Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die discussion

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message 5351: by Bea (new)

Bea | 110 comments Just finished Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, a sort of depression era fairy tale. It was a pleasant light read, but I actually preferred the movie.


message 5353: by Cindy (new)

Cindy (newtomato) | 195 comments I finished Kate Chopin's The Awakening.


message 5356: by Beth (new)

Beth (eparks4232) | 162 comments Courtney wrote: "George Elliot's Middlemarch and about to finish Bel Canto. I LOVED Middlemarch and found it to be a revelation. The jury is still out on Bel Canto. "

I loved Middlemarch too. Made me an instant Eliot fan (if anything 912 or so pages long can do anything "instantly").


message 5357: by Mikela (last edited Nov 05, 2011 05:14PM) (new)

Mikela | 378 comments Just finished The Elegance of the Hedgehog. IMHO it was a good but not great read. Although the writing was beautiful and the characters well defined, the story itself was just so-so with an ending that was very predictable.


message 5358: by Jen (new)

Jen | 10 comments Mikela wrote: "Just finished The Elegance of the Hedgehog. IMHO it was a good but not great read. Although the writing was beautiful and the characters well defined, the story itself was just so-s..."

I felt the same way. She does a great job with the characters and fleshing the out, but the storyline I found lacking.


message 5359: by Elizabeth (Alaska) (new)

Elizabeth (Alaska) Mikela wrote: "Just finished The Elegance of the Hedgehog. IMHO it was a good but not great read. Although the writing was beautiful and the characters well defined, the story itself was just so-so with an ending that was very predictable. ..."

My ability to predict is severely hampered then. Since I prefer characterization over plot, I tend to just let the plot move along. And I was dumb-founded at the ending.


message 5360: by Judith (new)

Judith (jloucks) | 1202 comments Inna wrote: "The Tartar Steppe by Dino Buzzati"

How was it?


message 5361: by Inder (new)

Inder | 82 comments I finished The Corrections. It has a stunning beginning, a stunning ending, and (IMO) a looonngg middle. Although it is packed with humor, I found it slow-going at times. But the ending almost made up for all that. I'm glad I read it.

And now that I'm back into it, I remember why I abandoned Les Misérables. OMG. Will this description of Waterloo never end? (Answer: Not in the next two hundred pages.)


message 5362: by Judith (new)

Judith (jloucks) | 1202 comments Inna wrote: "Crome Yellow by Aldous Huxley"

Did you like this one? It's waiting on my TBR shelf!


message 5363: by Danyellemastro (new)

Danyellemastro | 170 comments Thank you Jeeves, nearly wet myself with delight a few times. A brilliant, brilliant read!


message 5364: by Chel (new)

Chel | 380 comments Yesterday I finished Thais and Bel Ami. The first I did not like as it seemed to ramble and philosophize too often in an incoherent manner. The latter I enjoyed alot as sort of a conniving series of events the main character goest through (without giving anything away).


message 5365: by Amanda (new)

Amanda | 191 comments Adventures of Peregrine Pickle. My review is up on 1001everything.blogspot.com.


message 5366: by Lisa (new)

Lisa James (sthwnd) | 352 comments I just finished The Blind Assassin. Really powerful story, LOTS of plot twists & turns, definitely NOT one of Atwood's post apocalyptic tales, this one is SO human, & SO easy to identify with. Your heart just breaks for some of the characters.


message 5367: by Adriana (new)

Adriana Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami. It was good but I can't, for the life of me, tell you what it is about.


message 5368: by Bea (new)

Bea | 110 comments Just finished War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells. It took me awhile to get into it and it's not something I would read again. That said, it's pioneering science fiction and gets the old heart pumping in the second half. A very quick read.


message 5369: by Elizabeth (Alaska) (new)

Elizabeth (Alaska) Lisa wrote: "I just finished The Blind Assassin. Really powerful story, LOTS of plot twists & turns, definitely NOT one of Atwood's post apocalyptic tales, this one is SO human, & SO easy to identify with. Yo..."

