[Gail White]

It's surprising how many of us haven't read Moby Dick. I admit the combination of adventure novel and whaling manual is a little off-putting, but I read it way back in my teens when I'd read anything, and still re-read favorite passages now and then.

Duncan, thanks for advice on "The Gift." Friends have also recommended "King, Queen, Knave" for my first Nabokov, but I could never get into it.

I notice few of us have mentioned Conrad, who I think ranks as one of the Great Unreadables. I had to force myself to get through "Heart of Darkness."

Oh, and I've never read "Ulysses" either.

But I did like "The Red and the Black". I thought Mathilde was really cool, cutting off her hair for love and all.
Also, I'll match the amount of Thackeray I've read with anyone in the room.