Boxall's 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die discussion

Use this Topic to discuss books you are reading or that fit the 2nd Scavenger Hunt task.

Task 2: Read a book published by a small press, a university press, or an independent press.

I’d love any pointers folks have for figuring this out. So far all I can think of is selecting what seems like a more esoteric title and googling. Anyone else have a different strategy?

Well,,,, I figure anything printed before 1880 has to be somewhat of a small press, right?

Molly wrote: "I’d love any pointers folks have for figuring this out. So far all I can think of is selecting what seems like a more esoteric title and googling. Anyone else have a different strategy?"

That's more or less what I did. I suspect many of the titles in translation, particularly from smaller/less influential countries, will have been published by small or independent publishers. I'll be going with The Parable of the Blind by Gert Hofmann, which was published in English translation by an independent (now out of business) publisher.

The edition of Kaas that Alec has is apparently printed by an Independent Press (Alma Books), we figured that counted.

Independent Publishers tend to be part of the Independent Publishers Group, which has a website and lists all said IPs.

So I will be reading Cheese by William Elschott, which I nearly read last year for the food challenge.

The following were published by a University Press so I’m going to choose one of these:

Forever a Stranger and Other Stories by Hella S. Haasse - Oxford University Press
Asphodel by H.D. - Duke University Press
Oscar and Lucinda by Peter Carey - University of Queensland Press

I was having the hardest time coming up with a book for this task. I found a Goodreads' list of Women in Independent Publishing. Elena Ferrante is the first author listed (she has 2 books on the 1001 List). All of her books are published by Europa, an independent trade publisher. I am thinking about reading Troubling Love. The list also includes The Elegance of the Hedgehog (published by Europa) and A Girl Is a Half-Formed Thing (published by Coffee House Press).

caterspotaters wrote: "I was having the hardest time coming up with a book for this task. I found a Goodreads' list of Women in Independent Publishing. Elena Ferrante is the first author listed (she has 2 ..."

Thanks for this resource! I'm already reading The Elegance of the Hedgehog, so I'll use that. A Girl Is a Half-Formed Thing was an interesting read -- stream of consciousness beginning when the main character was very young and continuing through her life.

Hi everyone! I was wondering if Marlboro Press can be considered a small press. They were active between 1932 and 2001 and translated different kinds of texts. Also, Re/Search Publications. I tried to search on Google about this organization and could not get a lot of information about it. I guess both of them could be considered as small press and publishers, I just would like to double-check with people who know more than me and have more experience.

Diana wrote: "Hi everyone! I was wondering if Marlboro Press can be considered a small press. They were active between 1932 and 2001 and translated different kinds of texts."

I think it is. It is described as a small publishing house and is an Imprint of Northwestern University Press.

Karen wrote: "Diana wrote: "Hi everyone! I was wondering if Marlboro Press can be considered a small press. They were active between 1932 and 2001 and translated different kinds of texts."

I think it is. It is ..."

Thank you for your help!

caterspotaters wrote: "I was having the hardest time coming up with a book for this task. I found a Goodreads' list of Women in Independent Publishing. Elena Ferrante is the first author listed (she has 2 ..."

Glad to see that my list's coming in handy.

I did Max Havelaar, or the Coffee Auctions of the Dutch Trading Company for this one. When I looked into its publication history, it seems to have originally published by ~5 different private individuals/small presses the author showed the manuscript to. If anyone has found differently, let me know.

As well, The Cathedral seems to have been originally published by a small soviet magazine, and is now available in English (free online!) curtesy of the University of Toronto. Link for all interested: http://sites.utoronto.ca/elul/English...

Amanda wrote: "I did Max Havelaar, or the Coffee Auctions of the Dutch Trading Company for this one. When I looked into its publication history, it seems to have originally published by ~5 different..."

Thanks for the link -- I've already downloaded the book!

Aubrey wrote: "caterspotaters wrote: "I was having the hardest time coming up with a book for this task. I found a Goodreads' list of Women in Independent Publishing. Elena Ferrante is the first au..."

Yes! Your list was very helpful. I had no idea where to start for this task. Thank you!!

I read the book goner. Self published by the author Ann Goethe.

Raymon wrote: "I read the book goner. Self published by the author Ann Goethe."

Unfortunately, that book is not on the Boxall list. Remember, to fulfill this challenge, all the books you read should come from the Boxall list.

The Crime of Father Amaro by Eça de Queirós completed 1/24. The edition I read was published by New Directions Publishing which was founded as an independent publisher in 1934.

Bob wrote: "The Crime of Father Amaro by Eça de Queirós completed 1/24. The edition I read was published by New Directions Publishing which was founded as an independent publish..."

Thanks for that Bob. I have a book in the Boxall list I am planning to start soon, a translation of The Melancholy of Resistance by László Krasznahorkai published by New Directions (https://www.ndbooks.com/books/) and I was trying to figure out if they qualify. So that will be my book for this task.
I see that New Directions also published Memento Mori by Muriel Spark, translations of The German Lesson by Siegfried Lenz, Journey to the End of the Night by Louis-Ferdinand Céline, Les Chants de Maldoror by Comte de Lautréamont, The Rings of Saturn and The Emigrants by W.G. Sebald, Nausea, by Jean-Paul Sartre and The Book of Disquiet by Fernando Pessoa which are all on the Boxall list. Possibly others as well.

PS I actually read Heights of Despair for this challenge written by Romanian Cioran, Emile M., and published in English translation by Univ of Chicago press. It's short essays of a philosophical sort.

caterspotaters wrote: "I was having the hardest time coming up with a book for this task. I found a Goodreads' list of Women in Independent Publishing. Elena Ferrante is the first author listed (she has 2 ..."

This is super helpful. I have Ferrante's book on reserve from our state audiobook site. Will be glad to check a box with this one.

What does "independent press" mean? A private publishing company?

Nike wrote: "What does "independent press" mean? A private publishing company?"

Yes, a publisher not owned by one of the Big Five publishing companies (Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, Hachette,or MacMillam).

Karen wrote: "Nike wrote: "What does "independent press" mean? A private publishing company?"

Yes, a publisher not owned by one of the Big Five publishing companies (Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, Simon &..."

Thank you