Novels

[Dewey]

I notice that most of us, when writing, tend to have our characters read very complex books. I was wondering why that was. I thought that maybe it was because most of us like those type of books, so I've decided to see who reads what type of books other than Harry Potter.

1. The Great Gatsby?
2. Sense and Sensibility?
3. Pride and Prejudice?
4. War and Peace?
5. A Tale of Two Cities?
6. The Beautiful and Damned?
7. The Scarlet Letter?
8. 1984?
9. This Side of Paradise?
10. anything by Dr. Suess?
11. London?
12. The Lord of the Rings?
13. The Hobbit?
14. Moby Dick?
15. Hello Moon?
16. Gulliver's Travels?
17. The Wizard of Oz?
18. Alice in Wonderland?
19. Alice in Quantamland?

[angeldust]

Well i've read the hobbit, lord of the rings, dr. suess and pride n predjudice but i useally live in the fantasy, horror n crime. E.g Agatha Cristie, thomas harris, terry pratchet

Kaitlyn

[Nerweniel]

Hey, interesting topic !
I mainly read Jane Austen and Muriel Spark (great Scottish writer, and not just because she wrote The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie ), along with, naturally, J. R. R. Tolkien (The Hobbit, LotR, The Silmarillion, Unfinished Tales). So from your list, I've read:

2. Sense and Sensibility?
3. Pride and Prejudice?
12. The Lord of the Rings?
13. The Hobbit?
14. Moby Dick?
16. Gulliver's Travels?
17. The Wizard of Oz?
18. Alice in Wonderland?

And that is SO not enough, I know... but hey, I'm sixteen, I have some years in front of me to read . I'm planning to read "War and Peace" and "1984" as soon as I can find them... and hey, you forgot to add SHAKESPEARE in your list . MY HERO !

Love,

Lies

[ginger newts]

Hmm, I don't have as much time to read anymore as I used to so I guess my prefered books might be considered "rubbish" by more literary people, but I'll tell you what I like.

Fanny Flagg (eg, Fried Green Tomatoes), Thomas Harris, selective Stephen King, I'm too lazy to go get the book, but the guy who wrote Wicked, Rebecca Wells (Divine Secrets).

Of your list, I read a few in high school and I did like The Great Gatsby, The Wizard of Oz, and The Hobbit. I also liked Jane Eyre and Tess of the D'Urbervilles. Great Expectations was probably the only Dickens I managed to slog my way through as a teenager. Now, I would like to read more Jane Austin, Dickens, and Shakespeare, but who has the time?

[Sensiblyquirky]

Hmmm this is interesting. I tend to love many British authors, including the Bronte sisters (not on your list), and I enjoy many American authors such as Wharton, Pat Conroy, Wally Lamb...

As to your list I have read:

1. The Great Gatsby
2.Sense and Sensibility
3.Pride and Predjudice
5.A Tale of Two Cities
7.The Scarlet Letter
9.This Side of Paradise-going to read over Christmas
10. Dr. Suess
12. Lord of the Rings
13. The Hobbit
18.Alic in Wonderland

I vaguely remember Gulliver's Travels but I can't remember if that was me reading it or a miniseries they did on it...so I'll say I haven't read it!

Christy

[Catwoman99]

Oh, a thread about books! Something right up my alley, seeing as I spend the majority of my days surrounded by them. Let's see, from your list I've read:

1. The Great Gatsby?
3. Pride and Prejudice?
7. The Scarlet Letter?
10. anything by Dr. Suess?
12. The Lord of the Rings?
13. The Hobbit?

I read them all when I was at school, so it's been a few years. Accept P&P, which I practically know by heart. Nowadays, I usually read fantasy novels by Terry Goodkind, Maggie Furey, Jane Lindskold, etc. Though every now and then I do read regular fiction (I highly recommend "Slammerkin" by Emma Donoghue.) and some mystery (JD Robb). I'll even read a bodice ripper once in a while just for fun. (Who can resist such wonderful titles like "A Pirate of Her Very Own.")

The current book I'm reading is actually a graphic novel called Marvel 1602. It's characters like the X-Men, Spider-Man, Daredevil, etc set in Elizabethan England. It's written by Neil Gaiman, who is a wonderful author and was very nice and funny when I met him.

I'm too lazy to go get the book, but the guy who wrote Wicked

It's by Gregory Maguire, whom I met at the same time as Gaiman, and he was very gracious and nice. Ok, I'll stop boring everyone now!

