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50 Greatest books of all time.

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Sago Sun 09-Aug-26 18:36:53

I am back after a little break and posting cautiously!

I have just read the Daily Telegraph’s 50 greatest books of all time list.

I have only read 5 and a bit of the 50 listed books, I tried James Joyce Ulysses but gave up halfway through, I felt I owed it to my Irish heritage 😬.

I can’t decide if this score makes me ill educated or fairly well read.

I was so pleased to see The Great Gatsby on the list, one of my favourite books of all time.
I have never forgotten the quote “ He looked at her the way all women want to be looked at by a man”
I was about 15 at the time and so enchanted by this book.

The other listed books I have read are; Persuasion, Animal Farm, My brilliant friend and Wuthering Heights.

I cannot believe I have never read The Iliad or Alice in Wonderland.

The books that have resonated with me the most but not on the list are Jane Eyre and The Alchemist.

So my questions are do you consider yourself well read and what book would you put in the top 50?

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YorkLady Sun 09-Aug-26 18:49:29

Hello…welcome back.
I can’t see the list as it’s behind a paywall but A Thousand Splendid Suns by Kahled Hosseini would be in there.

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Rocketstop2 Sun 09-Aug-26 18:51:17

Well, I think you can still be 'Well read' even if you've read nothing off these lists. I'm an avid reader and I've read many books that I thought had something really important and lasting to say and could have beat some on these lists.Of course I've also read a lot of things on the lists!
Ha I'm not sure I really answered your question but that's the best I could do !

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Rocketstop2 Sun 09-Aug-26 18:51:52

I loved 'A suitable boy' by Vikram Seth.

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valdali Sun 09-Aug-26 19:22:27

I'm glad 'my brilliant friend' was on there.

Think I read it after hearing about it on here, and the others in the trilogy, & also paid to watch the TV adaptation (which really got to me).

I'm italophile anyway, & just loved her writing.

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TerriBull Sun 09-Aug-26 19:28:14

These lists get on my nerves they're so prescriptive and they pretty much contain many of the same titles that are on other "so called 50 Greatest Books of All Time" Who decides what qualities books must have to make up a definitive list?. For some that list might contain titles diverse as The Hungry Caterpillar, Finnegan's Wake or Knitting with Dog Hair. I've generally read some on Telegraph type lists. Books are subjective so it's up to the individual. I'm an avid reader of reviews in publications such as The Times or The Guardian or I go on recommendations, but they're not a foolproof guarantee any more than 50 or 100 books YOU MUST read before you die are. I make up my own mind what constitutes a great book. Another person may think my choices are dire. What I do know is the books that I've been moved or swept away by, so much so I felt bereft when I'd finished them, have often stayed with me long after I'd reached the last page. Those are few and far between and they go back in time to different junctures of my life from early childhood onwards.

There aren't enough hours in the day to become truly well read imo. I often want to read more non fiction and regret that I don't get round to the books I've earmarked.

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