Comments on: This is a very strange list

By: Gail Lockman

Gail Lockman — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 11:31:21 +0000

Not too sure which ticket that was, I’m convinced the CA HWY Patrol has a tickler file with my name in it. I’m retired, but work on call for Oakland PL. When I read this list, it reminded me of the never updated lists the Catholic schools handed out when I worked at CPL. I read your columns and enjoy them immensely. Congrats Grandpa! The grandkids are wonderful. gl

By: Roger Sutton

Roger Sutton — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 14:54:20 +0000

Gail Lockman! Where the heck have you been hiding? (If this is in fact the same Gail Lockman who successfully fought the traffic ticket she got while we were driving to a meeting 25 years ago. . .)

By: Gail Lockman

Gail Lockman — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 14:44:01 +0000

Sounds like they were sitting around drinking and the were just shouting out titles at random. These can’t be ranked 1 to 100. Or could it be an old, old “to read list” distributed by a school with just a few contemporary titles tossed in to make it look somewhat timely?

By: Roger Sutton

Roger Sutton — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 16:55:00 +0000

Jonathan, when I quickly scanned the list I thought that was the first Percy Jackson, which of course, duh, is The Lightning Thief. But The 39 Clues? Gimme a break.

By: Jonathan Hunt

Jonathan Hunt — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 15:14:24 +0000

Yes, one hundred is an unwieldy number and the rankings are gimmicky, but the deal breaker for me is THE MAZE OF BONES by Rick Riordan whose presence undermines the entire list. Why is it there?

By: Roger Sutton

Roger Sutton — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 19:17:46 +0000

No, I can see how a particular kind of list could encompass both Pat the Bunny and Holes. A “classics written for children” list. But this is that plus a whole less more–a list of canonical titles, some likely novices, and then some likable but hardly important contemporary books seemingly thrown in to address a perceived lack of balance of one kind or another. The ranking is just a gimmick–a good one, though.

By: Sarah Stevenson (aquafortis)

Sarah Stevenson (aquafortis) — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 18:25:22 +0000

Holy age range, Batman. It’s strange to see Pat the Bunny and Holes, for instance, on the same list…

By: Sergio R.

Sergio R. — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 17:28:57 +0000

How fascinating to see Green Ham and Eggs edge Anne Frank’s Diary.

By: Allison

Allison — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 08:50:19 +0000

You are right! How odd to see for example these books listed together (and I’ve just picked one grouping):
35. Freight Train by Donald Crews
36. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
37. The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear by Don & Audrey Wood
38. Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
39. Zen Shorts by John J. Muth
40. Moo, Baa, La La La! by Sandra Boynton

By: Sergio R.

Sergio R. — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 04:12:35 +0000

What!? No Oscar De Mejo???