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

Hunger by Knut Hamsun.

I struggled through the introduction, but now that I am into the book it is much more readable.

Right now I'm reading The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler. I have a huge pile of books that have been waiting patiently for me!

I just started Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel. It is really making my mouth water!!

I just started Foe. It's obviously a different version of Robinson Crusoe but I'm enjoying it much more. Thanks for the hint, Dree!

I'm starting Mason & Dixon for the third time. Hoping I'll be able to finish it because it has great reviews. I guess third time might be the charm...

Ellinor wrote: "I just started Foe. It's obviously a different version of Robinson Crusoe but I'm enjoying it much more. Thanks for the hint, Dree!"

You're welcome! I enjoyed it more too. But they definitely work better together, in any case!

I just started The Ghost Road to complete the Regeneration trilogy.

I'm starting The Sound of Waves by Yukio Mishima.

I stated Julie, or the New Heloise the other day. Slow going so far.

Luís wrote: "Of Human Bondage
The Sun Also Rises
Tropic of Cancer
Lolita"

I also started reading Of Human Bondage for another group's read. Liking it better than Mason & Dixon which I'm also reading.

I've just started the full Dutch version of Les Misérables. As a teenager I read a modern abridged version and I loved it, so I'm looking forward to reading this version.

All Quiet on the Western Front as a follow-up to Pat Barker's Regeneration trilogy.

Since I'm trying to alternate fiction and nonfiction books, I'm going with 'The Stranger' by Albert Camus. It's been a while since I read it, and it seems appropriate with my overall summer reading theme.

Just started reading The New York Trilogy by Paul Auster (I think it's on the list.)

There's a great line in the first chapter describing the narrators love of mysteries:

It was a kind of hunger that took hold of him, a craving for a special food, and he would not stop until he'd eaten his fill.

Kirsten *Dogs Welcome - People Tolerated" wrote: "Just started reading The New York Trilogy by Paul Auster (I think it's on the list.)

There's a great line in the first chapter descri..."

Love Paul Auster! My personal favorite of his is 'The Brooklyn Follies.' Hope you enjoy it!

'Kidnapped' by Robert Louis Stevenson. Loved 'Treasure Island' - same boy's own adventure style so far :-)

I just started Monkey: Journey to the West and am LOVING it.

Portnoy's Complaint - Apparently rather infamous due to a certain meat meets meat incident. Plus lots and lots of Jewish guilt.

Reading (or I should say, re-reading) Candide. I read it in high school, but I don't really remember it. A couple chapters in and I can tell it's going to be enjoyable. And at 94 pages, a quick one.

I've just started listening to The Three Musketeers today. Unfortunately, it's not as engaging (so far) as The Count.

Iain Banks 'The Wasp Factory'. It's pretty disturbing...

The Story of Blanche and Marie - I've had this out on loan for a couple of months and I've finally started it. Seems like it will be a very quick and easy read.

1984 - Not sure why I haven't read it yet, considering I was an English major in college.

Starting Cane by Jean Toomer

I just read Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston. An easy read but very powerful. I'd like to read her other novels now.

The Island of Dr. Moreau

I have just started Little Women and read the two first chapters. If it wasn't so highly placed on the list https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/9...
(currently no 14th) I would be very tempted to give up. It is just so over-sweet.

I am about to start *The Lord of the Rings* I'm soo excited!

I am going to read Borges in Danish translation. Labyrinths: Selected Stories and Other Writings is a specific English collection. Comparing that and Ficciones and
Fiktioner og andre fiktioner I noticed that most but not all of Ficciones is contained in Labyrinths: Selected Stories and Other Writings. Isn't that a little strange to have two book with some identical content on the list?

If there are any Danes around: Read all of Fiktioner in Fiktioner og andre fiktioner and the following from “Aleffen”
Den udødelige
Teologerne
Historien om krigeren og den fangne kvinde
Emma Zunz
Asterions hus
Deutsches requiem
Averroés' søgen
Zahiren
Gudens skrift
Ventetiden
then both the list book are covered.

I will probably read all of Fiktioner og andre fiktioner.

Kimberly wrote: "I am about to start *The Lord of the Rings* I'm soo excited!"

Enjoy the journey! Do give up during the first 100 pages. It has such a slow start.

I started Monkey: The Journey to the West. I am reading an abridged translation, which I have access to. I think it is the translation listed in the app, but I can't be sure. I don't have access to my book these days, and I am not sure if there even is a full translation. So far it is fine, but not really a novel.

Dree wrote: "I started Monkey: The Journey to the West. I am reading an abridged translation, which I have access to. I think it is the translation listed in the app, but I can't be sure. I don't ..."

There is a complete translation by Anthony C. Yu published in four volumes:
The Journey to the West, Volume 1
The Journey to the West, Revised Edition, Volume 2
The Journey to the West, Revised Edition, Volume 3
The Journey to the West, Revised Edition, Volume 4

The 3 volume translation by W.J.F. Jenner is almost complete, but does not include the poems and songs.

J wrote: "I have just started Little Women and read the two first chapters. If it wasn't so highly placed on the list https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/9......"

It does get a bit better once it gets to the main story. The first 100 pages or so is introducing you to the girls.

I began Frankenstein by Mary Shelley today.

White Teeth - Time to clear this off my TBR shelf.

I just started reading Contact by Carl Sagan again.

A Gate at the Stairs

Independent People - My very first Icelandic novel :-)

Brave New World :)

Also just started Brave New World!

Amelia wrote: "Brave New World :)"

me too!

I've started listening to Catch-22. I almost finished it years ago but lost my place during a move and never figured out where I left off. I'm also reading The Dispossessed.

Camille wrote: "A Gate at the Stairs"

I'm reading this one right now, too. I'm really enjoying it.

Jennifer W wrote: "J wrote: "I have just started Little Women and read the two first chapters. If it wasn't so highly placed on the list https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/9......"
I read Little Women for another list/challenge and was bored by it. I think if I would have read it as a child I would have enjoyed it more than as a 40-something. It is a decent book, but I think sometimes book are better read at certain ages. I felt the same way about The Catcher in the Rye which I read recently.

The Vicar of Wakefield. I have made it through all the intro materials and am now ready to start the book!

I'm going to be starting Cannery Row. Oddly enough, this will be my first Steinbeck (I know, I know...)

Kerouac 'On the Road' - hoping it's a good summer read for when I'm at the office...

Karen Michele wrote: "Camille wrote: "A Gate at the Stairs"

I'm reading this one right now, too. I'm really enjoying it."

I think I agree - I read Little Women countless times in elementary school/middle school. Now? I tried reading it over winter break and thought, "Wow, this is long!"

Sexing The Cherry - My Second Winterson. I enjoyed Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit so hopefully I'll like this as well.

Starting Captain Corelli’s Mandolin