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Penguin Essentials are “some of the twentieth-century’s most important books. When they were first published they changed the way we thought about literature and about life. And they have remained vital reading ever since.”
I’m sure you’ll agree that they make an interesting collection of modern classics, and pictured below are some of the titles in this series.
The good folk at Penguin recently ran a little competition for book-bloggers to suggest some titles for an imagined selection of essentials for the noughties. Which books that were published between 2000 and 2010 would we recommend for a new 21st century series (not necessarily Penguin titles).
I took up the challenge, but decided to limit myself to books I had actually read. Here are my picks, and read on for my own competition/giveawat at the bottom of this post …
- The Road by Cormac McCarthy (2006) – Prizewinning – and a strangely beautiful read for a book set during a nuclear winter, and one of the saddest stories I’ve ever read.
- The Good Man Jesus & the Scoundrel Christ by Philip Pullman (2010) – Controversial – A master storyteller pares the plot of the ‘greatest story ever told’ down to the bones, and finds something new in it.
- Winter’s bone by Daniel Woodrell (2006) – A new kind of noir – In a mere 193 pages, you get a icy clear picture of the hard life in the brutal winter of the Ozark mountains. Although there’s little cheer, the teenaged heroine Ree has a true pioneer spirit and you root for her from page one on her quest to find her Pa.
- Never let me go by Kazuo Ishiguro (2005) – Speculative – This spare and unsettling novel is set in a near future that could so easily happen.
- Let the Right One in by John Ajvide Lindqvist (2004) – Simply the best vampire novel I’ve read, and I’ve read a lot of them. (2004)
- Remarkable creatures by Tracy Chevalier (2009) – Ground-breaking women – The fictionalised story of Mary Anning and the Victorian fossil hunters. Chevalier really brings her characters and the period to life. My favourite of her novels.
- The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery (2008) – Very French – The French have a tradition of philosophical novels, and this one following the inhabitants of a Parisian apartment block is no exception. Utterly charming.
- Old filth by Jane Gardam (2004) – At the height of her powers – The story of a retired judge who was an orphan of the Raj. Funny, moving and understated.
- The time traveller’s wife by Audrey Niffenegger (2003) – A phenomenon – This book does required persistence at first to get into, but within about fifty pages I was hooked. The first book for ages back then that made me cry.
- The Uncommon reader by Alan Bennett (2007) – National Treasure – Pure wit and whimsy but as it features Her Maj will have staying power. A perfect little read, and I giggled out loud all the way through.
So that was my ten. Do you agree with any of them?
* * * * *
Now to my competition/giveaway…
What book originally published between 2000 and 2010 would you add to my list, and why?
It’s not really a competition as I will pick winners at random until I get homes for all the prizes. Thanks to the lovely folk at Penguin, I have eight of the current Penguin Essentials series to giveaway … the titles on offer are those you saw at the top of the page, repeated below. Pick which title you prefer, or go for a lucky dip. I will send worldwide, (surface outside Europe).
- Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh
- On the Road by Jack Kerouac
- Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons
- A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
- Breakfast at Tiffany’s by Truman Capote
- Out of Africa by Karen Blixen
- A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole
- Cats Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut
Looking through my posts to see what I could suggest I realise I don’t read many books that have been recently published. But I’m going to vote for Sarah Waters, The Night Watch, as it’s one of the few books I have started again the minute I’d finished it. Beautifully written and wonderfully structured — I loved it. If I won, I’d love to have Cold Comfort Farm, which I know a lot about but have never read, or Confederacy of Dunces about which I know nothing.
Thanks Harriet – I agree The Night Watch was marvellous – and I’d forgotten entirely about Sarah Waters when I was making my picks!
An interesting list. I’ve read numbers 4, 5 and 9 and agree that they’re all excellent books.
I hated ‘The Road’ and didn’t finish it. It was just too depressing.
My favourite book of the decade is ‘The Songs of the Kings,’ by Barry Unsworth. It’s a retelling of the story of Agamemnon and Iphigeneia, an anti war book and a story about the manipulation of the innocent and unsophisticated.
‘Out of Africa’ sounds appealing to me.
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I’ve read and enjoyed some Unsworth (Morality Play), but not that one Kerry – thanks for mentioning it.
I absolutely agree with Never let me go! I have read this book multiple times!
My favorite book of the decade is Fingersmith by Sarah Waters – the best book I’ve read in a long time! In fact all of Sarah Waters’ books are amazing!
If I win I would choose Brideshead Revisited or Cold Comfort Farm
Thank You
The only one on your list that I have read is Time Traveller’s Wife and even that was in my pre-blogging days… But you have picked out some really iconic works there.
I would select Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Out of Africa or Cat’s Cradle from the giveaway pile!
Thanks
oh I missed penguin 00′s thing ,oh the twin Bakker ,yalo Elias Khoury ,any bolano
Bolano I know (not read his biggie though) had to look up The Twin and Yalo – both sound brilliant – thanks for the pointer Stu.
I like you list a lot, and I would definitely agree on The Road and The Uncommon Reader.
