The book group I'm in has read 122 books over the years it has existed. I don't know why you'd want a list, but maybe you want to start your own book group and need some ideas. I joined the group at Book # 73, although I haven't read every one of the books since I joined. I've only read 12 of the books that the group read before I joined. The book group definitely expands my reading horizons and gets me reading things I wouldn't ordinarily choose. It helps me understand things better and see the books I read in a new way, especially when we disagree on a book, which is often. We had a rowdy fight about Bleak House on Sunday.
Books 1-100 are here.Download book_list_1100.doc
Books 101-122 are here. Download book_list_101.doc
There's some good stuff there, what I've read of it anyway. Some of it seems a bit Oprah-ish, though. That's not a criticism, but it makes me wonder how much the boost in Oprah's books comes from book clubs.
Posted by: Jared | January 25, 2006 at 03:07 PM
Jared --
Besides the fact of some overlap between our list and Oprah's selections, I don't know what you mean by "Oprah-ish". Is there some kind of characterization of a book that is Oprah-ish? What is it? Can a book that Oprah hasn't yet selected be "Oprah-ish"? For myself, besides recognizing that a lot of the books she's highlighted are well-written, I can't identify the common thread of the books that have been part of her club.
Our group doesn't pay much heed to Oprah. We neither avoid Oprah selections for fear of seeming too mainstream, nor do we seek them out. I think we generally respect the caliber of books she chooses, though.
Posted by: Scheherazade | January 25, 2006 at 03:57 PM
That looks like a nice variety of books. Does your book club have a formal structure for selecting books?
Posted by: will | January 25, 2006 at 04:07 PM
some great stuff on there!! I love the idea of mixing it up over "Bleak House." (Did your formerly being a lawyer add something to the experience of reading it?) I think Masterpiece Theater is running a version of "Bleak House" this month or next.
Posted by: ms | January 26, 2006 at 05:56 AM
::sigh:: I wish I had the time to be in a book club. What a GREAT way to expand your view of the world!
Posted by: Denise | January 26, 2006 at 07:42 AM
I would guess there are no men in this reading group. Why not throw in the "Yellow Wallpaper" and be done with it.
Posted by: Ima Fake | January 30, 2006 at 06:45 PM
about I went sweet, decay year names. with a and began
Posted by: oceangoogle | June 02, 2008 at 03:25 AM