Arukiyomi

Well The Shipping News is remarkable for its prose even if the storyline doesn't quite match the quality of the writing. Zen I liked and thought should be more widely read. I reviewed it on my blog if you want a preview (there's a spoiler but it's hidden unless you want to reveal it).

I am the Pedestrian... in search of a bed for the night.

for the Pacific war you can probably do no better than the superb book by John Toland The Rising Sun. For the European view of WW2, I'd second Shirer's book. For WW1, I'd second the Regeneration Trilogy and add (titles linked to reviews on my blog) The Return of the Soldier: great short story/novella depicting one tragic aspect of a soldier coming home from the front The Riddle of the Sands: although set before the war, it had a major influence on Britain's naval strategy. Very important novel.

ha ha! I didn't read closely enough. I thought Brian was giving up on Gone With the Wind! Come to think of it, that only has about 400 pages so... ... surreal!

hmmm but don't give up before you read the terrific description of the destruction of Atlanta... wonderful!

ah... yeah, that makes more sense! ha!

I don't think you can do better than Cry, the Beloved Country for South Africa

why thank you! But, I'm curious... what's your organisation?

Hi Michelle... it's as Kylie says. I kind of joined this discussion back on page 3 about 2 years ago because someone posted links to my spreadsheet for me. I've been back since and seen that others have promoted it so I thought that putting something about the app on would be okay. If not, that's cool and I apologise. Let me know and I'll pull it.... and let Kylie speak for me! And yes, the posting about boosting my postings was tongue in cheek...

I presume you're talking fiction (my non fiction recommendation would be Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee)... let's see Ethan Frome Cry, the Beloved Country (probably the best novel I've ever read) Anna Karenina Half of a Yellow Sun Never Let Me Go (chilling as well as sad) Elegance of the Hedgehog I'm Not Scared (this is truly gripping with a terrible twist at the end) The Reader Things Fall Apart Tess of the D'Urbervilles that should keep you busy... and depressed!

Very much indeed. Some of the characters in it were a bit too close to home but although that was uncomfortable I loved the writing. Years ago I read Under the Net and it went totally over my head. So, I was pleased to find a Murdoch book I really enjoyed. Now I'm into The Talented Mr Ripley which I'm also enjoying... back in Italy after being there a couple of weeks ago with Where Angels Fear to Tread which I liked too. I can't believe you had a dream about the list! That's incredible. I thought I was the most obsessed person in the world when it came to the 1001 books list!

thank you frankie.... he says just trying to get his post tally up!

334 read as of yesterday when I finished The Bell by Iris Murdoch.

erm... how do you edit your own posts? I can't see a link for that anywhere. Don't know why the formatting didn't work for links in that last post.

thanks everyone for putting up links to v4 of the spreadsheet in my absence. Much appreciated. I've not heard any news of a new edition in the works. Has anyone else? I'm up to 334 off all three lists combined. I suppose that means I'm officially over a third of the way to 1001. Yay! It's been an amazing experience so far. Anyway, your wonderful support for the spreadsheet has enabled the iPhone app to become a reality. So many thanks for that.

thanks so much Kylie... please post your thoughts on the reviews on the blog... Arukiyomi would love to hear your comments

Arukiyomi's just finished Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand and although he hasn't read anything else by her, he's got a pretty good idea of what her ideas are all about from this immense book. There's a review on Arukiyomi's book blog with detailed responses both to Rand's basic premise and in particular her attack on Christianity/faith. Arukiyomi would be happy to hear other responses either here on in comments on the blog

@ Kylie -- thanks so much for posting a link to Arukiyomi's book blog and the spreadsheet. I really hope you all find it useful. Also great to hear you are customising it!