On The Same Page discussion

The other day I did a really stupid thing which has now prompted me to do another really stupid thing. I read one of those lists. You know the ones where they give you the top 100 mostest bestest books that you should have read a million years ago because obviously everyone else has. I am particularly susceptible to these blasted lists. I always check off how many I have read even when I say I won't. Then I look at the ones I haven't read, and I really want to. Maybe it's some weird competitiveness or just that I really love books, but I immediately want to head to the library.

So the list that I read was the Reader's Digest 100 Best Books That Everyone Should Read List. It was a really good list. Not just classics but modern classics as well. Fiction and nonfiction. Just a very well thought out list. I had read 55 of them. The books I hadn't read though, just seemed to be overwhelmingly books that I have been meaning to read for a long time. I started checking Libby to see if the library had them. I even put one on my hold list. And then here is where I double down on my book stupidity. I thought to myself there are enough books here to make a new challenge list. And sooo....

If you have read If You Give a Mouse a Cookie you will see what happened here. If you give Michelle a list about reading she will want a book to go with it.

Here is my list of 16 of the books that I really really need to read from the Reader's Digest 100 Best Books list.

1. A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah Complete 8/1/24 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
2. Selected Stories, 1968-1994 by Munro, Alice (1997) Paperback by Alice Munro Complete 8/18/24 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
3. Invisible ManbyRalph Ellison Complete 10/19/24 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
4. One Hundred Years of SolitudebyGabriel García Márquez Complete 8/6/24 ⭐⭐⭐
5. Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese Complete 11/3/24 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
6. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie Complete 08/14/24 ⭐⭐⭐
7. The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich Complete 8/14/24 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
8. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro. Complete 9/1/24. ⭐⭐⭐⭐
9. The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11 by Lawrence Wright Complete 5/29/24 ⭐⭐⭐⭐
10. The Right Stuff by Tom Wolfe. Complete 9/14/24 ⭐⭐⭐
11. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley Complete 9/11/24 ⭐⭐⭐
12. Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi. Complete 11/14/24. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Alternates (we all know they are not really optional but we are going to pretend for the sake of the challenge format):
13. The Stranger by Albert Camus Complete 12/29/24 ⭐⭐⭐
14. The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton Complete 10/31/24 ⭐⭐⭐
15. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson Complete 9/1/24 ⭐⭐
16. Of Human Bondage by W. Somerset Maugham Complete 12/22/24 ⭐⭐

I have read 62 books on that list, and yes, I want to read the others also.

I have read the following books: One Hundred Years of Solitude, Cutting for Stone, Never Let Me Go, Brave New World, Homegoing, and The Age of Innocence. Homegoing was my favorite, but I loved Cutting for Stone and Never Let Me Go too. One Hundred Years of Solitude was rough for me. Stylistically, it is a beautiful novel and you have to try it to see if you like it. For me, I could appreciate the work, but I did not like it. I'm eager to see what you think, because you've picked 10 books I've also not read. Happy reading!

I only read 33; at least 10, I will never read. About 40 on my TBR.

I'm just so proud of you for making list #3!! Woot!!

I really hope you enjoy these. I enjoyed all 33, so that is saying something.

Lea wrote: "I have read 62 books on that list, and yes, I want to read the others also.

I have read the following books: One Hundred Years of Solitude, Cutting for Stone, Never Let Me Go, Brave New World, Ho..."

I'm glad you have read so many of my choices. I feel better knowing they are also Lea approved. I'm going to reluctantly admit that my reasons for including One Hundred Years of Solitude on the list are not what you might think. Several years ago I read Love in the Time of Cholera by the same author. It was, as you say, beautifully written but it didn't exactly knock my socks off. But you know how it is when you study lists like this (I'm guessing you do know how it is), it seems like certain authors are often included and when they are it is almost always a certain book by that author that makes the list. When I feel like I read the author but not THE book, I wonder if I missed something. Maybe THE book is actually blow you away incredible while the sampling I read from that author was just mediocre. So in this case One Hundred Years of Solitude seems to be THE book. I'm just going to read it and get it out of my system.

Alondra wrote: "I only read 33; at least 10, I will never read. About 40 on my TBR.

I'm just so proud of you for making list #3!! Woot!!

I really hope you enjoy these. I enjoyed all 33, so that is saying somet..."

Thanks for the encouragement, Alondra! I'm going to need it. I do think I will enjoy most of them though mainly because as I said above this just seemed to be a really good list.

