124) Read the "Top 100 Books by Women Authors" (from Feminista)
10 down, 90 to go
6-Nov-2004 - The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
It took me awhile to get into this, but once I did I loved it. I can't find any words to express it better than what someone already wrote on the back of the book: "There were times I had to stop reading this novel because I feared so much for the characters, or I had to re-read a phrase or a page to memorise its grace."
"But what was there to say?
Only that there were tears. Only that Quietness and Emptiness fitted together like stacked spoons. Only that there was a snuffling in the hollows at the base of a lovely throat. Only that a hard honey-coloured shoulder had a semi-circle of teethmarks on it. Only that they held each other close, long after it was over. Only that what they shared that night was not happiness, but hideous grief.
Only that once again they broke the Love Laws. That lay down who should be loved. And how. And how much."
- The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy
6-Oct-2004 - The Shipping News by Annie Proulx
I think I enjoyed this book. I really liked the story, but not necessarily always the style of writing. The two things that frustrated me most (style-wise) were that it seemed like she was more just getting ideas down on paper, rather than really writing. But, as I said, I did enjoy the story, so obviously the style was effective, it just took me a little while to get used to. The other thing that drove me batty at times was the need to write extremely long descriptive lists of things, that really didn't add anything to the story. All in all though, I enjoyed it, and apparently this too has been made into a movie. Another one for me to see.
But no need to say anything to Tert Card who heard everything over the partition. Quoyle went back to his desk. He felt light and hot. Nutbeem clasped both hands over his head and shook them. His pipe twisted. Quoyle rolled paper into the typewriter but didn't type anything. Thirty-six years old and this was the first time anybody ever said he'd done it right.�
- The Shipping News by Annie Proulx
Apr-2004 - Possession by A.S. Byatt
Lovely book that had me enthralled to the very end. And, another movie to add to the ever-growing list (reviewed here).
17-Apr-2004 - The Bone People by Keri Hulme
Another book I really enjoyed. I loved Simon and his strange relationships with those around him. I also now want to travel to New Zealand.
�He laughs bitterly. �I�m a typical hori after all, made to work on the chain, or be a factory hand, not try for high places.�
�High places in whose world? And high is as you decide it... I�ve known roadies who knew theirs was a high place in the scheme of things, and I�ve met a cabinet minister who realised he was bottom of the dung heap.��
- The Bone People by Keri Hulme
Mar-2004 - The Weight of Water by Anita Shreve
Quite a good book. And I just discovered it's a movie too. I'll have to add it to the list of movies to see!
23-Jan-2004 - The Talented Mr Ripley by Patricia Highsmith
I enjoyed this book a lot (although it really made me want to travel to Europe!), and as soon as I was finished, P and I watched the movie together, followed soon by Ripley's Game (although I haven't read it yet).
�Tonight he was going to have a dinner. And look out at the moonlight on the Grand Canal. And watch the gondolas drifting as lazily as they ever drifted for any honeymooner, with the gondoliers and their oars silhouetted against the moonlit water. He was suddenly ravenous. He was going to have something luscious and expensive to eat - whatever the Grand Hotel�s speciality was, breast of pheasant or petto di pollo, and perhaps cannelloni to begin with, creamy sauce over delivate pasta, and a good valpolicella to sip while he dreamed about his future and planned where he went from here.�
- The Talented Mr Ripley by Patricia Highhsmith
17-Jan-2004 - The Well of Loneliness by Radclyyfe Hall
I enjoyed this book and really felt for Stephen at times throughout the story.
�Then Stephen hurled the Bible away, and she sank down completely hopeless and beaten, rocking her body backwards and forwards with a kind of abrupt yet methodical rhythm: �And the Lord set a mark upon Cain, upon Cain...� she was rocking now in rhythm to those words, �And the Lord set a mark upon Cain - upon Cain - upon Cain. And the Lord set a mark upon Cain....� �
- The Well of Loneliness by Radclyffe Halll
4-Jan-2004 - The Women's Room by Marilyn French
Not really my sort of novel. Didn't enjoy reading this as much as the others. More like hard work, as if I was reading for a school assignment or something, not really because it had me enthralled.
5-Dec-2003 - Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier
Of all the books I have read so far on the list, this has been my absolute favourite. I am now trying to find a copy of the movie, as I would love to see what they do with it, but unfortunately my video store doesn't have it. I may just have to buy it.
28-Nov-2003 - Cat's Eye by Margaret Atwood
This was the first book from the list I read, and I enjoyed it. I would be interested to read some more of her work, and am pleased that she is on some of the other reading lists.
Why did this make the list?
Because I love to read! For as long as I can remember I have been an avid reader. As a child, I would take my current book with me wherever I went, and read whenever I had opportunity to. You can see from my adventure list that I kind of went overboard with the reading lists. So many books, so little time.
