Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die discussion
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Which LIST book did you just finish?
The postman always rings twice. Was drawn in from the third page and never let go - amazing!
I'm still hacking my way through Woman in White. I'm finding some of it a little boring in places. I'm in part 2, where the diaries flip back & forth between speakers telling the story. Stick with it, it will be worthwhile.
Finished Our Mutual Friend. This makes five of the Dickens on the list, and am so glad I still have five more to go!
I hope you will let us know what you thought in the Victorians group! It's my third time through and I seem to love it more each time. Don't worry I have been very silent on the spoilers.
Bea wrote: "I hope you will let us know what you thought in the Victorians group! It's my third time through and I seem to love it more each time. Don't worry I have been very silent on the spoilers."There isn't a thread for those who have read more than about 200 pages, but my thoughts are here: my review
Just finished The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time which I would never have picked up if it had not been on the 1001 list.Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky next.
I just finished Tono Bungay by H.G. Wells. I thought it was very good and would recommend it as giving some insight to the gestalt of England and the British Empire, circa 1905 through the lens of an enterprising young man and his uncle. This is an exciting time of free enterprise, social mobility, and scientific discovery along with political and industrial changes emanating in the background of a young man's life and education.
Finished The Dumas Club which started really well and showed a lot of promise with a nod to In the Name of the Rose, but seem to tail off toward the end.
Emma. I'm a bit underawed. It seems to be one of the novels where Austen really sticks it out for the social system, criticising people who want to marry above their social class, and celebrating those who have enough foresight to mix with their own. Didn't love Emma as a character either. But I am a bit sad I've read all of Austen's books already...
Mikela wrote: "Just began Hawksmoor."Loved this! This was my introduction to Peter Ackroyd. Brilliant.
Just finished The Talk of the Townby Ardal O'Hanlon. Possibly the truest representation of small town Ireland put on paper in the last two decades. Brilliant.
Shovelmonkey1 wrote: "Mikela wrote: "Just began Hawksmoor."Loved this! This was my introduction to Peter Ackroyd. Brilliant."
I'm having a hard time getting into it and have set it aside for awhile to try again later. This more than likely is due to where my head is right now and not a reflection on the book. In another week or so I'll more than likely love it.
Anna Karenia. I loved it! It was great to read a long book again. It feels good to have completed soothing that has been on my bookshelf for 2 some years!
Finished The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides. Very dark and lovely.
Mikela wrote: "Shovelmonkey1 wrote: "Mikela wrote: "Just began Hawksmoor."Loved this! This was my introduction to Peter Ackroyd. Brilliant."
I'm having a hard time getting into it and have set it ..."
I had a bit of a hard time adjusting to the changes in language but got over them once I'd got a bit further in.
I just finished reading
by
Ernest Hemingway and loved it! I have never taken to a classic piece of literature as I have this book. I suspect that I shall now have to read more Hemingway novels. The fire has been lit.
Christopher wrote: "I just finished reading by Ernest Hemingway and loved it! I have never taken to a classic piece of lite..."Not on the list but I enjoyed Men without women and also The Old Man and the Sea (which might be on the list... i can't remember)
The Old Man and the Sea is on the list, btw.
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..."
It certain wasn't a book I was expecting to like. Especially because dad had a tape of the story, which I listened to when I was little (not knowing what it was), and had nightmares for weeks!!
Chel wrote: "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 wa..."
It really made me feel like I was there with the characters.
Jennifer W wrote: "Frankenstein it was very different than I thought it would be."Yes I found that to!
The same with Dracula.
Charterhouse of Parma -StendhalSeemed to drag in some parts, but also had engaging and exciting elements as well. The Red and the Black was much, much better.
Myra Breckinridge. Not the best book on the list, but entertaining and irreverent. Made me laugh at times.
Lauli wrote: "Myra Breckinridge. Not the best book on the list, but entertaining and irreverent. Made me laugh at times."GORE VIDAL es un escritor estupendooo, Lauli. You must read his other novel Império. Smile.
