Which LIST book did you just finish? Showing 4,001-4,050 of 10,248

[Ellinor]

Finished Goodbye to Berlin by Christopher Isherwood

[George P.]

Karen wrote: "Surfacing by Margaret Atwood
One of her earliest novels (1976) and not my favorite!"

I read it a long time ago. It was moody, but not much happened.

[Sarah]

Bryan wrote: "Finished The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith. I liked it."

The movie was well done and I’m looking forward to the book. Glad you enjoyed it!

[Maggie]

Finished Atonement yesterday. I don't know why it's taken me so long to read it, I enjoyed it very much

[Sarah]

I took a one week break from reading for a Netflix binge (I’m long overdue for rest). After Reign and Borgia I’m in the mood for something early (Rome or Greece). Any suggestions?

I finished The Temptation of St. Antony by Gustave Flaubert but it really missed the mark. The imagery is nice but it’s very choppy overall.

[Ellinor]

Finished Cat's Cradle, my final Vonnegut on the list. I personally could have lived without reading any of his work, I just don't see anything in it.

[Tim]

Ellinor wrote: "Finished Cat's Cradle, my final Vonnegut on the list. I personally could have lived without reading any of his work, I just don't see anything in it."

I've only read Breakfast of Champions and agree with you. I thought Breakfast... was just adolescent musings.

[Karen]

George wrote: "Karen wrote: "Surfacing by Margaret Atwood
One of her earliest novels (1976) and not my favorite!"

I read it a long time ago. It was moody, but not much happened."

A little too far back to nature for me!! I did find the American conspiracy to invade Canada hilarious!!

[Yrinsyde]

Sarah wrote: "I took a one week break from reading for a Netflix binge (I’m long overdue for rest). After Reign and Borgia I’m in the mood for something early (Rome or Greece). Any suggestions?"

There is Plebs - a UK comedy set in Ancient Rome. And speaking of comedy, you could try Upstart Crow for Elizabethan era comedy. The HBO series Rome was pretty good - I want to rewatch it.

[Sarah]

Yrinsyde wrote: "There is Plebs - a UK comedy set in Ancient Rome..."

I was thinking of books. Sorry if I was unclear. But thanks for the suggestions. I never watch telly and it’s nice to find good programs worth exploring.

I’m contemplating Sir Walter Scott to end the month.

[Bryan--The Bee’s Knees]

Finished The Rainbow by D.H. Lawrence. Wow. Just excellent.

[George P.]

Bryan wrote: "Finished The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith. I liked it."

About 25 years ago I was just browsing the library shelves, picked up The Talented Mr. Ripley and thought it looked interesting. OMG- what a story! I've read a couple of her other Ripley books and her Strangers on a Train since then- that's a good one too.
Coincidentally I have the dvd at home now of "The American Friend", an adaptation of Ripley's Game starring Bruno Ganz and Dennis Hopper. Plan to watch it in the next few days.

[Jim]

Finished The Brothers Karamazov yesterday.

Jim

[George P.]

Just finished Auto-da-Fé by Elias Canetti of Bulgaria. It was originally written in German and published as Die Blendung (The Blindness). I can brag to be the 1st of my Goodreads friends to read this fairly long novel, the only novel by Canetti, but it's my 1st by a Bulgarian writer and I see my friend Diane has read 4 books by Bulgarian writers (I didn't pore through her whole inventory, she has a "Bulgarian" shelf- how many of us have that?).
I thought the last section the best and my rating rose from 3.5 to 4 stars because of that. This is my 3rd book by a Nobel winner in the last couple months (after Saramago and Paz)- will take a break from those before I read my next, T.S.Eliot

[Bryan--The Bee’s Knees]

Luís wrote: "L'Assommoir (The Dram Shop)"

Although the plot was bleak, Zola really made the environment come alive for me. This is actually a favorite of mine for the level of detail--the slums were almost like another character

[Bryan--The Bee’s Knees]

Finished all the stories from In a Glass Darkly, though mine were from another edition, plus one I got from Project Gutenberg. Carmilla is the story with the main draw, I think--It was the best of the bunch. If you liked Dracula, you might enjoy this one as well.

[Karen]

The Vice Consul by Marguerite Duras

[Sarah]

Finished Castle Rackrent by Maria Edgeworth.

[Yrinsyde]

Sarah wrote: "Finished Castle Rackrent by Maria Edgeworth."

What did you think Sarah? I read it some time ago and enjoyed it. BTW, I presumed your mention of Netflix meant you wanted new things to watch. :)

[Ellinor]

Finished Casino Royale. Phew!

[George P.]

Sarah wrote: "Finished Castle Rackrent by Maria Edgeworth."

I see you just gave it 2 stars. My four other GR friends who've read it gave it 3 stars except for one 4. Ian said "Pleasant satire on Irish aristocracy. Although over 200 years old, it amply demonstrates that selfishness, indolence and ignorance do not change from one generation to the next".

[Bob]

Mr Norris Changes Trains by Christopher Isherwood. Good, believable characters with a bit of intrigue and mystery in the story.

[Peter]

Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood. A powerful and at time intense coming of age story.

