Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die discussion
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Which LIST book did you just finish?
I've just finished Madame Bovary.While I really liked Gustave's writting style, I didn't like Madame Bovary as a character. She was spoilt and selfish.
I finished the story and just felt very sorry for Charles and Berthe.
American Pastoral by Philip Roth. I'm a Roth fan anyhow, but this one is excellent. I actually listened to the audiobook, and Ron Silver is perfect narrating.
Possessing the Secret of Joy by Alice WalkerDefinitely the best of Alice Walker that I have read.
I liked the focused story line, theme and different points of view. A compelling novel that I wish everyone would read before they die.
Finished Animal Farm. Brilliant book!
I finished The Charwoman's Daughter, a Dublin, Ireland girl's coming of age story and her relationship to her mother. It was brief and very good.
I loved Cannery Row as well, and also the sequel, Sweet Thursday. Didn't know I liked Steinbeck until I read those two!
I just finished Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? it was very different from the film. I have read collected short stories of Phillip K Dick and this is the third novel of his I have read. It was OK but not my favorite of his works.
Ginny wrote: "The Dispossessed by Ursula LeGuin."I just finished thus one, too.
Finished Of Mice and Men. In 110 pages, Steinbeck made me feel so many emotions. He made me cry which I so seldom do reading a book. Fabulous!
Rob Roy -Sir William ScottWonderful and engaging story. Much better than Ivanhoe in writing and in plot/characters.
I've just finished The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells.Wow~!!! What a story!
Takes you through nearly all possiable emotions.
It was really good!
Craig wrote: "Rob Roy -Sir William ScottWonderful and engaging story. Much better than Ivanhoe in writing and in plot/characters."
Wow! Really? I loved Ivanhoe, so it sounds like Rob Roy should be high in my to-be-read pile!
Everything is Illuminated followed by Never Let Me Go. Going to read one off my Booker Prize list next: Wolf Hall!
The Three Musketeers -DumasFast paced, funny, and well written.
I believe the last book I read from this list was Bram Stoker's Dracula. Personally for me, it was rather difficult for me to get through, I thought it was too slow-paced and I did not warm to any of the characters. But I'm glad that I read it given its impact on pop culture and such.
Marialyce wrote: "Finished Of Mice and Men. In 110 pages, Steinbeck made me feel so many emotions. He made me cry which I so seldom do reading a book. Fabulous!"I think Steinbeck has the genius of evoking emotion in all his books. Just love his work.
Marialyce wrote: "Finished Of Mice and Men. In 110 pages, Steinbeck made me feel so many emotions. He made me cry which I so seldom do reading a book. Fabulous!" Yes!! I cried too. I felt very emotional after reading this novella.
I didnt have internet for more than a month and during this time I finished: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, The House of the Spirits, Catch-22, The Confusions of Young Törless and To the Lighthouse. Out of all those I liked Curious Incident best!
Eugenie Grandet -BalzacOverall, the work is very good. Balzac has a knack for creating interesting and flawed (in a good way) characters in a short set of pages. Still like Old Goriot better.
I, Claudius. Early imperial roman intrigues keep the pages turning.
The Heat of the Day. There are some good bits in it, but I don't consider it particularly memorable.
The Corrections - Absolutely top drawer stuff. One of the best books I've read this year.
Just recently finished 1984 by George Orwell, and I loved it: I thought it was relevant and perceptive.
Judith wrote: "Possessing the Secret of Joy by Alice WalkerDefinitely the best of Alice Walker that I have read.
I liked the focused story line, theme and different points of view. A compelling novel that I wi..."
sounds great Judith.
I just finished The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton. I loved it! Gave it a 4 star rating & reviewed it. I was really sad at the end though. I think he should have gone in....
Laura wrote: "Judith wrote: "Possessing the Secret of Joy by Alice WalkerDefinitely the best of Alice Walker that I have read.
I liked the focused story line, theme and different points of view. A compelling ..."
I've read most of hers now, & there isn't one I haven't liked!
Sandi wrote: "I didnt have internet for more than a month and during this time I finished: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, The House of the Spirits, [book:Catch-22|1686..."Of those, I've read House of the Spirits & Curious Incident. Loved them both for different reasons :)
Rachel (Sfogs) wrote: "I've just finished The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells.Wow~!!! What a story!
