All About Books discussion

LauraT wrote: "Hope so Gill. There shouldn't be any problem!"

Done! Day off signed and agreed. I'm off for Florence on the 31st of October!

LauraT wrote: "LauraT wrote: "Hope so Gill. There shouldn't be any problem!"

Done! Day off signed and agreed. I'm off for Florence on the 31st of October!"

Ooh, I'm jumping up and down with excitement! See you soon! Yippee!

Sounds good!

Gill wrote: "That's great, re Pessoa, Johanna and Laura. I'll set the thread near the end of the month."

Johanna, I've set the thread up now. I'll be starting 25th or 26th.

Excellent Gill! So looking forward to it!

Are we still reading Proust in 2017? I've just bought the kindle version for 99p as it was by my preferred translator. Although there are some very spectacular looking clothbound editions that have recently been released by penguin in a set of 3. I can't remember who's planning to read this, but I'm really scared looking forward to it :)

Pink wrote: "Are we still reading Proust in 2017? I've just bought the kindle version for 99p as it was by my preferred translator. Although there are some very spectacular looking clothbound editions that have..."

You read Ulysses. You should be go to go, I'd think?

Pink wrote: "Are we still reading Proust in 2017? I've just bought the kindle version for 99p as it was by my preferred translator. Although there are some very spectacular looking clothbound editions that have..."

Yes! I think that I will post it as a group challenge and also as a readalong! Who is your preferred translator?

I'm game to try Proust. I'll join you, Pink.

I plan on going with CK Scott Moncrieff. This article helped to convince me https://www.theguardian.com/books/201...

I'm still very eager to read Proust so I definitely will join in.

I hate to inform you, Pink, but I could only give Swann's Way two stars. Talk to any French person; they ALL love Proust. You cannot say anything different there. I agree that the writing is exceptional, but there are many ingredients necessary in making a book a winner......

I read Swann's Way a few years back. It does meander but the story is compelling.
What was it that turned you away, Chrissie?
There is some navel gazing, for sure (Proust is known for that, I think) but the story was humorous and interesting, I though.

Oh, Petra, I had lots of problems. The author's way of using language is very special, but it did not fit me. For ME it was too wordy. It was like I was clearly aware of Proust's language abilities, but I didn't like it anyhow. I had trouble with the narrative and who exactly was supposedly telling the story, which comes around to saying the characters and their thoughts didn't feel genuine to me. I could point out more, but here is my review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show... which hopefully expresses better how I felt on reading the book. I did see humor in the lines, which kind of saved it for me.

Thanks, Chrissie. He does like his words. I found the book very dreamy in feel and tone.
Nice review!

Petra wrote: "Thanks, Chrissie. He does like his words. I found the book very dreamy in feel and tone.
Nice review!"

He certainly does! That is nice you liked my review, Petra. How many stars did you give it?

Pink wrote: "I plan on going with CK Scott Moncrieff. This article helped to convince me https://www.theguardian.com/books/201..."

Oh good, that is the translation I have!

I have created the group challenge but it doesn't show up on the group home page - I guess because it doesn't start until January 1, 2017. Never mind, I figured out how to get it to show up!

Here is a link to the yearly challenge thread for the Proust:

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1...

Chrissie, don't worry the wordiness is kind of what I'm expecting. I plan on ploughing through with it anyway, whether I take to it, or have to push myself to complete it.

Thanks for the link Leslie :)

Chrissie wrote: "He certainly does! That is nice you liked my review, Petra. How many stars did you give it? ..."

5-stars, Chrissie.
Here's my review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

It'll be interesting to see if that 5-star rating holds up.

Pink wrote: "Chrissie, don't worry the wordiness is kind of what I'm expecting. I plan on ploughing through with it anyway, whether I take to it, or have to push myself to complete it.

Thanks for the link Les..."

It is an author you want to have at least tried.

Petra wrote: "Chrissie wrote: "He certainly does! That is nice you liked my review, Petra. How many stars did you give it? ..."

5-stars, Chrissie.
Here's my review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show......"

It is good to hear another person's point of view, and I am glad it worked so well for you. We both saw the humor in the lines. I don't regret having tried it; it is good to know at least how Proust writes.

So, it is my plan to read Infinite Jest beginning in July, my birthday month.

If anyone is interested! :)

I loved Infinite Jest!!! I hope you find a buddy to read it with. I'd certainly follow the discussions. I'm not ready for a re-read yet, though. Sorry.

Cathie wrote: "So, it is my plan to read Infinite Jest beginning in July, my birthday month.

