101 Books to Read Before You Die discussion
What are you reading?
Sorrow Without End by Priscilla Royal Irene (Harborcreek, PA)’s review of Sorrow Without End | Goodreads
This who-done-it series is set in a 13th century English monastery. As much time is given to character back stories and relationships in the monastery as to the investigation. The guilty party was evident early on.
Costa Rica: A Traveler’s Literary Companion by Barbara Ras Irene (Harborcreek, PA)’s review of Costa Rica: A Traveler's Literary Companion | Goodreads
This is a collection of short stories set in Costa Rica organized by location of their setting.
Cobalt Red by Siddharth Kara Irene (Harborcreek, PA)’s review of Cobalt Red: How the Blood of the Congo Powers Our Lives | Goodreads
The author chronicles the exploitation of those mining cobalt in the Democratic Republic of Congo. This does not have the impartial tone of a journalist, but the passionate outrage of a human rights advocate. The conditions described are not unique to this industry. It is important that the world be made aware of the exploitation of the most vulnerable. This could have been presented as a feature-length article. It contained much repetition. My greatest disappointment was that it left the reader with no way to address the problem. Changes need to be made by major corporations which purchase the cobalt. 3.5 stars
Sweet Tooth by Ian McEwanIrene (Harborcreek, PA)’s review of Sweet Tooth | Goodreads
In the early 1970s, our sexually liberated co-ed is attracted to slightly older married men. When she graduates and takes a job with MI5, this attraction entangles her professional and personal life. The narrative voice was engaging, creating an intimacy with the reader. This is a story of deception and betrayal and self-delusion.
No God But God by Reza AslanIrene (Harborcreek, PA)’s review of No God but God: The Origins, Evolution and Future of Islam | Goodreads
This is a concise cultural history of Islam. I appreciated the angle taken by this author.
2034 by Elliot Ackerman and James StavridisIrene (Harborcreek, PA)’s review of 2034: A Novel of the Next World War | Goodreads
This is a novel of international political intrigue set as a war breaks out between the U. S. and China & Iran. The emphasis is on the diplomatic negotiations against the back drop of nuclear strikes and cyber-attacks. The story did not draw me in. The characters were stereotypes. The writing was adequate. 2.5 stars
Sooley by John GrishamIrene (Harborcreek, PA)’s review of Sooley | Goodreads
I suspect that this novel was intended for a much younger reader. I found the writing a bit simple, the number of explanations rather annoying, the characters underdeveloped and the details of the plot unbelievable. A 17 year old living in rural South Sudan is selected to be on a team of 10 youth participating in international exhibition basketball games in Florida. The dream of every international player is to be drafted by an American college and given a full scholarship. Despite this youth’s lack of training, nonexistent technique and inability to sink a shot, he is one of the few given a coveted scholarship. What he has is speed, height and a passion for the game. In nine months, he has overcome his educational deficiencies to succeed in college, is speaking unaccented idiomatic English and is a star player. All the resources he needs, from a job to cover his living expenses to free legal services come without his asking. His experience in the US is juxtaposed with his family in war-torn South Sudan. The basketball games were described in more detail than the characters.
The Siege of Krishnapur by J. G. FarrellIrene (Harborcreek, PA)’s review of The Siege of Krishnapur | Goodreads
Part satire, part historical fiction, this novel swung from horrific scenes of bloody battles and deplorable suffering to slap stick comedy. This recounts a local uprising in northern India in the mid-19th century that found a small group of British colonists fighting off attack, cholera, and starvation from the vantage point of the settlers. While depicting their struggle to survive, the author mocks many of their attitudes and values.
Things Seen and Unseen by Lawrence CunninghamIrene (Harborcreek, PA)’s review of Things Seen and Unseen: A Catholic Theologian's Notebook | Goodreads
This is a collection of excerpts the author has culled from notebooks kept over many years. The result is uneven. Many felt too dated or too personal. Yet gems that gave me pause were also buried in these pages.
Stone and Shadow by Burhan SonmezIrene (Harborcreek, PA)’s review of Stone and Shadow: A Novel | Goodreads
The writing was lyrically beautiful. The atmosphere was haunting. But I found the story confusing, particularly toward the end.
