Skip to main content
PBS logo
 
 

Discussion Forums - Hidden Gems Hidden Gems

Topic: The Best Novels You've Never Read

Club rule - Please, if you cannot be courteous and respectful, do not post in this forum.
  Unlock Forum posting with Annual Membership.
Generic Profile avatar
Subject: The Best Novels You've Never Read
Date Posted: 6/29/2007 9:17 PM ET
Member Since: 7/13/2005
Posts: 169
Back To Top

from New York Magazine (I think I'd only read 3!)

http://nymag.com/arts/books/features/2007/32390/

and this, too...

Which novels—and novelists—from the past several years will be taught in 50 years’ time?

 http://nymag.com/arts/books/features/2007/32391/



Last Edited on: 6/29/07 9:34 PM ET - Total times edited: 1
thk avatar
Linda S. (thk) - ,
Standard Member medalFriend of PBS-Silver medal
Date Posted: 6/29/2007 9:31 PM ET
Member Since: 10/4/2006
Posts: 317
Back To Top

I'm even worse.  I'm not sure I've even heard of any of them.  But I copied the list for future reference.

vprosser avatar
Standard Member medalFriend of PBS-Silver medal
Date Posted: 6/29/2007 10:04 PM ET
Member Since: 7/14/2005
Posts: 7,947
Back To Top

I haven't read any of them, but I do have Carol Shields' Unless on my Reminder list.

achadamaia avatar
Member of the Month medalPBS Blog Contributor medal
Date Posted: 6/29/2007 10:56 PM ET
Member Since: 3/31/2006
Posts: 28,608
Back To Top

Not only have I not read anything from these lists, I don't even think I've heard of any of those authors.  Well, 2 or 3 on the second list were familiar but that's it.

PinkyMac avatar
Date Posted: 6/29/2007 11:29 PM ET
Member Since: 7/13/2006
Posts: 348
Back To Top

Uh duh...I haven't read any of them nor did I recognize any of the authors. I don't feel bad though. It's only one group's opinion. I wonder what would go on a PBS list :)

Transamgirl avatar
Standard Member medalBox-O-Books medal
Date Posted: 6/30/2007 11:27 AM ET
Member Since: 10/17/2006
Posts: 1,494
Back To Top

I have Unless and Banishing Verona on my TBR pile, otherwise the only other book I had heard of was Atonement.  Honestly most of them didn't really look very interesting to me.

Caryn9802 avatar
Date Posted: 6/30/2007 3:35 PM ET
Member Since: 7/13/2005
Posts: 8,410
Back To Top

I have Home Land and Banishing Verona in my TBR pile.

Generic Profile avatar
Date Posted: 6/30/2007 10:30 PM ET
Member Since: 6/3/2007
Posts: 4
Back To Top

Wow, I feel so UNwell-read! Haven't heard of, much less read any of those books or authors! Oh well, fortunately I' m more concerned about what I like than what someone else says I should like!   ;-)

bananapancakes avatar
Date Posted: 6/30/2007 11:09 PM ET
Member Since: 4/17/2007
Posts: 918
Back To Top

I added 2 of them to my WL. I have both of Jhumpa Lahiri's books on TBR pile.

Criskat avatar
Friend of PBS-Silver medal
Date Posted: 7/8/2007 2:20 PM ET
Member Since: 2/24/2007
Posts: 6,447
Back To Top

That's about how I feel Donna! I read for me, not to please anyone else. LOL And I really hate being told I have to read something. It brings out an instant animosity toward a book. <G>

Criskat avatar
Friend of PBS-Silver medal
Date Posted: 7/8/2007 2:28 PM ET
Member Since: 2/24/2007
Posts: 6,447
Back To Top

I think it should have been entitled "The Best Books You've Never Heard Of" . LOL

Generic Profile avatar
Date Posted: 7/8/2007 3:20 PM ET
Member Since: 2/16/2006
Posts: 210
Back To Top

Thanks so much for posting the list. Lydia :)

I think the point of the list (Best Books You've Never Read) was that the books were supposed to be new to us.  I don't think it was telling anybody they had to read them (anymore than a glowing review anywhere does).  It's a cool list of recs & I'm ALWAYS looking for recs, so thanks again, Lydia.

