How many of the Big Read books have you read?

Question

I've read 44 in total on the list of 200:
10 in 1-21
22 in 22-100
13 in 101-200
You can find the full list at http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/bigread/
Which do you recommend? Which do you think are overrated?

Glad to know you're having fun. For those of you who don't know about the big read, it's not a list of books recommended by the BBC for the heck of it. These were books voted for by the British public, which explains why it is so diverse (mix of kids/ adults books).

Answer 1

Hi there! Sad confession time...
Since the list came out I have been tracking down the books I have never read and reading them, so I have read all of the 100 and 88 of the second hundred (I have 3 of the missing 12 here, ready to go).
The true abominations on either list have been Bridget Jones Diary and Ulysses, neither of which I could recommend to other than my worst enemy! Also, I swear that every Jacqueline Wilson book is the same book - it isn't a bad book, it is just the SAME book! I cannot like Stephen King (yet The Green Mile was as good as The Stand and It were turgidly bad. Who knew?)
Best treats? The classics, some of which I reread, proved that their reputations are well earned, so enjoy. All the Tolkeins, Pratchetts, Rowlings etc clearly deserve to be there too.
Best surprises? Holes was extremely good. The Thorn Birds and Flowers in the Attic, both books I would have rather gnawed my own leg off than have picked up, both proved to be visually intense and psychologically powerful experiences that I am now glad to have read.
Surprise Star of the Show? I Capture the Castle. I had never even heard of it, then it blew me away - absolute brilliance!
To be honest, I can see me rereading nearly all of the list, a handy reckoner on what to read next.
Final word? My fellow Brit readers/voters know their stuff!
Cheers, Steve.

Answer 2

What a neat list! Thanks for passing it along. I've read 68 of the first 100 books; I didn't look any farther than that, yet. I like how there are kids' books mixed in with the adult books. I think it would do a lot of adults some good to read some so-called "young adult" literature. Some of it is surprisingly good!

Recommendations: Anything by Charles Dickens, especially "A Tale of Two Cities," anything by Roald Dahl, especially "Matilda," and anything by John Steinbeck, especially "The Grapes of Wrath." I also really enjoyed "The Stand," "Rebecca," "Dune," "The Great Gatsby," and "Holes." "The Godfather" was fantastic, even better than the movies.

Overrated books: "On the Road," definitely. I can't stand the Beat Generation. "The Hobbit" was unbearably dull, not nearly as good as "The Lord of the Rings" books that followed. I couldn't understand the appeal of "A Prayer for Owen Meany;" everyone said it was hysterically funny but I hated it. Same goes for "One Hundred Years of Solitude." I also disliked "Artemis Fowl."

Thanks again for the list; it's given me lots of ideas!

Answer 3

Oh god I think I spend too much time reading
I've read 16 of the top 21
40 between 21 and 100
and 27 between 100 and 200

I have to admit to being a primary teacher so had to count the Roald Dahls and the Jacqueline Wilson's.
I did have to smile at 199 - the very hungry caterpillar by eric carle
I read it today to 20 very happy 8 year olds and then again in French!!!!!

Great question bought back some lovely reading memories

Answer 4

I've read 32 - and did an english degree ! - which sounds shocking at first, but I don't agree with the sheer number of Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter books in there - and the thorn birds for goodness sake! Half of the list is an excellent choice - the rest seems as though the bbc went a little downmarket to make it more interesting....

Answer 5

22 out of the 200........

HOWEVER, I have read a lot and most of the books I read were not on there eg -
David Eddings X 19
Bernard Cornwell X 26
George M Fraser X 12
Dean Koontz X 32
Richard Woodman X 12

Then there all the other trilogies / one off stories I have read as well.

Which of the list is overrated?

TERRY PRATCHETT !!!! Some of his books are reasonably funny and others seem are dire.

Harry Potter - I think that they are tailing off a bit.

LOTR - Okay, I know that some people would want to strap me to the walls of Helms Deep for that comment AND its a strange thing to say as I am a MASSIVE fan of the film (I've collected the action figured, met loads of the cast and even saved my cinema ticket stubs and had them framed) BUT the book is VERY HARD GOING in places, to the point of boredom & it can be very confusing.

Answer 6

you do no longer say what sort of e book you like, yet i might say for a classic Anna Karenina and for a summer season examine Palomino by Danielle Steele or in line with threat long previous With the Wind. Watership Down is likewise a dazzling e book to ascertain.

Answer 7

wow i've just checked to find i've read 18 of the top 21, i'm quite impressed with myself!
then 23 out of 22-100
21 in 101-200

soi've still got plenty more to go at though!!!
If anything i'd say there's maybe a bit too much Terry Pratchet in the list, i've got nowt aginst him but it's a bit excessive!!

Answer 8

107 in total.

18 in 1-21
47 in 22-100
42 in 101-200

I'm thrilled to see "A Prayer For Owen Meany" by John Irving in there, it's one of my all time favourites. My number one recommendation though, is "To Kill A Mockingbird" if you haven't read it...do so now!!

Answer 9

Hmm...I've read 23...that's not too many really! I read Catch-22 recently and I really liked it -it's probably the funniest book about war there is, but it has tragic moments too.

Answer 10

Geez I've read 48, didn't expect that many!! Cool.