No problems Vie O Lette - it's a pleasure. I'm actually REALLY looking forward to compiling this list (after all I AM a librarian!!), will be a toughie though!!!!!

I passed the 1001 books....... list round the English faculty at work today. The head of English had read 147 of the books (I should hope so too!!!!!) and looking forward to finding out what the others have read. Will also pass round our 'Burlesque Book Club 101 books.....' list when finished. Might have to re-title it though as I keep my private life VERY seperate from work!!!!!!!! Then again, what the heck!!!!!!!!!!

Keep the suggestions coming folks. Will start to compile a shortlist over half term hols in October.

kisses
PixieParasol

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In case suggestions already mentioned haven't been counted, I'd like to add:

Watership Down, Richard Adams
A Clockwork Orange, Anthony Burgess
The Book of Dave, Will Self

Can we have collections of short stories? If so:
H.P. Lovecraft Omnibus 2 - Dagon and other Macabre Tales
Barcelona Plates, Alexei Sayle
The Acid House, Irvine Welsh

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Can I add Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson to the list? It's a very complex (and somewhat geeky) mutli-layered story covering technology, cryptography and the story of a family from WW2 to the current day. The only real problem with it is that Stephenson REALLY can't write an ending to his books! That aside if you like intelligent Sci-Fi and a bit of geekery then I can highly recommend some of his other works - snowcrash and diamond age

I'm very close to finishing In The Bath by Tim FitzHigham. It tells the true story of his 200 mile row in an antique Thomas Crapper bath across the Channel then around Kent to Tower Bridge. I bought it because I'm a fan of his comedy, more of a story teller than a stand-up. He's a true British eccentric who gets these wild ideas then because someone says "if you can do that there's a pint in it for you" will go off and do it. It's a fantastic book, one of those that makes you laugh, gasp out loud on public transport with other passengers desperately wanting to see what you're reading.
Recently he Morris Danced from London to Norwich in nine days all because he read it in a poem and thought that's a great idea. Then with holes in the soles of his feet at the end of his journey he re-read it to find that yes it was done in days but over several weeks.

That's hlarious Magenta - the sort of stupid thing that would happen to me!!!!!

kisses
PixieParasol

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It's nice to be important but it's more important to be nice!

tipping the velvet

the time travelers wife

were by far the best books i read this year !!!

off to find of mice and men seeing as so many of you reccomend it !!

x x x

red

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Oh, forgotten Id read that-Tipping the Velvet is a beautiful book and I loved it

Axx

today i bought american gods by neil gaiman, i hope it's good because, it's a great big book!

That's freaky.......today I had my gifted and talented year 9 English group and was trying to encourage them to read more challenging books from a book box that I had pre-selected for them. One of the books was Neil Gaiman's 'Coraline' which I have heard is a bizarre yet fab book. They ALL wanted to take it but I only had one copy. A previous reader had reviewed it by simply writing 'this book will make you think differently about buttons'!!!!!!! How odd!!! I want to read it now too. I had never heard of Neil Gaiman before and now twice in one day.......spooky!!!!!

kisses
PixieParasol

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It's nice to be important but it's more important to be nice!

well i went on amazon to read some reviews and it most people loved it but, a few thought it was total rubbish. i will just have to find out for myself, anyway i think i have only ever gave up on 2 or 3 books i'm usually pretty determined to finish them. oh he wrote stardust too and i loved that film so if this book is good i'll get that next!