Anyway. Let's see which ones I've read, shall we?! I'll bold up all the ones I've read, and bitch about people's personal choices throughout. Sounds good?
1. To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee (Yessssss! I love everyone!)
2. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
3. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
4. The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling (this is the awesomest)
5. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
6. The Lord of the Rings Series by J.R.R. Tolkien
7. Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell (I still want to marry YOU ALL!)
8. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte
9. The Book Thief by Marcus Zuzak (Seriously, what is wrong with everyone?)
10. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger (*gives up and dies*)
11. One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
12. The Secret History by Donna Tartt (yeah, I should probably re-read this)
13. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller (and this)
14. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith (Seriously, you liked The Book Thief better than THIS?!)
15. Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
16. A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving
17. The Stand by Stephen King (You will all be rewarded greatly for this)
18. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkein
19. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (COME ON, 10 places below The Book Thief?!)
20. Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace (I own this but will never read it because it's TOO BIG)
21. Persuasion by Jane Austen
22. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
23. The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky
24. The Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon
25. East of Eden by John Steinbeck (COME AND ADORE STEINBECK WITH ME!)
26. The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
27. The Time Traveller's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
28. American Gods by Neil Gaiman
29. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas
30. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
31. 1984 by George Orwell
32. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky (I really like this, and yet cannot finish it. Odd.)
33. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (BETH!)
34. Moby-Dick by Herman Melville (oh, you Americans!)
35. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck (See, readalongers, it's because of lists like THIS that I made you read it!)
36. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood (you're improving, list)
37. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Series by Douglas Adams
38. Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov (got the pervert vote, obviously)
39. Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier
40. Ulysses by James Joyce (come ON. No one's favourite book is Ulysses.)
41. Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
42. The Perks of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky (I have no arguments with this.)
43. Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card
44. Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides (Eugenideeeeeeeees! I love you.)
45. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon
46. Dune by Frank Herbert
47. Gilead by Marilynne Robinson (I haven't even heard of this... Bad?)
48. Les Miserables by Victor Hugo
49. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (Your favourite? Really?)
50. The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
Now I'm feeling kiiind of bad and judgey, but you know, don't take it to heart if I've mocked your favourite book- what the hell do I know anyway?! Apart from that The Book Thief sucks. *hears an imaginary argument for it* What? No I'm not wrong, YOU are wrong!
Hahaha. This is hilarious. I was not impressed with the list (maybe I shouldn't say not impressed but not surprised). And, yes, I want to meet these people that consider Ulysses one of their favorite books. I want them to explain this decision. The only book I voted for, that appeared, was Anna Karenina. I absolutely fell in love with Tolstoy after finishing and decided to read War and Peace because of it. That's a commitment.
ReplyDeleteI really can't... I guess you can admire Ulysses, but your FAVOURITE?! I think we need to talk about the definition of that word. (Note: I haven't read Ulysses [YET] so I shouldn't be saying any of this!)
DeleteI VOTED FOR ANNA KARENINA TOOOOO! And I am HORRIFIED at the fact that it's like 10 places below The fucking Book Thief, because what the hell people?!
Hahaha RE The fucking Book Thief. I remember being completely disappointed when I finished that one. I actually thought the story was ok, but all that hype. killed it. Yes, AK should definitely be a little (much) higher on that list.
DeleteI haven't read it either, but let's be real -- NO ONE COULD POSSIBLY THINK IT'S THEIR FAVORITE FAVORITE. Maybe like 2nd or 3rd, but NUMBER ONE?! No, I don't believe it.
The hype wasn't the problem, I don't think, it was the CONSTANT REINFORCEMENT OF WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN, and the fact that before that, THERE WAS NO STORY. Or hardly any story. ARGH.
DeleteI would be completely happy with AK being number one, to be honest. But I'm SO good with To Kill A Mockingbird being in that spot.
I don't believe it either. I feel like... HELLO PEOPLE TRYING TOO HARD TO LOOK SMART!
OMG YESSS EXACTLY Re: Book Thief
DeleteI hope you know that I will ALWAYS have your back in all Book-Thief-related arguments. We should start another cult for this.
I love you, Rayna. Shall we be the 'FUCK The Book Thief' cult and go around scowling at people who read it/ go 'OMG its so deep and moving!' Let's.
