books you can't believe someone *hasn't* read (textbook, poetry, nonfiction)

[jtur88]

I can't believe that people don't rush out and read books that I recommend.

[gizmo980]

Originally Posted by stan4

It still weirds me out when real readers under the age of 40 haven't read the Harry Potter series. They are super-fast reads (so not a huge time investment), the writing grows up with the books, and they are quite entertaining.

Oops... I'm a 34 year-old librarian, and I've only read the first HP. They're just not my kind of books, and I didn't find #1 intriguing enough to continue with the series. To be perfectly honest, I skimmed through a good portion of the first volume.

To answer your original question, here are some "can't believe you haven't read" books that come to mind. And I apologize for any repeats, but I don't feel like reading every post! Also keep in mind, these aren't necessarily MY favorite titles/authors - just ones that I figure everyone has read by a certain age.

Catcher in the Rye
To Kill a Mockingbird
Lord of the Flies
The Color Purple
The Giver
Old Yeller
The Chronicles of Narnia
1984
Animal Farm
Fahrenheit 451
Metamorphosis
Beowulf
Anne of Green Gables (particularly for the girls)

And at least ONE title from the following authors... Shakespeare, Steinbeck, Elie Wiesel, Mark Twain, Ray Bradbury, Hemingway, Jane Austen, and Maya Angelou.

[CA4Now]

Originally Posted by gizmo980

Fahrenheit 451

I didn't read this until my 40's, for some reason. I really enjoyed it; very thought-provoking.

[Lakotastar]

I love old classic books:
Withering Heights
Lord Byron
Tales of Two Cities
The Glass Manegerie
1984 George Orwel
Emily Bronte

[Mightyqueen801]

Originally Posted by gizmo980

Oops... I'm a 34 year-old librarian, and I've only read the first HP. They're just not my kind of books, and I didn't find #1 intriguing enough to continue with the series. To be perfectly honest, I skimmed through a good portion of the first volume.

To answer your original question, here are some "can't believe you haven't read" books that come to mind. And I apologize for any repeats, but I don't feel like reading every post! Also keep in mind, these aren't necessarily MY favorite titles/authors - just ones that I figure everyone has read by a certain age.

Catcher in the Rye
To Kill a Mockingbird
Lord of the Flies
The Color Purple
The Giver
Old Yeller
The Chronicles of Narnia
1984
Animal Farm
Fahrenheit 451
Metamorphosis
Beowulf
Anne of Green Gables (particularly for the girls)

And at least ONE title from the following authors... Shakespeare, Steinbeck, Elie Wiesel, Mark Twain, Ray Bradbury, Hemingway, Jane Austen, and Maya Angelou.

Hmm, I am of a "certain age" and I haven't read most of those books.

I have read at least one title from the authors on your list at the bottom, though!

[Mightyqueen801]

Originally Posted by CA4Now

I'm over 40 <ahem> and I read the first one just after it came out. I'm sorry to say that I could barely get through it, I thought it was so boring. I'm not sure why, but the entire subject of magicians does not interest me. I never liked The Hobbit or Lord of the Rings, either. Since you've mentioned that the writing grows up as the series progresses, I may try another of Rowling's books. I certainly admire her as an author.

I've never read any Harry Potter books, either. Magic and fantasy just aren't my favorite genres.

[Mightyqueen801]

Originally Posted by stan4

I only liked 2 of the Narnia books. The rest were snore fest. I don't know why I bothered rereading the other ones.

I thought Harry Potter was also good because the writing grows up with the kids who are reading it. By the time they get to books 6 and 7, the writing is more adult style and they can handle the tougher, more emotional material. I don't think this series is fantastic, but I don't think it's trash, either.

Most of the writers we had to read in English class were giant bores to me. I will never understand the hoopla around Hemmingway and Steinbeck. And I've read several different books. James Joyce REALLY does not impress me. Dickens is rather fascinating...I enjoyed Shakespeare...but I felt the rest were some weirdo force-fed agenda...I mean, who could think that was good?

We had to read The Sun Also Rises at some point. Snooooore. And then I took a writer's workshop in fiction a few years ago (another subject--but suffice to say fiction writers are very different types of people from non-fiction writers!) and the teacher made us read this short story called Hills Like White Elephants. I couldn't make head nor tail of the what the point of the story was supposed to be--it just bored me, but when I got back to class the next week apparently everybody except me knew that the story is about a woman having an abortion. I just sat there with my mouth shut thinking "HUHHHH????" And went back to non-fiction writing classes.

Guess I just don't "get" Hemingway.

[1208]

Originally Posted by gizmo980

Oops... I'm a 34 year-old librarian, and I've only read the first HP. They're just not my kind of books, and I didn't find #1 intriguing enough to continue with the series. To be perfectly honest, I skimmed through a good portion of the first volume.

To answer your original question, here are some "can't believe you haven't read" books that come to mind. And I apologize for any repeats, but I don't feel like reading every post! Also keep in mind, these aren't necessarily MY favorite titles/authors - just ones that I figure everyone has read by a certain age.

Catcher in the Rye
To Kill a Mockingbird
Lord of the Flies
The Color Purple
The Giver
Old Yeller
The Chronicles of Narnia
1984
Animal Farm
Fahrenheit 451
Metamorphosis
Beowulf
Anne of Green Gables (particularly for the girls)

And at least ONE title from the following authors... Shakespeare, Steinbeck, Elie Wiesel, Mark Twain, Ray Bradbury, Hemingway, Jane Austen, and Maya Angelou.

No offense, but I would think a librarian would come up with a more unique list than that. I think most of those books are assigned reading in High School.

[maciesmom]

Originally Posted by 1208

No offense, but I would think a librarian would come up with a more unique list than that. I think most of those books are assigned reading in High School.

I believe that was her point....

[1208]

Originally Posted by maciesmom

I believe that was her point....

Then why post it at all? I'd rather hear the ones SHE actually likes, not just the high school standards.