I couldn't finish that one - even after reading 200 pages. It was a story within a story within a story.


message 5370: by Peter (new)

Peter | 443 comments Just finished JG Ballard's great book 'Empire of the Sun' and about to start 'The Moonstone' by Wilkie Collins. This is book has sat on my TBR pile for far too long and now is the time to dust it off. Am really looking forward to it.


message 5371: by Judith (new)

Judith (jloucks) | 1202 comments "Blood Meridian" by Carmac McCarthy

Although I wished for a better ending and liked it less than "The Road", I was still greatly drawn into McCarthy's dark, dramatic tale of war and murder. His writing style is so uniquely appropriate to his topics...he is almost Biblical at times. Amazing writer!


message 5372: by Rachel (Sfogs) (new)

Rachel (Sfogs) | 226 comments Bea wrote: "Just finished War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells. It took me awhile to get into it and it's not something I would read again. That said, it's pioneering science fiction and gets the old ..."

I'm 2 or 3 books away from starting that one, I'm glad to know it's a quick read!


message 5373: by Mikela (new)

Mikela | 378 comments Adriana wrote: "Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami. It was good but I can't, for the life of me, tell you what it is about."

Love your description! Sounds a lot like Wind-up Bird Chronicles, which I loved.


message 5374: by Kate (new)

Kate (lacommunarde) | 14 comments Inder wrote: "...And now that I'm back into it, I remember why I abandoned Les Misérables. OMG. Will this description of Waterloo never end? (Answer: Not in the next two hundred pages.) "

And when you get past that, you have the description of the church stones to look forward to. It's worth it, don't worry!


message 5375: by Becky (new)

Becky Aitchison (becky6229) | 20 comments Just finished Life of Pi, and am finishing Miss Lonelyhearts, both of which I've greatly enjoyed.


message 5376: by Lisa (new)

Lisa James (sthwnd) | 352 comments Just last night finished Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency. That was one of my few 2 star books. I just couldn't like it, & honestly, I was every bit as confused at the end as I was at the beginning. There was some humor in it, the Electric Monk & the horse in the bathroom was funny, as was the whole inside joke with the sofa in the stairwell, but a lot of it was rather over my head, & I'm not sure why.


message 5377: by Rachel (Sfogs) (new)

Rachel (Sfogs) | 226 comments Kate wrote: "Inder wrote: "...And now that I'm back into it, I remember why I abandoned Les Misérables. OMG. Will this description of Waterloo never end? (Answer: Not in the next two hundred pages.) "

And whe..."


I have yet to read Les Misérables, but your comment have me laughing my head off!! :D


message 5378: by Lisa (new)

Lisa James (sthwnd) | 352 comments I just finished up these 2 books.

Walden, or Life in the Woods-this one was rough. I will not lie. I found it rambling, kind of even ranting in spots, very "wordy", & had a HARD time slogging through it. I will admit I skimmed in several places. I also found it too dry & boring for my taste, although I know there are plenty who LOVE this book.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time-Once you get into the head of Christopher, & understand the mental quirks of an autistic child, you "get" this book, & why he did the things he did. I have a neighbor who has some OCD issues & has 2 daughters, one with Asperger's, so I got this book probably easier than people will who have never been around an autistic person. I felt SO sorry for him at times, & at times I was amazed at his tenacity & bravery in going where he was clearly terrified to go but felt he had to go in order to solve the mystery of Wellington & his mother.


message 5379: by Aileen (new)

Aileen | 154 comments An Ethiopian Romance by Heliodorus, which hopefully ticks off Aithiopika from the 2006 list. Quite challenging to read but I loved it and gave it 4****.


message 5380: by Marialyce (new)

Marialyce Finished Rebecca. It was wonderfully gothic, but left me feeling disappointed. I really don't know why, but perhaps this novel is showing some age, at least to me.

