Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die discussion
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Which LIST book did you just finish?
The Turn of the Screw by Henry James. I'm more and more inclined to conclude (between this and House of the Seven Gables) that I've no taste for American Gothic horror.
Finished Saturday by Ian McEwan this morning. Definitely not my favourite McEwan book so far (that title goes to either The Comfort of Strangers or The Cement Garden). I think my sarcastic review reflects my feelings on this one.
Shovelmonkey1The thing that sticks in my mind with Saturday is the neurosurgeon's description of a day's work. I work as a scrub nurse in a neurotheatre and we'd only get through that list if we had a TARDIS.
Finished Phineas Finn and now I'm interested in what happens to Finn next.
Deanne wrote: "Shovelmonkey1The thing that sticks in my mind with Saturday is the neurosurgeon's description of a day's work. I work as a scrub nurse in a neurotheatre and we'd only get through that list if we ..."
Yeah, i saw that was one of your comments and seeing it pop up on your status was kind of what prompted me to pull this book off the TBR pile and read it. My Dad is also an NHS doc and i suspect that if he read that book he would laugh like a drain at the levels of happy efficiency described in it.
Read Kafka on the Shore and A Room with a View this week. Neither my favorite Murakami or favorite Forster, but still liked quite a lot.
Movern Callar by Alan WarnerStrange, strange personality study of an emotionally detached young Scottish woman trying to find her way in life.
I saw the movie based on that book, Judith - I didn't realize it was on the List at that time (and I didn't know it was based on a book until the end). I'm interested in reading that one to see how it compares. The movie was strange also.
I just finished "A Room with a View". It was funny and did hold my interest but I'm glad it was a short story.
Lauraadriana wrote: "Read Kafka on the Shore and A Room with a View this week. Neither my favorite Murakami or favorite Forster, but still liked quite a lot."Which is your favourite Murakami? Kafka on the Shore would probably be mine, if not then Hardboiled Wonderland.
El wrote: "I saw the movie based on that book, Judith - I didn't realize it was on the List at that time (and I didn't know it was based on a book until the end). I'm interested in reading that one to see ho..."I saw the movie before I read the book. The movie is strange, yes. The book is too, though; but it is easier to follow what the author is trying to do with the character and what progress Morvern makes toward rising above her hedonist friends. In other words, although objectively presented in both, it's easier to track with Morvern in the novel than the movie.
Finished Rousseau's Emile or On Education. Definitely a slower read for me. Overall, a decent work. A bit sluggish in parts, Rousseau delves into the details in this one.
Done with The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah EquianoDefinitely worthy of a place on the list!
Just finished Siddhartha by Herman Hesse. It surely is a book that should be read way before you die. What is said in this book should not be seen as silliness or foolishness. It should be taken to heart, but as the book also says, people actually have to experience it so that it won't sound like foolishness. Why do we have to do things the hard way??
Finished Forster's A Passage to India. I can't say it left me with much enthusiasm for any more Forsters.
Genia wrote: "Finished Forster's A Passage to India. I can't say it left me with much enthusiasm for any more Forsters."I totally agree - its the only Forster I've ever read and i think its put me off the rest. This was one of the first 1001 books I read and I found it pretty dull.
It's really sad to say, but I think I am disappointed with much of the English-language original classics. So far I've caught up on Forster (admittedly only one book) Hawthorne and Henry James, and all of them I found rather a disillusionment on my part.
Genia wrote: "It's really sad to say, but I think I am disappointed with much of the English-language original classics. So far I've caught up on Forster (admittedly only one book) Hawthorne and Henry James, and..."Some are "of their time" but i think we just have to accept that their time was a more simple and some way naieve place to be, not be mention frequently sexist and racist! I've not read any Hawthorne yet but I am interested in him as he was the American Consul in Liverpool and a lot of his work reflects his time here in Liverpool. Plus about four years ago I did the historic building survey for the consul building.
Shovelmonkey1 wrote: "Done with The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah EquianoDefinitely worthy of a place on the list!"
Totally agree!
Evelina by Fanny Burney. It was ok, nothing to go back to or expound about to strangers or to those more intimate.
just finished The Club Dumas. eh. it was okay. i really don't know why this book is included within 1001. its not bad....just forgettable. fun but nothing special.
Just finished The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoyevsky and I am not sure how I feel about it. I was enjoying it at first but not sure how I felt about it as it went on.
