Novels to have read by the time you're 25

A Listmania! list by "widsithww"
 
Earthly Powers (Penguin Modern Classics)
1.  Earthly Powers (Penguin Modern Classics) by Anthony Burgess
The list author says:
  "The story happens to be quite good here, but really you're looking for the words he uses.  Like an intravenous language drip"
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4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews) | 1 customer discussion
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Gravity's Rainbow
2.  Gravity's Rainbow by Thomas Pynchon
The list author says:
  "Very difficult in parts, but worth some effort.  The story isn't as important as the moods...it's like being put through an incredibly complex drug trip"
£6.99   Used & New from: £2.87
3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
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Let It Come Down (Penguin Modern Classics)
3.  Let It Come Down (Penguin Modern Classics) by Paul Bowles
The list author says:
  "I prefer this to The Sheltering Sky.  Bowles is the master of getting down people's thought-processes in bizarre situations.  His books are like staring competitions, and he'll win"
£9.80   Used & New from: £0.96
3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
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Ulysses (Penguin Modern Classics)
4.  Ulysses (Penguin Modern Classics) by James Joyce
The list author says:
  "Obviously.  This is miles easier than you'd think, and very funny.  Be prepared to learn some great new words"
£6.99   Used & New from: £0.01
3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (122 customer reviews)
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The Magus
5.  The Magus by John Fowles
The list author says:
  "Fowles is quite subversive just because he's so readable that you hardly notice what you're being given.  This one's weirdly adolescent, but a colossal read.  The ending is just a jumping-off point"
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4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (88 customer reviews)
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The Gormenghast Trilogy
6.  The Gormenghast Trilogy by Mervyn Peake
The list author says:
  "Unique.  A completely absorbing, claustrophobic setting with completely compelling characters.  Fantastically unreal, but believably tragic and funny"
£10.40   Used & New from: £4.06
4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (73 customer reviews)
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Captain Corelli's Mandolin
7.  Captain Corelli's Mandolin by Louis de Bernieres
The list author says:
  "The best bestseller in years, this is also de Bernières's best book.  You've probably already read it though"
£6.29   Used & New from: £0.01
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (333 customer reviews)
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Midnight's Children
8.  Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie
The list author says:
  "You've probably read this as well.  I thought it was the best book in years when I first read it, although it hasn't stayed in my head quite as long as I thought it would"
£6.29   Used & New from: £0.01
3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (80 customer reviews)
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The Lord of The Rings (Based on the 50th Anniversary Single volume edition 2004)
9.  The Lord of The Rings (Based on the 50th Anniversary Single volume edition 2004) by J. R. R. Tolkien
The list author says:
  "One of those books that's really good, even though so many geeks say it's really good"
£12.99   Used & New from: £0.01
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (602 customer reviews) | 5 customer discussions
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Love in the Time of Cholera
10.  Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
The list author says:
  "Very beautiful and sad, kind of oneiric.  Good translation too"
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3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (90 customer reviews)
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Scoop: A Novel About Journalists (Penguin Modern Classics)
11.  Scoop: A Novel About Journalists (Penguin Modern Classics) by Evelyn Waugh
The list author says:
  "I think Waugh's best when he's being funny, and this is my favourite.  Very funny in a strangely English kind of way"
£6.99   Used & New from: £0.01
4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
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Catch-22
12.  Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
The list author says:
  "A frenzied piece of brilliance.  You won't forget it, even if your brains are erased with mind rubbers"
£5.37   Used & New from: £0.01
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (333 customer reviews) | 2 customer discussions
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The Deptford Trilogy: Fifth Business, The Manticore, World of Wonders
13.  The Deptford Trilogy: Fifth Business, The Manticore, World of Wonders by Robertson Davies
The list author says:
  "People overstate the importance of mythology in these books, but they're still wonderful.  No-one knows Robertson Davies, but he's good, sort of between John Fowles and John Irving and from Canada"
£14.44   Used & New from: £0.01
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
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Naked Lunch (Harperperennial Classics)
14.  Naked Lunch (Harperperennial Classics) by William Burroughs
The list author says:
  "Not always pleasant to read, it seems important though.  This book is out there, setting the limits"
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3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews) | 1 customer discussion
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On the Road
15.  On the Road by Jack Kerouac
The list author says:
  "This is a great book, even though you'll feel like a student when you read it.  Kerouac is the spirituality behind Burroughs, but they were both going the same way...towards us"
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3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (62 customer reviews) | 1 customer discussion
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Grey Area and Other Stories
16.  Grey Area and Other Stories by Will Self
The list author says:
  "He thinks he's brilliant.  He's nearly right...definitely worth reading"
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4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
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Underworld
17.  Underworld by Don DeLillo
The list author says:
  "Another American writer obsessed with America.  This is a huge, brilliant book.  Live in it for a while and soak up the beautiful sentences"
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3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (61 customer reviews) | 1 customer discussion
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Customer Discussions about products in this list
Discussion Replies Latest Post
The Lord of the Rings: 50th Anniversary Edition forum
What Book To Read? 		1 3 Apr 2012
The Lord of the Rings: 50th Anniversary Edition forum
choices for lord of the rings and hobbit in hardback 		1 14 Feb 2012
Earthly Powers (Vintage Classics) forum
Looking for a novel 'similar' to Earthly Powers by Anthony Burgess 		0 21 Dec 2011
Underworld forum
books for 82 year old mum 		1 20 Oct 2011
The Lord of the Rings: 50th Anniversary Edition forum
Exciting 		2 5 Sep 2011
The Lord of the Rings: 50th Anniversary Edition forum
Boring 		4 3 Aug 2011
Harper Perennial Modern Classics - Naked Lunch: The Restored Text forum
can some of william burroughs work be read as occult manuals? 		0 11 Jun 2011
Catch-22 forum
catch 22 		5 15 Feb 2011
The Lord of the Rings: 50th Anniversary Edition forum
Lord of the Rings Trivial Pursuit DVD game 		0 16 Oct 2010
Catch-22 forum
Catch 22 		1 27 Jun 2010
On the Road forum
A modern day On The Road? 		0 11 Jan 2009
 
   

About this Listmania!

 

Author
"widsithww"
Qualifications: Tourist
Last updated: 03/12/2002
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