The top 50 books

[Achiles74]

So how many of the top 50 books have you all read?

1. The Lord of the Rings, JRR Tolkien
2. Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen
3. His Dark Materials, Philip Pullman
4. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams
5. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, JK Rowling
6. To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee
7. Winnie the Pooh, AA Milne
8. Nineteen Eighty-Four, George Orwell
9. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, CS Lewis
10. Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë
11. Catch-22, Joseph Heller
12. Wuthering Heights, Emily Brontë
13. Birdsong, Sebastian Faulks
14. Rebecca, Daphne du Maurier
15. The Catcher in the Rye, JD Salinger
16. The Wind in the Willows, Kenneth Grahame
17. Great Expectations, Charles Dickens
18. Little Women, Louisa May Alcott
19. Captain Corelli's Mandolin, Louis de Bernieres
20. War and Peace, Leo Tolstoy
21. Gone with the Wind, Margaret Mitchell
22. Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone, JK Rowling
23. Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets, JK Rowling
24. Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban, JK Rowling
25. The Hobbit, JRR Tolkien
26. Tess Of The D'Urbervilles, Thomas Hardy
27. Middlemarch, George Eliot
28. A Prayer For Owen Meany, John Irving
29. The Grapes Of Wrath, John Steinbeck
30. Alice's Adventures In Wonderland, Lewis Carroll
31. The Story Of Tracy Beaker, Jacqueline Wilson
32. One Hundred Years Of Solitude, Gabriel García Márquez
33. The Pillars Of The Earth, Ken Follett
34. David Copperfield, Charles Dickens
35. Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, Roald Dahl
36. Treasure Island, Robert Louis Stevenson
37. A Town Like Alice, Nevil Shute
38. Persuasion, Jane Austen
39. Dune, Frank Herbert
40. Emma, Jane Austen
41. Anne Of Green Gables, LM Montgomery
42. Watership Down, Richard Adams
43. The Great Gatsby, F Scott Fitzgerald
44. The Count Of Monte Cristo, Alexandre Dumas
45. Brideshead Revisited, Evelyn Waugh
46. Animal Farm, George Orwell
47. A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens
48. Far From The Madding Crowd, Thomas Hardy
49. Goodnight Mister Tom, Michelle Magorian
50. The Shell Seekers, Rosamunde Pilcher

[murf]

Several

1. The Lord of the Rings, JRR Tolkien - arguably 3 books or is it 6??
3. His Dark Materials, Philip Pullman - that was 3 books!
4. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams - that was another trilogy - 5 books (or 6)!
5. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, JK Rowling - err, these go separate????
6. To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee
11. Catch-22, Joseph Heller
15. The Catcher in the Rye, JD Salinger
19. Captain Corelli's Mandolin, Louis de Bernieres
22. Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone, JK Rowling
23. Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets, JK Rowling
24. Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban, JK Rowling
25. The Hobbit, JRR Tolkien
28. A Prayer For Owen Meany, John Irving
29. The Grapes Of Wrath, John Steinbeck
32. One Hundred Years Of Solitude, Gabriel García Márquez
46. Animal Farm, George Orwell

It is pretty much a list of modern kids books (read), ancient 'classics' (not read) and some 20th century classics from either side of the bond (read some).

Presume this is achiles' personal list. Not enough John Irving and too much Harry Potter - plus I'd throw in LdB's earlier trilogy as you seem to like trilogies.

[stevejtr]

Down ans Out in Paris & London is much better than Animal Farm IMO

[Alchemist]

Not Many - Don't do books

4. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams (started - gave up)
5. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, JK Rowling
6. To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee (started - gave up)
23. Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets, JK Rowling
24. Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban, JK Rowling
29. The Grapes Of Wrath, John Steinbeck
35. Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, Roald Dahl

[Achiles74]

Its the list from the 2003 Big Read survey carried out be the BBC.

[murf]

Its the list from the 2003 Big Read survey carried out be the BBC.

Explains the inclusion of only 4 Potters - I was working on the theory the latter books were way too long and in dire need of an editor who would stand up to JK Rowling!!!

