Mount TBR 2016 discussion
Level 3: Mt. Vancouver (36)
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Jane's Repeat Attempt--Moving UP!
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Well done, first step, they'll soon rack up :-)
2. Faust: First PartFaust by Goethe finished 1/6/2016 ***
I think this translation must be really good, because the poetry was the most enjoyable part of the book, and poetry so often suffers in translation.
3. MeditationsThis book has taken me a long time to get through. I have set it aside and returned to it a number of times, and I realized today that I needed to just plow through and finish it. I think that I would have enjoyed it more if the Kindle version weren't written in archaic English, with "thees" and "thous" and "hadst" and "shouldst." Even with the benefit of having grown up with the King James Bible and archaic language in church, it still slowed me down.
It was interesting to read the thoughts that this powerful man wrote down almost 2000 years ago. It has been nearly thirty years since I did any formal study of philosophy, but I could pick up his Stoic views in the writings. Ultimately, I am glad that I read it, and relieved to finally check it off my list.
The Scorch TrialsTwo stars
This was a long, stretched out bunch of nothing. The book took me forever, because nothing was happening. It seriously could have been a couple of chapters in the next book, which I doubt if I'll read, because, after this book, I just don't care what happens anymore.
The Scorch TrialTwo stars
This was a long, stretched out bunch of nothing. The book took me forever, because nothing was happening. It seriously could have been a couple of chapters in the next book, which I doubt if I'll read, because, after this book, I just don't care what happens anymore.
Thanks for taking one for the team. I'm currently struggling with Unbroken which is on my TBR mountain.
I'm starting to think I may have to up my level for this year. :)6. Lord of the Flies
Four stars
The Lord of the Flies, by William Golding, is the second book for a particular classics challenge, and I will answer the following questions about it in my review.
WHEN I Discovered This Classic
WHY I Chose to Read It
WHAT Makes It A Classic
WHAT I Thought of This Classic
WILL It Stay A Classic
WHO I’d Recommend It To
The Lord of the Flies is one of those books that I have nearly always been aware of. I can picture the cover on the version that was on the shelves in my house growing up, and which is still floating around here somewhere. When I was in high school there were books that we were required to read, and then a list of optional reading that could be used for various papers, etc. I know this was on there, but I never chose it. I am sure that the fact that it was about a group of young boys probably influenced that.
I chose to read it now because it consistently appears on lists of the best books, and I am trying not to leave any significant holes in my reading.
I believe that it is a classic--and will stay a classic--because it addresses one of the most basic literary themes--man's inhumanity to man--at a basic level. It shows the truth that we all know, children are not innocent. It affirms what we all know in our hearts, that without civilizing influences and "grown ups" enforcing the rules, there will always be those who will take advantage, take over, steal , murder, etc. But it also allows for some to be guided by a stronger sense of right and wrong, and by the welfare of others, as well as themselves.
I liked this book, although I didn't really expect to. It was well-written. The monsters were an interesting idea. You could feel the tragedy coming from the very beginning, and the book was sad, but somehow not in an overwhelming way.
I would recommend this book to those Pollyanna-ish people who believe in the innocence of children or the ideals of communism. This deeper truths of this book are a perfect illustration of why communism and socialism don't work.
You are almost up this mountain, great job!
So I've had to move up from Pike's Peak, since I passed it up. Now I need to catch up on my list:
11. Salt: A World History
12. The Examined Life
13. A Tale of Two Cities
14. All-of-a-Kind Family
15. The Silver Chair
16. Spoon River Anthology
Jane wrote: "So I've had to move up from Pike's Peak, since I passed it up. Now I need to catch up on my list:
11. Salt: A World History
12. The Examined Life
13. [book:A Tale of Tw..."
Yay!!
17. Everything's Eventual: 14 Dark TalesFour stars
Each time I read Stephen King I am reminded what a fantastic writer he is.
18. Gulliver's TravelsSeemed longer than it was.
19. Beautiful Day
Relatively enjoyable fluffy chick lit.
Mount TBR 2016
Books mentioned in this topic
Tim Gunn's Fashion Bible (other topics)Twice-Told Tales (other topics)
Someone Knows My Name (other topics)
All Quiet on the Western Front (other topics)
Little Greta of Denmark (other topics)
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Heat: An Amateur's Adventures as Kitchen Slave, Line Cook, Pasta-Maker, and Apprentice to a Dante-Quoting Butcher in Tuscany
1. Heat by Bill Buford finished 1/3/2015 ***
Really probably 2 1/2 stars. I think it's mostly that his style wasn't enjoyable to me. I started it once, and then put it aside. I left it long enough that I had to start over, and decided to just push through, because the information--the story--was interesting. I just didn't enjoy the writing.