DeleteYou are sooo judgey:) I like a lot of what is on this list. I submitted my favorites, but none of them are on there. I think we are so used to seeing lists of the "MOST IMPORTANT" books, that this just kind of became that as well. Favorites are so personal. I love lots of things that will probably never appear on a list like this.
ReplyDeleteHaha, I know right! I do like a LOT of these books, and actually my three 'favourites' (God, who can even pick just 3?!) are all on it, so that was kind of pleasing and camaraderie-ish. But yeah, then there are those books that you love but no one else has read, and it's like... to say them or not?! It's all very very subjective, I think.
DeleteI always get excited for a second when I see F. Scott Fitzgerald on stuff. That's all. YAY! BOOKS!
ReplyDeleteHahaha- what about Francis Scott Key?!
DeleteSo nice to see some newer books on the list.
ReplyDeletePersonally I looooooved The Book Thief and I think The Shadow Of The Wind should be further up. But it's all subjective, right?
It's totally alll subjective, but it is nice to see where a certain group of people are at, book wise. I just WISH I could explain to everyone just what's wrong with The Book Thief!! ;) haha
DeleteYou need to read Infinite Jest (it's not any bigger than The Stand or IT).
ReplyDeleteBut maybe, um, a tad bit denser than those two, no? Haha, I do own it, so I will definitely be reading it! Just... Not quite yet.
DeleteYou have a point there :) But it's definitely an easier read than Ulysses!
DeleteI also agree with you on The Night Circus. It's a nice book, but...
I own Ulysses too! And I know which one I will read first. Ulysses might stay unread until I have NO OTHER BOOKS!
DeleteAnd really, I did REALLY like The Night Circus, but... I feel like you only think its your favourite if you haven't read many books... I AM SO BITCHY!
Post twins!!!
ReplyDeleteBahaha I love your Book Thief rant. I actually must have missed the post where they asked for book favorites so I did not get to play! Sadness.
President Bartlet knows what's up with The Book Thief. Oh YEAH. I'm so sad that you didn't get to play! Would you like to share your ENFORCED top 3 now? (my top 3 was maybe not even my top 3. But I don't disagree with any of my choices, so I'm good with them.)
DeleteMy enforced top 3? I am confused. Did you have to pick from a list? How did this work??
DeleteI MIGHT do a post about my top 10. More likely I'll do a post about the anxiety I caused myself trying to pick a top 10
Noooo, there was no list, it's just that I felt THE PRESSURE to only pick three. and that I was FORCED into it because some website told me to do it. And because I'm MENTAL.
Delete^do that post! Because it basically sounds like how I felt about having to pick a top three! Although I would like to hear your tentative top ten!
Hahahahahaha, sweet blog. Your hatred for The Book Thief tickles me immensely. It was *alright* at best. Out of the ones you haven't read, I can thoroughly recommend American Gods.
ReplyDeleteI also have been unable to finish Crime and Punishment, despite two attempts.
It wasn't even alright! Not really. Actually at the time, I didn't *hate* it, but SO many people have been like ZOMG THE BOOK THIEF that I'm just like SHUT UP IT IS NOT GOOD WRITING!
DeleteAmerican Gods. Noted. And, seriously, I REALLY like Crime and Punishment, but I just can't finish it! I think I need it to be all I'm reading, so I don't go 'Oh look, Stephen King, that'll be easier' and then just leave it for later.
I hated American Gods. So you'll probably like it.
DeleteGood to know! Maybe THIS is how we should rate books! Like instead of a star system, I have a scale of 'how much Alice would like this'. I like this plan!
Delete28. But I need to finish Book Thief. And Cloud Atlas.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't do Cloud Atlas! And now there's a film and everyone's like 'Cloud Atlas!' and I feel kind of faily. But oh well.
DeleteBLUERGH THE BOOK THIEF ETC. But obvs, you will probably love it!
I *did* like The Book Thief! It's not in my top list of high atop the whatever, but I'd definitely teach it to a high school English class over, say, Night, which is REALLY HARD for kids to connect with - but that's a whole different issue.
ReplyDeleteI... may have to give this list the same treatment. Only one of my top 3 made it, so PPPBBBBTTTT to you, LIST!
P.S. - WEST WIIIIIING!
