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.

Mercedes wrote: "Sean wrote: "Mercedes wrote: "Doctor Zhivago

Yay! Keep a notebook with a list of the characters.... I'm sure you're acquainted with Russian novels and the multitude of names and nicknames. This novel is following suit."

I am familiar! and that's a good idea. Having the same issue with French names in Hunchback right now too.

Making a visit to The Hunchback of Notre-Dame.

Of course I know the story. I knew what to expect. Still made me tear up: A Christmas Carol

Local radio stations are playing Christmas music and I've seen houses with Christmas lights on. All trying to cheer up the masses.

I decided to play along. Started A Christmas Carol. Shouldn't take long...

Mercedes wrote: "Doctor Zhivago

We're reading this out loud, my husband and I"

I will likely be right behind you with this one.

Rainy weekend and I polished off:

Buddha's Little Finger by Victor Pelevin. My most understood and interesting book of existential/metaphysical topics so far. Enjoyed it.

Ulysses by James Joyce. More on the group read page. But I'll straight up admit to using the link below. Absolutely loved this book and loved it even more when I gained more understanding.

Ulysses Summary

James wrote: "Amen Sean. I had read no Morrison until she died and since then have read both Beloved and Song of Solomon. I very very much look forward to reading the rest of her work."

I know exactly what you mean. I read The Bluest Eye. Thoroughly enjoyed it, but I don't think I appreciated it as much as I should have. I am now looking forward to Song of Solomon.

Carol wrote: "I've looked on the list of 1,315 books that I have (the well-known spreadsheet) and can't find Luka on there. Am I missing something?."


It's got an alternative title. Look for The Port

Just finished Beloved by Toni Morrison. What a fantastic piece of work.

Just started Beloved by Toni Morrison for the above mentioned book club.

Diane wrote: "Starting The Clay Machine-Gun by Victor Pelevin."

I'm right smack in the middle of this one. I had to take a break due to a book club date quickly approaching and I'm a little behind. But I can't wait to get back to it. Loving this book.

If you see the LIST here in this group, it refers to the list maintained in 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.

The list is kept at 1001 books with each revised edition. But usually, the LIST refers to the 1315 books on all the editions combined. The LIST can be found here:

The LIST

Here on this group in particular, we are dedicated to reading as many books from that list as we can.

Me too! It's the April group read, so I am going to try to pay more attention than I did with A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. I just couldn't stop my mind while reading that book. I don't know if it's Joyce's fault or mine...

Started Ulysses by James Joyce last evening.

Carol wrote: "I've decided to try ALL the books (I've already read some), including those that have been dropped over the years. Nothing ventured, nothing gained!

I've just started Metamorphoses by Ovid. Engli..."

Welcome to our addiction!

Bryan "They call me the Doge" wrote: "Finished Hearing Secret Harmonies by Anthony Powell, last in the Dance to the Music of Time series. What an overall enjoyable read. Though I wouldn't rate each book in the series as ..."

Quite the accomplishment! Well done!

Just finished The Three Musketeers. It was pure adventurous fun as expected.

While not extremely action packed and thrilling as one might expect from something of the spy/espionage genre, it did make for a decent read. Banville really writes well. I loved his prose and his descriptions. The way he wound relationships throughout the book was perfect. The good, the bad, the slightly off-kilter. His wife, his kids, his love interests, I really could have just kept going reading more of his not-super-high-speed adventures in love (lust) and espionage. Until he did what he did at the end. I really didn't expect that. But what else is an old spy who has been disgraced supposed to do?

Just finished Journey to the End of the Night by Louis-Ferdinand Céline. I enjoyed the beginning and really liked the end. The middle had me ho'ing and hum'ing.

I started one today that I have never seen in the STARTED or FINISHED thread:

Has anybody read Buddha's Little Finger by Victor Pelevin?