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.

Just finished Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China by Jung Chang. Very eye-opening and shocking. Some history I was not very familiar with.

I just started Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China by Jung Chang.

I also loved it. I have read it twice now. I especially love how the book is divided into two distinct parts. And two very different settings. It's such a great story of a strong strong woman. Highly recommended for anybody

I just finished Devils by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. Got a little hard to follow in the middle but over all it was just okay for me.

On the Heights of Despair by Emil M. Cioran

Demons (Devils) by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. According to my brother-in-law: the best book ever written.

Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin. A fantastic book. Beautifully emotional.

Started Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin. Been looking forward to this one.

Leigh wrote: "Hello! I just joined :) I just started reading Red Harvest by Dashiell Hammett"

Welcome Leigh! Hope to see your post in the group read.

I also just started Red Harvest.

Along with The Bridge on the Drina by Ivo Andrić

Deborah wrote: "I'm new to knowing about this list and would like to know the criteria for being on it? There are several on there that I've read and didn't like at all. There are many I've read and loved that are..."

Hi Deborah.

A lot of their thinking can also be gleaned from the book itself. My library has it. If yours does, it's worth checking out. Maybe a few times.

1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die

Karen wrote: "Now, in order to immerse yourself in Vol. 1, you need lime blossom tea (actually quite healthy and available on Amazon) and madeleines. ..."

I think that's a great Idea. I have madeleines. But they are so good with coffee they will be gone by the time my tea arrives.

James wrote: "Sean, which translation are you reading?"

C.K. Scott Moncrieff

I finished this today and I must say that the writing is exquisite. She really has a way with description. This whole book was a lesson in anthropomorphism. Many of the passages just sat up and spoke to me! (see what I did there?) Her metaphors and similes simply amazed me.

One thing that I struggled with was the way her narration POV jumped around seemingly without structure. Third person omniscient narration that would jump from one person's thoughts to another within the same paragraph. I am just not used to this type of writing.

Also, It was difficult to really like any of the characters. They were all very self-centered. Again, within the same paragraph, it seemed that characters were having multiple-person conversations with each subject only speaking about what concerned them. It was strange and hard to follow at times.

My question when finished... (view spoiler)[ Did she ever love Gerald? I think not. I think she thought she would have settled for him at one point. I think their relationship would have ended up being like Hugo and Francie's. I think that's the happy ending here... that she wasn't subjected to that in the end... (hide spoiler)]

Pooja wrote: "Starting soon! I have never heard of this book and have no clue what it's about. Anyone read anything by this author before?"

She has quite a few on the list (6), but none of them are super highly rated on Goodreads. The best by Wilson score (see here) is The House in Paris with a score of 930/1315. The Last September has a Wilson Score of 1160/1315.

Today I finished The Last September by Elizabeth Bowen. More in the group read thread.

Deborah wrote: "Hi everyone,
I'm new to the group and hope I've found the correct list -- it's dated 2018 and contains "The Goldfinch" which I just finished reading. I don't think I'm giving away any spoilers her..."

Hi Deborah. And Welcome. Very nice thoughts on the book. I was hoping to link you to the Goldfinch thread on the Specific Books section. But there does not seem to be one (yet) I am sure you will get some feedback to your thoughts if you start a new thread here.

Bryan--Pumpkin Connoisseur wrote: "Sean wrote: "Just finished The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro. You were all correct. That was a great book that I will put toward the top of my list. Maybe not top ..."

The only other one I have read was Never Let Me Go I have enjoyed them both immensely and I look forward to all the others. I also hope that he does get the new on on the new update... whenever that may be...

It has happened.
The day has come.
This afternoon I embarked on the epic journey that is In Search of Lost Time by Marcel Proust.

Just finished The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro. You were all correct. That was a great book that I will put toward the top of my list. Maybe not top 10... but up there somewhere.

After reading recent comments here in the group, I happily started The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro today