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

Sara wrote: "I think 'the wind up bird chronicle' is outstanding and a great book to read as an introduction to Murakami."

I agree with Sara. I have only read The Wind Up Bird Chronicle and I really enjoyed it. I certainly didn't understand everything that happened, but it's one of those books that I kept wanting to continue reading to find out what happened next. And it has definitely made me want to read more Murakami.

Nadine wrote: "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?"

I'm liking it so far, but I haven't had time to sit down and really dig in. I'm only on page 60! At this rate, I may finish it by Christmas. ;-)

Becky wrote: "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."

I think you meant to put this in "Which Books Did You Finish," but I just finished this book too, and I thought the same thing: where has Elmore Leonard been all my life? I'm loving his books. I can safely say he is one of my favorite authors from the list.

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..."

Don't worry about the size, it's a really easy book to read. I am reading it at the moment, although my library gave it to me in two books which I have found out was how it was released. Books 1 + 2 came first and then a year later he released Book 3 which was apparently a surprise. That, more than anything else, tells me that this author is not one to read if you like solid conclusive endings!

Thanks for the tips, everyone! I may start with Windup Bird after all, or possibly (non-list) Underground, which I guess is non fiction, but probably not very representative of his works. Looks interesting, though.

Conner wrote: "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")



Oh wow, that is really a bad translation! One to avoid methinks! What version are you reading please so I can note it down against the book in my list now?

I am reading it at the moment, although my library gave it to me in two books which I have found out was how it was released. "

Oh! now I understand. I have the first part, so when people mentionned its heft I was confused. Thanks!

Just started "The Street of Crocodiles" by Bruno Schulz. It is a collection of compelling short stories.

Hawksmoor by Peter Ackroyd

Janet wrote: "Just started "The Street of Crocodiles" by Bruno Schulz. It is a collection of compelling short stories."

Oh I thought that was wonderful! One of the 1001 little gems :-)

Testament of Youth - probably not going to be exactly a cheery read but it should be interesting.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

Good morning!

I've started the Everyman's Library "Definitive" edition of *The Diary of a Young Girl* by Anne Frank (1929-45). This portrait of man's inhumanity to man is not an easy read.

Jim

Nicola wrote: "Conner wrote: "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")



Oh wow, that is really..."

I read the version translated by Paul St. John Mackintosh and Maki Sugiyama. There were a couple of clunky translations, but not the title, and there were a few parts where the translation made me wonder about the original language and metaphors used: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... A short but interesting book.

Jim wrote: "Good morning!

I've started the Everyman's Library "Definitive" edition of *The Diary of a Young Girl* by Anne Frank (1929-45). This portrait of man's inhumanity to man is not an easy read.

Jim"

Great book but not a LIST book!

Just started The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins this afternoon.

The Brothers Karamazov - I was feeling nervous but having read 4 chapters it's not at all the dense daunting tome I was expecting. Or at least not yet. I chose the best translation from what I've heard of others and I that will make all the difference.

I think I'll like the novel. Here's hoping anyhow :-)

After reading "Testament
of Youth" I went on to read all Her books. I felt I owed it to her and all the lost youth and innocence.

Don Quixote

It has been on my personal to-read list for years. I'm about 100 pages in, and so far I'm in love.

Agatha Christie - The Murder of Roger Ackroyd

Bucket wrote: "Don Quixote

It has been on my personal to-read list for years. I'm about 100 pages in, and so far I'm in love."

It is a fantastic book. My suggestion would be to read the first book, take a bit of a break and then tackle the second. When I read it I tried to read it all in one go and it was a little much.

It might depend on your speed as well. I devoted myself entirely to this one book so after a week of reading I really did need a rest!

The Unbearable Lightness of Being. This is the first I've read of this author, and I'm enjoying it so far.

Nicola wrote: "Bucket wrote: "Don Quixote

It has been on my personal to-read list for years. I'm about 100 pages in, and so far I'm in love."

It is a fantastic book. My suggestion would be to read ..."

Good idea! I have a non-list book from the library that I can't renew, so I'll probably read that between the two books of Don Quixote.

Lynecia wrote: "I just started "never let me go" by Kazuo Ishiguro."
Oo i liked it! Although it made me worry that all of this books are the same.....

Kirsten wrote: "Just started The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins this afternoon."

Really looking forward to reading that, hope it's as good as The Woman in White

Bucket wrote: "Don Quixote

It has been on my personal to-read list for years. I'm about 100 pages in, and so far I'm in love."

