Journal Entry 1 by tqd from Sydney, New South Wales Australia on Sunday, October 14, 2007

Ok, I bought this book for myself some months ago, only to find out that my Mum had also bought it for me for my birthday (but had held onto it so she could finish reading it). So, once I got both copies, it was far too late to return either of them...

Bookcrossing to the rescue! I'm registering this copy, and will send it off on a bookray. Happy reading!

From the back of the book (all typos mine):

What are the ten greatest works of literature of all time?

That's the question we asked 125 leading writers. Tom Wolfe, Annie Proulx, Adriana Trigiani, Stephen King, Jonathan Franzen, Norman Mailer, Mary Gaitskill, and Alexander McCall SMith all took the challenge. Their answers provide the most authoritative guide yet to the world's most extraordinary books. A roadmap to exciting reading, The Top Ten points readers towards the best of the best.

It's a great little book, with different breakdowns of the lists, and essays from authors about their lists, or about the lists in general. Well worth reading! 

Journal Entry 2 by tqd from Sydney, New South Wales Australia on Sunday, October 14, 2007

Participants:

livrecache (as a "virtual" participant)
KLL
catsalive
DrCris
ukcanaus
Sujie

Guidelines:

1. There is no need to read this book in a "timely" manner. I'm taking weeks over my copy, dipping in and out. Take your time, enjoy the book! But, on the other hand, if you get caught up with life, and feel you can't get around to this one for some months, then please ask to be skipped, and I can easily put you at the end of the list.

2. When you get the book, please make a journal entry, so we all know where it's up to. And another journal entry when you've finished the book.

3. When you've finished it, please ask the next in line for their address, and then pop it in the post to them when you can.

4. Enjoy!

UPDATE 25-OCT-2007: Popped in the post to KLL today. Happy reading! 

Journal Entry 3 by livrecache from Hobart, Tasmania Australia on Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Just here to eavesdrop. I have a copy of this book too, and I'm curious to hear what others think of it. I hope legit bookring members don't mind, but tqd assured me that it'd be okay. I'll just lurk quietly. 

Journal Entry 4 by KLL from Perth, Western Australia Australia on Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Received in the post today! Looking forward to checking out these lists; this shoul be my second-to-next book to read ;-) 

Journal Entry 5 by KLL from Perth, Western Australia Australia on Wednesday, December 26, 2007

This was a really interesting book to read. I think it took me a bit longer to read than normal - I think because the formatting makes it a bit disjointed to read, though to be fair, it *could* have just been Christmas getting in the way. And, speaking of Christmas, it was pretty cool to receive quite a few books from the 1001 list for Christmas, having never really heard of them before, except for the fact that I'd read their blurb in this book just before!

I also though that women seemed to be better represented on this list than others I've seen, which was heartening :-) One small gripe: the intro states that only US and UK writers were surveyed, which i thought was a bit limiting anyway. However, this gripe was exacerbated when Peter Carey was mentioned a paragraphed or so later!!!! Peter Carey - and Thomas Kenneally, who was also asked - are Aussie!!! (And it does mention this on their blurb.) I loved the fact that some writers personalised their lists, with extra comments and such. Some possibly took their personalisation a bit far, by including their own books on their lists, which, i guess shows great 'confidence' in their own work...

Anyway, I'll PM catsalive now to get the book moving again. 

Journal Entry 6 by KLL from Perth, Western Australia Australia on Monday, January 07, 2008

On it's way to catsalive this morning! 

Journal Entry 7 by catsalive from Rooty Hill, New South Wales Australia on Monday, January 14, 2008

Thanks KLL. 

