Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die discussion

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message 4552: by Julia (new)

Julia (juliatruter) Inna wrote: "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams"

Hi Inna - what do you think of this book? It is my husband's all time favorite book, but I simply couldn't get into it. It's been on my "currently-reading" list since September last year - I deleted it now. :) I thought that it's something like Star Wars that women don't get - so I would love to hear a woman's opinion.


message 4553: by [deleted user] (new)

Julia wrote: "Inna wrote: "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams"

Hi Inna - what do you think of this book? It is my husband's all time favorite book, but I simply couldn't..."


I am a woman and I loved The Hitchhiker's Guide. I love that ironic sense of humor; it kind of reminded me of Joseph Heller. I also happen to love Star Wars so maybe I am just weird.


message 4554: by [deleted user] (new)

Judith wrote: "The Scarlet Letter - Nathaniel Hawthorne

A re-read from years ago. I had forgotten so much of the story! Fully enjoyed it!"


I never really liked The Scarlet Letter. I feel like the descriptions stifle the story, you know what I mean?


message 4555: by Julia (new)

Julia (juliatruter) Bookbuddies wrote: "Julia wrote: "Inna wrote: "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams"

Hi Inna - what do you think of this book? It is my husband's all time favorite book, but I..."


He-he - no, you're not weird - different strokes for different folks. And talk about being weird ... why be normal anyway. :)


message 4556: by Renae (new)

Renae (romanticparvenu) Evelina by Frances Burney--not sure what to think of it, to be honest.


message 4557: by Lauli (new)

Lauli | 263 comments Inna wrote: "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams"

Love, love, love that book!


message 4558: by Inna (new)

Inna | 92 comments Julia wrote: "Inna wrote: "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams"

Hi Inna - what do you think of this book? It is my husband's all time favorite book, but I simply couldn't..."


Bookbuddies wrote: "Julia wrote: "Inna wrote: "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams"

Hi Inna - what do you think of this book? It is my husband's all time favorite book, but I..."


For me, it was a much needed break after finishing brilliantly painful Sophie's Choice, and I think that humour in this book is of a really high quality.

"Arthur blinked at the screens and felt he was missing something
important. Suddenly he realized what it was.
"Is there any tea on this spaceship?" he asked."

"Can we drop your ego for a moment? This is important."
"If there's anything more important than my ego around, I want it
caught and shot now."


Tanya (aka ListObsessedReader) (listobsessed) | 108 comments I absolutely love The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy too! On topic I just finished The Long Dark Tea-time of the Soul also by Douglas Adams. I have no idea why I took so long to read this and Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency. They had the same feel at Hitchhiker for me, an absolute blast!! So many laugh out loud moments.

(ps I am another female who love Star Wars.. mainly the original trilogy) :P


message 4560: by Julia (new)

Julia (juliatruter) He-he - thanks girls, you've convinced me. My husband is happy that gals are fans too!! :) Maybe one day I'll try and read it again ...


message 4561: by Judith (new)

Judith (jloucks) | 1202 comments Lauli wrote: "Judith wrote: "The Scarlet Letter - Nathaniel Hawthorne

A re-read from years ago. I had forgotten so much of the story! Fully enjoyed it!"

Borges famously said that Hawthorne was a great story ..."

I can understand what Borges was referring to though I still enjoy Hawthorne's characters very much. They are a bit one-dimensional while still seeming being psychologically complex. I think it is the situations he puts them in that makes this apparent contradiction possible. What do you think?


message 4562: by Judith (new)

Judith (jloucks) | 1202 comments Bookbuddies wrote: "Judith wrote: "The Scarlet Letter - Nathaniel Hawthorne

A re-read from years ago. I had forgotten so much of the story! Fully enjoyed it!"

I never really liked The Scarlet Letter. I feel l..."


I would agree that the action moves slowly at times, but all Hawthorne's observations are worth reading in my opinion.


message 4563: by Shovelmonkey1 (new)

Shovelmonkey1 | 190 comments Finished Of Mice and Men in one dockside site sitting. Better to read than watch builders scrabbling around trying to organise themselves!


message 4564: by Lauli (new)

Lauli | 263 comments Judith wrote: "Lauli wrote: "Judith wrote: "The Scarlet Letter - Nathaniel Hawthorne

A re-read from years ago. I had forgotten so much of the story! Fully enjoyed it!"