As for what I would choose, Harriet and Misha have already covered Sarah Waters who sprang to my mind immediately. Other top contenders in my mind would be Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell or Wolf Hall.
For the giveaway, I’d love to have either Brideshead Revisited or A Clockwork Orange. Both are favorites that I’d love to add to my collection.
Jonathan Strange … another I could have added to my list had I but remembered it. I loved that book – we’ll have to do a re-readalong next year perhaps Teresa!
I loved Old Filth and The Uncommon Reader. I admired but was repulsed by Never Let Me Go and I was irritated by The time-traveller’s wife. I am undecided about whether to read The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ – it does sound rather slim and as though he has just taken chunks from the Bible, with a different spin – am I missing out by not reading it?
I would add Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel – by far my favourite book of recent years.
For the giveaway if I’m picked I would like Out of Africa (I saw the film), or Cold Comfort Farm, which I thought I’d read – but haven’t!
Regardless of the controversy, I found the Pullman a fantastic piece of writing Margaret, and would recommend it on that score alone.
Wolf Hall, I couldn’t add, as I’m one of the few people in the world who still has the hardback sitting there on the shelf staring at me daring me to read it one day – which I will, one day.
The only one I’ve read on your list is Never Let Me Go but that was excellent. I didn’t know about Philip Pullman’s book but it definitely looks worth a read! I think one my favourite books of this decade would have to be The Book Thief. So good, but very sad.
As regards the giveaway, I’d be delighted with any of them.
I’ve heard many good things about the Book Thief, Louisa. I do have a copy, so must read it one of these days.
BTW – I managed to delete your email to me without replying. I have the first Torday book, so will let you know if I’d like to borrow any others later – thanks.
I put The Road, Time Traveller’s Wife and Never Let Me Go on my list. The only book on your list that I don’t know much about is Winter’s bone by Daniel Woodrell – I’ll have to see if my library has a copy because it does sound good. Don’t worry about entering me for your giveaway.
I adore Daniel Woodrell’s books – well the 2 I’ve read – Jackie. Just seen the film of Winter’s Bone too and it really does do justice to the book. I’d love to know what you think if you do read one of his.
Well I have read and loved Winter’s Bone, The Time Traveller’s Wife and the Tracy Chevalier and I have, unread, Never Let Me Go, Let The Right One In and Old Filth (although I have read quite a lot of Jane Gardam’s earlier work – especially her short stories).
If I see the Phillip Pullman in the library I might give it a try, ditto the Cormac MacCarthy but I did find him a bit impenetrable the last time I tried to read one of his although I can’t for the life of me remember which one!
By the way I am currently reading a YA book called Diamond Star Halo, which I think that you would rather like if you haven’t already read it. It’s set in an unconventional recording studio deep in the Welsh coutryside in the 1970′s and very quirky but utterly charming so far!
I shall be looking out for Diamond star Halo Liz – sounds like another nostalgia trip for me!
I hated The Time Traveler’s Wife — and normally I’m a sucker for some good romance — but I found it so creepy! Otherwise, I love your list — esp thrilled to see Pullman on it. This makes me v aware how little ‘big’ fiction I read — the stuff that people are talking about — I need to remedy this!
I can understand the creepy aspect of the TTW, but it was such a tragic romance… I chose the grown up controversial Pullman, as it made such a huge impact on me last year when it came out, and it was so wonderfully crafted. However, I generally believe in not following the hype in my reading choices Audra …
I will be honest and say I am a little behind. I haven’t read all that much stuff published in the last decade.
But I will definitely go for White Teeth by Zadie Smith (it barely made it as it was published in 2000). I think it set a trend that many authors found themselves following.
As for the prize –
I will take anything except for the Clockwork Orange as I’ve already read it (so yes, I am behind when it comes to classics as well.. ah)
Kinga, I’m much better on modern classics than older ones, but I’ve not yet read White Teeth – it has sat on my shelves ever since publication – now that I should remedy!
The only one on your list that I’d disagree with is Time Traveler’s Wife, as I really did not get on well with the book. I think it’s just me though – mostly everyone else I know loved it. I think my books would include Cloud Atlas, Half Of A Yellow Sun, We Need To Talk About Kevin and Kafka On The Shore. And possibly Harry Potter (not one of them, but the series as a whole).
I did not like The Road at all but liked very much The Uncommon Reader and Remarkable Creatures and of course Ishiguro. The Elegance of the Hedgehog is something I would have liked to have found but upto now no luck. Half a Yellow sun would be probably added to my list of good ones!
How about Life of Pi. I recent;y read that with thanks to World Book Night. Enjoyed it very much in the end but got some getting in to.
I never got around to reading that book, but nearly everyone seems to like it. Thanks for the reminder to elevate it up the TBR pile.
Just spotted that someone mentioned ‘Jonathan………….Norell’. I personally thought it was a load of rubbish and threw it in the dustbin.
Thanks for your contribution Dad!
My friends told me not to read The Road before bed. I didn’t!
My top choices are: People of the Book, Little Bee, Secret Lives of Bees. Nice blog and thanks for the reading suggestions.