Posted: Dec 30, 2022 7:27 pm
1. The Five - Hallie Rubenhold
2. The Time Traveller's Guide to Regency Britain - Ian Mortimer
3. War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy
4. The Golden Strangers - Henry Treece
5. White - Marie Darrieussecq
6. Villette - Charlotte Brontë
7. The Dark Island - Henry Treece
8. Fat Chance - Simon Gray
9. The Expedition of Humphry Clinker - Tobias Smollett
10. Red Queen, White Queen - Henry Treece
11. Moby-Dick - Herman Melville
12. The Master and Margarita - Mikhail Bulgakov
13. The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro (re-read)
14. The Great Captains - Henry Treece
15. Les Liaisons Dangereuses - Pierre Choderlos de Laclos
16. Against Nature/À rebours - Joris-Karl Huysmans
I heard about this through The Picture of Dorian Gray, as it was said to be the book that influenced him. Perhaps a book purely about one person's tastes and sensuality could be interesting without needing a plot, but when they're rather unlikeable, as Jean Des Esseintes is, it makes for a hard read. I found myself rather more interested in tracking down some of the esoteric references; some people find this a chore, but I enjoy it.
Nowhere near my target this time, but considering the packed year I've had, sixteen was perhaps better than I could have expected. The highpoint was discovering the wonderful Master and Margarita; plus, finishing Tolstoy's epic is one massive TICK on the bucket list. I've also enjoyed reading others' lists here, some books I've made a note of to read in future that I wouldn't have been exposed to otherwise. A very happy New Year to everyone on the thread!
2. The Time Traveller's Guide to Regency Britain - Ian Mortimer
3. War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy
4. The Golden Strangers - Henry Treece
5. White - Marie Darrieussecq
6. Villette - Charlotte Brontë
7. The Dark Island - Henry Treece
8. Fat Chance - Simon Gray
9. The Expedition of Humphry Clinker - Tobias Smollett
10. Red Queen, White Queen - Henry Treece
11. Moby-Dick - Herman Melville
12. The Master and Margarita - Mikhail Bulgakov
13. The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro (re-read)
14. The Great Captains - Henry Treece
15. Les Liaisons Dangereuses - Pierre Choderlos de Laclos
16. Against Nature/À rebours - Joris-Karl Huysmans
I heard about this through The Picture of Dorian Gray, as it was said to be the book that influenced him. Perhaps a book purely about one person's tastes and sensuality could be interesting without needing a plot, but when they're rather unlikeable, as Jean Des Esseintes is, it makes for a hard read. I found myself rather more interested in tracking down some of the esoteric references; some people find this a chore, but I enjoy it.
Nowhere near my target this time, but considering the packed year I've had, sixteen was perhaps better than I could have expected. The highpoint was discovering the wonderful Master and Margarita; plus, finishing Tolstoy's epic is one massive TICK on the bucket list. I've also enjoyed reading others' lists here, some books I've made a note of to read in future that I wouldn't have been exposed to otherwise. A very happy New Year to everyone on the thread!