Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die discussion

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message 1501: by Karen (new)

Karen | 63 comments I just finished "A Suitable Boy" by Vikram Seth...1474 pages in paperback. It took me most of a month to read it, but it was well worth it. Excellent book, well-written, great insight into Indian culture and society. It has been compared to Middlemarch by George Eliot and I think it is a very apt pairing. Both are a composite of life in a particular society at a particular time. I am very glad I read it. My only regret is that I now miss the characters!


message 1502: by Karen (new)

Karen | 63 comments Courtney wrote: "George Elliot's Middlemarch and about to finish Bel Canto. I LOVED Middlemarch and found it to be a revelation. The jury is still out on Bel Canto. "

Middlemarch is one of my favorite books. Have you seen the BBC mini-series? I thought it was very well done.


message 1503: by Karen (new)

Karen | 63 comments Yelena wrote: "Was nearly finished with Cloud Atlas, and then forgot to pack it. I'm away for a week and realized I had left my next three list selection on my desk. The airport was no help, though I did get Midd..."

Thanks for this plug. I have Cloud Atlas sitting her, but just having read two very long books, (Cloudsplitter by Russel Banks and A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth) I want to tackle something shorter first! But you have inspired me to keep it in the pile.


message 1504: by Julie (new)

Julie (juliemoncton) | 54 comments Just finished House of Mirth. Really liked it - had a great discussion with my real life bookclub about this book and the choices women have today in society.


message 1505: by Megha (new)

Megha (hearthewindsing) Karen wrote: "I just finished "A Suitable Boy" by Vikram Seth...1474 pages in paperback. It took me most of a month to read it, but it was well worth it. Excellent book, well-written, great insight into Indian ..."

I had started reading 'A Suitable Boy', but gave up after 300 pages or so. Hearing that it is worth the time makes me think that it may not be a bad idea to give it another try. Thanks Karen.


message 1506: by Charity (new)

Charity (charityross) Megha wrote: "What did you think of 'The Name of the Rose' Charity? I have heard its really good."

The first 100 pages or so were a little challenging (not bad, mind you, just dense), however, the story really took off after that and was extremely engaging. I'll probably end up reading it again down the road because there were a few things that I probably didn't pick up on the first time. I definitely felt it was a rewarding read.


message 1507: by Karen (new)

Karen | 63 comments Libby wrote: "alicia wrote: "Just got done reading Jude the Obscurethis weekend. Normally, ..."


My classics group recently read The Mayor of Casterbridge and we all really enjoyed it--it was so eventful, it was hard to put down!



message 1508: by Libby (new)

Libby | 39 comments Julie at All Ears wrote: "Just finished House of Mirth. Really liked it - had a great discussion with my real life bookclub about this book and the choices women have today in society."

This a personal favorite of mine - glad you enjoyed it! There was actually a decent movie made w/ Gillian Anderson.




message 1509: by Juliane (new)

Juliane (libristar) | 26 comments Finished Marina Lewycka's "A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian" some days ago, I really wonder, why this book is on this list. It has some funny parts, yes, but all in all it was a very dull book in my opinion. Was really disappointed.


message 1510: by Ilana (new)

Ilana (osherlana) | 3 comments The Secret Life of Bees. A lovely book, and an easy read. Made me enjoy honey :)


message 1511: by Ilana (new)

Ilana (osherlana) | 3 comments Carol wrote: "Ijust finished The Shining by Stephen King. "

and well...? Did you love it?



message 1512: by FromAna (last edited Apr 20, 2009 06:57AM) (new)

FromAna (fromanam) Ilana wrote: "The Secret Life of Bees. A lovely book, and an easy read. Made me enjoy honey :)"

I loved that book! I laughed and def. cried along with them
P.S. the movie is not so bad it came out last year Dakota Fanning, Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys and Queen Latifa are some of the actors. I liked it


message 1513: by Ilana (new)

Ilana (osherlana) | 3 comments Ana wrote: "Ilana wrote: "The Secret Life of Bees. A lovely book, and an easy read. Made me enjoy honey :)"

I loved that book! I laughed and def. cried along with them
P.S. the movie is not so bad"


Im sure I cried too :)
I didnt even know there was a film! Recommended?




message 1514: by Kristi (new)

Kristi (kristilarson) | 263 comments I recently finished Passing. I thought it was really good, although the ending was really sudden. I could've read more...

