Posted by joffre on 31/10/2007, 13:19:17, in reply to "Re: slate article: the great novel i've never read"
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I have heard of Crowley. The name just didn't register. I plan to read Little, Big one of these days.
I wasn't even thinking of poetry and short stories. I don't know why. I guess just because I rarely think of them. Chekhov's stories were included in that top 10. I've not read any of them. I've read the five major plays, and this afternoon, I'll finish My Life, the last of the five stories in The Complete Short Novels of Chekhov. I just don't really like short stories. There are a few I like, but I much prefer novels. I think I just like to be with characters for a while. I don't read much poetry for the same reason. By the way, it occurred to me that "The Wasteland" is probably a very close second for the most important work I've never read. I don't mind poetry of book length though. I like The Odyssey, The Divine Comedy, Eugene Onegin.
There are, of course, tons of books I've not read. One of those authors mentioned Balzac novels. I've only read two of them, Cousin Bette and Lost Illusions. I'll read Pere Goriot someday, but I don't know if I'll read any more. I've never read The Iliad, perhaps another glaring omission. There are so many books to read. There are so many of long standing reputation. This is why I so seldom read contemporary books. I don't want to read a book that will be forgotten in ten or twenty years when I've not yet read one that's been celebrated for a hundred. I am trying to read a few more contemporary books these days though, picking carefully.
I like Zola pretty well. I think Germinal is amazing and L'assommoir. is quite nice too. I have a French reading friend who reads a lot of Zola. And I've met a couple French people online who like him a lot, and one who doesn't much care for him.
I should also mention the Bible and the Koran as very important works I've not read. I've read some of the Bible but not much.
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