Chrissybob's progress

I thought it was time to start posting my progress against the 1001 list. I have the 2010 edition but I'm also picking up books from the other editions (I don't want to miss out!). So far I have enjoyed the vast majority of books from the list - just a couple I didn't much like.

Bit of a slow start - I have clearly spent too many years reading trash!! But here goes roughly in the order I read them;

1. Day of the Triffids by John Wyndham - still scares me
2. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee - pure brilliance
3. Brighton Rock by Graham Greene - enjoyable
4. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck - excellent
5. 1984 by George Orwell - fabulous and terrifying
6. The Shining by Stephen King - so much better than the film
7. The Wasp Factory by Iain Banks - didn't see that coming
8. Pride and Predjudice by Jane Austen - funny and observant
9. Catch 22 by Joseph Heller - need to read this again
10. Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks - haunting
11. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen - very funny
12. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey
13. White Teeth by Zadie Smith - another that i think I need to re-read
14. Lord of the Flies by William Golding - very good
15. Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell - superb
16. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier - love it
17. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte - brilliant
18. The Reader by Berhard Schlink - can't get this out of my head
19. The Pigeon by Patrick Suskind - not sure why this is on the 1001 list
20. Felicia's Journey by William Trevor - heart breaking
21. The devil and Miss Prym by Paulo Coelho - too much morality
22. The Color Purple by Alice Walker - bit disappointing
23. Legend by David Gemmell - a surprise favourite
24. A room with a view by E M Forster - lovely
25. The Trick is to Keep Breathing by Janice Galloway - powerful brilliance
26. The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood - amazing and my favourite
27. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte - don't get the hype
28. Breakfast at Tiffanys by Truman Capote - prefer the film
29. The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides -
30. The Crow Road by Iain Banks - bit disappointed
31. A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving - absolute perfection
32. The Gathering by Anne Enright - not worth the time
33. A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess - brilliant
34. Vernon god Little by DBC Pierre - funny but a bit absurd
35. The End of the Affair by Graham Greene - could have been shorter

Onwards and upwards :)

I wouldn't worry about it... my initial list wasn't all that long either. I found once I committed to the challenge, my reading changed a lot (although I still fit in the odd trashy novel - can't go cold turkey!). Welcome!

Hey, life's short, read what you want! I also have a list of non-list books I want to read that range from brain candy Agatha Christie novels to more heady stuff. I recommend alternating: read a list book, then read whatever...a re-read of a favorite, trashy novel, whatever! Otherwise you'll get burned out.

Welcome and good luck.

Thanks everyone - I should say that for years I have been more than happy to read anything - trashier the better, however I stumbled across this list while looking for a recommended reading list after reading loads of books and losing interest as they were so poor. I can really say that I have enjoyed every book I have read from this list (some more than other obviously!) and this list has really re-energised my passion for reading.

Phillippa Gregory and Marian Keyes still have a place on my shelf though for those times when nothing I need a bit of light relief!!

Anyway heres my progress since my last post;
36. Sons and Lovers by DH Lawrence - enjoyed this more than I thought I would. Is powerful and thought provoking in a way I never expected.

37. The Blind Side of the Heart by Julia Franck - wanted to like this more than I did but sections of this were labourious, however others were brilliant. Mixed bag really!

Never let me go - 2006 edition but loved this and should be on the 2010 edition too!!! It's appearance of a coming of age story with dark undertones becomes a great exploration of humanity - brilliant!

38. Little Women by Louise May Alcott - a bit sickly sweet for my taste but I will reserve final judgement until I have read A Pilgrims Progress

39. Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson - not really my cup of tea. Nice to have read it as so many of the characters are household names but didn't really get me excited

40. Jacob the Liar by Jureck Becker - a story exploring hope in terrible circumstances. I really enjoyed this - nicely written and really made me think. Very good.

Really liking your reviews - thank you for sharing your thoughts. It's given me some ideas about what to pick up next.

Looking back at your original post, sad to see that you're weren't a fan of The Crow Road. I was really impressed with The Wasp Factory and had kept this in reserve, believing I'd think similarly of it.

The Crow Road is quite different, more polished and slower than the WTFness of The Wasp Factory. I liked them both though.

(and welcome to the group, and I think it's a good idea to balance the weighty books with occasional pieces of frothy nonsense :) )

I think the Wasp Factory has such a massive twist it hits you - I read Complicity after that which also had a major twist. I think with the Crow Road I was waiting for the twist which didn't really come - i think thats why I was disappointed.

Can't fault Iain Banks as a writer - The crow road was just not my favourite one.

