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eightlegs
Babbling for Britain
Joined: 11 Feb 2007
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Birthday: 19th July
Location: Dorset, UK
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 Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 9:27 pm Post subject: What books would you recommend? |
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As the challenge goes on I am finding it harder to pick books for the challenge, especially when some I've taken from my TBR pile have been awful - and I don't think I'm the only one who hasn't liked some of the list.
So I thought I'd start a thread for books that people have really enjoyed and would recommend to others, either ones read recently for the challenge or ones read in the (sometimes far distant!) past that they would recommend. I am sure I have more but here are a few to start:
The Fingersmith - Sarah Waters
The Name of the Rose - Umberto Eco
The Magus and The French Lieutenants Woman - John Fowles
Oranges are not the only fruit - Jeanette Winterson
The Thirty Nine Steps - John Buchan (and very short!)
Anything by Margaret Atwood (she has several in the list)
The Brontes (my least favourite being Wuthering Heights but I know others love it)
The Poisonwood Bible - Barbara Kingsolver
The Ghost Road - Pat Barker
Birdsong - Sebastian Faulks
Color Purple & Possessing the secret of joy - Alice Walker
Wild Swans - Jung Chang
A town like Alice - Nevil Shute
I'm sure that's enough from me, and equally sure there are more but that will do for now. I'd love to hear from others, either about these or their suggestions, please?
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lovely treez
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Joined: 23 Jul 2006
Posts: 1122
Location: Belfast
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| Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 9:42 pm Post subject: |
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Hi Sarah, I'm not taking part in the challenge but have read a few off your list. I would ease yourself into 2008 with Wild Swans especially if you have been put off by other choices. I love books about the East and remember really enjoying this one. There are some harrowing events but it might be a good start to the year's reading for you.
I also really enjoyed Oranges are Not the Only Fruit (one of my keepers) and The Name of the Rose (another keeper), The Colour Purple (keeper), Birdsong, The Ghost Road, oh and there's another gem, Fingersmith, a great gripping read.
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sparkymarky
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Joined: 22 Jul 2006
Posts: 630
Birthday: 6th October
Location: norwich,norfolk
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| Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 10:19 pm Post subject: |
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a few of my favourites over the last few years include.....
under the skin by michael faber
chocolat by joannne harris
the book thief by marcus zusak
never let me go by kazuro ishiguro
fingersmith by sarah waters
the kite runner by khaled hiosseini and a thousand splendid suns by the same author
the chemistry of death by soimon beckett
charlotte grey by sebastian faulks
these are the most recent that spring to mind over the last 18 months
an old favourite would be catch 22 by joeseph heller (i have flies in my eyes yossarian, flies in my eyes...) |
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annecater
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Joined: 12 Aug 2006
Posts: 1629
Location: Lincolnshire
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| Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 11:27 pm Post subject: |
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Sarah, I read your post to mean that you want recommendations from the 1001 list?
I'm like you and have thought some of them pretty terrible, but I've enjoyed the following so far:
Never Let Me Go - Kazuo Ishiguro
The Curious Incident - Mark Haddon
The Story of Lucy Gault - William Trevor
Under the Skin - Michel Faber
Fear and Trembling - Amelie Northomb
Sula - Toni Morrison
To Kill A Mockingbird - Harper Lee
Breakfast at Tiffany's - Truman Capote
Saturday Night and Sunday Morning - Alan Sillitoe
Lord Of The Flies - William Golding
Hope these help!
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Currently reading: The Tent The Bucket and Me by Emma Kennedy and Granny The Pag by Nina Bawden
1001 Challenge Books read in 2009 - 3
1001 Challenge Books read in 2008 - 8
1001 Challenge Books read in 2007 - 13 |
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lovely treez
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| Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2008 9:55 am Post subject: |
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 , did Sarah mean she had already read the books she listed? Sorry, I was/still am a bit confused.... 
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miranda
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| Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2008 12:15 pm Post subject: |
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Out of the ones you suggest I have only read 'Fingersmith' which I enjoyed. I also really enjoyed Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood and The Handmaid's Tale by her( not 100% sure they are both on the list) I recently finished Under the Skin and loved it! It is also quite a short book, and an easy read (though deals with weighty issues) so if you feel you have been getting bogged down that would be a good one to go for. Good Luck - let us know what you choose.
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annecater
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| Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2008 12:26 pm Post subject: |
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| lovely treez wrote: | | , did Sarah mean she had already read the books she listed? Sorry, I was/still am a bit confused.... |
Yes, that's how I read it. I think she was asking for suggestions as to which ones on the list are better and started by listing the ones she has enjoyed. Maybe I'm wrong!
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Currently reading: The Tent The Bucket and Me by Emma Kennedy and Granny The Pag by Nina Bawden
1001 Challenge Books read in 2009 - 3
1001 Challenge Books read in 2008 - 8
1001 Challenge Books read in 2007 - 13 |
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eightlegs
Babbling for Britain
Joined: 11 Feb 2007
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Birthday: 19th July
Location: Dorset, UK
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| Posted: Sun Jan 13, 2008 2:38 pm Post subject: |
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You were right Anne, I've read those I listed. Sorry if it was a bit ambiguous guys!
And thanks for your suggestions Anne and Sparky, will let you know what I choose next. |
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Kilgore Trout
Busy babbling when should be reading
Joined: 17 Mar 2008
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Location: Newark, England
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| Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 5:34 pm Post subject: |
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I can thoroughly recommend Life of Pi by Yann Martel. 
