1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die

Number of Pages : 960 Release Date : 2006-03-07 Publisher : Universe List Price : $34.95 Amazon Price : $20.80 Used Price : $12.95

Product Description

For discerning bibliophiles and readers who enjoy unforgettable classic literature, 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die is a trove of reviews covering a century of memorable writing. Each work of literature featured here is a seminal work key to understanding and appreciating the written word.The featured works have been handpicked by a team of international critics and literary luminaries, including Derek Attridge (world expert on James Joyce), Cedric Watts (renowned authority on Joseph Conrad and Graham Greene), Laura Marcus (noted Virginia Woolf expert), and David Mariott (poet and expert on African-American literature), among some twenty others.Addictive, browsable, knowledgeable—1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die will be a boon companion for anyone who loves good writing and an inspiration for anyone who is just beginning to discover a love of books. Each entry is accompanied by an authoritative yet opinionated critical essay describing the importance and influence of the work in question. Also included are publishing history and career details about the authors, as well as reproductions of period dust jackets and book designs.

Customer reviews

This book will find a welcomed place amongst my "Books About Books". by .. J. Guild (Toronto,Canada)
I am a sucker for "Books About Books"; and when I first came across it,I bought it without a second thought.
There are a great assortment of Reviews on this book and I enjoyed reading them.Little wonder the views expressed are all over the map ,since what one person thinks about the most important books,certainly differs from the thoughts of others.
I think this book has a use,in that I will often turn to it to get a smattering of an idea of a book or even an author ;when I come across one or the other in my reading.Whether these, or any others, qualify to be included in any list as "Must Reads" is a mute point.
Several reviewers noted that there is an overweighting of books since mid 20th Century and that many of them will unlikely fade into obscurity in the not too distant future. When such lists are made, the recent past is always exaggerated.This is similar to compilations such as "The Most Popular Songs",The Greatest Actors","The Greatest Plays","The Greatest People","The Greatest Battles" "The Greatest Disasters","The Greatest Love Affairs",The Greatest Comics","The Greatest Mystery" and so forth.
I'll not mention books that should have been included,or even ones that should not have;since other reviewers have made the point.
So,be that as it may,one will find many of their choice, in the book and many missing.However,it is still a good reference, and even by perusing it, you can find books you might decide that "You Must Read" or others that you are just not interested in;and might never be inclined to read.So, be that as it may, this book will come in use for that reason alone.

Very Anglo-Saxon biased list by .. mickey_moose (Austalia)
I guess you will never be able to compile a list of books that everybody agrees with, but this list is ridiculous. It is very anglo-saxon centric. And even as a list of "English-American" books, it utterly fails.

Some of the foreign classics are mostly there, but for modern writers it is totally off. So these professors in English Literature and Hollywood screen writes that compiled this list think I should read 8 books by J.G. Ballard, 7 by Saul Bellow, 11 by Charles Dickens, 6 by Jane Austen, 3 by Dougles Adams, 11 by J.M Coetzee, 9 by Virginia Woolf before I pick up a W.F. Hermans, Louise Couperus or a Gerard Reve.

These Dutch writes and many more deserves to be read well before you pick your 11th J.M. Coetzee otr 7th Sail Bellow. To show these compilers ignorance; I could not find the most important classic book (for the classics the list is less biased) written in Dutch. But then I found that Max Havelaar wrote the "Multatuli". Wrong, the author is Multatuli and the book is called Max Havelaar.

Please pick up; "The Assault" by Harry Mulish, "The dark room of Damocles" by W.F. Hermans, "Of old people and things that pass" by Couperus well before you complete reading this list.

Great Book by .. jb (CA)
I buoght this book as a gift for Christmas and I loved it so much I bought one for myself!

a grain of salt...please... by .. wolfgang731 ()
Too much is made of the content items in this series, as if though they were meant to be the non-plus ultra of reference guide for bibliophiles or film buffs, or architecture enthusiasts, etc. More than anything I take these wonderful publications and use them as great starting off points. In the countless millenia of human history, it's well understood that not every significant work of art, regardless of medium, will make it into a volume that limits the entries to 1001; however, the bulk do make it. I then take advantage and try to become more familiar with the minor ones, which, in most cases, I know nothing about. Yes, there are questionable entries, for example Saarinen's TWA terminal at JFK. Yes, it's a very noteworthy example of his style but is seeing it a life altering experience, in comparison to the Taj Mahal, Machu Picchu or the Louvre? For me, the answer is no, for someone else it may very well be and that's, I believe, the point of this series. As we all know, art is very subjective and the editors involved, choose accordingly based on their knowledge and tastes. Some folks take these things way too seriously, instead of just enjoying the content. No one thing is ever going to be all things to all people and that's what a number of folks seem to sometimes forget.

