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Which LIST book did you just finish?
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Tim
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Nov 10, 2017 04:15AM
Just finished, The Awakening, by Kate Chopin.
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Finished Flaubert's Parrot by Julian Barnes, just the kind of mixture of fiction and non-fiction which I really like.
Finished an audio edition of My Antonia. I liked it, but I didn't think it was as powerful as Death Comes for the Archbishop. But then Archbishop is on my list of top 15 best novels of the 20th century, so even though it didn't quite measure up, it's still very good.
Bryan wrote: "Whoops--I don't think My Antonia is on the list. Should be though."
Yes, Willa Cather's only book to make the list was The Professor's House, which my fiancée and I recently read and enjoyed. It's only her 6th most-read book on Goodreads though, with My Ántonia being 1st by a long ways- I haven't read that one as yet. Her O Pioneers! and Death Comes for the Archbishop also have very high ratings from my GR friends.
Yes, Willa Cather's only book to make the list was The Professor's House, which my fiancée and I recently read and enjoyed. It's only her 6th most-read book on Goodreads though, with My Ántonia being 1st by a long ways- I haven't read that one as yet. Her O Pioneers! and Death Comes for the Archbishop also have very high ratings from my GR friends.
That's a shame. I'd never heard of The Professor's House, but have heard of Death of the Archbishop and My Antonia.
If the list compilers could make all that room for Coetzee, then surely they could have squeezed one or two more Cather in. I can't believe Death Comes for the Archbishop didn't make the list
Bryan wrote: "If the list compilers could make all that room for Coetzee, then surely they could have squeezed one or two more Cather in. I can't believe Death Comes for the Archbishop didn't make the list"A Lost Lady, at least, is on the Guardian 1000 list.
Finished Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys. A cruise in the Caribbean inspired me to finally read this one, Rhys' prequel to Jane Eyre.
I finished The Leopard (set in 1860s Sicily). It took me over a chapter to get oriented, but the writing was fantastic and I found myself much more emotionally wrung out by the end than I expected. The final image even made me tear up, which has maybe happened to me once before.
Wendy wrote: "I finished The Leopard (set in 1860s Sicily). It took me over a chapter to get oriented, but the writing was fantastic and I found myself much more emotionally wrung out by the end than I expected...."I had almost the exact same experience. I heard somewhere that E.M. Forster called The Leopard 'one of the great lonely books.' I'm not sure if I really know what that means, but boy does it seem apt. One of my all-time favorites.
Finished A Passage to India by E.M. Forster today. I think all I need is Howards End and will have read all the Forster on the list.
Tyler wrote: "Finished A Passage to India by E.M. Forster today. I think all I need is Howards End and will have read all the Forster on the list."That reminds me. I finished A Room with a View last week and I loved it. It was my first book by E.M. Forster.
The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco
I really enjoyed reading this book. It is well worth the effort to read The Key to The Name of the Rose: Including Translations of All Non-English Passages along with it and don't skip Eco's Postscript at the end.
He was encouraged by friends and editors to abbreviate the first hundred pages which they found very difficult and demanding. "Without thinking twice, I refused, because, as I insisted, if somebody wanted to enter the abbey and live there for seven days, he had to accept the abbey's own pace. If he could not, he would never manage to read the whole book. Therefore those first hundred pages are like a penance or an initiation, and if someone does not like them, so much the worse for him. He can stay at the foot of the hill. Entering a novel is like going on a climb in the mountains: you have to learn the rhythm of respiration, acquire the pace; otherwise you stop right away."
Umberto, you will be sorely missed!
I really enjoyed reading this book. It is well worth the effort to read The Key to The Name of the Rose: Including Translations of All Non-English Passages along with it and don't skip Eco's Postscript at the end.
He was encouraged by friends and editors to abbreviate the first hundred pages which they found very difficult and demanding. "Without thinking twice, I refused, because, as I insisted, if somebody wanted to enter the abbey and live there for seven days, he had to accept the abbey's own pace. If he could not, he would never manage to read the whole book. Therefore those first hundred pages are like a penance or an initiation, and if someone does not like them, so much the worse for him. He can stay at the foot of the hill. Entering a novel is like going on a climb in the mountains: you have to learn the rhythm of respiration, acquire the pace; otherwise you stop right away."
