World's best Reading- Reader's Digest
This is a continuation of the topic World's best Reading- Reader's Digest.
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1Novak
After more than 600 posts on the old thread, is it time to start a new topic about READERS DIGEST, WORLD'S BEST READING editions somewhere fresh?....Like...Here?
If you like to read beautifully bound classic books by famous authors, these are the ones to get you hands on.
If you like to read beautifully bound classic books by famous authors, these are the ones to get you hands on.
4RobertMurray7
Thank you for new thread,hope to post list of duplicate copies I have , approx 80 , once I figure out easiest way to do it, all the best to everyone
Yours Robert Murray
Yours Robert Murray
5RobertMurray7
Looking for The Jungle, The Good Soldier, Babbitt, Jo,s Boys, to complete list to date, apart from Wuthering Heights (assume this is reprint of earlier book ?)
Yours Robert
Yours Robert
6modelabum
I am looking for The Phantom of the Opera & The
Moon and Sixpence to finish the series as I know it.
I keep getting reprints from RD. Anyone out there
have duplicates?
Moon and Sixpence to finish the series as I know it.
I keep getting reprints from RD. Anyone out there
have duplicates?
7Novak
An old friend tells me:
"Had alot of problems with Readers Digest. They were sending me books that I already had so I was sending them back unopened. One must have been lost in the mail or post as you call it. So RD was sending me nasty little letters. So told them to cancell my subscription. Haven't heard a word from them. "
"Had alot of problems with Readers Digest. They were sending me books that I already had so I was sending them back unopened. One must have been lost in the mail or post as you call it. So RD was sending me nasty little letters. So told them to cancell my subscription. Haven't heard a word from them. "
8modelabum
I had the same problem until I printed out their return
label and got a confirmation of delivery from the P O.
By going to your account on RD.com, you can track all
your business and print their return labels.
label and got a confirmation of delivery from the P O.
By going to your account on RD.com, you can track all
your business and print their return labels.
9suit4u
Dont belive there will be any new books from RD. Read in the paper today that RD is filing for bankrupcy once again! They are 500 million in debt.
10infrar3d
It doesn't seem quite that bad. "RD said the Chapter 11 filing is not expected to impact its day-to-day operations and that it will continue to market and publish all of its U.S. publications during this process, as well as its international publications." Here's the full article at Publishers Weekly.
http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/financial-reporting/ar...
http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/financial-reporting/ar...
12Rule42
>11 Novak:
My suggestion is that it's because you are looking for it in all the wrong places and/or searching for it using entirely the wrong methods. Here's an analogy ... if you think sex is a pain in the arse then most likely you are doing it wrong. In my humble experience, bad workmen always blame their tools and bad Google searchers always claim what they are looking for doesn't exist. Until you manage to improve your personal web searching and typing skills, Novak, you are never going to be able to track down pristine copies (including the inserts) of all the titles in the WBR series that you repeatedly claim are "hard to find" or simply "do not exist" - while all the rest of us own so many damn spare copies of them that we cannot even give them away, let alone offload them to some unsuspecting sucker via a "no refunds" job lot listing on eBay!
>10 infrar3d:
I love the way every time RD goes into bankruptcy it always releases statements assuring its entire customer base that, come what may, the company will still manage to preserve the same level of customer service throughout the Chapter 11 proceedings, and that nothing tangible will be impacted by the bankruptcy. Of course, when your worldwide customer base consists of only one person (i.e., suit4u, who now regularly gets his tires rotated and balanced by RD every month) and your level of customer service is running around 0%, these are promises that even RD can manage to fulfill ... well, most of the time anyway, which is still pretty darn good.
And if not, remember that you can always send whatever it is you thought you bought from RD back to them in the original unopened packaging to possibly receive a refund someday maybe. What most people posting on the WBR threads don't appear to understand us that if they first open the package to determine what it is RD might have sent them, or they never even received the package, then naturally all bets are off ... in which case it's quite reasonable that they be expected to suck it all up like a good fellow should.
My suggestion is that it's because you are looking for it in all the wrong places and/or searching for it using entirely the wrong methods. Here's an analogy ... if you think sex is a pain in the arse then most likely you are doing it wrong. In my humble experience, bad workmen always blame their tools and bad Google searchers always claim what they are looking for doesn't exist. Until you manage to improve your personal web searching and typing skills, Novak, you are never going to be able to track down pristine copies (including the inserts) of all the titles in the WBR series that you repeatedly claim are "hard to find" or simply "do not exist" - while all the rest of us own so many damn spare copies of them that we cannot even give them away, let alone offload them to some unsuspecting sucker via a "no refunds" job lot listing on eBay!
>10 infrar3d:
I love the way every time RD goes into bankruptcy it always releases statements assuring its entire customer base that, come what may, the company will still manage to preserve the same level of customer service throughout the Chapter 11 proceedings, and that nothing tangible will be impacted by the bankruptcy. Of course, when your worldwide customer base consists of only one person (i.e., suit4u, who now regularly gets his tires rotated and balanced by RD every month) and your level of customer service is running around 0%, these are promises that even RD can manage to fulfill ... well, most of the time anyway, which is still pretty darn good.
