What are some must-haves?

[ziegl027]

What are some pieces of literature that you think everybody should have in their library (electronic or otherwise)? Things that are iconic touchstones for *you* as a literate person. Whether you've read it once and hated it, or go back to again and again all the way through, or page through it from time to time, or just have it because your Mom would think poorly of you if you didn't and have never actually read the thing. Not neccessarily a book that is "classic" and that you loved and read over and over (for me, Tolkein falls into this category), but things from which you regularly hear quotes and see cultural references, and get a smug sense of satisfaction in knowing where it's from (Let slip the dogs of war!)

For me:
The Bible
The complete works of Shakespeare
Grim's Fairy Tales
Aesop's Fables
Canterbury Tales

And yes, I'm a product of an educational system that emphasized dead white men, what of it ? One of the purposes of my post is to open my eyes to what OTHER people perceive as their own literary anchors.

[cmdahler]

The Count of Monte Cristo
Don Quixote

Don Quixote is, for those who don't know, the first novel ever written, and it is still widely regarded as also the best ever written, encompassing almost every literary device employed in modern literature. To any student of literature, it is the one must-have in any library. All else is arguably a mere derivative of this masterpiece.

[ficbot]

Originally Posted by ziegl027

Not neccessarily a book that is "classic" and that you loved and read over and over

But for me those *would* be the must-haves. The type of book you seem to be referring to is not something I place much stock in. I remember a university professor asking us just before the exam who in the class actually finished the Faulkner. Not a single hand went up. The professor then admitted that he would have rather done DeLillo, but 'it's an American lit class so you *have to* do Faulkner.' Bah humbug to that If you want to know what my actual 'must have' books are, that's a great question but it does not seem to be the question you are asking.

[ardeegee]

Originally Posted by ziegl027

For me:
The Bible

And yes, I'm a product of an educational system that emphasized dead white men

The men in the above book from your list weren't white.

[Katti's Cat]

I don't believe in 'must have' books. Reading for me is pleasure. Only books that are job / study related are 'must have' books.

Must read is pretty much every book in the universe. Unlikely as I won't be living long enough nor will have the inclination on reading lots of them.

But hey, that's just me.

[MickeyC]

Originally Posted by Katti's Cat

I don't believe in 'must have' books. Reading for me is pleasure. Only books that are job / study related are 'must have' books.

Must read is pretty much every book in the universe. Unlikely as I won't be living long enough nor will have the inclination on reading lots of them.

But hey, that's just me.

No, it's not just you; it's me too!

[beppe]

Originally Posted by cmdahler

[I]

Don Quixote is, for those who don't know, the first novel ever written,

You mean with ink.

" The date of composition of the Metamorphoses is uncertain but is largely regarded as the first novel ever written." According to wikipedia.

You can find it at http://www.gutenberg.net/etext/1666
It is also known with the name of The Golden Ass.

An other one maybe older is the Satyricon written by Petronius. Incomplete.

They both are a must, not for children though, as they contain licentious passages.

[beppe]

Originally Posted by Katti's Cat

I don't believe in 'must have' books. Reading for me is pleasure. Only books that are job / study related are 'must have' books.

Must read is pretty much every book in the universe. Unlikely as I won't be living long enough nor will have the inclination on reading lots of them.

But hey, that's just me.

Originally Posted by cassidym

No, it's not just you; it's me too!

I see your position, dear friends in books. And it stands from a perspective that is limited to the here and now: absolute individualism. Very healthy.

But then there other points of view, instances of belonging and of cultural aggregation and tradition.

The noblest of all these points of view, you will certainly agree upon. Someone said we are dwarfs on the shoulder of a giant.

One way I can look upon the must books is as an outline of the giant.

Another way, is what I will take with me to read if I am exiled to a desert island and they let me take only few books.

Luckily some dwarfs upon the shoulder of a giant invented the ebook!

[HarryT]

Homer: Odyssey, Iliad
Plato: Complete works
Complete works of Dickens.

[beppe]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Homer: Odyssey, Iliad
Plato: Complete works
Complete works of Dickens.

Very good!

Myself, taking your list as a starting point, I would modify it so:

Plato: Complete works -> A mix of Plato and Aristotle
Complete works of Dickens -> Marktwain (!!)

I would add

Dante la divina commedia at least Inferno, with the commentary of De Sanctis, without which it becomes rocky unreadable for us moderns. It takes studying Italian, but it is worth the effort. My philosophy professor, that before the war was a medicine student, and when that was over, decided to become a teacher, studied German to be able to read Hegel ...
Shakespeare selection
Moliere selection

P.S. This is not my list. I might post it later on.

[hidari]

Originally Posted by cmdahler

The Count of Monte Cristo
Don Quixote

Don Quixote is, for those who don't know, the first novel ever written, and it is still widely regarded as also the best ever written, encompassing almost every literary device employed in modern literature. To any student of literature, it is the one must-have in any library. All else is arguably a mere derivative of this masterpiece.

The above is your Opinion. I know a few Japanese Literature professors who would disagree with you. I had to read Don Quixote in the original at Uni. It is good but Do we really need it to be that LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNGG... Just like the Tales of Genji.... good (most likely written before Don Quixote)...but too long. Helllo Editor where are you. Just like Soldier schwejk and many other classics... Canterbury Tales etc... We get it after a few hundred pages... where is the Editor....

I would Say Don Quixote is the first MODERN Novel...Not the first novel...

[hidari]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Homer: Odyssey, Iliad
Plato: Complete works
Complete works of Dickens.

Excellent Must haves.... but I would not have all of dickens a good 4 or 5 would do me...

And the Aeneid... maybe throw it in for good measure not as good at the first two ...but then you could call it a Trilogy ..

[hidari]

Originally Posted by ficbot

But for me those *would* be the must-haves. The type of book you seem to be referring to is not something I place much stock in. I remember a university professor asking us just before the exam who in the class actually finished the Faulkner. Not a single hand went up. The professor then admitted that he would have rather done DeLillo, but 'it's an American lit class so you *have to* do Faulkner.' Bah humbug to that If you want to know what my actual 'must have' books are, that's a great question but it does not seem to be the question you are asking.

Read five of Faulkner's books. He is excellent... Take him over Delillo...any day of the week though I like him as well.

[beppe]

Originally Posted by hidari

Excellent Must haves.... but I would not have all of dickens a good 4 or 5 would do me...

And the Aeneid... maybe throw it in for good measure not as good at the first two ...but then you could call it a Trilogy ..

rari nantes in gurgite vasto

some of the hexameters are quite good.

[hidari]

Originally Posted by beppe

rari nantes in gurgite vasto

some of the hexameters are quite good.

I like the Aeneid...but many seem to put it on a second tier....