Reading the 20th Century discussion

We are spoilt for choice - difficult vote this month.

Yes indeed Susan and Val. We are truly spoiled for choice.


I was wondering if we should have a rule that we cannot vote for our own nomination. That would force each of us to really research and think about all the splendid nominations.

Then again, perhaps it would be too complicated and difficult to communicate and enforce. So, forget that, but please do have a look at all these splendid selections.

Anyone else thinking of nominating?


NOMINATIONS SO FAR:

JAN: The Mystery of the Yellow Room by Gaston Leroux
JUDY: The Grand Babylon Hotel by Arnold Bennett
BRONWYN: The Making of a Marchioness, Part I and II by Frances Hodgson Burnett
KIRSTEN: Ragtime by E.L. Doctorow
NIGEYB: The Riddle of the Sands by Erskine Childers
LIA: Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
ROMAN CLODIA: Claudine at School by Colette
VAL: Scouting for Boys: A Handbook for Instruction in Good Citizenship by Robert Baden-Powell
SUSAN: Bertie: A Life of Edward VII by Jane Ridley

Aargh, I'm torn already in my choice!

Nigeyb wrote: "Yes indeed Susan and Val. We are truly spoiled for choice.


I was wondering if we should have a rule that we cannot vote for our own nomination. That would force each of us to really research and..."

I often don't vote for my nominations. I just find something else that appeals to me more.

Me too, Jan. Of course, many of us switch votes too :) I also often read nominations that don't win, or are suggested and never nominated. I am currently greatly enjoying The Eighties: One Day, One Decade, which was suggested last month, but never even in the vote. As such, all nominations are of interest, I think, as they often lead us to great reads that appeal, even if they are not the monthly book.

I don't always vote for mine either (I only have for three of eight polls so far) because someone nearly always comes up with something I want to read more than my suggestion. It is a good group for book suggestions, or bad if I want to reduce my 'want to read' list.

I've only voted for two of my choices now I check back. We probably all tend to think about all the choices before voting. I often change my vote too once I see how the voting is going. If my first choice has no chance then I'll switch to another book that I like the look of, but which has more chance of winning.

I'm going to get the polls up later this morning

Nigeyb wrote: "I'm going to get the polls up later this morning


The polls are up....

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/1...

Our next theme is the 1900s (1900-1909) and we will be reading and discussing the winning book in August 2018

Please vote for the book you would most like to read and discuss.

I notice that current front runner, and also hugely enticing, The Grand Babylon Hotel is a mere 99 pence for a Kindle edition. I even notice a few free e-book versions around too.

#bargain


It's also a short book - so it won't take long to read

#brevity

#lessismore



The Grand Babylon Hotel by Arnold Bennett

It looks great - I would be very happy to read that. Never tried Arnold Bennett either.

Thanks for that...just downloaded The Grand Hotel from Project Gutenberg! Hurray for #free!, #brevity, #lessismore

I liked Bennett's Potteries stories, but this sounds completely different.

Sounds interesting but it is not on Kindle here.

I usually vote for what I nominated as it’s usually the only one I have access to...

I thought the Project Gutenberg books were available in the US - no? Although I must admit that, free or not, I don't like the way they are laid out. If Bennett wins, I would rather get the Vintage edition as I know free books are great and I always try to list bargains, but I get enough discounted kindle books to be able to justify a nicer edition if I know I am definitely going to read something!

It does looks like it is.

Not all countries will have the same books available though since it depends on the country’s copyright laws. I know Canada seems to have more titles than the US does.

Susan wrote: "If The Grand Babylon Hotel by Arnold Bennett wins, I would rather get the Vintage edition"

My library appears to have quite a few copies of the Vintage edition. I'm a huge fan of that imprint. Lovely covers and readable typeface. I'll be getting a physical copy too if it wins, which currently looks quite likely...

The Grand Babylon Hotel 6 votes, 46.2%
Claudine at School 3 votes, 23.1%
Ragtime 1 vote, 7.7%
The Making of a Marchioness, Part I and II (Emily Fox-Seton #1-2) 1 vote, 7.7%
The Mystery of the Yellow Room 1 vote, 7.7%
Heart of Darkness 1 vote, 7.7%

#pollwatch

I'd still like to read The Riddle of the Sands too and hope to read it sometime in the next couple of months.

If anyone fancies a buddy read then let me know. Fine if not.

The Vintage edition is lovely.

Jan C wrote: "Sounds interesting but it is not on Kindle here."

It does look like it is available at Abebooks and Alibris.

I notice that current front runner The Grand Babylon Hotel by Arnold Bennett was first serialised in Golden Penny in 1901 (of which the relevant issues have not survived), it was then published as a novel by London publisher Chatto & Windus in 1902.

In Bennett's journal entry on 18 January 1901, he also notes that said his serial was being advertised as the "best thing of this sort" they'd seen since The Mystery of a Hansom Cab by Fergus Hume.

High praise eh?

Thanks to everyone who nominated, voted and got involved in the discussions about what we should read. These are the final results:


The Grand Babylon Hotel 5 votes, 38.5%
Claudine at School 3 votes, 23.1%
Heart of Darkness 2 votes, 15.4%
Ragtime 1 vote, 7.7%
The Making of a Marchioness, Part I and II (Emily Fox-Seton #1-2) 1 vote, 7.7%
The Mystery of the Yellow Room 1 vote, 7.7%


The Grand Babylon Hotel by Arnold Bennett will be our August 2018 1900s theme Group Read.


NOMINATIONS:

JAN: The Mystery of the Yellow Room by Gaston Leroux
JUDY: The Grand Babylon Hotel by Arnold Bennett
BRONWYN: The Making of a Marchioness, Part I and II by Frances Hodgson Burnett
KIRSTEN: Ragtime by E.L. Doctorow
NIGEYB: The Riddle of the Sands by Erskine Childers
LIA: Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
ROMAN CLODIA: Claudine at School by Colette
VAL: Scouting for Boys: A Handbook for Instruction in Good Citizenship by Robert Baden-Powell
SUSAN: Bertie: A Life of Edward VII by Jane Ridley

Looking forward to it - thanks, Nigeyb.

Thanks, Nigeyb, I'm really looking forward to this. :)

Me too - it's a completely new author for me

Jan C wrote: "Jan C wrote: "Sounds interesting but it is not on Kindle here."

It does look like it is available at Abebooks and Alibris."

Hi Jan, just browsing threads and saw your comment - there is a free US Kindle Version here:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...

I noticed a while back that Amazon is really starting to bury the free editions.

I've read some Bennett, but this looks more like an 'entertainment' (to quote Graham Greene) than the pottery town novels - looking forward to it.

New author for me as well. Hopefully I will have more time available for reading by then. My father recently passed away and there were issues of neglect and abuse that we found out about with the home he was in so I haven't been able to read much.

That's terrible, Lynaia. I am so sorry to hear about your father. Hoping things improve for you.

I'm sorry to hear that Lynaia

Yes, very sorry to hear that too, Lynaia.

Not sure where I was looking before but I see now there are a number of copies on Kindle at varying prices.

Thanks everyone!