Fifth Sun by Camilla TownsendIrene (Harborcreek, PA)’s review of Fifth Sun: A New History of the Aztecs | Goodreads
This is a history of the Aztec people beginning about a century before Spanish invasion and continuing into the 17th century. Townsend relies primarily on documents written in Nahuatl, native artistic depictions, memories captured in song and archeological finds to recreate the culture and history of a people whose story has been long distorted by the misrepresentation of the European conquerors. There was a great deal of detail that I will never retain. But I am glad to have learned of this time and culture from another perspective.
The Silkworm by Robert GalbraithIrene (Harborcreek, PA)’s review of The Silkworm | Goodreads
Great balance of good murder mystery with back story of detectives. I want to read the rest of the series which is the best compliment I can give. 3.5 stars
Hang The Moon by Jeanette WallsIrene (Harborcreek, PA)’s review of Hang the Moon | Goodreads
I did not realize that this was written for a younger reader. This was a coming of age novel set in the early years of the 20th century in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Despite experiencing the death of her mother at the age of 3, the rejection of her step mother and abandonment by her father, the narrator is wise beyond her years, has a good sense of herself and does not waiver in her integrity. There is no sign of the trauma of displacement or rejection. The story was sweet, read quickly and was easy to follow, but it lacked a depth that I want in my reading.
All My Puny Sorrows by Miriam ToewsIrene (Harborcreek, PA)’s review of All My Puny Sorrows | Goodreads
This felt more like a memoir than a novel. The pain was raw, the love was tender, the intimacy was palpable. This is the story of the bonds between sisters and the way that bond can be stretched and twisted and tightened when one of them struggles with suicidal depression. The author finds humor, joy, doubt, determination, tension, unity, sorrow and even hope in the unfolding events.
The Wager by David GrannIrene (Harborcreek, PA)’s review of The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder | Goodreads
This is the account of a famous 1740 shipwreck that left most of the crew dead and made celebrities of the men who survived numerous days on a frigid deserted coast and even more battered by an unforgiving ocean. Grann does a wonderful job of turning logs and diaries, court records and popular accounts into an easy-to-follow narrative. 3.5 stars
A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer EganIrene (Harborcreek, PA)’s review of A Visit from the Goon Squad | Goodreads
There was a manic quality to this novel. It careened around various time periods, Ping ponged between a host of characters, bobbed and weaved narrative threads into a pattern that at turns dazzled and disoriented. The writing was stunning. Each of the interconnected sections drew me in completely. But I struggled to keep track of all the characters and to situate the time frame. This book explores universal themes of youthful dreams and disappointments, of the way small turns in life can result in major directional shifts, of regrets, of the longing for redemption, of the sense that we are both unfamiliar with the person we once were and standing in the footprints of our past.
How To Say Babylon by Safiya SinclairIrene (Harborcreek, PA)’s review of How to Say Babylon | Goodreads
The author’s father was a broken, angry paranoid and talented man. Robbed of power and control, he insisted in absolute power in his home and total control over his wife and children. Although her mother’s quiet strength and fierce love absorbed most of the father’s rage, more than enough came through to leave her and her siblings with deep scars. The family’s Rastafarian practices and their poverty further isolated and disoriented her. This is a memoir of breaking free, of finding one’s voice, of healing and triumphing.
The Other Side of Night by Adam HamdyIrene (Harborcreek, PA)’s review of The Other Side of Night | Goodreads
This starts out as a traditional detective story, but makes a hard turn into another genre as the resolution approaches. I can see why many liked the unpredictability of the story. I have less of an imagination and often struggle with stories that violate my understanding of the plausible and the real. I also was less than thrilled with the actual writing.
One Nation Under Guns by Dominic ErdozainIrene (Harborcreek, PA)’s review of One Nation Under Guns: How Gun Culture Distorts Our History and Threatens Our Democracy | Goodreads
Most books I borrow, knowing that I won’t read them a second time. Occasionally I come across a book that I want to have on my own shelves. But it is rare for me to find a book that I want to buy a dozen copies of so that I can hand it out to everyone I know. This is the book I want everyone to read. It is a well-researched and clearly articulated explanation of why the 2nd Amendment does not guarantee the right of every citizen to own any and all guns, as well as how that perception of the 2nd Amendment was manufactured over the past 50 years by the gun lobby.
