All About Books discussion

Here my books for this year:
1 Emile Zola  The Ladies' Paradise ****
2 Thomas Stearne Eliot  The Waste Land *****
3 Thomas Stearne Eliot  Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats *****
4 Eugene O'Neill  Anna Christie ****
5 Stephen Chbovsky The Perks of Being a Wallflower Reading now
6 Jean Thompson,  The Year We Left Home Reading now
7 Mrs Woods East Lynne Reading now

You are off to a great start!

Yes Leslie. Some really good books!

5 Stephen Chbovsky The Perks of Being a Wallflower ****
6 Jean Thompson, The Year We Left Home Reading now
7 Joanne harris, Five Quarters Of The Orange Reading now
8 Mrs Woods East Lynne Reading now

Five Quarters of the Orange was my first book by Joanne Harris and I loved it!

I actually have to start it today, after work! I was recomended it by a friend with whom we geneally agree in tastes; glad to know you liked it!!!!

I loved both Old Possum's Book of Practical Catsand the musical.

Chrissie wrote: "I loved both Old Possum's Book of Practical Catsand the musical."

Didn't know there was a musical! I loved the book!

6 Jean Thompson, The Year We Left Home ***
7 Joanne harris, Five Quarters Of The Orange ****
8 Mrs Woods East Lynne ****
9 Sebald Austerlitz ****
10 Helen Simpson Major Pettigrew's Last Stand Reaading Now
11 Margaret Doody Aristotle DetectiveReading Now
11 Veronica Roth, Divergent Reading Now
12 Adriano Petta, Assiotea: La donna che sfidò Platone e l'Accademia Reading Now
13 Elisabeth Braddon,   Fenton's Quest Reading Now

Cats was the musical. I am sure you heard of that.

Oh yes! I didn't know it was taken from Eliot's book! When I was living in London I couldn't manage to see it it was sold out for years to come!!!

Yup, it was based on these poems. I saw a performance in Stockholm years ago. Andrew Lloyd Webber's music is just fantastic. I was sure you knew Cats but didn't put the two together!

10 Helen Simpson Major Pettigrew's Last Stand ****
11 Adriano Petta, Assiotea: La donna che sfidò Platone e l'Accademia ***
12 Janet Evanovich,  Two for the Dough ***
13 P. G. Wodehouse,  Perfetto, Jeeves! ***
14 Elisabeth Braddon,   Fenton's Quest Reading Now
15 Margaret Doody Aristotle DetectiveReading Now
16 Stella Gibson  Cold Comfort Farm Reading Now
17 Douglas Adam,  Ristorante al termine dell'Universo Reading Now
18 Veronica Roth, Divergent Reading Now

14 Stella Gibson  Cold Comfort Farm ****
15 Elisabeth Braddon,   Fenton's Quest ****
16 Janathan Swift, A Modest Proposal *****
17 Douglas Adam,  Ristorante al termine dell'Universo ***
18 Margaret Doody Aristotle Detective****
19 W. Somerset Maugham Cakes and Ale  Reading Now
20 Jasper Fforde,  Something Rotten Reading Now
21 Jane Austen,  Persuasion Reading Now
22 Clarissa Pinkola Estes Women Who Run With the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype Reading Now
23 Veronica Roth, Divergent Reading Now

Laura, what was your impression of Aristotle Detective? Was it true to the time period?

I'm not so expert of Greek history or philosophy to judge. It looked like it though. I liked it quite; not a heavy ready, something light to be entratained with

19 W. Somerset Maugham Cakes and Ale ****
20 Jasper Fforde, Something Rotten ***
21 Jane Austen, Persuasion *****
22 William Shakespeare, Hamlet *****
23 Francesco Fioretti, Il libro segreto di Dante: Il codice nascosto della Divina Commedia ***
24 M. C. Beaton, Agatha Raisin and the Day the Floods Came ****
25 Jonathan Kellerman, Flesh and Blood Reading Now
26 Gerard O'Donovan Morte a Dublino Reading Now
27 Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray Reading Now
28 Clarissa Pinkola Estes Women Who Run With the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype Reading Now
29 Veronica Roth, Divergent Reading Now