And if not, remember that you can always send whatever it is you thought you bought from RD back to them in the original unopened packaging to possibly receive a refund someday maybe. What most people posting on the WBR threads don't appear to understand us that if they first open the package to determine what it is RD might have sent them, or they never even received the package, then naturally all bets are off ... in which case it's quite reasonable that they be expected to suck it all up like a good fellow should.
13Novak
Scene inside Readers Digest Head Office:
Him: How are things Mrs Weatherwax?
Her: We're bankrupt again, Sir.
Him: But when I looked in the till there was $467,000.000 in there and I only took $14, 000,000 for my last weeks wages. Something's wrong.
Her: It's the customers....
Him: Both of them? .......Get that guy who talks with a limp..--..-- “Rule of 45 thumbs” or whatever his cover name is, onto LT. Stir 'em up a bit and find out how to get rid of all these bloody books. Tell him not to be too wordy.
Her: He can't help it, Sir..................Coffee?
Him: How are things Mrs Weatherwax?
Her: We're bankrupt again, Sir.
Him: But when I looked in the till there was $467,000.000 in there and I only took $14, 000,000 for my last weeks wages. Something's wrong.
Her: It's the customers....
Him: Both of them? .......Get that guy who talks with a limp..--..-- “Rule of 45 thumbs” or whatever his cover name is, onto LT. Stir 'em up a bit and find out how to get rid of all these bloody books. Tell him not to be too wordy.
Her: He can't help it, Sir..................Coffee?
15famousbelgian
I have about a dozen or so duplicates, if anybody is interested please send me a private message
16Rule42
I suspect, mon cher Hastings, zat all of his (how you say?) "duplicates" are of ze color gris. Néanmoins, c'est très bien to see no less a person than the great Edin Hazard himself exercising his little grey sells right here on this lousy backwater of a thread, n'est-ce pas?.
17Rule42
>13 Novak:
"Get that guy who talks with a limp"
Surely you meant "walk with a limp" ... or perhaps even "talk with a lisp"? As usual, your verbal imagery has me ROTFLMAO.
BTW, how on Earth did you know that I walk with a pronounced limp ... pronounced L - I - M - P ... LIMP?
Are you ssssspsychic, Mr. Novak? You appear to move in vewy mysteewious ways, your wonders to behold!
"Get that guy who talks with a limp"
Surely you meant "walk with a limp" ... or perhaps even "talk with a lisp"? As usual, your verbal imagery has me ROTFLMAO.
BTW, how on Earth did you know that I walk with a pronounced limp ... pronounced L - I - M - P ... LIMP?
Are you ssssspsychic, Mr. Novak? You appear to move in vewy mysteewious ways, your wonders to behold!
18Novak
Mhist all crucking fighty, Rule 42, don't tell us you walk with a lisp on top of all your other misfortunes. No wonder you're so snappy.. .. .. .. :o)
19Rule42
Yes, Novak, you've hit the proverbial nail right on the 'ead. Indeed, with friends like you, I'm so schnappy I could die.
20Novak
Scene inside Readers Digest Head Office, Pleasantville:
Bailiffs are removing desks, computer equipment and telephones. Ignoring books............
Enter: Smart young Readers Digest executive with colourful parrot on shoulder.
“That is beautiful, where did you get it?” asked the CEO
“There are hundreds of them wandering the streets outside looking lost and stunned.” said the parrot.
Bailiffs are removing desks, computer equipment and telephones. Ignoring books............
Enter: Smart young Readers Digest executive with colourful parrot on shoulder.
“That is beautiful, where did you get it?” asked the CEO
“There are hundreds of them wandering the streets outside looking lost and stunned.” said the parrot.
21Rule42
Further weird scenes from inside the Pleasantville gold mine ...
Outside in the streets below the offices of the Retreader's Digest head quarters, various folk could be seen surreptitiously entering and leaving the building. They entered empty-handed but would later be seen leaving with their arms full of whatever they had been able to lay their hands on ... except, of course, for anything remotely resembling books which, as most members of this site would appear to agree, were complete anathema to them.
It had always been one of the goals of the noted American philanthropist DeWitt Wallace - when he, together with his wife Lila, originally founded RD in the early 1920s - to create an organization that would empower other people to ultimately help themselves. Indeed, today we can now all bear witness as DeWitt's altruistic dream finally comes to full fruition. It was recently reported that the RD organization DeWitt started is now losing money faster than the Greek government and there have been continued rumors in the media that the worldwide RD corporation is going bankrupt. However, according to Eric Manchester, RD's press agent, all of these allegations are completely unfounded and the stories greatly exaggerated.
In a not-unrelated backlash to these events, the residents of the New York community that has served as home to the RD HQ for so long have just voted to rename their city Unpleasantville to better reflect the realities of the current financial climate in the mail order book publishing industry.