Umberto, you will be sorely missed!
The Age of InnocenceI can see why this is on so many "Top 100" lists. I got fed up with the "appearances above all else" society, but the writing! Oh my goodness.
Karen wrote: "The Name of the Rose by Umberto EcoI really enjoyed reading this book. It is well worth the effort to read [book:The Key to The Name of the Rose: Including Translations of All Non-..."
Love that quote. I wish I had read this companion book at the same time, to more fully appreciate the novel.
Just finished ‘American Psycho’ by Bret Easton Ellis which was extremely difficult to read and stomach in places- I am now half way through ‘A tale of Love and Darkness’ by Amos Oz which, being autobiographical, is not my favourite genre but I am enjoying it
"The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri. Understated, poignant and written with a beautiful natural feel. Recommended.
The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins. Quite an interesting adventure. A slow starter as Mr. Collins built the back story and set the stage for the exciting twists of the latter parts.
Bob wrote: "The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins. Quite an interesting adventure. A slow starter as Mr. Collins built the back story and set the stage for the exciting twists of the l..."I like the Moonstone better, but some of the characters in WIW are great fun!
Kirsten wrote: "Bob wrote: "The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins. Quite an interesting adventure. A slow starter as Mr. Collins built the back story and set the stage for the exciting twi..."Then I have something to look forward to with Moonstone. It's on my read soon list.
Finished The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner (Nobel winner) of the United States. Really liked it. Think I might get more out of the 1st half with a re-read since it's so "creatively-written".
I just finished Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day--it was a fast, fun, surprisingly scandalous read for the 1930s, and surprisingly accepting in its ladies living fast and loose.
Karen wrote: "The Case Worker by George Konrad"I just bought that book the other day, but who knows when I'll get around to it. Did you like it?
Karen wrote: "The Case Worker by George Konrad"
I have it in my to-read list also (though a long way down). So I'm also interested in your appraisal of it.
I have it in my to-read list also (though a long way down). So I'm also interested in your appraisal of it.
Bryan wrote: "Karen wrote: "The Case Worker by George Konrad"
I just bought that book the other day, but who knows when I'll get around to it. Did you like it?"
It's a very realistic and powerful story about one day in the life of a social worker in Communist Hungary. Beautifully written, but a tough read because of the dark picture of humanity it portrays.
I just bought that book the other day, but who knows when I'll get around to it. Did you like it?"
It's a very realistic and powerful story about one day in the life of a social worker in Communist Hungary. Beautifully written, but a tough read because of the dark picture of humanity it portrays.
George wrote: "Finished The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner of the United States (Nobel winner). Really liked it. Think I might get more out of the 1st half with a re-read since it's so "creatively-written"."I went back and re-read the first two sections as soon as I finished the book. Things really drop into place. I also really liked it.
Karen wrote: "Bryan wrote: "Karen wrote: "The Case Worker by George Konrad"I just bought that book the other day, but who knows when I'll get around to it. Did you like it?"
It's a very realist..."
Thank you for the comment. Although I don't 'enjoy' reading about those kind of situations, I do often find them instructive. Your short synopsis reminds me of the Herta Müller book I read, The Appointment, about life in communist Romania. Harrowing and depressing. Not a subject I want to read about all the time, but one I think it is important not to forget.
Karina wrote: "Finally finished Tono-Bungay by H.G. Wells and was pleasantly surprised by this non- sci-fi novel"
It's the only one of the 5 Wells books on the list I've yet to read. Perhaps will get to it eventually...
It's the only one of the 5 Wells books on the list I've yet to read. Perhaps will get to it eventually...
Diane wrote: "Finished The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen. Great book."So you don't think Franzen is overrated?
Kirsten wrote: "Diane wrote: "Finished The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen. Great book."So you don't think Franzen is overrated?"
I really like Franzen. I've read two of his novels and a book of his essays. I enjoyed them all.
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