Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die discussion
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Which LIST book did you just start?
Li and EverymanMary Barton by Gaskell is great, though North and South is my favourite.
Just started The House on the Borderland by William Hope Hodgson. Just wonder what other books he could have written if he hadn't been killed in action in 1918.
Linda wrote: "Recently started Slaughterhouse Five. So it goes..."A huge favorite of mine 20 or so years ago. When you finish the book (assuming you like it) be sure to rent the movie. It is outstanding also.
Gerry
The picture of Dorian GrayI've been itching to read this since I saw the League or Extraordinary Gentlemen (movie) He was the only character I did not already know
Very excited
Ana wrote: "The picture of Dorian GrayI've been itching to read this since I saw the League or Extraordinary Gentlemen (movie) He was the only character I did not already know
Very excited"
It took me a while to get into The Picture of Dorian Gray, but once I did, I was gripped! I found it really interesting & I hope you do too!
I just started Things Fall Apart. I'm listening to the audio book and am wondering how well I can take it in via listening when I'm used to reading. I just wanted something to help while away the time during the work commute.
Gerald wrote: "Chel,I have "Dictionary of the Khazars" but have put off reading it because I'm not sure how to read it. How are you reading it? What are you finding enjoyable about it?
GerryC"
I am reading it traditionally, cover to cover. Some of the entries and esp. the extended pieces that are short stories are enjoyable in sort of a new age fantasy sort of way. He has quick bits of humor expressed in the odd placement of a word or two throughout. I am not sure if I will recommend it overall, however.
Charity wrote: "Chel,I'm intrigued by Dictionary of Khazars. Which version are you reading, male or female?"
I am reading the female version. It is interesting and funny in parts. It is like a fantasy. I read the Serbian author had the Khazars represent the Yugoslavian people. It is on the borderline as to whether I would recommend it or not but I am liking it.
Starting Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep. I've never been much for science fiction but it's pretty good so far.
In the process of reading The Dictionary of the Khazars, I started and read This Way for the Gas, Ladies and Gentlemen, which was added to the new list. It was excellent, a 10/10. It is a literary account of experiences at Auschwitz and is in the vein of A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich and, to a lesser extent, of Schindler's List (called Schindler's Ark in Europe).
I've almost finished with "The Good Soldier" by Ford Madox Ford and have started "Farewell My Lovely" by Raymond Chandler. Both are great!
Lyn,Reading from the Best Books is having a Steibeck Summer. East of Eden in June, Tortilla Flat and Sweet Thursday in July, and Grapes of Wrath in August.
I've chosen "Lolita" for my next read, but I can't wait to get a copy of "North and South" per comments above...
Chel wrote: "I started reading Infinite Jest."I'll be really anxious to read what you think of this book as you go along. I hope you will post updates.
GerryC
Chel, you'll find that the essay in 1001 BOOKS bears little resemblance to the actual book. The author of the essay clearly hasn't read INFINITE JEST.
I just started 'Labryinths' : A collection of short stories by Jorge Luis Borges. I have read one story so far and am already bowled over by his brilliant writing. It was unlike anything I have read before.
I'm currently reading The Catcher in the Rye and today I'm starting in The picture of Dorian Gray...
Lyn wrote: "I just started the Grapes of Wrath and next I will be reading Robinson Crusoe." "Grapes of Wrath" is a must read. I read "Robinson Crusoe" a month ago and was shocked by its racism--I guess standard for the time. When Friday shows up, Robinson doesn't teach him to call him Rob, but to call him "Master." And it gets worse from there. I hope you'll comment on how you find this. Good adventure, though--perhaps a bit too detailed about his survival methods.
just finished Never Let Me Go. I was surprised how the book affected me. Reading it was like catching myself in a daydream. I think I enjoyed it as much as I did because I didn't come at it with expectations, I simply opened it up and began. It took me a year to get around to actually reading it, and I'm very glad I did. Extraordinarily poignant
Sarah wrote: "just finished Never Let Me Go. I was surprised how the book affected me. Reading it was like catching myself in a daydream. I think I enjoyed it as much as I did because I didn't come at it with..."This was my first Ishiguro novel and I've been hooked ever since. I know what you mean about the dreamlike feeling. It begins with what seems like an...ordinary school with ordinary kids. Only later does the surprise set in. Then to realize that the narrator has no idea what it all means? I read the book a couple years ago, your post makes me want to re-read it again. Thanks!
Deanne wrote: "Our mutual friend by Charles Dickens, not what I was expecting at all."In a good or bad way? (Just curious, after Great Expectations & Hard times I never know what Dickens novel to read next...)
OUR MUTUAL FRIEND is a strong dose of Dickens, at his most disturbing and sometimes almost surreal. If your experience with Dickens is limited to GREAT EXPECTATIONS and/or HARD TIMES, I'd suggest going for DAVID COPPERFIELD or even BLEAK HOUSE.
Tom wrote: "OUR MUTUAL FRIEND is a strong dose of Dickens, at his most disturbing and sometimes almost surreal. If your experience with Dickens is limited to GREAT EXPECTATIONS and/or HARD TIMES, I'd suggest ..."Thanks Tom! I tried Oliver Twist but couldn't get into it--I'd just gone off a Jane Austen kick so maybe that was a bit jarring, too. My husband loves Bleak House so perhaps that'll be my next one.
So far of the Dickens novels on the list I've read A christmas carol, Oliver Twist, Bleak house, Hard times,Great expectations, A tale of two cities and David Copperfield. I've enjoyed them all and I like Our mutual friend because it's darker than the others, it's not what I expected in a good way.I was born in another medway town in Kent,and I lived in Canterbury, so I find myself smiling when place names crop up that I know.
I'm about half way through "North and South" by Gaskell and enjoying it very much.I'm also reading Dashiell Hammett's "The Glass Key",
also good.
Sorry to say I abandoned "Invisible Man" by Ellison. I just couldn't get into it right after reading "The Things They Carried" and "Native Son". I'll get back to it before long though because I really want to read it.
I had fallen behind on my daily installments of The Count of Monte Cristo from DailyLit but I'm caught up now and really getting into it! One installment is not enough anymore. I also checked Cranford out of the library and subscribed to daily installments of Pride and Prejudice. Thank you, underemployment!
I am reading Aesop's Fables. I am not loving it, but it is easy to read and I am able to read another novel on top of it.
Deanne wrote: "So far of the Dickens novels on the list I've read A christmas carol, Oliver Twist, Bleak house, Hard times,Great expectations, A tale of two cities and David Copperfield. I've enjoyed them all and..."Our Mutual Friend is darker than Great Expectations...? Wow, remind me to read that one after a good dose of comedy.
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Books mentioned in this topic
City of Bones (other topics)Bouvard and Pécuchet (other topics)
Lolita (other topics)
O Homem Sem Qualidades (other topics)
Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Barack Obama (other topics)Mario Vargas Llosa (other topics)
Iain Banks (other topics)
Chinua Achebe (other topics)
V.S. Naipaul (other topics)
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I really like Prentice's 1st person narration, but find myself getting annoyed when Banks switches to the family's 3rd person narrative.