Dusty Shelf Books

[Pink]

12. Gulliver's Travels This was a very dusty book on my shelf, which I've been meaning to read for years, so I've finally crossed it off my list and also included it in lots of challenges for this year.

[Catherine]

Congrats Pink, another one bites the dust! I particularly loved his visit to Laputa. How did you find it though?

[Pink]

I thought it was slow to start but it really grew on me in the end.

[Gisela]

Gisela wrote: "I admit I'm not doing too well with my dusty shelf at the moment and instead of reading my "dusty books" picked up The End of Your Life Book Club by Will Schwalbe from the library, ..."
Missed that completely. Got to have a look at the discussions.

[Gisela]

Have started The Garden of Evening Mists from my dusty shelf, which has been there for at least 2 years and it is brilliant. Read Twan Eng Tan before and loved it, so why did I leave it for flashier books? Well, so far it's brilliant.

[Pat]

I remember Gullivers travels from A level. A million miles ago. Lots of hidden meanings if you look hard. Very satirical. Or just a good story if not

[Debbie]

I have made a start on Angela Carter Heroes and Villains. This is from a very dusty shelf, in fact the top of my wardrobe. have been meaning to read Angela Carter but never quite gotten around to it. So here goes.....

[Paul]

How thick was the dust Debbie?

[Debbie]

I'm still sneezing x

[Catherine]

I've read two of Angela Carter's books and didn't like either of them, but particularly didn't like Heroes and villains. I hope you get along better with it Debbie than I did!

[Jon]

Debbie wrote: "I have made a start on Angela Carter Heroes and Villains. This is from a very dusty shelf, in fact the top of my wardrobe. have been meaning to read Angela Carter bu..."

That was on my dusty shelf for a decade or so and I finally got around to reading it a couple of years ago. I liked it. I still have her The Infernal Desire Machines of Doctor Hoffman sitting on my bookshelves unread

[Gisela]

Happy to report that I have finally read Enduring Love by Ian McEwan. It has been on my shelf for probably two years and I can't really say why it didn't get it's turn earlier as Ian McEwan is one of my favourite authors. As always, it is beautifully written, he is a master of words and the conundrum is very interesting, but this time he goes into too many "side-roads". When choosing which book to read from my shelf, I tend to read a passage to see if I feel like it today and I think the side roads must have put me off. Nevertheless, very interesting and clever read. Book 7, one more to go then I'm done.

[Pink]

14. The Letters of Nancy Mitford and Evelyn Waugh Finished this today, after reading it slowly over the last several months. A great book if you enjoy the wit of Nancy and Evelyn, or collections of letters.

[Seraphina]

Finished north and south by Gaskell yesterday. Really enjoyable with similarities to pride and prejudice.

[Gisela]

Seraphina wrote: "Finished north and south by Gaskell yesterday. Really enjoyable with similarities to pride and prejudice."

Glad you enjoyedit. I read this and a few other Gaskell novels and LOVED them. I really love the description of Manchester and the effects of the industrial revolution of its people.

This challenges is great at discovering weighty stunners, which might have been discarded for too long. Brilliant.

I've got one to go (as I only challenged myself to 8 which were actually lying physically on my shelf), but hoping to up my numbers by those "which are lying in the shelf of my mind" or for ages on the to-read list.

[Pamela]

I have been neglecting this challenge a bit, as I am really enjoying finding new books for the Full Deck challenge. So today I have decided that I will clear my April list and May will be my month of the dusty shelf! Back here in 4 weeks time:)

[Gisela]

I've read my 8th and officially final challenge book. No. 8 was Virginia Wolff's "To the lighthouse" which was on my shelf because it is one of those "must-read, highly respected works, which everybody who reads has read" but I thought it was EXCRUCIATINGLY BORING. Must have picked it up a 100 times from my dusty shelf, read the blurp, thought it sounded boring and put it back down. Should have trusted MY reading instinct and put it in the charity bag. Ah well. Of course there are by now a few more dusty shelf books, so I see if I can clear a few more.

[Cindy]

Gisela wrote: "I've read my 8th and officially final challenge book. No. 8 was Virginia Wolff's "To the lighthouse" which was on my shelf because it is one of those "must-read, highly respected works, which ever..."

I agree! I kept hearing how this was such a great book, but when I finally read it, I had to make myself finish it. I kept thinking I was missing something.

[Paul]

I was underwhelmed by it, I must admit

[Pat]

Hi loved it, although didn't enjoy Ms woolfs other books as much.

[Trine]

The Shining done as it fit perfectly into my full deck + another joined reading about it... Not as I remember it, at all. Think I am mixing it up with the movie!

[Malcolm]

I have dozens of options, but below are a few I'm considering...Any votes for which one I should pursue first?

Bag of Bones by Stephen King
Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
The Cuckoo's Calling by "Robert Galbraith"
The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Kim Edwards
Climbing the Stairs by Padma Venkatraman
Running with Scissors by Austen Burroughs
The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
Sunshine by Robin McKinley
A Year and a Day by Leslie Pietrzyk

[Pat]

I've only read the memory keeps daughter and cloud atlas. Loved them both

[Beatriz]

I have read 3 of the books: "The Memory Keeper's Daughter" which I like it, "The Namesake" which is very good, but my favorite one was "Their Eyes Were Watching God" which is the best known work by African-American writer Zora Neale Hurston and I found it outstanding!

[Laurie]

Finished The Age of Innocence which also counted toward my full deck challenge as a fiction award winner. It was okay but not as good as I thought it would be.

