Classic Must-Read Books (bookworms, diary, crime, literature)

[SunKrist]

Okay people, name some classic books that are an absolute must-read for bookworms. I'm trying to put some more prestigous notches in my literary belt.

I will name the first one: Beowulf

[TakeAhike]

The Complete works of William Shakespeare

Sometimes I pull out 'Brush Up Your Shakespeare'

He must roll in his grave at the abuse of the English language--not to mention the lack of comprehension of his observations on the Human Condition.

[SunKrist]

Originally Posted by bhs119

The Complete works of William Shakespeare

Sometimes I pull out 'Brush Up Your Shakespeare'

He must roll in his grave at the abuse of the English language--not to mention the lack of comprehension of his observations on the Human Condition.

Yes, I've tried to read a few of his works. I think I will save that for a slightly later date, though. And I know what you mean about the abuse of the English language. Although I am by no means an expert on it, I strive to learn as much as I can so as to be a good communicator (however often I fail).

[gizmo980]

Okay, you know the librarian has to answer this one! Here are some of my all-time favorites... not sure if they all qualify as "classic" yet, but they should eventually.

Elie Wiesel - Night
Langston Hughes - Any of his writings
Isabelle Allende - The House of the Spirits
Allen Ginsberg - Howl (okay, so it's technically not a "book", but it's one of my favorite pieces of literature)
JD Salinger - Catcher in the Rye
George Orwell - Animal Farm & 1984
Ntozake Shange - For Colored Girls who have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf (wonderful choreo-poem!!)
Ray Bradbury - Fahrenheit 451
John Steinbeck - Of Mice and Men & Cannery Row
Stephen King - It, Green Mile, & The Shining
Beth Henley - Crimes of the Heart

[BlueWillowPlate]

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Diary of Anne Frank

Catch-22 by Joseph Heller

Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut

Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey

The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

I have reached the point where I now read just for pleasure. I have tried to broaden my horizons, though. Went through a long Dickens streak and really enjoy him but some find him too wordy.
I've read several of those previously mentioned, Ray Bradbury is one of my favorite authors. Enjoy Langston Hughes too.
I tried to read Beowulf but just couldn't do it. Ditto Gravity's Rainbow.
Very much enjoyed the cinematic version of Beowulf with Gerard Butler, heard someone else is filming it as well.

[pixieshmoo]

Definitely, hands down...Catcher in the Rye (God, I love that book, must've read it 25 times).

Don't know if these are all actually considered "classics" but:

To Kill a Mockingbird (working on it)
The Picture of Dorian Grey
Tom Sawyer
Huckleberry Finn
White Fang
Brave New World
1984
Last of the Mohicans

Never read it but my dad always loved it and told me I should read it: The Clan of the Cavebear

[TakeAhike]

Originally Posted by gizmo980

Okay, you know the librarian has to answer this one! Here are some of my all-time favorites... not sure if they all qualify as "classic" yet, but they should eventually.

Elie Wiesel - Night
Langston Hughes - Any of his writings
Isabelle Allende - The House of the Spirits
Allen Ginsberg - Howl (okay, so it's technically not a "book", but it's one of my favorite pieces of literature)
JD Salinger - Catcher in the Rye
George Orwell - Animal Farm & 1984
Ntozake Shange - For Colored Girls who have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf (wonderful choreo-poem!!)
Ray Bradbury - Fahrenheit 451
John Steinbeck - Of Mice and Men & Cannery Row
Stephen King - It, Green Mile, & The Shining
Beth Henley - Crimes of the Heart

That is a well-rounded list.
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May I ask a book/author question--(sneaking into sunny's thread and trying not to derail it...)

Do you know of authors 'like'--Bill Bryson, Peter Mayle, Frances Mayes or Anthony Bourdain--a touch of the cynic --in the first two(and Anthony) and they all right about 'travel'/life. That is what I would like to read. Light humor, information, entertainment. Thanks in advance.
sls

[plaidmom]

Wow, some great choices here!

A few that spring to mind that you could add to your list:

"Le Rouge et le Noir" (The Red and the Black)-Stendhal
"One Hundred Years of Solitude"-Gabriel Garcia Marquez
"Of Human Bondage"-W. Sommerset Maughm
"The Sun Also Rises"-Ernest Hemingway

[ontheroad]

I don't know what you have in mind but I remember when I was interested in reading what I defined as "only the best" I read most of the Nobel Prize winners in literature.

Here's the website.

http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/l...ure/laureates/

It provides the names, years, bibliography and biography.

If I recall correctly I started with some of the oldest winners and kept going. I had a feast of books with this list and learned about some amazing authors who are frequently unsung in the States. In particular, I was taken with several of the Scandinavian writers: Knut Hamsun, Par Lagerkvist, Selma Lagerlof (among others).

[exhdo1]

Originally Posted by SunshineBaby

Okay people, name some classic books that are an absolute must-read for bookworms. I'm trying to put some more prestigous notches in my literary belt.

I will name the first one: Beowulf

The #1 selling book of all time. The Holy Bible, new and old testament! It's amazing to me how many people own these books and have never opened them up.