Another Top 10 Books You NEED to Read Before You Die
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Date: 2023-11-20
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Comments and reviews: 26
Alicia
The Man Who Laughs (L'Homme Qui Rit) by Victor Hugo
Set in England at the turn of the 18th century, this novel tells the tale of Gwynplaine, a boy who is disfigured so his face always appears to be smiling. Not knowing why this was done and abandoned by the men who mutilated him, Gwynplaine survives a snowstorm, rescuing a blind baby girl named Dea along the way, and together, they find shelter with Ursus, a gruff philosopher and peddler of herbal remedies. Gwynplaine grows up to be a clown to provide for his family and he and Dea fall in love. Yet of course, it wouldn't be a Victor Hugo novel without political corruption, intrigue, and the rich making their paradise from the hell of the poor, and all these things are revealed as Gwynplaine discovers his past and the reason for his disfigurement. It's a fantastic read, but then again, I'm a little biased--it's my favorite Hugo novel, so much so I've written a play adaptation.
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The Man Who Laughs (L'Homme Qui Rit) by Victor Hugo
Set in England at the turn of the 18th century, this novel tells the tale of Gwynplaine, a boy who is disfigured so his face always appears to be smiling. Not knowing why this was done and abandoned by the men who mutilated him, Gwynplaine survives a snowstorm, rescuing a blind baby girl named Dea along the way, and together, they find shelter with Ursus, a gruff philosopher and peddler of herbal remedies. Gwynplaine grows up to be a clown to provide for his family and he and Dea fall in love. Yet of course, it wouldn't be a Victor Hugo novel without political corruption, intrigue, and the rich making their paradise from the hell of the poor, and all these things are revealed as Gwynplaine discovers his past and the reason for his disfigurement. It's a fantastic read, but then again, I'm a little biased--it's my favorite Hugo novel, so much so I've written a play adaptation.
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SeaLavender1
Im surprised Les Miserables wasnt mentioned. I read the whole unabridged version in high school. Its such a compelling tale of a man who had nineteen years of his life stolen away just for trying to steal some bread in order to feed his sister and her children. He loses all faith in god, his fellow man, and love yet through several people he comes in contact with after his release from prison he gains a renewed faith in god, what even the smallest acts of kindness can do, how to love again, and how to let his loved one go to peruse her own happiness and future. Its such a beautiful and incredible story, though I would recommend you pick up an abridged copy as the unabridged contains long unnessacary tangents such as a 15 page long explanation of the construction and history of the Parisian sewers.
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Im surprised Les Miserables wasnt mentioned. I read the whole unabridged version in high school. Its such a compelling tale of a man who had nineteen years of his life stolen away just for trying to steal some bread in order to feed his sister and her children. He loses all faith in god, his fellow man, and love yet through several people he comes in contact with after his release from prison he gains a renewed faith in god, what even the smallest acts of kindness can do, how to love again, and how to let his loved one go to peruse her own happiness and future. Its such a beautiful and incredible story, though I would recommend you pick up an abridged copy as the unabridged contains long unnessacary tangents such as a 15 page long explanation of the construction and history of the Parisian sewers.
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William
THE GREAT GATSBY about the Jazz Age of the 1920's, was an expose of the phoniness that existed among the privileged elite.
The irony is that Fitgerald once wanted to be part of that society.
Gatsby creates a whole fictional background to be accepted by the wealthy, particularly the married woman he loved and wanted to impress.
THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY by the gay Oscar Wilde, who was once imprisoned in England for his lifestyle, is about a beautiful man who has his portrait painted. He puts the painting away only to find all his personal sins over the years show up on the portrait making it ugly. I think Wilde was addressing
the duality of society.
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THE GREAT GATSBY about the Jazz Age of the 1920's, was an expose of the phoniness that existed among the privileged elite.
The irony is that Fitgerald once wanted to be part of that society.