DeleteTikaaaa, why must you make me cross at you?! Because, like, The Book Thief isn't even a Holocaust book! It's like a 'German citizens during WWII' book. And yeah there's that guy who they hide and all, but then he disappears and no more is said of him, so it's like he's not an important character. Whereas Night cut DEEP INTO MY VERY SOUL. But Maus is the best Holocaust thing ever the end.
DeleteAlso, definitely do this to the list- it was really fun! (And my top three DID make it, so I shouldn't really be complaining!)
WEST WING FOREVERRRRRRRR :)
All these Book Riot list posts are making me want to do a post about my absolute favorite books. Even the slightly embarrassing ones.
ReplyDeleteAnd I love your rants and commentary FOREVER.
You shouuuuld! Cause now I definitely want to know about these embarrassing books!
DeleteAnnnnd *bows deeply* thank you my love. I shall attempt always to amuse and delight you!
I am totally working on this favorite books post. We should all do it and make it a Thing.
DeleteNone of my faves are embarrassing to me, but it is kind of odd to realize that the book I've maybe reread the most in my life is a YA romancey book that most people would probably lump in with Twilight. BUT IT IS SO MUCH BETTER AND IT HAS ZERO VAMPIRES. It does have a ghost, though. Everyone who I've ever recommended it to has LOVED it. So there.
Am I now arguing with myself in a comment? What is my life right now. Okay, I will save the rant for my post.
I'm loving judgy Laura! I'm so with you on the fact that Ulysses cannot possibly be anyone's favourite book. It just can't.
ReplyDeleteI didn't vote but if I had it would probably be for The Razor's Edge which didn't even make the list. I suddenly feel very lonely...
*whispers* I've never even heard of The Razors Edge. But now I have! I'll have to check it out (I like to read things people say are their ABSOLUTE favourites!)
DeleteI can't even believe people had the GALL to say that Ulysses was their favourite! The frauds! Haha
32?! Wowza I'm impressed. I'm at 21.
ReplyDeleteThing you should know about my reading: I'm very into the acclaimed books, which a LOT of these are. So yeah, 32! I'm still pretty proud though. 21 is still good! Just 29 to go ;)
DeleteRead Kavalier and Clay! Its well good!
ReplyDeleteAlright then! One day... ;)
DeleteEXCELLENT commentary on the list and agreed that Handmaid's Tale makes any list better. I need to read the Book Thief, if only to join in on the internet shouting! So many FEELINGS!
ReplyDeleteMerci beaucoup! And also, OMG don't read The Book Thief! Because the chances are about... 80-20 that you'll like it. And then I will be cross. And sad.
DeleteAgree about the Ulysses thing. The only person who claimed to have actually finished it at university was this annoyingly pretentious girl who "had read it three times" and fawned hideously over the professor leading all our Joyce work. I read... about 20 pages... before I gave in and went to sleep instead. :)
ReplyDeleteI can't even remember which three I submitted now! Dorian Gray, The Secret History and... Rebecca? Ummmm... *gives in and goes to sleep again*
Good to see American Gods and Hitchhiker's Guide on there. They seem like far more honest answers than Ulysses. I struggled through that for my degree, and I mean struggled.
ReplyDeleteI've read 29 of these and quite a few of the others are titles I've been meaning to read. But mostly now I want to re-read Hitchhiker's Guide.
Wooo 32 is a high number! I disagree with a lot of the list - seriously, Catcher in the Rye? UGH. That book is only a favorite for 15 year-olds with angst problems, and only until they read something better. And I'm pretty sure "The Night Circus" and "Cloud Atlas" are only on that list because they've had a lot of hype lately. In another few years, the same people probably wouldn't pick those books.
ReplyDeleteOh and I've had Gilead on my to-read list for AGES. It's sitting on my shelf right now, mocking me.
15 for me, and a few bits.
ReplyDeleteAlso you haven't read the Time Traveller's Wife. You have to, it is just amazing.
I think I may be the only blogger who hasn't read The Book Thief
Hmmm...interesting list.
ReplyDeleteHad I known about it, I would have voted for The Count of Monte Cristo. That's my all-time favorite book.
I also loved Time Traveler's Wife, Pride and Prejudice and Jane Eyre. And I'm currently reading The Great Gatsby.
I haven't read The Book Thief, but it doesn't sound like my cup of tea...
Tried to read Ulysses - failed. That book was not meant to be read by "normal" people, imo.
Oh and, btw 16 for me :)