1001 days and nights by .. Lois N. Orchard ()
In my 70+ years, I have read, perhaps, 1001 books that are not related to my profession. Certainly many would not be included on any but an idosyncratic list. 1001 Books...is a well organized overview of the greatest literature man has produced. It provides a roadmap to reading those works of which one might be unaware and as a stimulus to read further the works of any author that intrigues. Of course, from any reader's point of view the list misses great works. How could it not for there are certainly more than 1001 books one might read and it reflects the author's point of view. 1001 Books...is a valuable resource.

Related Search : read before , die , 1001 books

Get Known Before The Book Deal: Use Your Personal Strengths To Grow An Author Platform

Author : Christina Katz Number of Pages : 272 Publisher : Writers Digest Books List Price : $16.99 Amazon Price : $10.36 Used Price : $11.15

Product Description

Becoming visible is more crucial to landing a book deal than ever, according to agents and editors in every facet of the publishing industry. Simply churning out a book isn't enough. Aspiring authors need to develop a marketing platform in order to get noticed. This book empowers writers to take charge of their writing careers and partner with agents, editors and publishers. Introverts and extroverts alike will find effective and diverse strategies for growing their platform in their areas of expertise in ways that complement their own style and pace of working. From developing a readership, to increasing the odds of a book deal, to having a greater impact on book sales, this book is every aspiring writer's guide to success in the world of publishing.

Customer reviews

Why you need this book by .. Wendy Burt-Thomas (Colorado Springs, CO)
As the author of three books I can tell you that nowadays more than ever, you NEED to get known before the book deal. New writers are entering a tougher time than any other in history in terms of competition, and if you don't go have a platform when you pitch your proposal, you're in trouble. Writing the book is only about ONE QUARTER of the process. As Katz points out in this book, you've got:
1. Platform development
2. Pitching the book
3. Writing the book
4. Marketing the book
Since platform development is the first step in the process to get published, you need to know what you're doing. "Get Known Before the Book Deal" is by far the most comprehensive book on the topic. Best of all, Katz offers real, affordable steps to build your platform and tells you what's worth skipping. Recommended for beginning, intermediate AND advanced writers. Plain and simple: you WILL NOT find a better book on this subject.
Wendy Burt-Thomas, full-time freelance writer and editor
The Writers Digest Guide To Query Letters
Work It, Girl! : Productive and Fun Tips for the Hip Working Chick
Oh, Solo Mia! : The Hip Chick's Guide to Fun for One

Get Known Before the Book Deal Has Real Secrets to Success by .. Samantha D. Waltz (Portland, Oregon)
Get Known Before The Book Deal is a truly useful book. Katz has not only provided a phenomenal number of great ideas, she has organized them in such a way that every reader can easily access and apply them. I have a book shelf full of writing books and don't know of anything like this one. Every writer will find it useful. And, in fact, those interested in marketing a concept in any field can glean useful ideas from it.

Get the definition of "platform" and then get busy building one by .. Robin Mizell ()
Constructing an author's platform--that metaphorical performance stage that raises a writer's head above the crowd--can take more time than building a house, according to Christina Katz, author of GET KNOWN BEFORE THE BOOK DEAL. I consider Katz a friend, and she was kind enough to quote me in one of the book's epigraphs. Now that I've confessed my bias, I suggest writers heed her advice and get busy building their brands a full year before they expect to rely on the results of their labor. Even an individual who has already written an unpublished book should stop, go back, and work on a platform in order to show prospective publishers a large potential readership.

"Platform" is a word most people, including writers to whom words are currency, consider as imprecise as "system" or "process." Conversely, editors, agents, and successful authors who use the word "platform" as shorthand for a writer's marketability are sure of what the jargon means and what is expected from book authors, especially those who write nonfiction.

Katz's book is no glib response to a hopeful writer's inquiry. With enthusiasm and clarity, she teaches the readers of her book how to establish a professional reputation as a writer, gradually and systematically. She covers miles of territory with unflagging optimism and common sense. Among her wide-ranging recommendations are two that will come as no surprise to anyone who has learned the hard way:

1. Hire a professional photographer to capture a series of flattering portraits, so you'll have a high-quality headshot available in multiple formats on demand. You'll need it.

2. Ditch the bad attitude. As Katz puts it, "You are 100 percent responsible for the success of your writing career." Whining is a waste of energy, she insists, and it makes other people uncomfortable.

