Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die discussion
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Which LIST book did you just finish?
Just finished The Catcher in the Ryewhile I gave it three stars because it was actually an easy read, I had a hard time connecting with Holden, perhaps because even when I was his age I have never been that cynical. I can understand why some people connect with him, but I just could not and most of the time, while I read through the story quickly, I kept wondering what the whole point of the book even was, but apparently it is literally just the ramblings of a teenage boy over the course a couple days in his life. Overall I didn't love it and I didn't hate it, hence the 3 stars.
Nicole wrote: "A Farewell to Arms As much as this will likely get me flak... Meh."I gave it 3 stars, and am unlikely to read any more Hemingway.
I gave it two. I liked the war stuff, but Catherine drove me crazy.
Where can I find the list as I have lost the orginal one i had when my computer crashed on me ! Tks
Randomly picked up The Talented Mr. Ripley at the library. Sort of recognising the title and guessing it could be a 1001-book. Very interesting to read this book without any prior knowledge. The development around page 90 was a total surprise to me. Good book. A lot of 1950-flavour. One that make me happy about the 1001-project. I don't think I would have read it otherwise.
Lolita - and I am surprised. The book is much more complex than I expected. Especially the last part after Lo left H. is great.
I'm a little behind. The last list book I read was Lord of the Flies. I probably would have liked it better had I read it in school when I was younger. It wasn't bad, just not really my style now.
Kayla wrote: "Just finished The Catcher in the Ryewhile I gave it three stars because it was actually an easy read, I had a hard time connecting with Holden, perhaps because even when I was his age I..."I was the same way. Glad I wasn't alone!
Karena wrote: "I'm a little behind. The last list book I read was Lord of the Flies. I probably would have liked it better had I read it in school when I was younger. It wasn't bad, just not really my..."I wasn't too fond of it in school when I read it, but I'm planning on re-reading it for the challenge, most of the boys liked it though, but in high school I devoured romance novels so it makes sense why I book like that would not have interested me too much, nowadays my book interests have broadened excessively so I'm wondering if I'll be able to appreciate it more now. I read Catcher in the Rye in high school, but I literally didn't remember a single part of it, so we'll see how re-reading Lord of the Flies compares to that experience lol.
Kayla wrote: "Just finished The Catcher in the Ryewhile I gave it three stars because it was actually an easy read, I had a hard time connecting with Holden, perhaps because even when I was his age I..."Couldn't agree more when I read it a few years ago...I just couldn't get in his head at all...the cynicism seemed unfounded it was almost I'm cynical for cynicals sake because I'm a teenager...just an act !
Lango142 wrote: "Kayla wrote: "Just finished The Catcher in the Ryewhile I gave it three stars because it was actually an easy read, I had a hard time connecting with Holden, perhaps because even when I..."exactly, I almost felt like he was the biggest phony in the whole story and like he was just trying to seem "cool" for the person he was telling the story to.
Last book I read on the list was David Copperfield which I really enjoyed...always good every now and then to go back to a bit if Dickens.
A Clockwork Orange- disturbing but great. now I'm going to watch the movie to see how it compares.
Just finished The History of Thomas of Reading; Or, the Six Worthy Yeomen of the West from the 2008 edition and it wasn't what I expected at all. It was actually pretty gruesome in parts. I enjoyed it despite the old-timey spelling that slowed reading down a little.
George Orwell, Keep the Aspidistra Flying. Finished with Orwell's LIST works now. He makes the 6th author (of 42) I've completed with 5 or more works on the COMBINED Lists.
Just finished The Kreutzer Sonata by Leo Tolstoy. My edition had three other novellas and the four together were a fascinating look at Tolstoy's evolution over 50 years.
I just finished
It started off well, but toward the end, seemed a bit tedious. My local librarian says he's one of her favorite authors, so I will give another one of his books a chance.
It started off well, but toward the end, seemed a bit tedious. My local librarian says he's one of her favorite authors, so I will give another one of his books a chance.
Finished The Man With The Golden Arm - as much as I loved the languAge and subject I found it a bit if a slog but understand why it was on there.
London Fields by Martin Amis. I didn't really like this, but there was enough in it to keep me going till the end.
Colleen wrote: "Finished The Man With The Golden Arm - as much as I loved the languAge and subject I found it a bit if a slog but understand why it was on there."I just finished it too and felt exactly the same!
The Story of OIt's about bondage. And discipline. And disciplined bondage.
Joana Marta wrote: "
so sooo good! =)"
My all time favorite.
The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes (audiobook)
Just finished White Teeth by Zadie Smith.I can truthfully say this was a really good book. Though I'm going to have to think on it. It is one of those stories that demands to be thought about, disected into little bullet points and mind maps. You read it, and slowly absorb it over the days and weeks that follow.
Becky wrote: "The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes (audiobook)"Did you love it?
I just finished Breakfast at Tiffany's and Three Stories and Keep the Aspidistra Flying. Both 4 stars.
I finished The Great Gatsby last week and that will likely be my last adult 1001 book of the year. I'm aiming to read The Little Prince this week. My 2013 reading from either 1001 list this year is sadly lacking.
Cataluna6 wrote: "I finished The Great Gatsby last week and that will likely be my last adult 1001 book of the year. I'm aiming to read The Little Prince this week. My 2013 reading from either 1001 list this year is..."I feel like I was doing better earlier this year and not so great recently. We're almost to a new year, though. Here's to a fresh start!
Middlemarch. 5*. A fabulous way to round out my year of List reading.
Stephanie "Jedigal" wrote: "Middlemarch. 5*. A fabulous way to round out my year of List reading."I, too, gave that one 5 stars.
I'm overjoyed to have FINALLY finished Don Quixote. It was very long and boring!!!
"I feel like I was doing better earlier this year and not so great recently. We're almost to a new year, though. Here's to a fresh start! I agree Nicole, one must keep looking forward, we can only read as much as we can; that being said, I am hoping to read more from the list in 2014. I'll have to try participate in some of the monthly reads.
Cataluna6 wrote: ""I feel like I was doing better earlier this year and not so great recently. We're almost to a new year, though. Here's to a fresh start! I agree Nicole, one must keep looking forward, we can onl..."
Me too... I think that will help me stay focused. :)
I seem to have dropped the ball in getting through the 1001 list this year. Latest completion was Novel with Cocaine. What a well-rendered horrid protagonist and definitely a quick read. With some shorter novels I might get back on track.
It's that time of year, so I've just read A Christmas Carol. Very familiar with the story, but not read it in years.
Laura wrote: "Becky wrote: "The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes (audiobook)"Did you love it?"
Hi Laura: I can't say that I loved it. I shared Veronica's frustration with the main character, and honestly, I thought the conclusion was a stretch, only because it needed more foreshadowing about the relationship. That said, I enjoyed it and it kept me listening!
Just finished Dracula- it was a good page turner and all the more better as I was reading it the same time Don Quixote which I found unbelievably boring.
Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die
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As a foundational work, it's good reading and not cumbersome at all.