[Wiz]

Did the stupid people just include every book their kids were reading and film adaptations?

Pride and Prejudice and Harry Potter in the top 5 books of all time, no wonder all the kids are effing idiots if parents have got them reading this shite.

Saying that I've read over half of them:oops:

[Hogmeister]

Did the stupid people just include every book their kids were reading and film adaptations?:

Yes, it looks like it doesn't it! But I've read most of them - 40 of the 50.

[TheTon]

None. I only used to read Clive Cussler and now a bit of Ian Rankin.

My favourite ever book though was 'Magician' by Raymond E Feist (and all his subsequent books, which is a lot!)

[Wiz]

I suppose if they did it now George RR Martin would have the top 5, 50 shades of grey and that bloody awful Twilight bollox would be in the top 10.

It's a shame they don't have annuals for BB, X-factor and TOWIE, popular culture would put them in the mix as well, why does it seem like the more information we have at our disposal, the lower the average IQ seems to get?

Saying that though I couldn't put the Song of Ice and Fire story down, a bit like Bernard Cornwell who is a Legend. oh well rant over

[tommymooney]

I've read 17.

1. The Lord of the Rings, JRR Tolkien
3. His Dark Materials, Philip Pullman
7. Winnie the Pooh, AA Milne
8. Nineteen Eighty-Four, George Orwell
9. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, CS Lewis
14. Rebecca, Daphne du Maurier
17. Great Expectations, Charles Dickens
20. War and Peace, Leo Tolstoy
22. Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone, JK Rowling
25. The Hobbit, JRR Tolkien
26. Tess Of The D'Urbervilles, Thomas Hardy
30. Alice's Adventures In Wonderland, Lewis Carroll
35. Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, Roald Dahl
42. Watership Down, Richard Adams
43. The Great Gatsby, F Scott Fitzgerald
44. The Count Of Monte Cristo, Alexandre Dumas
46. Animal Farm, George Orwell

[Knulpuk]

I have read:

2. Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen
4. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams
6. To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee
7. Winnie the Pooh, AA Milne
8. Nineteen Eighty-Four, George Orwell
9. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, CS Lewis
10. Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë
11. Catch-22, Joseph Heller
12. Wuthering Heights, Emily Brontë
13. Birdsong, Sebastian Faulks
15. The Catcher in the Rye, JD Salinger
17. Great Expectations, Charles Dickens
19. Captain Corelli's Mandolin, Louis de Bernieres
25. The Hobbit, JRR Tolkien
26. Tess Of The D'Urbervilles, Thomas Hardy
28. A Prayer For Owen Meany, John Irving
29. The Grapes Of Wrath, John Steinbeck
30. Alice's Adventures In Wonderland, Lewis Carroll
34. David Copperfield, Charles Dickens
35. Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, Roald Dahl
36. Treasure Island, Robert Louis Stevenson
37. A Town Like Alice, Nevil Shute
42. Watership Down, Richard Adams
43. The Great Gatsby, F Scott Fitzgerald
46. Animal Farm, George Orwell
47. A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens
48. Far From The Madding Crowd, Thomas Hardy

which 27 I think

I have read most of Lord of the Rings but gave up after a book n a bit

[murf]

Ranking those I have read (best to worst, all from dim and distant memories)...

28. A Prayer For Owen Meany, John Irving
4. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams (first 3 or 4 books up here)
11. Catch-22, Joseph Heller
3. His Dark Materials, Philip Pullman (first 2 books, bit disappointed by the finale)
29. The Grapes Of Wrath, John Steinbeck (not his best)
19. Captain Corelli's Mandolin, Louis de Bernieres (not his best)
15. The Catcher in the Rye, JD Salinger
32. One Hundred Years Of Solitude, Gabriel García Márquez
5. Harry Potters - can't remember which of these was 'best'!
1. The Lord of the Rings, JRR Tolkien
25. The Hobbit, JRR Tolkien
46. Animal Farm, George Orwell

[tommymooney]

my ranking - taking up Murf's gauntlet (not rating the children's books - although Pooh is great!). Arguable about the LoTR - I think Prachett said it should be everyone's favourite book when you're 12.

