Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die discussion
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Which LIST book did you just finish?
The Awakening, by Kate Chopin. I wasn't expecting it to be as fantastic as it was. I was very pleasantly surprised!
I finished Cranford yesterday. Did the back cover say "gentle?" Well, it was. Very lovely and subtle.And Pride and Prejudice earlier in the month. Can't believe I'd never read it before. I wanted to read it before I'd let myself read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies but now I don't think I can read that one. It's just a novelty, not something you can actually read, I now realize.
On Love A Novel I loved this book. I can only describe it as novelistic essays. I had gotten the book from the library & it was so heavily underlined & exclamation marked, that I was compelled to purchase a copy so I could underline all my favorite bits. And there are a LOT of underlines in my copy.
Beloved by Toni MorrisonA bit painful, but very captivating. I just got done reading "Bridget Jones's Diary" for a class and needed something to wake my brain up again - "Beloved" certainly did that!
The House in Paris by Elizabeth Bowen, boring!
Emma wrote: And Pride and Prejudice earlier in the month. Can't believe I'd never read it before. I wanted to read it before I'd let myself read Pride and Prejudice and Zombies..."
I have been wanting my 15 yo daughter to read P&P, but she won't so I bought the Zombies version for her bday. I'm hoping maybe after she reads that, she might consider reading Austen's original. I'll let you all know how it works out!
Linda wrote: "Emma wrote: And Pride and Prejudice earlier in the month. Can't believe I'd never read it before. I wanted to read it before I'd let myself read [book:Pride and Prejudice and Zombies|5..."
Yes, do!
I finished "The Red and The Black" today. I have to say
I really didn't "get it" until the last third of the novel. Often tedious in the first half, the story begins to take on meaning eventually in the second half and is worth the effort to get there.
Just finished Wide Sargasso Sea. I can't say I was a big fan.
Finished The Unbearable Lightness of Being last night.
Finished One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest and I have to say it's one of my favorites off of the list so far. Loved the witty approach the author used to incorporate irony and individualism into the plot.
Jessica wrote: "Just finished Alias Grace/Margaret Atwood, Girl With Green Eyes/Edna O'Brien, and Poisonwood Bible/Barbara Kingsolver"How was the poisonwood Bible?Is it worth my putting it high on my list?
Just finished Dragons Teeth.Interesting.
Alexandra wrote: "Just finished Wide Sargasso Sea. I can't say I was a big fan. "Have you read 'Jane Eyre'? Wide Sargasso Sea is a spin-off from a character developed in Jane Eyre, and I'm curious if the spin-off tale aligns well with Jane Eyre.
Just finished Watchmen. I enjoyed the graphic novel medium but I can't say that I will search out another graphic novel to read. Glad that I read it though...
Jerry wrote: "Jessica wrote: "Just finished Alias Grace/Margaret Atwood, Girl With Green Eyes/Edna O'Brien, and Poisonwood Bible/Barbara Kingsolver"How was the poisonwood Bible?Is it worth my putting it high on..."
Yep, I really, really liked it. Reminded me of "The Mosquito Coast", almost...wacky parents put you in strange lands kind of thing
Paula wrote: "Alexandra wrote: "Just finished Wide Sargasso Sea. I can't say I was a big fan. "Have you read 'Jane Eyre'? Wide Sargasso Sea is a spin-off from a character developed in Jane Eyre, and I'm curi..."
Wow...I'm surprised. I loved that book. And it really does make a good companion to Jane Eyre. Different viewpoint makes you think.
Just finished "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime", Mark Haddon.
Christina Stind wrote: "Finished War and Peace yesterday and Cannery Row today. War and Peace was amazing, well worth the time and effort.Cannery Row was good as well, I really like Steinbeck, but I definitely prefer Eas..."
Oh yeah. East of Eden is my favorite Steinbeck.
"Summer" - Edith WhartonWhat a wonderful writer she was!
Väinö Linna's The Unknown Soldier. Easily one of the best novels about war I have ever read. And as a Finn, it was about time I read it.
Jerry wrote: "Jessica wrote: "Just finished Alias Grace/Margaret Atwood, Girl With Green Eyes/Edna O'Brien, and Poisonwood Bible/Barbara Kingsolver"How was the poisonwood Bible?Is it worth my putting it high on..."
I think The Poisonwood Bible is one of my favorite books. I'm a Kingsolver fan in general but that book was great!
I just finished A Handful of Dust and enjoyed it.
JF The Things They Carried and am glad I read it. Although gory in parts (what would you expect from war stories?), it was very touching and insightful into the feelings and affects that war has on the people who find themselves involved. I enjoyed O'Brien's storytelling method, and how he connects the stories from the war with their stories back home.
Ana wrote: "I just finished The Shadow of the Wind. It should be on the list. It is such a good book. "I agree, Ana. LOVED that book.
Michelle wrote: "Ana wrote: "I just finished The Shadow of the Wind. It should be on the list. It is such a good book. "I agree, Ana. LOVED that book."
I have heard so many good things about this book. I just bought it and can't wait to read it!
Emma wrote: "Jerry wrote: "Jessica wrote: "Just finished Alias Grace/Margaret Atwood, Girl With Green Eyes/Edna O'Brien, and Poisonwood Bible/Barbara Kingsolver"How was the poisonwood Bible?Is it worth my putt..."
I thought Poisonwood Bible was fantastic. I was nervous it would be much ado about nothing because of all the fanfare, but I think it deserves all of its kudos. Kingsolver's great skill is clearly in her characterization, and all five voices are so clearly differentiated and idiosyncratic that none of the diverse and potentially annoying characters become tedious. Besides the characterizations and the frequent & surprisingly dry humor, the best part for me is how the novel starts out as a combination of character study/fish-out-of-water tale/ethnographic travelogue and then halfway through turns itself into a truly epic journey in which the country itself becomes the main character. In some ways it reminded me of Oscar and Lucinda, but the writing was less surreal and the narrative arc far less depressing. Anyway, it was awesome!
Ana wrote: "I just finished The Shadow of the Wind. It should be on the list. It is such a good book. "shadow of the wind is amazing! can't wait for zafon's new book this autumn
Finished Eva Luna last weekend. Finished Lord of the Flies yesterday. Eva Luna wasn't my favorite Allende. Lord of the Flies was disturbing. I didn't enjoy the actual writing very much, but the story kept me interested.
Lyn wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Ana wrote: "I just finished The Shadow of the Wind. It should be on the list. It is such a good book. "I agree, Ana. LOVED that book."
I have heard so many good thin..."
Three positive votes are enough for me! Just ordered it - thanks all!
Just finished The Year Of The Hare by Arto Paasilinna. Didn't like it, didn't hate it either. Sometimes I just can't form an opinion on a Finnish writer's work. It happened in high school and, well, it happened again. I was just pretty indifferent about this book.
Kristi - glad you liked it, Steinbeck is one of my favorite authors
Just finished The Handmaid's Tale by Atwood. It was excellent. It was like 1984 but with female characters and perspectives.
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Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die
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Oświecenie | Mieczysław Klimowicz