I have to weigh in with some Crow Road love - it has a brilliant first line for a start. Darn, now I'm having a mental argument about which one I liked best though...

that twist was obvious to me... I was expecting it long before it happened. Banks gave me too many clues. And as for that first line, as Ian McEwan has proved time and again, starting a novel well does not a great novel make...

41. Alias Grace - I am a big fan of Margaret Atwood - and this is another stunner.

42. A boy's own story - I'm sorry to any fans but I hated this. I don't think I could get past the fact that the opening chapter includes a 15 yr old and a 13 yr old having sex. I found this totally self-indulgent and I am surprised I finished this.

43. The Picture of Dorian Gray - I enjoyed this less than I hoped I would. A bit heavy going for my taste.

44. Carry me Down - an easy read which I enjoyed - not sure if this is a 'must read' though?

45. Wild Swans - loved this. I have learnt so much about Chinese history by reading this - thoroughly inspiring.

I tell everyone about Wild Swans- I LOVED it. My knowledge of Chinese history was pitiful, as I discovered reading the book. It gave me a much better understanding of China's role in modern politics as well. I love reading a book that teaches me history and I actually enjoy it!

My first milestone - now on 50 books done and dusted!! Woohoo :)

46. The Secret History - I really enjoyed the first half of this book - the second half not so much but still a good read overall.

47. Crash - I started off hating this and struggling to keep my dinner down!! In the end though I found myself quite enjoying it - in the same way as A clockwork orange.

48. Blaming - wasn't sure where this was going - although nicely written and a pleasant read - came together in the last 25 pages brilliantly though.

49. Schindlers ark - this was really moving, well written and very enlightening.

50. The White Tiger - a good read and moves nicely to quite humourous view on India underbelly through to something darker.

Next step 100!!!

congrats!

Wow you're flying through!

51. Midwich Cuckoos - not on the same level of brilliance as Day of the Triffids but an enjoyable read and an intruiging look at parenting!

52. A Pale View of Hills - loved this all the way through but started to get concerned that the story wasn't going to go the way I thought it was - and then t doesn't. The last few pages are brilliant and just a few words made me feel like I needed to read th whole thing again! Which I may well do.....

53. The Old Man and the Sea - don't think I got this at all.... was bored rigid - is it had been any longer I think I would have thrown it out the window!!

54 Madame Bovary - I felt like I needed to read some of the older books on the list and this appealed and I enjoyed it. Some chapters were hard going but overall this has a really nice balance of exploration of moral issues, humour and romance.

55. Empire of the Sun - I always seem to struggle with Ballard until I reflect back and then I realise how clever the story and his writing are. This is no exception - a brilliant portrayal of the war from a very different view - emotionless in it's writing but heart breaking at the same time. Loved it!

56. Surfacing - not my favourite of the Atwood's but enjoyable - if a little strange.

Fingersmith - not on the 2010 list so not on my count but features on the 2006 list so I thought I would mention it! I enjoyed this as a decent novel - loved some of the plot twists but I got a bit fed up towards the end. This would have been better being less verbous and pacier - or simply 200 shorter.

57. The Great Gatsby - I really enjoyed this - absolutely beautiful writing with characters that were so vivid I had a perfect picture in my head. A real classic.

58. Elegance of the Hedgehog - it is fair to say some of the philosophical debate in this went way over my head - but I enjoyed it never the less. This has a lovely warmth about the writing and the characters which is very hard to resist. Definately one worth reading.

59. Inheritance of loss - didn't like this at all simply because I couldn't find a strong thread of a story. Some of the nicest individual sentences I have read in a long time - but didn't make up for the fact than nothing really happened.

60. The Spy who came in from the cold - short, pacy, expertly written - not at all what I imagined from this and an absolute belter of an ending. Loved it!!!

61. Brave New World - I was a little disappointed in this. I love my distopian novels but I wanted to know more about the main characters and Huxley seemed to get completely caught up with the savage who I found less interesting.

62. Moll Flanders - I enjoyed this more than I thought I would - although a difficult read because there are no chapters or breaks in the text the story kept me interested.

63. A Confederancy of Dunces - very, very funny with brilliant characters and a clever storyline - well worth a read.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy - another one removed from the 2010 list. This was a much harder read than The Spy who came in from the cold -more detailed and harder to follow but still ultimately enjoyable.

64. The Reluctant Fundamentalist - a quick and easy read. I loved the structure and the ending.

65. Lady Chatterley's Lover - I found this slow going but still enjoyable. More depressing than others by Lawrence that I have read but saved by the sexual relationship between Connie and Mellors - which ranges from graphic sex to loving and tender.

I found The Reluctant Fundamentalist to be really similar (and just an enjoyable) as White Tiger by Adiga (and I think that one is on the list as well). I love them both.

I have A Confederancy of Dunces on the pile and want to try to get to that one this year. Glad to see it's as funny as I thought it would be.

