For most of us dying in the middle of a book we are enjoying, or even waiting for the end of that series we’ve been so hooked on is probably our worst nightmare. I can only hope that when Death’s grip is upon my shoulder I’m rereading a favourite book, or that the inevitable will at least wait until I’ve finished. For our newest ‘fun’ poll we asked you to name the book you would ‘most like to be found reading when you die.’
We received far fewer responses for this one, than our usual polls. No doubt you all share my fear. So this is a shorter list than our usual polls, but five books stood out as the books you would most like to get caught reading. For me it was Anna Karenina, as it would mean that I finally got around to reading Tolstoy’s classic.
I will start by saying that religious texts received the most votes; the Bible and Quran garnered twenty-five votes between them. After this the five most popular books to be caught dead reading are:
Little Women – Louisa May Alcott
Many of you would choose this as the book you’re caught dead reading, an old favourite from childhood for many.
Harry Potter – J.K Rowling
In joint first place was Harry Potter, lots of you selected the Deathly Hallows in particular after all, who wants to die mid series?
Pride and Prejudice – Jane Austen
Many of you called Pride and Prejudice your comfort read and therefore the book you’d be most likely to die reading.
Lord of the Rings – J.R.R Tolkien
This epic was top of the list for many of you, a popular reread among our fans and the book you thought you’d most likely be caught dead reading.
Jane Eyre – Charlotte Bronte
And finishing a pretty impressive list is Bronte’s Jane Eyre.
We may not have had the 1,000+ votes we usually get on our polls, but it’s the first list we’ve created that is dominated by classics. Feel free to add your own in the comments.
‘Always read stuff that will make you look good if you die in the middle of it.’ ~ P.J O’Rourke
10 of 2024’s Most Anticipated Reads
The For Reading Addicts Book of the Year 2023
Are You Willing to Unite Against Book Bans?
Roald Dahl Censorship Creates Grotesque Versions of Classics
When I read the headline for this article, I thought to myself, I hope Harry Potter isn’t on this list. But, of course…
You must, MUST read Anna Karenina. Tolstoy was intimidating to me, too, but I could not put Karenina down. As far as my choice, it would have to be “Secret Garden”. It was the first book my Mom told me I should read, and I listened to her as far as books go the rest of her life. “The Good Earth” would be a close second
Anna Karenina the best novel exposing the women characters,Good Earth is also best novel about Chinese in those period, you also read the same type of novel is Hurricane, is best to read.
With my luck, they’ll find me curled up with something junky.