This weeks question is:
What one literary work must you read before you die?
What literary works do I need to read before I die? Wow. That's a really big question. There are so many great authors that I want to have a chance to experience. This year I plan to make it through the rest of Shakespeare's plays (I've already done about half), so I'll hopefully be able to take that off my bucket list fairly soon. If I was really going to make a list of books I'd be actively upset over on my deathbed It would go a little something like this:
Infinite Jest - Foster Wallace - This is probably going to be my summer read, as I constantly hear that this is a 'summer after college, finding yourself' kind of experience.
On the Road - Kerouac - The original scroll was at my school last year and I never went to see it, really, I haven't had any interest in Kerouac until lately, but he is talked about so much that I would be interested to read him, and sad if I never got around to it.
1984 - Orwell - I feel like such a bad reader for having never having read this. I've quoted it quite a bit, just from overexposure, but I feel like a fraud. FRAUD I SAY. Sorry, I'm being over dramatic.
Those are the top three books I'd be upset over at the moment. I couldn't just pick one. Sorry, I'm bad with instructions.
Funfact: My favorite word in Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone is mimblewimble.
21 comments:
1984 is my choice as the novel that everyone should read before they die. I feel the same way about On the Road as you feel about 1984 - embarrassed that I haven't read it yet. I'll get around to it soon!
I just had a middle of the night conversation with my husband and his next read is 1984. He's working through the classics and just finished one of my favorites, To Kill a Mockingbird.
Here's my answer:
http://bookbelle0819.blogspot.com/2011/03/what-one-literary-work-must-you-read.html
Enjoy!
I loved 1984, but I still have to read On the Road. I am ashamed to say thatI have read only a few of Shakespeare's works.
On The Road is definitively a good choice. It's a good summer read. I'm sure the sun give it a new weird meaning that elude the readers during night or winter.
Except for the first one, I have the other two and loved both!
I have mentioned poetry in my post. Come check the poets listed there.
Here is my Literary Blog Hop post!
I love on the road and especially 1984! You should definitely read them hehe. I really couldn't decide... Come and tell me what I should read before I die :)
http://devouringtexts.blogspot.com/2011/03/literary-blog-hop-march-17-20.html
Dont be embarrassed that you haven't read 1984
someone had to make me read it in college
I've been meaning to read 1984 for awhile as well. I hope I get round to it in the next couple of years! I'm curious about the quotes you use from 1984...I don't know if I've ever come across any...
To me, On the Road is THE Great American Novel
I really need to read 1984, too. But I don't think you're missing much with On the Road. I read it in college and was pretty not excited about it.
Loved on the road, infinite jest is on my Tbr so good choice, my favourite word of the moment is ardvark
Good choices - Shakespeare is so fundamental. I read a lot of him as an English major. The neat thing is you see how the plots inspire later works. I haven't read either On the Road OR 1984 - and both have been highly recommended. I don't know if I could do Infinite Jest...am I a wimp??
Hi,
On the Road is on my faves list. But I wouldn't recommend it to everyone. I love it because I'm a nomad and bohemian. So the magic is self-evident to me.
Good for you wanting to read all of Shakespeare! I haven't read anything by him and I don't feel like I should - he's not in my cultural heritage, that's my excuse, anyway!
Sounds like you've got your summer reading sorted out already!
I would totally skip On the Road, but that's me. I think I picked it in a blog hop that was the book you had to read but hated! All of Shakespeare's plays is a good, solid answer.
I also want to read Infinite Jest. Badly. Not so sure of On the Road. I was working my way through Shakespeare a while ago but I stopped.
Infinite Jest is on my Nook, and I really am going to read it sometime very soon...1984 is definitely worth tackling right now!
Ha ha - I love that you put in mimblewimble. Now you have to use it in a sentence. :D
I've got 1984 on my list. For some reason, I feel like Kerouac and I wouldn't get along. I have no justifiable reason for that; just a hunch. I do want to try him, though, if for no other reason than to prove myself correct...
Yes, yes, yes, you MUST read 1984!!!!!! Your life will never be the same!
I forgot about Infinite Jest! I really want to read that before I die, too. But I picked another book for this week's question. Read about it here:
http://restlessreader.com/?p=2744
Great pics. The Beats rock in general and Kerouac is king. Though if you do like On the Road, I recommend moving on to Ken Kesey. Infinite Jest is on my list for this summer as well.
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