Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die discussion
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Which LIST book did you just finish?
Am rereading it now, after seeing the newest movie version with Colin Firth which is super creepy. The beginning is such a play... all dialogue, but it really draws you in. I'm LOVING it again! Have you seen the earlier movie (40s I think). The portrait is hanging in the Chicago Art Museum... I'm just dying to go see it!
On Beauty by Zadie Smith. Somehow rose above the cliche and sterotyping the plot could have easily succumbed to.
"Strait is the Gate" - Andre GideA short read, I devoured it this morning in bed. Strange and tragic love story with an other-worldly feeling... disturbing view into the mind of a religious fanatic.
Just Finished Adventures of Sherlock Holmes- 4 stars. I will now start Agnes Gray.
Just finished:
TROPIC OF CANCER
by Henry Miller
I liked it! Particularly his playful use of words. Not really the sex parts (although they are interesting)
I finished The Gathering by Anne Enright and while i can appreciate the high quality of the writing the story was just dull, dull, dull!
Finished Regeneration this week - incredible. Sorry that I hadn't heard of it before the list. Onto the 2nd book in the trilogy soon - odd that both #1 and #3 are on the list but #2 isn't - is it really that far from brilliant as the other two?
"Written On The Body" by Jeanette Winterson.
Over the last few days I've manged to finish bot Kafka's The Trial and Gaskell's North and South. Both interesting in their own ways.
Linda wrote: "JF Never Let Me Go. It was just okay for me; I think it could've been better."
Hey Linda, I found it rather dark and yes, could have been better. If the effort was to make them human, it failed miserably. For me they lacked the human spirit of survival.
Hey Linda, I found it rather dark and yes, could have been better. If the effort was to make them human, it failed miserably. For me they lacked the human spirit of survival.
Asa wrote: "Over the last few days I've manged to finish bot Kafka's The Trial and Gaskell's North and South. Both interesting in their own ways."
Asa, I adored The Trial, not knowing what his crime was and why he was being judged. The whole existentialist beliefs in such a great book. Glad you enjoyed it.
Asa, I adored The Trial, not knowing what his crime was and why he was being judged. The whole existentialist beliefs in such a great book. Glad you enjoyed it.
Just finished Black Lands by Barbara Baeur
SPOILER ALERT regarding Never Let Me Go Sonia wrote: "Hey Linda, I found it rather dark and yes, could have been better. If the effort was to make them human, it failed miserably. For me they lacked the human spirit of survival. "
I agree; the characters never really developed or grew emotionally. It's like they just accepted their fate and lived with it. No fight, rebellion, or attempt to change anything on their part. Too many unanswered questions for me too.
And here I thought I was the only person who thought that. The characters stay so cardboard.
Tracey wrote: "Just finished Black Lands by Barbara Baeur"Not a list book. Sorry.
Drew wrote: "Inna wrote: "The Man Without Qualities Vol. 1: A Sort of Introduction and Pseudo Reality Prevails by Robert Musil[book:The Man Without Qualities Vol. 2: Into the Mi..."
I've own this book for years. I want to read it but I am afraid of its size as well. It looks intimidatingly intellectual.
What did you think?
Just finished:
THE BOOK OF LAUGHTER AND FORGETTING
by Milan Kundera
Nice imaginative book!
Crome Yellow by Aldous HuxleyI am a big fan of Brave New World and didn't know what to expect with this offering. Parts of it were interesting and humourous but the ending was pretty abrupt and disappointing.
The Death of Artemio Cruz. WOW. Might be the best book I have ever read. Wasn't on the first list, but was added in 2006. WOW!
Brian wrote: "Crome Yellow by Aldous HuxleyI am a big fan of Brave New World and didn't know what to expect with this offering. Parts of it were interesting and humourous but the ending was pretty abrupt and ..."
I just read
Brave New World and I'd say that description of the ending fits that book too!
Just finishing A Perfect Vacuum by the same author as Solaris. IV is not a 1001 book but if you are reading the 1001 and just couldn't read Ulysses or Finnegans Wake, or had difficulty with Robinson Crusoe, you must read this!!!