Michelle wrote: "I'm glad you have read so many of my choices. I feel better knowing they are also Lea approved. I'm going to reluctantly admit that my reasons for including One Hundred Years of Solitude on the list are not what you might think. Several years ago I read Love in the Time of Cholera by the same author. It was, as you say, beautifully written but it didn't exactly knock my socks off. But you know how it is when you study lists like this (I'm guessing you do know how it is), it seems like certain authors are often included and when they are it is almost always a certain book by that author that makes the list. When I feel like I read the author but not THE book, I wonder if I missed something. Maybe THE book is actually blow you away incredible while the sampling I read from that author was just mediocre. So in this case One Hundred Years of Solitude seems to be THE book. I'm just going to read it and get it out of my system."

Yes, I always feel like I want to read list books to see what the fuss is about.

And I think you should read One Hundred Years of Solitude. I hope you like it better than I did.

Maybe it will be the reverse for you.

For me Love in the Time of Cholera hit better for me (4 stars) whereas One Hundred Years of Solitude was not my cup of tea (1 star.)

Here's hoping Your Mileage Might Vary.

It will be fun to see what you think. Happy reading! List 3 already, so impressive.

Girl, you have really outdid yourself and as a fellow list person, I am PROUD of you haha

Also, IDK why but mostest bestest books made me laugh haa

Michelle wrote: "Thanks for the encouragement, Alondra! I'm going to need it. I do think I will enjoy most of them though mainly because as I said above this just seemed to be a really good list...."

Never Let Me Go was gut-wrenching for me; or maybe, just sooo unsettling. The movie too. To have a visual of the horrors of this new society. *sigh*

SN: I've never counted it as a read book.

Lea wrote: "Michelle wrote: "I'm glad you have read so many of my choices. I feel better knowing they are also Lea approved. I'm going to reluctantly admit that my reasons for including One Hundred Years of So..."

Thanks Lea! Fingers crossed for One Hundred Years of Solitude.

Alissa wrote: "Girl, you have really outdid yourself and as a fellow list person, I am PROUD of you haha

Also, IDK why but mostest bestest books made me laugh haa"

I'm really not sure if we can call obsessive list reading and list making an accomplishment but O.K. Sure. Thanks!

Alondra wrote: "Michelle wrote: "Thanks for the encouragement, Alondra! I'm going to need it. I do think I will enjoy most of them though mainly because as I said above this just seemed to be a really good list......"

I saw the movie too Alondra and I think that is both the reason I want to read it and the reason I haven't read it before now.

Michelle wrote: "I saw the movie too Alondra and I think that is both the reason I want to read it and the reason I haven't read it before now..."

I happened to read it on the sly during the pandemonium (we were at the beach); and I was just DUN. Not done, but DUN.

You have to read the mostest, bestest books. There is no arguing with that. I can't say I've read any of those specific books, oh, except Brave New World. I wonder what you'll think of it. Alice Munro is such a great short story author. I've read a few of her collections. Her daughter Sheila Munro wrote an excellent biography of her. Agatha Christie and Maugham are also great authors. I know I took The Stranger in university. I think it was one of those class books I never got into. Timing I think. I had too many English courses and enjoyed other books instead.

Good luck with this challenge

Bill wrote: "You have to read the mostest, bestest books. There is no arguing with that. I can't say I've read any of those specific books, oh, except Brave New World. I wonder what you'll think of it. Alice Mu..."

Thanks Bill! I love short stories so I'm looking forward to Alice Munro. Christie and Maugham are both examples of authors I have read but didn't read THE book apparently. I'm going to take care of that. In the case of both of these authors though I'm looking forward to reading THE book because I have enjoyed thier work in the past.

Michelle wrote: "The other day I did a really stupid thing which has now prompted me to do another really stupid thing. I read one of those lists. You know the ones where they give you the top 100 mostest bestest b..."

Ha! I deliberately started skipping those lists cause I do the same exact thing though I did go and check out this particular list. Looks like I’ve read 42, 41 I’ll never read & the rest I may pick up at some point. I’m just going to have to be ok with that, lol

I’ve read And Then There Were None, The Night Watchman and The Stranger from your list. Am interested to see what you end up thinking of them. I enjoyed them all.

Good luck (though I don’t think you’ll need it!) 😃

Lillie wrote: "Michelle wrote: "The other day I did a really stupid thing which has now prompted me to do another really stupid thing. I read one of those lists. You know the ones where they give you the top 100 ..."

Thanks Lillie, I'm going to need all the luck I can get! I admire you for declaring that there are 41 on the list that you will never read. There were some on there that I would not read too but I'm not sure I could definitively rule out that many. Books are just a temptation I cannot resist.

