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

Kirsten wrote: "I recently started The Shining (that's on the list, right?)"

Yep! It's on the list :)

Wendy wrote: "Just started Père Goriot by Honoré de Balzac. I've heard good things..."

Oh! That's exciting. Balzac is brilliant. I recommend The Wild Ass's Skin when you finish that one.

Just started "Gone with the Wind" :) I know it's an epic and an American classic, but since I'm not American, it might be interesting.

Joana wrote: "Just started "Gone with the Wind" :) I know it's an epic and an American classic, but since I'm not American, it might be interesting."

There's a really neat Gone with the Wind museum in Marietta, Georgia (US). If you're ever in that area, I recommend seeing it. It's a small museum, but fascinating. And the surrounding area (Marietta square) has lots of cafes, restaurants, and cute little shops.

Anna wrote: "Joana wrote: "Just started "Gone with the Wind" :) I know it's an epic and an American classic, but since I'm not American, it might be interesting."

There's a really neat Gone with the Wind museu..."

Thanks! :)

I just started Go Tell It on the Mountain by James Baldwin. I'm not very far into it, but I think it'll be a good one.

Rereading Dead Souls. Really enjoyed it last time round, so though I'd take the opportunity of this month's read to get it out again.

On page 28 of Infinite Jest by David Foster Wallace. So far so good, but of course I've got a ways to go....

The New York Trilogy - I've just started and it's a peculiar beginning.

Ivo Andrić: The Bridge on the Drina Nobel prize winner, 5602 ratings and average rating of 4.30. Seem a little overlooked? Ok so far (17 pages)

I just started The War of the Worlds on my Kindle by H.G. Wells because I forgot my hard copy of The Forsyte Saga at home, which is what I had wanted to start reading reading today.

Karina wrote: "I just started The War of the Worlds on my Kindle by H.G. Wells because I forgot my hard copy of The Forsyte Saga at home, which is what I had wanted to start reading reading today."

I loved The Forsyte Saga!!!

Starting Ashes and Diamonds by Andrzejewski today.

Ashes and Diamonds

Anna wrote:Oh! That's exciting. Balzac is brilliant. I recommend The Wild Ass's Skin when you finish that one. "

Thanks, Anna! I quite enjoyed it and look forward to reading more of his :)

Just had a bit of a false start on le Guin's The Dispossessed. I had gotten it on audio, but the alternating timeline and settings, with very little perceivable transition between them, just left me very confused after 3 chapters. I've set it aside, though I plan to pick up a print copy at some point. No hurry though...it seems pretty dry.

Bought myself a SanDisk so I can easily listen to audio books during hitherto reading 'dead-time' and have loaded up Life of Pi. Listened to it while walking the dog yesterday and walking to work this morning. I've listened to others comments and I'll try to keep my audio books to the more dialouge heavy, lighter novels.

I have also just picked up Thousand Cranes but haven't started reading it yet.

Linda wrote: "Karina wrote: "I just started The War of the Worlds on my Kindle by H.G. Wells because I forgot my hard copy of The Forsyte Saga at home, which is what I had wanted to start reading r..."

Starting it this morning! So excited to start reading The Forsyte Saga, though I may have to separate my readings into the three books, depending on how well it holds my interest. But so far, so good!

I have been reading The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test by Tom Wolfe and it makes me feel like I am on a LSD trip myself. I have been enjoying it though and love learning about Ken Kesey and his group of Pranksters. Really sheds some light on that time.

I have also just started The Swarm by Frank Schätzing. Hooked me right in and I know this is going to be a great sci-fi novel.

Genesis (Book 1 of Memory of Fire) by Eduardo Galeano.

Dante Divine Comedy.

I've just loaded Far from the Madding Crowd onto my Sansa player. It's about 15 hours I think so it will take a few days to get through.

Linda wrote: "I just started The Cement Garden by Ian McEwan. I've only read one other book by him, Atonement, which I really enjoyed. Since he has a bunch on the list, I hope I like ..."

I finished The Cement Garden on audio a few days ago. I agree it with it being a rather disturbing book but I'm not sure if it's worse than The Lord of the Flies as I haven't read it. I've been avoiding that one to be honest.

Have you finished it? What did you think?

Nicola wrote: "I finished The Cement Garden on audio a few days ago. I agree it with it being a rather disturbing book but I'm not sure if it's worse than The Lord of the Flies as I haven't read it. I've been avoiding that one to be honest.

Have you finished it? What did you think?"

The Cement Garden gave me quite a few very uneasy feelings, mostly the parts dealing with (view spoiler)[incest. Also, the descriptions of the brother's (now I can't remember his name...) lack of personal hygiene and the uncleanliness of the house was really repulsive for me, although that part pales in comparison to the incest theme. The Lord of the Flies also had uncleanliness, but I felt it was a little different being the kids were out in nature. Also, I guess since I had previously read LotF many years ago, the shocking scenes were not so shocking to me. Overall, The Cement Garden gave me many more uneasy feelings than Lord of the Flies. Also, the part dealing with what the siblings did with their mother wasn't so shocking, since I could see how they would reason their way to that end, and I almost saw that coming given the title of the book (hide spoiler)].

Linda wrote: "Nicola wrote: "I finished The Cement Garden on audio a few days ago. I agree it with it being a rather disturbing book but I'm not sure if it's worse than The Lord of the Flies as I haven't read it..."