Everyone On This Train Is a Suspect by Benjamin StevensonIrene (Harborcreek, PA)’s review of Everyone on This Train Is a Suspect | Goodreads
I really don’t care how the mystery is resolved. I just enjoy the fun tone of these books. 3.5 stars
Toilers of the Sea by Victor HugoIrene (Harborcreek, PA)’s review of The Toilers of the Sea | Goodreads
This was a wonderful short story buried under suffocating layers of philosophical musings, exhaustive descriptions, historical facts, nautical information, scientific knowledge, social critiques, and much more. By the time I got to the bits of story, I just wanted it to be over.
Advise and Consent by Allen DruryIrene (Harborcreek, PA)’s review of Advise and Consent | Goodreads
This classic political novel is set at the height of the Cold War. Despite its great length, it spans about 2 weeks. In great and realistic detail, it narrates a contentious senate debate over the nomination of a Secretary of State. I suspect that the author intended to depict the brutal battles waged in Washington, battles that destroyed lives while raising others to greater power. But, read all these years later, it felt wistfully nostalgic for a time when there was civility and ideals in political figures. This was a time when the person occupying the Oval Office was addressed as Mr. President by friend and foe out of respect for the office, not as “Crooked Joe”. This was a time when elected officials voted their conscience, not according to crass self interest or the dictates of a political strongman. This is also a time when women were only in supportive roles and held no real public power in their own right, and when the House and Senate, the Supreme Court and Executive Branch had no representation of racial or religious minorities. This was a well written book. If at times my focused waned, it was due to my short attention span and not the strength of the story.
Black Cake by Charmaine WilkersonIrene (Harborcreek, PA)’s review of Black Cake | Goodreads
Upon her death, two siblings are presented with a recording made by their mother which reveals secrets of her past. This novel shifts between a number of time periods and character perspectives. I do not enjoy this way of unfolding a story. I am willing to accept some degree of happy coincidences in a novel, but this plot hinged on a few too many. Although I did not dislike this book, I also did not love it as many readers have.
The Woman They Could Not Silence by Kate MooreIrene (Harborcreek, PA)’s review of The Woman They Could Not Silence: One Woman, Her Incredible Fight for Freedom, and the Men Who Tried to Make Her Disappear | Goodreads
This is an infuriating story. The denial of all rights to married women in the 19th century and the inhumane treatment of those confined to insane asylums made this a difficult and important book to read. I am glad that the work of this woman is not lost to history.
Happiness Falls by Angie KimIrene (Harborcreek, PA)’s review of Happiness Falls | Goodreads
The author uses a missing person story to inform the reader about theories around the perception of happiness, false assumptions regarding those unable to communicate verbally, prejudices toward people who cannot speak the dominant language, jumping as self-soothing or exercise, the challenges of conducting an orchestra, and just about anything and everything she might think about. The story was not bad, a quick read could have kept my interest if there were not so many side lectures.
Her Last Breath by Dan PadavonaIrene (Harborcreek, PA)’s review of Her Last Breath | Goodreads
A grizzly killing in a small town sets off a police man hunt. This novel checked off every cliché: the young detective that returns to his home town pulling a wagon load of baggage, the old flame that has never been extinguished, the vulnerable neighbor in need of a protector, the wrongly accused that only the protagonist believes is innocent, the psychopath who taunts the police, the snooty parents who only care about their money, etc. Even the dialogue and descriptions were cliches. 1.5 stars
The Big Rock Candy Mountain by Wallace StegnerIrene (Harborcreek, PA)’s review of The Big Rock Candy Mountain | Goodreads
In the story of the Mason family, Stegner captures the passions and assumptions, the temperaments and sacrifices of a generation that transformed the western lands of North America into thriving cities and productive farms. Bo is a dreamer, a risk-taker who can never settle because there is always the fortune around the corner that would give him the status he desired. Elisa is the uncomplaining, hard-working wife who only wants to settle down and to be part of a community. Between their polls, their two sons are shaped by what these parents hand on to them. I loved the complexity in each of the characters. I am grateful that I was able to live with this family for the 600 pages of this book to learn about the importance of having enough patience with the weaknesses of others to be able to love them and understand them.
