Tuesday, June 7
As most of you know, I am currently undertaking a reading of 100 top novels. I call it The Human Narrative Project. I compiled my own list of great novels: classic fiction, novels that are rich with meaning, stories written by diverse authors on diverse topics. I’ve also dedicated myself to writing up a review of each novel. That’s been fun; it lets the novel sink in, and I feel like I take something important away from my readings. After writing the review, I post it online, at my alter-ego theological blog, Theos Project. (www.theosproject.blogspot.com)
I am currently about 15 or so books in. I’m trying to work at a pace of about one novel a month. Though I’ve been remiss about posting my reviews, I have been writing them out, on paper, and I’ll be posting some of these soon.
In any event, today I came across a list of “Author’s all-time favorite novels” in the Christian Science Monitor. These are novels that the writers themselves most enjoy:
1. Anna Karenina….Can’t say it’s a favorite of mine, but the writing is damn good, and I can see why a writer would love it.
2. Madame Bovary…Haven’t read it. In fact, it isn’t on my list. Should I add it???
3. War and Peace…..More by Tolstoy. This also is not on my list, but I’m tempted to add it; maybe drop a Dostoevsky novel. The thing is, I didn’t really love reading Anna Karenina…soooo….hhhmmm…
4. Lolita……This novel was a page turner for me. I love Nabokov’s style, both in terms of his story telling ability as well as his lyrical prose. It is the closest I have seen, thus far, to a perfect novel. I will possibly add more Nabokov to my list, tough I already have one other novel, The Defense, on my list.
5. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn….Not on my list. But it probably should be.
My favorite read so far….that’s a tough one….I’ll say Catch-22.
Yes! You should add War and Peace. And definitely one by Mark Twain. On the side you should read his take on what happened in the garden of Eden. I believe that was just a short story though. It’s a really fun read. Are you going to read Moby Dick? If not, at least watch the movie starring Patrick Stewart. Great stuff!
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Hi Mom!
Yes. I have read Moby Dick. Here is the link to my review: http://theosproject.blogspot.com/2010/06/moby-dick-by-herman-melville.html
It was an amazing novel, so epic. There were also many quotable lines. It would be a great novel to read out here, fishing in the Alaskan ocean, eh?
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You should definitely add Madame Bovary. Truly a great work.
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Thanks Stef! I think I will.
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Don’t add War and Peace. You can always read it after you finish your books. The problem with War and Peace is that it’s a serial novel and Tolstoy had less discipline than other serial others. The book is really repetitive at times.
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Thanks for the tip, Pat. It would have been tough to fit in W&P anyway….I might focus on some other novels. Of course, there is the whole thing about, “yeah, I read War and Peace a few years back…..” But I don’t want to add a novel just to say I read it…do I?!?
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So I commented on your review of George Orwell’s 1984 on “The Theos Project.” I would love to hear your thoughts about my comment.
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