Great Expectations, Charles Dickens
The Great Gatsby, F Scott Fitzgerald
Nineteen Eighty-Four, George Orwell
The Lord of the Rings, JRR Tolkien
His Dark Materials, Philip Pullman (lots of 'adult' themes in this one)
The Count Of Monte Cristo, Alexandre Dumas
Rebecca, Daphne du Maurier
Tess Of The D'Urbervilles, Thomas Hardy
Animal Farm, George Orwell
War and Peace, Leo Tolstoy (was way too young when I read it)

I can't believe that Les Miserables didn't make this list.

[tommymooney]

@ Murf - agree Pullman gets a bit lost in the 3rd book. Apparently he doesn't plan his books, but writes as he thinks...I think this leads to some of the problems in book 3!!

[Knulpuk]

My pick of the bunch

11. Catch-22, Joseph Heller
28. A Prayer For Owen Meany, John Irving (THIS IS A GREAT BOOK)
6. To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee
29. The Grapes Of Wrath, John Steinbeck
30. Alice's Adventures In Wonderland, Lewis Carroll
36. Treasure Island, Robert Louis Stevenson
37. A Town Like Alice, Nevil Shute
43. The Great Gatsby, F Scott Fitzgerald

I would put Pickwick Papers in.

the most obvious ommission in my view is Moby Dick - the greatest novel I have read.

I would also have a John Updike in there and a PG Wodehouse, especially as there are 543 Harry potter books in there. Its like the top 50 singles of all time - if done now bet you would have a 1 directional / Mc flea song in there somewhere.

[rossn13]

1. The Lord of the Rings, JRR Tolkien
4. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams
5. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, JK Rowling
6. To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee
8. Nineteen Eighty-Four, George Orwell
9. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, CS Lewis
16. The Wind in the Willows, Kenneth Grahame
22. Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone, JK Rowling
23. Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets, JK Rowling
24. Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban, JK Rowling
25. The Hobbit, JRR Tolkien
35. Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, Roald Dahl
39. Dune, Frank Herbert

Most of the fantasy / kids books on the list

[Surprised]

So how many of the top 50 books have you all read?

1. The Lord of the Rings, JRR Tolkien
2. Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen
4. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams
5. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, JK Rowling
8. Nineteen Eighty-Four, George Orwell
11. Catch-22, Joseph Heller
17. Great Expectations, Charles Dickens
19. Captain Corelli's Mandolin, Louis de Bernieres
20. War and Peace, Leo Tolstoy
22. Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone, JK Rowling
23. Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets, JK Rowling
24. Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban, JK Rowling
25. The Hobbit, JRR Tolkien
32. One Hundred Years Of Solitude, Gabriel García Márquez
34. David Copperfield, Charles Dickens
36. Treasure Island, Robert Louis Stevenson
37. A Town Like Alice, Nevil Shute
44. The Count Of Monte Cristo, Alexandre Dumas
46. Animal Farm, George Orwell
47. A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens

[Wiz]

I think most of the 'classics', Bronte/Dickens/Hardy we were made to read at school, 1984 and The Hobbit also.

Some glaring omissions as already mentioned, mine would include.

Homage to Catalonia/Gulag Archipelago - proper war books
East of Eden/Of Mice and Men - Both better than Grapes of Wrath
Brave New World
Don Quixote
The Old Man and the sea
Crime and Punishment
American Psycho

Hmmm, they look a bit dark, at least Jude the Obscure's not there

[padmole]

If you do audiobooks like me and you want to close the gap on any of the older books then you can download them for free.
I will give any of them a go but the reader makes or breaks the book in marginal instances - The American twang behind "As I walked up to the entrance of 221B Baker Street" was not endearing

I am going to try and close the gaps on the list during 2013...........cant hurt - far less painful than watching Arsenal play ;0)

[tommymooney]

hunchback of Notre Dame
Brave New World
The three musketeers (though that is a quite simple romp)

could also go on the missing in action list.

[Knulpuk]

50 shades of grey....

