Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die discussion
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Which LIST book did you just finish?
Gayle wrote: "Possession by AS Byatt"Did you like it? I finished it earlier this year and I was in two minds about it. The poetry seemed to drag.
Responding to KristenRe Possession by AS Byatt- while I enjoyed it somewhat, I had to push myself through to the end. It just seemed to drag on. I had recently read The Children’s Book by Byatt and absolutely loved it. Both are have very well written so a pleasure to read that way. Five stars to Children’s Book but four to Possession!
Don’t know if Children’s is on Boxall list.
(I’m new to posting so just getting used to how the site works. Unsure how to respond to someone’s question and how to link titles).
Gayle wrote: "Responding to KristenRe Possession by AS Byatt- while I enjoyed it somewhat, I had to push myself through to the end. It just seemed to drag on. I had recently read The Children’s Book by Byatt an..."
What you did worked. If you are using the app, I don't believe there's a reply button. On the PC, there is.
I have the audiobook of Children's Book - good to know you liked it.
Gayle wrote: "Responding to KristenRe Possession by AS Byatt- while I enjoyed it somewhat, I had to push myself through to the end. It just seemed to drag on. I had recently read The Children’s Book by Byatt an..."
As much as I loved the writing and much of The Children's Book, there is one thing I simply cannot overlook: (view spoiler)
I just finished The Beggar Maid: Stories of Flo and Rose.
The Master of Ballantrae by Robert Lewis Stevenson
I just read that with another group a couple months ago. I was disappointed--surely Gorky has something better than this to be so revered.
Finished Summer, Song of Solomon, The Postman Always Rings Twice, and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde in the last week. Really enjoyed 3 of the 4....Song of Solomon was less engrossing & hard work to get through. I'm going to try Toni Morrison again (maybe Beloved) to see if that is more engaging.
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Finished An Artist of the Floating World by Kazuo Ishiguro. Interesting read, very reflective of one’s personal history as one ages and times change. Also I’m an artist and there’s lots of description of the artists world at the time so I enjoyed that aspect of it.
Tim wrote: "The Master of Ballantrae by Robert Lewis Stevenson"Did you enjoy it? I've always wanted to read this.
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It was included on the list because, though unsuccessful, it was a very influential work worldwide. I found it rather simplistic, but was interested in the development of the revolutionary movement and in the gradual radicalization of the mother.
PS -- Love your new title!!
Cloud Atlas. I enjoyed it, but really not interested in seeing the film adaption.
Karen wrote: "PS -- Love your new title!! ...."Ha-ha--kind of an in-joke with another group. I'm really enjoying Middlemarch though--I didn't really expect to. I don't know if I've ever read the descriptions of a cast of characters that was as finely nuanced as this. And I'm also surprised at how funny it is. (Maybe droll is a better word)
Finished Summer. It was a quick read, and I couldn't put it down. It is my first book by Edith Wharton, and I'm looking forward to reading more books by her.
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Frances wrote: "Tim wrote: "The Master of Ballantrae by Robert Lewis Stevenson"Did you enjoy it? I've always wanted to read this."
Very good story. The writing style, however, struck me as being at least 100 years behind Henry James and others. The brogues were a part of this feeling. The style, itself, seemed a bit archaic even for the time it was written. Just my feelings. I'm no expert for sure.
Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Jules VerneThere were abridged versions of this in school when I was a kid, but it was a “boy’s book” so I never read it then. I liked it. Some of the science is so outdated it’s hilarious, but the adventure aspect is fun.
Tim wrote: "Frances wrote: "Tim wrote: "The Master of Ballantrae by Robert Lewis Stevenson"Did you enjoy it? I've always wanted to read this."
Very good story. The writing style, however, struck me as being..."
I’ll move this up higher on my TBR list! Thanks Tim!
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I wasn't interested in seeing the movie until I read the book. Movie was ok but the book was better, as usual.
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That's about how I felt. It's probably better if you read it in Russian and are Russian.
Diane wrote: "Finished Middlemarch by George Eliot."I knew you'd finish long before I did. I'm really enjoying what I've read so far though.
The Spy Who Came In from the Cold, by John le Carré
The Female Quixote by Charlotte Lennox. It was just the read I needed in these dark times, genuinely funny- I will go a limb here and say it was funnier than the original Quixote- and it made me smile even if the message, at the end, is somewhat depressing.
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I liked parts of it a lot, the ending not so much.
Yes, I enjoyed ‘The Female Quixote’. Agreed, I thought it was funnier than Cervantes ‘Quixote’ too!
Middlemarch. Great book
George wrote: "Yes, I enjoyed ‘The Female Quixote’. Agreed, I thought it was funnier than Cervantes ‘Quixote’ too!"Good to know. I have been going to read it.
Sean wrote: "well well, Vikki...Just finished Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carré."
Was it a good read? Did you like it?
Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die
Books mentioned in this topic
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Auto-da-Fé (other topics)
Walden or, Life in the Woods (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
T.H. White (other topics)Laurie Lee (other topics)
Haruki Murakami (other topics)
Elias Canetti (other topics)
Henry David Thoreau (other topics)
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Did you like it?"
It wasn't bad. I liked it far better than The Crying of Lot 49.