Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die discussion
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Which LIST book did you just start?
Christine wrote: "Becky wrote: "Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice - I've started this book several times but lost interest. So here I go again, only because it's on "the list!""Yeah, many years ago I picked..."
My favorite Ann Rice is historic fiction, "Feast of All Saints." It's about mixed-race families in New Orleans.
My husband found the same thing happening as he tried to read, "Treasure Island," to our sons when they were around that age. And that was about 20 years ago, Scott!!I'm afraid Disney and other media have really usurped the worthy places of those and other classics. :[ I have, though, that children of all ages will listen to stories being verbally shared. That's almost a lost art and something that all of us treasure when we're fortunate enough to have a storyteller in the family. I think it also encourages reading .... even of the classics in that it gets a child's imagination ignighted about the tale.
Deborah wrote: "I do have the list, Christina! I can send you a copy if you email me...or if others are interested, I can just list the books here on our Group discussion."I would be very curious to see the list!
Christine wrote: "Anyway, when I talk to kids and others caught up in the vampire craze, I personally recommend The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova. "The Historian isn't bad, but whatever you do, don't listen to the abridged audiobook. The reader does the most laughable Transylvanian accents - The Count on Sesame Street would think they were over the top!
I jumped ahead and started on Veronika Decides to Die, since I don't have Dr. Zhivago in my stack. So far, I'm burning through Veronika though, so I might have a chance to go back and get Dr. Z., or maybe someone will be kind and send it to me after they finish in exchange for Veronika.
I've started Joseph Andrews by Fielding, and am ten pages into Ulysses, and grateful I made an investment and got an annotated version, because otherwise I couldn't make head or tail of it!
Becky wrote: I'm listening to Robinson Crusoe and finding it really boring, probably because I know the plot through pop culture."No, its just boring in general. And horribly dry. And repetitive. =)
My favorite thing about Robinson Crusoe - When my brother read it as a boy and Robinson Crusoe was starving and found a coconut and the author says that he "ate it with relish". My brother's childish reply (he was a child when he read it) was, "But, if he HAD the relish already, then why was he starving?"I've always loved that.
Gini wrote: "Christine wrote: "Anyway, when I talk to kids and others caught up in the vampire craze, I personally recommend The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova. "The Historian isn't bad, but whatever you do, ..."
I'm glad someone enjoyed it. That book made me want to leap off of something, just so that SOMETHING would happen! I really want to sue the author for the time I spent reading that book.
Just started The Discovery of Heaven by Harry Mulisch. So far it has potential to be a really great read!
Mystique wrote: "My favorite thing about Robinson Crusoe - When my brother read it as a boy and Robinson Crusoe was starving and found a coconut and the author says that he "ate it with relish". My brother's child..."LOL! Our language is confusing . . .
Sissy wrote: "Becky wrote: I'm listening to Robinson Crusoe and finding it really boring, probably because I know the plot through pop culture."No, its just boring in general. And horribly dry. And repetitiv..."
Thank you. I'm really slogging through it, and I keep falling asleep while listening to it so I never get very far . . . I wish the cannibals would eat him and put both of us out of our misery.
8/28 - 42 minutes, 57 seconds to go. I feel like I've been a castaway on the Island of Defoe.
I am going to start The Namesake as soon as I get home tonight. It was actually recommended to me so I'm a little excited to start it.
I'm reading Everything Is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer. I saw the movie a year ago, and was unaware it was even book! I am loving it so far though.
I am listening to the audio of The Secret History by Donna Tartt read by the author and I am trying to read Vanity Fair by Thackeray. I like The Secret History. It's about an elite group of college kids at an eastern college who are studying the classics. There is a murder. The author tells you that right away but there is some secrets that are being revealed slowly by the narrator. Vanity Fair is slow going but it is interesting.
Just started Thousand Cranes by Yasunari Kawabata. I read Snow Country and am looking forward to this read.
I started Blood and Guts in High School a few days ago. It is really bad, fails to make a consistent point, and attempts in an over the top, gratuitous, 1970's way to shock in its disjointed thoughts of a 10 year old girl repeatedly raped by her father who seeks sex later as a 14 yo. It is pretty nasty. Yuck!
I will start All Quiet On the Western Front today. Reviews look good so hopefully I like it.
James Kelman's Kieron Smith, Boy. I enjoyed boy's memoirs like Angela's Ashes and Toast (non-1001 books) so this tale of another boy must be good.
Started Cat's Eye, from the 2006 list. Only 50 pages in, but I've had a few "oh, yeah, I've felt that" moments.
Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert. I've read so many reviews about this book being dry, but I'm a few chapters in and I'm finding it very easy to read.
The Castle of OtrantoI took a whole class on the Gothic novel so I thought I would enjoy this precursor more but am finding it a little frustrating so far.
Just started The Turn of The Screw
Chel wrote: "I started Blood and Guts in High School a few days ago. It is really bad, fails to make a consistent point, and attempts in an over the top, gratuitous, 1970's way to shock in its disjointed though..."Thanks for the warning - I actually checked to see if this was a book on the 1001 Books list, because it doesn't sound like something worth reading, so I don't intend to even bother with it. Anybody have anything good to say about this one?
I will start Veronika decides to Die (September read) tonight
So I am 50 pages into Veronika decides to die and I am really enjoying it, I even wanted to call in sick to work so I could finish it this morning. I can't wait until the Sept. discussion, too bad it's only a little over 200 pages. Does anyone know if Paulo Coelho have any other books on the list?
Amanda wrote: "Tony wrote: ""Does anyone know if Paulo Coelho have any other books on the list?"
SEVERAL"
Unfortunately. ;)"
Why don't you like his work?
SEVERAL"
Unfortunately. ;)"
Why don't you like his work?
Actually maybe he doesn't have several...I just consulted the list and I only see the Devil and Mrs. Prym as another list book.I could have sworn The Alchemist was on the list - among others.
Tony wrote: "Actually maybe he doesn't have several...I just consulted the list and I only see the Devil and Mrs. Prym as another list book.
I could have sworn The Alchemist was on the list - among others."
Do you enjoy his work?
I could have sworn The Alchemist was on the list - among others."
Do you enjoy his work?
I haven't read Coelho. I just picked up Veronika and The Alchemist, so they're buried in Mount TBR. I tend to find beauty in the "overly-simplistic", so I'm now kind of looking forward to reading him.
Shardae (new) 38 minutes ago Do you enjoy his work? Coelho - he's a different type of author than the others on the list. The comment about being over-simplistic and spiritual is right on. The Alchemist is a decent work - if you can get over the simplicity - Coehlo's message is interesting. I thought it was garbage when I first started it - but I actually bring it up quite often in conversations now, which always puzzles me. I don't know if its the process of translation that creates the simplicity or that Coehlo's writing style is just almost, fable-sque?
Sissy wrote: " Shardae (new) 38 minutes ago Do you enjoy his work?
Coelho - he's a different type of author than the others on the list. The comment about being over-simplistic and spiritual is right on. The..."
I think the simplicity is refreshing after reading some of the more heavy books on the list.
Coelho - he's a different type of author than the others on the list. The comment about being over-simplistic and spiritual is right on. The..."
I think the simplicity is refreshing after reading some of the more heavy books on the list.
Erik wrote: "Ayn Rand isn't on the list?I am pleased with this discovery.
Wasted a Wednesday, though."
Is it okay that you made me laugh with that post?
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I'm listening to Robinson Crusoe and finding it really boring, probably because I know the plot through pop culture."
I'm finding it a little hard to read. But I'll keep on reading and maybe I can get into it better.