Read this over the course of a year. I actually read about a hundred or so pages the first time before I dropped it, finished several books (even the whole ASOIAF series), restarted it at around March, gave up, then started it again last month. So worth it. It's a beautiful, confusing mess with one of the best endings I've read in a while.
Definitely agree with what you say about "The Fault In Our Stars". And the same applies to "Looking for Alaska".
I read the "Old Man And The Sea"... 20 years ago! I'm in shock. Definitely must reread it. 👍
Since you're reading Garcia Marquez, I was wondering if you've ever read Vargas Llosa? I strongly recommend "The Feast of the Goat" (more on the violent and political side) and "Aunt Julia and the Scriptwriter" (more on the satirical/funny side).
One of my favorite books. I read it in high school when this book was made to be an assigned reading. It started off a little slow, and the story builds pretty slowly, and for that reason, a lot of people lost interest and stopped reading. I agree with your sentiment that it's one of the best endings that I've read, and really because of how well that ending tied everything together, I now really appreciate and love the book.
I remember saying exactly that about 1Q84, a few pages back in this thread.1Q84, which went on for far too long!
Whoah!It starts off looking like a normal academic essay but then pages like this start turning up:
I found it pretty enjoyable when I read it a few years backI just finished Cry, the Beloved Country - Alan Paton.
Now, onto The Alchemist - Paulo Coelho.
Let us know your thoughts on it. I'm thinking about doing the same.I just started Gillian Flynn's "Gone Girl". I'm really interested in the film, since I'm a big fan of David Fincher, but I thought I should read the book first, even though Flynn has said the book and the film are quite different.
I'm enjoying it, even if I'm still trying to figure it out. It's kind of a darker version of Boy Meets Girl, and there's a lot of stuff on the collapse of the American Dream. I'm particularly fascinated by Amy, the titular girl, in that she starts off as a modern Girl Next Door - wholesome and free-spirited, but at the same time, focused and without pretentions. She's an anti-hipster; capable of independent, original thought, but not disdainful towards or dismissive of others. But all of that starts to twist and fester into cynicism and ruthlessness.Let us know your thoughts on it.