Monday 12 January 2015

Project 1001 Books: Let's Go!


Last week, I posted about two new projects I have created for myself using 1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up and 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.  I've spent the weekend flipping through both of them and have selected the titles from each that I want to read. This challenge isn't time limited, but I'm aiming to read one book a month, from either list.

  • From 1001 Children's Books You Must Read Before You Grow Up, I ended up with 101 titles, which I think is a great number!  You can find my list here.
  • From 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die, I ended up with slightly less, mainly because my classics club reading has enabled me to tick quite a few of them off already.  My final list has 80 titles, and you can find it here.  Or alternatively, you can click the tabs at the top of my blog.
Of course, I already own lots of these titles.  In fact, the reason many of them have made it on to my lists is that I own them and want to read them.  Despite this, I couldn't resist the lure of the library and I wanted to see which books I could just pick off the shelves, without having to place a hold.



Unsurprisingly, the books I could find came from the classics section, with one fantasy.  Books that are translated, or more modern titles were much harder to find, although after a quick check of the library catalogue, I should be able to put a hold on most of them.  I picked up:
  • For my children's list: Across the Nightingale Floor by Lian Hearn and The Red Pony by John Steinbeck.
  • For my adult list: The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe, The Wings of the Dove by Henry James, A Room with a View by E.M. Forster, The Monk by Matthew Lewis and The Pit and the Pendulum by Edgar Allen Poe.
I'm thinking I will read one of these next.  I've already finished one title on my adult list, Michel Faber's Under the Skin, which I started on Saturday but just could not put down as it was so creepy and excellent and thought provoking.  At the moment, I'm drawn towards Henry James, as I've been a fan of all the books of his I have read so far.  I would love recommendations as to which of these I should try first.

23 comments:

  1. A Room with a View is the only one I have read, but I can wholeheartedly recommend it. I tried to read The Mysteries of Udolpho but could not get through it. Hope you have better luck!

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    1. I have read one Forster (Passage to India) and have to admit to not being a big fan. But I am willing to try again.
      And The Mysteries of Udolpho is much chunkier than I was anticipating!

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  2. This looks intimidating but SUPER awesome! I'm pulling for you!

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    1. Thanks Andi :)
      I do have less intimidating selections, they just weren't waiting on the library shelves for me..

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  3. Oh, Across the Nightingale Floor! That series is absolutely wonderful! I chain read the main trilogy, sequel and prequel years ago and they're fantastic. It's a source of much disappointment to me that Lian Hearn isn't better known! I hope you love it when you get to it :)

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    1. Ooh, I'm glad to come across someone who has read it, as it seems very under-rated. You've made me want to get to it sooner rather than later!

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  4. I also recommend A Room with a View............and am another who could not finish Udolpho. Exciting having a new project - good luck and enjoy!

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    1. Udolpho sounds very good, and I love gothic fiction, but it is very long, and it's not a good sign that two people haven't managed to get through it...

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  5. I hope you enjoys your library books, you've got some interesting choices.

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    1. Thanks, I've started Across the Nightingale Floor, and am enjoying it so far :)

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  6. Great choices. I've only read a few from each of your lists, but I loved them.

    Interesting that Across the Nightingale Floor is listed as a children's book, although the protagonist is young. I've read it -- I think you'll like it.

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    1. I'm reading Nightingale Floor at the moment, and I did take it out of the adult fantasy section at the library, rather than the YA. It would definitely be on the older side of YA if it was ever placed there.

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  7. This is an amazing idea. I love books and I love lists of books....

    I read The Monk in college. It is really something else!

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  8. Lots of wonderful titles on both of your lists. I think you will enjoy many of those titles. I had to read The Cloud in 5th grade; it is definitely a thought-provoking read, especially for a young person. (But boy, it gave me nightmares...)

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    1. I'm really looking forward to The Cloud, I'm glad that you found it such a powerful read.

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  9. I have to vote for A Room With a View also. It isn't like A Passage to India at all - much more readable and funnier too. What a fun project!

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    1. I'm glad you enjoyed it more than Passage to India, I did not get on with that book at all!

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  10. What a great challenge! I haven't read any on your list so can't help with which to choose first. But I hope you enjoy all of them.

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  11. I was hoping to find read-alongs to the classics I'd like to read this year (The Wings of the Dove by Henry James). You get so much more from classics in particular if you read them with other people or in class.

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  12. We read The Pit and the Pendulum (the story) at school. I think teacher read it to us aloud. It was intense!

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  13. Nice there are so many available at your library! I do love the hold system at mine, but it's nice to just be able to pluck things off the shelf, too.

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  14. I would be so incredibly intimidated, but I think it's an awesome goal!! Go you!

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