Chris
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2008 '1001 Challenge' Books: 9 |
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Daniela-26
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| Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 5:52 pm Post subject: |
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| Kilgore Trout wrote: | I can thoroughly recommend Life of Pi by Yann Martel.
Chris |
Didn't realise this was on the 1001 list, this one has been on my TBR for a while so think I'll give it a go!
Sarah, I've tried to read The Name of the Rose a couple of times now but always struggle with the beginning chapters. I'll keep on with it if it's recommended! 
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Kilgore Trout
Busy babbling when should be reading
Joined: 17 Mar 2008
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Location: Newark, England
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| Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 6:12 pm Post subject: |
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| Daniela-26 wrote: | | Kilgore Trout wrote: | I can thoroughly recommend Life of Pi by Yann Martel.
Chris |
Didn't realise this was on the 1001 list, this one has been on my TBR for a while so think I'll give it a go!
Sarah, I've tried to read The Name of the Rose a couple of times now but always struggle with the beginning chapters. I'll keep on with it if it's recommended! |
It is a fantastic story. If you read a synopsis of it you would be left scratching your head thinking "huh?", but it works!
Let me know what you think of it!
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2008 '1001 Challenge' Books: 9 |
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Tigerlily
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| Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 7:48 pm Post subject: |
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I know a few people who've said The Life of Pi blew them away. I'm forever in search of a read that'll blow me away, so can't wait to read Life of Pi at some point. Have nominated it here a couple of times. Maybe I'll nominate it again.
Hmmm...books that have blown you away...interesting topic for a thread methinks 
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Reading Challenge 2009: 8
2008: 4
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Daniela-26
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| Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 8:44 pm Post subject: |
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I think I'll pack Life of Pi in the suitcase for my hospital stay might be a nice distraction!
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Reading: The Devil and Miss Prym by Paulo Coelho
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eightlegs
Babbling for Britain
Joined: 11 Feb 2007
Posts: 2509
Birthday: 19th July
Location: Dorset, UK
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| Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 9:23 pm Post subject: |
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Sounds like Life of Pi is one to look out for, I'm sure it was on someone's swap list that I had to choose from recently but I went for something else, oh well, next time.
And Daniela, I loved The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco, it's on my all time top 10 list. I think I put it down as the book I would read if the end of the world was declared as coming within the next few hours (there was a post about this somewhere!) as I knew I would enjoy rereading it! |
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Daniela-26
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| Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 9:29 pm Post subject: |
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| eightlegs wrote: | Sounds like Life of Pi is one to look out for, I'm sure it was on someone's swap list that I had to choose from recently but I went for something else, oh well, next time.
And Daniela, I loved The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco, it's on my all time top 10 list. I think I put it down as the book I would read if the end of the world was declared as coming within the next few hours (there was a post about this somewhere!) as I knew I would enjoy rereading it! |
Well, that's sold it to me ~ is there any higher praise than being the number 1 book to read before the end of the world?! I'll definitely try again ~ I think I've always given up very early on  so I'll try harder and hopefully get back to you!
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Tigerlily
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| Posted: Mon Mar 17, 2008 11:22 pm Post subject: |
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I forgot about that thread, although I haven't stopped thinking about which books I choose. Still undecided. I think Amie's read The Name of the Rose recently for her book group - will ask her what she thought of it. Thanks for the recommendation Sarah
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Reading: Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow by Peter Hoeg
Reading Challenge 2009: 8
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katey
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Joined: 07 Nov 2006
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Location: Sheffield
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| Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2008 1:21 pm Post subject: |
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I'm reading The Yellow Wallpaper-a teeny tiny book and I am enjoying it a lot (although slightly scared by how much I can relate to it!). Worth reading I'd say-it's only about 18 pages and mine is in an edition with some other short stories by the same author.
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Katey
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Books 01.09- 18 (5)
Books 02.09- 12 (4)
Books 03.09- 9 (1)
Books 04.09- 3 (0)
Books 05.09- 3(0)
Books 06.09- 8(1)
Books 07.09- 9(0)
Books 08.09- 10(1)
Books 09.09- 3(1)
Books 10.09- 9(1)
Target for 2009- 100 (15)- 16(2) to go! |
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smiler07
Busy babbling when should be reading
Joined: 03 Sep 2006
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Birthday: 30th March
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| Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2009 2:57 pm Post subject: |
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Thought maybe we could 'bump' this thread as we've been doing this 'challenge' for a few years now people might be struggling to choose new ones from the list to try.
My favourite read from the list in 2008 was The Cider House Rules - John Irving. I really loved it and will definitley re-read at some point. I would also recommend Lord of the Flies if you've not read it yet either.
I'm quite looking forward to getting more challenge books read in 2009. |
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eightlegs
Babbling for Britain
Joined: 11 Feb 2007
Posts: 2509
Birthday: 19th July
Location: Dorset, UK
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| Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2009 4:35 pm Post subject: |
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I've recently got Beloved by Toni Morrison as a swap as that had been recommended to me and is on the list, probably will be my next one.
More recommendations always welcome! |
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katey
An Addicted Babbler
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| Posted: Mon Jan 19, 2009 7:54 pm Post subject: |
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I loved the Little Prince much more than I expected to!
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Katey
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Books 01.09- 18 (5)
Books 02.09- 12 (4)
Books 03.09- 9 (1)
Books 04.09- 3 (0)
Books 05.09- 3(0)
Books 06.09- 8(1)
Books 07.09- 9(0)
Books 08.09- 10(1)
Books 09.09- 3(1)
Books 10.09- 9(1)
Target for 2009- 100 (15)- 16(2) to go! |
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