87 shared books, that's pretty good. I was especially excited to see another Halldor Laxness fan! Of course the Russian tie is there as well...and Kundera...and Grass. Very interesting library.

posted by MirielSerinde at 10:02 am (EST) on Sep 7, 2008

You are top of my "shared books" list, so we seem to have very similar tastes. Maybe it's because we are both Londoners :-) But no E.F. Benson? Could I recommend "Mapp and Lucia"?

posted by guyfs at 6:22 am (EST) on Mar 23, 2008

Hi I recently bought "Three Stories and a Reflection" by Patrick Suskind on the net on 15th of August, however I live in Cairo and the book never arrived from the United Kingdom! I am in desperate desperate need of the story "Depth Wish" (which is inside the book) as soon as possible. I am a filmmaker and have based my latest short film on that story. The film is however in Arabic and I need to translate it ASAP into English (subtitles). Could you please please please scan just the text of "Depth Wish" and send it to me by e-mail ( noharifaat@gmail.com). That would be so so helpful as i am not sure when this book is ever going to arrive. Your help would be truly appreciated.
Thanks so much,
Noha

posted by noha1980 at 8:11 am (EST) on Sep 6, 2007

Blimey, I've added a few more and we now have sixty odd in common. Having a bit of a reading block at the moment though - think it's a reaction to finishing my exams...

posted by woodscolt at 2:15 pm (EST) on Jun 28, 2007

Hi Phil,

Just to let you know that I read 'Fatelessness' - thanks for mentioning it as it was put to the top of the 'must read' pile and I am grateful to have read it.

It was a surprise to read after the Levi books and initially I was annoyed and frustrated with his naivety and admiration for the Nazi organization. But now that I have read it and thought about it for a while, I realize what a great portrayal it was - especially in light of the fact that everyone reading it knows the historial context. I will read 'Liquidation' soon as well.

Just read Chesil Beach , by Ian McEwan - as always loved his writing. Love the way he takes thorny subjects and puts them into a storyline.

Cheers and thanks. Karen

posted by kiwidoc at 10:09 pm (EST) on May 9, 2007

I'm meaning to re-read Hopeful Monsters this year - didn't really get into it last time I read it, even though it's the kind of book I usually love.

posted by woodscolt at 1:40 pm (EST) on May 7, 2007

'Auschwitz' by Laurence Rees is the book I am trying to get through. It is so harrowing that one chapter is enough at a time. I don't know why I am compelled to continue to read this genre, maybe to make some sense of it.

Another book to look at might be 'The Theory and Practive of Hell' which is written by Eugen Kogon. He was a Catholic, not a Jew, and was interned at Buchenwald as a political prisoner for the entire war. Again, I am reading it in stages as it is hard to read and digest (and keep your own sanity). I also enjoyed William Styron's fiction "Wartime lies' which is a quick and easy read. William Styron's 'Sophie's Choice is a real tearjerker, too.

I think that there is a lot of Holocaust fiction and non-fiction out there. I remember when I was 13 and discovered Leon Uris - my teacher phoned my mun and told her I needed lighter fare at my age. Not the writer (I haven't read him since then) - the subject.

On that same theme - there is a book entitled 'Gulag' which deals with the Russian camps (half read). Anthony Beevor's 'The Fall of Berlin 1945' is also excellent.

Vasily Grossman - his book about Berlin which involved Anthony Beevor's help - I have it on my shelves but not yet read. Looks good too. Haven't read anything by him yet.

posted by kiwidoc at 8:42 pm (EST) on Apr 26, 2007

HI Phil,

No - Fatelessness is on my bedside table to read this month. I am presently reading The Periodic Table by Primo Levi. I read his two books about Auschwitz with awe a long time ago but could not find any others at the time (before internet ordering). Those books affected me more that just about any others on the subject. I also read Elle Wiesel's book 'Night' but thought Levi was superior. I don't know whether to try Levi's novels as well.

I have ordered the Nineteen Suitcases online as it looks like something I must read too - thanks for the recommendation. I also have started a non-fiction book titled - Auschwitz - but it is so harrowing that I can only read a chapter at a time and it sits on my night table beside the two Kertesz books.
I have yet to read Schindler's List (could not get through the movie), which is the other one I must try to get to. Thanks for the imput.

posted by kiwidoc at 10:30 am (EST) on Apr 26, 2007

Thanks for the reply - have not read the Mosley book. Have read [Suite Francaise] which was great. Since the success with this book they have published one of her novels - which I have yet to read. Will note your other recommendations with interest. Karen

posted by kiwidoc at 5:37 pm (EST) on Apr 25, 2007

Hi Phil,
I was looking at your catalogue with interest. I have not yet finished my entries but would love to know what you are reading at the moment and if you have any great reads for the past year. Cheers. Karen

posted by kiwidoc at 12:21 am (EST) on Apr 23, 2007

Hi Phil,
I see we share 42 books and I've only listed 120 so far. I only joined this library thing today and am fascinated. I write and draw comics and live in Italy though lived in London for 25 years. I shall peruse your library with interest...
Drainpig (Dan)
ps I'm only listing the books I really like otherwise I'd be stuck on this machine forever...

posted by drainpig at 6:37 pm (EST) on Feb 7, 2007

We share 26 books. I'm glad there's someone out there with the same taste. Especially, since we are among the few who seem to share a love for the fiction of Orhan Pamuk and Vassily Grossman (though, I admit I haven't read his reportage, just "Life and Fate".
May I take the liberty of recommending a few graphic novels - lately I've become a huge fan and I want to share with the world! David B.'s "Epileptic" is maybe one of the most moving Bildungsromans that have come my way. And definitely Marjane Satrapi's "Embroideries" - everyone is talking about her "Persepolis", which is also wonderful. And it's being adapted for the big screen, it will premiere in Cannes in May.
Any suggestions from you are most welcome.

posted by athens at 12:03 pm (EST) on Feb 7, 2007

I also have 2201 books....but haven't finished yet!!

posted by poliphilus at 5:58 am (EST) on Jan 21, 2007

Haven't read "of Love and Hunger" but also enjoyed his memoirs. His short stories of army life in WW2 are excellent and stand up well to later satires written in the 60's and 70's of army life.

I tend to read in themes - recently fiction and non fiction by underachieving, drunks such as Patrick Hamilton, Jeffrey Bernard, MacLaren Ross and Brendan Behan. highly recommend Hamilton's work for a wonderful portrait of life in london in the immediate pre war era.

posted by Superowl at 4:19 am (EST) on Sep 13, 2006

I'm a Keaton fan but don't have a DVD player. Believe it or not, I used that photo because he looks a bit like me, or I look a bit like him, minus the boater...

posted by tartalom at 2:26 pm (EST) on Sep 12, 2006

Hi,

Interesting list. Only recently signed up but see that you own exactly a fifth of the books I have catalogued - we appear to be the only owners of Julian Maclaren Ross' Selected Stories, which has probably been my read of the year so far.

Regards

posted by Superowl at 11:44 am (EST) on Sep 12, 2006

hello again - sebald, yep, currently reading "the emigrants" and it is beautiful, my tube read of the moment, it's so absorbing you forget the heat, other people, the time, the late finish of engineering works on the northern line...

posted by tartalom at 7:02 pm (EST) on Sep 10, 2006

Hi Phil - thanks for the comment - just had a look though our shared stuff - that's a lot of good books! I'll be interested to see the final result when you have posted the 800 vols remaining

T

posted by tartalom at 5:40 pm (EST) on Sep 3, 2006