Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die discussion
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Which LIST book did you just finish?
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Kate
(last edited Oct 20, 2011 06:21AM)
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Oct 20, 2011 06:18AM
Germinal by Émile Zola. I don't think I will ever be able to go underground again. Other than that, magnificent.
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I finished Dr. Zhivago last night. It seemed very slow-paced toward the beginning, but picked up toward the end, and I finally started to enjoy it. A bleak but beautiful epic.
Madame Bovary. Really did NOT like it
Just finished Cause for Alarm by Eric Ambler. A rather clueless Englishman takes a job as the Italian representative of a British firm that sells shell-making machinery to the pre-WWII Mussolini government. Nothing and nobody can be taken at face value. I listened to the audiobook and I could visualize the story as if it were a movie. I think Hitchcock could have done this story proud. Highly recommended.
Just finished The Tale of the Bamboo Cutter this morning, what a sweet story! Started reading Henry of O ... by Novalis. I've read 55 of the list so far!
I just finished Of Love & Shadows by Isabel Allende. I LOVE her as an author. I have never been even remotely disappointed in any of her books. They are touching, sometimes shocking, warm, & I like the fact that even though she writes about families in Latin American countries, she deliberately leaves them nameless, so you have to guess where they are located. Her characters are realistic, & this one was every bit as outstanding as the rest. :)
It totally amazed me that a book written over 150 years ago could so capture me that I had difficulty putting it down. Just loved The Woman in White
Lisa wrote: "I just finished Of Love & Shadows by Isabel Allende. I LOVE her as an author. I have never been even remotely disappointed in any of her books. They are touching, sometimes shocking, warm, & I l..."Haven't read Of Love and Shadows, but what I've read of her, she is always writing of her native Peru. As in House of the Spirits, she was writing about the overthrow of her uncle Salvador Allende.
Mikela wrote: "It totally amazed me that a book written over 150 years ago could so capture me that I had difficulty putting it down. Just loved The Woman in White"I'm glad that it seems to be a good book,
because I just brought myself a copy of it the other day.
If on a Winter's Night a Traveler by Italo Calvino. Fascinating. Can't wait to read more of his books.
Beth wrote: "If on a Winter's Night a Traveler by Italo Calvino. Fascinating. Can't wait to read more of his books."Agreed!
Last night I finished Wide Sargasso Sea. It was good. You definitely need to read Jane Eyre before you try this one or you'll be lost.
Beth wrote: "If on a Winter's Night a Traveler by Italo Calvino. Fascinating. Can't wait to read more of his books."It was great, wasn't it? I have been looking for good used copies of anything else he wrote ever since and have never been lucky enough to find any. This one is one of my favorites of all the ones on the lists.
Mikela wrote: "Just finished The Girls of Slender Means and I'm afraid it left me cold."Why? Can you elaborate? I'm trying to decide if I want to keep it on my wish list.
Beth wrote: "If on a Winter's Night a Traveler by Italo Calvino. Fascinating. Can't wait to read more of his books."I read a collection of short stories of his earlier this year, which I hated. I won't be reading any Calvino. Too many other books.
Judith wrote: "Mikela wrote: "Just finished The Girls of Slender Means and I'm afraid it left me cold."Why? Can you elaborate? I'm trying to decide if I want to keep it on my wish list."
Being neither an academic nor intellectual I don't have training on the merits of her writing style so must rely on simply being an avid reader. If there was a plot it eluded me. It seemed simply to be a study on the lives of "proper" English girls at a boarding club for young women during the last stages of WW2. Personally, I need a well developed plot in a work of fiction, or at least an obvious reason for the book to have been written, to keep my interest. This is most likely a deficiency on my part and will willingly accept any enlightenment.
Mikela wrote: "Judith wrote: "Mikela wrote: "Just finished The Girls of Slender Means and I'm afraid it left me cold."Why? Can you elaborate? I'm trying to decide if I want to keep it on my wish ..."
Mikela wrote: "Judith wrote: "Mikela wrote: "Just finished The Girls of Slender Means and I'm afraid it left me cold."
Why? Can you elaborate? I'm trying to decide if I want to keep it on my wish ..."
Mikela, I understand. Your comments give me quite enough to go on. And I prefer the same kind of books you describe!
Mikela wrote: "Personally, I need a well developed plot in a work of fiction, or at least an obvious reason for the book to have been written, to keep my interest. This is most likely a deficiency on my part and will willingly accept any enlightenment. "No deficiency on your part. Some of us like mostly plot, some mostly characterization, some a balance between the two. Thankfully, this is so; it gives such a variety to the reading materials available. I prefer characterization, so would likely find this a good read, but that doesn't mean I don't want a good plot driven thriller thrown in for good measure occasionally.
Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Mikela wrote: "Personally, I need a well developed plot in a work of fiction, or at least an obvious reason for the book to have been written, to keep my interest. This is most likely a deficiency ..."I guess I fall into the balanced camp.
Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Mikela wrote: "Personally, I need a well developed plot in a work of fiction, or at least an obvious reason for the book to have been written, to keep my interest. This is most likely a deficiency ..."I definetly fall into the middle/balanced camp here. I am unable to get into a book if either is missing. :D
Just finished Far from the Madding Crowd. I found it fascinating and was hooked on the story from page 1. The characters are really memorable, and it was not half as bleak as I expected from previous Hardy readings like The Mayor of Casterbridge.