Outside in the streets below the offices of the Retreader's Digest head quarters, various folk could be seen surreptitiously entering and leaving the building. They entered empty-handed but would later be seen leaving with their arms full of whatever they had been able to lay their hands on ... except, of course, for anything remotely resembling books which, as most members of this site would appear to agree, were complete anathema to them.
It had always been one of the goals of the noted American philanthropist DeWitt Wallace - when he, together with his wife Lila, originally founded RD in the early 1920s - to create an organization that would empower other people to ultimately help themselves. Indeed, today we can now all bear witness as DeWitt's altruistic dream finally comes to full fruition. It was recently reported that the RD organization DeWitt started is now losing money faster than the Greek government and there have been continued rumors in the media that the worldwide RD corporation is going bankrupt. However, according to Eric Manchester, RD's press agent, all of these allegations are completely unfounded and the stories greatly exaggerated.
In a not-unrelated backlash to these events, the residents of the New York community that has served as home to the RD HQ for so long have just voted to rename their city Unpleasantville to better reflect the realities of the current financial climate in the mail order book publishing industry.
22Novak
A brilliant piece of reporting Rule 42. Plus a hilarious piece from the Ruttles, (where does he find them..?) featuring BIG VAL..--..--..--..--.. Oooh she scares me......
Reports today say that RD may soon be swallowed up by a larger book publisher. So it may become Readers Digested.
Reports today say that RD may soon be swallowed up by a larger book publisher. So it may become Readers Digested.
23modelabum
I talked to RD and was told that no more WBR books
would be published. Also no more of the Best mysteries of all time series by Impress.
Sad...they are good books for the price.
would be published. Also no more of the Best mysteries of all time series by Impress.
Sad...they are good books for the price.
24Novak
Wow, Modalabum. Is this true? I've always wanted to meet someone who had actually spoken to someone at RD.
Was is a real person or just a removal man or a receiver? They can't just pack it in, what are they going to do with a whole warehouse full of copies of “Prisoner of Zenda” and “Kidnapped”??
Have you any more info' please ?
Was is a real person or just a removal man or a receiver? They can't just pack it in, what are they going to do with a whole warehouse full of copies of “Prisoner of Zenda” and “Kidnapped”??
Have you any more info' please ?
25modelabum
Every time I call, I get someone new. I talked to a lady
who told me they were cancelling the books as soon as
I told her I had ALL of the former publications and did not want to receive any more duplicates. She was
then quite willing and in fact really wanted to cancel my
subscriptions. So maybe they have a plan to get rid of
their inventory only at this time. I will watch them closely
in the future.
who told me they were cancelling the books as soon as
I told her I had ALL of the former publications and did not want to receive any more duplicates. She was
then quite willing and in fact really wanted to cancel my
subscriptions. So maybe they have a plan to get rid of
their inventory only at this time. I will watch them closely
in the future.
26Novak
They are very quiet as far as the press goes. Not a mention in my papers. Anyone else any news?
27infrar3d
I don't think I've ever seen new Reader's Digest books in a book store before, but I saw a small stack of these in my local Books-A-Million recently.
This is the odd, clothbound 2010 edition of Wuthering Heights that is mentioned in the other thread I believe.
This is the odd, clothbound 2010 edition of Wuthering Heights that is mentioned in the other thread I believe.
28lowboz
That is interesting to find them at a USA book store. That would explain how I came across the clothbound version of Wells' "War.../Time..." from eBay here in the States. The cloth bound RD-WBR's were only published in the UK by Vivat as far as I know. There are ten of them to my knowledge (I have ten, and have heard of an eleventh, but not substantiated).
Author / Title / ISBN / Issue Date / RD Number / Insert Number / Pages / Covering
Bronte / Wuthering Heights / 9780276446511 / 2010 / 070-101-UP0000 / EWBR-L-DNYP / 349 / Lt. Blue Cloth
Stevenson / Treas Isl + Kidnap / 9780276446580 / 2010 / 070-102-UP0000 / EWBR-L-DNXX / 398 / Tan Cloth
Dickens / Oliver Twist / 9780276446597 / 2010 / 070-103-UP0000 / EWBR-L-DNXY / 462 / Lt. Green Cloth
Austen / Pride and Prejudice / 9780276446603 / 2011 / 070-104-UP0000 / EWBR-L-DNXZ / 343 / Violet Cloth
Doyle / Stdy Scarl + Hound / 9780276446615 / 2011 / 070-105-UP0000 / EWBR-L-DNYA / 319 / Lt. Tan Cloth
Collins / Moonstone / 9780276446627 / 2011 / 070-106-UP0000 / EWBR-L-DNYB / 543 / Grey Cloth
Defoe / Robinson Crusoe / 9781780200316 / 2011 / 070-107-UP0000 / EWBR-L-DNYC / 303 / Green Cloth
Wells / War… + Time… / 9781780200323 / 2011 / 070-108-UP0000 / EWBR-L-DNYD / 318 / Dk. Blue Cloth
Alcott / Jo's Boys / 9781780200330 / 2011 / 070-109-UP0000 / EWBR-L-DNYE / 301 / Lt. Grey Cloth
Scott / Ivanhoe / 9781780201184 / 2012 / 070-115-UP0000 / EWBR-L-DNYK / 540 / Blue Cloth**
Jerome / 3 Men Boat + 3 Men Bummel / — / 201x / — / — / — / Xxxx Cloth
**Ivanhoe added above 01-OCT-2013
Also, another interesting find. I have been attempting to put together a second set of the RD-WBR's for my one daughter (since she really likes my set). I saw a Blackmore "Lorna Doone" for sale here in the States, and so I purchased it for my daughter's set. When it arrived, turned out it was not the UK printing from 1995 with 575 pages, but rather it was a new 2013 USA printing with 559 pages and different insert than from the UK-only printing. So RD is still putting out printings (new covers and layout and inserts), maybe just no new titles.