-April :-)

[TabbyForever]

OK this is an interesting one, please bare in mind that i've got a mass amount of study on at the mo and have just being given a b*******g for the amount of time i spend with my horse!!!
That said i have read off that list
1. 1984 fantastic book!!!!
2. The Wizard of Oz

I do also love, Jessica Wells, how can you not....its fabby!!!
Also the House of Mirth....that is a really sad story but very good!!!
Animal Farm was on our school reading list so i've read that....fantastic way of telling history without being shot for it!!
And One of my all time favourite books ever!!!!! Has got to be....The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy!!!!its soooooooo funny!!!!a big recommendation.


Other than that...your right liz...where's Shakespeare, i've read many a Shakespearian play!!!!He rocks!!!

Jem

[KayleeTonksLupin]

There's books other than Harry Potter? Hehe, Joking girls... :PAnyway, let's see, Dewey. I have read:
5. A Tale of Two Cities (condensed, kids' version. I'm sad. Must read novel properly.)
10. anything by Dr. Suess? (Lots)
13. The Hobbit? (Oh, yea.)
14. Moby Dick? (12th grade)
16. Gulliver's Travels? (yes, also 12th grade)
17. The Wizard of Oz? (Many times.)
18. Alice in Wonderland? (who hasn't?)
19. Alice in Quantamland? (Is this one a joke, Dew? ???Cause I never heard of it. Just asking...I know this is supposed to be books I HAVE read, but... )

[Isabelle]

Wow a thread about novels. I spent as much time studying my biology as I do reading, I'm sure I wouldn't have a C in it. Anyway from your list I have read:
1. the Great Gatsby? (Will be reading this year)
3. Pride and Predjudice? (Never got around to finishing it this summer)
5. A Tale of Two Cities?
10. Dr. Suess? (Just about all of them)
17. The Wizard of Oz
18. Alice in WOnderland?

I have to ask, what about the great American authors such as Steinbeck and Twain? I've read quite a few of those. Another good author is Dan Brown (Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons). His books are really good! ANyway just thought I'd ask.

Liz

[Tabby Bee]

I've only read the LOTR books, well tried to anyways. I read the Hobbit once, didn't really understand it, I was in 4th grade I think, so self explainitory there. The books I mostly read are all the books by Tamora Pierce (except for Trickster's Choice, started it, didn't like it.) Also, my brother's book. He hasn't gotten it published yet because he's halfway around the world. It's really good, I'm one of the few that really knows how it started, a dream. I could go on and on and on about it but you peoples wouldn't like that. But, if you're still curious just email me.

-TB

[Sior]

Lessee:
1. The Great Gatsby?
2. Sense and Sensibility?
3. Pride and Prejudice?
5. A Tale of Two Cities?
7. The Scarlet Letter?
8. 1984?
10. anything by Dr. Suess?
12. The Lord of the Rings?
13. The Hobbit?
14. Moby Dick?
16. Gulliver's Travels?
17. The Wizard of Oz?
18. Alice in Wonderland?

I'm an English Lit student, so during term time my only purpose in life is to read three or four set novels per week. It's wonderful. I get to sit and read all the time and at the end of it I get to add letters to the end of my name for doing it ^_^

Veering slightly off topic, I often find that certain classics put me in a reflective AD/MM mood. Victorian novels in particular. I suppose it's becose he's such a gosh darn gentleman and she can be so delightfully repressed *g*

[ArabellaFiggs]

He this is fun.
I read a lot of Jane Austen. She rocks.
From your list a read:

2. Sense and Sensibility?
3. Pride and Prejudice?
12. The Lord of the Rings?
13. The Hobbit?
16. Gulliver's Travels?

[ArabellaFiggs]

Grrr, stupid computer.
Pressed on the wrong bottun but wasn't finnishd.

I like the books from Sophia Kinsella.
Shopaholic and Can You Keep A Secret.

Another favourite is Helen Fielding with
Bridget Jones Diary.

I have read Dessert Flower from Waris Dirie.
Everybody must read that.
One of the best books ever.

At the moment I am reading The Reading Group,
written by Elizabeth Noble. I just stared but
from what I have read, I liked it very much.

[foci]

I'll come back and modify this post quite frequently because I'm catching up with my reading.

