My thoughts on the list

I've seen a bunch of similar lists, but I was kind of drawn to this one because there were a lot of titles I didn't recognize. That said, I still have some (ill-informed) opinions, and I've still read a few!

Books I've Read:

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
It's been a while on this one; I read it in middle school. Might be worth a reread if I feel like it; it wasn't a slog to get through by any means.

The Handmaid's Tale
Read for fun in high school. Not my favorite of the dystopian future-type books, but one of the better ones, for sure. Still, it didn't leave the strongest impact. Maybe I should read it again.

The Grapes of Wrath
Read for class in high school, and THANK GOD, because there's no way I'd get through this one on my own. I guess it was "important," but I didn't care for the book. All that really stuck with me is the poor turtle. Whatever happened to the turtle?

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
I read this in fourth grade, so I'll definitely be doing a reread. I hardly remember a thing, and I don't think I really understood it the first time, anyway.

Things Fall Apart
I think I was one of the only kids in the class who actually kind of liked this one; I know my sister hated it when she had to read it.

Frankenstein
Another one I liked from high school. I named the monster Phinneas. I felt so bad he didn't have a name! I really do think everyone should read Frankenstein, if only because the Frankenstein monster has become so distorted in modern times. It's a shame.

Ulysses
Well, I didn't actually read this one. I tried, I really did. And I'll try again. But this book is pretty much impossible. We'll see how far I get.

1984
Read it because I felt like I should. Absolutely amazing; my favorite of the dystopian future books.

Wuthering Heights
Okay, I haven't read this one, either. I got through a chapter during free period once, and was completely befuddled. But now I actually have a vague sense of the plot, which I think will help. Even though I don't really care for the Brontes.

Pride and Prejudice
I don't care for the Bronte sisters, as I said, and so I hate that they and Jane Austen are so often lumped together. They have totally different styles and purposes. I love you, Jane Austen! I love you, Mr Darcy! The only book on the list I've read multiple times.

Jane Eyre
Read it because my peers were all reading it, and I felt left out. Better than I expected, I must say, but I still felt like there was so much moralizing going on! And I didn't really get the appeal of Rochester, sorry.

Wow, only 11. I'm a little ashamed.

Books I'm Looking Forward to:

On the Road
I've been wanting to read this since I learned the show Supernatural was vaguely inspired by it. Which is maybe a horrible reason, but hey, whatever gets you to pick up a book!

Wide Sargasso Sea
Recently there was a kerfuffle in which self-righteous authors condemned fanfiction. Well guess what, bitches, here's a piece of fanfiction on a list of classics! Look, there's a lot of crappy fanfic, but there's a lot of crappy original writing, too. Where you get your inspiration doesn't determine the quality of the writing produced.

Catch-22
I feel bad about using the term "Catch-22" without having actually read the book. Also this way I'll stop conflating Catch-22 with Slaughterhouse 5 in my head.

The Trial
I read Metamorphosis back in 8th grade, and that was insane and amazing! So I'm more than willing to give Kafka a second look.

The Unbearable Lightness of Being
Okay, I don't know a thing about this book, but I've loved the title for years, so hopefully that's a good sign.

The Hound of the Baskervilles
I've been on a Holmes kick lately, but I haven't gotten to Baskervilles yet, and I'm super-excited. This will probably be my first read.

Middlemarch
A lot of people seem to be crazy about this book. Hopefully I haven't been misled.

Books I'm Dreading Already:

The Tale of Genji
I've studied Japanese. I love Japan. I think Murasaki Shikibu is awesome. But I have friends who've read this for class, and thought it was pointless and dragged. So. This may be one of those "important" but not actually worthwhile reads.

The Name of the Rose
I think my sister read this one and didn't care for it. And just know that I always judge books when the author's name is about three times as big as the title on the cover. That always bugs me.

The "Rabbit" books
Okay, they sound interesting, and are Pulitzer-winners, but is it really fair to put a SERIES on a list of novels? I think that's kind of cheating.

The Great Gatsby
I have this irrational aversion to those books everyone's supposed to read in high school. Maybe it'll be amazing! We'll see.

Les Miserables
I have the musical pretty much memorized. I love it. But...the book is SO LONG. And I have this problem where I hate any "alternate" version of a story. I think the Harry Potter movies are an abomination, because I read the books first. I thought the book Sense and Sensibility was a letdown because I saw the movie first. I can't bring myself to read the Kathy Reichs books because I watch Bones on TV, and it's already won my allegiance. I suspect the same thing will happen with Les Mis, because I already know the musical so well!

A Dance to the Music of Time
Seriously, another "saga"? Cheaters.

Tess of the D'Ubervilles
I read three pages, then gave up out of boredom. Hopefully it gets better with persistence.

In Search of Lost Time
Okay, if you want to sell me on something, describing it as a "seven-volume meditation on memory" isn't the way to do it. Nothing about that sounds appealing.

Austerlitz
Um, what exactly does the summary mean by "paragraph-free"? Because that sounds terrifying and awful.

Books I Might Have to Skip:

The Three Musketeers
I just. Really? I am so not interested, it isn't even funny.

Moby Dick
I read the Wishbone version; wasn't that enough?


My hope is to read most of these books, and write out what I think of them. I'm no English major, so I won't have much of worth to say. What I am is a social-science major, so I also want to analyze the content of the list as I go. How many of the books were written in English? By women? By people of color? When were they written? How many of the main characters are women? Straight? People of color?

I ask in part because, when reviewing the list, so many of the books seemed to be about man-things that, honestly, don't interest me that much. It looks like they tried to represent women and non-WASPs, but I'm worried all get sick of these themes of conquest and war and male bonding and men coming of age. If it gets too old, I might have to replace a few of the books with some off a list of books every woman should read. Because I'm a cheater like that.

And finally... Missing Books:

Shakespeare
I get that he didn't write novels, per se, but if you're going to bend the rules and put series of novels on, you could also bend them to include the most famous and influential writer of fiction ever. I'm thinking the Tempest, maybe.

Vonnegut
No Vonnegut? That seems criminal to me. I've only read three of his novels, but they are both AMAZING and deep. I suspect most people would advocate for Slaughterhouse 5, but I'm going to come out in favor of Cat's Cradle.

Rand
Maybe? I'm kind of surprised Atlas Shrugged didn't make the list. That said, I can't pretend to be all that disappointed.

A Clockwork Orange
I've only seen the movie, but I think this should be on the list. Just to torture people with. I don't have a better reason than that.

Animal Farm
Another of those books everyone is supposed to read. I saw a play version; does that count?

The Ancient Classics
Ulysses made the list; where's the Odyssey then? Or the Iliad? Or Oedipus? I know, I know, maybe we're stretching it on the "novel" front again, but I don't care. Also, Oedipus was way better than I expected. Also, Antigone? Medea? No? Fine.