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Mar
05
BTT: The Best Book(s) I've Never Read
2009 at 9am Posted by Rebecca Joines Schinsky
This week’s topic: We’ve all seen the lists, we’ve all thought, “I should really read that someday,” but for all of us, there are still books on “The List” that we haven’t actually gotten around to reading. Even though we know they’re fabulous. Even though we know that we’ll like them. Or that we’ll learn from them. Or just that they’re supposed to be worthy. We just … haven’t gotten around to them yet.
What’s the best book that YOU haven’t read yet?
This is coming at a great time for me because I’ve been thinking and talking about this a lot lately. Several books come to mind.
First up is the book I’ve heard the most hype about, and I feel like I’m the last person on the planet who hasn’t read it.
It took a while for this one to get onto my radar because I don’t read much YA lit, but after reading bazillions of rave reviews and hearing friends and coworkers discuss its wonderfulness, I had to add this to my TBRs.
Next up, a book I skipped reading in high school because it was the last book of AP Senior English, and you didn’t have to read it or do the assignment if you already had an A in the class:
I’m seriously embarrassed to admit that I’ve never read this, and I realized pretty much immediately that it was a big mistake not to read it when I had the opportunity to study it with a great teacher. Senioritis is a powerful thing, my friends. I spent four years of college hoping it would be assigned in one of my lit classes, but no luck. I’ve been meaning to remedy my situation with this book for a while, so I’ve decided to use it for the LOST Books Challenge and/or Banned Books Week this year.
Now for a book I hadn’t heard much about until the a few years ago, then all of a sudden, it seemed that literally everyone was reading it. It’s on my pile at home, and I have good reason to believe I’ll love it…but until then, I’ll just keeping nodding along with conversations about it, hoping no one figures out I have no idea what they’re talking about:
Someday, Cormac McCarthy, some day.
Finally, the books rated as the best novels of all time by the board of The Modern Library and its readers, respectively. I’ve read neither.
You tell me: what am I missing out on? Are these really awesome novels, or are they overrated? What’s the best book you’ve never read?
Wanna win a book of your choice (up to $100) and a cool t-shirt? Don’t forget to enter my Cameesa/Read Across America Giveaway!
No related posts.
I feel the same way about The Book Thief as you do!
I’ve read A Brave New World and The Road, and while the former was nothing special (it was EXACTLY what I expected), the latter was down right depressing and annoying. I wish I had that time back and I blame Oprah for the hype.
Atlas Shrugged is one of my favorite books of all time, but I’ve found people only enjoy Atlas Shrugged if they haven’t read The Fountainhead (the two are very similar, basically the same story reworked with Atlas Shrugged being Rand’s final masterpiece). It’s a great novel, but reads more like philosophy than fiction.
I want to read Ulysses and Brave New World, too, but a bit reluctant at the moment (they feel daunting). The Book Thief I’ll be reading for the YA challenge this year. The Road is fantastic so I hope you get to it soon.
The Book Thief is a great book. I hope you pick it up one day.
Brave New World isn’t a daunting read! I read it for English class in high school, and my sentiments are kind of like Belle of the Books’: I didn’t find it all that surprising or ground-breaking, and think that 1984 is a better book.
I did like The Road, however, but I’d be hard pressed to call it a book I loved. It’s very dreary and gloomy, and it gives you a lot to think about, but for a short book, it sure is heavy. It was the kind of book that I read quickly while I was reading it, but would then be reluctant to pick up again, because I was so certain bad things would happen and I didn’t want to deal with that. Still, I think it’s a great book.
Ulysess is definitely on my list of great books I’ve never read. Also, The Grapes of Wrath (I’ve read East of Eden, and various Steinbeck short stories and loved them), The Great Gatsby, & Great Expectations. Sigh. I’d like to read all of them, but I must confess that Dickens scares me!
You’re not alone — I’ve not read any of these, either.
I’ve read good reviews about The Road.
A few weeks ago I checked out the audio of a A Brave New World, but had to stop at disc two because it was too hard for me to follow the book AND traffic. Now it’s on my list of books to read. I haven’t read the others either.
