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Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die discussion
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Which LIST book did you just finish?
Don't get me wrong, I really am of two minds about this book; I can appreciate the skill involved in a rambly, annoying, rather idiotic narrator - and Dowel is all that - and Ford's prose can be quite lovely, but for me the whole thing went just a little over the top. It's not good when the reader gets to the point of wanting to, instead of just murder the narrator, actually put the book down. And I did.But it's not a long book (mine was 256 pages of not-too-small print) and it's obviously skillfully written. I'd read it, though, perhaps, not reread it.
I also don't think (and I have more Ford on my shelf, so I shall find out) that this is the author's voice. It's quite clearly the narrator's voice. Paradise's End may be entirely different.
Genia wrote: "Don't get me wrong, I really am of two minds about this book; I can appreciate the skill involved in a rambly, annoying, rather idiotic narrator - and Dowel is all that - and Ford's prose can be qu..."Thank you for your explanation. I will eventually read or try to read both Fords. I guess you are the type who reads a book to the end even tho you feel like putting it down or throwing it across the room? I'm not always like that - if, like you, I can see the value in continuing I will struggle through to the end. Otherwise.... Anyway, thank you for the warning. I think I'll start with Parade's End.
I am exactly that type of person; I despised A passage To India, yet somehow dragged myself through to the end. I'm awfully OCD about my books, and feel that if I started, I must finish.The next Ford on my list is actually The Fifth Queen which isn't on the 1001 list, but it was lent me in a Ford heap by a friend. I'll let you know how the narrative voice looks.
Genia wrote: "I am exactly that type of person; I despised A passage To India, yet somehow dragged myself through to the end. I'm awfully OCD about my books, and feel that if I started, I must finish.Well, that is an admirable quality. As an English Lit major in college I had to drag myself through many books, starting with Beowulf. (Please don't tell me you read and loved it.) I don't force myself to do that too much anymore. It depends on the book, the author, if I'm reading it with a group, if I'll be satisfied that I met a challenge, etc.
Genia wrote: "The next Ford on my list is actually The Fifth Queen which isn't on the 1001 list, but it was lent me in a Ford heap by a friend. I'll let you know how the narrative voice looks. "
Never even heard of The Fifth Queen. So is Parade's End in that heap? That is supposed to be good.
It's not. The one I am really looking forward to is Ladies Whose Bright Eyes, which is supposed to be a bit of a time-travel novel, and I am - what can one do - an absolute rag for anything time travel.
Genia wrote: "It's not. The one I am really looking forward to is Ladies Whose Bright Eyes, which is supposed to be a bit of a time-travel novel, and I am - what can one do - an absolute rag for ..."Have you ever read "Woman on the Edge of Time" by Marge Piercy? It's a feminist sci-fi time travel that you may really enjoy. It's not a list book, FYI.
Genia wrote: "It's not. The one I am really looking forward to is Ladies Whose Bright Eyes, which is supposed to be a bit of a time-travel novel, and I am - what can one do - an absolute rag for ..."I followed your link and the author is listed as Ford Maddox Hueffer. Name change? GR mistake? Have to look into that one.
Robin wrote: " Have you ever read "Woman on the Edge of Time" by Marge Piercy? It's a feminist sci-fi time travel that you may really enjoy."
I have that one on my list. I like Marge Piercy.
Genia wrote: "It's not. The one I am really looking forward to is Ladies Whose Bright Eyes, which is supposed to be a bit of a time-travel novel, and I am - what can one do - an absolute rag for ..."It's listed the same way on Amazon. It's 99 cents on Kindle so I downloaded it. Maybe there's an intro.
Ford changed his name from Hueffer to Ford because it sounded too German. That is according to Wikipedia.
Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Ladies Whose Bright Eyes: A Romance, maybe this one."Thank you, Elizabeth. Interesting. It's listed under both names.
Anne wrote: "Elizabeth (Alaska) wrote: "Ladies Whose Bright Eyes: A Romance, maybe this one."Thank you, Elizabeth. Interesting. It's listed under both names."
Oh, well, then maybe there needs to be a combine. You can report it in the Librarian's Group if you wish. I don't feel I have enough knowledge about either the author or the book to do so.