Gatsby creates a whole fictional background to be accepted by the wealthy, particularly the married woman he loved and wanted to impress.
THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY by the gay Oscar Wilde, who was once imprisoned in England for his lifestyle, is about a beautiful man who has his portrait painted. He puts the painting away only to find all his personal sins over the years show up on the portrait making it ugly. I think Wilde was addressing
the duality of society.
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Dianne
Let's see.
- read it (several times)
- read it (several times)
- nup
- read it
- started it and found it incredibly boring and realised that I didn't NEED to finish it.
- read it
- read it (several times, and constantly make jokes about it)
- never even heard of it!
- Read it. It's a bit tiresome
- (Hon mentions - read, read, read, read)
- Started it. Come on, it lasts forever.
May I suggest The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula Le Guin?
And if you want a bit of joy in your life read Joy in the morning by PG Wodehouse or The talisman ring by Georgette Heyer
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Let's see.
- read it (several times)
- read it (several times)
- nup
- read it
- started it and found it incredibly boring and realised that I didn't NEED to finish it.
- read it
- read it (several times, and constantly make jokes about it)
- never even heard of it!
- Read it. It's a bit tiresome
- (Hon mentions - read, read, read, read)
- Started it. Come on, it lasts forever.
May I suggest The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula Le Guin?
And if you want a bit of joy in your life read Joy in the morning by PG Wodehouse or The talisman ring by Georgette Heyer
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Roco
Can someone explain to me how the hell did El Quijote the most translated book ever and the best recognized for lots of countries a treasure from Spanish culture and also an award of literature with the same merits than the oscars just being on the second video and in honorable mentions are we all crazy or what?
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Can someone explain to me how the hell did El Quijote the most translated book ever and the best recognized for lots of countries a treasure from Spanish culture and also an award of literature with the same merits than the oscars just being on the second video and in honorable mentions are we all crazy or what?
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Diana
On this list, I've read Lord of the rings and Jane Eyre (among my favorites, Frankenstein, The Great Gatsby, The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Count of Monte Cristo, Huckleberry Finn, The hunchback of Notre Dame and Don Quixote.
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On this list, I've read Lord of the rings and Jane Eyre (among my favorites, Frankenstein, The Great Gatsby, The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Count of Monte Cristo, Huckleberry Finn, The hunchback of Notre Dame and Don Quixote.
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Kathryn
I absolutely loved Jane Eyre! I first read a revised version when I was ten, and didn't understand it. Thankfully inpicked it up again, this time in the full version, when I was a teen and realized the deeper meaning!
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I absolutely loved Jane Eyre! I first read a revised version when I was ten, and didn't understand it. Thankfully inpicked it up again, this time in the full version, when I was a teen and realized the deeper meaning!
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beingMelly
we're looking exclusively at novels today - proceeds to display one of the greatest novels in Fyodor Dostoevsky's Crime & Punishment as an exclusion lol at least change the voiceover.
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we're looking exclusively at novels today - proceeds to display one of the greatest novels in Fyodor Dostoevsky's Crime & Punishment as an exclusion lol at least change the voiceover.
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MJ
I have a love/hate the Great Gatsby, I felt he got screwed, and he was such a good good man. That witch didn't deserve him.
The book broke your heart and the film left you reeling
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I have a love/hate the Great Gatsby, I felt he got screwed, and he was such a good good man. That witch didn't deserve him.
The book broke your heart and the film left you reeling
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Luisa
At first I did not know what to make of the Stranger but after seeing and listening to people make fun of or make cruel jabs at me or the things I like, I start to envy Meursault.
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At first I did not know what to make of the Stranger but after seeing and listening to people make fun of or make cruel jabs at me or the things I like, I start to envy Meursault.
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Louise
Why arent any Dickens novels on your list? Great Expectations, David Copperfield, Bleak House, Little Dorrit, Dombey and Son, Our Mutual Friend. at least choose one of these.