Author / Title / ISBN / Issue Date / RD Number / Insert Number / Pages / Covering
Bronte / Wuthering Heights / 9780276446511 / 2010 / 070-101-UP0000 / EWBR-L-DNYP / 349 / Lt. Blue Cloth
Stevenson / Treas Isl + Kidnap / 9780276446580 / 2010 / 070-102-UP0000 / EWBR-L-DNXX / 398 / Tan Cloth
Dickens / Oliver Twist / 9780276446597 / 2010 / 070-103-UP0000 / EWBR-L-DNXY / 462 / Lt. Green Cloth
Austen / Pride and Prejudice / 9780276446603 / 2011 / 070-104-UP0000 / EWBR-L-DNXZ / 343 / Violet Cloth
Doyle / Stdy Scarl + Hound / 9780276446615 / 2011 / 070-105-UP0000 / EWBR-L-DNYA / 319 / Lt. Tan Cloth
Collins / Moonstone / 9780276446627 / 2011 / 070-106-UP0000 / EWBR-L-DNYB / 543 / Grey Cloth
Defoe / Robinson Crusoe / 9781780200316 / 2011 / 070-107-UP0000 / EWBR-L-DNYC / 303 / Green Cloth
Wells / War… + Time… / 9781780200323 / 2011 / 070-108-UP0000 / EWBR-L-DNYD / 318 / Dk. Blue Cloth
Alcott / Jo's Boys / 9781780200330 / 2011 / 070-109-UP0000 / EWBR-L-DNYE / 301 / Lt. Grey Cloth
Scott / Ivanhoe / 9781780201184 / 2012 / 070-115-UP0000 / EWBR-L-DNYK / 540 / Blue Cloth**
Jerome / 3 Men Boat + 3 Men Bummel / — / 201x / — / — / — / Xxxx Cloth
**Ivanhoe added above 01-OCT-2013
Also, another interesting find. I have been attempting to put together a second set of the RD-WBR's for my one daughter (since she really likes my set). I saw a Blackmore "Lorna Doone" for sale here in the States, and so I purchased it for my daughter's set. When it arrived, turned out it was not the UK printing from 1995 with 575 pages, but rather it was a new 2013 USA printing with 559 pages and different insert than from the UK-only printing. So RD is still putting out printings (new covers and layout and inserts), maybe just no new titles.
30lowboz
Added Walter Scott's "Ivanhoe" to list in #28 above.
In the list in #28, there is a gap in the RD Numbers from 070-110 to 070-114, inclusive. Anyone have any knowledge of other editions of the Vivat Direct Ltd issues of the RD-WBR's?
In the list in #28, there is a gap in the RD Numbers from 070-110 to 070-114, inclusive. Anyone have any knowledge of other editions of the Vivat Direct Ltd issues of the RD-WBR's?
31RobertMurray7
Apologies , have not been on for a long time. Thought the only copies I needed were The Good Soldier The Jungle and For the term of His Natural Life ?
Now I hear of Ivanhoe and Moonstone ? I have many duplicates should anyone wish to have any, please list the names , thanks
Robert
Now I hear of Ivanhoe and Moonstone ? I have many duplicates should anyone wish to have any, please list the names , thanks
Robert
33Paulfozz
>1 Novak: "If you like to read beautifully bound classic books by famous authors, these are the ones to get you hands on."
I have a couple of these that I've found in charity shops (Lost Horizon/Mr. Chips, Three Men In A Boat/Three Men On The Bummel). They're ok but I wouldn't call them beautifully bound - the ones I have have glued rather than stitched pages for one thing, which is a pretty cheap way of binding books. There are better editions out there, like Everyman Library or higher up you have publishers like Eastman Press and Folio Society making really top-notch editions.
Certainly seem to see a LOT of these readers digest ones in charity shops though so they're ok since you can usually pick them up for pennies.
