A word of explanation: In 2003, the British Broadcasting Corporation asked people to nominate and then vote for their best-loved novel.
Here are 13 favorites.
1.The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. 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, J.K. Rowling
6. To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee
7. Winnie the Pooh, A.A. Milne
8. Nineteen Eighty-Four, George Orwell
9. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, C.S. Lewis
10. Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë
11. Catch-22, Joseph Heller
12. Wuthering Heights, Emily Brontë
13. Birdsong, Sebastian Faulks
Do you agree with the BBC list? What other book would you recommend for a top place? And why do you like it?
Another question: Which of these books have you read?
I’m eager to get your feedback.
Source
http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/bigread/top100.shtml
Posts
that's a great list! I'd have to think long and hard to put up my 13 :-)
ReplyDeleteWhere's Catcher in the Rye? I've loved that book for over 40 years now and each re-read I discover something else in it.
ReplyDeleteI've never read the Harry Potters though I did get one as audio and love the movies.
And I have to be sappy and add GWTW - it's another book I reread each year and probably will until I can no longer see to read.
Plus I love my Isaac Asimov, but SciFi writers have never been on fav lists much.
Good luck with your new kitty - we should compare notes each week and see which one of us has the biggest evil cat story, lol.
Great list....I have read most of them. Catch-22 is one that I have been wanting to read for a long time. I talked about things that I have read this week in my TT, but it isn't nearly as classic as this list! Happy Thursday!
ReplyDeleteJanet,
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean. There are so many great novels out there.
Not familiar with #13...I might have to check it out.
ReplyDeletePop Art Diva,
ReplyDeleteI went to the BBC's "Big Read" site and Catcher in the Rye came in at number 15. I only listed the top 13. I guess my kitten distracted me. Grin.
Tracie,
ReplyDeleteI think your reading list had classics in it--the Bible and Sherlock Holmes. :) Happy TT back at ya!
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWriter and Cat,
ReplyDeleteBirdsong is on my to-read list too.
love your list, though I've only read a few on your list, I will have to do my own next week!
ReplyDeleteInteresting list... I have read The Lord of the Rings, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, To Kill a Mockingbird, Winnie the Pooh, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, and Jane Eyre. I have tried reading Wuthering Heights twice and have never been able to plow my way through to the end, and am currently reading 1984.
ReplyDeleteMy post, also on books, is here
My fav is Wuthering Heights. But I've read all but # 3, 8, 11, and 13. Hmm... might have to check them out.
ReplyDeleteI'm kind of pleased to see I've read most of these.
ReplyDeleteNot necessarily my favorites but most of the list are what I would expect.
ReplyDeleteI've read 2, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10 and 12.
Good list. I have read most of those. I have not read Catch-22. I can't name books to add to the list, though. There are a lot of good books out there.
ReplyDeleteCD @ Blue Country Magic
Ryzmomplus2,
ReplyDeleteNo worries. There are a lot of great books out there and only so much time. :)
Heather,
ReplyDeleteI know you're a book lover. I look forward to reading your post.
Mary Quast,
I liked Wuthering Heights too. Thanks for your comment.
There's only one on there I've never heard of (Birdsong.) I'll have to look that up.
ReplyDeleteAlice Audrey,
ReplyDeleteI'm impressed, but then you impress me a lot. :)
jillconyers,
Yeah, the list surprised me too. I wonder if it's because the list was compiled in Europe. Anyway, it's interesting.
CountryDew,
ReplyDeleteI agree. There are so many great books out there it's hard to pick a favorite.
Julia Smith,
I wasn't familiar with Birdsong either. It's one I want to read.
I have read 10 of those, I will have to go to the library and find the other 3. Great list!
ReplyDeleteLove LOTR and Winnie the Pooh! Great list!
ReplyDelete*hugs*
Paige
My TT is at http://paigetylertheauthor.blogspot.com/
I'm not sure about agreeing or disagreeing, but I would love to read them all. The ones I haven't already read, that is!
ReplyDeleteHappy T13!
Kristen,
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised how many of us have read most of these books. I haven't read Birdsong yet.