Murder Must Advertise by Dorothy Sayers. I'm doing a full read-up of Sayers this year, lured into it by a good friend of mine. So far it's definitely paid off; she's a fantastic mystery writer.
Finished The trick is to keep breathing, which deals with grief and coming to terms with loss. I'm also coming to the end of Your Face Tomorrow which I'm really enjoying, it's not action packed but it is compelling and I find I like the main character Deza more and more.
Finished The Plague by Camus this morning. Death is coming so look busy! Although you might not want to look busy reading one of Camus books.
Deanne wrote: "Finished The trick is to keep breathing, which deals with grief and coming to terms with loss. I'm also coming to the end of Your Face Tomorrow which I'm really enjoying, it's not action packed b..."
Thanks for the recommendation. Once i've cleared some more space on my bookshelves i will go and seek this one out.
I just finished The Outsider I'm not entirely sure what I think of it. It reminded me very much of Kafka's The Trial.
The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins. A fun read, but a little overwritten at times. This was the first popular use of multiple narrators.
I just finished last week A Town Like Aliceby Neil Shute...I liked it a lot and found it an easy read.
I finished Measuring the World by Daniel Kehlmann last night. Mostly good but there is a sort of hiatus in the middle where its like his battery ran out or something. A nice read, but not listworthy in my view.
My online book club, Bookies Too, just began a 30-Day Book Challenge...Basically everyday ONE question is posted and those of us who feel like it reply...I thought it would be fun to post it here :)
Today's Question...What is your favorite Novel? It's an impossible one I know...but I got it down to two: One Hundred Years of Solitude by GGM and The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon
Today's Question...What is your favorite Novel? It's an impossible one I know...but I got it down to two: One Hundred Years of Solitude by GGM and The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon
How did you like She, Katie? I just saw it at the library. I've got too many books out to grab it, but it did look interesting.
I just finished A Room With a View which I particularly disliked (one star) and am now starting the perilous journey of Don Quixote. Wish me luck!
Katie wrote: "Jennifer W wrote: "How did you like She, Katie? I just saw it at the library. I've got too many books out to grab it, but it did look interesting."Hi Jennifer - it wasn't my favourit..."
I would second that Katie; I was really excited about reading this book and then when it finally arrived I was disappointed. The story was too slow, ponderous and full of leaden description. Not at all exciting!
Jacqueline wrote: "I just finished A Room With a View which I particularly disliked (one star) and am now starting the perilous journey of Don Quixote. Wish me luck!"I just finished A Room with a View too, and I loved it :)
I finished Gone With the Wind last night. I'm glad to be able to check another book off of the list, but at the same time I'm so sad that it's over. For a book I initially had no interest in reading, I'm surprised by how much I loved it.
Cait wrote: "I finished Gone With the Wind last night. I'm glad to be able to check another book off of the list, but at the same time I'm so sad that it's over. For a book I initially had no int..."I adore that book, though I was less than impressed when I started. But by the end I realised how much I liked it.
Anja wrote: "Jacqueline wrote: "I just finished A Room With a View which I particularly disliked (one star) and am now starting the perilous journey of Don Quixote. Wish me luck!"I jus..."
I'm glad you enjoyed it, just wasn't my cup of tea though. I couldn't buy into the basic premise that after collapsing in his arms and having maybe two conversations that they were essentially in love with on another (even if only George realized it at the time). I was going to type another major issue I had with it but I think it would fall into the realm of spoilers so I'll leave it here.
All the same, even though I myself didn't like it, I can see why others would. Happy reading!
I just finished The Crying of Lot 49 and I hated it. I'm not sure why this book is on the list. I feel like I must have read it wrong or missed something important.
I also just finished A Room With A View. What I liked about the book, was Lucy's personal growth, and what the book said about society. Cecil to me represented the "old" ways. Cecil wanted to control Lucy, for her to see life through his eyes, and act accordingly. Lucy hungered for true love, intamicy, and to have her own thoughts and opinions. She did not want to be repressed. Cecil represented repression, and George represented freedom.
Christyb wrote: "I also just finished A Room With A View. What I liked about the book, was Lucy's personal growth, and what the book said about society. Cecil to me represented the "old" ways. Cecil wanted to cont..."What you just described is one of the few concepts in the book I did like, although I don't think it was always put forth well.
Finished The Spy who Came in from the Cold by John Le Carre.http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/...
Loads better than Tinker, Tailor, Solier, Spy!
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Interesting read, thinking I will enjoy the other Ishiguros on the list