With GET KNOWN BEFORE THE BOOK DEAL, Katz, who is otherwise known as the Writer Mama, has demonstrated her expertise in platform development. She doesn't doubt for a single moment that other writers can also take charge of becoming known as authorities on their topics. Nonfiction writers and novelists (as well as their agents, editors, and publicists) can be grateful that Katz has shared the sum of her experience.

A Must-Read for Up-and-Coming Writers by .. Jessica Hatchigan (Ann Arbor, MI)
Christina Katz's Get Known Before the Book Deal is a new classic for writers on the business of writing. It's comprehensive, realistic and encouraging. Katz generously shares her savvy and offers a wealth of information on the vital issue of what authors need to know and do about platform building. I underlined several passages and dog-eared a few others. In fact, I liked it so much I just ordered Katz's first book, Writer Mama. Fully merits a five-star rating!

Great guidebook for writers of all types by .. Cynthia Hudson (Portland, OR)
Christina Katz's new book, Get Known Before the Book Deal, is an easy-to-follow guide on how writers can become known to a wider audience and increase their chances of landing a book deal with a reputable publisher as a result. As with her first book, Writer Mama: How to Raise a Writing Career Alongside Your Kids, the author offers practical advice that the reader will want to refer back to over and over again.

The book is divided into three sections that clearly identify how to get started, how to hone your image and how to reach a wider audience all while putting your most professional foot forward. It's a great primer for learning how to market yourself, an essential skill for writers in today's publishing world. Even if you're fairly savvy on promoting yourself, Katz's book offers ideas and details that can only enhance what you are already doing. I plan to use this book to help me set goals for the new year and many new years to come.

Related Search : deal use , before book , platform

Da Crockydile Book o' Frendsheep: A Pearls Before Swine Gift Book (Pearls Before Swine Collection)

Author : Stephan Pastis Number of Pages : 88 Publisher : Andrews McMeel Publishing List Price : $9.99 Amazon Price : $5.02 Used Price : $5.05

Product Description

Pearls is the hottest comic in the newspaper business." -Raleigh News and Observer

As the first Pearls Before Swine gift book, this "book of frendsheep" conveys the unusual brand of camaraderie shared by the not-really-so-cold-blooded crocs.

Stephan Pastis's crockydiles say it best in their introduction to this sly tribute to friends:

Someone juss says, 'You guys sooo populars. Do geeft book.' And we is like, 'OKay. Whatevers. Just pays us monees.'

Den dey is say, 'Make book about frensheep.' And we is like, 'But we ees hate evrybodies.' ANd dey is go, 'But dat make most monees.' So we is like, 'Okay. We expert.'"

And experts they are, as they show in such an endearing expression of care as, "If you is have a beeg butt, frend sometime honesst and say, 'you have beeg butt.'"

Named Best Comic Strip of the Year by the National Cartoonists Society in 2004 and 2007, Pearls Before Swine has a devoted fan following of crockydiles and humans alike.

Customer reviews

Zeeba Buddies by .. Sharon E. Weber (Maine, USA)
I just love these guys!! I wish Pastis would use them more in the strips. I find the dark, sleazy humor to to funny! This is a stocking stuffer in my circle.

Excellent example of Crockydile fun by .. Maryellen Newton (Longview, Texas)
Loved this one so much, I'm going to buy another one for a friend, lol...

Crocs Rule! by .. JD Willis III (Sherman Oaks, CA USA)
This little jewel of a book is just what the doctor ordered for all of the fans of Pearls Before Swine's looney Croc Fraternity. Just the hilarious introduction is worth the purchase price alone.

Another great feature of this "Book o' Frendsheep" is that each strip in in vivid color. It brings the Crocs to life even more. I just wish the book was longer because the Crocs are so dang funny.

Frendsheep on Zebra Drive by .. SM George (Pacific Northwest)
I really love the Croc's! They are all my neighbors rolled into one - I think even a few have followed me into work once and a while. The never give up attitude and dogged determination makes for a book that is just fun to give (which I plan on), read and laugh out loud. In these times we all need the comics to see some humor in life. Of course I would like to have the book be thicker, but that is true of all of the Pearls books. Buy this book just for fun - and enjoy.

Related Search : da crockydile , frendsheep pearls , book o

'Twas the Night Before Christmas

Author : Charles Reasoner Edition : Brdbk Number of Pages : 12 Publisher : Running Press Kids List Price : $8.95 Amazon Price : $5.10 Used Price : $5.09

Product Description

This thick, big-trim, die-cut board book gives kids a fantastical inside view of what is happening in the house "The Night Before Christmas".Based on Clement Clark's classic Christmas poem, this book is a new twist on an old favourite. With simple rhyming text and eye-catching artwork, readers will love to see what little critters are doing while the humans are sleeping.