Journal Entry 8 by catsalive from Rooty Hill, New South Wales Australia on Sunday, February 03, 2008

I particularly liked Scott Turow's list because he told us why he'd selected certain books. It's an interesting collection. It has inspired me to give Flann O'Brien's The Third Policeman (p.83) another try - this is not an easy book to read but most people who have done so seem to think it worth the effort. It's also increased my desire to read some Barbara Pym, which I have been meaning to try for many years - Quartet in Autumn (p.205) sounded just the ticket. I only added one more book to my wishlist, Jorge Luis Borges' Ficciones (p.208) - he sounds an interesting man & Alberto Manguel's With Borges is already on said wishlist.

Thanks tqd. I'll send it on to DrCris ASAP. 

Journal Entry 9 by catsalive from Rooty Hill, New South Wales Australia on Monday, February 04, 2008

Posted to DrCris. 

Journal Entry 10 by DrCris from Templestowe, Victoria Australia on Monday, February 11, 2008

Gee, what day is it? Sorry. I received this book last week and sat down yesterday to journal it, and found the interwebs was down, so here I am finally marking it arrived. I am halfway through my first glance through and am finding it really interesting. I am particularly drawn to the lists of authors who I love - like Carl Hiassen and Peter Carey and find myself thinking I should read hated books again on their recommendation (like Catch-22). It is a fascinating read. 

Journal Entry 11 by DrCris from Templestowe, Victoria Australia on Wednesday, February 20, 2008

I enjoyed this book at the end. About halfway through I got a bit irritated about how serious all the recommendations were. However, I did find a number of books that are ones that I have to add to my list. As if I will ever read them! I will send this on to ukcanaus soon. 

Journal Entry 12 by DrCris from Templestowe, Victoria Australia on Monday, March 03, 2008

Sorry for the delay - life got in the way. This was in the post yesterday to ukcanaus. 

Journal Entry 13 by ukcanaus from Melbourne, Victoria Australia on Monday, March 03, 2008

Arrived safely today, which is timely as I finished my book this morning :) 

Journal Entry 14 by ukcanaus from Melbourne, Victoria Australia on Sunday, May 11, 2008

Eek! Sorry for taking so long with this. It was very interesting to read what authors, including some of my favourites such as Alexander McCall-Smith, considered great books, and what may have influenced their writing.

I also thought it was amusing to see some authors include their own works (that reminded me of when Don Bradman included himself for the best cricket team!).

This is now on its way to Sujie (sent today - May 12). Thanks, tqd, for sharing.

 

Journal Entry 15 by Sujie from Kangaroo Valley, New South Wales Australia on Thursday, May 15, 2008

Arrived yesterday, collected today. Thanks,ukanaus. Looks interesting. Dipping in, I note that Australian Christina Stead's "The Man who loved children" featured on Franzen's list, KLL. Another small cause for celebration!
No doubt this will make me hot under the collar about northern hemisphere dominance, but I'll enjoy getting there... 

Journal Entry 16 by Sujie from Kangaroo Valley, New South Wales Australia on Sunday, June 01, 2008

I love lists and true to my popular psycholgy Myers-Briggs profile, I make them for the future and then ignore them. At least with these, I also have a few new titles and authors to add to my mostly ignored TBR. I've also made a promise to myself to read O'Brien's "Third Policeman" again, failing as a student too long ago.
Some flaws in the research - wasn't Cal's victim his lover's husband not her father? It was very American...got sick of Scott Fitzgerald (my husband's BA thesis was on "The Great Gatsby"!) and Huck Finn. Interesting to note which Australians get noticed in the US. I'd love to see an Australian one of these. So saying, I've copied quite a few of my favourite writers' choices; it was fascinating and sometimes quite moving to see some chosen books, and I really enjoyed the essays.
Back to you, tqd? Thanks for the ring. 

Journal Entry 17 by Sujie from Kangaroo Valley, New South Wales Australia on Thursday, June 12, 2008

tqd has kindly let this book go...before I release, I'll send it as a RABCK to my sister, Winjijimmi. 

Journal Entry 18 by Sujie from Kangaroo Valley, New South Wales Australia on Friday, August 22, 2008

For release at Jing Jo OBCZ formerly TheSource, Kangaroo Valley.