25 Jonathan Kellerman, Flesh and Blood ***
26 Gerard O'Donovan Morte a Dublino ***
27 Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray ****
28 Ann B. Ross,  Miss Julia Speaks Her Mind ****
29 Wilkie Collins,  The Queen of Hearts ***
30 George Simenon,  Il gatto ***
31 Clarissa Pinkola Estes Women Who Run With the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype Reading Now
32 Marco Vichi, Buio d'amore Reading Now
33 Lousie Penny A Fatal Grace Reading Now
34 Veronica Roth, Divergent Reading Now
35 Anthony Trollope The Golden Lion of Granpere Reading Now
36 Lev Tolstoi,  Anna Karenina Reading Now

31 Marco Vichi,  Buio d'amore **
32 Bianca Pitzorno, Principessa Laurentina ***
33 Gabriel G. Marquez Dell'amore e di altri demoni Reading now
34 Louise Penny A Fatal Grace Reading Now
35 Clarissa Pinkola Estes Women Who Run With the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype Reading Now
36 Anthony Trollope The Golden Lion of Granpere Reading Now
37 Veronica Roth, Divergent Reading Now
38 Lev Tolstoi,  Anna Karenina Reading Now

33 Gabriel G. Marquez Dell'amore e di altri demoni ***
34 Louise Penny A Fatal Grace ****
35 Clarissa Pinkola Estes Women Who Run With the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype ***
36 Anthony Trollope The Golden Lion of Granpere ****
37 Peter  May  L'isola dei cacciatori di uccelli ****
38 M.C. Beaton, Agatha Raisin and the Case of the Curious Curate ****
39 Isabella L. Bird, A Lady's Life in the Rocky Mountains Reading Now
40 M.C. Beaton, Agatha Raisin and the Haunted House Reading Now
41 Veronica Roth, Divergent Reading Now
42 Lev Tolstoi,  Anna Karenina Reading Now

LauraT wrote: "33 Gabriel G. Marquez Dell'amore e di altri demoni ***
34 Louise Penny A Fatal Grace ****
35 Clarissa Pinkola Estes [book:Women Who Run With the Wolves: Myths and Stori..."

What did you think of Women who run?

Liked it quite, even if I've found too... Deterministic? I can't think life so straight. But really interesting

39 Isabella L. Bird, A Lady's Life in the Rocky Mountains ***
40 M.C. Beaton, Agatha Raisin and the Haunted House ***
41 Christian Mascheroni Non avere paura dei libri ***
42 Laurie R. King, The Beekeeper's Apprentice Reading Now
43 Veronica Roth, Divergent Reading Now
44 Lev Tolstoi,  Anna Karenina Reading Now
45 Elisabeth Gaskell,  Mary Barton Reading Now

42 Laurie R. King, The Beekeeper's Apprentice ***
43 Donato Carrisi,  Il suggeritore ****
44 Veronica Roth, Divergent **
44 Elisabeth Gaskell,  Mary Barton ****
45 Mamie Dickens,  My Father as I Recall Him ****
46 Pierre Hadot,  Esercizi spirituali e filosofia antica ****
47 Jan Guillou, La moglie straniera Reading Now
48 Haruki Murakami, 1Q84 Reading Now
49 William Makepeace Thakerey, The History of Henry Esmond, Esq. Reading Now
50 Lev Tolstoi,  Anna Karenina Reading Now

47 Jan Guillou, La moglie straniera ****
48 Haruki Murakami, 1Q84 ***
49 Mauro Calabresi,  Cosa tiene accese le stelle: storie di italiani che non hanno mai smesso di credere nel futuro Reading Now
50 Yann Martell  Life of Pi Reading Now
51 William Makepeace Thakerey, The History of Henry Esmond, Esq. Reading Now
52 Lev Tolstoi,  Anna Karenina Reading Now

49 Mauro Calabresi,  Cosa tiene accese le stelle: storie di italiani che non hanno mai smesso di credere nel futuro ***
50 Yann Martell  Life of Pi Reading Now
51 Caterina Bonvicini,  L'equilibrio degli squali Reading Now
52 M. C. Beaton, L'avaro di Mayfair Reading Now
53 William Makepeace Thakerey, The History of Henry Esmond, Esq. Reading Now
54 Lev Tolstoi,  Anna Karenina Reading Now

