Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die discussion
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Which LIST book did you just finish?
I have to agree with Lauren about Moll Flanders. I'm still reading it, but not enjoying it too much. 60 more pages...This is the second book by Daniel DeFoe that I've read, and not sure if I want to read the 3rd (and hopefully last) book by him on the list.
I'm almost finished with Moll Flanders and still undecided about how well I like this book. This is the first DeFoe book that I've read and now I'm kind of dreading the other two. Moll is a bizarre character though.
Hima wrote: "I have to agree with Lauren about Moll Flanders. I'm still reading it, but not enjoying it too much. 60 more pages...This is the second book by Daniel DeFoe that I've read, and not sure if I want t..."What was the other one you read?
Just finished Hardy's Far From The Madding Crowd. Personally I found it rather disappointing and the ending predictable but maybe I am just a gnarly old cynic.
Finished The Last Temptation of Christ... interesting and not entirely sure how I feel about it yet.
I just finished Tess of the d'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy. I enjoyed it.
Lauren -- I read "Robinson Crusoe" earlier this year. I think I rated it an "OK" book. I enjoyed the play *much* more than the book though.
Hima wrote: "Lauren -- I read "Robinson Crusoe" earlier this year. I think I rated it an "OK" book. I enjoyed the play *much* more than the book though."I was just curious. I have that way higher on my list than Roxanna, which sounds very similar to Moll Flanders.
There were definitely parts that I enjoyed in "Moll Flanders", but the book overall in my opinion, is not the best. The lack of character names is one of my gripes...Just finished "Moll Flanders".
Everything is Illuminated - holy crap...
Is that a good "holy crap", or a bad one? I'm compiling a list of books to look for when the Used Book store near me has their 50% off sale.
I couldn't finish Robinson Crusoe, the character just drove me insane the whole way through the book, just finished Moll Flanders myself for the second time and I enjoyed it, but yeah would fear that he could produce another Robinson Crusoe!
oops! I forgot that Robinson Crusoe was written by Daniel DeFoe. That means after Moll Flanders, I only have one more of his books to go. Yay!
Hima wrote: "Is that a good "holy crap", or a bad one? I'm compiling a list of books to look for when the Used Book store near me has their 50% off sale."I think possibly Cass meant "holy crap" because it is pretty intense emotionally in places. I can't speak for Cass, but I had the same kind of response. I thought it was one of the better reads, but it is tough in some places due to your connection with the characters.
A few days ago I finished Ada, or Ardor: A Family Chronicle by Vladimir Nabokov.In my opinion while the story was good, it is also very long-winded and quite dull at times. But it's another book off the 1001-list.
Today I finished The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery.Absolutely amazing book! If this book isn't still around in 100 years, and a well known and loved classic I will be very surprised.
This story is a work of art!
Finished The Roots of Heaven by Romain Gary. Morel seems naive in his quest to protect the elephants, Gary looks at the crusade from different points of view and it's a period of history I'm not well acquainted with.
I just finished The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood. I actually liked it a lot!
Finished In the Forest, which is based on a true crime. The book is jumping from character to character with no narrative explanation.
Just finished The Robber Bride and I think I liked it even more than The Handmaid's Tale. Highly recommend.
wow... how come you liked it more? I so wish I hadn't started my Atwood journey with Robber Bride.
The Sorrow of Belgium by Claus, set in WWII in Belgium before, during and after the occupation. The family at the heart of the book are collaboraters, some more so than others. Interesting book, and it's the reactions of the townfolk after the allies arrive that have to say doesn't surprise me.
Somewhere along the line, I decided to increase the number of 1001 books I have read. So, since January, I have completed the following 1001 books (from all three lists):Vanity Fair;
The Pilgrim's Progress;
Tess of the D'Urbervilles;
Bleak House;
The Purloined Letter;
The Fall of the House of Usher;The Pit and the Pendulum;
The Thirty-Nine Steps;
The Shipping News;
Excellent Women;
Bunner Sisters;
Summer;
The Plot Against America;
Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China;Vile Bodies;
Dracula;
Frankenstein;
Tipping the Velvet;
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy;The Three Musketeers;
The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle;
Lady Chatterley's Lover;
Nicholas Nickleby and, started last night,
Kafka on the Shore.