Michelle wrote: "Thanks Lillie, I'm going to need all the luck I can get! I admire you for declaring that there are 41 on the list that you will never read. There were some on there that I would not read too but I'm not sure I could definitively rule out that many. Books are just a temptation I cannot resist."

Eh, I figure there are so many books on my tbr that I’m actually interested in, that there’s no reason to add books that don’t excite me. But I’m a mood reader and I may end up changing my mind at some point 🤷🏻‍♀️

Michelle wrote: "I'm really not sure if we can call obsessive list reading and list making an accomplishment but O.K. Sure. Thanks.."


I don't know what you're talking about....... as I'm making my 2025 list **whistles**

Alissa wrote: "Michelle wrote: "I'm really not sure if we can call obsessive list reading and list making an accomplishment but O.K. Sure. Thanks.."


I don't know what you're talking about....... as I'm making m..."

LOL

Alissa wrote: "Michelle wrote: "I'm really not sure if we can call obsessive list reading and list making an accomplishment but O.K. Sure. Thanks.."


I don't know what you're talking about....... as I'm making m..."

Too funny 😂 (I may or may not be starting a list or two or three for next year)

Darn!!!

I just saw this, and had to stop whatever I was doing to check that list, count the ones I've read (43), and see what else is out there. Some are already on my TBR, but some are almost new to me. Stop this!!!

I've read a few on your new list (A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier - good; One Hundred Years of Solitude - could not finish; Cutting for Stone - one of my all time favorites; And Then There Were None - I loved it when I read it in my teens; Never Let Me Go - good, disturbing, not an easy read; Homegoing - good, but I did not like the format) so I think you'll enjoy them. I have a few others on my TBR, so I can't wait to see what you think. Happy reading!

wow -- 3rd challenge for the year! I checked out the list... I think I have read 42 of them -- that leaves a lot of books to read. Of course, like others many are on my incredibly long TBR list. I will be watching to see what you think... maybe some will make it onto next years list! Happy Reading.

I'm afraid Ioana that one symptom often exhibited by people with my list obsession is that they want other people to read and obsess over the list too. So sorry/not sorry for tempting you and a few others to start ticking off read/not read from this list. At least you have to admit that it is a very nice list.

I'm also glad to hear what you thought about the ones on my list to you have read. You guys are all making me feel pretty excited about reading Cutting for Stone and pretty nervous about One Hundred Years of Solitude. Oh well, the list has been posted. I'll just have to forge ahead. I started listening to The Looming Tower so the list has officially begun.

Thanks Ann. And kudos on reading 42. Maybe as I read I'll tempt you into trying a few more.

Just finished listening to The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11 by Lawrence Wright. Great audiobook for those who like modern history! So far the list knows its stuff.

This was an in-depth history of the events leading up to 9/11. It begins in the 50's with the origins of the Muslim factions that played a role in 9/11. It also gives background and biographical information for the major players on both sides. There is less about what actually happened on the day than in the months and years leading up to the attack.

There was a lot of information here and I know I didn't absorb it all but I feel like I understand so much more about what happened now. This was also a great follow up read to The Only Plane in the Sky: An Oral History of 9/11 which I listened to a while back. This is a great book for anyone who wants to understand more about 9/11.

4 understanding history in your lifetime stars.

Quotable:

“Wherever you are, death will find you, even in the looming tower. O”
― Lawrence Wright, The Looming Tower: Al Qaeda's Road to 9/11

“Radicalism usually prospers in the gap between rising expectations and declining opportunities.”
― Lawrence Wright, The Looming Tower

Started reading Of Human Bondage by W. Somerset Maugham.

My only Maugham was The Painted Veil, which I really enjoyed. This one is on my TBR too, I can't wait to hear what you think of it.

Ioana wrote: "My only Maugham was The Painted Veil, which I really enjoyed. This one is on my TBR too, I can't wait to hear what you think of it."

I also loved The Painted Veil and other than that have only read some of Maugham's short stories. This book seems more formidable somehow, so I have been puttting it off. Nothing like a good list to clear out all the meant to reads.

Still working on Of Human Bondage but also starting Selected Stories, 1968-1994 by Munro, Alice (1997) Paperback by Alice Munro.

I've read a few of Maugham's books but not Of Human Bondage yet. I really enjoyed The Razor's Edge.

Finished A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah.

A moving memoir by Beah relating his time spent as a boy soldier in the civil wars of Sierra Leone. When he was twelve years old his village was destroyed by war and his family was lost. He spent the next years of his life as either a refugee fleeing from the war or as a child soldier leaving death and destruction in his wake. He was eventually able to leave that life and be rehabilitated.

