The Great American Read

[PollyannaMom]

Anyone watching on PBS? Have you voted for your favorite yet? Have you read anything new just because it's on the list?

https://www.pbs.org/the-great-american-read/books/#/

 

[FlightlessDuck]

This list has "A Separate Peace"? Seriously?

Ugh.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Ok, seriously, this is the first I heard of this list. There's a couple books in here I've never heard of but might check out, stuff I have on my list to read eventually, stuff I've read, and stuff I will never, ever read.

 

[Shellsbutt]

Anyone watching on PBS? Have you voted for your favorite yet? Have you read anything new just because it's on the list?

https://www.pbs.org/the-great-american-read/books/#/

Yes, I watched the original special when it first aired. Most of the books from this list I read back in high school. I voted for Anne of Green Gables, but where is Little House on the Prairie? I would've voted for that series. I question the Twilight and Hunger Games series, but I'm sure they're trying to appeal to younger readers. I admit I have read those too! When they came out with the list, I decided to check out A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. That was a very interesting book, highly recommend!

 

[FlightlessDuck]

I'm very confused about the inclusion of "Mind Invaders" on this list. It has a relatively low score with very few reviews on GoodReads.

How were these books picked?

 

[tinkerdorabelle]

I was puzzled by a couple of the books included tho my all time favorites were on there. I would have thought James Michener would be on there, at least one of his books. But if I were to pick my all time favorite it would be To Kill a Mockingbird which left such an indelible lifelong mark on me when I first read it.

 

[PollyannaMom]

...When they came out with the list, I decided to check out A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. That was a very interesting book, highly recommend!

I love that one too! I discovered it when I caught part of the old movie on TV once.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I'm very confused about the inclusion of "Mind Invaders" on this list. It has a relatively low score with very few reviews on GoodReads.

How were these books picked?

http://www.pbs.org/the-great-american-read/about/show/

 

[NYCgrrl]

I've been watching it with DGD andddddddd if I'm not telling her what my fav book on the list is (read some more, sweetness, and thennn we can talk about it) I'm not telling youse either.
Errr but if she was more observant earlier in her life she would have noted that there were several hardbound copies of Beloved on my book shelves, an anomaly in and of itself.
I'm also a devotee of Maupassant and enjoy reading his short stories during long beach holidays as a change up from the DWEM and DWEW I pick for warm weather reads.

 

[tinkerdorabelle]

I love that one too! I discovered it when I caught part of the old movie on TV once.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn is a great book and the movie version is so good. I wish they would play it more often, once in a long blue moon I catch it.

 

[adelaster]

I was actually really bummed by this list. So many fantastic books are missing and many less than great books are included.

Book lists have forever freaked me out because inevitably you end up feeling bad that you haven't read more.

 

[Wendy31]

While I've read 50 Shades, I can't believe both it & Twilight made the list!

For my favorite from the list, I'd have a hard time choosing among Charlotte's Web, Little Women, or Wuthering Heights.

My DD would choose The Book Thief, which is her absolute favorite book.

 

[BrinkofSunshine]

I chose Harry Potter... it’s far and away had the biggest influence on my life, including in my career.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

I was actually really bummed by this list. So many fantastic books are missing and many less than great books are included.

Book lists have forever freaked me out because inevitably you end up feeling bad that you haven't read more.

I question the validity of the list, myself. It was internet-survey based. So...

 

[E&Cmom]

I have read 29.

While I've read 50 Shades, I can't believe both it & Twilight made the list!

For my favorite from the list, I'd have a hard time choosing among Charlotte's Web, Little Women, or Wuthering Heights.

My DD would choose The Book Thief, which is her absolute favorite book.

I was going to post the same about 50 shades and Twight

Also agree on your favourites but will add Anne of Green Gables to mine.

 

[Happyinwonerland]

From that list, I'd say the Grapes of Wrath, because I love Steinbeck.

The list makes me sad because books like the 50 Shades series are among America's favorites, and there are so many books to read that are much better. (I admit that I haven't actually read the 50 shades books, and I have no interest)

 

[TheFloatingBear]

Anyone watching on PBS? Have you voted for your favorite yet? Have you read anything new just because it's on the list?

https://www.pbs.org/the-great-american-read/books/#/

I think my husband was watching the "Heroes" episode the other night. I think I'll check it out. I read from the link you provided how they came up the list but I too am a little suspect...There are definitely some titles on there that I would like to read, and of course some that I have read and never want to read again!

P.S. There were a couple that I tried to read at some point in my life but couldn't quite get through, lol - I did not count them but wonder if I should give them another shot?

 

[adelaster]

From that list, I'd say the Grapes of Wrath, because I love Steinbeck.

The list makes me sad because books like the 50 Shades series are among America's favorites, and there are so many books to read that are much better. (I admit that I haven't actually read the 50 shades books, and I have no interest)

I finally finished that book this year after starting and stopping it several times since I was younger. I don't usually read fiction anymore, and I think the reason I finished it this time is I connected with/was ready for the story in a new way being an adult in our current times. So much about it rang so true- the lack of high paying work, the pipedream Californian homestead, even being priced out of your own hometown. It really is a stupendous book. Maybe it resonated with my depression, but I just kept nodding my head!

 

[bobbiwoz]

I’ve read 23 and don’t see many others on the list I would care to read.

I get more “must read ideas” from the book challenge on the Disboards!

 

[Happyinwonerland]

I finally finished that book this year after starting and stopping it several times since I was younger. I don't usually read fiction anymore, and I think the reason I finished it this time is I connected with/was ready for the story in a new way being an adult in our current times. So much about it rang so true- the lack of high paying work, the pipedream Californian homestead, even being priced out of your own hometown. It really is a stupendous book. Maybe it resonated with my depression, but I just kept nodding my head!

I have no clue why, but I fall in love with books set during the great depression, whether fiction or non-fiction. My favorite non-fiction about that era is The Worst Hard Time. I have read it over and over. There is something endearing about people falling on hard times and learning how to thrive despite the circumstances.