1000 Novels Everyone Must Read

U.K.'s Guardian recently posted a list entitled: 1000 Books Everyone Must Read. It seems to have a relatively un-biased, internationally-conscious approach to the novels included as "must read" (although I do question the inclusion of Austen's Northanger Abbey - honestly, you added every other full-length novel she wrote; you could have left that piece of fluff off!)

My tally? 95. Not great, but a good showing, I think.

My highlights:

John Buchan! Yes, I have crush on him. Can't help it. I first read The Thirty-Nine Steps in Jr. High and I loved it. And even better, its sequel (the first of four) Greenmantle is also on the list. If you love a fast-paced adventure and/or anything to do with espionage during WWI, you should really check these out, especially since Robert Towne has announced he is working on a new film adaptation. I love you, Hitchcock, but let's hope this one actually has something to do with Buchan's novel.

Agatha Christie! Much-maligned by non-mystery fans as a hack, I've been eternally in awe of her ability to spin an engaging, fast-paced story, mystery or no mystery. And she was a master (mistress?) of characterization, putting as much detail into a character that appears only once in one book as she did Miss Marple or Hercule Poirot. The list includes two of my favs: And Then There Were None, which aside from being the epitome of misdirection mysteries is also one of the creepiest novels I've ever read; and The Secret Adversary, another WWI espionage novel (do we see a trend?) which introduces sleuthing team Tommy and Tuppence.

Notable exclusions:

Elizabeth Gaskell's North and South. While including three Gaskell novels, the list missed one of her best. For any P&P fans who haven't read this book, I suggest you hunt down a copy, like now. It's a similar love story (very, very similar) but reflecting the class struggles of mid-19th Century, heart of the Industrial Revolution England. And of course, if you haven't seen the BBC miniseries, this photo should be ALL you need to hunt that down as well. Or Richard Armitage. Cuz he's gorgeous. But don't tell the cops I told you to. (There might have been an incident...)

Um, young adult fiction? Hello? I was floored upon reaching the end of the list to discover that many of the classics I enjoyed growing up were left off this list. Anne of Green Gables? Nope. Little House on the Prairie? Uh-oh. A Wrinkle in Time? Surely you jest. Judy Blume? Who dat? Thankfully, they managed to remember Little Women and Kidnapped, but I was surprised about the exclusion of books that have been essential reading for generations of you people. Perhaps The Guardian needs to reconnect with its inner child.

Okay, those are my thoughts. Yours?