50 Greatest books of all time.

French Lieutenants Woman. John Fowles

Kane & Abel is my personal favourite of all time.

I am always happy to peruse a reading list! There are so many books and so little time...I have copied out the Guardian's list of 100 and am awaiting Middlemarch to be released from a hold at my library. I tried to read the ebook version but I just couldn't stick with it--I prefer a book in hand. Then I watched the series on Brit Box, such an excellent story! So I am excited to try and dive back in. As for the rest of the list, there are many I have never heard of and am happy to give them all a go. If a book doesn't catch me quickly, I will not finish it, life is too short. I find my reading tastes differ from almost everyone else I know so I am not usually happy with other's recommendations...I do lean towards the literary or British detective fiction so the Guardian list is a bit of gift and I have kept a copy of the Telegraph one as well. Thanks to the OP!

I've read 13, The Illiad, Metamorphoses and Gibbons as part of Classical studies. Animal Farm, O levels I think. I tried reading the Hilary Mantel and I found her writing styles very difficult, I felt she was trying to be too clever and a bit pretentious. I'm very lax when it comes to reading the acclaimed modern works there are so many classics I'm still exploring.

Grand total of 11 books read from that list. But then I read books that appeal to me not books that some pretentious snob thinks everyone should read to look well read & better than anyone else! I read what I like now because all my years working in Libraries gave me a chance to read anything available! A lot of the books on this list are extremely difficult to like as not everyone has the same taste! So sticking to my Ancient History text books & my SF & Fantasy Fiction. Nice escapism if that is what someone needs as I do!

I haven't seen the list but I am quite confident that I probably haven't read one of them.

WelshPoppy

I haven't seen the list but I am quite confident that I probably haven't read one of them.

Well I was surprised at 5!

I read a lot of classics as a teenager thanks to the best English teacher in the world, were it not for her I would never have read To Kill a Mocking Bird, The Brontes, Jane Austen etc.

My mother was more at home with Maeve Binchy and I would guess my Father had read all 50,I was not encouraged to read but it was better than sitting watching television with them.

who is MM? initials aren’t always a good idea.
Brilliant book which I’m reading for 2nd time is “Riding The Iron Rooster” by Paul Theroux, or should I say PT?

Risible list imo. I believe myself to be well read but this list is a nonsense.

Dry as bones that list! Too many ancient texts and modern titles picked for woke reasons.

I don’t consider myself well read, if I don’t enjoy a book I won’t finish it - life’s too short.

I would find it hard to choose between Little Women and Gone with the Wind.

I have read 12 on the list, but in common with other posters, I agree that any list is subjective, and as an avid reader, I have read many books that I feel should be included.
I do consider that I am "well read" because I read at least five books per week (thanks to my local library) and that fact that I now live alone and have plenty of time for reading.

I have just joined Gransnet and posted on this forum but no idea where it landed!!!

It was only to agree that these lists are so subjective and include titles because it makes them seem cleverer than the rest of us
Anyway, on a more positive note, South Riding and Barchester Chronicles would be top of my list

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Ooos sorry though I was on the 50 book thread please ignore.

"Forever Amber" by Kathleen Winsor, published 1944 (I think.)

Pure historical escapism which I must have read 10 million times.

Unfortunately, when it was made into a film Hollywood and the censors shredded it with their brutal puritanism and sucked the heart right out of it.

Kathleen Winsor had put so much work into her research and the detail was overwhelming - but after the copywriters had filleted it then it might as well have been a Mills & Boon.