Gerald's comments
(member since May 31, 2009)
Gerald's comments from the 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die group.
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Selina wrote: "I have read only one book by E M Forster. That was "Where Angels Fear to Thread". It was so-so, a little funny and quite light-hearted. It didn't have any deep impression on me. " This was just a warm-up for "A Room With a View"--a far superior satirical look at Brits in Italy. But even that great book doesn't hold a candle to "A Passage to India."
Sharron wrote: "Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell. Loved it, gave it 5 stars."Sharon,
Can you write a review of this without giving anything away?
Laura Ashlee wrote: "I just started Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen. I'm really excited. I've always thought I'd love Jane Austen and so far I'm right! I'll also be reading [book:The P..."
You're going to love The Poisonwood Bible. Kingsolver is coming to our town (San Miguel de Allende, Mexico) to headline our Writers' Conference in February, so I've been trying to read everything she wrote. Done all the fiction, including her new one, The Lacuna. Loved it all. My favorite was Prodigal Summer. All I have left are a couple of non-fiction and her book of poetry. Anyhow, I can't recommend her too highly. If this is your first, rest assured the rest of her fiction is just as great.
Gerry
Deanne wrote: "A fine balance by Mistry, read family matters and enjoyed the book. Been trying to find this book in the library for ages, finally found it." It's a fantastic, though very sad, book.
Linda wrote: "Chel, you took the titles out of my mouth! Red Badge of Courage, one of the first realistic war stories, should be there, and definitely something by Pearl Buck. I also feel that leaving Ray Bradbu..." I agree about Bradbury. I nominate Dandelion Wine and/or The Martian Chronicles.Alas,never read Fahrenheit 451. One of those books you think you know without having read it.
Chel wrote: "I finished volume 1 of Kristin Lavransdatter and am taking a break ..."I just finished Vol 1 of Kristin also. Loved it. The new translation makes it a compelling read. Hard to believe a novel set in 14th century Norway can seem so contemporary. Though the lives and customs of the characters are very alien to us, the people as people are so real we think we know them.
Do you know that if you go to listofbests website you can get a personal list of 1001 Books and the new list also and can check off the ones as you read them. It will tell you at the top of the list what percentage of the list you've read. Put the list in your "favorites" and you can access it whenever you read one of the 1001 or 1200.
Gerry
The Feast of the Goat has been on my shelf for a while, I've loved some of Vargas Llosa's books and found others unreadable. Please tell a little about this book.
Gerry
Carly wrote: "Just finished the Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Savage Detectives..."How did you like Savage Detectives. I found it hard to follow.
Jerry wrote: "Jessica wrote: "Just finished Alias Grace/Margaret Atwood, Girl With Green Eyes/Edna O'Brien, and Poisonwood Bible/Barbara Kingsolver"How was the poisonwood Bible?Is it worth my putting it high on..." I'd put it at the top of the list--one of my all time favorites. Our Literary Society here in San Miguel, Mexico, will host Barbara Kingsolver for two days in February to talk about her newest novel which is about the Mexican Revolution and Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. Can't wait!!!
Jerry,Interested in sharing notes about living in Mexico? My email is smacasamilagro@yahoo.com.
Gerry
Jerry wrote: "Gerald wrote: "Jerry wrote: "Gerald wrote: "Cormac McCarthy is one of my all time favorite writers. Although Blood Meridian was a little hard to stomach, I found it worth reading. All the Pretty Ho..."Hey, I live in Mexico too--San Miguel de Allende. Maybe we're neighbors! Read the Alexandria Quartet when I was in college, fifty years ago, and thought it was the greatest think I'd ever read. I boought new used paperback set to bring to Mexico to read again some day, but haven't gotten around to it yet.
Jerry wrote: "Gerald wrote: "Cormac McCarthy is one of my all time favorite writers. Although Blood Meridian was a little hard to stomach, I found it worth reading. All the Pretty Horses, The Crossing, No Countr..."Most of the world disagrees with me on 2666, which is okay. I can't be right all the time. What about The Savage Detectives? I hated that one too.
Diane wrote: "Gerald wrote: "Diane wrote: "The Swimming Pool Library."Tell us why.
"
It is an obscure book that is a wee bit too graphic and explicit in regards to casual gratuitous homosexual sex, has a..." Very helpful. Thanks, Diane.
Diane wrote: "The Swimming Pool Library."Tell us why.
Cormac McCarthy is one of my all time favorite writers. Although Blood Meridian was a little hard to stomach, I found it worth reading. All the Pretty Horses, The Crossing, No Country for Old Men, and The Road are among my favorite reading of all time.What I need from a book is either a narrative (Forster called it a "story"), and/or characters that I can believe in. Blood Meridian had a story and had characters (albeit grotesque) that I could believe were human beings. 2666 had neither, in my opinion. I enjoyed the parts that did have these things (which was four out of the five parts) but I could see no value in reading 300 pages of descriptions of murder/rape of young women I did not get to know as characters. I got the point: God, this was a horror! long before I finished those 300 repetitious pages.
Gerry
Sarah wrote: "Far From the Madding Crowd should be replaced with The Mayor of Casterbridge. I was devastated to see that Byatt's Possession was taken out of the new edition while The Virgin in the Garden (snore..." I really liked both The Lovely Bones and Calamity Physics, but I don't think they are strong enough to be two of the 1001. If I had to pick one, it would be Calamity Physics, because the author took so many chances and kept it totally accessible and totally intellectually involving at the same time. Can't wait for her second!
I could agree that Virginia Woolf is #6. Almost put her in place of Edith Wharton, but I haven't really read enough. Read Mrs. Dalloway in college 50 years ago and I'm currently reading Orlando. Tried but could not read Jacob's Room. Have not read Doris Lessing yet.Gerry
Jerry wrote: "Opinions?Who are/were the 5 greatest women writers?"Jane Austin, George Eliot, Emily Bronte, Edith Wharton, Toni Morrison.
Judith wrote: ""The Road" - Carmac McCarthyWow, this one's gonna be a tough read..." Well, it's not a happy book, that's for sure. But it is a very powerful book, and the relationship between the father and the son is very moving. Hang in there, not all great books have to be "fun".
1001 Books You Must Read B...
