All About Books discussion

Following on from my 2019 Challenge, I read 12 of my 23 outstanding Big Read books, leaving 11 to complete for 2020. These are:-
David Copperfield by Charles Dickens -
- FINISHED AUG. 2020 - 4*/10 (9+/10)
Bleak House by Charles Dickens -
- FINISHED FEB. 2020 - 3* (6/10)
Middlemarch by George Eliot -
- FINISHED JUNE 2020 - 3* (7/10)
The Magus by John Fowles -
- FINISHED FEB. 2020 - 4* (9/10)
Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez -
- FINISHED SEPT. 2020 - 4* (9/10)
Ulysses by James Joyce -
DNF at 38% - DEC.2020 - 1* (2/10)
The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough -
- FINISHED MAR.2020 - 5* (9.5/10)
Gormenghast by Mervyn Peake -
- FINISHED OCT. 2020 - 5* (9.5/10)
The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy -
- FINISHED FEB.2020 - 3* (6/10)
The Secret History by Donna Tartt -
- FINISHED JULY 2020 - 4* (9/10)
Brideshead Revisited: The Sacred and Profane Memories of Captain Charles Ryder by Evelyn Waugh -
- FINISHED NOV. 2020 - 4* (9/10)

Running total completed:- 11/11 - COMPLETED in my opinion!

The list of the Top 100 books from the BBC Big Read can be found here:-
https://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/bigread/to...

Already finished my first of this Challenge:-

The Magus by John Fowles

Quite surprised how much I enjoyed this one, as I have struggled with some of his in the past, but really did like it - 4* (9/10)

I found The Magus quite different from other books by Fowles. Unfortunately for me, it was the first book by him I read so the struggle was just a bit more difficult because I kept thinking that it would get better!

You have some great books ahead of you (and some hard ones too).

Leslie wrote: "I found The Magus quite different from other books by Fowles. Unfortunately for me, it was the first book by him I read so the struggle was just a bit more difficult because I kept thi..."

Yes, Leslie, I know! Not really looking forward to Ulysses for a start!!

Finished my second of this Challenge - only 9 to go now!

The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy

Not one of my favourites - 3* (6/10). My review is here:-
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Good luck Kim!

Another one polished off - but I have been reading it since October!

Bleak House by Charles Dickens


Not one of my favourite Dickens novels. My review is here:-
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Only eight left now!!

Kim wrote: "Another one polished off - but I have been reading it since October!

Bleak House by Charles Dickens

Not one of my favourite Dickens n..."

That makes me sad... I loved Bleak House the first time I read it and still think it is a great story. Oh well, tastes differ. Hopefully the next book will please you more!

Finished my 4th of this Challenge - only 7 to go:-

The Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough

Really enjoyed this one - can only remember a small part of the TV series from many years ago but the book had so much I didn't recall or maybe wasn't featured - 5* (9.5/10)

My review is here:-
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Finished my 5th of this personal challenge - only 6 to go so that's one per month now!

Middlemarch by George Eliot - rated this 3* (7/10) - good story and characters but over-elaborate language as is prevalent with 19th century novels!
My review is here:-
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

You are doing well Kim!

And I agree with you about Middlemarch - good but not excellent.

Leslie wrote: "You are doing well Kim!

And I agree with you about Middlemarch - good but not excellent."

I disagree. One of my favourite Victorian novel!!!

Finished my 6th of this personal challenge - only 5 to go now! - with one I was unsure of when looking to read it but really enjoyed it as it happened:-

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

Rated it 4* (9/10) - my review is here:-
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Will probably be reading David Copperfield and Love in the Time of Cholera in August. Will also be trying to read Titus Groan as a prelude to the listed book Gormenghast as the latter is second in the series - another one I'm not sure I will like, but got to stretch yourself!

Finished my 7th of this Personal Challenge, so only 4 to go now:-

David Copperfield by Charles Dickens

Really liked this one - 4* (nearly 5) - 9+/10
My review is here:-
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I will shortly (hopefully today) be finishing Titus Groan as a prelude to reading challenge book Gormenghast and am actually really enjoying it!

Not actually read Love in the Time of Cholera this month but have managed to get a library copy so all prepared for this one.

Finished my 8th of this Personal Challenge, only 3 to go now and that's one per month and all ready to go:-

Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez

Really liked this one too overall - parts were a bit slow but other sections made up for it - rated it 4* (9/10). My review is here:-
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Finished my 9th of this Personal Challenge with:-

Gormenghast by Mervyn Peake

Rated this one 5* (9.5/10). My review is here:-
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Only two to go now - only problem is that one of them is by James Joyce !!

Finished my 10th of this Challenge with:-

Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh

Rated this one 4* (9/10) - my review is here:-
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

With only one book to go to complete this Challenge, I have cast my mind back to the beginning and realised how many books I have read and enjoyed immensely as part of this Challenge which I would not otherwise have read, this one being one of them.
So, well done to The BBC and its Big Read Challenge!!

Had to give up on my last book in this Challenge with:-

Ulysses by James Joyce

Gave it a good go but losing the will to live by 38% - just couldn't get my head round it at all and couldn't really be bothered to read another book/consult a website that explains the book!

Only rated this 1* (2/10) but all respect to those who have read and enjoyed it. Sadly, not for me. My review is here:-
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Kim wrote: "Had to give up on my last book in this Challenge with:-

Ulysses by James Joyce ...

Gave it a good go but losing the will to live by 38% ..."

You gave it a good shot! Be proud of yourself for getting so far.

I read this with several other people so managed to make it through with their help but I agree with your reaction to it. I did find one or two places that amused me but overall reading this book was an unenjoyable chore for me.