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.

Joy D wrote: "Finished:

H Is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald - 4 stars - My Review

Are there many non-fiction books on the list? I could not think of another one, but I haven't inv..."

Hi Joy. This came up recently. So I started a new thread. Check it out here.

This topic has come up twice recently so I thought I would start a list.

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

Any others?

This morning I started Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

Frances wrote: "Hi all, I don’t know which thread to post this at:

I was considering in investing in 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die. I’m not sure if this is worth buying because not only i..."

I love having access to this book. The little articles on each book are very enlightening as to why the book is included in the list (but be careful, there are sometimes spoilers in there). There are some great pictures of authors and book covers as well.

That being said, I get my access by periodically borrowing it from the library. I have not, and most likely will not buy it. But I might if I didn't have free access. But probably not, I am overly frugal like that.

Summer by Edith Wharton.

I knew that would be quick...

Also starting just a tad early on September's group read, Summer by Edith Wharton

Finished the marathon that was Bleak House by Charles Dickens. Easily my favorite Dickens to date.

On Friday, I picked up Death and the Dervish by Meša Selimović at the library.

Diane wrote: "George P. wrote: "Started Manon of the Springs- by Maurice Pagnol. It’s the sequel to Jean de Florette which I read a year or so ago."

I didn't realize it was a sequel. Do you think it isnecessary to read Jean de Florette first?..."

Please let us know what you think George. The little research I did said... yes, read part 1 first.

A Ballad for Georg Henig by Viktor Paskov.

A short and quick read. Such a good book. Loved it.

Nocturnalux wrote: "Ellinor wrote: "Finished The Rebel by Albert Camus. It's brilliant and deserves its place on any list but this one as it is clearly non-fiction."

So is..."


There is a lot of non-fiction on the list

Schindler's List
The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test
Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China
In Cold Blood
Walden
Dispatches
Storm of Steel

Diane wrote: "I finally finished my 1000th book."

Just think. You would only have one left if they didn't keep updating the silly thing....

(but how many of us want them to stop?)

Super cool! Congrats!

Bryan "They call me the Doge" wrote: "I just started Bleak House as well."

Sean liked, "I just started Bleak House as well."

Also,

A Ballad for Georg Henig by Viktor Paskov.

Overall, I really enjoyed the book. But there was something that I just wouldn't let me give it 5 stars.

Robinson definitely has a way with description. She manages to get into detail about so many things in a scene that most people wouldn't even think to notice, let alone describe. Sometimes I felt that those descriptions were a little too much.

Most of the characters annoyed me at some level. The only ones who did not annoy me were Carpenter (probably because the narrator never went into his head) and Katherine (because she was just so innocent for a reason I couldn't fault her with). I supposed this was intentional so that she could show how they changed throughout the novel. Going into Spoiler Mode now so that I can talk about some of those annoyances and changes.

(view spoiler)[ I didn't dislike Jack except for the obvious reasons. He was an addict. He behaved like I would have expected an addict to behave. It was frustrating that he didn't ever come around, but I suppose that's reality as sad as it is.

Julia drove me crazy with how un-ready she was to accept the truth. How many times did she have to be told that "YES THIS IS HAPPENING"? It was also strange how she came around and ended up being the strong one when Wendell was pissed off and ready to give up.

I felt that Wendell was way too ready too give up way too fast. He went from ready to help to angry at Jack to hating Carpenter. Carpenter was his idea, right? But Julia had to convince him that he really wasn't a jerk. Which is what she started off thinking. That little switch-a-roo in attitude was odd in my opinion.

In the end, I think it was interesting how both Julia and Wendell seemed to be reconsidering their new partner choices. They didn't act on this, but perhaps they were both feeling like they made a bad decision. Julia for sure seemed ready to jump back on the Wendell train.


Steven was also a bit of a jerk when it came to helping his brother. He was ready to just let him fend for himself. But what bothered me the most was how he started off in his misguided attempts to "not betray his brother" crazy!

Edward was about the crotchetiest of all of them. But I am sure that's how he was intended to be. His inability to give an inch was frustrating.

Now, I am pretty sure all this was done so that the changes in the family could be showed. Jack obviously got the brunt of the punishment by being unable to change and paid with his life. But this ultimately what inspired Edward to become more understanding. Especially with Katherine. It seems he really reevaluated his entire life with her. But also with his daughter

I feel like the family will be stronger now. All thanks to Jack, ironically. Jack's life was what it "COST" to get the family working right. Was it too late? (hide spoiler)]

But in the end, I did enjoy it. I really had to look back and realize how I couldn't put it down. It was easy to read. Very straight forward, and I really wanted to see what was going to happen with this family.

I finished The Plague by Albert Camus. LIke Rusty said in the other thread, it was interesting to read this right now.

and

Cost by Roxana Robinson - More on the group read thread

Just started Bleak House by Charles Dickens

Angie wrote: "They are:
- Richard Brautigan In Watermelon Sugar
- Carol Shields The Stone Diaries
- Pär Lagerqvist Barabbas (this one is from the 2008 ed. of the list)
and
- Selma Lagerlöf Gösta Berling's Saga (I didn't know she wrote books for adults as well...)..."

I have not read any of those. Looks like a fun little time. Enjoy!

Angie wrote: "Sorry Sean, I didn't mean "mystery" as a genre, but books that are unknown to me... maybe that should that have been "surprise" instead? (Not a native speaker of English).
If you're looking for cri..."

Oh I knew what you meant. You said it just fine. I meant, "what are these unknown books you are getting?"

Angie wrote: "made use of that by ordering a couple of Boxall-books that are completely unknown to me (didn't even read a synopsis). I now just have to finish a few group reads first, before I get stuck in with my "mystery" books. ;-)"

Second to a list, I love a good mystery. Would love to hear what "mystery" books you ordered.