Anne wrote: "Genia wrote: "It's not. The one I am really looking forward to is Ladies Whose Bright Eyes, which is supposed to be a bit of a time-travel novel, and I am - what can one do - an abs..."Cool. She's not so popular but I've enjoyed her.
Since it is listed under both both names it shouldn't be a problem. People can find it. See what you started Genia, coming up with these obscure titles. Just kidding. I love these kinds of puzzles and obscure titles.
I noticed you read Feuchtwanger (who really should be on this 1001 list, but ain't) which to me says 'yep, obscure title person'. The friend who loaned me Ford is a huge Feuchtwanger admirer and he thought I'd like him.
Genia wrote: "I noticed you read Feuchtwanger (who really should be on this 1001 list, but ain't) which to me says 'yep, obscure title person'. The friend who loaned me Ford is a huge Feuchtwanger admirer and h..."Well, I only know Feuchtwanger because my mother was German and knew him in Los Angeles. I like to read the German exiles. I feel right at home with them, in a way.
Forgot to ask. Did you like Feuchtwanger?
Your mother knew him?? My God, one of my favourite authors of all time, right next to Bulgakov. I've read most everything by him. My favourite is probably The Jewish War.
I don't know that one. I'll have to look it up. He wrote a lot when he was in the states. One of the few German refugee writers, besides Thomas Mann who continued to write and prosper.
Finished Summer last night. My second Wharton, and I can be very glad there are three more on the list!
Deanne wrote: "Finished A Dance To The Music Of Time by Powell, loved it and surprised that at 12 books and nearly 3000 pages the writing is consistently of a high standard.Powell interweaves a vast cast of som..."
This series is on my to-read list as well. I remember reading one of the books wayyyyy back a long time ago, and as I cannot remember it I know I have to start from the first book in the series and continue from there. Powell is an amazing writer, and I agree with you that it's brilliant that he can keep up with all of the characters and maintain his wonderful style, too. Thanks!
Just finished Mr. Vertigo by Paul Auster.This was my first book by Paul Auster, and I really liked it, not at all what I was expecting. I could like Walt, though the 'death-fixes-all' bit near the end of the book was strange.
It was also a bit long-winded at times.
I haven't read that one yet, but The Book of Illusions is one of my favorite books and I really enjoyed Sunset Park.
Amanda wrote: "Just finished THE PLOT AGAINST AMERICA by Philip Roth. It was a'ght. Not earth-shattering, but certainly imaginative." I read that book ages ago and i thought it was pretty good. I think philip Roth used to be a lot better when he was younger. I often hear that 'Portnoy's Complaint' is his best one.
Kerem wrote: "Amanda wrote: "Just finished THE PLOT AGAINST AMERICA by Philip Roth. It was a'ght. Not earth-shattering, but certainly imaginative." I read that book ages ago and i thought it was pretty good. ..."
Philip Roth is one of those author's that I always see listed on the "should have stopped writing a decade ago" list on blogs.
Finished Tarka the Otter today. Was watching the BBC news this morning and it was announced that Otters have been seen in Kent, this now means that there are otters in every county of the UK. A huge success as they were nearly wiped out and it was only by cleaning the rivers and protecting them from hunting that the species have ben bought back into the countryside. As for the book, Williamson obviously loved these creatures and Otter is an endearing character, but Williamson refrains from putting too much human emotion onto the Otters, hounds, herons and owls in the story.
Just finished,
This book was amazing! Don't be fooled by it's small size, for within it's pages lies the future, past and present all together, backwards and inside out. Of course thats if they even exist, or if there is such as time. This story is a patchwork quilt with no visiable stitching and where all the seams are blurred. Brilliant.
Bucket wrote: "Kerem wrote: "Amanda wrote: "Just finished THE PLOT AGAINST AMERICA by Philip Roth. It was a'ght. Not earth-shattering, but certainly imaginative." I read that book ages ago and i thought it w..."
Yeah! Exactly! The older he gets the more he seems to write. It feels like he has a book out every six months or something.