Next up, My House in Umbria. Love books written by William Trevor.


message 5381: by Inder (new)

Inder | 82 comments Rachel (Sfogs) wrote: "Kate wrote: "Inder wrote: "...And now that I'm back into it, I remember why I abandoned Les Misérables. OMG. Will this description of Waterloo never end? (Answer: Not in the next two hundred pages...."

What's funny is that I finished it, and despite not caring a whit about battle strategy, in the end I was quite taken by the description. Now, was it germane to the main plot of the book? Probably not.

Can't wait for the church stones description! That sounds absolutely riveting!

I should clarify that it's slow, in that nice 19th century way that you can get used to, rather than actually boring, if that makes sense. Like old movies, old books just have a different rhythm.

BUT ... I have read like four other books during "breaks" from Les Mis. So. Yeah.


message 5382: by Beth (new)

Beth (eparks4232) | 162 comments Just finished Things Fall Apart. I loved having a sense of Nigerian tribal life.


message 5383: by Beth (new)

Beth (eparks4232) | 162 comments Lisa wrote: "I just finished The Blind Assassin. Really powerful story, LOTS of plot twists & turns, definitely NOT one of Atwood's post apocalyptic tales, this one is SO human, & SO easy to identify with. Yo..."

That was my first Atwood. Definitely made me want to read more.


message 5384: by Mikela (new)

Mikela | 378 comments Just finished The Secret History. Really enjoyed this book. Found it well written, the characters very real, and the story intriguing.


message 5385: by Ginny (new)

Ginny | 165 comments Just finished with Thank you, Jeeves and Titas Groan.


message 5386: by Charity (new)

Charity (charityross) Finished Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy. I've given him a few shots, but I don't think he's for me.


message 5387: by Liz M (new)

Liz M Effi Briest by Theodor Fontane

It's been awhile since I read Madame Bovary, but this is sort of like a German version with a little bit of Turn of the Screw thrown in.


message 5388: by Chel (new)

Chel | 380 comments I Finished Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas a few days ago and thought it was hilarious and loved it. I don't endorse the behaviors of the characters, however.


message 5389: by Lauli (new)

Lauli | 263 comments They Shoot Horses, Don't They?. I loved it. For all its brevity, I found it tremendously complex and ahead of its time. McCoy may have been writing about a reality show, TV audiences and unscrupulous producers... as early as 1935!


message 5390: by Linda (new)

Linda Just finished All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy. It's not the kind of thing I typically read, but I did like it - especially the main character, although the end didn't provide enough closure for me.


message 5391: by Bea (new)

Bea | 110 comments I just finished [Book: Cat's Cradle]. I enjoyed it.


message 5392: by Erik (new)

Erik I just finished The Secret History by Tartt. It was hypnotizing.


message 5393: by Cait (new)

Cait (caitertot) | 34 comments Charity wrote: "Teri-lynn wrote: "I have just finished Rebecca.
Sounds great!! I'm really hoping to pick this one up before the end of the year!"


Charity, let me know if you do and I'll read it with you!


message 5394: by Lisa (new)

Lisa James (sthwnd) | 352 comments I just finished Cannery Row by Steinbeck, & did a review & a rating :) I LOVED this book!


message 5395: by Charity (new)

Charity (charityross) Cait wrote: "Charity, let me know if you do and I'll read it with you!"

Whoo hoo! Sounds like a plan! I might start it sometime at the end of this month.


message 5396: by Amanda (new)

Amanda | 191 comments Tenant of Wildfell Hall. Absolutely amazing.


message 5397: by Marialyce (new)


message 5398: by Rachel (Sfogs) (new)

Rachel (Sfogs) | 226 comments Talia wrote: "I just finished reading Jane Eyre. I just love that book!"

I wasn't sure what I was going to think of that book, while I was reading it. Then when I finished I was really surprised at how good it was!


message 5399: by Shovelmonkey1 (new)

Shovelmonkey1 | 190 comments Just finished White Noise by Don DeLillo. Much better than The Body Artist by DeLillo which is also on the list.


message 5400: by Geoff (new)

Geoff War and Peace.


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