Generic Profile avatar
Date Posted: 7/8/2007 6:58 PM ET
Member Since: 7/13/2005
Posts: 169
Back To Top

Thanks, Susan!  I was beginning to think I was being "flamed" for posting the lists here, under the HIDDEN GEMS section!  LOL!

Generic Profile avatar
Date Posted: 7/8/2007 9:03 PM ET
Member Since: 2/16/2006
Posts: 210
Back To Top

I just ordered a book from your shelf, Lydia :)

Generic Profile avatar
Date Posted: 7/10/2007 3:09 PM ET
Member Since: 5/13/2007
Posts: 5
Back To Top

I have only even heard of TWO of them before.  LMAO.  And yet another piece of evidence that I've been engrossed in toddler books lately.  One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish.  I think I'm going to scream if I have to read it again!

 

sassenach avatar
Friend of PBS-Silver medal
Date Posted: 7/10/2007 3:27 PM ET
Member Since: 9/19/2006
Posts: 2,940
Back To Top

From the best novels list, I just ordered Unless from Barnes & Noble, and have The Teahouse Fire on my WL.  Thanks for the list, I am always looking for new and different things to read!

L avatar
L. G. (L)
Date Posted: 7/10/2007 4:11 PM ET
Member Since: 9/5/2005
Posts: 12,412
Back To Top

Tender Land and A Primate's Memoir are both excellent.

 

Generic Profile avatar
Angie -
Date Posted: 7/16/2007 12:37 PM ET
Member Since: 2/24/2007
Posts: 3,299
Back To Top

None of those books even look like anything that I even WANT to read.

dixiegirl avatar
Friend of PBS-Silver medal
Date Posted: 7/19/2007 2:09 PM ET
Member Since: 6/6/2007
Posts: 489
Back To Top

I've never heard of those books either. One of the best books I've read in the past few years was Canaan by Charlie Smith. It's a novel set in the south about a crazy , rich spoiled woman. I really enjoyed it, maybe I'll read it again!:)

Tracy

bananapancakes avatar
Date Posted: 7/19/2007 3:58 PM ET
Member Since: 4/17/2007
Posts: 918
Back To Top

Lydia- I want to thank you for the link too. A couple of the books look really good. I am always looking for good books to add to my collection. I was just browsing your bookshelf and wishlist and got some ideas as well. I have about 75% of your bookshelf myself. LoL.

Generic Profile avatar
Date Posted: 7/19/2007 7:23 PM ET
Member Since: 7/13/2005
Posts: 169
Back To Top

Megan,

I just studied your wishlist for quite some time and added to mine until I ran out of room!  How did you find out about so many interesting books?  The covers of all of them are so eye-catching!  It kind of reminded me of how some day I want to take a pad and pen to Target and copy all the names of their pretty books and look for them here at PBS!

Lydia

Generic Profile avatar
Date Posted: 7/20/2007 8:05 AM ET
Member Since: 8/31/2005
Posts: 100
Back To Top

There's a few I've heard of before and three I think I will get.  But some of those selections just do not sound appealing.  Just what is so interesting about the experiences of a post man?  

Generic Profile avatar
Date Posted: 7/24/2007 12:37 PM ET
Member Since: 7/13/2005
Posts: 169
Back To Top

Well, I'm finally on my way and I finished one book on the list, The Fall of the Sparrow.  It was quite long so it took me a week or so.  It was a little over my head in a bunch of places, or actually A LOT over my head because there was a lot of Italian history and Greek stuff.  I really did enjoy it though and came to really care for the main character.