BABBLING BOOKS

sirg1006 · Posted: Thu Jan 25, 2007 1:51 am Post subject: Reading Challenge 2007/08 - Chat

READING CHALLENGE 2007

Need encouragement? Stuck on what to read next? Want to know what others are reading? Chat about it in here!

If you have a list to make, please use this thread: http://onlinebookclub.myfreeforum.org/about739.html

D

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I'm an auntie! Kelvin

Tigerlily · Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2007 7:50 pm Post subject:

We'll be running competitions for you to win some of the books featured in '1001 Books...' They'll be starting soon so keep an eye out for them!

To make them interesting, we'll select a few from the list and ask you to choose the one you'd like to win.
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Reading: Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow by Peter Hoeg
Reading Challenge 2009: 8
2008: 4
2007: 10

Tigerlily · Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2007 7:50 pm Post subject:

For anyone who doesn't have the 1001 Books...book, I'm adding the 1001 list to the bookstore to help you decide which ones to read.

Wish me luck!

Scroll down to view or go to www.babblingbookstore.co.uk
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Reading: Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow by Peter Hoeg
Reading Challenge 2009: 8
2008: 4
2007: 10

miranda · Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2007 9:23 pm Post subject:

This is a way cool idea! My other tbr list is looking a bit sad - some of the books have been on there for nearly a year

So I think a wee refresh is in order. I think I will set a target of 10. Just going to peruse the list ...
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Currently reading: The Human Stain by Philip Roth
'Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.'

miranda · Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2007 9:24 pm Post subject:

Couldn't choose 10 so I have went for

1. Cloud Atlas – David Mitchell
2. Sexing the Cherry – Jeanette Winterson - Read this one
3. Unless – Carol Shields
4. The Sea – John Banville
5. White Teeth – Zadie Smith
6. The Blind Assassin – Margaret Atwood
7. Sputnik Sweetheart – Haruki Murakami
8. Jazz – Toni Morrison
9. Regeneration – Pat Barker - Read this one, it was brill. The best 1001 book so far.
10. Possession – A.S. Byatt
11. The Buddha of Suburbia – Hanif Kureishi
12. Nights at the Circus – Angela Carter
13. Lanark: A Life in Four Books – Alasdair Gray
14. Anna Karenina – Leo Tolstoy
15. Moby-Dick – Herman Melville
16. The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner – James Hogg

I see there are a few John Banville books on there. I haven't read any of his stuff has anyone else? What is he like? I saw someone reading 'The Sea' on the train this morning and I have had it on my book shelf for ages ( was going to read all the Booker prize winners at one point, but kinda let it slide

), but have somehow never picked it up.

Have now read 5 Sexing the Cherry, Sunset Song, Veronica Decides to Die,Regeneration and The Story of Lucy Gault. Going to read Anna Karenina next cos I am in the mood for a classic
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Currently reading: The Human Stain by Philip Roth
'Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.'

lovely treez · Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2007 10:16 pm Post subject:

I am a bit lost as to where to find the list - I'm only able to find two from the 2000 section including Blonde - Joyce Carol Oates but no more.

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Currently reading - The Italian Boy - Murder and Grave Robbery in 1830s London - Sarah Wise

Tigerlily · Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2007 10:50 pm Post subject:

mistymoo · Posted: Fri Jan 26, 2007 11:05 pm Post subject:

Oh I get what you mean Treez, I thought you were looking at a list of 2000, which didn't make sense to me, but you meant the year!

I'll go away now.....
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Currently reading On Beauty by Zadie Smith

sirg1006 · Posted: Sat Jan 27, 2007 3:48 pm Post subject:

amarie · Posted: Sun Jan 28, 2007 9:40 pm Post subject:

I'm very surprised as well that The Alchemist isn't in there.
Anybody think of any others that should be there but aren't & vice versa?
I would put My Sister's Keeper by jodi Picoult & The Kite Runner in the list also.

Tigerlily · Posted: Sun Jan 28, 2007 11:34 pm Post subject:

I think the list ends at 2005 so many of the fab books we're familiar with won't be listed.

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Reading: Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow by Peter Hoeg
Reading Challenge 2009: 8
2008: 4
2007: 10

Tigerlily · Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2007 1:39 am Post subject:

Woo hoo! all 1001 books are available to view in the bookstore. What a feat that was

I know the list inside out now

Wherever possible, I selected books with 'search inside' so you can see if the opening paragraphs take your fancy.

Btw, I first thought this

was someone enjoying a good book. How wrong I am

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Reading: Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow by Peter Hoeg
Reading Challenge 2009: 8
2008: 4
2007: 10

Tigerlily · Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2007 1:58 am Post subject:

Now I've swotted up on the list, I'm going to challenge myself to read:

Dickens - it's about time I read his work. Am I the only one who hasn't?

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy - have heard good things about this over the years and I have to read it after reading it '...is claimed by many to be the world's greatest novel.'

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee - have had this on my tbr pile for some time and know I'll love it.

Memento Mori by Muriel Spark - have wanted to read this after my English Lit tutor mentioned it in class over 10 years ago. Want to see how the novel's central message compares to Never Let Me Go.

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day by Winifred Watson - sounds like fun: 'A delightful, intelligent, and naughty novel, which reminds us that it is never too late to have a second chance; it is never too late to live.'

Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell - I want to see if it lives up to the hype. I'm sure it will.

Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons - for when I want something funny to read.

Life of Pi and The Poisonwood Bible - didn't fancy Life of Pi but my sister says it's amazing. The Poisonwood Bible was voted Reading Group Book of the Year 2005 (I think) and I want to see what the UK's reading groups loved about it.

And finally War & Peace by Leo Tolstoy - would love to give this a go but with a 2 year old to look after, no babysitter and little time to myself...I somehow don't think it'll be possible this year

PS would also like to try Ulysses by James Joyce...
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Reading: Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow by Peter Hoeg
Reading Challenge 2009: 8
2008: 4
2007: 10

sirg1006 · Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2007 3:46 am Post subject:

I added on to my list the ones I'd like to read - far too many to actually get through - and actually managed to read a whole book (Veronika Decides to Die)! Not been in a reading mood so quite pleased - just a shame it's always Coelho - I'm gonna end up reading them all and be left with rubbish books.

D

_________________
I'm an auntie! Kelvin

Tigerlily · Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2007 11:19 am Post subject:

Is Veronika Decides to Die good then? I'm sure you mentioned it is.
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Reading: Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow by Peter Hoeg
Reading Challenge 2009: 8
2008: 4
2007: 10

sirg1006 · Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2007 1:15 pm Post subject:

It is! About Veronika - she takes an overdose to end her life but she fails and ends up in a mental hospital but a huge twist right at the end. It's not a long book - only 191 pages.

D

_________________
I'm an auntie! Kelvin

MissMuppet · Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2007 2:10 pm Post subject:

Tigerlily · Posted: Wed Jan 31, 2007 4:18 pm Post subject:

Actually, I've deleted the list from the store as I had a feeling I was breaching copyright laws...oops

Guess we'll just have to buy the book.

Sorry.
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Reading: Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow by Peter Hoeg
Reading Challenge 2009: 8
2008: 4
2007: 10

MissMuppet · Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2007 11:51 am Post subject:

Tigerlily · Posted: Thu Feb 01, 2007 12:00 pm Post subject:

Good! I'm glad you found it interesting before I went and deleted them all

_________________
Reading: Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow by Peter Hoeg
Reading Challenge 2009: 8
2008: 4
2007: 10

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