Verna's Reading List 2013

[Verna]

June 2013 - December 2013

 

THE BOOK THIEF by MARKUS ZUSAK (fin. 06/06/13) - I was very moved by this story and by the individual circumstances of the characters.

 

LES MISERABLES by VICTOR HUGO - in progress

 

THE WAY WE LIVE NOW by ANTHONY TROLLOPE - This Victorian novel has 100 chapters and was originally published in installments.  I've read about 10% of it so far.

THE MAGICIAN'S NEPHEW by C. S. LEWIS (fin. 07/06/13) - I found some of the situations in this book quite humorous, and I enjoyed it with the exception of the biblical references.

 

TBR List:

 

CELLO SUITES by ERIC SIBLIN (NF) - something to broaden my horizons.

 

THE LACUNA by BARBARA KINGSOLVER - I've wanted to read this for some time now.

 

BALZAC AND THE LITTLE CHINESE SEAMSTRESS by DAI SIJIE (fin. 01/07/13) - Also, I read URSULA by HONORE DE BALZAC which plays a big part in this wonderful story.

 

THE UNLIKELY PILGRIMAGE OF HAROLD FRY by RACHEL JOYCE (fin. 07/07/13)  I'm betwixt and between on this one.  I enjoyed Harold Fry's journey, both the metaphorical one and the real one, but somewhere in the middle I lost a bit of interest in it.

 

MR. PENUMBRA'S 24-HOUR BOOKSTORE by ROBIN SLOAN

 

 

Added 11/06/13

 

RUN by ANN PATCHETT - I forgot I had this.  It's actually a Bookcrossing book I found.  I've read two of her other books: TAFT and BEL CANTO - (fin.19/06/13) I can't say I thought this novel exceptional, but I did like it.  Bel Canto is the best of the three, in my view. Now I can release RUN into the wild again.

 

I AM THE MESSENGER by MARKUS ZUSAK - recommended

 

Added 17/07/13

 

PARNASSUS ON WHEELS by CHRISTOPHER MORLEY (fin. 07/07/13) A delightful story about a travelling book selling business.

 

FREYA OF THE SEVEN ISLES by JOSEPH CONRAD (fin. 10/07/13) This is an amazing tale of jealousy and vengeance.

Edited July 24, 2013 by Verna

[poppyshake]

Loving your list Verna I loved The Book Thief .. so moving as you said .. one of the best books ever and I'm also in the process of reading Les Miserables (though I fear it will be a long process ) I cannot remember if I've read The Way We Live Now or not .. I do love Trollope but have mainly read his Barchester novels. The Magicians Nephew was one of my favourites from the chronicles of Narnia .. I like the way it sets the scene for the rest (though it was written later I believe).

I also have The Lacuna on the shelf .. I've read Barbara's The Poisonwood Bible and loved that so bought this one but it's just sat there for ages now. I really liked The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry so hope you do too I can't wait to hear what you make of your current reads Happy Reading!

[vodkafan]

Hi Verna totally agree about The Book Thief.

[Athena]

I loved C. S. Lewis's books when I was a child (in Dutch). The Book Thief and Les Miserables I own but haven't read yet. The Unlikely Pilgrimmage of Harold Fry I'll read in a little while. Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore is on my wishlist, I look forward to hear what you think. I believe last time I looked at it at an online shop, it wasn't in stock so I didn't get it.

[bobblybear]

I loved The Book Thief; it was such a moving story.

 

I had to give up on The Lacuna, even though I really enjoyed The Poisonwood Bible. It just didn't grab me in the same way.

 

I plan on reading The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry later this month for our Reading Circle Group, and Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore is on my wishlist, because it just sounds brilliant.

[~Andrea~]

Les Mis is a great read (if you can get through some of the more waffly bits) and The Magician's Nephew is my favourite Narnia story.

[Verna]

I've just finished reading BALZAC AND THE LITTLE CHINESE SEAMSTRESS by DAI SIJIE; translated from the French by Ina Rilke, Random House Inc., New York, 2001.

 

Originally published by Gallimard, Paris, 2000 as Balzac et la petite tailleuse chinoise.

 

This remarkable story touches on the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution that occurred in the People's Republic of China from 1966 to 1976. In this novel, two "city youths" are sent for "re-education" to a remote rural region to work in the fields. Despite their circumstances, they find ways to rebel with some amusing and interesting results.

 

(At some point, I felt compelled to pause in order to read another novel, one that is an integral part of the story: URSULA by HONORÉ DE BALZAC. One thing often leads to another, and I was surprised, as well as delighted by this initial glimpse into Balzac's writing.)

 

What I liked most about this story by Dai Sijie were the relationships that were established between the two friends and the other residents of "Phoenix" mountain.

Edited July 3, 2013 by Verna

[julie]

Hi Verna

 

I was curious as to where you found your BookCrossing book ? I used to visit the site a lot, but never printed out the bookmark things to put inside my books.

 I did leave a couple paperbacks in a  state park campground laundry room about 10 years ago . I just put a big piece of paper inside that said READ ME !!!

 

As for the Lacuna , I had the same opinion .Poisonwood Bible was great, but the Lacuna didn't keep my attention at all .

 

You and a couple other posters have renewed my interest in attempting to read Les Mis yet again . I love the writing style, but it just seems like a huge task to undertake when you see how huge the book is .

Maybe we need a Les Mis Support Group in here for those of us trying to complete it. We could encourage each other in some ways maybe . ???

[Verna]

Hi Julie,

 

I found it at one of the libraries I visit on their "travelling books" shelf.  It's not the most exotic place to find a bookcrossing book, but at least it's out of the weather.  I'd like to find one in a tree one day as I've heard of a few people releasing books that way by sealing them in ziploc bags and hanging them from branches.  

 

I haven't read The Poisonwood Bible yet (shame on me), so I'm hoping I'll like The Lacuna, seeing as how I'll have nothing to compare it with. 

 

Les Mis is trying my patience, too.  A Les Mis Support Group is a great idea!  I wonder how we go about doing this.  

 

Verna 

[Athena]

I haven't read Les Misérables yet (it's on my shelf) but if there would be such a group I might be interested in being a part of it.