Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

100 books to read before you die. What's your score?

399 replies

CeceIsMyFave · 03/01/2019 22:50

I got a nice round 50 and I'm slightly freaked out- if I don't read the other 50 can I still alive longer?!

www.listchallenges.com/bbcs-top-100-books-you-need-to-read-before-you-die

I did cheat slightly and tick both the Bible and Shakespeare.... I've read the greatest hits, as it were.

OP posts:
BookMeOnTheSudExpress · 04/01/2019 00:09

There's some badly written Richard and Judy stylee books on that list though.
And a fair few that I'd say were included due to popularity at the time rather than for any lasting oomph. (TTW, Kite Runner, Geisha (just because writing deals with a serious subject doesn't make it good or even memorable writing)

MintyCedric · 04/01/2019 00:10

Actually read about 23, but familiar with several other via plays, films, audio books.

As much as I have intentions to read more this year there are plenty on that list I wouldn't touch with a bargepole, no matter how 'classic' they are!

hunibuni · 04/01/2019 00:12

88 but the rest were ones that I either started and didn't bother to finish or genres that don't interest me. I've always got either a kindle book, actual book or audiobook on the go, so not surprised.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Books
Original poster
CeceIsMyFave · 04/01/2019 00:15

Crime and Punishment was just very very hard.

OP posts:
MintyCedric · 04/01/2019 00:17

I loathed Madame Bovary.

I know so many people that rave about it. I got 3/4 of the way through and themaccidentally opened it at the wrong place and read the ultimate spoiler, so gave up.

I have never been so relieved to have an excuse to jack in a book before finishing.

TryingToDrinkMoreWater · 04/01/2019 00:17

I've read 58 in their entirety.
I agree that some titles would not make the list now. Has anyone read a book, that is written since the list came out in 2000, that they think would make the list today?

I suggest All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doer.

MargueritaPink · 04/01/2019 00:18

For example, I've read about five Zola's, but never got around to Germinal

I read loads of Zola in my late teens. I'm a bit miffed that I have read is A Diamond as Big as The Ritz , Tender is the Night and The Beautiful and Damned but not Gatsby

can’t believe no Henry James or Edith Wharton on list

The Age of Innocence or The House of Mirth should be there and The Turn of the Screw and The Spoils of Poynton (ok the last isn't a major novel but those are the only 2 Henry James I've read)

LearningMySelfWorth · 04/01/2019 00:21

95, on this list and I'm 24 this month, I think my dad gets the credit though as he took me to the library every week and ensured I got a 'good selection' rather than new children's books or picture books. He felt they were a waste of paper.

LearningMySelfWorth · 04/01/2019 00:22

I mean with his help I red Les Mis when I was 8 or 9, long and often dull but we'd act out parts of it (like we did most books) and I got through it far quicker than expected.

Original poster
CeceIsMyFave · 04/01/2019 00:23

All the Light was terrific, I loved that. I’m not sure if it’s top 100 ever though.

Not Milkman or Common People- wasted my Christmas book vouchers on those :(

My mind’s gone blank so I’m going to put a personal vote in for Dr Zhivago ang google books from 2000 on...

OP posts:
MonaChopsis · 04/01/2019 00:24
  1. Can't believe they included dross like Dan Brown and Mitch Albarn.
RangerLady · 04/01/2019 00:25
  1. I will never read some of them (the bible and the da Vinci code!) because I just don't want to and my reading time is rare and precious. Some I have read multiple times.
Ihaventgottimeforthis · 04/01/2019 00:25

50 and it probably won't change much.
Sad to say the crappy ones made up a few of those, although I do love Captain Corelli and his other books

MargueritaPink · 04/01/2019 00:28

If you can count "I've read it but don't remember a thing about it" counts then "I got more than a 1/3 through , hated it and gave up because..." should count.

Arguably more so if the point is to educate yourself about literature.

YouCantBeSirius · 04/01/2019 00:29

45 and I don't plan on reading any others from the list

MargueritaPink · 04/01/2019 00:30

There's no Kate Atkinson- Life after Life should be there.

whatstheplanphil · 04/01/2019 00:31

I've read 37 of them .There are lots there I will never read and a lot I read when I was at school .

MargueritaPink · 04/01/2019 00:31

Was Lucky Jim on it?

HeddaGarbled · 04/01/2019 00:32

52 and I’ve got a degree in Eng Lit. Some of the books on that list are crap. There’s a fair few I started and gave up with quickly because they are so badly written. Each to their own, but no-one needs to feel bad because they haven’t read a bunch of random books some random person deems to be worthy.

Hen2018 · 04/01/2019 00:36
  1. All the children’s books. Not likely to be reading the Bible anytime soon!
NanooCov · 04/01/2019 00:38
  1. I'm 41. There's a number on there that I'm surprised are on the list though.
Yearofthemum · 04/01/2019 00:41
Yearofthemum · 04/01/2019 00:42

And I loved Mitch Albarn.

MissElizaBennett · 04/01/2019 00:51

87, but what an odd collection of titles! And some unusual choices to represent some of the authors too.

EBearhug · 04/01/2019 00:52

I have never met anyone who has read Les Miserables however!

I have - I took it travelling through Africa, where there wasn't a lot else to do of an evening with no electricity. It was a great book for it, nice and big.

I have never felt the need to read Moby Dick, though.