2018 50 Book Challenge

Steve B. · Nov 22, 2011

clockwise said:
Clockwise counting 46/50: Richard Yates - Revolutionary Road (1961)
The forgotten master of American modern realism. This is just a brilliant story about suburban hell in 1955 New York. None of Yates' novels sold more than 12,000 copies during his life time but he was regarded as one of the best by Vonnegut, William Styron and John Cheever and he is considered a strong influence on Raymond Carver. Highly recommended.
P.S. I never saw the Di Caprio movie and not sure I want to.

It was actually quite good.

400 pgs into W and P. I like the book, but can't manage more than 50 pgs a day or so. Should finish right at the bell.

Good for you, Clockwise- you will make 50.

clockwise · Nov 23, 2011

Yes I will.

Now reading Don DeLillo's latest, a nice short story collection, beautiful language.

Hope your WaP flows smoothly to its glorious end.

Steve B. · Nov 23, 2011

clockwise said:
Yes I will.
Now reading Don DeLillo's latest, a nice short story collection, beautiful language.
Hope your WaP flows smoothly to its glorious end.

I've heard his stuff is really good, but I haven't been able to find it in a library or Barnes and Noble.

clockwise · Nov 24, 2011

No DeLillo in Barnes and Noble? Boycott the place.

Did you ever think about doing the "1001 books you must read before you die"? it would only take a fraction longer than 20 years at this pace. And many of your books from 2011 are already among the 1001. There are a few DeLillos in there as well.

Steve B. · Nov 24, 2011

clockwise said:
No DeLillo in Barnes and Noble? Boycott the place.
Did you ever think about doing the "1001 books you must read before you die"? it would only take a fraction longer than 20 years at this pace. And many of your books from 2011 are already among the 1001. There are a few DeLillos in there as well.

I did one for 100 but 1001 (agreed) would be much better.

Just watch my Packers annhilate the Lions, off to dinner, then some more War and Peace.

I feel so cultured; but anyone who's acquainted with me knows better.

Steve B. · Nov 24, 2011

http://booklit.com/blog/1001-books-to-read-before-you-die/

Wow. Just wow.

clockwise · Nov 25, 2011

Steve B. said:
49. Dragonsong- Anne McCaffery- only other bok I could find that I liked at the library. Adventures of a minstrel in the imaginary kingdom of Pern. She's a girl and all the minstrels aresupposed to be boys, but she becomes one anyway and is apprenticed by the MaterHarper himself. And so it goes. Everyone lives happily ever after.

On second thought Arthur C. Clarke is a better writer than McCaffery,

Magnum Opus for # 50.

I don't know anything about dragons but I noticed that the author just today died at the age of 85.

Steve B. · Nov 25, 2011

clockwise said:
I don't know anything about dragons but I noticed that the author just today died at the age of 85.

Yes. Have you ever noticed that people who really love their work die in their 80s or 90s?

clockwise · Nov 27, 2011

Long live the workers cultural revolution.

clockwise · Nov 27, 2011

Clockwise counting 48/50 - Alex Schulman - To Be with Her Is Like Running Across a Summer's Meadow Without the Slightest Feeling of Fatigue (2011)

Swedish media star Schulman has written his second autobiographical novel about "the great love" and I find the novel's long title better than its content. Some entertaining bits and pieces from the lives of Swedish B celebrities but, as a serious novel, quite unconvincing. Schulman's debut from last year Hurry to Love, a touching story about having loved and lost an elderly father, was infinitely better.

clockwise · Nov 27, 2011

Clockwise counting 49/50 - Don DeLillo - The Angel Esmeralda (2011)

DeLillo's first short story collection contains 9 excellent stories written over the past 30 plus years. Amazingly, the first story from 1979 and the last one from 2011 could have been written at the same time; DeLillo seems to have produced at a consistently high standard and with a distinctly recognizable and fascinating voice throughout his long career. I have read a few of his novels in the past - Point Omega, The Body Artist and The Names - all very good, all conveying some sense of deepest human anxiety. Guess I should tackle one of his more famous White Noise, Underworld, Libra or Mao II in the near future. Inspiring and a bit depressing at the same time.