This was a quick but sometimes sad/terrible listen. I was struck by the resilience and the strength of this young man to be able to survive and eventually find his way to safety.

4 there just are no words stars.

Quotable:

“This is one of the consequences of the civil war. People stopped trusting each other, and every stranger became an enemy. Even people who knew you became extremely careful about how they related or spoke to you.”
― Ishmael Beah, A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier

“Our innocence had been replaced by fear and we had become monsters. There was nothing we could do about it.”
― Ishmael Beah, A Long Way Gone

“I believe children have the resilience to outlive their sufferings, if given a chance.”
― Ishmael Beah, A Long Way Gone

Trying to get this list moving. Listening to One Hundred Years of Solitude. Wish me luck!

A Long Way Gone was a difficult read at times, but a good book. Glad to see you liked it too.
I hope you'll like One Hundred Years of Solitude more than I did (and tell me what I've missed)...it was a DNF for me.

Ioana wrote: "A Long Way Gone was a difficult read at times, but a good book. Glad to see you liked it too.
I hope you'll like One Hundred Years of Solitude more than I did (and tell me what I've missed)...it wa..."

I was hoping listening to it would make it easier but I'm only about one chapter in and the story is already complicated. Beautifully written but complicated.

Michelle wrote: "I was hoping listening to it would make it easier but I'm only about one chapter in and the story is already complicated. Beautifully written but complicated."

Good luck! Complicated stories require a certain mood and lots of patience.

Michelle, I admire you for reading A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier. Just the description of it horrifies me, but it is an important story to at least know something about.

Karol wrote: "Michelle, I admire you for reading A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier. Just the description of it horrifies me, but it is an important story to at least know something about."

I would just say as difficult as it was Beah was a gifted storyteller who made the book something others could listen to and learn from. Also, one of the important things that reading gives us is empathy. We will never be able to truly understand a story like this one but empathy through the gift of a shared story can possibly help to prevent history from repeating itself.

I finished and came to terms with One Hundred Years of Solitude.

This book details the establishment, rise and fall of a secluded village and its founding family. Gabriel García Márquez uses magical realism and his considerable descriptive skills to impart the history of Mercado and its inhabitants.

There are some books that are classics and you read them and think "What is the point of this? Why would anyone even write this?" That was me for about the first two thirds of the book. It was both detailed and vague, beautiful and disgusting, believable and complete fantasy, mind numbing and enthralling but overall just seemed pointless and not in a good way. Then I was thinking about this little town and this crazy family and suddenly I got it. Or at least I got something. I was raised in a large multigenerational family in a small town. At one point I reflected that all the fantastical aspects of the book reminded me of some of the outlandish stories I have sometimes heard, especially those I heard as a child and probably didn't completely understand. Storytellers use humor, exaggeration and fuzzy details to make their story more acceptable, more memorable, less horrible. Gabriel García Márquez does the same thing in this book using magical realism to impart a truth. No, it is not a factual history of the town or people but it still imparts truth, giving us a big picture view that is accurate (more or less). In that sense Marquez's book is every bit as brilliant as it is supposed to be. That doesn't mean I was less bored or frustrated through the last third of the book but I appreciated it more.

3 was it my imagination or did every character in this book have the same name stars.

Quotable:

A trickle of blood came out under the door, crossed the living room, went out into the street, continued on in a straight line across the uneven terraces, went down steps and climbed over curbs, passed along the Street of the Turks, turned a corner to the right and another to the left, made a right angle at the Buendía house, went in under the closed door, crossed through the parlor, hugging the walls so as not to stain the rugs, went on to the other living room, made a wide curve to avoid the dining-room table, went along the porch with the begonias, and passed without being seen under Amaranta's chair as she gave an arithmetic lesson to Aureliano José, and went through the pantry and came out in the kitchen, where Úrsula was getting ready to crack thirty-six eggs to make bread.

"Holy Mother of God!" Úrsula shouted.”
― Gabriel García Márquez, One Hundred Years of Solitude

“He really had been through death, but he had returned because he could not bear the solitude.”
― Gabriel García Márquez, One Hundred Years of Solitude

Michelle wrote: "There are some books that are classics and you read them and think "What is the point of this? Why would anyone even write this?" That was me for about the first two thirds of the book. It was both detailed and vague, beautiful and disgusting, believable and complete fantasy, mind numbing and enthralling but overall just seemed pointless and not in a good way.."

I'm glad you enjoyed it, at least in part, but the above will not make me go back to see what I've missed 🤣
If it was only a chapter or so, maybe...but 2/3 of the book? Congratulations to you for your determination, I just don't have the patience. Can't wait to see what you'll read next now.

