Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die discussion
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Which LIST book did you just start?
Molly wrote: "Hi Shelley,You're very welcome. I've read only two books by her so far--'The Handmaid's Tale' and 'Robber Bride'. And I'm getting ready to start 'Cat's Eye'.
'The Handmaid's Tale' is one of tho..."
Cat's Eye is my favorite book by Atwood. In fact, it's one of my all-time modern favorites. Very few books, or authors, capture the intracacies of relationships as well as Atwood. Cat's Eye is about 2 friends. Parts of it are gut-wrenching. Enjoy.
Apparently TS Eliott rejected Orwell's book 'Animal Farm' because he didn't like the pigs allegory - thought it was too vulgar.'The Handmaid's Tale' is a great book - it gives an insight into a world where something like the Taliban have taken over and all women wear veils and have assigned roles.
'Hard Choices' by carole hayman is another book that sets up a dystopian society - in that we're all reduced to a state of compliance via the greens we're forced to eat by the government's policy on growing and eating vegetables...
Boomerang wrote: "Apparently TS Eliott rejected Orwell's book 'Animal Farm' because he didn't like the pigs allegory - thought it was too vulgar.'The Handmaid's Tale' is a great book - it gives an insight into a wo..."
That 'Hard Choices' sounds interesting. I'll have to read that. Thanks for the recommendation. Have you or has anyone here read 'Farenheit 451'? I just got it from the library but haven't started it yet. It's a dystopian story too....
Molly wrote: "Boomerang wrote: "Apparently TS Eliott rejected Orwell's book 'Animal Farm' because he didn't like the pigs allegory - thought it was too vulgar.'The Handmaid's Tale' is a great book - it gives a..."
Molly- I personally have never read Farenheit 451- I used to work in a school and the students had to read it as part of the curriculum. They LOVED it! Let me know what you think of it!
I just started the History of Love
I just started "Like water for Chocolate" from Laura Esquivel
Still working on Don Quixote and Gravity's Raiinbow but I keep picking up other stuff as well. Started Breakfast at Tiffany's and Annie Dillard's Living by Fiction.
I read 'Farenheit 451' and really enjoyed it. Even if you don't, it's short. I caught the end of the movie version on TV once and was intrigued.
I listened to Farenheit 451 on my last drive across the country. It was really good. I enjoyed it a lot. Would definitely recommend it.
Sense and Sensibility, on a Jane Austen kick.
Ana wrote: "I just started "Like water for Chocolate" from Laura Esquivel"beautifully written novel!
Kirjote wrote: "Ana wrote: "I just started "Like water for Chocolate" from Laura Esquivel"beautifully written novel!"
This is one of the few books where the movie is equally good. I'd recommend it when you are finished. It's in Spanish so there are subtitles but it's wonderful.
Molly wrote: "Mike wrote: "Once it comes in the mail I'm starting Sister CarrieAny thoughts?"
I liked 'Sister Carrie'; Theodore Dreiser is one of my favorite authors. 'Sister Carrie' gets mo..."
Thanks Molly. I just finished it last night and thoroughly enjoyed it. Dreiser definitely didn't conform to standards at the time. The thought of a woman providing for a man must have been horrifying to his original audience.
I'll definitely look forward to reading him in the future
Derrick wrote: "I listened to Farenheit 451 on my last drive across the country. It was really good. I enjoyed it a lot. Would definitely recommend it."Thanks, guys, for your comments on 'Farenheit 451'. I'm definitely intrigued and am looking forward to reading it. I just finished an oral history of Chernobyl, and picked up Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood but got sidetracked w/ another nonfiction book called 'Colors of Courage' about the Gettysburg battle, but through the eyes of women, immigrants, and African-Americans. I think I'll pick up 'Farenheit 451' after that, and then get back to 'Cat's Eye'.
Has anyone ever read 'It Can't Happen Here' by Sinclair Lewis? Here's what Library Journal has to say on barnesandnoble.com:
"Written in 1935, this political satire depicts the United States ruled by a President who slowly morphs into a dictator. It astonishingly mimics developments in Nazi Germany before they happened."
I apologize for talking about books off the list. I took a break from the list, but plan to get back to it after my current library stack!
Started Breakfast at Tiffany's last night. Odd so far.
I just started to read The Things They Carried just as the public library informed me they had a copy of The Story of Edgar Sawtelle A Novel and a couple of my other 'to-reads' available. Slight re-shuffling of what I am reading at the moment and it looks like the 'Sawtelle' story gets bumped up a notch or two. The weekend is coming . . .
I just joined this group and have spent some time reviewing the list. That is an amazing list. My plan is to start with the Great Gatsby.
