So about three weeks ago I wrote about the new version of the 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die and the 12 books that have been added to the just published version. At that point, I couldn’t find out which books had been taken off the list – but now I do. So here’s the list of the 12 books, the editors no longer feel we should read before we die.
- Edward St. Aubyn: Mothers Milk
- Paul Auster: Invisible
- Paul Auster: The Music of Chance
- Pat Barker: The Ghost Road
- Peter Carey: Jack Maggs
- Don DeLillo: Falling Man
- Ian McEwan: Enduring Love
- Haruki Murakami: Kafka on the Shore
- Ardal O’Hanlan: The Talk of the Town
- Ricardo Piglia: Money To Burn
- Ali Smith: The Accidental
- William Trevor: Felicia’s Journey
So these books are no longer worth reading apparently. I’ve only read two of these – Don DeLillo’s Falling Man and Haruki Murakami’s Kafka on the Shore – and I haven’t read enough of the rest of the books still on the list to really be able to say if that’s true. I think it’s okay to take off one book by an author to add a better book by that author instead – however, I loved Kafka on the Shore. I haven’t yet gotten around to reading 1Q84 which is now on the list so I don’t know if it’s as good or maybe even better than Kafka on the Shore. But I’m definitely willing to give it a go.
Don DeLillo, as I’ve written before, confuses me. I’ve read Mao II, Falling Man and parts of Underworld and I really don’t get what all the fuss is about. I simply don’t get him or his work. I don’t understand quite what it is he wants with his books. I liked parts of Falling Man, parts I thought were brilliant, but overall, I didn’t like it all that much. I gave up on Underworld and although I plan on giving it another go this year, I’m really not looking forward to it. And I don’t remember anything about Mao II except that I was disappointed in it. I really feel most like giving DeLillo this last chance and then give up on him, if I don’t like this book. But I’m pretty sure that there are more DeLillo books on the list so maybe I’ll just push them down so his books will be the last books I read from the list – DeLillo’s books and American Psycho…
But these books are off the list – what do you think about it?
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The Literary Bunny 
You know, the whole taking books off the list thing really bugs me! I think I have a nice comprehensive list, then nooooo, the next year I’m screwed! They need a book that just has the additions and subtractions from each year! 🙂
Very disappointed that Kafka on the Shore has been removed from the list – definitely one of my favourites!
Yay! I haven’t read any of them! 🙂 I refuse to update my list. I’m working on the original 2007 list and that’s that. I agree, a summary is all the changes would be great!
I haven’t read any of them, so now I feel better about it? Not really.
It must be horrible to have your book no longer be considered worthy, though.