Takes you through nearly all possiable emotions.
It was really good!"
LOL, that was one I just didn't connect to. I appreciate Well's impact on the genre of sci-fi, & acknowledge that he's a master of it, but none of his books except Island of Dr. Moreau even remotely kept my attention. Found myself only finishing by skimming.
Agnes Grey by Anne Bronte. I enjoyed it - really sympathized with the main character, and the writing style was very Bronte-ish. However, I did find the ending a bit abrupt and anti-climactical. Would've enjoyed it if Bronte had drawn that out a bit more (guess that's my romantic side speaking!)
A Christmas Carol -DickensNice, short read. A very interesting comparison/contrast to Old Grandet in Eugenie Grandet (also a miser, but an unchanging, unrepentant one). Makes Scrooge look like a nice old chap.
Just finished The Book of Laughter and Forgetting by Milan Kundera. I appreciated his philosophical thoughts on Czech history and politics but I couldn't always figure out what messages he was trying to bring across. Has anyone else read this?
Just finished The Sea. Unless you have a much larger vocabulary than I possess you might like to have a dictionary by your side as you read this beautifully written novel. Banville’s use of language and his descriptive powers, such as “The steel milk churns looked like squat sentries in flat hats, and each one had an identical white rosette burning on its shoulder where the light from the doorway was reflected.” are second to none. Despite the short length this is not a fast easy read but one worth taking the time to do so.
Beloved by Toni Morrison: http://bookbebeautiful.blogspot.com/I couldnt be bothered to review because there were too many different elements, too many complicated and interwoven tangents and characters for me to try and unravel.
I appreciated the style and flow of the prose but found most of the characters too rigid to like.
I finally finished Troubles, Can't say I've been too enthused. I really hope his other list book is better.
Finished Look Homeward, Angel by Wolfe, prefered this coming of age book to Catcher In The Rye.
Lisa wrote: "Sandi wrote: "I didnt have internet for more than a month and during this time I finished: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, The House of the Spirits, [book..."Same here!
Lisa wrote: "Rachel (Sfogs) wrote: "I've just finished The War of the Worlds by H.G. Wells.Wow~!!! What a story!
Takes you through nearly all possiable emotions.
It was really good..."
When I read this one I had the same reaction. I was blown away by how exciting and awesome this book was. It really is a sci fi masterpiece and a great read.
Mikela wrote: "Just finished The Sea. Unless you have a much larger vocabulary than I possess you might like to have a dictionary by your side as you read this beautifully written novel. Banville’s u..."I agree and enjoyed this author's writing style. It was a very good book. I would add that I felt his tone was autumnal in nature, it is difficult to write a good book in that tone, and that the author pulled it off. It was very well done.
I just finished The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao. It takes place in the Dominican Republic and New Jersey and is multigenerational. It was great and I would highly recommend it. I gave it 4 of 5 stars.
Just finished The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins and why oh why did it take me so long to get around to reading this great book? Especially as Woman in White is one of my all-time favs.
About to start The Curious Incident of the Dog in Night-time and must admit am not sure about this one. Have heard mixed reviews.
I just finished Jazz by Toni Morrison, loved it, gave it a good review & a 4 star rating :)
4evagreen wrote: "About to start The Curious Incident of the Dog in Night-time and must admit am not sure about this one. Have heard mixed reviews."I LOVED this one! Let yourself get into Christopher's head as an autistic kid, it's really fascinating, especially as a look into how a child with these mental challenges thinks & operates under their own "guidelines" & "limitations".
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Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die
Books mentioned in this topic
Troubles (other topics)This Way for the Gas, Ladies and Gentlemen (other topics)
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Life of a Good-for-nothing (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Jorge Luis Borges (other topics)Juan Carlos Onetti (other topics)
Flann O'Brien (other topics)
Clarice Lispector (other topics)
Vladimir Nabokov (other topics)
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I have that sitting on my bookshelf and want to read it, but am putting it off because I've read too many long books lately. Instead I'm picking up Agnes Grey, a shorter one by the same Bronte!