"Of Human Bondage" by W. Somerset Maugham. I had the pocket for ages, but never came to read it. It must have had it's reason. Amazingly modern in style when I compare with Maugham's contemporaries, a rich prose, a true sketch of character through thoughts and feelings.
The Day of the Triffids - by Wyndham Very enjoyable if you like stories about the end of the world as we know it! The Triffids are creepy menaces with their clacking little woody bits.
Becky wrote: "The Day of the Triffids - by Wyndham Very enjoyable if you like stories about the end of the world as we know it! The Triffids are creepy menaces with their clacking little woody bits."
Love this description! It makes me even more curious about the book, which is definitely on my To Read list. Have you read The Midwich Cuckoos by the same author?
VOSS
by Patrick White
The 1973 Nobel awardee, Patrick White, truly deserves that award. This book is a superb epic adventure that reminds me of Lawrence of Arabia movie. It deserves to stay in the 1001 list forever.
I know that people do not like reading on the computer and all but here is a site to download lots of the books on the list for free:
http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page
A very good Sunday to all!
http://www.gutenberg.org/wiki/Main_Page
A very good Sunday to all!
Just finished Père Goriot by Balzac. All in all a good book, although I can't say I had a strong reaction toward it either way. It was beautifully written and deals with many interesting contradictions - fatherly love and devotion vs the caprices of daughters; virtuous women vs a social dynamic emphasizing extra-marital affairs; the pull between coming from no money and seeking to be moneyed. I think a more modern book may be in order next.
Royal O - yes, I read the Midwich Cuckoos first & enjoyed it as well. As a child, I wasn't exposed to science fiction, so I'm thrilled to discover that I'm liking this genre. The "list" has allowed me to experience so many books/authors that I had previously overlooked.
Finished The Great Gatsby. I thought the book was just okay. It wasn't awful, and it wasn't awesome. I think it was too short so that I didn't get really attached to the characters, and I didn't really care for any of them that much.
To me, Gatsby is something between a novel & a kind of poem. I don't think the characters are supposed to be likable, even Nick. Maybe I mean it's like a tonal piece of writing.I love it but not for any of the usual reasons.
Just finished Crime and Punishment. And was sort of, "that's it?" Wanted to smack most of the characters about half the time, and the lead character ALL the time. And apparently? It's not Russian if there's not a suicide.
Murder Must Advertise. It was really fun, well-written and had some good insights on class issues and the advertising industry. Sayers is definitely at the "literary" end of the mystery-writer continuum, and I can see why her books are included on this list.
Humphrey Clinker -Tobias SmollettThis was by far his best.
and
Sentimental Journey -Laurence Sterne
Fun, but felt like a short version of Tristram Shandy.
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?. I have IMDB'd Blade Runner and have successfully added it to my Netflix. Interesting novel, and I can't wait to see Ridley Scott's version of this book.
I just finished War and Peace.Loved it! Thought it was about ten times better then Anna Karenin.
Just finished Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. What a treat!
Just finished:
ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT
by
Erich Maria Remarque
Stunning!
K.D. wrote: "Just finished:ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT
by
Erich Maria Remarque
Stunning!"
Yes! One of the best anti-war novels ever written!
I think you would enjoy the one I am reading now, K.D. -- Stones From the River by Ursula Hegi. It is not a list book, but was one of Oprah Winfry's book club picks a few years ago.
The Island of Dr. Moreau by H.G Wells - wasn't for me, but only 160 pages so finished it anyway
A Fine Balance - quite good - but was left a bit surprised by ending.
Started The Book about Blanche and Marie - got a 1/4 through and put it down - indefinitely. Oh the repetition! Is this a Swedish writing style I wonder? I felt the same way when reading Girl with Dragon Tattoo & 3 Seconds? Anyways, can't imagine this remaining on the list long.
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Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die
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You know, that's the primary reason I pl..."
Oh, the philosophical parts were my favorite parts!