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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Karen
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Apr 07, 2018 01:06PM

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Midaq Alley, original title: Zuqāq al-Midaqq by Naguib Mahfouz, 1947 (Egypt). It was added to the list in 2008 along with his novel Miramar (which I've just added to my to-read list since I liked this one so much), but he's best known for his "Cairo Trilogy": Palace Walk, Palace of Desire, and Sugar Street. He is still the only writer in Arabic to be awarded the Nobel prize.

Tyler wrote: "The Children's Book by A.S. Byatt"
I'm currently reading Byatt's Possession - seems a rather dense story so far. I see Children's Book essentially replaced Possession in the latest Boxall edition.
I'm currently reading Byatt's Possession - seems a rather dense story so far. I see Children's Book essentially replaced Possession in the latest Boxall edition.

This is one of my favourite books, I never tire of reading it, and that's after I had to pull it apart for a degree course!

I'm currently reading Byatt's Possession - seems a rather dense story so far. I see Children's Book es..."
I really struggled with Possession, but not as much as I did with The Children's Book, which is still on the shelf waiting to be finished. Can't quite muster the enthusiasm to pick it up again

Bryan wrote: "Finished 2666 by Roberto Bolaño. I thought it was fantastic, though hard to take in some places"
I've got less than 100 pages to go -- and you are so right, it is fantastic! But this last section is tough.
I've got less than 100 pages to go -- and you are so right, it is fantastic! But this last section is tough.

Congratulations--it really feels like an accomplishment to have read this. I've only had it on my bookshelves since it first came out, and only now do I get around to reading it.

This is one of my favourite books, I never tire of reading it, and that's after I had to pull it apart for a degree course!"
That's interesting! What was the name of the degree course?
2666 by Roberto Bolano
Fantastic book!! Well worth the time spent to read it.
I love this quote (so pertinent to Boxall readers): "who clearly and inarguably preferred minor works to major ones. . . .What a sad paradox, thought Amalfitano. Now even bookish pharmacists are afraid to take on the great, imperfect, torrential works, books that blaze paths into the unknown. They choose the perfect exercises of the great masters. Or what amounts to the same thing: they want to watch the great masters spar, but they have no interest in real combat, when the great masters struggle against that something, that something that terrifies us all, that something that cows us and spurs us on, amid blood and mortal wounds and stench."
Fantastic book!! Well worth the time spent to read it.
I love this quote (so pertinent to Boxall readers): "who clearly and inarguably preferred minor works to major ones. . . .What a sad paradox, thought Amalfitano. Now even bookish pharmacists are afraid to take on the great, imperfect, torrential works, books that blaze paths into the unknown. They choose the perfect exercises of the great masters. Or what amounts to the same thing: they want to watch the great masters spar, but they have no interest in real combat, when the great masters struggle against that something, that something that terrifies us all, that something that cows us and spurs us on, amid blood and mortal wounds and stench."

This is one of my favourite books, I never tire of reading it, and that's after I had to pull it apart for a degree course!"
..."
Tim wrote: "Laura wrote: "Tim wrote: "Dracula by Bram Stoker - really enjoyed it!"
This is one of my favourite books, I never tire of reading it, and that's after I had to pull it apart for a degree course!"
..."
It was an open university course on 19th C Literature

Sarah wrote: "Finished Coming Up for Air by George Orwell."
I haven't read that but liked his Keep the Aspidistra Flying. Perhaps you'll like that one more. It was kept on the list while Coming Up for Air was dropped from the later editions.
I haven't read that but liked his Keep the Aspidistra Flying. Perhaps you'll like that one more. It was kept on the list while Coming Up for Air was dropped from the later editions.

It moves slowly and feels a little flat in my opinion. I’d planned to read two more but shifted gears. I’ll pick him up in the fall. :-)
Pereira Maintains by Antonio Tabucchi
Originally published in Italian as Sostiene Pereira and also known as Pereira Declares: A Testimony
An enthralling book about the problems facing a journalist (Pereira) in Portugal before World War II during Portugal's fascist dictatorship.
Originally published in Italian as Sostiene Pereira and also known as Pereira Declares: A Testimony
An enthralling book about the problems facing a journalist (Pereira) in Portugal before World War II during Portugal's fascist dictatorship.

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