For those paying attention, you'll see a new item in the sidebar: "The Blah Blah Book Club." And, while Amazon might pay me money if you click over and buy something, that is not really its primary purpose. It is intended to keep everyone in the loop as I struggle to finish reading the entire list of the Modern Library's 100 best novels of the 20th Century.
It's also to remind me to finish, since I've now missed my original deadline by about 8 months. I've only finished 30 of the books; I've started more than that but have lost interest. I get too distracted with new books and non-reading activities.
So, if you want to join me in the reading, go ahead. Maybe I'll post blog items so that we can talk about the books. If I ever get back to reading them . . .
11 comments:
Wow. I guess my English major has paid off in one way--I have read quite a few of those books! oK. Moment of truth: hated Ulysses, loved Beloved, and really, really loved Sons & Lovers. Which ones have you given up on? I would highly recommend the Toni Morrison as a great re-starting point on your list..
ok--two more: To Kill A Mockingbird--great book. And A Stranger in A Strange Land was also a really, really good book. (It's sci-fi...not everyone can tolerate it, but if you can, it's a great read).
Ok. I am getting off of my book soapbox now. haha.
Maybe. ;-)
I actually recognize some of those books. That semester in community college is starting to pay off!
Which list are you doing, the board list or the readers' list? Any list that starts with Joyce has got to be, I dunno, sucky?
I've read a lot more on the reader's choice list than on the real (i.e. the board's) list. And most of the ones I've read are the popular ones like Beloved, To Kill a Mockingbird, and Stranger in a Strange Land. I'm woring on some of the more obscure titles, and the ones that I've seen the movie but never read the book.
I've started and stopped Ulysses at least 3 times in my life, and just can't get motivated by Edith Wharton.
Plus, like I said, I always seem to get distracted by other things. First it was Wicked, then it was the latest Harry Potter, and now it's National Pastime.
And Mad, I'm concentrating on the board's list. Any list that starts with Atlas Shrugged is bound to be too commercial and soulless.
Besides, she's a shitty writer. Her prose is painfully clunky.
I suck. I've read like five of these books. I'm shocked that The Devil Wears Prada isn't on this list.
Velvet, when I first saw the list about two years ago, I had only read about ten of the books on it. I had read other things by some of the authors, but very few of these books.
And I consider myself pretty well read.
Some of these are pretty obscure, and others are just not the most popular work by the author. For example, almost everyone read The Great Gatsby in high school, but I don't know anyone that wasn't an English major who read Tender is the Night. Same goes for Portrait of the Artist and Ulysses, and The Sound and the Fury and Absalom, Absalom.
Can't go wrong with the L Ron Hubbard. His books are (clearly) the best!
Thanks.
And, thanks to site meter, you're not-so-anonymous.
I started on the list over a year ago, but so far only read two books that I have not read before including the two I read since I have been interduced to the list I have only read five books on the list so I have a long way to go. I did see the movie (or TV mini series) of over 20 of the books. As for the reader's list it appears to be dominated by Scientoligist, although I have not read L. Ron Hubbard I can't imagine that his books are good enough to rank so high on the best books list
I've definately read 8 books on the board's list and 18 on the readers list, plus there are two more on the board's list and three on the reader's list that I can't remember if I read or not. I don't beleive that I've made any progress on either of the lists since I first saw them, except that I listened on CD to two of the books that I had already read.
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