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?
I think I'd have to say Anna Karenina. It's hard to classify a book as "best" when you haven't even read it, but this novel just keeps cropping up. I have friends who praise it. I've been to readings by authors I admire, and they'll mention that it's the best novel they've ever read. I'll read someone's blog and it will be at the top of their list. The evidence just keeps mounting.What about you?
6 comments:
I have had this book on my shelf now for a few years, intent on reading it! However, something else always comes up and I just never get to it. I will try to make it a primary goal this summer!
Every summer, I tell myself that I'm going to read Moby Dick.
Seems like I should have read it a long time ago.
Gone With The Wind. I love southern novels and of course this is widely regarded as one of the best - but, for some reason, I've never picked it up.
@ ME--I read Moby Dick as an undergrad, over Christmas break for an independent study I was doing. I waded through the whole thing, got to the end, and figured out the last chapter was missing. I only knew that because I'd seen the movie and knew somebody was supposed to be floating on a casket.
@ Matt--I read Gone with the Wind in Junior High and was expecting only that one "movie word." Boy, was I surprised, and I remember thinking that Mom probably wouldn't be letting me read this if she knew. Of course, by today's standards it's mild, but at that time I was a little shocked. It is a great southern novel, and much better than the movie.
You need to read Anna Karenina and Matt needs to read Gone With the Wind.
I need to read -- oh, lots of things -- but this year I think I'll tackle Nicholas Nickleby. Or maybe Great Expectations. Or Doctor Zhivago. Or War and Peace. The list goes on and on . . .
Anna Karenina was gorgeous gorgeous, except for the bits about Levin's farming...those took a bit of wading through.
@ME: Moby Dick is my least favourite book. Ever. All those technical terms about whaling and such, you know. Maybe I should give it a second chance.
East of Eden for me, I think. Or David Copperfield.
Post a Comment