Books to read before you die

[BlackFlyChardonnay]

Slightly dramatic and morbid way of phrasing it, but these lists always seem to conclude with a reminder of our own mortality.

Anyway, I'm an avid reader but tend to read a lot of popular genre fiction/whatever Richard & Judy are recommending. I read a lot, but I recently saw one of these lists and realised that I've only read 22 out of these 55 "must read" books - pretty poor? So I have started reading books from the list, Lord of the Flies first and now The Great Gatsby.

Do you think it is important to have read what are considered to be important works of literature? I'd be interested to know why you think yes/no.

I have to say, I read Lolita, Jane Eyre & Catch 22 over a decade ago, and can only remember scant details of each. Even Little Women, which I probably read at least 4 times as a child (and watched 2 movie adaptations) I can only remember the highlights of. This suggests me working my way through the list is more of a tick-box activity than something that will enrich my life or mind, because my memory is so appalling.

How many of these books have you read? (Watching the movie doesn't count 😏)

Any books missing from the list that you think should absolutely be included?

I read a lovely book called the reading list by Sara Nisha Adams. It was about a group of people coming across a list with some ' must read' books in it. It was delightful and a much nicer read which made me then want to read others.

We can be heroes by Paul burston. Such a personal account of being a gay man in the 80s with a toxic family and all that goes with that.

It made me laugh and cry in equal measure

In Cold Blood, Truman Capote, how did they miss out that

1066 And All That. A work of satirical genius. Currently I'm reading Three Men in A Boat and not loving it because I feel that JKJ tries a bit too hard for the comic effect, but 1066 is deadpan humour (very clever at that) and plays it completely straight.

Reading lists are fascinating, but all the same I feel a bit wanky going through them with a 'what a lot I've read' kind of mindset. That one I can see is particularly narrow, and that makes me feel wankier still.

Read what you like. There are more books than you can ever read. There's absolutely no value to anyone else if you waste good reading time ploughing through something you don't enjoy.

I finished Gatsby, and I have to say I enjoyed it in the end so I'm glad I pushed on.

@MrsDanversGlidesAgain I've just googled 1066 and All That and the reviews are great. Definitely adding that to my own list.

I first bought it when I was 14 and a total history nerd (I still have the copy, bought in the Westminster Abbey bookshop of all places). Many years later I saw a hardback copy in the charity shop and swooped. It is brilliant. A basic knowledge of British history helps because then you get what they are about.