davecham55 commented on…
Dr. Peter Boxall's "1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die (2008 edition)"
HALFWAY HOME. — 34 weeks ago
Ta-da! I have reached the 50% level of both this list and the original list (I lost a lot of books in the changeover). I intend to keep going until I have completed both lists (provided I can find the books).
Comments
avidreader60
San Miguel De Allende
WOW!
Congratulations Davecham. Wish I had the time to read you have. I average a little over a book a week. Question: Do you read books that are not on this list? I keep finding books I have to read that Dr. B. hasn’t discovered yet. My favorite this year is The Story of Edgar Sawtelle—Hamlet with dogs. I’ve decided that when I read a book on the 2008 list that was not on the original list, I’ll give myself credit for one of the impossibles on the original list and write a comment explaining what I substituted. After all, I’m 70 in a couple of weeks and don’t think I’ll have time to finish 1280 books plus the new ones I find I must readl.
davecham55
Pekin
Indeed I do. I also read and enjoyed Edgar Sawtelle very much. I also like the novels of Gregor Maguire (“Wicked”; “Son of a Witch”) Terry Pratchett (“The Color of Magic”), Christopher Paolini (“Eragon”, “Eldest”, “Brisingr”) and lots of mystery writers.
avidreader60
San Miguel De Allende
Recommendation
Seeing the sort of metafictional whimsey you enjoy, I wonder if you are familiar with the “Thursday Next” books of Jasper Fforde. If not, I’d be willing to bet you would eat them up. Start with “The Eyre Affair” in which agent Thursday Next of the Bureau of Jurisfiction enters the world of “Jane Eyre” to rescue the heroine, who has been kidnapped from her book. After restoring her, she changes the ending of the book (an act that is, of course, strictly forbidden) causing Jane to marry Rochester instead of sailing off around the world. In a later book she is put on trial for this act, but readers approve so heartily that she is let off with only a reprimand, and her ending is allowed to stand. Happy reading!—Gerry in Mexico
davecham55
Pekin
You are right. I very much enjoyed both “The Eyre Affair” and “The Big Over Easy” by Mr. Fforde. Unfortunately, that’s all that our local library has.
Have you ever read “Prince Ombra” by Roderick MacLeish? It’s one of my favorites of all time, but it never gets on anyone’s list. Someday, when I make up my own list, it’ll be #1.
avidreader60
San Miguel De Allende
Never heard of “Prince Ombra” but I’ll check it out. I live in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, and while the English librarian at the Biblioteca here does a good job of getting books for me, she may pass on this one. There’s always Amazon, though. Thanks for the suggestion. Incidentally, Fford has five “Thursday Next” books now—all winners, IMHO.
avidreader60
San Miguel De Allende
Davecham: If you would like to continue this conversation in a less public way, write me at smacasamilagro@yahoo.com. Any other folks who just love to chat about books are welcome also.
Gerry
davecham55
Pekin