Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die discussion
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Which LIST book did you just finish?
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Amalie
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Dec 13, 2010 10:31PM

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Hi Sissy: I had a similar reaction. The narrative was interesting but I don't think the book contributed to the development of the novel. English majors - correct me if I'm wrong!


That's how I felt, too, Lauli.

Agreed. I felt it was drawing on existing novels - a combination of Salinger and Palihniuk. I really dislike Palihniuk but IMO its his style that contributed to the development of this novel. Not sure I see this novel building on that style further or contributing anything new. If the editors are looking for something that deals with school violence/shooting - Columbine is a much more powerful (although non-fiction) novel and at least presents something new in the way a non-fiction is presented - as far as mapping and novel development go.




That said, it was a ton of swashbuckling fun!

That's funny. In Argentina Salgari is included in every collection of fiction for young people, alongside Dumas, Verne or Alcott. It's a very popular book.

Yes, isn't it strange, Lauli? In my research, Sandokan is most popular in Italian and Spanish, and fairly popular in German. It's sad that Anglophone audiences never had access to the stories before.






I also finished The 39 Steps, which was a very quick, trifle of a read. While it was a fun adventure story, I did not find there to be much literary merit here.
I just finished two this week that I enjoyed a lot:
The History of Rasselas: Prince of Abissinia by Samuel Johnson
Apparently this is a book he threw together in a relatively short amount of time. It may have even been his only novel. Surprisingly good and very thought-provoking.
and
A Hero of Our Time by Mikhail Lermontov
I really loved this book. It's a shame that Lermontov died so young. I would have loved to read more from him. Did you know that he was also a very talented painter as well?
The History of Rasselas: Prince of Abissinia by Samuel Johnson
Apparently this is a book he threw together in a relatively short amount of time. It may have even been his only novel. Surprisingly good and very thought-provoking.
and
A Hero of Our Time by Mikhail Lermontov
I really loved this book. It's a shame that Lermontov died so young. I would have loved to read more from him. Did you know that he was also a very talented painter as well?

The History of Rasselas: Prince of Abissinia by Samuel Johnson
Apparently this is a book he threw together in ..."
So glad to hear these are good reads! I traded for "A Hero of Our Time" on bookmooch without knowing much about it or the author. Now I'm looking forward to the read!

Ooh mine too. I`ve re read it so many times I had to buy a replacement copy





ragtime was an interesting read - the writing style is quite different - very clipped and short. won't be one of my favorites ever read but i understand its inclusion on the list.
out of the bunch i finished i found i, robot the most interesting to read taking into account the period the stories were written/compiled. written in the 1940s and the author's "main" scientist of the future is a woman? super interesting considering the period he was putting it down!

I just finished Jane Eyre.
I was hoping I would love it, but I just didn't. I thought Jane was a great character, but I didn't like the style and the story dragged.
I was hoping I would love it, but I just didn't. I thought Jane was a great character, but I didn't like the style and the story dragged.

How did you like it?"
I enjoyed it this time, but was in the mood for something fantastical to take my brain into a spin. I started it a few years ago and gave up because I got lost. Not as good as The Passion which I loved.
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