The Book Thief is amazing, it’s one of my favourite books. Brave New World is also great, I read it along time ago at school.
I couldn’t make it through Portrait of an Artist so I doubt I’d ever manage Ulysses!
I have The Book Thief waiting patiently for me at the very top of my TBR stack! As soon as I get done with the latest batch of review books for the blog, I’m hitting that one. I LOVE historical fiction, am fascinatinated by Jewish literature and WWII and am a devoted follower of all YA lit. What’s not to like?!
Good luck tackling your stack! You have some excellent books in the “someday” category. I feel like many of mine are leftovers from high school and college that I just never quite got around to reading!
I was skeptical going in when I decided to read “The Book Thief” because of all the reviews saying it was so wonderful. Especially after all the hype about “Wicked” and I positively hated it. From page one I was hooked. “The Book Thief” is an amazing book and I’m sure you will thoroughly appreciate it.
I haven’t read Brave New World either. If I did in high school, I don’t remember it. Nor have i read the remainder of the books you mentioned. I totally forgot about “Atlas Shrugged”. Will have to put that one on my wishlist.
My btt post is here
There is a conversation going on right now started by author Allison Brennan about the stealing of e-books that I think you may be interested in reading at
http://www.romancingtheblog.com/blog/
I haven’t read any of those either. They are all on my mental “Read Someday” list. =)
http://tinyurl.com/btt030509
I really enjoyed Brave New World, and Ulysses, but I would never attempt the later without Cliff’s Notes. As for “Atlas Shrugged,” I never laughed so hard in my life.
Unfortunately, I have only read “A Christmas Carol” and “Great Expectations” out of the whole of Charles Dickens.
The Road is absolutely brilliant! Brave New World is one that I would really like to have a go at!
You’re not the last person to read The Book Thief. I haven’t gotten to it yet either.
I was debating on putting The Book Thief up as my best book I’ve never read, but decided that it got edged out by Owen Meany, it is probably #2, though. I think that the only one on your list that I’ve read is Brave New World and I agree with everyone above, I think 1984 is better, although I liked Brave New World.
I’ve got The Fountainhead, and The Road on my list to read, but not on the BTT list. Tobias Wolff got me curious about Ayn Rand.
I’ve got so many but when I reflect upon the type of writing style that appeals me the most, I narrow it down to a short list.
At first I couldn’t make of the question because it really depends on what best is. I’m reading a very popular book that I’m probably the last person on earth to read it. Gone with the Wind.
I enjoyed The Book Thief and Brave New World both of which I read last year! Ulysses is only on my radar because Ben was reading it a couple of weeks ago on LOST!
I read Brave New World in high school for the first time. I read it again on my own in college. It is a good book. I have not read 1984 though. I have been meaning to read it. I think I read Atlas Shrugged but I really don’t remember it.
I haven’t read The Road or The Book Thief so we might both be the last. I did read Atlas Shrugged. It had some good moments but there is a 50 pg speech at the end that I skipped.
Brave New World is very good. Atlas Shrugged is amazing. Ulysses, that one intimidates me. The others are on my list to read, too!
Brave New World is a good discussion book but The Road? You have to read that one.
No one wanted to read The Book Thief when I suggested it for my book club but now everyone wants to read it. The same thing happened with The Road. I pitched it and it got shot down. They said it would be too depressing. They told me tonight that I am one step ahead of the game. I’ll take that as a compliment.
I haven’t read any of these either! I have the Book Thief on my shelf. I’ve read Ayn Rand’s other book, The Fountainhead, but not Atlas Shrugged. At this point I don’t have any plans to read it. The other three I haven’t made up my mind about yet.
I haven’t read The Book Thief or The Road either! I have read Atlas Shrugged.
I just read and blogged about The Road – I loved it. You have to read it, and The Book Thief. And Ulysses – but as someone said earlier, I wouldn’t attempt it without some sort of study guide.
The Fountainhead is on my list, along with a lot of Dickens.
Oh yes, read The Book Thief. I read it for my IRL book club right when I just started blogging, so I had no idea that it was a hyped book. The Road is one that I know I need to read. My mom read it, loved it and highly recommended it.