After watching "The Equalizer" for what seemed like the hundredth time, my inner bookworm was unleashed. In light of this, I will be attempting the 100 book list challenge.
In the movie, the main character played by Denzel washington acts as a retired CIA agent named Robert McCall. In tribute to his dead wife, Robert has decided to complete an unfinished book list she created in an effort to keep her memory alive. These books represent more than just time fillers, they unravel who Robert is, whilst providing him with hope. Hope for a purpose in life and hope that one day he and his wife would have something to talk about when they get together. Falling deeper in love with Denzel's character after every watch comes instinctively. From his obvious OCD tendencies, insomnia, and big heart, to his unwavering need for justice, immaculate attention to detail and undying reverence for his wife. I can't help but want to watch it.....just one more time.
At first I assumed 'The 100 book list' would be an easy find in google search, however I was disappointed to find out that this was not the case. There were so many different lists online with varying books that made things excruciatingly difficult.
After looking at the movie for a final time (well maybe not the last time), I jotted down every book that was spoken of or shown, if even for a fading moment. I then went on to cross reference them with ones I found online and settled on the most related list. There is a different level of enjoyment that comes from reading hardback books verses virtual ones. Ergo, reading of these books will be done in hard copy only.
Below are a list of books mentioned and shown in both movies.
Equalizer 1:
1. The old man and the sea by Ernest Hemingway (7:15)
2. Don Quixote by Miguel de cervantes (19:19)
3. Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison (2:05:24)
The quote "Progress, not perfection" that Robert McCall says to Ralpie while passing back his potato chip sandwich could be making reference to the book Progress not perfection: your journey matters by Kate larsen.
Equalizer 2:
4. Between the world and me by Ta-Nehisi Coates (1:15)
5. Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse (9:00 and 12:51)
6. In search of lost time by Marcel proust (16:08)
7. Moby dick by Herman Meliville (1:25:43)
8. Native Son by Richard Wright (1:25:43)
9. The catcher in the rye by JD Salinger (1:25:43)
10. Black power by Richard Wright (1:25:43)
11. The grapes of wrath by John Steinbeck (1:25:43)
12. Divine comedy by Dante Alighieri (1:27:39)
13. A canticle for Leibowitz by Walter Miller Jr. (1:27:39)
14. Stranger in a strange land by Robert Heinlein (1:27:39)
15. Nineteen eighty four by George Owell (1:27:39)
16. The betrothed by Alessandro Manzoni (1:27:40)
17. The pit by Frank Norris (1:27:41)
18. The trial by Franz Kafka (1:27:42)
19. The bend in the river by V. S. Naipaul (1:27:44)
20. Saphira and the slave girl by Willa Cather (1:27:45)
21. The portrait of a lady by Henry James (1:27:46)
The large majority of books listed based on Equalizer 2 came from the break in scene where Miles needs to locate the bookshelf in Robert's room to remove a book that leads to a hidden passage. Recognising that Robert has bought every book from his wife's list and kept them hard-copy, led me to believe that alot of the books shown during this scene were apart of the hundred.
Sadly enough, I did not find any list that had all of these books in them. What I did find however, is a list that had 10 of the 21 books. The link to this list can be found here.
The ten books found on that list are as follows:
Don Quixote by Miguel de cervantes
Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison
Moby dick by Herman Meliville
In search of lost time by Marcel proust
The catcher in the rye by JD Salinge
The grapes of wrath by John Steinbeck
Nineteen eighty four by George Owell
The trial by Franz Kafka
The bend in the river by V. S. Naipaul
The portrait of a lady by Henry James
I have decided to read the list of 100 books on the link shown above, with the inclusion of the books that are missing, yet incorporated in the movie. This will bring my reading list to 111 books. Let's see how far I can get shall we...
Some of these books will be talked about in the "Book Review" section of my blog. If you are a book lover, I suggest you challenge yourself by tackling this list. Not an avid reader? No matter, if you ever change your mind, the list is here for you. My hopes are to purchase and complete these books in a consistent manner. Looking forward to posting the results of my challenge later on.
Let's feed our minds and fill our time positively.
Until next time....