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Why arent any Dickens novels on your list? Great Expectations, David Copperfield, Bleak House, Little Dorrit, Dombey and Son, Our Mutual Friend. at least choose one of these.
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Ksenia
Just recently bought The Great Gatsby. I'm excited to read it. :) But my favourite books of all time might be the series of Three Musketeers. Alexandre Dumas is amazing.
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Just recently bought The Great Gatsby. I'm excited to read it. :) But my favourite books of all time might be the series of Three Musketeers. Alexandre Dumas is amazing.
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Misty
I read Lord of the Rings, didn't like it. I found it slow and boring.
I also tried to read The Great Gatsby on my own. Got bored. I blame high school for that one.
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I read Lord of the Rings, didn't like it. I found it slow and boring.
I also tried to read The Great Gatsby on my own. Got bored. I blame high school for that one.
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Mr.
Number 1: The Enchiridion
_This book is full of magic that even when you died, you ended up getting resurrected and become immortal. Available at the Land Of Ooo. _
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Number 1: The Enchiridion
_This book is full of magic that even when you died, you ended up getting resurrected and become immortal. Available at the Land Of Ooo. _
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Nancy
I first read Jane Eyre at 9. I loved the early parts but lost interest as she grew older. Ive read it once a year as I grew up, my understanding grew too.
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I first read Jane Eyre at 9. I loved the early parts but lost interest as she grew older. Ive read it once a year as I grew up, my understanding grew too.
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Chelsea
The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit are my top list of books that I need to read soon, along with Jane Eyre, The Great Gatsby, and War and Peace.
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The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit are my top list of books that I need to read soon, along with Jane Eyre, The Great Gatsby, and War and Peace.
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Cody
There talking about Classics presumably before 1920s why are people asking for John green Harry Potter in this comments there good but Not Classics
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There talking about Classics presumably before 1920s why are people asking for John green Harry Potter in this comments there good but Not Classics
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ferociousgumby
Thank you for pronouncing Camus correctly. I just came from a classical music video which talked about MOE-zart and Franz LITZ.
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Thank you for pronouncing Camus correctly. I just came from a classical music video which talked about MOE-zart and Franz LITZ.
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articgoneape
The Great Gatsby (LOVE THE MOVIE. The book on the other hand, I tried reading and fell asleep after the first page lol
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The Great Gatsby (LOVE THE MOVIE. The book on the other hand, I tried reading and fell asleep after the first page lol
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The
Ive thankfully read almost all of these, including the honorable mentions, but Im old, so Ive had time. I recommend them all.
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Ive thankfully read almost all of these, including the honorable mentions, but Im old, so Ive had time. I recommend them all.
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Shimmering
All fine choices. Id also recommend anything John Steinbeck or Mark Twain wrote - brilliant, enjoyable works of art!
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All fine choices. Id also recommend anything John Steinbeck or Mark Twain wrote - brilliant, enjoyable works of art!
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fanjoy
Ill honestly never understand the love affair with The Great Gatsby. I tried to like it but found it painfully boring.
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Ill honestly never understand the love affair with The Great Gatsby. I tried to like it but found it painfully boring.
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Justin
Very very great fun list I like it a lot and a lot of fun too great job mis mojo one of my very favorite list ever
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Very very great fun list I like it a lot and a lot of fun too great job mis mojo one of my very favorite list ever
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Ariel
Favorite book I need to read before I died is paper towns by john green his books are outstanding like outstanding
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Favorite book I need to read before I died is paper towns by john green his books are outstanding like outstanding
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Nicole
This is the most basic list of classic lit everyone and their brother has already heard of I have ever seen lol.
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This is the most basic list of classic lit everyone and their brother has already heard of I have ever seen lol.
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Richard
Dang. Both lists did not include the little engine that could. Doesn't MsMojo know good literature.
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Dang. Both lists did not include the little engine that could. Doesn't MsMojo know good literature.
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