I have a couple of these that I've found in charity shops (Lost Horizon/Mr. Chips, Three Men In A Boat/Three Men On The Bummel). They're ok but I wouldn't call them beautifully bound - the ones I have have glued rather than stitched pages for one thing, which is a pretty cheap way of binding books. There are better editions out there, like Everyman Library or higher up you have publishers like Eastman Press and Folio Society making really top-notch editions.
Certainly seem to see a LOT of these readers digest ones in charity shops though so they're ok since you can usually pick them up for pennies.
34RobertMurray7
Please help , why do some books have illustrations and others do not ? Is it to do with year of publication ?
Obliged for any information , thanks
Yours
Robert Murray
Obliged for any information , thanks
Yours
Robert Murray
35RobertMurray7
Any info on non illustrated books ? is it to do with publication year ?
Please advise
, thanks
Please advise
, thanks
36RobertMurray7
Happy New Year to all.
37MickMn
Robert,
Here are some I am missing and would be willing to purchase:
Blackmore — Lorna Doone, Burnett — Secret Garden, Defoe — Robinson Crusoe, Dickens — Hard Times, Forster — Room with a View, Hardy — Far from the Maddening Crowd, Mayor of Casterbridge & Return of the Native, Jerome — Three Men in a Boat, Kipling — Jungle Book, Leroux — Phantom of the Opera, Melville — Confidence Man, Rudd — On our Selection, Shelley — Frankenstein, Stevenson — Black Arrow, Swift — Gulliver's Travels, Turgenev — Father & Sons, Wells — War of the Worlds, Wilde — Dorian Gray.
Thanks.
Mick
Here are some I am missing and would be willing to purchase:
Blackmore — Lorna Doone, Burnett — Secret Garden, Defoe — Robinson Crusoe, Dickens — Hard Times, Forster — Room with a View, Hardy — Far from the Maddening Crowd, Mayor of Casterbridge & Return of the Native, Jerome — Three Men in a Boat, Kipling — Jungle Book, Leroux — Phantom of the Opera, Melville — Confidence Man, Rudd — On our Selection, Shelley — Frankenstein, Stevenson — Black Arrow, Swift — Gulliver's Travels, Turgenev — Father & Sons, Wells — War of the Worlds, Wilde — Dorian Gray.
Thanks.
Mick
38infrar3d
I picked up two WBR books at my local Goodwill store today, and both had ribbon markers. I've never seen ribbons in a WBR book before, has anyone else? I suppose they could have been added later, but if so they're nicely done - they match the binding colors.
39Sagitar
>infrar3d
From the Wikipedia page under the book variations section:
"An example of the variation of patterned end papers with ribbon bookmarks versus plain colored end papers without bookmarks is Silas Marner. Both books have the same artwork on the outside cover, but on the inside one edition has plain white end papers and the other has marble patterned end papers and a colored ribbon bookmark. Other titles with this variation are Pride And Prejudice, The Call of the Wild/White Fang, The Scarlet Letter, The House of Seven Gables, The Last Of The Mohicans, A Tale Of Two Cities, Tess of the D’Urbervilles, A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur’s Court, Little Women, Jane Eyre, Great Expectations, Twice-Told Tales, and The Innocents Abroad."
From the Wikipedia page under the book variations section:
"An example of the variation of patterned end papers with ribbon bookmarks versus plain colored end papers without bookmarks is Silas Marner. Both books have the same artwork on the outside cover, but on the inside one edition has plain white end papers and the other has marble patterned end papers and a colored ribbon bookmark. Other titles with this variation are Pride And Prejudice, The Call of the Wild/White Fang, The Scarlet Letter, The House of Seven Gables, The Last Of The Mohicans, A Tale Of Two Cities, Tess of the D’Urbervilles, A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur’s Court, Little Women, Jane Eyre, Great Expectations, Twice-Told Tales, and The Innocents Abroad."
40Sagitar
>RobertMurray7
Some WBR (maybe roughly half?) were not published with illustrations regardless of publication year/country.
If you are asking about variations where one version has illustrations and the other version does not, two books are the only ones that come to my mind at the present. The UK Barchester Towers and The Jungle Books are illustrated whereas the US versions are not.
edit: After going through my collection, I find that 84 (plus the two UK editions listed above) out of 134 books are illustrated. I cannot vouch for The Jungle as I do not own it, but considering its later publication date, I would assume it is not illustrated.
Some WBR (maybe roughly half?) were not published with illustrations regardless of publication year/country.
If you are asking about variations where one version has illustrations and the other version does not, two books are the only ones that come to my mind at the present. The UK Barchester Towers and The Jungle Books are illustrated whereas the US versions are not.
edit: After going through my collection, I find that 84 (plus the two UK editions listed above) out of 134 books are illustrated. I cannot vouch for The Jungle as I do not own it, but considering its later publication date, I would assume it is not illustrated.
41infrar3d
>Sagitar
Thanks for that. Either I've missed that section on the Wikipedia page or it's been added since the last time I looked, which has been a while.
