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

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message 2251: by Emma (last edited Dec 19, 2009 08:27PM) (new)

Emma (mnium) | 135 comments Judith wrote: "Kate wrote: " I just finished reading this and absolutely loved it. I gulped down the first half in one sitting then had to make myself slow down because I didn't want it to end. It's a real tre..."

Nor did I, Kate. Was it the French Lieutenant's Woman mentioned in the previous post (Kristin's message 2338)?

Oh wait, no, that can't be...


message 2252: by Kristi (new)

Kristi (kristilarson) | 263 comments I just read The Reluctant Fundamentalist today. There were some beautiful bits of imagery in the narrative.


message 2253: by Pam (new)

Pam | 7 comments I just finished A Clockwork Orange yesterday too! Great book, but took me awhile to get the slang.


message 2254: by Judith (new)

Judith (jloucks) | 1202 comments I read "Watchmen" by Alan Moore yesterday. Impressive, but not as much so as I expected after all the rage about it.


message 2255: by Judith (new)

Judith (jloucks) | 1202 comments Emma wrote: "Lauli wrote: "Brideshead Revisited
I liked the book, it was very well-written and had a nostalgic tone which was quite alluring. My problem, however, was that I couldn't really relate ..."


I loved Bridesdeshead Revisited! Just interesting characters!


message 2256: by Mimi (new)

Mimi | 1 comments Kate wrote: " I just finished reading this and absolutely loved it. I gulped down the first half in one sitting then had to make myself slow down because I didn't want it to end. It's a real treat - hilariou..."

What was this fabulous book?!!!



message 2257: by Lauli (new)

Lauli | 263 comments Emma wrote: "Lauli wrote: "Brideshead Revisited
I liked the book, it was very well-written and had a nostalgic tone which was quite alluring. My problem, however, was that I couldn't really relate ..."


Not that they are unlikeable, just that at times it is difficult to understand their motivations, since their decisions are influenced by childhood traumas or internal conflicts which are hinted at but not said in so many words, and that's why at times I felt that I hated some of the characters' decisions were unfair to others. I don't know if it will be quite clear, it's a very complex book, I suggest you read it to form a clear idea.


message 2259: by Vikki (new)

Vikki (vikkijo) | 110 comments Bleak House by Charles Dickens. It was a very hard read for me. Too many characters and subplots to keep track of.


message 2260: by Gerald (new)

Gerald Camp (gerryc) | 75 comments Judith wrote: "I read "Watchmen" by Alan Moore yesterday. Impressive, but not as much so as I expected after all the rage about it." I enjoyed the book so rented the movie. The movie is terrible; I suggest you skip it.
Gerry




message 2261: by Emma (new)

Emma (mnium) | 135 comments I finished The Woman in White last night. Great fun. Pretty good villain.


message 2262: by Laura (new)

Laura (thatlibrarianlady) I finished Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen. I loved it. It's one of the best books I've ever read.


message 2263: by Lauli (new)

Lauli | 263 comments Empire of the Sun by J.G. Ballard. Very good book, raw and sincere. I had watched the film years ago and thought the book would be a bit melodramatic or sentimental, but it's nothing like it. Just a story of survival and coming of age in the worst possible scenario. I found it very interesting that Ballard went through a similar experience as a child growing up in Japan-occupied China.


message 2264: by Gini (new)

Gini | 138 comments Laura Ashlee wrote: "I finished Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen. I loved it. It's one of the best books I've ever read."

It is wonderful. I have limited reading time and many, many books I want to read, but there are two books that I simply have to go back and read now and then: P&P and Lord of the Rings.




message 2265: by Vikki (new)

Vikki (vikkijo) | 110 comments Alice Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carrol. I never read it as a child, I enjoyed it and it was a fast read.


message 2266: by Julia (new)

Julia (jujulia) | 37 comments Gerald wrote: "Judith wrote: "I read "Watchmen" by Alan Moore yesterday. Impressive, but not as much so as I expected after all the rage about it." I enjoyed the book so rented the movie. The movie is terrible; ..."

Yes, the count is terrific...one of the most endearing villains i remember with his birds and white mice. i also really liked the "ugly" sister, Marianne, at least in the beginning until she became almost as boring as Laura....



message 2267: by Vikki (last edited Dec 22, 2009 08:28AM) (new)

Vikki (vikkijo) | 110 comments Gini wrote: "Laura Ashlee wrote: "I finished Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen. I loved it. It's one of the best books I've ever read."

It is wonderful. I have limited reading time ..."


Yes I too love to reread Lord of the Rings and do so about every 4-5 years. One of my all time favorites.






message 2268: by Laura (new)

Laura (thatlibrarianlady) Gini wrote: "Laura Ashlee wrote: "I finished Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen. I loved it. It's one of the best books I've ever read."

It is wonderful. I have limited reading time ..."


I totally agree. They're both so beautifully written. I haven't read Lord of the Rings in years. I might have to give it a re-read very soon.


message 2269: by Bárbara (new)

Bárbara (leviathan_) I just finished One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest!


message 2270: by Katherine (new)

Katherine (katats) | 150 comments I just completed The Stranger by Albert Camus. It is a pretty short read, but really interesting. I recommend it.


message 2271: by Katherine (new)

Katherine (katats) | 150 comments BAH! I just realized that Camus has a bunch of works on the list, but The Stranger is not one of them! Alas, it was still a great book, so I am happy, even if it did not increase my count!


message 2272: by Bárbara (new)

Bárbara (leviathan_) Some translations name it as "The Outsider"; I'm not 100% sure right now, nor in the mood to check, but it could be on the list under that title.


message 2273: by Anthony (new)

Anthony DeCastro | 168 comments Franny and Zooey by Salinger. Some parts absolutely brilliant. Other parts a complete bore. It's all talking heads, and at 200 pages it seems too long. It make take a re-read to appreciate a couple of the scenes (there are only 4 or 5), but it seemed like it could have been carved down to a really great short story.


message 2274: by Judith (new)

Judith (jloucks) | 1202 comments "The Stranger" and the "Outsider" by Camus are the same book and is listed under "The Outsider" on the 1001 List.


message 2275: by Chel (new)

Chel | 380 comments It was titled The Outsider in Europe, I believe, and The Stranger in the US.


message 2276: by Felly (new)

Felly (flasmana) | 2 comments God explained in a taxi ride by Paul Arden..and I'm going to read it again anytime I want :)


message 2277: by Johnny (new)

Johnny B. Rempit (johnnyrempit) | 20 comments Chel wrote: "It was titled The Outsider in Europe, I believe, and The Stranger in the US."

Why is that? It sure confused the heck out of me a while back before I found out they were the same book.

Another book with a similar 'problem' is by Michel Houellebecq. Apparently, 'The Elementary Particles' and 'Atomised' are the same book.

Why? Is it a French thing?


message 2278: by Kristi (new)

Kristi (kristilarson) | 263 comments I read The Zookeeper's Wife A War Story this week. Not on the list. I was actually disappointed to learn that it wasn't classified as a novel. I guess I thought it was historical fiction when I picked it up. Anyway, it was interesting and a good war story. I'm moving back to the list for a while, though.


message 2279: by Katherine (new)

Katherine (katats) | 150 comments Thanks everyone for the The Outsider/The Stranger clarification. This is one reason why translations are so fascinating. Great read, and I am happy it knocked another book off of my list!


message 2280: by Linda (last edited Dec 26, 2009 07:27PM) (new)

Linda jf Breakfast at Tiffany's, along with one of the short stories in the book "A Christmas Memory" which was moving. I tried to watch the movie BaT with Audrey Hepburn a few years ago and found it so boring I couldn't finish it. Guess I'll go back and watch it again; I know it is a favorite for some people.


message 2281: by Elise (new)

Elise (elise327) Just finished Myra Breckinridge, and I'm not sure what I think about it. It's compellingly written, but completely bizarre, and I don't think Gore Vidal would have won any kudos from the transsexual community, had one existed when he wrote it. But entertaining. Apparently the movie is a hot mess, which I can totally imagine.


message 2282: by Lauli (new)

Lauli | 263 comments The Feast of the Goat by Mario Vargas Llosa


message 2283: by Meera (new)

Meera I just finished The Diary of a Nobody which was quick and amusing.


message 2284: by Gini (new)

Gini | 138 comments Siddhartha by Herman Hesse. More a philosophy disguised as a novel, but I really liked it.


message 2286: by Judith (last edited Dec 27, 2009 12:21PM) (new)

Judith (jloucks) | 1202 comments Johnny wrote: "Chel wrote: "It was titled The Outsider in Europe, I believe, and The Stranger in the US."