Prequel by Rachel MaddowIrene (Harborcreek, PA)’s review of Prequel: An American Fight Against Fascism | Goodreads
The U.S. has always had citizens occupying every point on the political spectrum. This bit of American history looks at the efforts of ultra-right wing political groups in the first half of the 20th century that pushed a white supremacist, antisemitic agenda that found common cause with Nazis, longed for a leader in the mold of Hitler and armed militias to bring about their goals by force. This is the story of the small group of journalists, activists and lawyers that sought to expose their activities, unseat high ranking political figures and prosecute their crimes. Maddow briefly connects the actions and rhetoric of this earlier era with white supremacist, anti-democratic efforts today to undermine the Constitution, set in place an authoritarian leader and even bring about violent insurrection. If these movements could be stopped in our past, they can be stopped today, but only if Americans have the courage, integrity and conviction to bring down these plans.
Oath and Honor by Liz CheneyIrene (Harborcreek, PA)’s review of Oath and Honor: A Memoir and a Warning | Goodreads
How have we gotten to a place that a person is considered heroic because she can distinguish between a violent mob attacking the capitol and tourists strolling the grounds, because she does not suffer from altered consciousness when ordered to change her opinion, because she does not drink the Kool-Aid? This is Liz Chaney’s account of the January 6, 2021 violent attack on members of Congress who were in the process of certifying the election and the subsequent Congressional inquiry into those events. For me, what was most shocking is the extent to which I am no longer shocked by the violence and the denial of the truth by members of the Republican Party.
Getting Stoned With Savages by J. Maarten Troost Irene (Harborcreek, PA)’s review of Getting Stoned with Savages: A Trip Through the Islands of Fiji and Vanuatu | Goodreads
This is a light travel memoir. The author left his lucrative job with the World Bank and moved with his wife to Vanuatu in search of the laid back, less materialistic life style. But no society is perfect and he and his wife return to the U.S. after the birth of their first child. I knew nothing about this island nation before reading this book; now I know a tiny bit more.
The Transit of Venus by Shirley HazzardIrene (Harborcreek, PA)’s review of The Transit of Venus | Goodreads
This is the story of two sisters. We meet them as young adults recently arrived in England and leave them three decades later as they are shaped by life and shape life by their personalities. Although I did not initially connect with the story or characters, the exquisite prose, the intricate character development, the raw truth of the emotions caught me up in the tide of this novel.
The Women by Kristin HannahIrene (Harborcreek, PA)’s review of The Women | Goodreads
A young woman enlists to serve as an army nurse in Vietnamf to make her father proud and to connect with her adored brother who recently died there. We watch her adjust to and then thrive in the battle field hospital. We also watch her inability to adjust to civilian life, her emotional collapse and fall into addiction before finding healing and a new purpose. I felt as if the protagonist was supposed to stand in for every female serving in Vietnam. She felt emblematic, not personal. Secondary characters became stereotypes. Although her best friend was an African American army nurse, the very real racism of that era was not addressed.
The Path Between the Seas by David McCulloughEdit Review - The Path Between the Seas: The Creation of the Panama Canal, 1870-1914 | Goodreads
This is a thorough account of the construction of the Panama Canal, including the debates over where the passage should be built, the geological, political and medical obstacles, the backgrounds of the many leading figures, the failed French attempt and the successful U.S. project and so much more such as what people wore, food rations, the number of slaves and former slaves recruited from each Caribbean country and so on. I learned a great deal about this topic, including that I was not as interested in it as I had thought when I picked up this 700 page volume.
Where The Past Begins by Amy TanIrene (Harborcreek, PA)’s review of Where the Past Begins: A Writer's Memoir | Goodreads
The best-selling fiction writer reflects on writing from various lenses. I enjoyed the memories of her youth and how these memories influenced her creation of fiction. I was less engaged by the email conversations between author and editor or random diary pages.
Never Alone by Elizabeth HaynesIrene (Harborcreek, PA)’s review of Never Alone | Goodreads
This is part thriller, part romance, part family drama. It felt formulaic. The ending was predictable and pat. I could have done without the sex, particularly the explicit description of the prostitute servicing his client which was simply pornographic.