Steve B. · Nov 27, 2011

clockwise said:
Clockwise counting 49/50 - Don DeLillo - The Angel Esmeralda (2011)
DeLillo's first short story collection contains 9 excellent stories written over the past 30 plus years. Amazingly, the first story from 1979 and the last one from 2011 could have been written at the same time; DeLillo seems to have produced at a consistently high standard and with a distinctly recognizable and fascinating voice throughout his long career. I have read a few of his novels in the past - Point Omega, The Body Artist and The Names - all very good, all conveying some sense of deepest human anxiety. Guess I should tackle one of his more famous White Noise, Underworld, Libra or Mao II in the near future. Inspiring and a bit depressing at the same time.

See- I told you you could make 50. With a month to spare. My question is- can we do it next year?

BTW all those DeLillos are on the 1001 book list.

dwyhajlo · Dec 1, 2011

clockwise said:
Clockwise counting 49/50 - Don DeLillo - The Angel Esmeralda (2011)
DeLillo's first short story collection contains 9 excellent stories written over the past 30 plus years. Amazingly, the first story from 1979 and the last one from 2011 could have been written at the same time; DeLillo seems to have produced at a consistently high standard and with a distinctly recognizable and fascinating voice throughout his long career. I have read a few of his novels in the past - Point Omega, The Body Artist and The Names - all very good, all conveying some sense of deepest human anxiety. Guess I should tackle one of his more famous White Noise, Underworld, Libra or Mao II in the near future. Inspiring and a bit depressing at the same time.

Mao II has a few really great passages - notably, the very beginning and ending sequences - but it drags quite heavily in the middle, IMO; it feels like DeLillo was struggling to grapple with a lot of things that he couldn't quite wrap his hands around in that book, and it seems that he may have been shooting for some Big Ideas that he just missed the mark on. White Noise and Underworld would be the way to go if you're just getting into DeLillo's work, I think.

Steve B. said:
See- I told you you could make 50. With a month to spare. My question is- can we do it next year?
BTW all those DeLillos are on the 1001 book list.

Being a glutton for punishment, I may try to join you guys in this. I'm not sure how I'll manage finishing Gravity's Rainbow and 49 other books.

clockwise · Dec 4, 2011

Steve B. said:
My question is- can we do it next year?

Of course we can.

dwyhajlo said:
Mao II has a few really great passages - notably, the very beginning and ending sequences - but it drags quite heavily in the middle, IMO; it feels like DeLillo was struggling to grapple with a lot of things that he couldn't quite wrap his hands around in that book, and it seems that he may have been shooting for some Big Ideas that he just missed the mark on. White Noise and Underworld would be the way to go if you're just getting into DeLillo's work, I think.
Being a glutton for punishment, I may try to join you guys in this. I'm not sure how I'll manage finishing Gravity's Rainbow and 49 other books.

Thanks for the DeLillo suggestions. Please do join next year! Suggest you don't spend the first three months of 2012 working on Gravity's Rainbow only.... I think it is important to stick to some kind of average monthly or quarterly reading speed or the task will become too burdensome.

Steve B. · Dec 4, 2011

Jesus- how long is this book? Or is it the complexity of the subject matter?

2018 50 Book Challenge

Go Spurs Go

Distinguished Member

Go Spurs Go

Distinguished Member

Go Spurs Go

Go Spurs Go

Distinguished Member

Go Spurs Go

Distinguished Member

Distinguished Member

Distinguished Member

Go Spurs Go

Senior Member

Distinguished Member

Go Spurs Go

FEATURED PRODUCTS

Similar threads

Featured Sponsor

Definitely full canvas only

Half canvas is fine

Really don't care

Depends on fabric

Depends on price

Forum Sponsors

Forum statistics

FOLLOW STYLEFORUM ON: