So, I actually sat in front of my monitor going through the entire list and checking off what I'd read. Out of 1001, I've read 26 titles. I couldn't remember if I'd read some titles or if it was the movie that I'd seen, so I didn't count those.

It was cool to go through the list because I reminded myself of books that I always meant to read, like Perfume and The Satanic Verses. Mary, did you read Manon de Sources in french? What about Jean de Florette? I didn't read those, but I definitely saw the films with Gerard Depardieu.

Oh, did you notice how the titles change through the years? I mean, obviously, they are all different, some more similar than not, but there seems to be a pattern or something. I thought that was cool. For example, I don't think that I would ever confuse the title The Curious Incident...with a 19th century book, or even earlier, or Adjunct: An Undigest.

I'm going to bookmark this page. If I can't find something good to read, I'll come back to this list.

ana | October 17, 2006 9:42 PM

Ana, I had the same problem with not being able to remember if I had read the book or seen the movie. I also didn't count a few books from high school English classes because I'm sure that I never finished them even though the stories were familiar.

I read Jean de Florette in French (which didn't make the list) but not Manon des sources. Both were also great movies and it annoys me that they're not available here (except used) any longer. For French books on the list, I've read L'amant by Duras, La nausee by Sartre, Candide by Voltaire, and a few others I can't remember without going through the whole list again.

I hadn't paid much attention to the change in titles, so I'm going to have to go through it again now that you pointed it out. I did notice that some authors were a bit overrepresented. Seriously, is it really necessary to read Jane Austen's entire catalog? And, come on, Coetzee? One book of his was enough for me, so I guess I'll never read all 1001.

In any case, it's a good list overall. I'm keeping a copy, too, for future book ideas.

marydell | October 17, 2006 10:53 PM

I've read 89, heavily concentrated in the 20th and 21st centuries, and there are 36 on my to-be-read list or shelf.

Right now I'm reading _Heart, You Bully, You Punk_; has anyone read it?

daisy | October 19, 2006 11:50 PM

only 33 for me. i found seymour-smith's _the 100 most influential books ever written_ to be a significantly more interesting (and historical) list, though i don't have a copy on hand...

eddie | October 20, 2006 7:22 AM

Daisy, I did terribly with the 2000s (only 7) and not much better with the 20th century. As for TBR books, I know I have a lot of the ones mentioned on the list. I'd count, but TBR books are all over the house. Haven't read Heart, You Bully, You Punk.

Eddie, of course you found that list more interesting! 1001 Books/Die is all fiction while 100 Most Influential is mostly non-fiction and philosophy. Since you mentioned it, I'll write a post and put it up on the homepage so others can see it as well.

marydell | October 20, 2006 8:38 AM