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Under the Volcano
Under the Volcano: A Novel | Malcolm Lowry
The acclaimed classic about one fatal day in a small Mexican town, hailed by the Modern Library as one of the one hundred best English novels of the twentieth centuryFormer British consul Geoffrey Firmin lives alone with his demons in the shadow of two active volcanoes in South Central Mexico. Gripped by alcoholism, Geoffrey makes one last effort to salvage his crumbling life on the day that his ex-wife, Yvonne, arrives in town. Its the Day of the Dead, 1938. The couple wants to revive their marriage and undo the wrongs of their past, but they soon realize that theyve stumbled into the wrong place and time, where not only Geoffrey and Yvonne, but the world itself is on the edge of Armageddon.Hailed by the New York Times as one of the towering novels of [the twentieth] century, Under the Volcano stands as an iconic and richly drawn example of the modern novel at its most lyrical.
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review
StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego
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Panpan

Boring AF. Not for me.

Daisey Agree completely! 2y
Teresereading Read it at uni a long time ago 2y
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Howard_L
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Maybe barbacoa tacos can motivate me through the tedium of “Under the Volcano”…

tpixie Yum!! do you have an easy to send recipe? 2y
Ruthiella Oof. I used sheer willpower to get through that book. 2y
SamAnne Dang, I keep thinking about reading this one. Think it will stay on the shelf for awhile. 2y
Howard_L @SamAnne it‘s powerful and beautifully written. Now that I‘ve finished, I‘m glad to have read it. This is one I may actually revisit 2y
49 likes1 stack add5 comments
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AlexThomas
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Pickpick

I kept seeing this on the Modern Library list and came across this 50¢ copy at Goodwill and my god, I‘m glad I did. It‘s got a bit of Ulysses and a bit of On The Road but set in the same Mexico as Power and Glory.

The writing is brilliant — powerful and the pace controlled. You get some Dost and bit of Melville on the big questions. You hate the main character and you love him, you want to live in this world and hope to god it doesn‘t exist.

Leftcoastzen Great review! I love this book but understand why some don‘t. 2y
6 likes1 comment
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Booksnchill
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Pickpick

I have intended to read this classic, set in one day, Dia De Los Muertos in 1938 at the Fiesta at Chapultepec. This writing is descriptive, full of the tragic despair of Mexico and the breakdown of the 20th century colonialism as envisioned through the descent of “TheConsul” into drunken release. This sounds dismal and I had avoided it for this reason but I flew through it- it is a masterwork full of symbolic myth and truth. 5⭐️

LeahBergen Happy Birthday! 📚📚📚 4y
Booksnchill Thank you! (edited) 4y
SamAnne I have this on my TBR list for December. 4y
Booksnchill @SamAnne it is so beautifully written 4y
45 likes2 stack adds4 comments
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Daisey
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Panpan

I spent a good part of my weekend listening to this audiobook and working on a puzzle. The puzzle was fun, the book not so much. I often found myself lost and rewinding to figure out what was going on in all the drunkenness. Sometimes, I kept listening because I just didn‘t care. In the end I read a few summaries and listened to some sections again, but I still don‘t care.

#audiobook #1001books #Reading1001
#ReadtheWorld #ReadingtheWorld #Mexico

jewright Ouch. 5y
ladym30 Your puzzle is lovely!❤️ 5y
arubabookwoman I had to read that in college, now nearly 50 years ago (I think the prof had done his PhD thesis on Lowry), and I hated it. It was a big mess. I can't believe it's still around! 5y
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ljuliel Such a nice puzzle 🧩! Very pretty. 5y
Daisey @ladym30 @ljuliel Thanks! This one was a lot of fun. 5y
Daisey @arubabookwoman I can‘t even really say that I hated it; I just could not get invested or stay focused. It has been interesting to read widely varied reviews. 5y
CafeMom Congrats on the puzzle. I am glad that Volcano is not on my list this month:) 5y
Andrew65 A fantastic puzzle! Well done! 👏👏👏 5y
62 likes2 stack adds8 comments
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twohectobooks
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A few hours in to holiday reading extravaganza and I haven‘t made much progress because I needed to take a nap 😳🥱 Next up: snack, some gaming, and then back to my books.