Borges famously said that Hawthorne was ..."


I find Hester very complex as a character. She accepts the punishment inflicted on her, but has an intellectual life of her own in which she questions the social parameters of the place where she lives (If I remember correctly, Hawthorne puts it like the outward existence that conforms, the inner life that questions). I also find her very strong, as opposed to Dimmesdale who is annoyingly passive and contrite.
On the other hand, Hawthorne set out to explore the psychology of sin, its effects on the sinner, and I think that's very well developed.


message 4565: by Lauli (new)

Lauli | 263 comments Just finished Vanity Fair. It's clearly been added to my list of favourites!


message 4566: by Liz M (new)

Liz M The Trick Is to Keep Breathing: A Novel by Janice Galloway. Intense, amazing read with a somewhat confusing non-linear structure & the occasional non-standard formatting.


message 4567: by Christyb (new)

Christyb | 9 comments I just finished the Count of Monte Cristo. 5 Star! Yes, it is long, but it is definately a page turner!


message 4569: by [deleted user] (new)

To Kill A Mockingbird - Harper Lee


message 4570: by Shovelmonkey1 (new)

Shovelmonkey1 | 190 comments Finished Decline And Fallby Evelyn Waugh last night. Enjoyed this much better than Vile Bodies but not as much as Brideshead Revisited. Well done Evelyn, old boy!


message 4572: by [deleted user] (new)

Christyb wrote: "I just finished the Count of Monte Cristo. 5 Star! Yes, it is long, but it is definitely a page turner!"

I am just about to start that and it is definitely daunting. I am glad to hear it is worth it!


message 4573: by Cindy (new)

Cindy (newtomato) | 195 comments I finished Les Misérables last night.


message 4574: by Julia (new)

Julia (juliatruter) Cindy wrote: "I finished Les Misérables last night."

Respect!! I've had the book for years - can't do it hey. :)


message 4575: by Cindy (new)

Cindy (newtomato) | 195 comments Julia wrote: "Cindy wrote: "I finished Les Misérables last night."

Respect!! I've had the book for years - can't do it hey. :)"


Aw, thanks! It was most definitely a big-un. It took me 3 months, but I read quite a few other things as well.


message 4576: by Julia (new)

Julia (juliatruter) Cindy wrote: "Julia wrote: "Cindy wrote: "I finished Les Misérables last night."

Respect!! I've had the book for years - can't do it hey. :)"

Aw, thanks! It was most definitely a big-un. It took m..."


Yes I can imagine. I don't mind thick books - I go through all of Ken Follett's books, but this one is a difficult read!!


message 4577: by Heather (new)

Heather Hamilton | 1 comments Just finished The Collector by Fowles... it was incredible, thought provoking and interesting... recommended to all! On to Crime and Punishment - help! :)


message 4578: by Maggie (new)


message 4579: by Maggie (new)

Maggie (mmorrell) | 25 comments I got so excited after making the link to Unbearable Lightness that I didn't add that I thought the book was very interesting and I know that I will be reading it again and more.


message 4580: by Kate S (new)

Kate S | 39 comments Just finished Family Matters last night, a little slow sometimes, but overall an OK read.


message 4581: by Robin (new)

Robin Reese (reesereads) | 119 comments I just finished "The Sea" and "On Beauty". I loved the second book, but did enjoy Banville. I'm glad to have found this group!


message 4582: by laut (new)

laut | 28 comments Robin wrote: "I just finished "The Sea" and "On Beauty". I loved the second book, but did enjoy Banville. I'm glad to have found this group!"

I liked On Beauty, but I gave up halfway through The Sea.. I just found it all too pretentious.


message 4583: by Robin (new)

Robin Reese (reesereads) | 119 comments Rhianne wrote: "Robin wrote: "I just finished "The Sea" and "On Beauty". I loved the second book, but did enjoy Banville. I'm glad to have found this group!"

I liked On Beauty, but I gave up halfway through The

I would think so many on this list could be described as "pretentious".



message 4584: by Julia (new)

Julia (juliatruter) Robin wrote: "Rhianne wrote: "Robin wrote: "I just finished "The Sea" and "On Beauty". I loved the second book, but did enjoy Banville. I'm glad to have found this group!"