Seven Months in Rural Chad by John Brooke
Irene (Harborcreek, PA)’s review of Seven Months in Rural Chad | Goodreads
The author served for seven months with Doctors Without Borders caring for pediatric malaria patients in a rural area of the Republic of Chad. The author outlines the history of the region, focusing on the destruction caused by colonialization and the slave trade. He also discusses the transmission of malaria and its harm to the body. I wanted to read of the author’s day to day experiences, but little of that was present in these pages. 2.5 stars
The Fury by Alex MichaelidesIrene (Harborcreek, PA)’s review of The Fury | Goodreads
Seven friends spend a holiday on a private island. Before the long weekend is over, one of them is dead. At first, this is a locked room mystery. But the narrator keeps pulling the story back to fill in details. Each addition to the narration is a shift in the landscape that alters the reader’s perception of what s/he is viewing. I enjoyed this clever novel that kept surprising me.
The Moor’s Account by Laila Lalamichttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
This historical novel is set in the 16th century and is narrated by a Moore who is enslaved to a Spanish explorer searching for a fabled city of gold in Florida. Chapters alternate between the hardships experienced by the men on the new continent and the events of the narrator’s younger years that brought him to his situation. It is a story told in retrospect, allowing the author to adopt a dispassionate tone. Despite being attracted to the setting, I never connected with the story and lost interest about a third of the way in.
The Demon of Unrest by Erik LarsonEdit Review - The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War | Goodreads
Larson is a master story teller, turning complex, detailed historical accounts into compelling narratives. This book records the five months between the election of Lincoln and the fall of Fort Sumter which began the Civil War.
Blackouts by Justin Torreschttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
In a remote place in the desert, a young man attends an old man on his death bed. The two met once before, many years ago, when both were committed for insanity, most likely connected to their homosexuality. In part, this is told in conversation between these characters probing each other’s memories. In part, this is told directly to the reader in fragments of past moments. I felt as if this novel was intended to teach the reader, to lead to some great insight. But that truth eluded me. I think this book was just too smart for me.
The Searcher by Tana FrenchIrene (Harborcreek, PA)’s review of The Searcher | Goodreads
I love the way French develops characters and her use of dialogue is masterful. Add that to an engaging detective story and you have a winner.
A Fever In The Heartland by Timothy Egan Irene (Harborcreek, PA)’s review of A Fever in the Heartland: The Ku Klux Klan's Plot to Take Over America, and the Woman Who Stopped Them | Goodreads
The KKK was growing into a major social and political force in the 1920s and Indiana was at the center of that growth. The man responsible for its ballooning membership and political prominence, a charismatic speaker who preached family values, sobriety, and justice was a nasty drunk, a wife beater, a serial rapist, and a violent extortionist. His rise appeared to have no limits until he kidnapped and brutalized a young woman who gave testimony of his crime on her deathbed. This is the story of his rise and of the trial. I was hoping this book would give insights about the ways that hatred and injustice might be overcome. But I suspect that in our day, even rape would not be enough to end the career of a charismatic leader that tapped into popular hatred and fear.
The Frozen River by Ariel LawhonIrene (Harborcreek, PA)’s review of The Frozen River | Goodreads
In small town Maine near the end of the 18th century, a minister’s wife accuses two men of a brutal rape. One is the local judge and town bully. The other is found dead, floating just beneath the surface of the frozen river. The narrator is the local midwife, a woman who is respected for her profession, entrusted with many secrets and turned to in difficult times. This is a novel about that proverbial long arc of justice and the way it bends. It is a novel of those forces that bend that arc. 3.5 stars
The Comedians by Graham GreeneIrene (Harborcreek, PA)’s review of The Comedians | Goodreads
This is a darkly humorous and tragically discouraging novel of life in Haiti during the rise of the Duvalier regime. The brutal oppression and total disintegrations of a people is seen through the eyes of outsiders: an owner of a luxury hotel that has fallen into decay, an American couple who naively wants to open a center for vegetarians, and a confidence man who thinks he can manipulate every sort of get-rich scheme. Those who think they can win against the dark forces unleashed in Haiti are doomed to die. The rest cut their losses and leave this once beautiful country to its nightmare. This is certainly a well-written book, but not an easy one to read. 3.5 stars
Black Boy by Richard WrightIrene (Harborcreek, PA)’s review of Black Boy: A Record of Youth and Childhood | Goodreads
This memoir recounts the author’s years growing up in the segregated South in the early years of the 20th century. It is a story filled with crushing poverty, brutal discipline, injustices and the rage that is born in powerlessness before such wrongs. There are no tender moments, no joy, no times of security, encouragement or wise guidance. It ends as the young man boards a train for the North with the hope that he might find a place where his humanity receives a bit of dignity.
