I haven’t been posting regularly about the BBC book list, but I finally got to The Return of the King (1955) by J. R. R. Tolkien. The Lord of the Rings series is number 2 on the BBC list. And as many of you know, at least those of you who have followed my blog... Continue Reading →
Possession (1990), number 80 on the BBC book list, by A. S. Byatt is a literary thriller about academics. White it has been highly acclaimed and even has status as a bestseller, I wondered if everybody could truly like or enjoy this book, or if only bibliophiles, English majors, and academics would be drawn to... Continue Reading →
I think I’ve passed the age at which I can enjoy Jane Austen. I finished reading Sense and Sensibility (1811) and number 54 on the BBC book list, but I didn’t really care to. I felt bored and yawned through it. A lot. The plot doesn’t have much action. In fact, there’s hardly any action. ... Continue Reading →
I tried to read The Wind in the Willows (1908) by Kenneth Grahame and number 30 on the BBC book list to my daughter, but after a few pages, she said, “I don’t understand what is going on.” I couldn’t blame her. It turned out to be a fun story, but the prose is somewhat... Continue Reading →
I love Dracula (1897), number 72 on the BBC book list, by Bram Stoker. It is one of my favorite books, and I have read it several times. And I would read it again. One of my favorite memories of these many readings is when I read it with my neighborhood book club in October.... Continue Reading →
I thoroughly enjoyed reading Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (1964) by Roald Dahl. It is number 99 on the BBC book list. Dahl is one of my favorite children’s authors. His style is goofy, creepy, funny, and enthralling. I remember reading The Witches as a child and just being enchanted and frightened out of my... Continue Reading →
When I began reading Bridget Jones's Diary (1996) by Helen Fielding and number 68 the BBC book list, I hated it. It is full of foul language, dirty references, and the seemingly pathetic life of an annoying heroine. I wanted to poke my eyeballs out rather than finish reading it, and I saw the movie... Continue Reading →
I recently “read” The Count of Monte Cristo (1844) by Alexandre Dumas by listening to it on CD. It is number 65 on the BBC book list and some 117 chapters, so I knew the only way I would have time to get through it would be through listening to it on my long drives... Continue Reading →
I read The Hobbit (1937) by J. R. R. Tolkien, number 16 on the BBC book list, several years ago, after The Lord of the Rings movies came out. I wanted to know what the fuss was about, although I didn’t really like the movies and I was not willing to read the LOTR trilogy. ... Continue Reading →
Life of Pi (2001) by Yann Martel, number 51 on the BBC book list, is one of my favorite books. When I first read it several years ago, I began recommending it to everybody. I even made my husband read it, and he’s generally not a reader. It is just a great book, one that... Continue Reading →