Lucky you, since it's such a big read!

I've just started Breakfast at Tiffany's I'm sure it won't take me very long to finish.

I decided to start reading it as i was put off fiction after 23 reading Agatha Christie's in a row, so I'm reading a book on politics and just finished an autobiography, as Breakfast at Tiffany's is the shortest fiction book I own I thought this would be an undaunting way to get back into fiction.

It's very readable so far, so hopefully I'll love it as much everyone else seems to

Laura wrote: "Kirsten wrote: "Just started The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins this afternoon."

Really looking forward to reading that, hope it's as good as T..."

I haven't read it but everyone seems to like it so you'll probably enjoy it seeing as you liked The Woman in White.

I have thought about moving it up the list but I'm so top heavy in the early classics that I'm trying to read a few of the more modern books. I have managed to slot some in but when I look back on my reading for the last 3 months it's still full of the likes of Les Miserables, The Woman in White, Moll Flanders, Dr Jeckll and Mr Hyde, The Time Machine etc etc and a bit lacking still in more modern books.

Must try harder!

Now I'm reading Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. :)

just stared the bell Jar by Sylvia Plath, really enjoying it so far

Just started Emma by Jane Austen- I've really missed reading Austen! I've just started but it's so good already

I am reading Don Quixote I'm on 200, I am really enjoying. I am also reading The Poison Wood Bible I am on page 150.

Complicity by Banks

Eyeless in Gaza by Huxley

Complicity
Eyeless in Gaza

Jury is out of both at this point, but are interesting and disturbing - indifferent ways.....

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson

The Bonfire of the Vanities

So far, so good.

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

Currently reading The Once and Future King as a bit of a tonic to all of the Russian Lit I'm reading. I'm re reading Crime and Punishment, along with The Brothers Karamazov and I have also just finished a bunch of Chekov plays!

I'm about halfway through The Once and Future King and it's wonderful though just turning darker now.

Just started God's Bits of Wood by Ousmane Sembène.

Mrs. Dalloway - Fairly much my first Woolf. I read Orlando when I was quite young but the only thing I remember about it is that I didn't like it.

Mrs. Dalloway is supposed to be one of her more accessible works though and I'm a lot older now.

God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater by Kurt Vonnegut. Typically silly yet very relevant today - a commentary on how the wealthy continue to be wealthy without doing more than having others manage their assets while the poor work very hard in dying industries.

Nicola wrote: "Mrs. Dalloway - Fairly much my first Woolf.

Mrs. Dalloway is supposed to be one of her more accessible works though and I'm a lot older now."

I have this in my queue for the end of 2014, but I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to fit it in. I read and liked The Hours, but I haven't actually read any Woolf, let alone Mrs. Dalloway. I would like to reread The Hours after Mrs. Dalloway and see how different the reading experience might be.

Linda wrote:
I have this in my queue for the end of 2014, but I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to fit it in. I read and liked The Hours, but I haven't actually read any Woolf, let alone Mrs. Dalloway. I would like to reread The Hours after Mrs. Dalloway and see how different the reading experience might be...."

Mrs Dalloway and The Hours are the next group reads so I'll be reading them both. It was a bit of a toss up as which to read first but in the end I decided that The Hours was written about (sort of) Mrs Dalloway so it would be best to read them in that order.

We'll see how they go, hopefully I'll like both of them.

I strongly recommend reading The Hours but think it would be much better AFTER reading Mrs. Dalloway. The Hours is excellent even if you don't know Mrs. Dalloway but you will miss much if you read them in the opposite order.

James wrote: "I strongly recommend reading The Hours but think it would be much better AFTER reading Mrs. Dalloway. The Hours is excellent even if you don't know Mrs. Dalloway but you will miss much if you read..."

Yes, that's what I figured.

Started Fruits of the Earth by Gide today. This one is going to be a bit slow to get through...very philosophical and controversial in its time.

Currently reading Fingersmith by Sarah Waters

Started Mrs. Dalloway for the group read. 40 pages in and so far it's not my cup of tea. I'm struggling to stay focused on what's actually happening.

Linda wrote: "Started Mrs. Dalloway for the group read. 40 pages in and so far it's not my cup of tea. I'm struggling to stay focused on what's actually happening."

Now that sounds very familiar...

A Pale View of Hills by Kazuo Ishiguro

The Hours - After a few days break from finishing Mrs. Dalloway I have started this. About 50 pages in and it's going down fairly smoothly :-)