[Karen]

Sarah wrote: "I took a one week break from reading for a Netflix binge (I’m long overdue for rest). After Reign and Borgia I’m in the mood for something early (Rome or Greece). Any suggestions?

I finished [book..."

On the Boxall List, how about Quo Vadis by Henryk Sienkiewicz.

My favorites (not on the List):
Greek -- I, Claudius series by Robert Graves and several books by Mary Renault.
Roman -- Historical fiction Masters of Rome series by Colleen McCullough and Roma Sub Rosa mysteries by Steven Saylor.

[Dree]

Finished Mansfield Park by Jane Austen

[Ian]

George wrote: "Sarah wrote: "Finished Castle Rackrent by Maria Edgeworth."

I see you just gave it 2 stars. My four other GR friends who've read it gave it 3 stars except for one 4. Ian said "Pleas..."

Crikey, George! That gave me a shock. Strange to see one of my reviews quoted. Can't help feeling I sound a bit pompous though!

[Sarah]

Finished Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden.

[Sarah]

George wrote: "I see you just gave it 2 stars. My four other GR friends who've read it gave it 3 stars except for one 4. "

It wasn’t bad but I didn’t enjoy it. The plot was sparse and I didn’t connect with the characters.

[Sarah]

Yrinsyde wrote: "What did you think Sarah? I read it some time ago and enjoyed it. "

It wasn’t a hit for me. Perhaps her other works will be more appealing. And don’t apologize. I rarely watch television (e.g., I’ve never seen Game of Thrones, The Walking Dead, etc.). However, I’m pleased to see that Netflix has many historical programs. The Crown was very good and I enjoyed Versailles and The Borgias too.

[Sarah]

Karen wrote: "On the Boxall List, how about Quo Vadis by Henryk Sienkiewicz.”

Thanks for the suggestions! I don’t think I can squeeze Graves in this year. But given my interest he’d work well for the first quarter in 2018.

For now, I’ll wind the year down with Ayn Rand and Adam Smith so I can start the new year with Greece and Rome. I’d planned on doing the Paliser series in November but hadn’t chosen anything for the following month. But I think you’ve given me a start. 🤗

[Karen]

The Successor by Ismail Kadare

[Sarah]

Finished Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne.

[Bob]

Goodbye to Berlin by Christopher Isherwood. It was interesting to read the story that introduced Sally Bowles, of Cabaret fame.

[Diane]

Finished a re-read for Mansfield Park earlier this week.

[George P.]

Sarah wrote: "Finished Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne."

I see you didn't love it- I think perhaps you'll like Journey to the Center of the Earth more.

[Ellinor]

Finished July's People by Nadine Gordimer.

[Kirsten]

Ellinor wrote: "Finished July's People by Nadine Gordimer."

I heard a podcast from Australian radio about that one. It sounds incredible.Did you like it?

[Aileen]

Finished The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abissinia by Samuel Johnson.

[Tyler]

I finished Absalom, Absalom! by William Faulkner today. An incredible story told in an incredibly unique style. Faulkner is not every one's cup of tea, but I enjoyed this book immensely.

[Wendy]

I just finished Saturday by Ian McEwan. Not my favorite of his, very slow to get going, and the plot complications seemed a bit far-fetched, but I still managed to get into it it by the end.

[Ellinor]

Kirsten wrote: "Ellinor wrote: "Finished July's People by Nadine Gordimer."

I heard a podcast from Australian radio about that one. It sounds incredible.Did you like it?"

I liked the general idea and how the characters developed but I disliked Gordimer's style. In the end it was just 3-3.5 stars for me.

[Kirsten]

Thanks, Ellinor!

[Sarah]

George wrote: "I see you didn't love it- I think perhaps you'll like Journey to the Center of the Earth more."

I decided to skip the second Verne and read The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand instead. It’s not a list book but whet my whistle quite nicely. I’m reading Atlas Shrugged now.

I needed something different. It’s hard to explain. When I wrap this up I think I’ll read La Reine Margot and wind down the year with Proust. I didn’t intend to do so but I think that’s the only author who could follow Rand in all truth.

[Winter]

I loved that one too! Had never heard of it even before.

[Tim]

Just finished, Under the Net, by Iris Murdock. I greatly enjoyed it. I found myself within its pages - the search for that illusive something. Appreciated the ending - stop searching for the illusive and start living in forward gear. That is reality.

[Gemma]

Herzog - Saul Bellow, I liked the parts which were more narrative but often there would be philosophical monologues which would come out of nowhere which went over my head and also random letters to other characters which he composed in his head. It was a bit hard to follow sometimes.

[Dree]

Finished The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe.

[George P.]

I just finished Walden by Henry D Thoreau (1854). I had expected it to be more difficult to get through, but found it to have a lot of relevance to modern life. My biology interests fitted well with his naturalist themes and topics also. Let's all keep trying to hear our own drummer!

[Diane]

Finished Humboldt's Gift by Saul Bellow.

[Dree]

I liked it much more than I expected to--I am generally not a fan of late 18th/early 18th century novels. I found her heroine to be much more likeable than Austen's. it does start to drag though, but picks up again.