What did you think of 2666? I read the 1st part and decided to have a break. It was rather good and I was into it, but suddenly I didn't want to continue. Thanks.
What did you think of Memories of My Melancholy Whores? I bought it a couple of months ago but it is still sitting on my bookshelf and I cannot decide whether to give it a try or to get rid of it. There are so many negative reviews and I don't want to spoil my impression on Marquez though I read him when I was in my early 20s and maybe now I won't like him any more anyway.
I have complete Nabokov but in Russian (here I am listing only books I have in English). As for Hornby, I read a couple of his books and got rid of them, maybe it is an irrational dislike but I don't think I will ever bother reading anything by him ever again.
What a fine list! This selection is exquisite. I was surprised to find Madelstam, he is one of my ever favourite writers... Have you tried Andrej Belyj?
Well, everything to my opinion. I simply don't understand the hype. It is very badly researched, the language is awful, the plot is lame... Maybe you can explain me something I don't see in the book? I read it in English and then I read it in Russian (my native language)... well the Russian version was actually better but still I consider it complete shite.
I believe I have read more that 50% of these books, maybe 80% :) Well, I am not an elderly lecturer, mind you. What is puzzling is what Dan Brown is doing on this list.
I do recommend Anna Akhmatova, anything you can find. Of course preferably you should read her in Russian.
Sarah Waters is fabulous. Night Watch was my first Sarah Waters and I found it gripping, really well written, atmospheric, a really good evocation of the WWII and postwar period. I liked Affinity even better, it's marvellous, dark and compelling. Just started Fingersmith and so far I am enjoying it a lot. I am becoming a Sarah Waters addict I am afraid. I find it difficult to compare her with any known to me writers but for some reason Jeanette Winterson comes to mind (mind not because of lesbianism!)
What did you think of 2666? I read the 1st part and decided to have a break. It was rather good and I was into it, but suddenly I didn't want to continue. Thanks.
What did you think of Memories of My Melancholy Whores? I bought it a couple of months ago but it is still sitting on my bookshelf and I cannot decide whether to give it a try or to get rid of it. There are so many negative reviews and I don't want to spoil my impression on Marquez though I read him when I was in my early 20s and maybe now I won't like him any more anyway.
Have you read 2666 yet?
It's a lovely little book about coming of age, friendship, love, betrayal. It's very elegantly written and I highly recommend it.
I have complete Nabokov but in Russian (here I am listing only books I have in English). As for Hornby, I read a couple of his books and got rid of them, maybe it is an irrational dislike but I don't think I will ever bother reading anything by him ever again.
What a fine list! This selection is exquisite. I was surprised to find Madelstam, he is one of my ever favourite writers... Have you tried Andrej Belyj?
What did you think of The Secret History?
I am not into book burning business much, but why in the world is it so bad? I read it ages ago but don't remember being particularly outraged :)
This is easy: Tom Sawyer
Well, everything to my opinion. I simply don't understand the hype. It is very badly researched, the language is awful, the plot is lame... Maybe you can explain me something I don't see in the book? I read it in English and then I read it in Russian (my native language)... well the Russian version was actually better but still I consider it complete shite.
I did enjoy the book, thanks for the tip. I actually also liked the movie. Why do you think the movie is so bad?
How did you like White Teeth? I rather enjoyed Zadie's homage to Foster "On Beauty", though I found lots of things in it rather pretentious.
The Da Vinci Code? What exactly did you like about it? The beauty of the language? :)
I believe I have read more that 50% of these books, maybe 80% :) Well, I am not an elderly lecturer, mind you. What is puzzling is what Dan Brown is doing on this list.
I do recommend Anna Akhmatova, anything you can find. Of course preferably you should read her in Russian.
I would recommend you check out this interview with Sarah Waters about her Fingersmith, you can listen to it here http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/culturevulture/archives/2006/06/13/guardian_...
I thought it might encourage you to read her. She is such a charming and intelligent woman :)
Sarah Waters is fabulous. Night Watch was my first Sarah Waters and I found it gripping, really well written, atmospheric, a really good evocation of the WWII and postwar period. I liked Affinity even better, it's marvellous, dark and compelling. Just started Fingersmith and so far I am enjoying it a lot. I am becoming a Sarah Waters addict I am afraid. I find it difficult to compare her with any known to me writers but for some reason Jeanette Winterson comes to mind (mind not because of lesbianism!)