Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die discussion
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Which LIST book did you just finish?
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Bob
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May 18, 2023 09:09AM
The Way of All Flesh by Samuel Butler, 3.5 stars.
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What a great read!"
Yes, it is. Probably my favorite novel by an author from Africa.
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Coincidentally, I'm reading a book by another woman named Robinson: Michelle Robinson (maiden name) Obama.
Journey to the End of the Night - Louis-Ferdinand Celine. Was a previous group book so thought I would catch up. Long, dark and cynical. Fortunately, long, dark and cynical is right up my alley! A bit casually racist, but Celine was apparently an anti-semite and Nazi sympathizer, so...Also, Absolute Beginners - Colin McInnes. A book very much of its time. It feels quite dated. But breezy and entertaining.
Currently 2/3 of the way through Ulysses... it's a slog.
#107 - I finished this one a few months ago but forgot it was on the list...(thanks Joy for the reminder :)) 
The Third Man by Graham Greene
Rating: 3 stars
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Tipping the Velvet by Sarah WatersYes, it's very sexual and I must admit that there were a few occasions when I would have liked to have seen it toned down a little, but Nancy is a likeable character and the story, as it explores what it means to be a woman, especially a gay woman, during the Victorian age, is very well written. As a first novel it's quite a feat.
Just finished H is for Hawk by Helen MacdonaldIt is beautifully written and has some very interesting considerations but the whole premise of training a bird of prey rubbed me the wrong way.
I have just finished The African Trilogy. It includes Things Fall Apart, No Longer at Ease and Arrow of God. The first and last are list books. Brilliant.
Haven't been reading list books lately. Finished The End of the Affair, it was OK, thankfully it was short!
Carol wrote: "The Portrait of a Lady by Henry JamesOne of the most beautiful novels I've ever read. Surprised me!"
John Banville wrote a sequel, Mrs Osmond. It's not a list book but if you enjoyed Portrait, you might find this one interesting. I have had it on my shelf for ages now but have yet to pick up, which I really should do!
I *loved* Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit! Nice to see that someone else did, too!My recent book finished:
Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut Jr., which was a 3-star read for me. A good book, but not his best, for this reader.
#108 - I finished the novella
Summer by Edith Wharton
Rating: 4 stars
Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson - 3* - My ReviewUnder the Skin by Michel Faber - 4* - My Review
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It's a VERY old novel so he had very little literary tradition to influence his work. It was groundbreaking for its' time
George P. wrote: "Stephanie "Jedigal" wrote: "Robinson Crusoe. Ugh. Defoe takes all the excitement out of adventure."It's a VERY old novel so he had very little literary tradition to influence his work. It was gro..."
Yeah but it is deeply racist, a template for colonial rule and at one point, Crusoe strips in order to swim to the wreck...and then brings back supplies by shoving them in his pockets.
Not wonder post-colonial lit has deconstructed it over and over again.
Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die
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