[Gisela]

Laurie wrote: "Finished The Age of Innocence which also counted toward my full deck challenge as a fiction award winner. It was okay but not as good as I thought it would be."

I'm reading this at the moment as well and whilst I am enjoying it, I find it a bit hard-going. Nearly finished, but find all these spoilt people hard to like.

[Paul]

I gave it one star when I read it Gisela

[Gisela]

Paul wrote: "I gave it one star when I read it Gisela"

I've not quite decided yet, as I do think the writing is good and for me it's the first time I read about "old" America and their upper class. Do think that bit is well described. I just feel that the characters are so unlikeable (which might have been deliberate of course) and honestly I can't say I care what happens to them, as in the end as rich people you know they will be alright. Any other heartache/problems they might have are self-inflicted in my humble opinion.

[Laurie]

It is a world Edith Wharton knew well since she was born into a rich NY family. She was Edith Jones whom the phrase "keeping up with the Joneses" comes from. I don't know if that is a phrase unique to the US or not.

[Paul]

It is used in the Uk too Laurie

[Gisela]

Laurie wrote: "It is a world Edith Wharton knew well since she was born into a rich NY family. She was Edith Jones whom the phrase "keeping up with the Joneses" comes from. I don't know if that is a phrase unique..."

Interesing. Very much in use in the UK as well.

[[deleted user]]

Since last posting, I've knocked quite a few on my list, but am currently 4 books behind schedule for my target.

I've read:

Black Coffee - reasonably good. Fairly standard Poirot mystery.

The Examined Life: How We Lose and Find Ourselves This was good, but I expected something different - more involved and less anecdotal.

The Alchemist I didn't enjoy this at all.

44 Scotland Street A decent, quick read, but nothing outstanding.

The HostI loved this one.

Peaches for Father Francis Joanne Harris is a favourite author of mine and this did not disappoint.

Moral Tribes: Emotion, Reason, and the Gap Between Us and Them I have had this on my shelf for a good while now. It was an okay read, but I won't be rushing to read others like it.

Harvesting the Heart A decent read, but not her best.

Sharp Objects I enjoyed this one, although many reviews slated it, so I'm obviously against the grain with this.

Swann's Way Did not enjoy this one bit.

How To Be a Good Wife A really good story, though I found the ending disappointing as the main mystery in the storyline was never resolved.

Fahrenheit 451 A good read. I'd have liked more though.

The War of the Worlds This was okay, but a bit repetitive and lacking action for my taste.

[Pink]

Charlotte, looks like you're doing great and what an interesting selection of books. I'm quite far behind on this challenge already, need to read some of my own books rather than keep checking things out from the library.

[[deleted user]]

Thanks Pink. I set myself a high target which is why I'm a bit behind. I'm enjoying clearing books off my shelves though

[Paul]

Charlotte wrote: "Thanks Pink. I set myself a high target which is why I'm a bit behind. I'm enjoying clearing books off my shelves though"

Don't worry Charlotte, I am a bit behind too.

[[deleted user]]

Really Paul? I'm not worried. I knew it was a high target to aim for and I've got a week's holiday and a few days off coming up, so plenty of time to catch up. I hope.

[Paul]

Yes really! I have only done 13 out of 100.

[[deleted user]]

You've done quite a few on the other challenge though, haven't you? I've done 25 out of 120. Still 4 books behind schedule, but hope to have another finished today.

[Trine]

I put mine at 10 - and are behind aswell! Library is so much more fun right now - but I imagine I'll get more to it when I'm going back to school in june. I tend to use the library more when I'm working!

[[deleted user]]

These Things Hidden - decent enough read with a couple of unexpected twists.

Man or Mango? a quick read, and a book that's been on my shelf for a good few years, but nothing special.

When God was a Rabbit This was alright, but I don't think it lived up to the hype and the ending was a bit too twee for my liking.

The Color Master A fantastic collection of short stories. I heartily recommend this to everyone!

The Foretelling A children's story from one of my favourite authors. It did not disappoint.

[Pink]

15. Oh Dear Silvia Terrible
16. The Beautiful and Damned Better than expected.
17. The Woman in White Different from what I expected.

[Gail]

Pink wrote: "15. Oh Dear Silvia Terrible
Could not agree more Pink. One of the worst books I have read!

[Paul]

Dawn French has never made me laugh at all. It is the same with Miranda

[Gail]

Agreed Paul. Miranda just makes me cringe!

[Gisela]

I liked the early Dawn French, but lately not my type of humour. Miranda is just boring.

[Pink]

I don't mind Dawn French sometimes, her early comedy and The Vicar of Dibley was fun entertainment when my kids were young, but it's nothing spectacular. I've read two of her books now (they were bought as gifts) and while Oh dear Sylvia was terrible, her other one, A tiny bit marvellous was completely unreadable and probably the worst thing I have read in years. Not a fan of her writing at all.

[Pat]

To be fair, I think Miranda and (to a certain extent) Dawn French are all about slapstick (on tv anyway). I did like Dawn, although not in sketches, more her stand up. Recently I have found her less funny. Its difficult to be funny for years I guess. Never read any of her books - not likely to now either. I understand Miranda and like the person. Don't like the humour though. Others, at work, love her.Each to their own. At least both seem nice people.

[[deleted user]]

I've cleared another four off my list.

Candide Nothing special, but a quick enough read.

The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle Absolutely fantastic.

The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest A brilliant ending to the trilogy.

Born A thoroughly enjoyable YA dystopian novel. I liked this so much I've downloaded the others in the trilogy.

[Paul]

and then bought two more... :-)

[[deleted user]]

Yes. It's an illness.