Brothers Karamazov

[fancy dan]

1. The Lord of the Rings, JRR Tolkien
3. His Dark Materials, Philip Pullman
4. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Douglas Adams
6. To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee
7. Winnie the Pooh, AA Milne
8. Nineteen Eighty-Four, George Orwell
9. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, CS Lewis
11. Catch-22, Joseph Heller
13. Birdsong, Sebastian Faulks
15. The Catcher in the Rye, JD Salinger
16. The Wind in the Willows, Kenneth Grahame
17. Great Expectations, Charles Dickens
22. Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone, JK Rowling
25. The Hobbit, JRR Tolkien
28. A Prayer For Owen Meany, John Irving
29. The Grapes Of Wrath, John Steinbeck
30. Alice's Adventures In Wonderland, Lewis Carroll
32. One Hundred Years Of Solitude, Gabriel García Márquez
34. David Copperfield, Charles Dickens
35. Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, Roald Dahl
36. Treasure Island, Robert Louis Stevenson
42. Watership Down, Richard Adams
43. The Great Gatsby, F Scott Fitzgerald
46. Animal Farm, George Orwell
47. A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens
48. Far From The Madding Crowd, Thomas Hardy

27 by my reckoning, though we read Far From The Madding Crowd at school and I had no idea what was going on in it. I read one Harry Potter book and had no desire to read any more.

[hornet]

Only 7 for me....

1. The Lord of the Rings, JRR Tolkien
3. His Dark Materials, Philip Pullman
9. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, CS Lewis
11. Catch-22, Joseph Heller
25. The Hobbit, JRR Tolkien
35. Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, Roald Dahl
36. Treasure Island, Robert Louis Stevenson

Currently reading the complete Sherlock Holmes, great stuff.
Recently finished Farenheit 451, can get heavy with all the metaphor in there but still a good read.
I have purchased the first 3 of the 'Song of Ice and Fire' series by George RR Martin and will read these next.

Have to say my favourite of all these is Phillip Pullman's 'His Dark Materials'. Fantastic story that I would recommend to all.

[tommymooney]

Recently finished Farenheit 451, can get heavy with all the metaphor in there but still a good read.

Its very good, verging on great, but doesn't quite make it for me. I like the bits about the wall to wall tv (thats come to pass). Prefer 1984/brave new world.

[Surprised]

I'd add Oscar and Lucinda to that list

[blahblah]

6. To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee
7. Winnie the Pooh, AA Milne
8. Nineteen Eighty-Four, George Orwell
9. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, CS Lewis
14. Rebecca, Daphne du Maurier I think I did many years ago
17. Great Expectations, Charles Dickens
29. The Grapes Of Wrath, John Steinbeck
30. Alice's Adventures In Wonderland, Lewis Carroll
31. The Story Of Tracy Beaker, Jacqueline Wilson NO, and this is a joke entry?
32. One Hundred Years Of Solitude, Gabriel García Márquez
35. Charlie And The Chocolate Factory, Roald Dahl
36. Treasure Island, Robert Louis Stevenson
42. Watership Down, Richard Adams
43. The Great Gatsby, F Scott Fitzgerald
44. The Count Of Monte Cristo, Alexandre Dumas
46. Animal Farm, George Orwell
47. A Christmas Carol, Charles Dickens

[Pouzar99]

With all due respect this is not a top 50 list that anyone could take seriously. Where is Moby Dick, Anna Karenina, The Brothers Karamazov, Beloved, Fathers and Sons, Madame Bovary, Portrait of a Lady, Huckleberry Finn, Dead Souls, The Scarlet Letter, Nostromo, Women in Love, The Rainbow, The Sound and the Fury, Don Quixote, Ulysses, etc?
I know such lists are always subjective but this one is pretty low-brow. Nice to see Middlemarch, Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights and War and Peace make the list, plus lots of Austen novels (although they somehow missed Mansfield Park, likely her best), but about half the list is children's books.

[murf]

...on the basis that being high brow somehow makes them better than being popular?

[Groomyd]

...on the basis that being high brow somehow makes them better than being popular?

On the basis that being popular is irrelevant to any objective notion of quality

Call The Sun and ask them to explain it to you