A thread about books, cool! Okay, bear in mind that I'm a poor little foreigner who has never set foot in any English speaking country, but from your list I've read:

1. The great Gatsby - and boy, was it good!
8. 1984 - great book, as is Animal Farm
11. something by London
12. The Lord of the Rings - of course!
16. Gulliver's Travels - I'm sure I read the whole thing, and guys, it's actually good and was worth it!
18. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland - which I found a bit queer for a children's book. (but it helped me realise where angeldust's avatar comes from)

Hm, I'm fairly sure that I've read books from other great English and American authors, like Shakespeare, I've read tons of Shakespeare. We only had to read Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet. But I read Macbeth, Othello, As you like it, A midsummer..., King Lear, The Tempest, The Winter's Tale, Twelth night, The taming of... (I don't even know the name of most of them in English).

Books that I enjoyed but aren't on your list: Anna Karenina, everything Dostoevsky, Bulgakov's The Master and Margaret, Durrenmatt's works, All quiet on the Western front (the only book I've read in German), The catcher in the rye, Ionesco's The bald soprano, Chekhov's works (and not just The Seagull), Joseph and his brothers from Thomas Mann, Ibsen's works (and A doll's house is not even his best!), Hardy's Tess of the D'Urbervilles, Les Miserables from Hugo, The picture of Dorian Gray, Strindberg's Miss Julie, The Trial from Kafka, and the list goes on...

I hated Candide and Madame Bovary and Waiting for Godot.

If you haven't read it, I strongly recommend When we dead awaken from Ibsen, Master and Margaret from Bulgakov (my third fave book - all time!), and Anna Karenina from Leo Tolstoy.

Nowadays, I'm reading AS Byatt, on mugglemin's recommendation, in English and it's fabulous!

[TartanLioness]

*hides* umm... okay... I'e never read any of those books.... sure, I tried to read LotR but I just... erm... couldn't.. *tries to avoid wrath from LotR fans* And well, I've *seen* Ailce in Wonderland... never read it... so yeah... I feel so young and dumb...

I've tried to find Pride and Prejudice at our library but I couldn't... only found Sense and Sensibility, which I'm not even half way through.... but I'm working on it! lol..

Cammie

[Tartan Tabby]

Well, from your list I've only read LotR, but I'm planning to read The Hobbit and 1984. I agree with foci, Animal Farm is great!
My favourites are Dan Brown ("Da Vinci Code", "Angels & Demons" and the one with the NASA (German title is "Meteor")), Diana Gabaldon (Outlander series), Marion Zimmer-Bradley (Avalon), Ken Follet (I've read "Säulen der Erde" and "Pfeiler der Macht" maybe someone knows the English titles )
I've also read Goethe, Schiller and Lessing at school. I have to say that I don't like Goethe very much, but unfortunately it’s required

[palanfanaiel]

Awww! I've read sooo many books, have completely forgotten around 55% of the titles though,
1984, I think I'll be reading soon, a friend recommended it, as soon as I find the time.
Now, easy all you LOTR fans, I'm actually reading The Hobbit and LOTR, but ain't finished yet, and probably won't for a long time. I really would like to though, just haven't found the time to, and when I do, there's lots of other books I would rather read... ;D

Alice in Wonderland, seen the movie, I would reckon, and read a kids-version, with ugly drawings and all, I was bored...

What's with Alice in Quantamland? It actually sounds rather hilarious... ;D

Presently I'm reading The DavinCi Code, which leaves completely intrigued, I find it very exciting... Will probably read Angels and Demons later on. Read Terry Goodkind, Terry Pratchett, Tamora Pierce, Stephen King, Dean Koontz (Sp?) =)...

The Wolfen by an author I can't remember, now this one is sooo awesome... It scared the shit out of me, I couldn't sleep all night, I read it around midnight, and I lay listening for noises all night.. Gah!

ROBERT JORDAN! Now please tell me there's a decent WOT'ter around here? This is the best, up there in th league with HP, definitely... ;D

Well, too tired to think of more, there's lots of more books, but my poor memory at this hour... *Yawns*

;D

Oh yeah, then there's this series, I'm not sure you know it, but it's about this boy, who learns he's a wizard... What's his name! Aaargh, I can never remember, I think it's Harold Dotter, or something... *Winks*

P

[foci]

Oh, yeah, I completely forgot. Everyone here seems to love Jane Austen...but I, like Cammie, have huge problems with her books. I didn't get past page 5 of Pride and Prejudice, which was recommended to me, I had the vague feeling, that whole sentences are missing from the books. Her style didn't suit me so I put the book down. Maybe I should try to read it English, GOF in English is way better in original than in any translation I could put my hand on.

[Jessabelle]

I've read:

1. The Great Gatsby?
3. Pride and Prejudice?
5. A Tale of Two Cities?
10. anything by Dr. Suess?
12. The Lord of the Rings?
13. The Hobbit?
14. Moby Dick?