KOMET wrote: "Lauli wrote: "Myra Breckinridge. Not the best book on the list, but entertaining and irreverent. Made me laugh at times."GORE VIDAL es un escritor estupendooo, Lauli. You must re..."
Thanks for the recommendation, Komet! I have another novel of his called Burr on my shelf
Lauli wrote: "KOMET wrote: "Lauli wrote: "Myra Breckinridge. Not the best book on the list, but entertaining and irreverent. Made me laugh at times."Lauli, he leido Burr hace algun tiempo and LOVED IT. Vidal brings to life one of America's earliest politicians --- Aaron Burr (1755-1836) --- who, to this day, has a somewhat checked reputation (not altogether undeserved), despite having been a Vice President, a fine lawyer, intellectual, a soldier in the American Revolution, and the founder of a political machine by the name of Tammany Hall in the State of New York.
4evagreen wrote: "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."I could ask exactly the same question to myself! Must read 'moonstone' soon!
I just finish reading
a great book !!
Calyre wrote: "I just finish reading a great book !!"Agreed! Excellent read. Not read his new one yet though.
Finished the prime of miss Jean brodie by Muriel spark . A brisk and efficient novella much like miss brodie herself.
Lisa wrote: "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...."Ah. I loved it. I thought it was perfect as is. It reminds of the last scene of Casablanca, which I wouldn't change either. "We will always have Paris."
Just finished The Time Machine and Suite Française. Two books that couldn't be more different!
Suite Francaise was amazing. Five stars for a book that wasn't even finished? That's saying something. Wow. Knowing the author's story made it crushingly sad, though.
In the last month I've finished: Under the Skin by Michael Faber - not usually my type of book, but soooo creepy I got hooked - still, I felt like there was something missing...
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro - really unique - didn't love love it, but definitely enjoyed the subject. Found it a bit 'repetitive', which probably doesn't make sense except in my own head).
The Girls of Slender Means by Muriel Spark - Like someone else said earlier in the thread, this one was 'over my head'. Didn't enjoy it at all, and was glad it was short.
Sexing the Cherry by Jeannette Winterson - Amazing! I eat up anything with a reincarnation theme. Her imagination is unbelievable...loved the 'fairy tale' aspect.
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott - About time I read this one! I found it really charming, and was emotionally invested in the outcome. The preachy religious stuff didn't even bother me all that much, which is something.
Finished On The Road. Well, the book certainly lived up to its name. It didn't really grab me but it wasn't a chore to read.
Finished The Sea of Fertility by Mishima, really enjoyed reading this one.Tara
If you like books with the reincarnation theme then The Sea of Fertility is a must.
Just finished Orhan Pamuk 'Snow'. Amazing book. I loved it!It was added to the 2008 list, I think - can anyone tell me if this is correct and if it's still on the 2010 list? My excel has crashed so I can't check the spreadsheet right now... :-(
Christina Stind wrote: "Just finished Orhan Pamuk 'Snow'. Amazing book. I loved it!It was added to the 2008 list, I think - can anyone tell me if this is correct and if it's still on the 2010 list? My excel has crashed s..."
Yep! Still there!
And glad to hear this reaction to it - it's been on my wishlist like forever. Time to bump it up maybe.
Deanne wrote: "Finished The Sea of Fertility by Mishima, really enjoyed reading this one.Tara
If you like books with the reincarnation theme then The Sea of Fertility is a must."
Thanks for the recommendation, Deanne, I'll move that one up on the list!
I just finished Amelia. My review is up on 1001everything.blogspot.com
Me too....I finished A Christmas Carol as well. Tis the season...
Just finished Empire of the Sun by J.G. Ballard. I didn't love it, which is probably why it took me so long to read.
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Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die
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I'm still hacking my way through Woman in White. I'm finding some of it a little boring in places. I'm in part 2, where the diaries flip back & forth between speakers telling the story.