I think I am making some progress. However, the 1001 app predicts that if I elect to read all three lists I will die before I do so. BUT, if I only read the core I will be done by age 73. SO I either need to speed up my reading or just read the core. I'm off to catch up
You make me smile Denise. If you limit yourself to just the core you'll miss some really good books. Think of it this way, just refuse to die until you've completed the current list, then the many revision lists to come. You can live forever and be happy while doing so. That's sort of my game plan.
Arukiyomi wrote: "wow... how come you liked it more? I so wish I hadn't started my Atwood journey with Robber Bride."I loved how Atwood allowed us to really know each character, how different each was from the others, yet I caught glimpses of myself in each. While I love The Handmaid, the very nature of the book did not do this for me.
Those of you who like Atwood, is her the blind assasin typical? How would you place it among her others?
Dracula by Bram StockerOut of Africa Blixen
Mikela wrote: "You make me smile Denise. If you limit yourself to just the core you'll miss some really good books. Think of it this way, just refuse to die until you've completed the current list, then the many ..."I could refuse to die but that assumes I would still be able to hear or see to read. I have thought of the limitations of the core list but it provides the illusion of completion. Nice thought to have completed somethng.
Just finished Therese Raquin. Listened to the audiobook narrated by Kate Winslet. Loved her voice, but found the book only so-so, despite my love of crime stories. I just found it overdramatic -- it underestimates the human ability to repress....
Just finished Sexing the Cherry. I know others rave about it but while I didn't find it awful I can't say I liked it much either - 2*s only from me. This was disappointing as I loved The Passion. As someone once told me, "perhaps this wasn't my time for this book".
Refuse to die! Like it Denise. It did make me think though. Does anyone know someone who has died after starting the list? I haven't heard anyone relate it yet, but it's bound to happen at some point. Perhaps we could create an online 'shrine' for those who've attempted it with their name, their list and their total. And just in case you get the wrong end of my stick, I'm not being facetious here.
I will die before I finish the list, of that I'm fairly certain. The list keeps growing and I keep getting older. With about 1200 books now on the list left to read, at 50 books a year, I would be over 90 when I finish. But I'm not reading 50 books a year (even now, let alone when I'm 90) and another edition comes out this fall.
Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Those of you who like Atwood, is her the blind assasin typical? How would you place it among her others?"Elizabeth: I am an Atwood lover. "The Blind Assasin" is the only book of hers I have NOT liked.
Cynthia wrote: "Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Those of you who like Atwood, is her the blind assasin typical? How would you place it among her others?"Elizabeth: I am an Atwood lover. "The Blind Assasin" is the onl..."
Thank you! With that, I'll put another of hers on that ever-expanding groaning Wish List shelf!
Just finished "The Waves," by Virginia Woolf.
Elizabth, I know how much you like to read a book where there is strong characterization, even over story line, so would suggest you start with The Robber Bride or The Handmaid's Tale. I loved both of them but must admit that the thought of starting The Blind Assasin frightens me a little.
Thank you for that suggestion as to where to start. I forget now how much of The Blind Assassin I read before I gave up. The prose was beautiful and the story fascinating, but I got lost somewhere in all the layers and decided it wasn't worth the effort to keep track. Perhaps it happened at the wrong time and I would like it if I tried again.
That's how I felt about Sexing the Cherry, although I struggled on right to the end. Thankfully it was a short book.
Elizabeth, I just had a thought, Surfacing might appeal to you and it is only about 300 pages. It was very good (I gave it 4*) and comes with the benefit of being on the core list.
Mikela wrote: "Elizabeth, I just had a thought, Surfacing might appeal to you and it is only about 300 pages. It was very good (I gave it 4*)and comes with the benefit of being on the core list."That, too, looks good and I just saw it in my library's catalog!
Re: the Atwood discussion-While I haven't read The Handmaid's Tale (it's on the schedule for my book club in October, so I'm waiting), my favorite Atwood so far is Alias Grace. I have read Surfacing, Cat's Eye, The Robber Bride and The Blind Assassin. My least favorite is The Blind Assassin.
I agree that Alias Grace was excellent, had forgotten that book though I don't know why I did.
OK, I'll just add 'em all on the list. ;-)
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Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die
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I'm sorry you didn't like it. This is one of my favorites!