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

I just started Bleak House by Charles Dickens. I am going to try to read one Dickens list book per year until I've finished with all of them.

The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas by Gertrude Stein

Just started Lucky Jim by Kingsley Amis.

Queer - apparently a much easier read than Naked Lunch which I ended up loving but it was a slog to start with.

Just starting Mrs. 'Arris Goes to Paris by Paul Gallico

It should be a quick read.

Tipping the Velvet and Heart of Darkness on audio.

Amsterdam - Apparently this is one of Ian McEwans best.

The Pilgrim's Progress. Today I made it through the introduction. I am afraid this will be rough.

Dree wrote: "The Pilgrim's Progress. Today I made it through the introduction. I am afraid this will be rough."

The Classics and Western Cannon group are going to be starting this in a couple of weeks once we finish Ulysses. I pushed for it as The Pilgrims Progress is the type of book I would have difficulty with on my own. If you are like me you might like to join the group and wait for us to start it :-)

I will look into it--I am actually reading it as part of another group's yearlong project. There are a few of us that are running behind...

Tyler wrote: "In addition to Billy Budd and Other Stories by Herman Melville, I started Ethan Frome by Edith Wharton yesterday."

I'd like to read Billy Budd. Are you enjoying it? I recently listened to the opera version and the story sounds interesting.

Dree wrote: "The Island of Dr. Moreau"

I re-read that last year and enjoyed it. I followed it up with The Madman's Daughter which is a YA gothic romance/thriller inspired by the book.

Kennie wrote: "Linda wrote: "Kennie wrote: "I'm about 200 pages into The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle! I'm really liking it so far! But then... I do like Murakami's writing style. Im not quite sure where t..."

I'd like to read Murakami, but he sounds intimidating. What do you think?

Kirsten wrote: "I'd like to read Murakami, but he sounds intimidating. What do you think?"

The writing is not intimidating at all. And the storyline, WUBC at least, pulled me in immediately and I had a hard time putting the book down. Now, to try and figure out the ideas and what Murakami is trying to get at is another matter. I read the book with a group where people had many ideas of what the story was supposed to represent and how things connected in a way that I had not thought of. I'm still not sure I understood everything, but the book itself was enjoyable.

Linda wrote: "Now, to try and figure out the ideas and what Murakami is trying to get at is another matter. I read the book with a group where people had many ideas of what the story was supposed to represent and how things connected in a way that I had not thought of. "

Wind-up Bird Chronicle really is like that. I read it together with my husband a few years ago, and while I thought it had an uplifting happy end for the main character, my husband thought otherwise and found it very depressing. Completely opposite interpretation! I still think he just missed a few passages, but he thinks not...

Sandi wrote: "Completely opposite interpretation! I still think he just missed a few passages, but he thinks not..."

:)

Ed wrote: "House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski"

I really really liked that book. It disturbed me and yet I found it really compelling...I would be curious to know what you think of it.

I've had House of Leaves on my radar for some time. Need to finish up several other books that I am reading at the moment. It looks like it requires the readers full attention.

Susan wrote: "I've had House of Leaves on my radar for some time. Need to finish up several other books that I am reading at the moment. It looks like it requires the readers full attention."

I'm reading it as a buddy read on The Chunksters group now. I am a bit behind as I haven't been in the right head space for this book but I've been reading it during the evening for the last two days and it's hooking me in nicely.

Good to know.

I'm about a third of the way through Jane Eyre and I'm so annoyed with myself for waiting this long to pick it up. It's AMAZING.

The Birds Fall Down by Rebecca West

Yesterday I started A Woman's Life by Guy de Maupassant.

Invisible Cities--fascinating, it is soooo different. Not difficult, but lots to think about. And I wonder if there will be some twist at the end and I will need to re-read, it is that unusual. A good break from Pilgrim's Progress, which I find exhausting.

I had a free audiobook voucher and randomly chose a list book from the 1990s (I've been trying to read some of the more recent ones) that was fairly expensive. So now I've been listening to Sabbath's Theater by Philip Roth. I went in completely unaware of story, but I can at least find it humorous that I will be listening to what seems to be a pretty "dirty" book as I clean the house!

About to start listening to the audio of Lolita by Jeremy Ions. Everyone raves about this audio so I'm really looking forward to it.

I'm late on this post as I am over halfway with The Art of Fielding - I started out liking the story but now I am not so sure...

I also just started The Line of Beauty.

I have just started The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy and Summer by Edith Wharton.

Amira wrote: "I'm about a third of the way through Jane Eyre and I'm so annoyed with myself for waiting this long to pick it up. It's AMAZING."

Ah well, you saw the light eventually! I just started Atonement. I already love it. How does Ian McEwan know so well what it is like to be a little girl??

Jane Eyre or Wide Sargosso Sea first?

Winter wrote: "Jane Eyre or Wide Sargosso Sea first?"

I haven't read Wide Sargasso Sea, so I might be biased, but I say Jane Eyre. I've only read the description of WSS, but it seems like such a far left field take on Jane Eyre that it might have clouded my initial read of a book I truly loved.

Winter wrote: "Jane Eyre or Wide Sargosso Sea first?"

Definitely Jane Eyre, it's one of my favourite books, I love the story, but wasn't too impressed by Wide Sargasso Sea.

Just started Never Let Me Go

I've started Oscar and Lucinda by Peter Carey

Laini wrote: "Just started Never Let Me Go"

Interesting to hear how you feel, just bought it!

Laini wrote: "Winter wrote: "Jane Eyre or Wide Sargosso Sea first?"

Definitely Jane Eyre, it's one of my favourite books, I love the story, but wasn't too impressed by Wide Sargasso Sea."

And thanks! That's good too, I have already bought Jane Eyre for my kindle :)

Just started The Crying of Lot 49 by Thomas Pynchon.

Our Lady of the Assassins - So far it's rather grim.

Started Never Let Me Go. Intriguing so far!

Drop City - I know nothing about this book so have no idea what to expect. It's meant to be funny but we'll see.

Just started Don Quixote. Very funny so far, with a lot more slapstick than expected!

Persuasion, Jane Austen. Good so far though I confused characters in the beginning.

Currently reading "A Pale View of Hills"

Half of a Yellow Sun enjoying so far

As a Man Grows Older - The english translation of Senilità.

Oroonoko. So far I am confused as to why it is on the list, and I am glad it is short.

Half of a Yellow Sun

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K.Dick.

The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton. I have wanted to read this for ages so I'm appreciating the April Challenge.