Sean’s Comments (group member since Jan 30, 2019)

Sean’s comments from the Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die group.

This is my fourth Hardy novel. And I'd put it at my second favorite. Tess being my favorite so far.

I really do enjoy the way that Hardy writes. He might be one of my mostest favorites. I love the diction. Even though it's outdatedness can be a little rough sometimes, I always seem to follow along. Much better than I do with somebody like... say... Hawthorne.

I understand what George is saying. I did notice that too. But it didn't bother me. I'm pretty used to that happening. I guess when it doesn't happen it's pretty amazing in its own right.

I'd have to say that one letdown was when Tim Tang did what Tim Tang did at the end.... It was pretty suspenseful. I think Hardy did a good job building that up. But I felt let down.... I expected a more.... SNAPPING... conclusion to his actions. That felt a little anti-climactic. But I guess that's just not Hardy's style... that could be discussed but it would take a much deeper knowledge of his books than I have.

But the straightforwardness of the novel really lent to my appreciation of the story. I also felt that I cared for the characters.

Update

G - Giles Winterbourne - The Woodlanders - 01/17/22

Started The Long Goodbye by Raymond Chandler.

Finished The Woodlanders. More on the group read page.

Time to discuss!

Here we go!

11/13

✅1. In honor of Malta and Creta Kano, read a book set in a country with a coast on the Mediterranean Sea.
Of Human Bondage - 2/9/22

✅2. Read a Boxall list book mentioned in another list book you have read in 2022. (Can be mentioned in the narrative and/or in a preface or introduction. Requires reading two Boxall books.)
King Solomon's Mines - 1/30/22

✅3. Posthumously speaking, read a book that was either published after the author’s death, or narrated by a character who is deceased.
The Posthumous Memoirs of Brás Cubas - 1/15/22

4. Read a book with the word “love” or a word relating to another positive emotion in the title.

5. Read a book whose author has the same initials as you. (Can be first, middle, last, or any combination.)

✅6. Read a book which has been gathering dust on your shelves for more than 5 years or sitting on your shelves the longest.
Lord Jim - 1/24/2022

✅7. Read a book with food in the title or in which food plays an essential role.
The Daughter - 3/2/22

✅8. Romance is in the air for 2022. Read a book originally written in one of the Romance languages: French, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, or Romanian.
Around the World in Eighty Days - 2/23/22

✅9. Read a book set in a country you’ve always wanted to visit.
The Death of Ivan Ilych - 1/28/22

✅10. Read a book that mentions an actual musical composition (either instrumental and/or vocal).
Steppenwolf - 1/27/22

✅11. In (ironic) honor of Eugene Onegin, read a book with a character who has a disability or becomes disabled in the course of the novel.
Kafka on the Shore - 3/24/22

✅12. Read a book that has less than 1000 ratings on Goodreads.
Forever a Stranger and Other Stories - 2/13/22

✅13. Read a book using the theme of 22. (Submitted by SaraSian and Irem).
Embers - 2/18/22

The Posthumous Memoirs of Brás Cubas has actually been near the top of my TBR list for a while now. It was the obvious choice for this task.

Also starting Lord Jim by Joseph Conrad

The Posthumous Memoirs of Brás Cubas.

It was quite fun. Quite funny. And quite an interesting style.

Starting things off with one of the tougher letters.

Q - Quincas Borbas - The Posthumous Memoirs of Bras Cubas

ya ya ya. I'm a little behind... I'm starting The Woodlanders.

And no.... I don't think I will finish it tonight...

Yes. That is the list.

Harold Bloom put together his list about 10 years before Peter Boxall.

Bloom's compilation of Western Canon is just as it sounds. It tends to focus on only a few authors (I believe 26). All from the "West".

Two interesting points....

Boxall's list is often criticized for including too many works from the same authors. While that's exactly what Bloom was trying to do.

Boxall's original list of 1001 when it came out in 2006 was much more heavy in western literature (white male authors) than the current 1001. 2008 saw the largest change to the list as over 200 titles were removed and replaced. The replacements turned the list much more international. Focusing on many more works from the East, from authors of color, and female authors. Many will still argue that the list still has a long way to go in this respect. Female authors and many cultures are still said to be way underrepresented.

You asked a very general question. And it's a good topic. I'm sure others will chime in.

Becky wrote: "https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
It’s been so long that I’ve posted that I’ve forgotten how to create my own thread
..."

Hi Becky

click on the link above on the second line that reads, "A to Z in 1001 Books -- 2022 ". Then there's a "new topic" link on the second line, middle of the page.

Alternately, Click HERE... but that won't show you how to do it.... Teaching a person to fish....

Aubrey wrote: "No AY or YA on this list. I assume I'll have better luck with AS/SA or SY/YS."

Nike wrote: "I can't find any with N F, nor with F N. What shall I do? Can I use the initials from my other first names (the second and third)? Then it would be N A E. Or E A N."

You can always just use one initial if you need to. First, Last, Middle, Former, Future, Suffix, Prefix, Nickname, Goodreads Name,

Your challenge your rules. We love creativity. Change your goodreads name to match the initials of something you want to read! Do something fun. We love it!

George P. wrote: "I'm thinking I will use Primo Levi's Survival in Auschwitz aka If This is a Man, because most of the camp prisoners suffered malnutrition, often to the point of death, or contributing t..."

I think that's a great take on this task

Link fixed. Also watch people's updates. As they post completions on this task you will get more ideas.

Watch here as many will be mentioned. Also check out this article:

https://www.theguardian.com/books/201...

Samantha wrote: "Ireland? Australia? For ease- France? Thank you!"

Way too many to list. Try here:

1001 bookshelf

Scroll down and on the left you will find a section for Ireland, Australia, and even France. Plus much much more.

Becky wrote: "Book set in New Zealand?"

Faces in the Water
The Colour
The Garden Party and Other Stories

Nocturnalux wrote: "I have question, does finishing a multi-volume series count? I have several that I have been meaning to finish in 2022 but technically I wouldn't have read all volumes this year.

Also, do single v..."

Ultimately, it's your challenge so it's your rules. If you feel that it's within the spirit of the challenge for you, then go for it.

Personally, I have used volumes in a larger work where only one volume fit the challenge. But I did not claim it until the larger work was complete.

But I also started/finished In Search of Lost Time at the end/start of 2020/2021. Some volumes in 2020 and some volumes in 2022. I treated it as if I finished the whole work in 2021. Because that was when the novel was finished. Similar to if I had started a standard novel in one year and read the final few chapters in the next year. It was finished in the new year.