Paul

Cloud Atlas is a book I read some time ago and thoroughly enjoyed. I would be glad to vote for it and join in a discussion. It has some of the best chapters I have read anywhere.

ISBN against amazon does well enough for me. For older books I'll search further for cover or edition and look in Library of Congress. But for something that works so easily and allows me to tag books as I wish, I'm not inclined to be too finicky. I don't have rarities that need precise imprint information, nor am I selling to a market place, so I'm very happy.

Yes, my books go in pretty much as soon as I get them home. But if not, then I am always looking at the site, almost daily, to read the reviews of books that I have, so there is always ready opportunity to stay current. I love the reviews feature more than anything.

I buy many more books than I read, and may have many more books now than I'll ever read, so I dip into quite a few books to get initial impressions. Some books I absolutely will not buy to begin with (Lovely Bones, Never Let me Go, Life of Pi), and most books that I do have I figure I'll read someday. It is a rare book that I seriously start to read and then put aside feeling that I don't care if I never look at it again (100 Years of Solitude, perhaps, The Shadow of the Wind, almost certainly). When I start a book seriously I usually read it right through (Christine Falls, Woman in White, Jerusalem 1913, The Lover, any Nabokov or any Virginia Woolf, If on a Winter's Night, a Traveler . . ., The Name of the Rose, Murakami's After Dark), even though I may end up being quite uhappy with it (For One More Day, The Alchemist). But a beautifully written book with a wonderful story (Dreams of my Russian Summers) will survive any number of putting-downs and pickings-up as I make my way through it piecemeal while reading other things.

I was depressed for about a week after reading Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell -- morose and with tears frequently coming to my eyes. His vision of a post-apocalyptic world was much too plausible to ignore as simply fiction. Clockwork Orange, to my mind, was too unrealistic to bother me, and 1984 was clearly satirical. But the end of habitability on Earth in Cloud Atlas really struck home as a prediction.

/whoosh/ Gotta get in before it's done! How do ya feel about "fiction" printed on the back cover?

I apparently didn't start reading books as early as all you here, with the well-known classics. I must have become interested in books about age 12 maybe, and then I started with a full-blown novel from my mother's bookshelf, The Wings of the Morning by Louis Tracy. It was a romance, of course, and that has probably colored my reading interests to the present day. So, of course, I bought a collector's copy of it when I saw it not so many years ago in a used book store. Didn't hesitate, even at the price, and it feels good to have the original illustrated edition.

Ah, my estimation is coming up. Glad I asked.

Well, then, that counts as a recommendation! I've always been intrigued by its obscurity. Some day, we'll compare notes.

Has anyone actually read Jude the Obscure? Does anyone plan on actually doing it? Does anyone know why it is on the list? Just asking.

I like to read other people's thoughts about the books I have. Whether they agree or not, I think it is fascinating. Very happy with the service.

The results are in: 47 - 20 - 2 - 1 for the four categories. I better get busy reading. B) I know others will do much better than that.

Oh yes! When I was young I kept my books pristine. But now, as I get involved in book-forum discussions, those books get liberally margin-marked and underlined for points for discussion. In addition, there are typically about a dozen paper bookmarks sticking out of them. And more markings and bookmarks go in when I reread. They end up looking like zebras on the inside and porcupines on the outside. B) But never in library books.

Fiona, That is a huge labor of love for the benefit of all of us and I admire you enormously for presenting such a list. Many sincere thanks. Some day I'll do my own tally against it and gladly report back. For the moment though. I am wondering about the source and why those particular books. To be a little less than serious, I even wonder if there were any books that were left off such a lengthy list. B) And now I also see that my favorite obscure book, Therese Racquin, will have to move over and make room in my mind for an equally obcure book, Castle Rackrent, that I don't think I'll get to before I die. My sincerest regrets to the two whomevers. But my greatest thanks and admiration to you, Paul

I loved this book but, then again, I am a sentimental old softie.

I'm a paid-up member on Library Thing with way more than 200 books and I think it is great! Even if, for security reasons, I am there under a different name which I close hold. People there can see my name there, which is sufficient for all purposes there.

Big hug for you anyway! You're still a gem.

Now it won't take me long at all to get hold of them! I thought Cloud Atlas had the most incredible end-of-the-world scene I have ever read. Ever! I was completely pole-axed and felt like I was staggering around for days after reading it. Could not get it out of my head, so I know what you mean!

Glad to hear the recommendation, because I enjoyed Cloud Atlas immensely. I thought some of the less spectacular parts were, well, less than spectacular. But the spectacular parts . . . . woo-eee! I would reread the book for them alone! Also especially glad to hear that he stands on his own with respect to Murakami. Now I can look forward to reading and enjoying both.

Many thanks, Michelle. The same, here too in the States.

Also called Plum Pudding? Or is that different? Sounds like the eating is the same.

I have to say that the book didn't wiggle me at all, and wasn't helped by the implausible premise. One of the very few books I have put aside after starting. A glance forward at the ending finally convinced me I didn't want to go back and read the middle. The plot development and characters just seemed way too simple-minded. Sorry.

Renniemist, Definitely look forward to talking some more. Anyone still reading?

Hi Susan, It may well depend on the age when it catches you, as you say. I have been finding more people than I seem to remember who liked the book in high school. There are a couple people here still reading or rereading and it will be interesting to hear some more views. With such a range, it might lead to an interesting discussion. An unlikable character in a book worth reading?