The Adventures of Augie March in Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die

Mar 09, 2018 Arukiyomi rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 1001-books

"...the events are simply stimulus for the psychotherapy..."

Another Bellow, another fellow. This time it's Augie, a Jewish kid from the ghetto who we follow entirely randomly as he grows and flows out into the world and all it has for him.

Now, I know very well that Bellow won a Nobel prize and that this is regarded as one of the best novels of the 20th century. However, I remain to be convinced that anyone actually regards this as one of the best novels they've read.

Augie is a tempestuous figure ...more

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May 17, 2010 Kecia rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: 1001-books, mexico, nobel_laureates, times_100_best, national_book_award

Dear Augie, This is not about you. It's about me. You are a fine book but I can only give you 3 stars. It's my own hang-up. I just don't like long books. There are so many other books sitting on my bookshelf waiting their turn and I want to experience them. The commintment of spending two weeks with you made me feel suffocated. I know those other books haven't won as many awards as you have but I need the freedom to read them. Please don't be hurt Augie. Really, it's not you, it's me. I know gen ...more

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May 08, 2009 Stacie marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: i-own, 1001books, abandoned

It is official...I have made it more than halfway and am still not feeling it, so I give up. I am disappointed because I really like Bellow and really wanted to read this book. But, alas, I was not in the mood for a coming of age tale about a boy from Chicago.

I will pick it back up again, even if simply to mark it off on the 1001 list.

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May 04, 2023 Deodand rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, purchase-only, unfinished, usa, canadian-authors, oh-hell-no

I was given heavy warnings not to try this one. It is not my cup of tea...I never liked picaresque novels. English teachers seem to think teens love them because they can relate to the protagonists. I never agreed.

I finally crashed to a halt at page 100 after a month, legs heavy from wading through the endless character sketches.

I can see how this book would be polarising, with it being 100% some people's jam and for others it's a nightmare. I didn't like it myself but that doesn't mean I woul ...more

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