Thanks for that. Either I've missed that section on the Wikipedia page or it's been added since the last time I looked, which has been a while.
42RobertMurray7
Hi , everyone , trust all is well , not many updates on this page ?
43RobertMurray7
Extremely difficult to find The Good Soldier, The Jungle, Moonstone,and Paradise Lost book safe. Are they strictly USA printed editions ? thanks
44lowboz
Please see the following Wikipedia entry for a very good listing of the RD-WBR series publication dates and locations. That will help to answer some of the questions from Robert's entry #43 above.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World%27s_Best_Reading
I have only seen the three books from #43 above only once or twice each on eBay ("The Jungle", only once, but I did snag the photos from the auction). As for the book safe "Paradise Lost", that comes up more often, and was also issued outside of the USA. The USA issue was done in 1993 (as a subscriber back then, I remember the insert with one of the issued books), and has been listed on eBay from Australia as well. I don't know what years this was done outside of the USA. The book safe does not have an ISBN number or RD number, but does have a USA patent number stamped on the back of it "4467920", which was issued to RD in 1984 for use with a Condensed Book fake cover book safe offering.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World%27s_Best_Reading
I have only seen the three books from #43 above only once or twice each on eBay ("The Jungle", only once, but I did snag the photos from the auction). As for the book safe "Paradise Lost", that comes up more often, and was also issued outside of the USA. The USA issue was done in 1993 (as a subscriber back then, I remember the insert with one of the issued books), and has been listed on eBay from Australia as well. I don't know what years this was done outside of the USA. The book safe does not have an ISBN number or RD number, but does have a USA patent number stamped on the back of it "4467920", which was issued to RD in 1984 for use with a Condensed Book fake cover book safe offering.
45RobertMurray7
now have a copy of Jo,s Boys 2011 Vivat re issue with insertavailable, Did you see previous list I sent ?
46RobertMurray7
Happy New 2015 to everyone. All the best.
Yours Robert
Yours Robert
47RobertMurray7
Hello Everyone, keep checking , but no updated posts appearing .last one 31 Dec 2014 ?
Trust all is well with everyone .
Trust all is well with everyone .
48RobertMurray7
Fell all alone in here , where is everyone ?
49lowboz
Well, at least there are two of us that check this Book Talk string upon occasion.
The same thing has happened to the RD/Impress Best Mysteries of All Time string. It has gone dead as well.
The same thing has happened to the RD/Impress Best Mysteries of All Time string. It has gone dead as well.
50RobertMurray7
Please update for me, list of required books you and your daughter require , thanks
Yours Robert
Yours Robert
51oldarmybear
I just found this place again, It has been a couple of years since I posted. I love these books
52lowboz
Robert, I will send a LT message to you with the needed book and/or insert detailed lists.
For short, I just need Upton Sinclair "The Jungle" for my collection. My daughter needs 5 books: Wilkie Collins "The Moonstone", Daniel Defoe "Robinson Crusoe" (Vivat 2011), Ford Ford "The Good Soldier", E.M. Forster "Where Angels.../Room with...", and Upton Sinclair "The Jungle".
In addition, if there are any other Vivat editions not listed in entry 28 above, we need those. The rumored Vivat edition of Jerome "Three Men..." has never been confirmed that I am aware of.
For short, I just need Upton Sinclair "The Jungle" for my collection. My daughter needs 5 books: Wilkie Collins "The Moonstone", Daniel Defoe "Robinson Crusoe" (Vivat 2011), Ford Ford "The Good Soldier", E.M. Forster "Where Angels.../Room with...", and Upton Sinclair "The Jungle".
In addition, if there are any other Vivat editions not listed in entry 28 above, we need those. The rumored Vivat edition of Jerome "Three Men..." has never been confirmed that I am aware of.
53lowboz
Questions for anyone of the old gang of this Book Talk string:
1. Can the RD-WBR Publisher Series book list be rebuilt? There are some missing books from the list, some in the middle and some near the end. There are 132 listed in LT, but my list has 136.
2. To whom can I send my list? I do not want to attempt the changes myself, as I do not want to risk messing up the whole thing. I had received a release sequence from RD a couple years ago, and the sequence is different than many on the LT list sequence.
3. Also, I am requesting opinions on the RD-WBR book series from a collection point of view. There are a number of books that were re-issued in later years with completely different covers, spines, page layouts, and insert designs. Would you purists in the group consider them to be different for a collection? If so, my list then is increased to a count of 155. This does not include the duplicates of USA and UK that are just different colors, but rather style changes.
1. Can the RD-WBR Publisher Series book list be rebuilt? There are some missing books from the list, some in the middle and some near the end. There are 132 listed in LT, but my list has 136.
2. To whom can I send my list? I do not want to attempt the changes myself, as I do not want to risk messing up the whole thing. I had received a release sequence from RD a couple years ago, and the sequence is different than many on the LT list sequence.
