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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(last edited Mar 03, 2015 06:08PM)
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Mar 03, 2015 06:07PM
Just finished Breakfast of Champions. I usually love Vonnegut's writing, but this one was a bit too disjointed for me, and I gave it a 3 star rating.
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I just finished Billy Budd by Herman Melville. A nice little story and my first venture into Melville.
Last night I finished Lady Chatterley's Lover. Despite its reputation, I found it to be so much more than a sex-filled romp. I really enjoyed it. One of the better list books I've read in a while!
Ulysses - and it nearly finished me... Now all I've got to do is spend another few years re-reading it and I can finally cross this beast off my list.
Jennifer W wrote: "Last night I finished Lady Chatterley's Lover. Despite its reputation, I found it to be so much more than a sex-filled romp. I really enjoyed it. One of the better list books I've read..."
It's so interesting to see what books click with some readers, and then for others the book just doesn't connect-I actually DNF'd Lady Chatterley's Lover last night :p
It's so interesting to see what books click with some readers, and then for others the book just doesn't connect-I actually DNF'd Lady Chatterley's Lover last night :p
~*Sara*~ wrote: "Jennifer W wrote: "Last night I finished Lady Chatterley's Lover. Despite its reputation, I found it to be so much more than a sex-filled romp. I really enjoyed it. One of the better l..."I agree it is interesting. I suspect this was a case of the right book at the right time for me. :)
Luís wrote: "Nicola wrote: "Ulysses - and it nearly finished me... Now all I've got to do is spend another few years re-reading it and I can finally cross this beast off my list."I couldn't fin..."
The last bit was fine, it was the section immediately before which killed me. The conversation between Stephan and Bloom at the flat - my brain started dripping out my ears.
Just finished Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Hardy. The most depressing book that I had such a hard time getting through. Talk about someone with the worst luck in the world. Also, a very honest look at the patriarchal society. But still a tough, miserable read.
Karina wrote: "Just finished Tess of the D'Urbervilles by Hardy. The most depressing book that I had such a hard time getting through. Talk about someone with the worst luck in the world. Also, a ver..."Another "It's so interesting to see what books click with some readers, and then for others the book just doesn't connect" book. I loved this book and rated it 5 stars.
Just finished Oliver Twist. Definitely worth a read, but you can tell it was his first real novel (after Pickwick Papers). Dickens is at his best when he's slumming it in the gutters with his more loathsome characters, but deflates disappointingly when he reemerges in the nicer suburbs. However, the anti-Semitic-sounding descriptions of Fagin are uncomfortable and jarring.
Mod
Last night I finished A Ballad for Georg Henig by Viktor Paskov.4 stars, a solid and very eloquent story. Short, but not otherwise quick. Tells a lot about relationships as well as 1950s Bulgaria.
Finished The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon. Quick emotional read for me. 5 stars, a new favorite!
Summer by Edith WhartonIt was okay, it was a bit slow. But it's not a long book. Times and social mores have sure changed since 1916!
I gave it 3 stars
Mod
Me, too. It is one of the best books ever.
The Acceptance World - 3/12. My March read for 'Dance to the Music of Time'. A bit more literature and politics focused and I didn't enjoy it quite as much as the previous two. Had a great ending though and rates a 3 star.
Just finished So Long a Letter by Mariama Ba. An incredible book!
The Remains of the Day - An 'unreliable' narrator who you know is just that so the whole book is a tragic tale about a man lying to himself. I am still a little surprised at reading a book so quintessentially 'English' written by someone called Kazuo Ishiguro. It's a little peculiar :-)
4 stars
Nicola wrote: "The Remains of the Day - An 'unreliable' narrator who you know is just that so the whole book is a tragic tale about a man lying to himself. I am still a little surprised at read..."
I have not read him, but through other conversations I know that he is a British citizen, his parents having moved to the UK when he was 5 years old.
I just finished The Devil and Miss Prym, people seem to have fixed feelings about it, but I found it thought provoking.
Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Nicola wrote: "The Remains of the Day - An 'unreliable' narrator who you know is just that so the whole book is a tragic tale about a man lying to himself. I am still a little su..."
Yes so I was told after I did a double take a little while ago. It still takes me aback though. A Japanese name is just not what I instinctively associate with an absolutely perfect book on upper class English country house life!
Just finished The Man in the High Castle
by Philip K. Dickhttps://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
I'm not sure if it's on the list.