I have to say, if not for my #modernlibrarytop100 project I would‘ve put this book down a long time ago.

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twohectobooks
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Just at the beginning of what will probably be my last #modernlibrarytop100 book of the year. I‘m finding the prose pretty hard to follow, but that may have something to do with Jacques distracting me as he investigates the thawing Christmas tree.

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review
Schwifty
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Pickpick

Wonderful prose. I am familiar with the physical setting as I've traveled around much of Morelos state; the author is fairly accurate in his descriptions. The narrative can be difficult to follow at times, although much of that is probably due to the main character's alternating moments of clarity and drunken delirium.

rather_be_reading welcome to litsy 📚☕📚 @LitsyWelcomeWagon 5y
LitsyWelcomeWagon Welcome to Litsy! Here are links to #Litsytips: http://bit.ly/litsytips and #LitsyHowTo videos: goo.gl/UrCpoU. There‘s lots of fun things to do: book exchanges, buddy reads, photo challenges and more! #litsywelcomewagon 5y
2 likes3 comments
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Leftcoastzen
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📖Under the Volcano
✍️John Updike
📽Unforgiven
📺Ugly Betty (so fun!)
🍜Udon noodles
#manicmonday #letterU
You can tell how my week is going when I am posting mondays prompts on Wednesday!🙄

JoScho Hope your week gets better 💕😊 6y
28 likes1 comment
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andrew61
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Pickpick

#LitsyClassics U
Both the intro and backlisted podcast say this is a book that needs 3 readings to fully appreciate. Thus my 1st attempt was challenging as we follow the final day of Jeffrey firmin British consul in a small Mexican town as he descends into a drink infused nightmare of self destruction. A friend of Dylan Thomas the v poetic dense prose echoes that style of poetry. I could recognise the brilliance so may reread when i am brave enuf.

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Leftcoastzen
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Pickpick

Oh ,I get it.To be reading a dense,stream of consciousness novel mostly from the point of view of a deep in disease alcoholic that will almost make you feel drunk, is a bit overwhelming.But there is much to be found here.You can feel the heat,the hopelessness.The day of the dead,1938 casting yet another dark level.I had bailed on it years ago and it took me a while to dig in to the feel of it, but when I caught the wave,I rode it to the end.

BarbaraBB I envy you. I didn‘t get into it at all. 6y
andrew61 I am about two thirds through it so far as a classics challenge and read a chunk on the train yesterday. Dense and challenging but i agree that it is absorbing 6y
37 likes2 comments
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sprainedbrain
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Back to the old tbr for a book set in #Mexico. As usual, my #1001books shelf has something for me.

I‘ve seen very mixed reviews, so I‘m not in any big hurry to move it up. 🤷🏻‍♀️

#AugustIsATrip

Booksnchill There is a great podcast episode at Backlisted on this Lowrey book- sounds fascinating- on my tbr as well 6y
vkois88 Sounds good 6y
BarbaraBB I didn‘t like this one at all... 6y
arubabookwoman Had to read that in college. The prof had done his thesis on Lowry, so went on and on. I hated it, but I was only 19 so take that with a grain of salt. 6y
Liz_M I rather liked it. Not exactly enjoyable but the writing is admirable. 6y
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HotCocoaReads
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Mehso-so

This is the most difficult book I‘ve read in a while. While I understand the prose and writing is at times beautiful, this book did not interest me. I simply didn‘t want to read it. This is on all the must-read lists and I can see its value, but I didn‘t enjoy it.

StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego I started this book and had to put it down. It's boring. But I'll go back to it eventually. I rarely bail on a book. 7y
catebutler Loved our discussion last night! It always makes my day when I hear how different each of our reading experiences are. 7y
HotCocoaReads @StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego I would have put it down if it hadn‘t been my book club book for the month. I barely knew what was happening most of the time because it just didn‘t hold my interest. 😞 7y
HotCocoaReads @catebutler I wish I could have put as much effort into understanding it. And I agree with the others about wanting to take a whole class to understand it all. 7y
27 likes2 stack adds4 comments
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catebutler
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Mr. S & I are tucked up warm & cozy this evening. It‘s been snowing off & on today, so it‘s been a lazy Sunday with tea, books & Classic FM playing in the background. I‘ve been plodding slowly through my book club read - Under the Volcano by Malcolm Lowry. I can see why it‘s considered a modern masterpiece, & also why it causes headaches!! I‘m looking forward to our bookclub discussion on Wednesday.

