BBC 100 BIG READ

[Paul Mackin]

On Sun, 2003-05-18 at 16:47, Michael Joseph wrote:
> "In April the BBC's Big Read began the search for the nation's best-loved
> novel, and we asked you to nominate your favourite books. The votes poured
> in from all around the UK and here's [sic] the results."
> 
> 
> http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/bigread/top100.shtml
> 
> Includes 1984, pretty much what you'd expect: high toned classics, titles
> pupuliarized by the movies, 'beloved' family books, Enid Blyton. The sort
> of motley group you'd find in a carton at a flea market.

Orwell was smart to have titles that occur early alphabetically. I
recently read Actress in the House by Joseph McElroy, which won't end up
on any popular lists but in my opinion was worth the reading effort.
Like Pynchon McElroy dotes on technology. Not Hi-tech but engineering,
music, theater, dance, sports. Chromsky gets mentioned. Also the Cong,
and Canada.

P.