I have 7 months left to live. What are 10 books that I should read before I die?

[mikektao]

In the short time I have remaining, I want to experience the world. My purpose is to use literature and imagination to do this; I won't have time to have adventures for myself so I will use books to do this instead :smile5:

They can be novels or otherwise. I don't want to give any more information than that. I want you to be creative.

Cheers,
MKT

[Iain Sparrow]

Seven months is plenty time for a last adventure!:)
I can tell you if it were me with seven months until oblivion, reading books would not be on my bucket list; I would be traveling to all the places around the world that I ever wanted to go, doing risky things, having unprotected sex with women of questionable morals... and oh yeah, one last thing... I would visit Sleepy Hollow Cemetery in the dead of night, and piss on Ralph Waldo Emerson's grave.

[Pompey Bum]

Hi Mike, and welcome to the site. :) If I were you I would find the book I loved the most when I was younger and reread it, asking myself what about it mattered to me and how I have changed since reading it. I don't think you will find the world's adventure in a book. You are going to the adventure the rest of us only guess at--and we will all be joining you soon enough. :)

[Ecurb]

Prison, fatal disease! What's next: suppose you are being tortured on the rack, but are given two books to read between stretching sessions. What books would you pick? My answer: "Shades of Grey" (to make torture seem sexy).

[Pompey Bum]

Okay, I was skeptical, too, but it could be legit.

We do get an awful lot of these top ten (or 50 or 100) list ideas here, Mike. :)

[ennison]

Do not act on medical advice

[ladderandbucket]

I think I would pick a massive history book - one that isn't too dry - and try to engage with it as imaginatively as possible. Will Durant's The Story of Civilisation looks like a good choice. Also I would reread Moby-Dick which feels like an old friend to me. My final book would be Under the Volcano. I can't explain why, it just feels like the perfect book to end on.

A very personal choice, obviously. I hope you find the books you are looking for.

[Eiseabhal]

What Should Mr Bunbury Read? If this is another of these "best books lists" it is based on a sad and tasteless premise. If it is not then it is plain sad.

[ladderandbucket]

Seemed like a genuine question to me, although an impossible one to answer. I think people should be granted the benefit of the doubt until they give reason to to be.

[ennison]

Do what on RWE? Now that's an ecologist to be sure!

[redfox1111]

Well the Brother's Karamazov for sure...

[MANICHAEAN]

I'd start by trying to find elements of humour in "The Book of Job."

Move onto "Catch 22" by Joseph Heller.

Finish off with readers letters to the latest edition of "Playboy."