100 One-Night Reads: A Book Lover's Guide

by David C. Major, John S. Major

Readers everywhere know that nothing soothes the spirit like sinking into a really good book. If you're one of that happy band, you'll quickly recognize the authors of this inspired reading guide as kindred spirits. Here David and John Major have chosen one hundred books that can each be delightfully consumed in one quiet evening. Covering categories from fantasy to fiction, history to humor, mystery to memoir, this addictive volume features books to match all your moods—by both celebrated writers and gifted unknowns,

•  Russell Baker  •  Willa Cather  • Raymond Chandler  •  F. Scott Fitzgerald  • Graham Greene  •  Edith Hamilton  •  Dashiell Hammett  •  Helene Hanff  •  Ernest Hemingway  •  Patricia Highsmith  • Shirley Jackson  •  Henry James  •  W. Somerset Maugham  •  Mary McCarthy  •  Walter Mosley  •  Vladimir Nabokov  •  Patrick O'Brian  •  Barbara Pym  •  Phillip Roth  •  Vikram Seth  •  Isaac Bashevis Singer  •  C. P. Snow  •  Dylan Thomas  •  Evelyn Waugh  •  Edith Wharton  •  Laura Ingalls Wilder  •  Virginia Woolf

Each selection contains an entertaining discussion of what makes the book special, from an adventurous writing style to a unique sense of humor. The Majors also share insights about the authors and literary anecdotes, as well as recommend other gems on a similar subject or by the same author.

A literary companion to relish and refer to again and again, 100 One-Night Reads is a masterpiece in its own right!

Genres: Books About Books, Nonfiction, Reference

336 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

Reviews

[Diane Barnes · Rating 3 out of 5]

This title is a little misleading. Most of them are not one night reads unless you have super abilities, but still some good background on authors and books.

[Scott · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Brothers Major must have bionic eyeballs. Of the 100 titles they recommend as one-evening reads, I picked out only a handful that I could comfortably finish in the short hours between supper and slumberland. The rest are too well written to be bolted: Who plows through Tolkien's ingenious Hobbit, Kipling's sprawling Kim, or Conrad's convoluted Secret Agent all in one sitting ... with pleasure? That kind of literary guzzling was inevitable when you were a kid, and gonzo when you were in college, but it makes the head whirl now that we've learned to sip, savor, and read responsibly.

But this isn't my greatest grouse with the guide. What irked me most was how stodgy, stuffy, and uninspiring the selection was. I didn't feel like picking up most of the books they reviewed, partly because their list was overloaded with classroom classics (Treasure Island, Animal Farm, Beowulf, Things Fall Apart, The Great Gatsby, The Ox-Bow Incident) that still reek of chalk dust and mimeograph juice, and partly because their thick plot summaries ruined the pleasurable suspense of discovering these "one-night reads" on my own.

But this doesn't mean the Majors don't offer a few intriguing titles: F M Cornford's Microcosmographia Academica, Edward Cameron Dimock's Mr Dimock Explores the Mysteries of the East, George Kates' The Years that Were Fat, Robert H. van Gulik's The Chinese Gold Murders, and P G Wodehouse's Something Fresh seem worth looking into. It's a pity the Majors didn't prune some of the more obvious choices from their list, leaving room for more works like these lost and less well known classics.

[JZ · Rating 1 out of 5]

sigh
I'm a huge fan of books about books. This one sucks.
Several are the well-worn crappy books that were assigned when I was in school over half a century ago, and several more are out of print, or difficult to find. I'd list them, for examples, but, meh.
They didn't work hard, so why should I?
If you're white, male, and middle class, you'll love it, though, I'd guess. Bias, much?

[Kara · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Majors introduced me to numerous authors whose works I might never have read on my own. Their thoughtful mini-book reports helped convince me to try books that probably would never have naturally circulated into my life. I wish that they would come out with another edition of this, but with a focus on works written within the the last 50 years.

[Faith-Anne · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was highly disappointed with the selection of books that this book had to offer.

[Robin Webb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of good ideas for my TBR pile!

[Kristen Rosenberg]

DnF
I thought it was a book of stories, not a book about stories

[Joy Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book about books that you can read in one evening. Although I have read several of the books and have heard of many others, I found the summaries very helpful. I also found some books that enticed me and are now on my "to read" list. For book lovers this can be a nice addition to your shelf by listing short, but important books in many different genres. It is not a book to sit and read cover to cover exactly, but to dive into when you want to find a new author or new book you have not yet discovered.

[Amanda · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a collection of essays about books that one can read in one night.

I have read a few books on the list, and I find the title and idea of the book to be completely misleading. Unless you intend to stay up all night long, there is no way you could read ANY of these books in one night. I was expecting it to be short stories, but nope.
Maybe when Major says "one-night reads" what he really means is "one-day reads." Some of the works on the list, such as Charlotte's Web, I believe could be read in one day. But it could not be read in one night unless one were to stay up all night reading it. As much as I enjoy Charlotte's Web, I can't imagine anyone feeling compelled to stay up all night reading it.

One listing that really perturbed me was The Hobbit. Really?!
I'm a rather quick reader, and it took me all of three months to get through that one.

So sorry, Major, but I disagree.

[Imlac · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent recommendations. The authors are educated and cultured guides - John S. Major revised and expanded Clifton Fadiman's The New Lifetime Reading Plan: The Classic Guide to World Literature. Many of these are indeed one-night reads (if you are an insomniac speed reader), but some are too long: Conrad's The Secret Agent: A Simple Tale, The Hobbitt- seriously?

[Sterlingcindysu · Rating 3 out of 5]

(copied review) Beyond engrossing stories and pretty language, good books offer "a sense of having participated in much of what is finest in human culture," assert David C. Major and John S. Major (coauthor of The New Lifetime Reading Plan) in 100 One-Night Reads: A Book Lover's Guide. Though some recommendations may take longer than one night (e.g., The Hobbit), they are all enjoyable, tasteful, educational. Most of the selections are fiction, but humor and memoir also weigh in; poetry is excluded. Book groups will appreciate the recommendations as well as the authors' brief essay on each one.

[Jonathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just what I need - yet another book of books to read! This time, the hook is books you can (theoretically) read in one evening. The hook is very enticing for a time crushed guy like myself. Taking a page from the Lifetime Reading Plan, which John Major co-wrote, they write 2-4 page essays on the book and the author - just enough to get you interested.

Unfortunately, 'one evening' seems to be bit of a stretch. But still, interesting enough that I'll look to grab it on ABE or something.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just what I needed---another 100 books to read. I did get several books to add to my list and have read some of them already. I tend to like older books better than the Top 10 list. The reviews are very well written and don't use the cliches so common in current reviews. The authors obviously love books.

[Alan]

A compilation of brief reviews of 100 short books that can theoretically be read in one evening. Books range from The Crying of Lot 49 by Pynchon to The Magician of Lublin by Isaac Bashevis Singer. Novels, non-fiction, travel, science and memoirs are included. I got some good hints for things to read.

[Norabear · Rating 2 out of 5]

I always get a kick out of books that give me lists of more books to read though this one was a bit of a drag to read.

[Barb Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gives a brief synopsis of the author and the story line of each book it reccomends. Easy read and good reference book.

[Wes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic collection of good short reads.

[Sharon Younkin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun collection to have when you don't have much time but would like to read a quick story, or when you need a break from a long, not-so-engrossing book.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

not my type of books, but useful to those who like more of the classics

[Joan · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a nice collection of summaries and quick "why-you-should-reads". I really enjoyed this read, and I have added a lot (though not all) of their suggestions to my to-read list.