Mount TBR 2014 Challenge discussion
Level 1: Pike's Peak (12 Books)
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Nynaeve's Challenge
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Margaux Andrea
(last edited Apr 04, 2014 12:50PM)
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Mar 25, 2014 06:53AM
I'm debating whether to start Jane Eyre or Norwegian Wood next... On one hand, Jane Eyre is such a beloved classic that it's kind of intimidating to read it. On the other hand, I really REALLY love Murakami's The Wind-up Bird chronicle that I'm afraid reading Norwegian Wood would set me in another Murakami phase and put me off reading other books for awhile...
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So I read Norwegian Wood. In fact I only finished it a few minutes ago... and I've never been more upset with the ending than any book I've read in a long time. As I've written in my review, I was ready to give the book 5 stars up until the very end. I just DO NOT GET the motivations for it, and I'm so perplexed because of that. I mean WHY? Why did Toru AND Reiko did IT? Is it as a kind of sick homage to Naoko? But they've already staged a sort of mock wake to make up for her depressing funeral. Why did they have to go that far? It just doesn't make sense. I almost threw the book across the room after reading the last couple of paragraphs it was all I could do to finish reading the book. I am that upset.
I finished Jane Eyre yesterday and I'm currently nursing a massive book hangover. I read the Franklin library edition which comes with a "Notes from the Editors" pamphlet and reading it really helped me appreciate the context in which the novel was written. I now look forward to reading works by the other Bronte sisters.
I'm glad it is well enjoyed in 2014. In my well-varied collection usually favouring paranormal, gothic, and mystery are classics. I haven't dived into Austen nor Brönte but have found for myself with Canadian classics that 'award-winners' aren't dreary like we fear. I'd love a reading buddy for "The Lost Steps", Alejo Carpentier if anybody's up for it. I have a thread lined for buddy reading in my group. Happy Easter from central Canada!
I read One Hundred Years of Solitude from May 11-15 for the Bout of Books 10.0 read-a-thon. And man, was it EPIC... I knew going it that it was a family saga spanning several generations. What I didn't know was that the names repeat for each generation as children are named after their father, grandfather and other forebears which go waaay back. At first I was quite confused by the similarity of names that I had to refer to the genealogy tree a couple of times while reading. This inevitably spoiled a couple of things particularly with regards to who ended up with whom. However with the narrative structure employing heavy foreshadowing and even time jumps in the form of flash-forwards, it did not really matter as much if it was a straightforward narrative.
I gave it 4 out of 5 stars just for the shear imagery and the amazing storytelling. I usually prefer first person narratives but the scale of this epic story just precludes the use of that narrative mode. So all in all, I am a happy camper.
As of May 16, I have 7 out of 12 books done.I'm also reading The Graveyard Book for one of my goodreads book clubs by the end of May so I should be 3/4 done in no time.
I have many of Gabriel García Márques's works. It is nice to hear that someone reading it recently, loves it. If I have enough South American material for my reading challenge I may not get to it this year. I'm doing Alejo Carpentier's "The Lost Steps", like I mentioned above. First person, single narratives are my favourites but sometimes we're pleasantly surprised and it balanced perfectly that way, like with "Light A Penny Candle", Maeve Binchy. All of my recent reading has been added to be own thread. I'd love it very much if people stopped by and commented. :-) It's looked lately as though there isn't a lot of visiting into other threads, folks whipping by to do their own and not notice the others. I talked about the lunar eclipse, even shouted out 'happy Easter'; nothing. It would be great to see action stirred up. We take time to share and compare and would like it read of course! Carolyn.
Hi Carolyn! Thanks for dropping by. I'd love to read Alejo Carpentier's "The Lost Steps" with you. When are you planning to start reading it?
Mount TBR (Pike's Peak)1. Veronica Decides to Die ✓
2. The Unbearable Lightness of Being ✓
3. The Graveyard Book ✓
4. The Bell Jar ✓
5. The Picture of Dorian Gray ✓
6. Norwegian Wood ✓
7. A Brief History of Time
8. Outliers
9. Jane Eyre ✓
10. Wuthering Heights ✓
11. One Hundred Years of Solitude ✓
12. The Hobbit
