The Next Best Book Club discussion

Hi all,

I'm Claire, living in Belgium. I've been an avid reader since the moment I learned to read, which is over 50 years ago:-)

The last years my reading was a bit slacking, so I thought some reader challenges might do me good. I also hope to make some new friends.

My favourite genres are classics, literary fiction, fantasy, mystery and historical fiction. But I'm often trying to get out of my comfort zone.

Hi, Claire - I checked your books, and it looks as if we have a lot of them in common, and similar tastes in many. I've been reading for a long time, too, and then went into writing.

Really?

If you don't read the classics for pleasure, you're not going to like my book (soon to be more).

Not that it's a prerequisite for Goodreads friendship, but it's nice to see people who enjoy a higher level of writing than some of the quickly-written genre books.

There are readers for most writers - it's just hard to find the more scattered ones. So my ears perk up when I find someone who likes The Crystal Cave, The Thorn Birds, The Handmaid's Tale, and The Name of the Rose.

I understand:-) I've allways loved the classics, have read them since I was 15 or 16 years old. I enjoy a good thriller too, but even then I notice the difference.
But, since reading in English is much more tiring (and heaps of the books aren't available in Dutch), I do enjoy the occasional easy read.

I know what you mean about reading in a language that isn't your primary one, or even reading as I get older: I used to ready ANYTHING I got my hands on. Now, I am more discriminating: before I start a book, I read the description, try out the sample or the Look Inside feature on Amazon, and maybe check out a few reviews.

Reading time when I was young was all the time; now, it's harder to come by (because it takes the same part of the brain to write as to read).

I don't know why I'm so surprised by change - it happens all the time.

Hi Claire, welcome to the group.

Thank you, Lori!

Hi,

I re-read The Name of the Rose recently, after enjoying it many years ago. What do you think accounts for its popularity? It is nicely written, and atmospheric, but I couldn't stop myself this time around from noticing the extent to which Umberto pads the narrative with lists and other descriptive details that have no direct bearing on the story. Have you noticed that?

Best wishes

Marco

Hi Marco,

I've been sometimes puzzled by the popularity too, mostley cause it is not a really easy read. But then maybe lots of people haven't really read it or read it in a different manner? When I read it years ago, I was particularly interested in the time period and the different philosophical/religion discussions. On top I'm a classicist, so the latin was no point.
However, the book is a combination of a detective,history and philosophy. That can't go wrong:-)

It's been a while, but I remember thinking it felt authentic, as if I had been transported to the real medieval period.

It helped that I'm Catholic, and know some church history - that part was solid.

Like Ellis Peters with Brother Cadfael, it just felt right.