Lauli wrote: "Just finished Far from the Madding Crowd. I found it fascinating and was hooked on the story from page 1. The characters are really memorable, and it was not half as bleak as I expecte..."Agreed! I absolutely adore Hardy, but given my experiences reading "Tess of the D'Urbervilles" (one of my fave books) and "Jude the Obscure," I started "Far from the Madding Crowd" prepared for a misery fest. It was interesting to see him take a more moderate course--but I have to admit that I thought it lacked some of the depth of "Tess," for example. But maybe I'm just a misery monger! ;)
Finished Voss by Patrick White, interesting for the journey through the outback. Not a book I would normally have picked up, but I enjoy White's style of writing.Lauli and Kristi
Love Hardy, and do find some of his books tragic, Tess wasn't my favourite, but I loved Return of the Native, The Mayor of Castorbridge and The Hand of Ethelberta was almost happy.
I recently finished Titus Groan and Neuromancer. Titus Groan is an excellent fantasy read full of twisted gothic scraps of imagery. Neuromancer is utterly confusing but enjoyable in a geometrically challenged cyber-punkish way.
Mikela wrote: "Just finished The Girls of Slender Means and I'm afraid it left me cold."I thought it was an interesting take on post WW2 survival & the resourcefulness of the girls. The ending was sad though.
Amanda wrote: "The Shining."The book is SO much better than the movie!!!!
I just finished Fanny Hill :) The book was refreshing. For a book published in 1749, it was really entertaining. Yes, it was porn, but it was CUTE. Her take on things was so down to earth it made me laugh. I was really touched by the fact that even though she had all of these assignations with other men & was the mistress of several, she never stopped loving Charles. I only gave it a 3 star because some of the scenes & descriptions I found were a little TOO descriptive, if you get my point, but overall, I really got a kick out of it. One of the easiest 1001 reads yet for me.
If you liked that sort of thing then you should give Moll Flanders a punt next.
I just finished The End of the Affair by Graham Greene. It will certainly stay with me for a very long time. Even though I knew a fair portion of the plot before reading, I was blown away by how Greene blended his tale of lust, love, faith, and insecurity. I certainly recommend it!
Lisa wrote: "I just finished Fanny Hill :) The book was refreshing. For a book published in 1749, it was really entertaining. Yes, it was porn, but it was CUTE. Her take on things was so down to earth it ma..."Way to go Lisa!! I may have to try this one!! =)
I finished Regeneration which I loved and the Quiet American which was ok.
Just completed the audio book of On Beauty by Zadie Smith. The audio book narrator was awesome and really brought this story to life. Ms. Smith had a lot to say in this novel...it's going to take me a while to ponder her various messages. I think the only character worth liking is Carl, the boy from Roxbury...he's probably the only truthful and real person in the entire book.
Has anyone else read this one? If so, what do you think?
Thankful for this list as I never would have picked this book up on my own.
Just finished Some Prefer Nettles, nothing earth shattering: a study of Japan's interest in and refusal of the West in the 1920s as well as a marriage's disintegration.
Just finished
...it had been a while since I'd read it, and there are definitely a lot of themes that parallel today's society.
Finished One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest not too long ago. Good stuff.
I just finished North and South. Mrs. Gaskell where have you been all my life? I'm actually glad I was introduced to her later as I now have a lot of good new reads to look forward to.The book is long but thoroughly absorbing. I listened to the version narrated by Juliet Stevenson. She may be my favorite female audiobook narrator.
Bea wrote: "I just finished North and South. Mrs. Gaskell where have you been all my life? I'm actually glad I was introduced to her later as I now have a lot of good new reads to look forward to..."Bea! You've got to watch the mini series now! It is wonderful!
The Stone Diaries. Not life-altering stuff, but definitely well written. The style was better than the story itself.
Rory M. wrote: "Just completed the audio book of On Beauty by Zadie Smith. The audio book narrator was awesome and really brought this story to life. I read this but haven't really written a review yet. It isn't on the 2010 list anymore though ... and that is the one I'm working from. She did have a lot to say but I'm not sure about this book ...
Just finished The Last Temptation by Kazantzakis, really enjoyed the style of the author but I loved Zorba as well.
I just finished A Town Like Alice, something I probably wouldn't have picked up without the List and a random number generator.The book gets a big five stars from me. I would vote for the main character to be President of the USA if I could. It's a heartwarming and inspirational story but not corny or sentimental.
Bea wrote: "I just finished A Town Like Alice, something I probably wouldn't have picked up without the List and a random number generator.The book gets a big five stars from me. I would vote ..."
Couldn't you just feel the dust in the back of your throat and the sweat running down your spine?
Bea wrote: "I just finished A Town Like Alice, something I probably wouldn't have picked up without the List and a random number generator.The book gets a big five stars from me. I would vote ..."
Glad to find someone who liked it as much as I did.
Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Bea wrote: "I just finished A Town Like Alice, something I probably wouldn't have picked up without the List and a random number generator.The book gets a big five stars from me. I..."
Yes, the novel was a total "you are there" experience. I'll take that feeling of losing myself in a story over high art anytime. And it's so rare.
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