Kirsten wrote: "Just finished The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. DickI'm not sure if it's on the list. "
It is. And I think it belongs there as the (as far as I know) sole example of alternative history.
I finished Rebecca a few hours ago and still can't stop thinking about what a lovely, well-written book it was. I am completely in the majority who found it to be an amazing read.
The Good Soldier - Unexpectedly fabulous, although I think this is one to read when you've had a bit of life experience. I think if I'd read it when I was much younger it wouldn't have had the same impact.4 stars
Mod
I'm not sure if it's on the list. "
It is. And I think it belongs there as the (as far as ..."
It is not, just on the Guardian List. His only list book is Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? which I just finished and which I really liked.
Anna Karenina- My first venture into Tolstoy and I found it exhilarating. Rich characters, great writing. I really enjoyed it.
Ellinor wrote: "J wrote: "Kirsten wrote: "Just finished The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick"It is not, just on the Guardian List. His only list book is Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? which I just finished and which I really liked. "
You are quite right – it isn't a list book. I made a mistake marking it as such. I wish there was some smart way of seeing what books are list book and which are not, just from the books page.
J wrote: "Ellinor wrote: "J wrote: "Kirsten wrote: "Just finished The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick"It is not, just on the Guardian List. His only list book is Do A..."
You could make a shelf of all the books..IF its not on your 1001 shelf then it's not on the list...
I just finished The Man Who Loved Children. I loved Stead's writing style but the subject matter of this novel was not pleasant.
Just finished Rabbit Redux by John Updike which I must say I found far more enjoyable than Rabbit Run, the first in this series.
The Moonstone - That was bloomin' Fantastic! Probably even better for having been listened to on a superb audio recording.5 stars
Nicola wrote: "The Moonstone - That was bloomin' Fantastic! Probably even better for having been listened to on a superb audio recording.5 stars"
I loved it, too! I need to read The Woman in White soon.
Queer - Burroughs strips himself bare in this novel, exposing a pathetic soul that had me often wanting to avert my eyes. It was a quick read, I wish it was longer. I haven't read Junkie but I guess that will be next on the list.4 stars
The Wasp Factory - This felt too contrived to really appeal. Every attempt was made to shock and it wasn't believable. 2 stars
Mod
Ellinor wrote: "I just finished The Day of the Triffids, one of the best SF books I ever read."Love Day of the Triffids!
Tipping the Velvet - For cross dressing, Victorian, lesbian porn, this was incredibly boring.1 1/2 stars
The Things They Carried: Great book. Not just was stories, but more philosophical and poetical. The writer ends up in the Wietnam war and afterwards he is trying to digest it by writing. But NOT the “war is awful, I fell so sorry for myself”. He has many comments on “how to write” and the difference between telling the factual truth and conveying the most truth impression (what was it really like). Not much happens in the first long chapter ”The Things They Carried”, it is more like a long prose poem over the many meanings of ”carry” and ”carrying things”. On The Rainy River was my favourite part and the book is worth reading the that chapter alone. I felt it was completely convincing even though the conclusion is the complete opposite of ….. (no spoilers here...)I heard the book as audiobook read by Bryan Cranston. I have read that other people felt it was spooky to have the book read by Walter White (from Breaking Bad) from the grave. I fast stopped thinking about Walter White. And maybe the voice is not quite the same: In one of the last chapters 9 year old Linda has number of lines. It is very impressive how he can soften the voice to a 9 year old girl's (well, almost). Great book and even better as Bryan Cranston-audiobook.
Finished "Mr Vertigo" by Paul Auster, which I enjoyed for two reasons. Firstly, it's a cracking story in its own right. Secondly, it reminded me not to give up on an author after one book. I read Auster's "New York Trilogy" about eight years ago and didn't like it. I'm so glad I gave him a second chance!
Just finished 1Q84 parts 1-2. One more to go! It's funny that in here the first two parts are in the same volume and the third one is seperate. The last one is so small, haha.
Ian wrote: "Finished "Mr Vertigo" by Paul Auster, which I enjoyed for two reasons. Firstly, it's a cracking story in its own right. Secondly, it reminded me not to give up on an author after one book. I read A..."Well that sounds promising. I read The New York Trilogy a few months ago and didn't like it either (although I appreciated that it was a very good bit of writing and that others would). I'm about to read Moon Palace so hopefully that will appeal more.
Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die
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