Ioana wrote: "Michelle wrote: "There are some books that are classics and you read them and think "What is the point of this? Why would anyone even write this?" That was me for about the first two thirds of the ..."

No worries Ioana. I actually wouldn't recommend anyone read it if they didn't really want to. Understanding why it is considered brilliant is different from really enjoying the story and we should keep in mind that I listened to the audio. I don't think I would have made it through the entire thing in print. It was too frustrating. I actually included the first quote above because I thought it was a good example of both the good and the bad in this book. By the time we got to that one it actually made me laugh. While the writing is gorgeous the story is preposterous and so very tedious.

Michelle wrote: "I finished and came to terms with One Hundred Years of Solitude.

This book details the establishment, rise and fall of a secluded village an..."
Nice review & congrats on forging ahead with it. I think I tried it once upon a time but didn't get far. It's one I often wonder if I should try again. Or one of his other books. Probably not unless I find a group read or some such.

Haha, no it wasn't your imagination, everyone does have the same name in this book!

The book is brilliant. But although it is one I appreciated for its sheer brillancy, I also disliked it because it was so tedious. It was hard for me to rate, and in the end, I rated for sheer enjoyment (or lack thereof) and went with one star. I'm really glad I read it, but never again.

Lea wrote: "Haha, no it wasn't your imagination, everyone does have the same name in this book!

The book is brilliant. But although it is one I appreciated for its sheer brillancy, I also disliked it because..."

I was so proud of myself for finally connecting with this book that I allowed appreciation to color my rating of 3 stars. I didn't hate it. It won't make my 10 worst books of all time list. I do understand what all the hoopla is about. I won't ever read it again (well maybe if I'm in solitary confinement or something). But mostly I'm just glad that the next time I read one of those Best Of lists I can check this one off.

Patricia wrote: "Michelle wrote: "I finished and came to terms with One Hundred Years of Solitude.

This book details the establishment, rise and fall of a se..."

I think you're looking for a support group to help you read this one not a group read. You will need encouragement.

Michelle wrote: "I finished and came to terms with One Hundred Years of Solitude.

This book details the establishment, rise and fall of a secluded village an..."

I have this book, but have not read it. Thank you for that description/review. I know to wait until I am in the right literary mood for this book and to take it as it is and go with the flow. Thank you

Yes Alondra. Timing will be everything with this one and be ready to suspend disbelief. Most importantly don't be discouraged by anything you have read here. It is an amazing book in many ways. Well worth the read.

Michelle wrote: "Yes Alondra. Timing will be everything with this one and be ready to suspend disbelief. Most importantly don't be discouraged by anything you have read here. It is an amazing book in many ways. Wel..."

Sounds good. Thanks, Michelle ☺️

I'm listening to The Night Watchman which is wonderful and still hacking slowly away at Selected Stories and Of Human Bondage. The latter two are going to be a challenge. Of Human Bondage is just a slow story for me. I'm not loving the MC. Selected Stories is great there are just a lot of stories. A lot.

Loving this list as I finish The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich.

Louise Erdrich pays homage to her grandfather in this fictional account of the struggle by her tribe against dispossession in Washington during the 1950's. It was a fight to preserve their lands and their way to life. The events and her grandfather's role in them are true. The other characters according to Erdrich are not based on real people but the overall message of the book conveys beautifully the history and heritage of her tribe.

This was just a lovely, lovely book. I so enjoyed Erdrich's portrayal of her grandfather, who in addition to his tribal duties, worked as a nightwatchman and wrote letters to stay awake and to garner support for his tribe. Her portrayal of the other fictional characters was equally beautiful and reveals the love and pride she has for her heritage. Louise Erdrich is a wonderful writer and I have enjoyed everything I have read by her.

4 fiction promotes empathy when we share our story with others stars.

Quotable:

“An enemy has to be defeated in battle, but an adversary’s different. You must outwit an adversary.”
― Louise Erdrich, The Night Watchman

“When Thomas thought of his father, peace stole across his chest and covered him like sunlight.”
― Louise Erdrich, The Night Watchman

“The sun was low in the sky, casting slant regal light. As they plodded along, the golden radiance intensified until it seemed to emanate from every feature of the land. Trees, brush, snow, hills. She couldn’t stop looking. The road led past frozen sloughs that bristled with scorched reeds. Clutches of red willow burned. The fans and whips of branches glowed, alive. Winter clouds formed patterns against the fierce gray sky. Scales, looped ropes, the bones of fish. The world was tender with significance.”
― Louise Erdrich, The Night Watchman

Started listening to And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie. Still chipping away at Selected Stories and Of Human Bondage.