Hooray for this book club! I probably would never have heard about this book if not for 1001 books.


message 1515: by Dan (new)

Dan | The Ancient Reader (theancientreader) Just finished In the Forest by Edna O'Brien. Very good...but somewhat disturbing...book. Love the way she writes, so I have several more of hers on my to read list.


message 1516: by Justine (new)

Justine (paperbackheart) I finished Brave New World yesterday. I managed to avoid reading it all through school, but I probably would have enjoyed it more back then.


message 1517: by Lorena (new)

Lorena (lorenalilian) | 18 comments Ilana, the movie was good, it was a great complement to the book, I remember crying in the same places as I did in the book, Dakota Fanning was great as the Girl and so was the actress that played the sister with [the wall:].


message 1519: by Mike (last edited Apr 20, 2009 09:26PM) (new)

Mike About a week ago I finished A Boy's Own Story...which I thought was okay but nothing worthwhile.

The last book to really stick in my head was Sexing the Cherry. Even though I finished it awhile ago I'm still thinking about it. Now there's a good book


message 1520: by Leora (new)

Leora | 40 comments Finished 'The God of Small Things', didn't like it at all. Jumped around too much.


message 1521: by Misty (new)

Misty | 5 comments Veronika Decides to Die A Novel of Redemption by Paulo Coelho. I liked (not loved) it, but I think it is grander in the thoughts and discussions it can potentially provoke than in the writing or story itself. What is really fascinating is what provoked Coelho to write it.


message 1522: by Charity (new)

Charity (charityross) Finished Catch-22. I have a few off-list books that I'll be reading next, then I'll get back to the list.


message 1523: by Dan (new)

Dan | The Ancient Reader (theancientreader) Just finished Hideous Kinky by Esther Freud. At 187 pages and a flowing style, this was a quick read. Had the 'feel' of Michener's The Drifters.


message 1524: by Katie ATX (new)

Katie ATX (katieatx) | 74 comments Darlingmisty wrote: "Veronika Decides to Die A Novel of Redemption by Paulo Coelho. I liked (not loved) it, but I think it is grander in the thoughts and discussions it can potentially provok..."


This got me intrigued, so I wiki-ed it. Apparently there is a movie coming out based on this book this year. That could be interesting. I read the book a couple months ago.



message 1525: by Leora (new)

Leora | 40 comments Just finished the 'Golden Asse', it was slow going at first but I ended up actually liking it.


message 1526: by Amy (new)

Amy (bibliocrates) | 29 comments I recently finished Animal's People by Indra Sinha. A pretty serious read, but I would recommend it.


message 1527: by Jess (new)

Jess | 3 comments Pride and Prejudice--- my FIRST Jane Austen book. No regrets- I loved the language, the plot, and the character development. This is now one of my favorites! :-)


message 1528: by Elizabeth (new)

Elizabeth I just finished The Time Machine and A Christmas Carol. Thought I'd knock-off some of the shorter ones on the list while also taking advantage of some of the free e-books available on my new iPhone :)


message 1529: by FromAna (new)

FromAna (fromanam) Darlingmisty wrote: "Veronika Decides to Die A Novel of Redemption by Paulo Coelho. I liked (not loved) it, but I think it is grander in the thoughts and discussions it can potentially provok..."

He's great have you read other books by him?


message 1530: by Shelley (new)

Shelley (shelleylynn) I just finished Animal Farm - I can't believe I have never read it before- quick easy read and full of symbolism- I quite enjoyed it.


message 1531: by Barbro (new)

Barbro (fluffyb) | 6 comments Darlingmisty wrote: "Veronika Decides to Die A Novel of Redemption by Paulo Coelho. I liked (not loved) it, but I think it is grander in the thoughts and discussions it can potentially provok..."

