How many of the BBC top 100 books have you read?

[Bluemooninmyeyes1]

I came across this list yesterday and I’m ashamed to say I’ve only read about 15 and most of them are the Roald Dhal books and Harry Potter I’ve obviously read more than 15 books in my life but they just don’t appear on this list! I’m making a conscious effort to read more classics this year.

How many have you read?

www.bbc.co.uk/arts/bigread/top100.shtml

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Big_Read

The Big Read was a survey on books carried out by the BBC in the United Kingdom in 2003, where over three quarters of a million votes were received from the British public to find the nation's best-loved novel of all time.[1][2] The year-long survey was the biggest single test of public reading taste to date,[3] and culminated with several programmes hosted by celebrities, advocating their favourite books.[4]

Purpose Edit
The BBC started the Big Read with the goal of finding the "Nation's Best-loved Novel" by way of a viewer vote via the Web, SMS, and telephone. The show attracted controversy for adopting an allegedly sensationalist approach to literature, but supporters praised it for raising the public awareness of reading.[5] The British public voted originally for any novel that they wished.[5] From this, a list of 200 was drawn up, with the highest 21 then put forward for further voting, on the provision that only one book per author was permitted in the top 21. As the poll was based on novels, the plays of William Shakespeare were not part of the survey.

Only 54.

I have read seven, and another six I have seen film or tv adaptations of.

Very surprised Midnight's Children is number 100, which perhaps maybe the impact of the fatwa.

No idea, not looked at the list, I read books that I want to and get recommended by friends.

I read for pleasure, escapism and for an interesting story, not to tick of books on a list someone else compiled

Just 19 books, but I tend to read fact rather than fiction these days.

The last couldn't put down fiction I read was Neil Gaiman, the Graveyard Book. That was pre giving it to DD1. I really enjoyed it.
My most recent couldn't put down factual book was Uncrowned Queen.

Surprisingly, 28, though some because I had to at school (bloody hated Dickens) and some by choice, about 40 years ago so. I have scant recollection of them. There's a few more that I started but couldn't be arsed with.

Only 51, but a very odd mixture there. None of the books I haven't read appeal to me at all.

59. Agree it's a weird list - very much a snapshot of its time. Back in 2003 everyone was busy saying "ooh, children's books and sci-fi are literature, don't be so canonical" and thinking that Paul Coelho was interesting. (He is not.) I guess if you tell that to people often enough you'll get a hodgepodge like this.

I wonder how the same list would look now. Surely all of Jeffrey Archer's relatives wouldn't nominate him again.

52. I won’t ever read all of them because I won’t ever read Jaqueline Wilson now. I might have done if they’d been around when I was younger but there are too many other books I’m desperate to read to go back to them now!

Interesting to read how it was put together, SkepticalCat - thank you.

A flaw inherent in anything that's put together by a media poll is that when they say 'The British Public' they mean 'that segment of the British public which is inclined to vote in this type of poll'.

I think the list is poor. There quite a few books I would have expected to be on it that aren't. And a few that are on, that I think shouldn't be.

"Nation's Best-loved Novel"

I guess this sums up what the list is. For example, I would give a different answer if asked for my favourite book than if asked for the best book I have ever read. I don't mean I'd choose something I didn't like for the latter question, but for a 'best' book I would consider its appeal to a wider audience, what it added to our understanding of human nature or a particular issue, the quality of the prose - rather than, as I'd answer for the first question, a book I've read time and time again because it resonates with me on a personal level.

@peak2021

I have read seven, and another six I have seen film or tv adaptations of.

Very surprised Midnight's Children is number 100, which perhaps maybe the impact of the fatwa.

Midnight’s Children is on every single list posted. It’s one of the key 20th century books in English and it’s also very readable.

Some of them are unreadable. I tried a few off the list and couldn’t read more than a few pages.

I took the comment about Midnight's Children to be wondering why it wasn't higher than 100 on the list.

Midnight's Children - I was in India a couple of years after publication on hols. Just about EVERY European tourer had a copy in their rucksack...it was sooo funny to see - yes incl me.

57 but I’ve been aware of the list for a few years and made an effort to read some of them a while ago. Did you click through to see books 101-200?

48

I don't like Terry Pratchett (heresy I know - read 1, quite liked it, read another, thought "same jokes, reheated" started a 3rd, thought "he's just writing the same book over and over again.")

Too old for Jacqueline Wilson - was already an adult when they came out

Presume this is a list of "most widely read books" because Jeffrey Archer ain't gonna make any cut on literary merit.

Should add - U have read, and enjoyed, Cain and Abel, but great literature it ain't!

I've never read any Terry Pratchett but I think I might like them.
Can any fans tell me what I should start with please?

I have the book of the bbc 100 books and I started to read them all nearly 20 years ago. My ex swore catch 22was the best book ever - after multiple attempts I just decided I couldn’t do it. Likewise with TP.

@RightOnTheEdge

I've never read any Terry Pratchett but I think I might like them. Can any fans tell me what I should start with please?

Try starting a thread on 'What we're reading' - I think there are loads of fans on Mumsnet! I could never get into them but my husband is a big fan.

Don’t any of you remember The Big Read?
Didn’t anyone else take part in the nominating/voting? It was a huge deal, had loads of telly coverage, celebrities presenting programmes in support of their favourites, a nationwide vote. I loved it.

It was asking the population of the U.K. their most loved book. Not the best, the most loved. Middlemarch is the best novel I’ve read but I still love P&P and To Kill A Mockingbird better. It wasn’t supposed to be a list of Must Reads, but a list of what people feel really strongly about.

I have read 73 of the books completely. I started and gave up on another 9.

... just asked my husband and he says 'Guards! Guards!' or 'Witches Abroad'.

@peak2021

I have read seven, and another six I have seen film or tv adaptations of.

Very surprised Midnight's Children is number 100, which perhaps maybe the impact of the fatwa.

The fatwa was for Satanic Verses. Midnight’s Children is an amazing book.