Table For Two by Amor TowlesIrene (Harborcreek, PA)’s review of Table for Two | Goodreads
I enjoyed every story in this collection. Every one drew me in from the opening sentences. Every one left me satisfied at the end.
Infected Kin by Ellen Block & Will McGrathIrene (Harborcreek, PA)’s review of Infected Kin: Orphan Care and AIDS in Lesotho | Goodreads
I had a challenge in a GR group to read a book set in Lesotho. Of the few I could get my hands on, this seemed the least technical. The author communicated this anthropological study in a clear fashion which I was able to understand. It looked at the ways traditional family structures were impacted by and also impacted the care-giving of those with AIDS, particularly children.
Chronicle of a Last Summer by Yasmine El RashidiIrene (Harborcreek, PA)’s review of Chronicle of a Last Summer | Goodreads
In remarkably few pages, the author creates the inner and outer world of the narrator across 30 years and draws the reader into the mundane implications of a turbulent time in Egyptian politics. We are offered 3 snapshots of the protagonist’s life three moments, each separated by about 15 years. From young childhood through university student to young professional, she lives in the same house, surrounded by the same people, while the world turns dramatically shaping and reshaping her sense of self and understanding of her country and her family.
Someone Knows My Name by Lawrence HillIrene (Harborcreek, PA)’s review of Someone Knows My Name | Goodreads
The narrator is an 18th century enslaved woman. She chronicles her story from her kidnapping through the Middle Passage, from enslavement on a Carolina plantation through abolition efforts beyond the Thirteen Colonies. I was not aware that the British promised freedom to any slaves who helped their side in the war. I was unfamiliar with the Book of Negros and the transport of people from New York to various Canadian cities. The narrator did not have the typical life of an enslaved person. Already trained as a midwife at the age of 11 and able to speak 2 African languages, she has privileges denied most, beginning on the slave boat. She is taught to read and keep financial records by one of her masters and has a vocabulary and diction superior to most of the English gentry she meets. Despite the remarkable opportunities she has, her life is still one of great loss, suffering and triumph over adversity.
The Saints of Swallow Hill by Donna EverhartIrene (Harborcreek, PA)’s review of The Saints of Swallow Hill | Goodreads
At the height of the Depression, broken and desperate people find themselves working in dangerous conditions on a turpentine farm under the authority of some brutal overlords. But the cruelty cannot destroy the humanity and the goodness in the primary characters. Together they are able to survive. The good verses evil conflict seemed a bit simplistic and predictable. I was surprised that all the black characters remained mere set pieces. Only the white characters had agency that could alter the course of events.
101 Books to Read Before You Die
Books mentioned in this topic
Persuasion (other topics)It (other topics)
The Immortalists (other topics)
The Hate U Give (other topics)
Timekeeper (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Jane Austen (other topics)Madeline Miller (other topics)
Sarah Henning (other topics)
Sarah McCoy (other topics)
Sarah Pekkanen (other topics)
More...
Irene (Harborcreek, PA)’s review of The Betrothed | Goodreads
I have seen this classic described as the best novel of all time. A young couple in early 17th century Italy is prepared to wed. But the local rich man, who seems to function as an organized crime boss, threatens the priest with death if he performs the wedding. The implication is that the man intends to violate the girl. This sets off 700 pages of adventures as they pursue safety and their dream of marriage against the background of a world in chaos. This was a bit of an uneven read for me. The dialogue was natural. Many scenes were hilarious. But there were other lengthy sections of historical descriptions that made the narrative drag and far more moralizing than is expected by the 21st century reader.