Kristi wrote: "Picked up The Reader the today."At first I didn't like the book, because I thought it didn't offer enough introspection of the main character to the literature he read, but as the story progressed I appreciated the book enough to realize I probably need to read it again, to see what I missed with the symbolism of the books both the main characters were interested in.
I hope you read the book before you view the film. Only because I enjoyed them both and I hate when a film distracts my imagination where a book takes me.
Kristi wrote: "I began The Birds Fall Down last night. "Kristi, Please let me know what you think of it. Alan Furst, who has a great series of espionage novels leading up to WWII, listed Birds Fall Down as one of the 10 best spy novels ever written. It is on my to-read list.
I'm starting The Reader. I wanted to read the book before I saw the movie.
Just started to read "The Stechlin" by Fontane.
I started reading Heller's Catch-22 a couple of days ago. The array of characters are interesting and the concept of a catch-22 is fascinating but I do find myself a bit confused about the storyline at times. I guess that's part of the story though, lol.
"The Things They Carried" Emotionally moving stories and writing style.
I started reading Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray.
Li wrote: "I started reading Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray. "Li - Let me know what you think of the book. I tried to read it several years ago, but couldn't get into it. Was thinking about trying again.
By the way - I just started Breakfast at Tiffany's which I didn't know was Truman Capote, who I really like.
I just started Rashomon (a birthday gift) and slowly dipping into 1984, while finishing Revolutionary Road (not on the list) which is a fantastic read to pick up.
The Things They Carried is beautiful. One of the required books I actually liked reading in high school.Finally reading Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky.
"Them" by Joyce Carol Oates, a family saga....
Marina wrote: "I believe that War and Peace truly is a great novel due to three factors: the richness of the characters, the historical drama between Napoleon and the burning of Moscow, and the difficult essays o..."Totally agree!
just starting The Giver, which I believe is on the list. Everyone in my other book club has been raving about it.
David wrote: "Kristi wrote: "Picked up The Reader the today."At first I didn't like the book, because I thought it didn't offer enough introspection of the main character to the literature he read..."
Overall, I really liked the book, and I watched the movie this past week. I thought it actually showed me some things about the characters that I didn't fully get from the reading. For example, I didn't understand just how unfeeling Michael was as an adult. I knew the ages of Michael and Hanna during their affair, but seeing the age difference on screen made it more of an issue. While reading the book, I thought that Hanna's big secret was a bit exaggerated, but it was very obvious in the movie that it haunted her.
Sorry, I guess this should be posted in the discussion of the book.
Tom wrote: "Kristi wrote: "I began The Birds Fall Down last night. "Kristi, Please let me know what you think of it. Alan Furst, who has a great series of espionage novels leading up to WWII..."
Tom, I'm having a hard time getting through this book. I'm half-way through, but I don't have that 'I can't put it down' feeling. Maybe I don't know enough Russian history to make it interest me. I guess I didn't expect it to be as much of a spy novel. I think the pace will pick up soon, they finally got off the train!
Judith wrote: ""Them" by Joyce Carol Oates, a family saga...."I read this book a few years ago and really liked it. Let me know what you think.
I started Death in Venice by Thomas Mann a couple days ago, and I'm really enjoying it so far. I don't know what it is about it, but my mind wanders to it at the weirdest moments, and I keep picking it up to read more.
Lyn wrote: "Judith wrote: ""Them" by Joyce Carol Oates, a family saga...."I read this book a few years ago and really liked it. Let me know what you think. "
I loved it. It was the second JCO novel I read back in the 1970s when it first came out. I had already read With Shuddering Fall and went on to read Expensive People - all brilliant.
"The Once and Future King" by T.H. White. I don't know how I missed this book during my junior high/high school years, but I am enjoying it.
I'm in the first third of "Underworld" by Don DeLillo. Sometimes it catches me, and the pages just disappear, but today I'm having problems getting into it!
Lyn wrote: "Judith wrote: ""Them" by Joyce Carol Oates, a family saga...."I read this book a few years ago and really liked it. Let me know what you think. "
Well, I'm liking it so far. I've read quite a few of JCO's books, and liked them all except "Zombie". She does just an excellent job of putting herself into other people's heads and lives...always realistic emotions.
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Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die
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Any thoughts?"
I liked 'Sister Carrie'; Theodore Dreiser is one of my favorite authors. 'Sister Carrie' gets more recognition, but I liked 'Jennie Gerhardt' better. And 'American Tragedy' by him is also very good. Dreiser's female characters are very interesting--especially considering the time period he's from. They don't conform to what women were *supposed* to be like at that time. Something I read somewhere makes me think that his female characters are based loosely on one (or more) of his sisters...