Paige Tyler,
I love Winnie the Pooh too.
Devilish Southern Belle,
ReplyDeleteYeah, I can tell you like reading. Thanks for leaving a comment.
Ah, Winnie-the Pooh. The story about Pooh getting stuck in Rabbit's house still makes me smile.
ReplyDeleteShelley Munro,
ReplyDeleteI share your love of Pooh stories. I liked it when Pooh got stuck in Rabbit's Door too.
Well...I've read 6 of your choices. I'll have to spend some time looking at the big list again.
ReplyDelete1, 5, 6, and 9 are on my list of favorite books!
ReplyDeleteWhat I always find interesting about these lists is that so many people say that don't read SF/F but many of the "top book" lists always have a few.
ReplyDeleteI love Jane Austen! I'd add a Faulkner, a Vonnegut, and a Toni Morrison to the list.
Never heard of Birdsong. My mind just went blank on suggestions.
ReplyDeleteOh, maybe something by Kurt Vonnegut or Ray Bradbury.
Earthsea Trilogy by Ursula LeGuin.
Celticlibrarian,
ReplyDeleteYeah, the list of favorite books is something to study.
Forgetfulone,
ReplyDeleteI loved The Lord of the Rings too, Harry Potter, and To Kill a Mockingbird too. Grin.
Ella,
ReplyDeleteI too was glad to see fantasies in the top 13 novels.
colleen,
ReplyDeleteI loved Wizard of Earthsea. Did you know there are other books in the series? Tehani and a book 5, Tales from Earthsea. I bet you'd like them.
I'm a bit surprised by the amount of children's/YA books on the list. And the fact that Birdsong is a fairly recent novel - not sure if something so new could crack my best-loved list. But I haven't read it - not really my style. #6 is my personal best-loved, along with The Sound & The Fury.
ReplyDeleteI know some by name, but I never even read a Harry Potter book !
ReplyDeleteI love your list! I read nos. 2, 5,(every book in the series voraciously), 10 and 12. I enjoyed the sightseeing at the town where J.R.R. Tolkien penned The Lord of the Rings; visited Charlotte and Emily's sister's grave (Anne's) in Scarborough; and briefly went over Orwell's Nineteen Eight-Four in gradschool. And can you believe I haven't actually read nos. 6, 7, and 9?
ReplyDeleteWonderful T13. Thanks a lot for posting this.
The Bumbles,
ReplyDeleteI was surprised by the YA and children's books too, but I'm guessing they just asked people to list their favorite books. There's something special about the books we read when we're young.
Gattina,
ReplyDeleteYou're a reader, but it's hard to read all the great books out there. Thanks for stopping by.
Hazel,
ReplyDeleteI'm envious. I'd like to visit the places you have. You're lucky.
I've got the BBC's Big Read book! I haven't read all of it, just browsed through, but I agree with most of the choices. =)
ReplyDeleteFrom your 13, I've read:
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, J.K. Rowling
6. To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee
9. The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, C.S. Lewis
10. Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë
12. Wuthering Heights, Emily Brontë
Lord of the Rings is too daunting for me, and I swear I'll read 1984 and Winnie the Pooh soon!! I haven't got the other two books...
Sorry for making the rounds late this week, and thanks for visiting my TT! =)
Betty,
ReplyDeleteIt's my pleasure to visit your blog. Us book-readers have to stick together.
I love the books on this list, but my favourite list is far longer :)
ReplyDeleteBrenda, you won over at Novel Spaces! Email me at leannareneehieber@yahoo.com and let me know if you'd like "Dark Nest" or THE STRANGELY BEAUTIFUL TALE OF MISS PERCY PARKER - blessings and congrats!
MiLady, I think I finally figured out how to log in to comment! I showed your blog to some of my friends. They love it.
ReplyDeleteThis list is great. Some of the titles listed are old, but terrific. It might be interesting to see the list your followers come up with.
I was hard-put to come up with MY list of 13. I got up to 7 before I realized it was easier to do the authors!
I missed the blog about a kitty. When did you get it? You didn't have it in August!