you that The Da Vinci Code is a must and that you should read it? Well, no, thank you I have no intention to read it ever (except if I’m stuck somewhere with a limited choice of books).
I’ve actually only read 3 out of the 12 books on this list. I love Atwood and thought The Handmaid’s Tale was excellent, although not my favourite. Bridget Jones was an entertaining read, I laughed and read it in no time; I sometimes like an easy read… I wasn’t that impressed by The Hours; I actually preferred the film.
I really want to read Rushdie, never read anything by him and have the feeling I need to.
I hope to get to read Beloved and The Road. I am also tempted by the rest of them but time is a constraint, we’ll see…