I guess a book is different for everybody. I personally loved it. If you want a more positive book I'd recommend "The Alchemyst" instead. I find it quite inspiring, allthough many have the opinion that it has too much simplification.


message 1532: by Leora (new)

Leora | 40 comments Just finised 'Alice's Adventures in Wonderland', which is my 69th book. I am doing the combined list so I expect to finish in about a gazillion years!

Still working on 'The Idiot' and just downloaded "Gargantua and Pantagruel' from Gutenberg.


message 1533: by Dan (new)

Dan | The Ancient Reader (theancientreader) Read The Death of Ivan Ilyich this afternoon. Very interesting book. I think this is one that I'll find myself thinking about off and on over the next few weeks.


message 1534: by Dan (new)

Dan | The Ancient Reader (theancientreader) The Country Girls by Edna O'Brien.


message 1535: by Christina Stind (new)

Christina Stind | 180 comments Just finished Watchmen - what an amazing book.
This really shows what the graphic novel is capable of!


message 1537: by Lenoir (last edited Apr 27, 2009 11:56AM) (new)

Lenoir | 27 comments The Drowned and the Saved by Primo Levi


message 1538: by Anna (new)

Anna (lilfox) | 290 comments Lenoir when I click on the link the book called Saving fish from drowning. A novel appears. I liked Primo Levi's book The Drowned and the Saved.


message 1539: by Charity (last edited Apr 27, 2009 12:00PM) (new)

Charity (charityross) Sometimes if you just add the /[author: brackets, the wrong book/author link appears. The easiest and most accurate way to link books/authors is to click on the <b>add book/author</b> link right above the comment box.

Clicking that and typing in <i>The Drowned and the Saved</i>, I discovered that <i>[book:Saving Fish from Drowning A Novel
by Amy Tan appears first and that The Drowned and the Saved by Primo Levi appears second. So, anytime someone uses the [book: brackets for the Levi book instead of the add book/author link above the comment box, they will get the Tan book instead since it is listed first in the search.


message 1540: by Anna (new)

Anna (lilfox) | 290 comments Thanx Charity. I always use the add book/author link, cause it's just easier.


message 1541: by Lenoir (new)

Lenoir | 27 comments Anna wrote: "Lenoir when I click on the link the book called Saving fish from drowning. A novel appears. I liked Primo Levi's book The Drowned and the Saved. "

Hmmm, weird. Thanks for letting me know.




message 1542: by Charity (new)

Charity (charityross) I agree, Anna. I think some people got into the habit of using the brackets before the 'add book/author' link was an option and since the brackets are far less accurate, it has led to a lot of confusion. Not sure if Lenoir knew about the new 'add' option, so I thought I'd mention it.


message 1543: by Lenoir (new)

Lenoir | 27 comments Thanks Charity. No, I didn't know that was there.


message 1544: by Dan (new)

Dan | The Ancient Reader (theancientreader) Read Death in Venice last night. May not bother with anything else Mann has on the list.


message 1545: by Kristi (last edited Apr 28, 2009 07:28AM) (new)

Kristi (kristilarson) | 263 comments I finished The Time Traveler's Wife this weekend. Didn't hate it, didn't love it. It's not on the list, though. My current list read is Cancer Ward, I think it'll take me awhile.


message 1546: by Darcy (new)

Darcy (darcy-elizabeth) | 34 comments The Awakening by Kate Chopin.


message 1547: by Charity (new)

Charity (charityross) Recently finished from the list: Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut and The Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham


message 1548: by Caitlin (new)


message 1549: by Shelley (new)

Shelley (shelleylynn) Just finished Middlesex. Took me a really long time and it is time that I simply wont get back. Really didn't enjoy the book at all.


message 1550: by Linda (new)

Linda Just finished "They Shoot Horses, Don't They" and "Death Be Not Proud" (not on the 1001 list). Both ended with someone dying - now I need to find a more uplifting read...


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