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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Judy
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Aug 11, 2012 04:54PM
Just finished White Noise by Don Delillo
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I finished Eva Trout by Elizabeth Bowen. I really didn't like this book,only liked one of the characters, Jeremy the deaf boy.Of course, I'm an educational interpreter for Deaf children(right now, the student I work with is partially blind as well). Back when this book was written,it was pretty common to hear the phrase "deaf and dumb" as in Eva, the main character knowing that her child was 'deaf and dumb', but I still cringed everytime I read it. Jeremy was only really able to read Eva's lips. They seemed to also communicate through e.s.p. I was very frustrated that Eva spent all this time trying to fix this boy but really didn't seem to do anything to educate him. I guess the book never really said where he went to school. I will not give away the ending, but believe that if this child had been educated (in an oral program where no sign language was allowed or a manual program with only sign language, or total communication where both is used- not sure where e.s.p. would fit in, good grief!)maybe some of the things that happened could have been avoided. I'm probably missing the whole point of the book, but adding the deaf child really caused me to become frustrated with this book. Sorry, had to vent. If Jeremy was alive now, he could have received a cochlear implant... okay, I know, he's a fictional character, let it go!
I just finished Notes From Underground by Dostoevsky. While mainly a depressing story from an unlikeable narrator full of self-loathing, it's a great book. Dense for such a short book, too.
Middlemarch...glad to get that one behind me.
just finished Money by Martin Amis. Took me two tries to do this one. It's a very odd book to commit to. Here's my review: http://bethslistlove.wordpress.com/20...
The Last Chronicle of Barset. I loved the entire series and will be happy to embark on his Palliser series next year. Mr. Plantagenet Palliser was introduced in the 5th book of this series, and mentioned briefly in this last book of Barsetshire.my review
Started and finished "The Thirteen Clocks" by James Thurber.The 13 Clocks
Very amusing little children's book with pleasing illustrations. Not sure why it is on the list...., but I've always admired Thurber's humor.
The Sun Also Rises. My first Hemingway and I'll be reading more's!
Just finished One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Hopeful, hopeless, disturbing and evocative all at once. I haven't seen the movie so went in with no expectations or pre-conceptions.34 pages of Emile by Rousseau to go! Yippeeeeeee. Words cannot express how excited I am to be done with this one.
Just finished Of Mice and Men. Such a great short story that emotionally drained me. I cried too often over the character Lennie throughout the entire story especially knowning that back then no one really knew how to deal with people with special needs.
Wuthering Heights -Emily BronteThis work demontrated to me the vast difference in talent the Bronte sisters have in contrast to Austen's works. With Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights, they are miles above Austen.
Just finished "Siddhartha" by Hermann Hesse. Really enjoyed it, and this may sound weird, but kind of felt "at peace" when reading it.
Not weird at all, it was very spiritual.
I just finished Beautiful Disaster , I swear, it's amazing!
Massiel wrote: "I just finished Beautiful Disaster , I swear, it's amazing!"I don't think that's a list book.
CaneCane by Jean Toomer
Not a novel, but a book of poetry and short stories.
Very innovative in voice, contributing to the Harlem Renaissance.
Just finished The Handmaid's Tale. I loved it.
The stone diaries by carol shields. It seems to split opinions on here but I loved it. 'in one day I had altered my life. My life therefore was alterable'.Also finished kitchen and poison wood bible, both of which are up on: bookbebeautiful.blogspot.com
It's been a bad reading year for me. But I did just finish Fanny Hill. A surprisingly dirty book! Most books that are called obscene are just suggestive. Not this one. I am not offended by such things, but I can see where people would be uncomfortable.
Just finished up The Kite Runner while on vacay in FL. This book is the reason my forehead and shoulders are peeling. Could not put it down while on the beach. Def a favorite now.
Gregory wrote: "Just finished up The Kite Runner while on vacay in FL. This book is the reason my forehead and shoulders are peeling. Could not put it down while on the beach. Def a favorite now."This also is not a list book. What list are you looking at?
Oops sorry didn't realize which discussion section I was in
Gregory wrote: "Oops sorry didn't realize which discussion section I was in"What do you mean by discussion section? The whole group is about the 1001 books list as defined by Peter Boxall.
Just completed Tarka the Otter by Henry Williamson.A labour of love for me as much as for the author I feel.
Sara wrote: "Just finished The Handmaid's Tale. I loved it."Good job. I liked that book.
I just finished Red Harvest by Dashiell Hammett. It's some serious detective noir! I should finish all 4 Hammett books that are on the combined lists by the end of the month, just because noir is a genre best read quickly, in my opinion. It's fun to read where all the great cliches came from.
Gini wrote: "It's been a bad reading year for me. But I did just finish Fanny Hill. A surprisingly dirty book! Most books that are called obscene are just suggestive. Not this one. I am not offended by such thi..."Fanny Hill is also considered, along with things like Delta of Venus, Fear of Flying, & The Story of O, as erotica. I absolutely ADORED Fanny Hill. I found it highly entertaining, CUTE in the descriptions, & in places, laugh out loud funny. Definitely NOT a book that I would suggest for the under 21 1001 List members though!!!! I created an erotica shelf of my own & cross referenced these books to that category as well as to the 1001 bookshelf...
I just finished Moon Palace-Paul Auster, late last night. It's the 2nd of the Auster novels I've read, & I really like his writing style. This one is about 3 men, some amazing coincidences that bring them together, & the chances that destroyed what their lives COULD have been. It's also about second chances, & the power of forgiveness...very good read. Looking forward to reading more of his work.
Finished Aesops Fables last night. A quick read that brought me back to my elementary school days. Now I can fully concentrate on Cranford since I am also enjoying that one.
I am about 2/3 through Handmaid's Tail and loving it too.
Today I finished The Good Soldier. It was interesting. I both enjoyed and hated the way the story slowly comes together. The narrator tells you the "ending" at the beginning and the rest of the book is how they all got there.
Finished One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest on my vacation. I couldn't put it down, I was done it in two days, and I loved it. Now to finish Don Quixote.... its a different read for sure, like a polar opposite from One Flew Over!!
oooh I'd disagree there Mina. I think One Flew and Don Quixote have a great deal in common. Both are satires. Both are about how society views and distinguishes madness and sanity. At the start, you the reader are convinced, along with society, about who is sane and who is mad. By the end, you are either thinking the dead opposite or totally confused. I think they are great examples of two different eras dealing with the same issues.
The Call of the WildThe Call of the Wild - Jack London
A quick re-read from years ago. Glad I took the time to visit Buck again.
Katherine wrote: "I just finished Red Harvest by Dashiell Hammett. It's some serious detective noir! I should finish all 4 Hammett books that are on the combined lists by the end of the month, just because noir is a..."Just as a pretty terrific side read, since you're enjoying the Hammett, read the short story "The House on Turk Street" by Hammett. It's collected in the book "The Continental Op" and has to be one of the most fun hard-boiled stories ever. It's pretty much a mini-"Red Harvest".
I recently finished No One Writes to the Colonel for another challenge - I really enjoy Garica Marquez! My review is here: http://independentbookreview.wordpres...
Finished The Water Margin, long book but I did enjoy reading it. Felt a bit like the chinese version of Robin Hood, and the names are great. Timely rain, Sagacious Lu, Ten Feet of Steel etc.
Finished Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell this morning. I really enjoyed it but not sure if I will tackle her other books just yet.
Just finished Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream and now feel the need of a shower.
Just finished Elizabeth Costello. Did not really get beyond a "it's ok" feeling. Plenty of people loved it so I guess it's "horses for courses".
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Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die
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