50 Yann Martell  Life of Pi ****
51 Caterina Bonvicini,  L'equilibrio degli squali ***
52 William Makepeace Thakerey, The History of Henry Esmond, Esq. ***
53 Giancarlo De Cataldo   Onora il padre: quarto comandamento ***
54 Christopher Moore Fool Reading Now
55 Lev Tolstoi,  Anna Karenina Reading Now
56 M. C. Beaton, L'avaro di Mayfair Reading Now

54 Christopher Moore Fool ***
55 Lev Tolstoi,  Anna Karenina ***
56 Sandrone Dazieri,  Uccidi il padre ****
57 James Rolling,  L'ombra del re Reading Now
58 Laurent Seksik, Il caso Eduard Einstein Reading Now
59 M. C. Beaton, L'avaro di Mayfair Reading Now
60 Mary Elisabeth Braddon,  The Golden Calf Reading Now

57 James Rolling,  L'ombra del re ***
58 Laurent Seksik, Il caso Eduard Einstein ***
59 M. C. Beaton, L'avaro di Mayfair ***
60 Mary Elisabeth Braddon,  The Golden Calf ***
61 Emile Zola The Joy of Life ****
62 Antonella Benvenuti Calce viva. La storia di un amore assoluto nell'inferno della prima guerra mondiale ****
63 Anton Checov Uncle Vanya ****
64 Norman Duncan, THE MEASURE OF A MAN ***
65 David Mitchell, Cloud Atlas Reading Now
66 Miriam  Petrosjan, La casa del tempo sospeso Reading Now
67 Mary Elisabeth Braddon,  The Doctor's Wife Reading Now

65 David Mitchell, Cloud Atlas ***
66 Miriam  Petrosjan, La casa del tempo sospeso **
67 Stefan Bollmann Le donne che pensano sono pericolose ***
67 Mary Elisabeth Braddon,  The Doctor's Wife Reading Now
68 Umberto Eco,  Numero zero Reading Now
69 Robert Galbreith The Silkworm Reading Now
70 M. C. Beaton, Agatha Raisin and the Deadly Dance Reading Now

67 Mary Elisabeth Braddon,  The Doctor's Wife ****
68 Umberto Eco,  Numero zero ***
69 Robert Galbreith The Silkworm ****
70 M. C. Beaton, Agatha Raisin and the Deadly Dance ***
71 Jennifer Scott,  Il club delle lettrici ***
72 Ian Sansom  The Case of the Missing Books ***
73 Edith Warton, Crucial Instances ***
74 M. C. Beaton, Agatha Raisin and the Perfect Paragon ***
75 M. C. Beaton, Love, Lies and Liquor ***
76 Pulkkinen Rikka L'armadio dei vestiti dimenticati ***
77 Frank L Baum,  Aunt Jane's Nieces at Millville ***
78 Robin Sloan, Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore ***
79 Benjamin, Disraeli,  Sybil, or the Two Nations Reading now
80 Deborah Mayerl Lo strano caso dell'apprendista libraia Reading now
81 Ian Sansom, Mr. Dixon Disappears Reading now
82 Bill Bryson, Shakespeare: The World as Stage Reading now

79 Benjamin, Disraeli,  Sybil, or the Two Nations ****
80 Deborah Mayerl Lo strano caso dell'apprendista libraia ***
81 Ian Sansom, Mr. Dixon Disappears ***
82 Bill Bryson, Shakespeare: The World as Stage ***
83 Jasper Fforde, First Among Sequels ***
84 Tove Jannson Il libro dell'estate ***
85 Emile Zola, Germinale Reading Now
86 George Moore. Esther Waters Reading Now
87 Kazuo Ishiguro The Remains of the Day Reading Now

Oh Laura, I didn't realize you were reading the Disraeli! And you gave it 4*. Between this and John's recommendation in the 100 best novels thread, I need to push this higher in my TBR queue.

I took the idea from him as well. It was ages I intended to read something by him. It's worth; a bit ... "politics", but I think it has to be expected!!!

