Thursday, August 24, 2006

Book Club Progress

While I was at my parents house, I made some progress on Operation: Smartypants . . . er, I mean the blah blah book club. I managed to read two more of the books on the Modern Library's list: I, Claudius and The Good Soldier.

The first was historical fiction based on the life of the Roman Emperor Claudius, and the second was an interesting Edwardian novel about the relationship of two couples. They were completely different, in tone, style, and substance, yet I liked them both.

Next up is A Passage to India, and after that, it'll likely be Henderson the Rain King and Light in August.

If you're trying to catch up, or just curious, these are the 30 books I've finished reading and their corresponding position on the list:

2. The Great Gatsby
4. Lolita
6. The Sound and the Fury
7. Catch-22
10. The Grapes of Wrath
13. 1984
14. I, Claudius
15. To the Lighthouse
18. Slaughterhouse Five
19. Invisible Man
22. Appointment in Samarra
28. Tender is the Night
30. The Good Soldier
31. Animal Farm
41. Lord of the Flies
42. Deliverance
45. The Sun Also Rises
46. The Secret Agent
55. On the Road
63. The Wapshot Chronicle
64. The Catcher in the Rye
65. A Clockwork Orange
67. Heart of Darkness
72. A House for Mr. Biswas
73. The Day of the Locust
74. A Farewell to Arms
81. The Adventures of Augie March
94. Wide Sargasso Sea
96. Sophie's Choice
100. The Magnificent Ambersons

12 comments:

Washington Cube said...

Not many people read Ford Madox Ford anymore, but it's an excellent book.

dara said...

It was really good. I loved I, Claudius though, for putting a personal spin on the Roman Empire.

Ryane said...

Dara--that is an awesome list!!

Ryane said...

How did you like Sophie's Choice?

dara said...

Ryane: I'm trying to read the ones that are more interesting to me first. That way, I think I'm less likely to get bored.

I liked Sophie's Choice, but I was a little surprised by how much of it is about sex -- and how graphic some of it was. It wasn't what I expected at all!

Ryane said...

Dara, I am just starting Sophie's Choice and I was curious what you thought of it.

PS: I finally figured out the links section~thanks again for your help!

dara said...

Peter, it's hard to have a favorite, since they're all so different. I've loved Gatsby and 1984since high school, but of the ones I've read most recently, it would have to be Appointment in Samarra or Tender is the Night. I was surprised by how much I didn't like Catch-22, but I think it's something that you would probably like.

Jason said...

This may be the most ridiculously audacious effort ever. Hats off to you.

I've noticed you haven't hit Ulysses yet. Saving that one for last?

dara said...

Jason: Two years ago, I started out on this mission, hoping to complete it before I turned 30. Now, I'm hoping to complete it sometime before the apocalypse. I'm averaging about 10 books a year.

I've tried to read Ulysses before and couldn't. I might try again sooner rather than later, but I'll probably read Portrait of the Artist first. Especially since a friend of mine wrote her doctoral dissertation on Joyce. (I just hope she's not too disappointed in me!)

Jason said...

It's 1000 pages!!

dara said...

Jason: Considering I've read the Tax Code -- and all 6 volumes of regulations -- 1000 pages of Joyce shouldn't really bother me!

I actually read quite fast. My biggest challenge is finding the time to do it. So, I'm trying to read on the Metro again.

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