Thread: Books that are must reads before you die ?

When I was about 13 I saw the film Lawrence Of Arabia with Peter O'Toole. I loved the movie and soon found out that Lawrence had written a book called The Seven Pillars of Wisdom. I cannot remember how old I was when I got my first copy but probably in the neighborhood of 14.

I was a reader and had read most of what John Steinbeck and James Jones had written. Some of Hemingway, Dumas and Conan Doyle. Dostoevsky and Tolstoy came later. I couldn't read Lawrence in spite of trying time after time. Other books that I wanted badly to read and couldn't get into were Moby Dick by Melville and Don Quixote by Cervantes.

I have had a number of copies of these books over the past forty some years and repeatedly tried and failed to complete them. When I turned 60 the realization that I had a lot more life behind me than ahead of me kicked in. I made a resolution to read the Lawrence, Cervantes and Melville books.

I bought the 1922 reprint edition of Seven Pillars and read the 813 pages. It was a slog at times requiring discipline to persevere but worth it. Winston Churchill was quoted as saying it was one of the greatest books in the English language. I don't know about that but some of it was terrific.

Next came the Samuel Putnam two volume translation of Don Quixote and it too was a slog at over 1,000 pages. I had read one volume 25 years ago but bogged down and never picked up volume two. I had read somewhere that vol 2 was better and so it was. Not that one wasn't good. It was a rewarding read.

Now I am starting out on Moby Dick and I will finish it. Next up is Marcel Proust Remembrance Of Things Past. Another one I tried and failed to read 25 or 30 years ago. Keeps life interesting. Anyone else have books that are must reads before they die ?

I would say that your choice of Moby Dick is excellent. One of the best books i've ever read (done this at least 3 times if i remember it right).

I would get to my list most books from these authors:

Herman Melville
John Steinbeck
Jose Saramago
Joseph Conrad
Antoine De Saint Exupery
Antti Tuuri
Mika Waltari
Jari Tervo
(last 3 are Finnish and i believe their books have never been translated).

Then there are hundreds of writers who had made few glorious books while the rest are not so unforgettable, IMHO. I would name such writers like:

Umberto Eco: Foucaults Pendulum, the name of the Rose
Ray Bradbury: Something wicked this way comes
Peter Hoeg: Sense of snow
Niko Kazanzakis: Zorbas
Jim Harrison: True north, Returning to earth
Richard Ford: Multitude of sins
Carlos Ruiz Zafon: the shadow of the wind
Roald Dahl: Uncle Oswald
Jerome K Jerome: 3 men in a boat

To mention a few. I think i could go on with this list without knowing when to stop. I think i'm a reader too.

Great selection Jimmy! Like you I have worked on the classics for many years. Two books come to mind for me, Thomas Pynchon's "Gravity's Rainbow" and Proust's epic tome that is on your list. I have read all of Pynchon's other books. I have started "Gravity's Rainbow" over ten times, but can't seem to get very far. The book is about 750 pages and the companion book (or guide) is another 350 pages. One book I will read for the third time before I die (all things willing) is Thomas Mann's "Magic Mountain". There is so much good stuff to read out there, now all I need to do is to pull myself away from the computer and my little hone zone and get to reading!

Nice list Sailor! For Saramago "The Year of the Death of Ricardo Reyes" is an absolute must.

Two other books I need to add are Joyce's Ulysses and Finnegan's Wake. I tried and failed with both of those....especially the latter. For that a guide book is definitely necessary. I read Dubliners and found it to be very good. Thanks to you gents for the lists of books and authors, some of which I know of and some that I didn't. I look forward to the contributions of others and I hope I live long enough to read them all. .

I'm a firm believer that everyone needs to read:

Ulysses by James Joyce
Gravity's Rainbow by Thomas Pynchon

They're big and intimidating, but by far the most rewarding books I have ever read. and they are both HILARIOUS and BEAUTIFUL. I think Joseph Campbell is an excellent companion to anything Joyce, his books and his lectures. If you can't find them, PM me. They're worth it.

I also think Understanding Media by Marshall McLuhan is an important read for anyone who uses or is involved with technology (read: everyone)

After that, the one book I must read before I die is the one I haven't written yet.

edit: ya'll beat me to it! Finnegans Wake is a category unto itself, but everyone should do the first page at least.

The Twilight series, I am a sucker for romance novels

Hey Bassguy, I love your Pynchon avitar! And a big thumbs up for Joyce's romp around Dublin with dear Mr. Bloom.

I could recommend many books I think are "great books" but there is one in particular that tops the list: Le Morte d'Arthur by Sir Thomas Malory. See Le Morte d'Arthur - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

There are many editions of this and it is important to get a good one. What you want:

1. You want a version based on the Winchester manuscript, not the Caxton. That narrows the field as most seem to be based on the inferior Caxton manuscript. Probably due to copyright issues in mid 20th century.
2. "Regularized" (or modernized) spelling, but NOT "Translation/paraphrase into contemporary English". This actually reduces the field considerably. You could try an "original" version but I think that would be overly difficult with no added benefit except if you are a medieval scholar.
3. You do NOT want a condensed version, especially one where the "naughty parts" are taken out. They are often quite humorous. (Intentionally so, I believe. EDIT: Here is an example: Lancelot jumping out of Guinevere's window and landing in a bed of thorns when Arthur approaches! Well, I think it was them -- there is more than one love triangle.)

I tried to find a good edition online but was not able to find my favorite. This might be the best available, but I have not seen it: Amazon.com: Le Morte Darthur (Norton Critical Editions) (9780393974645): Sir Thomas Malory, Stephen H. A. Shepherd: Books. I think this may fall a little short in the "regularized spelling" category. You may actually prefer that.

Of all the books I have read, this one took me to another place and time better than any. This is on an emotional level. I was truly sad to get to the end. I have gone through it more than once. Don't give up on some of the seemingly tedious parts -- they will eventually draw you in.

Excellent choices all! Some favorites that I have repeatedly recommended to friends are:
Wind, Sand and Stars by Saint Exupery
With The Old Breed at Pelilieu and Okinawa by Sledge
Catch-22 by Heller
The Grapes of Wrath by Steinbeck
Atlas Shrugged by Rand