85 Emile Zola, Germinale ****
86 George Moore. Esther Waters ***
87 Kazuo Ishiguro The Remains of the Day ****
88 Paul Auster,  Trilogia di New York. Città di vetro, Fantasmi, La stanza chiusa ***
89 Edith Warton,  The Custom of the Country Reading Now
90 Haruki Murakami, Kafka sulla spiaggia Reading Now

89 Edith Warton,  The Custom of the Country ****
90 Haruki Murakami, Kafka sulla spiaggia ***
91 Regina Hensheid, Memorie di un gatto ***
92 M. C. Beaton, Death of a Gossip ***
93 Erri De Luca La doppia vita dei numeri ***
94 Sara Gruen,  Acqua agli elefanti ***
95 Lev Tolstoi,  Il diavolo ****
96 Sepulveda L'avventurosa storia dell'Uzbeko muto Reading now
97 Charlotte Link La casa delle sorelle Reading now

LauraT wrote: "89 Edith Warton,  The Custom of the Country ****
90 Haruki Murakami, Kafka sulla spiaggia ***
91 Regina Hensheid, Memorie di un gatto ***
92 M. C. Beaton,..."

I have the same Tolstoj to read and I'm glad to see you liked it.
Sepulveda's book has an interesting title, will wait for your opinions.

Liked it a lot. It is much centred on politics in latin America

96 Sepulveda L'avventurosa storia dell'Uzbeko muto ****
97 Charlotte Link La casa delle sorelle ****
98 Mahfuz Naghib Akhenaton: Il faraone eretico ***
99 Adiga La tigre bianca ****
100 Nadine Gordimer Beethoven era per un sedicesimo nero **
101 Tim Winton Cloudstreet ***
102 Amitav Ghosh Il cromosoma Calcutta ***
103 Mikhail Bulgakov,  Diavoleide ***
104 Arnold Bennet,  Anna of the Five Towns ***
105 Marilynne Robinson,  Home ****
106 Emile Zola, L'opera ****
107 Graeme Simsion L'amore è un difetto meraviglioso ***
108 George Bernard Shaw  The Doctor's Dilemma: A Tragedy ****
109 Isabel Allende  Il mio paese inventato ****
110 Edit Warton The Decoration of Houses ****
111 William Shakespeare The Two Gentlemen of Verona ****
112 Harper Lee Go Set a Watchman Reading Now
113 Giulio Angioni Sulla faccia della terra Reading Now
114 Arnold Bennet,  The Card: A Story of Adventure in the Five Towns Reading Now

112 Harper Lee Go Set a Watchman *****
113 M. C. Beaton, Death of a Cad ****
114 Arnold Bennet,  The Card: A Story of Adventure in the Five Towns ***
115 E. L. Doctorow La marcia ***
116 M. C. Beaton, Death of an OutsiderReading Now
117 Giulio Angioni Sulla faccia della terra Reading Now
118 Thomas Hardy Far from the Madding Crowd Reading Now

116 M. C. Beaton, Death of an Outsider ****
117 Giulio Angioni Sulla faccia della terra ****
118 E. L. Doctorow La marcia ***
119 Arnold Bennet,  The Card: A Story of Adventure in the Five Towns ***
120 Margaret Atwood The Handmaid's Tale ****
121 Camilla Lakberg L'uccello del malaugurio ****
122 Henning Mankell La falsa pista ****
123 Mario Benedetti La tregua ****
124 Willa Carter Death Comes for the Archbishop ****
125 Thomas Hardy Far from the Madding Crowd ****
126 Rachel Field Tempo immemorabile Reading now
127 Donato carrisi Il tribunale delle anime Reading now

126 Rachel Field Tempo immemorabile ****
127 Donato carrisi Il tribunale delle anime ***
128 Kathy Reichs Corpi freddi ***
129 Henning Mankell Delitto di mezza estate ****
130 Camilla Lakberg Il bambino segreto ****
131 Hawkins Paula  La ragazza del treno ****
132 Izner Claude Il mistero di Rue des Saints-Perès: Un'indagine di Victor Legris libraio investigatore ***
133 Zadie Smith L'Ambasciata di Cambogia ****
134 Lisa Marklund, Delitto a Stoccolma ***
135 Jean-Michel Guenassia Il club degli incorreggibili ottimisti ****
136 Donald Westlake, Come ti rapisco il pupo ***
137 Antonio Manzini, La giostra dei criceti ***
138 Susan Edmund Ferrier Marriage ****
139 Arnold Bennet,  Buried Alive ****
140 Jennifer Worth Chiamate la levatrice ****
141 Bill Bryson  L'estate in cui accadde tutto ***
142 AAVV  La scuola in giallo ***
143 Hilary Mantel Wolf Hall Reading now
144 Peter Hoeg I quasi adatti Reading now