Customer reviews

NOT the classic "Twas the Night Before Christmas" by .. Whispering Winds (Palo Alto, CA United States)
I ordered this book assuming it was the classic "Twas the Night Before Christmas" that we all know. It's not. It is a cute, well-made, board book about a family of mice getting ready for Christmas. If you're looking for the classic, this is not the book for you.

Related Search : before christmas , twas night

Dinosaurs Before Dark (Magic Tree House, No. 1)

Author : Mary Pope Osborne Number of Pages : 80 Release Date : 1992-07-28 Publisher : Random House Books for Young Readers List Price : $3.99 Amazon Price : $0.01 Used Price : $0.01

Product Description

Illus. in black-and-white. "With an entertaining blend of fact, farce, and fantasy, Osborne tells the story of Jack and his sister, Annie, who take a trip in a magic tree house and land in a time 65 million years ago. They find dinosaurs and volcanoes and adventure. Veteran storyteller Osborne builds the power of reading into the story: it's the books in the tree house that give the kids the magic to travel and see far, far away."--Booklist.

Customer reviews

Get over it by .. H. S. Richardson (Bonita Springs Florida)
I am one of those parents that is thrilled to see her 5 1/2 year old son curl up with a book and "read" it. Yes the grammer in this series is a bit off and details are often limited - but it's a GREAT start. I am happy to and love to fill in the blanks once his curiosity has been peeked. My family and I highly reccomend this series and bought all of them on E-bay for a mere fraction ; )

Terrible writing by .. floob ()
Dinosaurs Before Dark (Magic Tree House, No. 1)

This book is terrible! Someone gave it to my son and since we'd just been enjoying our first chapter book, Nate The Great (which is terrific), we thought it would be fun.

Terrible writing! This is a stage when we need to teach kids an appreciation for language as well as the proper rules of grammar and sentence structure. This book is filled with half-sentences, empty characters, and just sloppy, bad writing. I'm amazed the thing even got published.

A good start for very young readers by .. Steph (Neverland)
I enjoyed this story and would recommend the reading age from about 5 to 7. The one thing I really liked about the story was the factual content (i.e. Jack searching in the book to find out a little about each dinosaur). It helps kids learn a little about what they are reading and then they can pursue that knowledge if they wish. I think for the age range this book is intended for, it's a great series that will get kids excited about the adventures of Jack and Annie and want to continue on reading.

Great books for reluctant readers! by .. Corraleno (USA)
Yes, these books are very simply written, but if your child hates reading, as mine did, then this book series may be a godsend. My 10 year old son finds reading very difficult (dyslexia and ADD) and "good" writing is lost on him -- complicated sentence structures, convoluted plots, and general "wordiness" just confuse him rather than adding to the story. He reluctantly agreed to read Dinosaurs Before Dark because there was a dinosaur on the cover -- and then he couldn't put it down! Not only did he finish the book in a day and a half, he begged for more books in the series. He has now read every Magic Treehouse book at the local library, and I have bought him 6 more. He wants to complete all 37 of them -- and this is a boy who used to sob when he was assigned reading homework! There is a website for this series where you can print out stickers that look like passport stamps as you complete each book, as well as a "passport" to stick them in. It's an excellent incentive for kids who are not usually enthusiastic readers.

I don't care if these books aren't exactly War and Peace -- they taught my 10 year old (and millions of other children) that reading can be FUN and can take you to another place. In a few years he can move on to bigger and better things, but props to Mary Pope Osbourne for getting him started on that road.

Dinosaurs Before Dark by .. Linda Waldbaum ()
My sister gave my five year old daughter the first four books of the Magic Tree House series. We read the first book "Dinosaurs Before Dark" last night together and loved it. While some of the reviews are written negatively, referring to the simplicity of the story and lack of depth of the characters and the plot, I feel the simplicity is what makes it popular with the target age group. My daughter has a vivd imagination and was not bored in the least by Ms. Pope Osborne's writing style. We sat in bed talking about each chapter. Not only did we discuss the story but my daughter began to ask questions about the structure of chapter books. I read "Charlotte's Web" to my daughter awhile back. While she did enjoy that particular book, she had no interest in having me read to her other chapter books. I think the Magic Tree House series is an excellent way to graduate children from illustrated books to chapter books without overwhelming them. Don't underestimate the power of simplicity. When used properly it can open ones mind to greater possibilities. I think Ms. Pope Osborne has mastered that skill wonderfully. I look forward to reading each and every book in the Magic Treehouse series.

Related Search : 1 , dark magic , tree house