#malcolmlowry #underthevolcano #weekendreading

VelvetSpade Beautiful pic! ❤️ 7y
catebutler @VelvetSpade Thank you, Becky! I hope you‘ve had a great weekend. 😊 7y
VelvetSpade @catebutler thanks! it was too short as usual 🤣 7y
catebutler @VelvetSpade So true! They definitely fly by. Then again I feel like this year has done the same. I can‘t believe it is almost April! 7y
VelvetSpade @catebutler oh my goodness!! Right?!? This whole year has been a blur! 7y
55 likes5 comments
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catebutler
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This evening is #earthhour2018. If you‘d like to participate, do check out the official Earth Hour organisation (link below). I‘ll be shutting down all of my electronics, turning off the lights and reading by candlelight for an hour tonight at 8:30PM (local time). I‘m also trying to be better about plastic waste, and reusable items. Love to hear if you‘re participating too! #earthhour #connect2earth #EH18 #JoinTheFuture

http://connect2earth.org/

Sophoclessweetheart I participated and do so every year. This year I promised to eat less meat. 💛💛🙏🙏 7y
catebutler @Wanderingwithwords I think that‘s so awesome that you‘ve participated each year. I‘ll definitely be doing the same here on out. And your goal this year is so admirable. 👍🏼 Thank you for your reply! 7y
BiblioLitten It's great that you took time to share this. I participate every year too. 7y
catebutler @BiblioLitten Thank you, Archie! I just think it‘s something that we can all do, that‘s easy and makes a difference. So happy to hear you participate each year! 🌿 7y
37 likes4 comments
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Kathrin
Bailedbailed

I bailed on this around 50% in... I couldn't get into this at all...

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willevans
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Godmotherx5
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Pickpick

The inner thoughts of the main character, were expertly written. A man with a severe drinking problem, Geoffrey, battled internal & external demons. To "hear"the influence of alcohol on his behavior was tragic. While it is not a boastful situation, the novel truly takes the reader (this one anyway) to unknown locations. @EclecticReaders #ERMadLibs #place

83 likes5 stack adds1 comment
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twohectobooks
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I use Goodreads for my #TBR rather than Litsy, so my #lastbookstacked isn't all that recent. #lastbookyoustacked #seasonsreadings2016

9 likes1 stack add
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jeff
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"It's amazing when you come to think of it how the human spirit seems to blossom in the shadow of the abattoir." #allhallowsread #dayofthedead #tbr

42 likes3 stack adds
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Redwritinghood
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#allhallowsreads This was a hard one. The Day of the Dead doesn't seem to feature much in books. These two, however, happen in Mexico on or in the days leading up to the Day of the Dead celebrations. #allhallowsread #dayofthedead

36 likes2 stack adds
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twohectobooks
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The Day of the Dead isn't a big thing where I'm from, so it's at the edge of my cultural radar. But I've had this book on my TBR for a long time, and it's set in Mexico on that day!
@Litsy
#AllHallowsRead

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Kirstin
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#day2 of #booktober #setinSAmerica I've started and restarted Under the Volcano and 100 Years of Solitude but never got very far with either.

30 likes2 stack adds
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McFarchie
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LeahBergen What the hell?! 😂 8y
kammartinez That is gonna give me nightmares D:. 8y
pppooraikul You win! 😂 8y
See All 7 Comments
BookishFeminist Oh my god 😱 😂😂😂😂 8y
TheLondonBookworm Ooh creepy but cool 8y
Laura317 It looks so happy! That is crazy. 8y
QuoteQueen That is terrifying!😱 8y
77 likes7 comments
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Bowave99
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Bailedbailed

I tried! I really did!!! More than than once in fact. I just can't get into it or understand why it is so popular.