Lush Library discussion

1984

Anna Karenina - I've read an esl version of this - time to read the whole thing

Snow Falling on Cedars - I've owned 2 copies of this

Pride and Prejudice - the book I always forget to remember I haven't read

The Handmaid's Tale - I've just got the Folio Society print of this - quality

The Secret Life of Bees - I don't know why I had this on my "search for a copy" list for so long but I have a copy now and I'm going to see what my fascination is with it

Dubliners - I've wanted to read Joyce for a long time (2/3)

Birdsong - this is on so many lists and there must be a reason (50p)

Cloud Atlas - I've wanted to read this for a while and it catches my attention on my bookshelf every day (1/2) Really don't think I'll ever want to give this another try

Kundun - I watched the film years ago and have owned the book for years so it's about time that it was read

Possession - another book from top book lists

Catch-22 - I've seen this mentioned time and again but I have never picked up a copy


The reserves


The Gormenghast Trilogy -I have wanted to read this since the BBC series came out - I was pretty young at the time so if I read it then I get the bonus of watching the series too. At almost a thousand pages it will be a long awaited return to form.

Red Azalea - maybe. I've read the Empress Orchid books and have been looking for more books by her for a while (1/2 but I won't be going back to it - so tedious)

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan - I have wanted to read this since it came out

Is this for all of us or just for you Kirsty? I spy a few there I've always wanted to have a go at too.

*deleted post to update*

I'll make another challenge later for unfinished books. These will now go on there instead of on this one.

















I've started to read this twice but now I'm reading properly again I can enjoy it


I started this and really got into it then we were moving house and going up to Scotland in between. I even thought I'd left it on the plane or train and got another copy only to find the first again.

I have to finish this one - it's so interesting


- I got this for holiday 2 years ago but I was pregnant and had a little one to entertain during a holiday where half the days were wet and couldn't dedicate the time to get into it.

The reserves
- if I've read her Cleopatra (in the first person!) then I really should read this. I've always been interested in Mary Queen of Scots.

I'll fix this list tonight. Any recommendations?

I got for Christmas I haven't read it yet but could be worth a read after that's what I'm planning to do hehe

I started reading last night and I couldn't put it down. My concentration wasn't the best but I read almost half. I really just wanted to get started on this list so I didn't continue with which has started to remind me of

Snap Amina I just thought the same thing, but I don't have time arrggghh! hehe

I planned to read a book a month from this list but I doubt I'll read another one by the end of the month. I'm going to see which 2 have the least pages and try to read those by the end of next month - or if anyone has any recommendations for any of them that they think are books which are engrossing?

I love and Jane Austen generally. I have read all of her books, but I find I have to be in the right frame of mind for her writing, as none of her books are "quick reads", at least for me.
part of the fun I find is savouring the language and for that I have to take my time.
but I can really recommend it, it's a beautiful book, funny and sweet and full of well-drawn, interesting characters. I've been wanting to re-read it for a while.

morgaine_cat wrote: "I love and Jane Austen generally. I have read all of her books, but I find I have to be in the right frame of mind for her writing, as none of her books are "qu..."

I read the first page and realised I wanted to dedicate more time to it. It's one of those books that I can't believe I haven't read yet and Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights cannot/should be rushed so I figured that it would be the same for this one. I will leave it to a month when the group reads don't take up much time.

I really need to read all the Bronte novels too.

I've been so distracted by other books that I've fallen way behind. I am patiently waiting for to arrive from the FS sale. Then I plan on reading and which I was hoping to find FS editions of but they've been too expensive. I have ordered as my free set in the sale to qualify I ordered 3 books I wanted. I need one more book to make it to 6 but I'll see what grabs me at the time. I have the rest of the orange shortlist to read before the end of next month and the group reads (+ finish the bone people and life of pi) *panic*

- why did I wait so long to read this book. So, so interesting and at the same time a story of human relationships and endurance that will stay with me for a very long time.

I started reading Red Azalea but it's so stilted that I was counting down the pages and it was really dragging so i started Dubliners. I was expecting interesting gritty portraits of Irish characters but I'm surprised that it's more like being witness to short periods in time in each characters life. I guess they are life changing occurances that are pivotal between childhood and adulthood. Something happens to the protagonist that brings about a realisation. Almost like they are the memories of boys who have been asked the moment that they gained an awareness that they didn't have during the innocence of childhood. One to dip in and out of. I've started 1984 and am only a few pages in but it seems to be promising. I've tried not to get my expectations up but I've never really read any negative review:D

Sat up to after 3 last night to finish Pride and Prejudice. I wonder if people then actually talked like that - so much dialogue and reading into every action and word of others.

I'm reading and it's only just started to grip me.