Why is that? It sure confused the heck out of me a while back before I found out they were the same book...."


I haven't ever researched the reason. I just assumed that is was a translation difference. Anybody know differently?


message 2287: by Kristi (new)

Kristi (kristilarson) | 263 comments Just finished Regeneration. I thought it was good, and I'll definitely read the rest of the trilogy.


message 2288: by Susan (new)

Susan | 28 comments Just finished The Devil and Miss Prym. I know that most people are either "love" or "hate" Coehlo, I have to say I really love his writing style. Really enjoyed the book, *Spoiler alert* I guess the ending still left me feeling like evil won......but I felt ok about that since no one was murdered? Still trudging through Catch 22, since the book club started (in July) and while parts are funny, it feels like the point was made.


message 2289: by Connie (new)

Connie Faull Anna wrote: "Dreamcatcher and Night Shift by Stephen King"

Wow you read quick!!! I'm trying to get into Stephen King, my family are huge fans of his, but I have to say I really liked Dreamcatcher. There were some parts in that book that were laugh-out-loud funny. Did you think so as well. Unfortunately, they didn't transfer that well to the movie screen.


message 2290: by Anna (new)

Anna (lilfox) | 290 comments I had loads of time to read during Christmas.


message 2291: by Kristi (new)

Kristi (kristilarson) | 263 comments Finished Wide Sargasso Sea last night. I wasn't impressed.


message 2292: by Lauli (new)

Lauli | 263 comments Finished July's People and Billy Budd, Sailor. Hated the latter. So cryptic and melodramatic! No wonder I had never been able to make it to the end. Rightfully knocked off the new list.
I liked Gordimer's book, though I also had trouble getting on at times. But I thought the topic was very interesting, and that sort of kept me going.


message 2293: by Kristi (new)

Kristi (kristilarson) | 263 comments Managed to finish Everything That Rises Must Converge. Probably won't read anything else by Flannery O'Connor.


message 2294: by Manju (new)

Manju /*  Life is beautiful  */ (manjulabalu) | 3 comments I just completed "Digital Fortress" by Dan Brown...Very very interesting book........


message 2295: by Connie (new)

Connie Faull Manju wrote: "I just completed "Digital Fortress" by Dan Brown...Very very interesting book........"

Manju, I've heard a lot of people liked that book. I liked both The DaVinci Code & Angels & Demons by Dan Brown but I thought The Lost Symbol was a bit of a dud. I may put Digital Fortress on my tbr list now though.


message 2296: by Deanne (new)

Deanne | 681 comments Johnny, Chel and Judith
It's not always a translation thing when a book is renamed, sometimes it's culture, or even the publisher makes a decision that the book won't sell well under it's original name.
In the UK the first Harry Potter book is called The Philosopher's stone, (it became Sorcerer's stone in the US). The first book in His Dark Materials was originally called Northern Lights, now it's known as The Golden Compass.
Connie I tried to read the Da Vinci code, couldn't get past 100 pages, you either love it or hate it.
Finished Woman at point zero, small book, well written and an interesting subject.


message 2297: by Anna (new)

Anna (lilfox) | 290 comments Interred with Their Bones by Jennifer Lee Carrell

I had read it really fast and it was rather light and interesting book from stream of books like The Poe Shadow and The Dante Club A Novel by Matthew Pearl.


message 2298: by Stacie (new)

Stacie | 140 comments I completed Moby Dick yesterday. It was OK. I am glad I have read other Melville before this one, as I probably wouldn't have picked up anything else by him after reading this. I love his short stories and really liked his novel Pierre, Or the Ambiguities. Although MD had some great moments, overall it was not my cup of tea.


message 2299: by Judith (new)

Judith (jloucks) | 1202 comments I finished "If On A Winter's Night A Traveler" by Calvino. Amazing!


message 2300: by Jessie (new)

Jessie (Jessie08) | 10 comments Yesterday I finished Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton. I can definitely see why it is on this list. It gives real insight into South Africa's struggles while telling a heartbreaking story about two fathers. I highly recomend it.


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