Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die discussion
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Which LIST book did you just finish?
I've just finished The Reader by Bernhard Schlink and really liked it despite of having seen the movie a couple of years ago - good read with an interesting tackle on German's dealing with their past, guilt and love - well-written as well. I've almost finished Family Matters by Rohinton Mistry - lovely story on - nomen est omen - family matters. Feels very real and authentic despite of being set in Bombay/Mumbai, a city which is not only a setting, but also a kind of protagonist in this otherwise very human novel on aging, childhood and innocence, destiny and religion. Great book written in a beautiuful clear prose.
Pleased to find that Martin Fierro is a list book, so I can post it here. It's the foundational book in Argentine lit.
I finished Infinite Jest yesterday. I sort of feel since I read it, I can probably read just about anything now.
I finished reading What Maisie Knew (hated it; this is the second Henry James book I haven't cared for) and The Time Machine, which was quick and easy read.
The Corrections. I really enjoyed Freedom, and thought I would go back and read this one. I really loved it--great characters, interesting structure and beautiful writing. I was a little surprised by some of the humor and post-modern improbabilities of Chip's story, but found them enjoyable. I avoided the Corrections for being overpraised when it came out, and I was sure wrong.
Finally, I finished The Golden Notebook by Doris Lessing. I struggled to get through it - I didn't like any of the characters or the storylines - everyone was so self-absorbed and full of rhetoric with little substance. I need some help to appreciate this novel. I can see how the novel was structured was unique to the time it was written, and the conflicted feminism expressed by the main characters quite revelatory . . . but could not dig it, one bit.
I just finished The Feast of the Goat. It was actually pretty good. My only issue was that it referenced events again and again, without much purpose. There were also lists of businesses, groups, and people that didn't seem to really matter other than a record of history. That said, I would recommend it. I have read a lot of books about the Trujillo regime and this was one of the best
Peregrine Pickle by Tobias Smollett. This one slogged along in places. Tom Jones was much better.
The Midwich Cuckoos by John Wyndham- couldn't put it down - lots of fun with a theme that is timeless.
The War of the Worlds by Wells. I was really blown away by how incredibly modern this novel is. It is visionary in its foresight of the space era, deeply philosophical as it tackles the issue of human dominance over animal species and its permanence in time, and terrifying in ways that prefigure writers like Stephen King. Five stars, definitely.
Just read 'The Life and Death of Harriett Frean'. I downloaded it to my iPhone so I didn't know how short it was. It didn't even last me a train journey into work and back! Neat little short story though. Compact and left me with a feeling of loss - that something was missed that could have been gained.
Memoirs of Martinus Scriblerus. A very quick read for those trying to check off a few more books by the end of the year.
Just finished The Lost Language of Cranes, this month's group read, and I loved it. Beautifully written, capable of evoking lots of emotion and just very very good. Will definitely be reading more by David Leavitt!
I just finished Growth of the Soil by Knut Hamsun. Written in 1917 and won the Nobel prize for literature in 1920. It is a epic story of Isak who goes into the wilds of Norway and homesteads the land. I enjoyed it very much.
I just finished I'm Not Scared by Niccolò Ammaniti. A suspense story written by an Italian author. It is a fast read. A nine year old boy discovers a secret in an old abandoned house in the country.
Earlier this week I reread The Professor's House. Although it's depressing, it remains one of my favourite novels and never fails to spark my imagination. I love the scenes of the professor's breakdown and imaginative escapes (as an ex lit prof, perhaps I identify all too well....) The opening scene of moving houses also speaks to me because I'm in the process of moving right now, unpacking boxes. Ah, the joys of being in transition! More reflections on my blog at www.the-reading-list.com
Just finished The Day of the Triffids by Wyndham. Definitely a page-turner. I especially liked the opening chapter, which I think was very original and gripped me right from the start. Also, interesting reflections on what holds society together and what happens to men when he is stripped of civilization. Very enjoyable.