3. Also, I am requesting opinions on the RD-WBR book series from a collection point of view. There are a number of books that were re-issued in later years with completely different covers, spines, page layouts, and insert designs. Would you purists in the group consider them to be different for a collection? If so, my list then is increased to a count of 155. This does not include the duplicates of USA and UK that are just different colors, but rather style changes.
54RobertMurray7
good to hear from you , if you are looking for any books , please let me know. I am in Scotland
Yours Robert
Yours Robert
55fullermgf
Hello! I have a question! How many volumes in The World's Best Reading series are by female authors? My count is 28. Does anyone know if that is the correct amount? I'm trying to get all the books by female authors in the series.
56fullermgf
Are these the only volumes by female authors in the series? Are there others? Thanks!
– Jane Eyre
– Wuthering Heights
– Agnes Grey
– Little Women
– Little Men
– Silas Marner
– Adam Bede
– My Antonia
– O Pioneers!
– A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
– The Secret Garden | A Little Princess
– Uncle Tom's Cabin
– The Good Earth
– Anne of Green Gables
– The Yearling
– To Kill a Mockingbird
– Rebecca
– Pride and Prejudice
– Emma
– Mansfield Park
– Persuasion
– Northanger Abbey
– The Age of Innocence
– The House of Mirth
– Ethan Frome | Summer
– Sense and Sensibility
– Jo’s Boys
– Frankenstein
– Jane Eyre
– Wuthering Heights
– Agnes Grey
– Little Women
– Little Men
– Silas Marner
– Adam Bede
– My Antonia
– O Pioneers!
– A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
– The Secret Garden | A Little Princess
– Uncle Tom's Cabin
– The Good Earth
– Anne of Green Gables
– The Yearling
– To Kill a Mockingbird
– Rebecca
– Pride and Prejudice
– Emma
– Mansfield Park
– Persuasion
– Northanger Abbey
– The Age of Innocence
– The House of Mirth
– Ethan Frome | Summer
– Sense and Sensibility
– Jo’s Boys
– Frankenstein
58RobertMurray7
Hi everyone , how are you all doing with your collections
59lowboz
Still looking for:
1.) The Jungle, by Upton Sinclair (with insert)
2.) Ivanhoe, by Sir Walter Scott (Vivat UK issue, with insert)
3.) The Moonstone, by Wilkie Collins (Vivat UK issue, with insert)
4.) Tom Sawyer, by Mark Twain (2012 edition only, with insert)
1.) The Jungle, by Upton Sinclair (with insert)
2.) Ivanhoe, by Sir Walter Scott (Vivat UK issue, with insert)
3.) The Moonstone, by Wilkie Collins (Vivat UK issue, with insert)
4.) Tom Sawyer, by Mark Twain (2012 edition only, with insert)
60TheEclecticBookworm
Just dropped in to see if anything was going on here. I guess they've discontinued the series, as I haven't received a book in a few years. And for a year or two before that, I was receiving dups. Thought of y'all because I need to update my "haves" and "have nots." :-)
61fullermgf
RobertMurray7
I purchased The Wind in the Willows for my collection a few days ago. Maybe I'll purchase one of your copies of The Phantom of the Opera someday. I think you have two listed on Amazon.com. I don't know if I want to spend $100.00 for it though. :)
I purchased The Wind in the Willows for my collection a few days ago. Maybe I'll purchase one of your copies of The Phantom of the Opera someday. I think you have two listed on Amazon.com. I don't know if I want to spend $100.00 for it though. :)
62fullermgf
I purchased The Jungle on amazon a few days ago. I don't know if it will have the insert, but I still bought if for $14.79.
63fullermgf
lowboz
My list only has 135. I wonder which one you have in your list that I don't. I wrote a Series description for the LT list with the books I didn't see in it: http://www.librarything.com/publisherseries/Reader%27s+Digest+World%27s+Best+Rea... I think anybody can see the Series description and not just me. I still only count 135.
There are two of 60 and two of 123 in the LT list. 24 isn't in the LT list, but it would be The Gift of the Magi and Other Stories. 64 would be To Kill a Mockingbird. 66 is Heart of the West. 133 The Moonstone. 134 Ivanhoe. Robinson Crusoe wasn't in the LT list. I see 135 total?
My list only has 135. I wonder which one you have in your list that I don't. I wrote a Series description for the LT list with the books I didn't see in it: http://www.librarything.com/publisherseries/Reader%27s+Digest+World%27s+Best+Rea... I think anybody can see the Series description and not just me. I still only count 135.
There are two of 60 and two of 123 in the LT list. 24 isn't in the LT list, but it would be The Gift of the Magi and Other Stories. 64 would be To Kill a Mockingbird. 66 is Heart of the West. 133 The Moonstone. 134 Ivanhoe. Robinson Crusoe wasn't in the LT list. I see 135 total?
64lowboz
To fullermgf and others (if anyone remains interested);
You are correct, the LT list is missing #24 which would be O. Henry's "the Gift of the Magi, and Other Stories". As well as missing #64 Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mocking Bird" and #66 O. Henry's "Heart of the West".