I just finished The Good Soldier Svejk which was in the World War I time period. The character thwarts authorities by telling stories of his acquaintances in his hometown of Prague. He is so passive aggressive about this that the reader could also interpret his actions as stupidity too. His superiors in the Austro-Hungarian army are much worse than him and justify his actions. He is Czech and the Austrians have forced the Czechs to participate in the war. Above all it is laugh out loud funny and is sort of the Czech version of Don Quixote or of the American Reilly from A Confederacy of Dunces. The humor contrasts with stark glimpses of the war devastation and brutality, especially bureaucratic brutality of governments and armies. I would highly recommend this book. A note, the author died during the writing of this so the book ends abruptly but this works anyway because the book is a series of shorter adventures and themes and long enough to feel like a novel. It can be hard to find, I bought mine used through Amazon, but it is worth it.
I just finished At the Mountains of Madness and Other Tales of Terror by H.P. Lovecraft. All I have to say is that i wasn't exactly terrified and have felt more terror with a Stephen King novel. Thankfully this was a short read but it still took me over a week to finish because I was just not that into it.
Just finished Rabbit, Run, by Updike. Interesting but kind of sad all at the same time. Rabbit himself seems almost to be a kind of anti-hero, LOL. He's an unlikable character, but you can't stop reading, like a train wreck you just have to stare at... When the library reopens on the 26th, I'm going to pick up the next one in the series, Rabbit Redux, not sure if it's on the list or not, but I want to see what happens next.
Just finished The Monastery by Sir Walter Scott, not at all what I expected. Ghosts, murders, battles and romance and all in Scott's beautiful turn of phrase.
"Jane Eyre" by Charlotte BronteSuch a satisfying gothic tale!
I've just finished Under the Skin by Michel Faber. I thought it was great! Very thought provoking and uncomfotable at times, left me with alot to think about though.
I finished reading Foucault's Pendulum by Umberto Eco last week and I loved it! Full of wit and great observations about the urgent need to pursue mysteries. I learnt so much about various mystic groups and philosophical views - it was a very enjoyable education. More Eco please!
Too funny, I'm halfway through Catch 22 and already tiring of it. It's dated and repetitive, though amusing in parts. I can get why it was "revolutionary" at it's time regarding the war and the military, but it doesn't necessarily hold up without the context of the era.
just finished The Ravishing of Lol Stein by marguerite duras. loved it. However, I was not fond of jumping from Jack to Lol to Tatiana's train of thoughts.
Just finished The Time Machine by HG Wells. First read for me and wow - v interesting! I think the end is closer than 802071 though, environmentally speaking. The little Eloi reminded me of dogs. And who were maintaining the gardens?? Not the Morlocks surely... ??
Finished The Elegance of the Hedgehog, really enjoyed it and became very fond of the three main characters.
Just finished Captain Corelli's mandolin. What a story! It had a bit of everything, and characters you could relate to. I resisted reading this book for a long long time, but am glad I changed my mind.
Yrinsyde wrote: "I finished reading Foucault's Pendulum by Umberto Eco last week and I loved it! Full of wit and great observations about the urgent need to pursue mysteries. I learnt so much about various mystic g..."He's really a wonderful writer, Yrinsyde. I'm glad you enjoyed the book, and expect you'll want to read more by him, right? Thanks!
Finished and very much liked Sense and Sensibility by Austen. Did not know what to expect after many years of people gushing about Austen and especially this one. I found it very well written, and contained subtleties and nuances about language that I did not anticipate.
Also finished Confessions of a Justified Sinner by James Hogg. This was creepily awesome! Haven't had a character give me such eerie feelings in a long while. Fast-paced and genuine exploration of warped religious mania coupled with myopic ego of a main character fueled by beliefs that he is saved and one of the elect (translation: thinks he can do what he wants and will have no sin or punishment).
I am currently working my way through the novels from 1900 to 1929..I just finished The Home and the World by Rabindranath Tagore.It was written in 1916 and I enjoyed the shifting points of view as told by the three main characters.You would get one side for like 25 pages then the next character would have his say.It made it less boring for me than just the regular narrative .
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Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die
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I hate to hear that. I've been looking forward to reading The Good Soldier and Parade's End. I hate rambliness (tho I like that word) - makes it difficult to concentrate and just enjoy the story.