66. Home - beautifully lyrical and the interplay with Gilead is superb. Slow and gentle - but one that really pulls on the heart strings.

67. Veronika Decides to Die - while this has some interesting insights into mental health I always leave a Coelho book feeling like I have been lectured, the moral of his tales takes precendence over the story. While this was better than some of the others I have read it hasn't done much to redeem Coelho in my eyes. Distinctly average.

68. Talk of the Town - Not what I was expecting from Ardal O'Hanlan - much grittier and brutal tham I would have imagined. I reminded me of the film Trainspotting (not having read the book yet) - thoroughly enjoyable but maybe not one that has longevity on the list!!

69. All quiet on the western front - seriously disturbing for how harrowing and real this is. It is one that I had to force myself to read when it got too much - but a book that I think everyone should read.

70. Under the skin - I can't make up my mind whether the author had something really poignant to say about the beauty of the world we live in or was an ardent vegetarian..... all in all enjoyable but strange!

71. A Tale of Two Cities - My first Dickens and I loved it. Absolutely brilliant. I still find myself daydreaming about the final scenes - I think this is going to be one of my all time favourites.

72. The Story of Blanche and Marie - very fragmented and difficult to follow - although it does get easier the further into the book you go. Not really a winner for me - it felt unnecessarily laboured and the content didn't really match the artistic aspirations.

73. The Cement Garden - My first McEwan and it was disturbing although well written.

74. Franny and Zooey - Sorry I think I completely missed the point of this - with the exception of the scene of Zooey and his mother in the bathroom I can't say I enjoyed this or felt I had learnt anything in reading it.

Saturday - intensely detailed and at times a bit tedious as a result - however I thoroughly enjoyed it as an exploration of character.

75. Goodbye to Berlin - I found this quite moving as observations on the changes to german society in the years preceding World War II. It had a feel of Breakfast at Tiffanys about it - but with darker undertones that made it more interesting.

76. Remains of the Day - classic Ishiguro - atmospheric and gentle but deeply thought provoking. Not my favourite of from him but still weel worth reading.

77. The Sea - Similar to Ishiguro in style. Easily readable - but I would question if thisis really one of the top 1001 books ever written.

78. The Hound of the Baskervilles - very enjoyable as a mystery novel - but am I the only one who finds Sherlock Holmes to be a pompous bore at times?

79. The Golden Notebook - I liked Lessing's style and writing but after the first two thirds this completely lost me and I struggled to finish. A hard slog with little reward.

80. Animal Farm - loved it!! Simple as that!

Chrissybob, I don't want to burst your bubble, but these are not the top 1001 books ever written. These are books that a group of folks thought would make a good list of reading material--some of them are on the list because they are unique in nature The Shining, some The Awakening because they are a first of their kind, some War and Peace because they are classics. But in no way should you assume that all of them are top, best or even good books to read.

Then, I fully agree with you. Holmes is a pompous ass. And that is what makes him great. He's the best, and he knows it. Just ask him. He will humble himself enough to agree with you that he is the best and then congratulate you on your very perseptive accumen. Elementary my dear Chrissy.

Can you see any comparisons between Holmes and Hercule Perrott? 1. Pompous asses.

81. In Cold Blood - very thought provoking. As much as I wanted to I couldn't hate the two murderers - their humanity is beautifully set out and this is a brilliant study of human nature.

82. The Story of Lucy Gault - thoroughly depressing - although perfectly readable. Not one of my favorites.

83. Hideous Kinky - very enjoyable although I wanted a bit more of a spark at the end. Really well written though a captures the sights, smells and colours of Morocco perfectly.

84. Catcher in the Rye - I can barely remember reading this it had so little impact on me. YAWN!

85. The Talented Mr Ripley - really enjoyable edge of the seat stuff. Another one where the protagonist should be detestable but is strangely likeable. Brilliant.

86. Beloved - the supernatural side of this was a stretch too far for me basically because I loved the stories of the other characters so much that I wanted more. Very well written and just superb as a study of the lives of slaves in southern American states.

87. The Hobbit - brilliant adventure, nice characters and lots of fun. Overall a good read.

88. Regeneration - amazing book. Harrowing and deeply moving. I loved the exploration of 'masculinity' in the face of war and the changing perceptions of bravery. A totally remarkable read and I would highly recommend this. I am pleased there are two more in the trilogy to look forward to.

89. Perfume - I enjoyed the start of this, hated the middle section and loathed the last. I can't decide whether I missed the analogy in this or whether it was meant to be more of a thriller. Either way it failed to impress.

I bought your number 89 as an audio book for my late grandmother. Thank the good Lord that I listened to it before I gave it to her. She would not have been impressed with the ending at all! I'm with you on the loathing!