From that point, you can have disagreements on what should be included on the list. I am in favor of including different title combinations. For example, the UK-RD issued Hilton's book in a combined edition of "Lost Horizon, Good-bye Mr. Chips and Other Stories". This is a different cover and title than the two individual USA editions, so I include this in my collection as a unique and separate book publication.
Also, in Europe, Vivat-Direct took over publishing of RD books at some point in the 2000's and published at least 15 WBR books with all full cloth bindings instead of the 1/4 leatherette spines. I have 10 of these, still looking for the others. Of this group there are the unique titles of Wilkie Collins' "The Moonstones" and Walter Scott's "Ivanhoe", plus the combined title of R.L. Stevenson's "Treasure Island and Kidnapped".
Plus, to top off everything, in the 1990's RD offered a book-safe that matched the bindings of the RD-WBR series. This was John Milton's "Paradise Lost", which hides within the RD-WBR books on a shelf but offers two hide-away nooks. I am in favor of including this title in the list, although not an actual book, but it does compliment the book series. Some others will disagree with me. It is a matter of whether the book series is treated as a collection series or simply readable book titles.
Finally, it should be noted that the LT list includes duplicate lines for #60 and #123. In each case, the second entry should be eliminated. I am not the one to do that. I was a late entry into the LT chat string, was not involved with the original list, and I do not want to mess up something that I have not been part of creating.
I hope that helps. Let me know if you have any comments or questions.
You are correct, the LT list is missing #24 which would be O. Henry's "the Gift of the Magi, and Other Stories". As well as missing #64 Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mocking Bird" and #66 O. Henry's "Heart of the West".
From that point, you can have disagreements on what should be included on the list. I am in favor of including different title combinations. For example, the UK-RD issued Hilton's book in a combined edition of "Lost Horizon, Good-bye Mr. Chips and Other Stories". This is a different cover and title than the two individual USA editions, so I include this in my collection as a unique and separate book publication.
Also, in Europe, Vivat-Direct took over publishing of RD books at some point in the 2000's and published at least 15 WBR books with all full cloth bindings instead of the 1/4 leatherette spines. I have 10 of these, still looking for the others. Of this group there are the unique titles of Wilkie Collins' "The Moonstones" and Walter Scott's "Ivanhoe", plus the combined title of R.L. Stevenson's "Treasure Island and Kidnapped".
Plus, to top off everything, in the 1990's RD offered a book-safe that matched the bindings of the RD-WBR series. This was John Milton's "Paradise Lost", which hides within the RD-WBR books on a shelf but offers two hide-away nooks. I am in favor of including this title in the list, although not an actual book, but it does compliment the book series. Some others will disagree with me. It is a matter of whether the book series is treated as a collection series or simply readable book titles.
Finally, it should be noted that the LT list includes duplicate lines for #60 and #123. In each case, the second entry should be eliminated. I am not the one to do that. I was a late entry into the LT chat string, was not involved with the original list, and I do not want to mess up something that I have not been part of creating.
I hope that helps. Let me know if you have any comments or questions.
65fullermgf
Thanks for your response! I wasn't 100% sure if The Moonstone and Ivanhoe were Vivat books. It seems like they are pretty difficult to find. The Paradise Lost book-safe would be fun to have. I don't think I'll try to get those ones though.
These are the last three I'm looking for:
Gulliver's Travels
The Mayor of Casterbridge
The Good Soldier
I don't care if I get the inserts, but it's a fun series to collect.
These are the last three I'm looking for:
Gulliver's Travels
The Mayor of Casterbridge
The Good Soldier
I don't care if I get the inserts, but it's a fun series to collect.
66fullermgf
Have any of you purchased WBR books from AbeBooks.com? I'm trying to buy Gulliver's Travels from that web site.
67lowboz
Yes, I have used AbeBooks and Bookzangle with no problems. That is how I have done some of the Aussie and UK only editions.
68venturegames
Good day, I'm new to this site and have been collecting these beautiful books known as WBR, Thus far I have 55 title and growing. Would anyone of extra copies or be willing to make copies of certain insert that I'm missing, I would be willing to pay to have some of them reproduced or copied. Please let me know, my email addy is mandb3997@yahoo.com
Thank you for your time
Michael
Thank you for your time
Michael
69ellegal220
Just thought I'd say Hello! I first stumbled across the WBR series when three beautiful hardbound classics in a thrift store caught my eye about a year or two ago. I set them on my coffee table, and a few weeks later when glancing through them, I noticed they were part of a whole series of books. I immediately became slightly obsessed with tracking down the rest of the series. It's a fun treasure hunt.
70jvanoort
Its a shame that RD isn't releasing any more WBR books. I would have absolutely loved it if they did some more Jules Verne stories, sequels for Anne of Green Gables or To Kill a Mockingbird, and just other classics in general by like George Orwell or F Scott Fitzgerald. I really love this collection because it looks really nice, its just such a shame that I need to buy books from other publishers to get the stories that I want.
