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.

Vikki wrote: "Sean wrote: "well well, Vikki...

Just finished Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carré."

Was it a good read? Did you like it?"

I did like it. But it took almost exactly half the book for me to get into it. How was The Spy Who Came In from the Cold?

Vikki wrote: "The Pelican Brief by John Grisham"

I've heard this was good. But it's not on the list.... not on this list, anyway...

Bryan--Treasurer, Middlemarch Appreciation Society wrote: "Sean wrote: "The Book of Disquiet: The Complete Edition by Fernando Pessoa"

I read that recently--at least the Penguin edition of it. I found I couldn't read more tha..."

It's quite out there. Some of them are very short, but I am seeing what you mean. I do find them interesting for the most part. Still trying to make some overall sense of the work. Not sure that's gonna happen...

The Book of Disquiet by Fernando Pessoa

well well, Vikki...

Just finished Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carré.

Carol wrote: "Please pardon my ignorance. I know the list is based on a book, but does it get updated every 2 years or does the author no longer do that? Will there be a 2020 update to the list? Thank you for yo..."

There was a 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, and 2018.

So it started that way. Then took longer for the newest edition. Not sure if there will be a 2020 or if they will wait until 2024.

Nocturnalux wrote: "Sean wrote: "I did. I just finished it. I read them back to back. My edition was called Survival in Auschwitz. And it's a huge contrast. Such a difference in style. 40 years really put ..."

My copy did not include The Truce. I will probably read that as well, I'm finding this very informative and interesting and sad.

I did. I just finished it. I read them back to back. My edition was called Survival in Auschwitz. And it's a huge contrast. Such a difference in style. 40 years really put some perspective on the horrific event.

This weekend I started The Drowned and the Saved by Primo Levi.

Finished Survival in Auschwitz by Primo Levi. An important book that really struck me from it's first hand perspective.

I was browsing the library and Smiley's People caught my eye. So today I started Book 1 in the trilogy: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carré.

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. A lot of stuff going on in the world today that made this a very timely read. A little preachy but not undeservedly so. A great book, IMO.

Updating the list with the books on here listed as "nonficition by Goodreads. Others may be arguably non-ficiton like On the Road, Promise at Dawn, and The Things They Carried... but they are listed as "fiction" here.

Survival in Auschwitz
The Drowned and the Saved
Schindler's List
The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test
Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China
In Cold Blood
Walden
Dispatches
Storm of Steel
H is for Hawk
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
Cider With Rosie
Testament of Youth
The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas
The Rebel
The Reveries of a Solitary Walker
Out of Africa
This Way for the Gas, Ladies and Gentlemen
Down Second Avenue: Growing Up in a South African Ghetto
Before Night Falls
A Tale of Love and Darkness
Confessions
Memory of Fire

This weekend I picked up Survival in Auschwitz by Primo Levi.

Keeping with a theme, I started Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Then... I went and finished Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Another fantastic book. Devastating and eyeopening

Just finished Death and the Dervish by Meša Selimović. A fantastic book. I can see why it is so highly rated. And the translation was beautiful. I mean... I can't compare against the original, but the writing was still very poetic and meaningful.

This was my second ever Wharton. I had previously only read The Age of Innocence. I enjoyed this one more. But overall it was just okay.

The writing is still great. Very straight forward and easy to follow. And certainly very short.

I liked Charity. She was far from perfect. Even a little nasty sometimes. Her attitude toward Royall was pretty much justified however. I mean you will hear the word "incest" when you read reviews of this book. But I am not sure I would take it that far.

(view spoiler)[ He did proposition her at one point. And I think the incest would have happened. Although he was not her true father so it's still debatable. But by the time they got married and he slept in the chair on their wedding night, I feel that he really did just want what was best for her. And being an unmarried woman with a child would not have been good. (hide spoiler)]

I think the most memorable part was when she went to the female doctor (both times). What a horrible person the doctor turned out to be right? Loved hating her.

A short novel that I am glad I read, but really I'm just glad I didn't invest a whole lot of time in it since I liked it ok, but didn't love it.

Oh....

Out of Africa

Bryan "They call me the Doge" wrote: "The Rebel by Albert Camus"

That reminded me of this one

Reveries of the Solitary Walker