Just finished The Shipping News by E. Annie Proulx and was not that blown away to be honest. It took a lot of effort for me to get into it and while it panned out to be a nice story - big chinned boy meets girl etc. Nice descriptions of maritime stuff and weather though.
Just finished last night, John Saul- Black Creek Crossing.
I finished The Lost Language of Cranes. The characters were so real, A+, but it took me about 2/3 through the book to really feel compelled by the story.
Siddhartha by Herman Hesse. Although this is (I suppose) meant to be a story of human enlightenment it seemed more to give me a sense of how selfish such pursuits are and how divorced from the world those people are who make such a goal their main pursuit in life. The main character I found totally self absorbed and unlovable in his lack of love for anyone else. Until the end when finally his heart is reached and he realises to some extent the pain which he has inflicted on other people in his life. However his sense of remorse seems slight when compared with the great 'spiritual awakening' this gives him.Conclusion - spiritual journeys as suggested by this book are not for me. I'd rather just live in the world thanks.
Finished The Summer Book by Tove Jansson today and it was a nice little book. A quick and easy read, a very descriptive and reflective series of rememberings rather than one continuous story.
Shovelmonkey1 wrote: "Finished The Summer Book by Tove Jansson today and it was a nice little book. A quick and easy read, a very descriptive and reflective series of rememberings rather than one continuous story."I'm looking forward to reading this one. It is next up for me, I'm awaiting its arrival in the mail.
i really enjoyed her Moomintroll books as a kid.
Born in exile by Gissing, quite enjoyed this although took a while to get the male characters straight.
One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich Pretty good. Ivan is so matter of fact about his time in Siberia that sometimes he doesn't portray the horror of it, but then you stop and think and it really is horrifying.
Well worth it indeed! That's one of the best books I've ever read, because it delves deep into human nature.
I finished Solaris by Stanisław Lem. A short, but heady book. Lots of exposition, and discussion of religion and philosophy in the face of an extremely alien lifeform.
Finished Arrow of God. I don't know why, but I just don't dig Achebe. Yeah, the story's ok, some of the characters are interesting, but his prose bores me a bit and I cannot really get into his books. I can see the book's merits, but it's not my cup of tea.
Candide -Voltaireand
History of Rasselas -Samuel Johnson
I've finished The Children's Book - Byatt, Castle Rackrent and Ennui - Maria Edgeworth, and The Island of Dr Moreau - HG Wells. I loved Castle Rackrent - great writing in dialogue! The Children's Book I don't think works as a novel and I don't understand what Byatt was trying to achieve with it. The Island of Dr Moreau I think was written very well and is even more scary now because what he describes is closer to being possible than ever.
Silas Marner - very sweet and enjoyable read
Fugitive Pieces by Anne Michaels ---superb.
I'm finishing Rushdie's The Satanic Verses, rather weird read, a thick tome which makes your head spin.
Just finished Surfacing by Margaret Atwood. I liked it but not as much as her other work.Check out my review at christashookedonbooks.blogspot.com
Rameau's Nephew and D'Alembert's Dream by Denis Diderot.Diderot is one of my all time favorites. Each work of his solidifies him as one of the best thinkers of his time.
I just finished The Day of the Triffids. Absolutely fantastic. Now it's easy to see where some of the modern post-apocalyptic stories got their inspiration. And most of them only wish they could be TDotT!
"The Monk" - Matthew Lewis - ****
Vernon God Little. Took me time to get into it and still didn't quite enjoy it once I had. Don't think it needs to be on the list.
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Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die
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I was really looking forward to reading the book so when I did start and I found it slow and dry I thought it would get better as it progressed but I was sadly disappointed.I found it to be one of the most annoying books I've ever read. Whenever I picked it up it gave me some of the biggest migraines. I had such great hopes but I was let down by the story telling and the characters. In a way it felt hollow and empty. I gave it 1 star.