Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die discussion
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Which LIST book did you just finish?
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...
I just read The Reluctant Fundamentalist today. There were some beautiful bits of imagery in the narrative.
I just finished A Clockwork Orange yesterday too! Great book, but took me awhile to get the slang.
I read "Watchmen" by Alan Moore yesterday. Impressive, but not as much so as I expected after all the rage about it.
Emma wrote: "Lauli wrote: "Brideshead RevisitedI 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!
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?!!!
Emma wrote: "Lauli wrote: "Brideshead RevisitedI 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.
Bleak House by Charles Dickens. It was a very hard read for me. Too many characters and subplots to keep track of.
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
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.
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.
Alice Through the Looking Glass by Lewis Carrol. I never read it as a child, I enjoyed it and it was a fast read.
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....
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.
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.
I just finished One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest!
I just completed The Stranger by Albert Camus. It is a pretty short read, but really interesting. I recommend it.
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!
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.
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.
"The Stranger" and the "Outsider" by Camus are the same book and is listed under "The Outsider" on the 1001 List.
It was titled The Outsider in Europe, I believe, and The Stranger in the US.
God explained in a taxi ride by Paul Arden..and I'm going to read it again anytime I want :)
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?
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.
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!
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.
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.
Siddhartha by Herman Hesse. More a philosophy disguised as a novel, but I really liked it.
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?
Just finished Regeneration. I thought it was good, and I'll definitely read the rest of the trilogy.
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.
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.
I had loads of time to read during Christmas.
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.
Managed to finish Everything That Rises Must Converge. Probably won't read anything else by Flannery O'Connor.
I just completed "Digital Fortress" by Dan Brown...Very very interesting book........
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.
Johnny, Chel and JudithIt'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.
Interred with Their Bones by Jennifer Lee CarrellI 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.
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.
I finished "If On A Winter's Night A Traveler" by Calvino. Amazing!
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Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die
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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 to any of the ..."
Lauli, I haven't read this book so I'm wondering, how does the characters' having been prevented from accomplishing something, or thwarted, make them unlikeable? Are they whiny? Thanks.