[snowcat]

*Smiles* im well

12. The Lord of the Rings?
13. The Hobbit?
14. Moby Dick?
16. Gulliver's Travels?
17. The Wizard of Oz?
18. Alice in Wonderland

and I am reading Pride and Prejudice!
*stares at Cammie*

Elisabet

[Herzele]

Well, from the list I've just read "1984", "LotR" and "The Hobbit" and "Alice in Wonderland" ...
Other books ... Hmm ... I've read so many I can't remember all of them ... But I liked "Perfume" by Patrick Süßkind ... And the Ruwenda - Saga by Marion Zimmer Bradley, Andre Norton and Julian May ... And "Gone with the wind" and "Scarlett" ... And then of course there's Goethe, though I have to admit I just read the things we had to read at school ... And I didn't like that very much ...

[TartanLioness]

palanfanaiel said:

Oh yeah, then there's this series, I'm not sure you know it, but it's about this boy, who learns he's a wizard... What's his name! Aaargh, I can never remember, I think it's Harold Dotter, or something... *Winks*

hmmm... You know, I think I've read this series too... but I do believe the title is Perry Trotter... I may be wrong though.... I relly liked it but it's not very known, is it??

lol!

Love,
Cammie

[BlazeFourPaws]

1. The Great Gatsby?
2. Sense and Sensibility?
3. Pride and Prejudice?
4. War and Peace?
5. A Tale of Two Cities?
6. The Beautiful and Damned?
7. The Scarlet Letter?
8. 1984?
10. anything by Dr. Suess?
11. London?
12. The Lord of the Rings?
13. The Hobbit?
14. Moby Dick?
15. Hello Moon?
16. Gulliver's Travels?
17. The Wizard of Oz?
18. Alice in Wonderland?


I also read Tolstoy, Machiavelli, Goethe. I like Dickens to an extent and can hardly stand Steinbeck. Jane Austen is superb but my favorite author is Virginia Woolf. I also have this fierce addiction to Terry Pratchett. And this strange book hmm the main character has a horrid hero complex and even worse hair. His name is Barry Rotter and has friends names Anemonie Grungier and Donald Peasley.

[QuillofMinerva]

Has anyone read the FANTASTIC book, Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier?

It is my favorite book!

[BlazeFourPaws]

I read Rebecca about 4 years ago. I still have it somewhere about and should read it agan. I liked it well enough but my head is foggy supplying details.

[littlemorgsi]

2. Sense and Sensibility
3. Pride and Prejudice
12. Lord of the Rings
13. The Hobbit
16. Gulliver's Travels
18. Alice in Wonderland

I have also read Jonathan Swift's 'A Modest Proposal' which is the best essay I have ever read. Mostly because the satire makes it so incredibly amusing. But my favorite author by far is Tamora Pierce.

[amandahleigh]

Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass is my favorite non-HP book, b/c I am an Alice FREAK!

I also like some more obscure books, like The Skin I'm IN by Sharon Flake. No I know has ever erad it, but I love it. same with Joy School and So Far From the Bamboo Grove, Summer of My German Soldier and They Cage the Animals At NIght, all books for a younger level, but still so in depth and thought provoking and wonderful, I can read them over and over again at age 20, and probably will enjoy them at age 40 or 80 too.

Currently, I am really into VC Andrews' Flowers in the Attic and Petals on the Wind.

I just read a book called The Handmaid's Tale that was wonderful. I can't recall the author (Margaret something...) but it reminded me a little of The Giver and 1984, but different. It was incredible.

When I am loking to be inspired or to read something that will influence my writing, I like many many many different things. Catcher in the Rye, The Green Mile, Suffer the Children, several books by Mary Higgins Clark (Including Where Are The Children, All Around the Town and Nighttime is My Time)

I recently read a book called The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime, which is written as if penned by an autistic boy. It was incredible.

I also loved, for a different kind of read, The Da Vinci Code, Angels and Demons, and The Five People You Meet in Heaven.


And sometimes, if I am in the mood for a quicker but still interesting read (or when I am trying to pen a mystery, like the admm one I'm currently working on) I go for an old Nancy Drew book (of the original serioes, not the re-vamped 80s stuff!) or I pick up something by Agatha Christie, preferably a Miss Marple mystery.

[Dewey]

I've never read Flowers in the Attic, but a really good movie was made from it. The class I'm in is reading The Giver during our Sustained Silent Reading time, and so far it is very good. I'm the same way, if I feel like a quick read, I'll read an older Nancy Drew mystery; the ones from the eighties are all right, but they're not the same. -Kathy