Maybe i won't find it as bad as I feared I would then. Thanks for that :-)

Nicola wrote: "Maybe i won't find it as bad as I feared I would then. Thanks for that :-)"

Again, LotF was a reread for me, so I knew what was coming. Perhaps the uneasy bits of the book may come across a bit more unsettling to a new reader, so just a warning there.

I just started Contact by Carl Sagan. I didn't know it was a list book until now so I was pleasantly surprised. I'm liking it so far.

Having a crisis....started Confederancy of Dunces, Passage to India and Jane Eyre.....going to have to commit to one at a time otherwise I will have a story in my head like no other....jane eyre goes to india and meets a eccentric character.....

City Primeval by Elmore Leonard (audiobook) - such fun if you don't mind senseless murders. Can't believe I wasn't introduced to Leonard earlier in life; I grew up in Michigan after all.

Mandy wrote: "Having a crisis....started Confederancy of Dunces, Passage to India and Jane Eyre.....going to have to commit to one at a time otherwise I will have a story in my head like no other....jane eyre go..."

I haven't read the other 2 but if you haven't read Jane Eyre before, go with that one, one of my favourite books!

Started A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith

Just started The Golden Ass by Lucius Apuleius. It's the fourth from the bottom of the list, so it's safe to say this is the oldest published book I've ever attempted. So far it's very readable and I'm enjoying it.

Just watched, "Age of Innocence" by Edith Wharton. Much of it was narrated from the book. I have had it to read on my shelf. Have to count this though as 'one'! As a movie, it is beautifully portrayed.

Mandy wrote: "Having a crisis....started Confederancy of Dunces, Passage to India and Jane Eyre.....going to have to commit to one at a time otherwise I will have a story in my head like no other....jane eyre go..."

Jane Eyre did go to India, didn't she? Or maybe that was just in The Eyre Affair...

I just started "never let me go" by Kazuo Ishiguro.

The first two books of 1Q84. It's flying past pretty quickly so far and I've got the final book waiting once I've finished this this. I'm not sure if I'll take a break or just keep reading consecutively?

Linda wrote: "Just started The Golden Ass by Lucius Apuleius. It's the fourth from the bottom of the list, so it's safe to say this is the oldest published book I've ever attempt..."

Me too. Enjoyed the first two books so far.

David wrote: "Linda wrote: "Just started The Golden Ass by Lucius Apuleius. It's the fourth from the bottom of the list, so it's safe to say this is the oldest published book I'v..."

Yes I started reading this on the train today. I was sniggering through the very silly sexual innuendo.

Nicola wrote: "I was sniggering through the very silly sexual innuendo."

:D

With some of these classics I have read recently, I'm surprised by these scenes, and also dialogue that contains potty humor (as in the case of Don Quixote). I usually figure I'm about to read some semi-serious philosophical novel, and then the novel does a complete 180 on me!

I'm reading Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie. I'm really enjoying it so far.

Linda wrote: "Nicola wrote: "I was sniggering through the very silly sexual innuendo."

:D

With some of these classics I have read recently, I'm surprised by these scenes, and also dialogue that contains potty ..."

It just goes to show that nothing is new under the sun.

Now, I'll run off and see if I can find a smooth talking man who'll sweep me off my feet by such classy lines as 'I want to stick my finger in your casserole'

Nicola wrote: "Now, I'll run off and see if I can find a smooth talking man who'll sweep me off my feet by such classy lines as 'I want to stick my finger in your casserole'"

HA!!! What a way to start my morning, reading this post. :D

I'm behind my reading on a couple of books but am trying to finish "perks" in one go of 2-3 days since it is an easy read


i.e. before I finish Orhan Pamuk's My Name is Red

AND
Maugham's As I Lay Dying

AND
The End of The Affair


I know I'm bad! :)

i know your pain ...at least 5 books on the go...

I started (and am nearly done with) Watchmen. It's very dark and graphic but...I like it. I'm not a fan of superhero comics by any stretch, but the way this one twists hero tropes while taking itself so seriously--it has really drawn me in, to my surprise.

I started IQ84. It's a library book. We'll see if I can finish it in two weeks. Doubting it!

Neuromancer by William Gibson, because the PBS idea channel told me I should :-)

The Cement Garden by Ian McEwan

Lauren wrote: "I started IQ84. It's a library book. We'll see if I can finish it in two weeks. Doubting it!"

I just received it as a gift. It's the next in line. How do you like it so far?

Ha, I also recently got IQ84 as a gift, but it's daunting in its heft. It sure looks great on the bookshelf though! I have a number of Murakami books in the house at the moment, and am trying to decide where to start. Not sure IQ84 is the best entry point for his work.

Having recently completed 1Q84 I understand the heft being daunting but it was an enjoyable read. I think 'the wind up bird chronicle' is outstanding and a great book to read as an introduction to Murakami.

I just started Nip the Buds, Shoot the Kids by Kenzaburō Ōe (which on the 1001 list has the clunkier translation of "pluck the buds, destroy the offspring")

Wendy wrote: "Ha, I also recently got IQ84 as a gift, but it's daunting in its heft. It sure looks great on the bookshelf though! I have a number of Murakami books in the house at the moment, and am trying to de..."

1Q84 is definitely not a good entry point for Murakami. It isn't a difficult read but it's long, and you really need to build up a rapport with him as an author before you can trust him to sustain you through a 1300 page journey. You should start with one of his earlier works.