#767) WHAT MAISIE KNEW, Henry James- Henry James runs hot and cold with me but this late nineteenth century novel is a delight, despite its depressing plot. Maisie is a young girl who's divorced parents (this late 1800's, by the way) want her only because she is the best pawn in their abusive relationship. The couple splits, they each remarry, then ( Read more... )

#766) NOSTROMO, Joseph Conrad- Written sixty-odd years before one of the greatest books ever written- One Hundred Years of Solitude- Conrad's Nostromo bears a remarking similarity to Marquez's genius work of magical realism, minus the magical realism (though there is some talk of ghosts). Setting? A fictional country in America's southern ( Read more... )

#765) A ROOM WITH A VIEW, E.M. Forster- Romantic troubles in late 18th century England (and Italy) featuring a young woman too forward for society's own good. A well-trod tale written well.

MUST I HAVE READ THIS BOOK BEFORE I DIED: No
765 down, 236 to go

#764) THE FORSYTE SAGA, John Galsworthy- 1400 pages! Trying to engage in a 1400 page book about moneyed Englishmen at the turn of the 20th century and their problems and romances is a hard ask during a pandemic-Election-dictatorship....but I did it!!! And the book is actually kind of great. The Forsytes are new money, no property, making their way ( Read more... )

#763) TONO-BUNGAY, H.G. Wells- I loved this book, a sort-of all over the map semi-autobiographical novel. Romance, adventure, intrigue- it is all here. The story centers around Tono-Bungay, an elixir created by the narrators uncle that cures all ones ills, and is a shampoo, toothpaste, seasoning, etc. A scam, essentially, and this novel covers the ( Read more... )

#762) THE RAGGED TROUSERED PHILANHROPISTS, Robert Tressell- Wow! This 900 page diatribe is one of the breeziest, most enjoyable books I have read in a long while. Though it is NOT a lighthearted book, Tressell's writing style makes the going clear, purposeful, and 100% engaging. Written under a pseudonym, this book chronicles Tressell's years ( Read more... )

#761) THE RAINBOW, D.H. Lawrence- The last Lawrence book I wrote about I talked about enjoying his writing but not really caring for his plots. For this one, I did not even enjoy the writing. Not bad, but not as engaging as his other (later) works. This is one of those multi-generational stories centered on one family and all I can say is that ( Read more... )

#760) NIGHT AND DAY, Virginia Woolf- I love Woolf's writing- not her plots per se, but her actual writing- but I cannot say I loved this one. Woolf referred to this as her "traditional" novel and it feels that way. While the plot is not that much different than her other books- English people living English lives- the writing is more restrained and ( Read more... )

#759) AARON'S ROD, D.H. Lawrence- Get your mind out of the gutter! Aaron's rod is his flute, just so you know. I don't know what to think about Lawrence. I love his writing. Every book I have read has been engaging, witty, entertaining, and compelling enough that I never struggle to finish. The problem is: I do not care about the plots. Ever. Just ( Read more... )

#758) THE ENORMOUS ROOM, e.e. cummings- I had no idea. Cummings' autobiographical "The Enormous Room" documents his time in a French prison when he got caught up in anti-French hysteria after WWI and it is a marvel. While it follows a chronological path, it reads like a collection of stories cummings tells around the campfire. Full of wit and ( Read more... )