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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Kristi
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Mar 04, 2009 06:45AM
I just finished The Book Thief and Time and Again, though neither are on the list. I hope to finish Emma soon.
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I just finished The Woman in White and *loved* it. It was very Victorian, with all the character oddities that are common in Victorian novels (fainting women, absurd "foreigners") but it was also a real page turner. It has obviously held up well over time.
I just finished The Unfortunate Traveller by Thomas Nashe. It took me awhile to read as it was part of a collection of works and I read the entire book. I really enjoyed it and I'm glad that I joined this challenge as otherwise, I wouldn't have discovered this author. I enjoyed reading him - he was great at characterisation and you can see where Dickens was influenced. The Unfortunate Traveller itself is full of violence, but it is very much removed from our contemporary life so it doesn't jar too much. There are a lot of laugh out loud moments in his works - especially in Lenten Stuff.
Silver wrote: "Just finnished The Three Musketeers it was an awsome book. "Oh, I love The Three Musketeers! One of my favs, gotta read it at least once a year.
Niche wrote: "Emilee wrote: "Niche: how was Do Android's Dream."I loved it, thanks. I'm not liking Ender's Game as much though. I'm stalled out 3/4th through the book.
"
Hang in there. The ending is totally awesome!
Judith wrote: "The Comfort of Strangers - Ian McEwanAlias Grace - Margaret Atwood"
Judith, how did you like Alias Grace? It is, to date, my only Atwood. I remember enjoying the tone and Grace's voice and would like to pick my next Atwood.
I just finished Silas Marner by George Eliot. The relationship between a character and his offspring was so inspiring that I now feel this is my favorite book of 70+ I have read from the 08 list. Needless to say, it was excellent.
Thanks Laura, I've never taken such a sigh of relief after finishing a book. Absolutely amazing though...
I read A Home at the End of the World A Novel Michael Cunningham- absolutely loved it, made me all emotional, am now a confirmed fan after 5 Starring the hours also
Emma wrote: "Finished The House in Paris tonight. I was going to be a good student and read it again ..."Emma: I just finished Lady Chatterley's Love & really enjoyed it. And there are some great films based on the book as well. As for Atwood - my all time favorite is The Handmaid's Tale (avoid the film).
I just finished A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift. I believe it is the only essay on the list. It is satirical, of course. It was very good.
Chel wrote: "I just finished Silas Marner by George Eliot. The relationship between a character and his offspring was so inspiring that I now feel this is my favorite book of 70+ I have read from the 08 list. ..."Where would this list be located? I heard that the list has changed is this true?
Rory wrote: "Emma wrote: "Finished The House in Paris tonight. I was going to be a good student and r..."Good to know about Lady Chatterley, Rory, and thanks for the Atwood suggestion. I've also enjoyed checking out the movies associated with some of the books on the list. Most recently, I've watched The Shipping News, Brideshead Revisited, Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, Morvern Callar (even bought the soundtrack), and Cold Comfort Farm. I'd like to check out the Kubrick Lolita. I've only seen the '97 Adrian Lyne version.
Just finished The House in Paris and loved it.What a great book.
I haven't heard of it before it was on the vote for the group read and now I'm going to put it on my favourites shelf!
What a great book - hopefully we can get a good discussion going!
Olympia wrote: "Chel wrote: "I just finished Silas Marner by George Eliot. The relationship between a character and his offspring was so inspiring that I now feel this is my favorite book of 70+ I have read from ..."Hi Olympia, The older, 2006 Boxall list is at:
http://www.listsofbests.com/list/2222
The newer, 2008 Boxall list is at:
http://www.listsofbests.com/list/57568
284 books were dropped from the older list and 284 new ones were added to the new list. By and large Anglo-saxon and continental West European authors were dropped from the old list and more Asian, Indian, Latin American, and East European authors were added throughout all time periods creating a more global literary experience. Many of the additions are from authors not as familiar but well known in their respective regions but not initially published greatly by western publishing houses. Also, keep in mind that the list largely consists of fictional novels as selected by a panel of literature professors but there are some exceptions. Pippi Longstocking is on the new list as the only example of juvenile literature. The Watchmen is on both lists as the example of graphic novels, A Modest Proposal is on both lists as an example of a satirical, fictional essay, and several short stories and shorter novels (novellas and novelettes) are on the list such as some Poe, Gogol,and other stories. I personally shifted from the older to the newer list because I wanted a more global and diverse literary reading experience. Very few true classics were removed but overrepresented contemporary authors had extra entries removed. When I switched I dropped from 89 books to 67 books completed (22) but it turns out the ones dropped were largely excellent anyway. Keep in mind that the new additions on the new list might be harder to find at the book store as they have been underpublished outside their regions in the past. You might have to order some via the internet. Some of the Chinese classics that are old aren't even on Project Gutenberg in English (the free website for expired copyrighted books that I don't use but checked out of curiosity) for example! Do you think you will begin a list and if so which one do you think you will use?
Tess of the D'Ubervilles. Sad and melancholy. I saw the movie first and it was exactly true to the book.
I just finished a re-read of To Kill a Mockingbird. It didn't disappoint. I have never seen the movie, but feel compelled to. I have heard it is wonderful.
Finished Brideshead Revisited, not sure how or why I had not read this sooner, liked it, somewhat predictable story-line, too moralistic for my tastes but generally well-written, not his best or worst.
I just finished the Devil and Miss Prym. It was good, really quick and not TOO preachy, which I was afraid it would be.
I just finished Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston. It was excellent especially the anthropological incidentals supplied regarding African Americans in Florida in the first part of the 20th century and the quest by the main character, begun belatedly, to acheive true love. The book was wonderful.
I just finished a book called Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson. She is also the author of Speak and Fever 1793. Both of which i love.Chains was a fabulous book, it shows how hard it was for a black slave girl during the American Revolution, and what trials she suffered.
Just finished Paulo Coehlo's The Devil and Miss Prym (loved) and Kate Chopin's The Awakening (also loved). I think I may read Veronika Decides to Die soon, since I liked Coelho...
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