I liked On Beauty, but I gave up halfw..."


Hi Robin and Rhianne - thanks for sharing. I marked "On Beauty" as "to read" - looks interesting ...

Robin - this group is great. I was looking for the right group for months and also stumbled upon this one. :)


message 4585: by Asa (new)

Asa | 65 comments Finished Hamsun's Growth of the Soil a couple of days ago.


message 4586: by Mike (new)

Mike | 78 comments I just finished the Life of Pi. It was fantastic. I enjoyed the book very much. Watch out for some of the discriptions of Pi's meals.


message 4587: by Robin (new)

Robin Reese (reesereads) | 119 comments Masanobu wrote: "A Heart So White by Javier Marías... which was dropped on 2008. In my opinion, it shouldn't be! This was such a great book!"

One of my favorites!!!


message 4588: by Robin (new)

Robin Reese (reesereads) | 119 comments April wrote: "Hi! I just found this website and this group! I'm so excited to be a part of this. I was wondering where I can get a most recent list of the 1001 books. If anyone can help, that will be great!
..."


I, too, don't understand the hype!!


message 4589: by Robin (new)

Robin Reese (reesereads) | 119 comments Drew wrote: "The Enigma of Arrival by V.S. Naipaul. This one was definitely not for everyone--it had little (or no) plot, instead focusing on a set of ruminations regarding home, death and decay centered around..."

Have you read The Stone Diaries? I'm almost finished it and it's so good.


message 4590: by Genia (new)

Genia Lukin | 205 comments Crome Yellow. To be entirely honest, while bits and pieces of it were humorous, on the whole I had to force myself through the book.


message 4591: by Liz M (new)

Liz M Genia wrote: "Crome Yellow. To be entirely honest, while bits and pieces of it were humorous, on the whole I had to force myself through the book."

The only thing I liked about that book was this tidbit on writing:

"The creation by word-power of something out of nothing--what is that but magic? And, may I add, what is that but literature?"


message 4592: by Liz M (new)

Liz M The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides

Decent story (suspenseful in places and slow in others), and an intriguing use of a first-person plural narrator.


message 4593: by David (new)

David (boototter) | 12 comments Der Prozess by Franz Kafka.
Parallel, secret and elusive juridical systems, where could we just see those lately?
By style it turned out to be one of the worst books I read last couple of months. I understand why it was not published during Kafka's lifetime.


message 4594: by Julia (new)

Julia (juliatruter) Liz M wrote: "The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides

Decent story (suspenseful in places and slow in others), and an intriguing use of a first-person plural narrator."


This one is on my "to read" list. Have you read Middlesex by the same author? It's on my Top 10 list, so I hope this one is also as good. :)


message 4595: by Robin (new)

Robin Reese (reesereads) | 119 comments Julia wrote: "Liz M wrote: "The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides

Decent story (suspenseful in places and slow in others), and an intriguing use of a first-person plural narrator."..."


Middlesex was one of my favorites and the first time I tried it I put it down early on and then picked it up again (thankfully) and devoured it.


message 4596: by Julia (new)

Julia (juliatruter) Robin wrote: "Julia wrote: "Liz M wrote: "The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides

Decent story (suspenseful in places and slow in others), and an intriguing use of a first-person plu..."


His writing style is so different - the way he jumps in time - I thought it was incredible. Such a brilliant read!!


message 4597: by Melissa (new)

Melissa (mmbirch3) | 38 comments The Catcher in the Rye Honestly, I don't see what all of the fuss is about, but it's another one of those books that people could never believe that I haven't read and so I figured I might as well read it.


message 4598: by Genia (new)

Genia Lukin | 205 comments Melissa wrote: "The Catcher in the Rye Honestly, I don't see what all of the fuss is about, but it's another one of those books that people could never believe that I haven't read and so I figured I m..."

I frankly and openly hated that book. So did my husband.


message 4599: by Robin (new)

Robin Reese (reesereads) | 119 comments I just finished The stone Diaries by Carol Shiels and LOVED it. I'm telling everyone I know to read this! I wept, sobbed during the last chapter. I want to continue knowing the characters. What a way to look at a life!


message 4600: by whimsicalmeerkat (new)

whimsicalmeerkat Finally finished The Trial. It was my first experience with Franz Kafka. Overall positive.


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