143 Hilary Mantel Wolf Hall ***
144 Peter Hoeg I quasi adatti ***
145 Wilkie Collins, Basil ****
146 Wilkie Collins, The Law and the Lady ****
147 Emile Zola, The Earth ****
148 Peter May L'uomo di Lewis ***
149 Charlotte Links Oltre le apparenze ****
150 Carol Goodman The Lake of Dead Languages ***
151 J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone ***
152 A. Mathew Dick L'amico immaginario ***
153Susan Vreeland Una ragazza da Tiffany ****
154 J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Reading now
155 Peter Carey, True History of the Kelly Gang Reading now
156 M. C. Beaton,  Death of a Perfect Wife Reading now

154 J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets ****
155 Peter Carey, True History of the Kelly Gang ***
156 M. C. Beaton,  Death of a Perfect Wife ****
157 Bill Bryson  I'm a Stranger Here Myself: Notes on Returning to America after Twenty Years Away ****
158 J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban ****
159 M.C. Beaton Death of a Hussy ***
160 Penelope Lively Family Album ****
161 M.C. Beaton Death of a Snob Reading now
162 J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Reading now
163 Agatha Christie,  The Murder of Roger Ackroyd Reading now
164 Shirley Hazzard, The Transit of Venus Reading now
165 Elisabeth Howard The Light Years Reading now

161 M.C. Beaton Death of a Snob ****
162 Federico Rampini, Voi avete gli orologi, noi abbiamo il tempo ****
163 J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Reading now
164 Federico Rampini, «Non ci possiamo più permettere uno Stato sociale». Falso! Reading now
165 J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Reading now
166 Agatha Christie,  The Murder of Roger Ackroyd Reading now
167 Shirley Hazzard, The Transit of Venus Reading now
168 Elisabeth Howard The Light Years Reading now

163 J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire ****
164 Federico Rampini, «Non ci possiamo più permettere uno Stato sociale». Falso! ***
165 Shirley Hazzard, The Transit of Venus ***
166 Elisabeth Howard The Light Years ****
167 Vargas Fred  Tempi glaciali ****
168 Ernest Hemingway Across the River and into the Trees ***
169 Alan Bennet, La pazzia di re Giorgio ***
170 William Shakespeare, The Taming of the Shrew *****
171 Louis Sepulveda,  Il vecchio che leggeva romanzi d'amore ****
172 Louis Sachar Holes ***
173 Camilleri Andrea La giostra degli scambi ****
174 Emile Zola, Il sogno ***
175 Suzanne Fagence Cooper  Effie: Storia di uno scandalo Reading now
176 Agatha Christie,  The Murder of Roger Ackroyd Reading now
177 J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix Reading now

175 Suzanne Fagence Cooper  Effie: Storia di uno scandalo ***
177 Paula McLain Circling the Sun ***
178 J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix ****
179 Camilla Lackberg,  La sirena ****
180 Penelope Lively Amori imprevisti di un rispettabile biografo ***
181 Nina LaCour  Hold Still ***
182 Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu The Evil Guest ***
183 William Landay Defending Jacob ***
184 Jeffrey Lindsay  La mano sinistra di Dio Reading now
185 Jhumpa Lahiri  The Namesake Reading now
186 J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Reading now
187 Agatha Christie,  The Murder of Roger Ackroyd Reading now

Laura, is The Murder of Roger Ackroyd a reread for you?

Leslie wrote: "Laura, is The Murder of Roger Ackroyd a reread for you?"

Yes, it is. I'm leading a group of reading in English and I was the one suggesting it since they wanted to read Agatha Cristie. I know it's a little of a dirty trick. One of the classic example of the braking of one of the unwritten pact between writer and reader: the narrator has to stand aside!!!
Anothe is The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas, where it comes out in the end that the author of the autobiograpy - who is the main protagonist of the authobiography itself by "statute" - was not Alice after all!!! Probably because the autobiography was not about her, but about the real writer, Gertrude Stein!

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is one of the few books by Agatha Christie I haven't read yet. I've been told it's one of her best, though -- is that so, in your opinion?

Marina wrote: "The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is one of the few books by Agatha Christie I haven't read yet. I've been told it's one of her best, though -- is that so, in your opinion?"

It is in my opinion! I love reading it, even knowing the solution to the mystery :)

Laura, you are right that it does violate "the rules" -- nowadays those rules are considered to be passé by most mystery writers though, so it shouldn't bother modern readers.