I checked out 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die out from the library and boy, that was a big mistake due to the fact now that my to-do reading list has gone from 2 to 20. I can't figure out which book to read first. Is there any on the list that you liked the most/least?


The Thousand and One Nights
Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert
One, None, and a Hundred Thousand by Luigi Pimdello
The Thinking Reed by Rebecca West
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
Goodbye to Berlin by Christopher Isherwood
Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kensey
Myra Breckinridge by Gore Vidal
Willard and his Bowling Trophies by Richard Brautigan
The Wasp Factory by Iaian Banks
The Black Dahlia by James Ellroy
The Wind Up Bird Chronicle by Hakuri Murakami
Disgrace by J.M Coetzee

I've briefly skimmed through 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die on several occasions. Not a big mistake, I found. I don't want to let all these great books pass me by .

Well, what books have you been reading recently? Are you in the mood for some fun, thriller, romance, memoir, pure fiction, what-have-you? The Black Dahlia is light but compelling, I imagine reading it first should motivate you to get stuck into the other books. I'm speaking from a personal perspective, though, so I reckon the best thing to do is to look up some reviews (not spoilers, just brief synopsis, readers' reactions, "Read this if you liked...", etc) on each of the books, then decide for yourself which one you most like the sound of. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest is a definite winner. Though, I found that seeing the movie beforehand (one of my favourite movies of all time) made me enjoy it that bit less. Even if you've seen the movie, I strongly recommend this book. It may take you a while to get interested in, but don't give up. Have a Nadsat dictionary handy when reading A Clockwork Orange - http://soomka.com/nadsat.html

I've yet to see the movie Rebecca, can anyone tell me if it's half as good as the book? Recently, I've been in the mood for a good Hitchcock.

This is my favorite of those you posted.

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first impressions are cheap auditions
situations are long goodbyes

read The Black Dahlia by James Ellroy
it's also being made into a movie which will be out in september, in case you want to read the book first...

I havent read very many of them either But i do love "Rebecca".

i recommend these 2.

Nadsat dictionary will definately come in handy. I didn't even know they spoke in broken russian.
Thankyou =)
I've never watched both movies. A Clockwork Orange would just freak me out to watch the beginning with all the gruesome detail.

Your very welcome, hun. The film A Clockwork Orange isn't gory at all, I found. Most of the detail included in the book is portrayed in such a way that the most "gruesome" bits are subtly implied rather than shown directly. You simply must see it sometime, it's brilliant. Good luck with your reading

I'd go for Rebecca too, one of my favorite books.

ooh is it good? cause I picked up a copy at the thrift store on a whim, just haven't gotten around to it yet.

I agree with whoever said that a clockwork orange and one flew over the cuckoo's nest were the best.
those are two of my faveorites


gosh golly gee, I just love reading.

I loved The Wind Up Bird Chronicle by Hakuri Murakami.

YES. his style is such no-bullshit, yet he gets away with the most enticign drama. love him.

and....... i'm fucking scared about the movie.

My favourite book of those is A Clockwork Orange, but then it's one of my favourite books ever. I've never looked at a Nadsat dictionary, and my copy of the book didn't have a glossary (I'm not being all elitist "I didn't need a dictionary" by the way) and I really don't think it's necessary. I had a lot of fun dealing with the language in my own way. Lots of it sounds logical... but maybe that's only because I was used to the film before I read the book. I don't know. Try it without a dictionary or glossary first, I would say...

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I read it without a Nadsat dictionary also. Even though I was an avid fan of the movie, I didn't know about Nadsat before I read the book. I found it confusing at the start, but there's fun in adapting to the way they talk as the story progresses. It feels as though you're learning Nadsat by reading the book. Still, I think I would have enjoyed the start of it that bit more if I had understood a few of the more obscure terms.

you MUST read Iain banks - The wasp Factory, it is disturbingly amazing,lol! Very good read!

Possibly past its use-by date.


According to my mate Matt, whose opinion I trust, it's utterly brilliant.

A fantastic read.

I've only read Clockwork Orange, The Wind Up Bird Chronicle, The Invisible Man, Myra Breckinridge and Goodbye to Berlin. I can't believe Myra Breckinridge is on a list of books you must read before you die! Is it just as a novelty item? I would recommend The Wind Up Bird Chronicle first; it's just amazing in its scope and how deeply emotionally affecting it is (that surprised me even though there's always a bittersweet element in his writing, it was just more profound here). I love everything Christopher Isherwood so I'd say Goodbye to Berlin next.

I agree that you might want to forego the dictionary when reading Clockwork for the first time, because you'd be cheating yourself a little of the unique experience of reading it as the author intended. It's not the same was needing a glossary to help you understand a translation of a foreign-language novel, this is an English-language novel that was written for native English readers. If he'd included a glossary on his own then OK... but he didn't. I guess, just give yourself time to get used to the world presented in the story before you shortcut to a glossary, because when you work it out on your own it really does unfold in a natural way, like learning by immersion.

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You deceive yourself. Suffering is amusing and may even do work in a situation where two people are connected with each other. Where there is no mutual connection it is undignified, grotesque and ugly. It is seen to be something totally pointless and unnecessary, like all the rest of the suffering human beings do every day. There is now no relationship between us and I find your contortions merely embarrassing.

well, i must say that madame bovaryisn't worth your time. however, it depends on your expectations. i thought it would be about a strong, strange woman that makes controversial choices and is quite unpredictable. well, she is but she's also dull at the same time, so it's not a type of a character i would admire. she pissed me off ;> but, well, it's a classic, so maybe you should read it anyway ;>

A clockwork orange - well, that kicks ass. it's a must.

same with one flew over the cuckoo's nest. a shame not to know.

disgrace - very interesting, ar eal page turner, although i was annoyed by the characters' behaviour and attitude towards the events - i simply couldn't identify with them. but it's, imho, a very interesting book, really worth reading.

i haven't read the rest.

Invisible Man - Ralph Ellison is a stunning read (but not linked to the old film of the same name), it's pretty much about racial intolerance in the 1950s new york and lots of jazz references. I've only got about a third through it, but i would recommend it. Also a clockwork orange.