If anyone is interested! :)"

Hi Cathie, I may be interested - July 2017 is a good date, need to clear a space in my head for that book!

Petra wrote: "I loved Infinite Jest!!! I hope you find a buddy to read it with. I'd certainly follow the discussions. I'm not ready for a re-read yet, though. Sorry."

I didn't like it that much! It is one of a dear friend of mine's favourite novel

I could join for Infinite Jest in July!

LauraT wrote: "I didn't like it that much! It is one of a dear friend of mine's favourite novel ..."

I think that means that you need to reread it to love it, Laura. LOL!

Cathie wrote: "So, it is my plan to read Infinite Jest beginning in July, my birthday month.

If anyone is interested! :)"

I am definitely interested! I bought it about a year ago so it's about time to read it.

Petra wrote: "LauraT wrote: "I didn't like it that much! It is one of a dear friend of mine's favourite novel ..."

I think that means that you need to reread it to love it, Laura. LOL!"

NO WAY!!!!

LOL!

Yay! Please add thread! :) Yes? No?

Cathie wrote: "Yay! Please add thread! :) Yes? No?"

I will do it but just so everyone knows, anyone can start a readalong thread :)

LauraT wrote: "Petra wrote: "LauraT wrote: "I didn't like it that much! It is one of a dear friend of mine's favourite novel ..."

I think that means that you need to reread it to love it, Laura. LOL!"

NO WAY!!!!"

Only 1,000 pages more :)

Leslie wrote: "Cathie wrote: "Yay! Please add thread! :) Yes? No?"

I will do it but just so everyone knows, anyone can start a readalong thread :)"

I didn't see that I could...sorry about that! Thank you!

No worries Cathie! I put that comment in because I think that many folks didn't know that. Looking forward to our readalong in July :-)

LOL!

I'm intending to have another go at reading and actually finishing a novel by Virginia Woolf. Is anyone interested in reading Orlando in May? I think I need group support to manage this!

Gill wrote: "I'm intending to have another go at reading and actually finishing a novel by Virginia Woolf. Is anyone interested in reading Orlando in May? I think I need group support..."

Yep! I have that sitting on my shelf waiting to read. I had mixed feelings about Mrs Dalloway and To The Lighthouse, I seem to hate reading her books, but like the memory of them. I really like the sound of Orlando though, so I'd love to read it with you :)

That's great, Pink. I'll set up a discussion thread for it.

Gill wrote: "I'm intending to have another go at reading and actually finishing a novel by Virginia Woolf. Is anyone interested in reading Orlando in May? I think I need group support..."

Orlando was mentioned on the last podcast from The Readers. It sounded interesting. If I get caught up on my Proust I'd like to join too.

Thanks Gill :)

I'll have to listen to The Readers podcast, is that the one co-hosted by Simon? I subscribe to a few podcasts, but I'm bad at listening to them.

I've given up on Proust for now, so I have plenty of time for Orlando!

The podcast seems good, Tom. Thanks It'll be nice to have you join us if you are able.

Pink wrote: "I'll have to listen to The Readers podcast, is that the one co-hosted by Simon? I subscribe to a few podcasts, but I'm bad at listening to them. ..."

The Readers is my favourite book podcast. The only problem is that my TBR pile keeps growing due to all their wonderful recommendations.

Would someone like to join me in reading incarnate by Jodi meadows

Esther wrote: "Pink wrote: "I'll have to listen to The Readers podcast, is that the one co-hosted by Simon? I subscribe to a few podcasts, but I'm bad at listening to them. ..."

The Readers is my favourite book ..."

I like them, I just wish they'd upgrade their microphones.

an FYI for Infinite Jest - we are postponing the readalong to 2018, sometime in January! Please keep on your radar if you can join in!

I read an interesting article about an economics seminar/book club led by N. Gregory Mankiw. He describes it here.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/08/bu...
And lists the books here: http://gregmankiw.blogspot.com/2017/0...
Would anyone like to join me for this?

Sorry Joan, that isn't my sort of reading. Hopefully someone will be interested though.

Leslie, I know what you mean - it's a topic I think I ought to understand & care about but don't really. I hope that reading it with diverse, opinionated people will increase my interest :-)

Anyone interested in a buddy read of any of these next month?

The White Tiger by Aravind Adiga

Cane by Jean Toomer (work of the Harlem Reniassance)

The Sparrow by Mary Doria Russell

On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century by Timothy Snyder

When We Were Orphans by Kazuo Ishiguro

I own all of these and would like to read one of them next month.