of the “nation’s top 100 best loved novels” as figured out by the bbc’s big read project, i’ve read 39, which i didn’t think was too bad going. there’s quite a few more books in that list that i’d like to have a read of sometime.

of the top 21 that are currently battling it out on saturday night tv though i’ve actually read 17. that’s 81% which seems to be pretty good going to me so i don’t feel quite so bad about missing out on the likes of middlemarch, emma and far from the madding crowd. plus i thought my childhood reading was a bit heavy on enid blyton but it looks like i totally missed the best of her as i’ve never read the magic faraway tree.

the four titles in the top 21 that i haven’t read are:

• birdsong - i’ve actually had this for ages and ages and have read the beginning but got torn away from it by other things, must get back to it. definitely one i plan to read.

• gone with the wind - are people voting for this based on having read the book or having seen the film? i’ve never had the vaguest desire to read this, or to see the film, and haven’t got any now either.

• lord of the rings - much the same as for gone with the wind really though i think this would have done pretty well without the films but i still feel the films are garnering votes rather than the books. i’m enjoying the films but have little interest in reading the books.

• his dark materials - this trilogy sounds pretty good to me. i’m not sure it’s entirely my cup of tea but i’m planning on tasting it and finding out.

i’m torn in about ten directions on which of the 21 is my best loved book, currently i’m cheering on wuthering heights but it’s a hard decision.