I think you’re right in that it’s a list of books that people have seen through TV/Film, remember from their childhood, or believe they ought to have read and/or consider worthy.

The exception to this, is probably the Harry Potter, which at the time of nominations was the most recent and I think the biggest selling of them all, which would indicate why it got into the Top 21 rather than say book 1 or 3, which of the series, are much better.

I think I probably would include His Dark Materials on the list, although I find the whole notion of these lists questionable. They are interesting – for what they are, but how do you really compare/judge between The Wind and the Willows and War and Peace?!!

I think (given time) I could probably come up with the 100 great reads, but I think I would struggle to rank them any more than that…

Have you noticed how many of these have been popular films/tv – often with book tie-ins?

Also, note the number of books that would fall into the children’s/adolescents’ sections of a book shop. I said that I’d read all but two of these books (Captain Corelli and Birdsong) – apart from Hitchhiker (interesting double-h word, by the by), Harry P and His Dark Materials, I read all the other books by the age of 12 (yes, even War and Peace – but I skimmed the most boring war bits).

So, do you think that if this list is truly representative of the choices of the British people, it reflects:
what they saw on telly and liked – maybe reading the book afterwards, or perhaps, not reading it at all, but realising that it originated as a book – therefore, if Colin Firth had emerged dripping from a lake in the films/dramatisations of Emma or Persuasion, they would have been the most popular Austen books;
what they remembered reading at school and liked/were forced to appreciate – having possibly not read very much since then;
or is it that what you read and enjoy as a young person/child has more power to influence your view of the world?

The majority of these books seem to me to be like literary comfort blankets but many of them also speak to us about the human condition and about how privation and struggle will lead to some sort of salvation.

Walpurgisnacht

I don’t think I’ve ever heard of that book – does the title give an idea of the story subject, or is it a bit more obscure than that?

Why do I think I’ve never managed to read “War and Peace” entirely?
so *what* is the big secret that lurks behind? I was constructed, built and also made that way. What’s your top of tops?(and yes, I mean that as a respectable question about books)

I’m not sure if a book that one has only read half of can be considered *your fave*… 😉

The Big Read

Isn’t it a shame, hon, that you were ostensibly working on The Big Read, but never actually got to find out much about it – apart from that they liked having packages delivered all over London by interns (aka un-waged slaves). 🙁

Re: Catcher in the Rye

Yup.
But I think that it’s quite safe to read, so no worries about turning into a crazed celbrity stalker!

Prisoner of Azkaban, and Philosophers Stone are by far the best of the Harry Potter books. They are all really good reads, but I don’t think they are the best books ever!! Of the children’s books on the list, His Dark Materials is excellent…

Re: Catcher in the Rye

wasn’t mark chapman (john lennon’s killer) absolutely obsessed with it?

harry potter will kick all your asses!! :p

the prisoner of azkaban should have been up there instead of goblet.

Re: Catcher in the Rye

Well, it was never allowed in school, so I had to read it on my own.

Catcher in the Rye

It’s never been an essential read for kids in the UK, as far as I know.

Re: Catcher in the Rye?

Okay, will do! I think if I check my extensive bookshelf I might have an (unread) copy here somewhere… hrmm!!

At the moment I’m reading the curious dog book.

Re: Catcher in the Rye?

When you do get around to it, please let me know what you think. You will probably have a differing opinion now, as an adult, then you might have as a teen.

I’ve read it about six times. And I can appreciate the book for what it is, and it still remains a favourite. However, the protagonist irritates me now, from an adult perspective. When I was younger, I wholly identified with him.

Catcher in the Rye?

That was one of the one’s I was going to add to my reading list – along with Great Expectations and Little Women…

I saw a TV adaptation of Rebecca not long ago – it was quite good.

Never heard of “His Dark Materials”? Where have you been when I’ve been raving about them? Philip Pullman, Northern Lights, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass.

Objectively, I can see why a Harry Potter has on the list, but why Goblet of Fire – it’s the worst of the five… Philosophers Stone at least, please…! But, I think I would agree with you, top 100 yes, but not not top 21!

I did try to read Hitchhikers once, but it in no way compares to the radio series so I stuck to that instead! 😉

Of the books on this list that I have read, none of them would be in my top 20. To be honest I’m not sure how some of them have become so famous.

Harry Potter!? Dear God… Shoot me now.

Oh, and at last – someone else who hasn’t read Hitchhiker’s Guide 😉