The Obscure Reading Group discussion

Oh boy--time to nominate! I love trying to come up with an obscure book that is still hopefully widely library-accessible, and can't wait to see what we come up with. This group is always adding interesting titles to my tbr!

Sorry Diane, I'm still no wiser! It would count as obscure, for me. Will look these up.

Unfortunately, I nominated a book that probably won't be a available in most libraries making it all the more obscure. Thus, it has little chance of winning. I went ahead and ordered a copy anyway because I want to read it. For me, it's about finding and discovering new books that I wouldn't have read on my own if I weren't a part of this group.

So far, we have 8 books nominated, and "eclectic" is the collective word for them.

I still haven't decided on my own nomination, but I have two days left, a few possibilities, and a few red herrings to fish out.

Thanks to the first 8 nominators and, to those still thinking, good luck with it!

I liked the look of one of the previous nominations so much that I've nominated that one (as I'm allowed) :) Of course Parkinson's Law dictated that just today I discovered a "lost" novel by one of my favourite authors, sent to me by ereaderiq.

Bionic Jean wrote: "I liked the look of one of the previous nominations so much that I've nominated that one (as I'm allowed) :) Of course Parkinson's Law dictated that just today I discovered a "lost" novel by one of..."

You can always switch your nomination, Jean, if you feel strongly about it. I'm not putting the titles up until Monday morning, so it's as easy as crossing off one and entering another.

Take that, Parkinson (& In-Laws)!

Thanks Ken! Having looked closer I'm not really sure it would have much appeal as a group read though, so will stick with the one I've sent :)

Kathleen wrote: "Oh boy--time to nominate! I love trying to come up with an obscure book that is still hopefully widely library-accessible, and can't wait to see what we come up with. This group is always adding in..."

Wonderful!
I'll join in the voting and will read the next selection.
Though I missed our last discussion, I am relieved that this extraordinary academic year (with its unusual headstart from spring 2020) is coming to a close. Though I'll teach one class over the summer, I'll have so much more time for you all.

I'm looking forward to all of the books!
I'm looking forward to conversations with all of you!

Bionic Jean wrote: "Thanks Ken! Having looked closer I'm not really sure it would have much appeal as a group read though, so will stick with the one I've sent :)"


OK, no problem!

Jan wrote: "Kathleen wrote: "Oh boy--time to nominate! I love trying to come up with an obscure book that is still hopefully widely library-accessible, and can't wait to see what we come up with. This group is..."

It'll be great to have you back in the fold, Jan. So glad the arduous year (Covid + School = Challenges!) is winding down for you!

The JUNE poll is up, and it's a handful -- 17 titles. Take your time exploring and thinking before voting. You have today, tomorrow, and Wednesday to decide.

By Thursday morning, the dust should settle leaving ONE winning title. I look forward to it, as we have classics, philosophy, poetry, and contemporary to look over!

Decisions, decisions.....

Glad you're here, Darrin. Hope others come by, too.

In the past, when sending out polls, they've immediately appeared in both the GR messages and home emails. This time, nothing. Nada. Crickets. So I sent a SECOND invite to the poll.

Maybe they'll both arrive some time today. GR begins to resemble the United States Postal Service in that sense.

My email notifications are incredibly slow at the moment and usually I find I've replied to something ages before the notification arrives! In this case I've got one of your messages, Ken, but have no idea which! And I spotted the GR notification first. (That's up the creek too though.)

It really is a tempting list - will those not chosen be added to the reserve list? I'm so tempted to vote for one I didn't nominate ...

I received the notification almost immediately after you posted the poll.

Bionic Jean wrote: "My email notifications are incredibly slow at the moment and usually I find I've replied to something ages before the notification arrives! In this case I've got one of your messages, Ken, but have..."

Oh, good. I'm glad it's only me not getting notifications about the poll. Maybe I forgot to check a box called "send to self as well" or something.

I do move all the "losers" to a thread in the Logistics folder of our group -- the one with a long name. Something or other about being nominated but not chosen. That way people can read interesting picks that didn't win on their own, if they wish. (Note, too, that two of the past "losers" have been nominated again for June in this poll. Déjà, meet vu!)

Tempted to vote for one you didn't nominate? I almost always do. And this time, as once or twice before, I didn't bother nominating a title, as the list looked rich enough as it was (read: plenty of butter and cream already).

Goodreads notifications still seem to be sporadic, but I think I got your notice right away, Ken.

Wow--what a selection! I was happy to see some previous nominees. I've only read (and loved) two, and many of the others I'd be very excited to read,

I've had some difficulties with the notifications too. I was ill yesterday and never managed to send off anything for the poll but the choices made by everyone else look great. Glad to be going into another one.

Kathleen wrote: "Goodreads notifications still seem to be sporadic, but I think I got your notice right away, Ken.

Wow--what a selection! I was happy to see some previous nominees. I've only read (and loved) two, ..."

Thanks for verifying, Kathleen. Agreed re: the list. I still have to go through it and read up on all of them. For now, I was just busy pulling up links and creating the poll. First things first, as the chicken told the egg (...or was it the egg told the chicken?).

Matthew wrote: "I've had some difficulties with the notifications too. I was ill yesterday and never managed to send off anything for the poll but the choices made by everyone else look great. Glad to be going int..."

Sorry you've been under the weather. In the Age of Covid, innocent remarks like "I felt ill" take on added concern, that's for sure! We wonder if we'll ever achieve herd immunity now given the momentum-killing pause caused by J&J's single shot and the political assault on science caused by...well, I best be kind and not get into descriptors.

No Covid thankfully, but I know what you mean. Rumour has it our fool of a PM has been saying some pretty horrendous things about letting bodies pile up. I'm holding onto any compassion I can these days and there's plenty of it on Goodreads thankfully.

Glad you're OK Matthew. I had my 2nd jab at the weekend and am now complaining about a sore thigh (where they did it) but it could be worse! A lot worse ...

I am "fully vaccinated" which here means two shots and a two week period after the 2nd one. Never heard of one being given in the thigh Jean. I got my notice first thing this morning Ken, but other notifications have been slow. A few on the poll list I have already read, and a few others I want to read, so looks like a win-win for me however it goes.

Diane wrote: "I am "fully vaccinated" which here means two shots and a two week period after the 2nd one. Never heard of one being given in the thigh Jean. I got my notice first thing this morning Ken, but other..."

Yeah, some I'd rather read more than others, but I'm happy to read whichever choice wins because, you know what, sometimes books you don't think you'll like can surprise you.

Believe it or not, Ripley, there is only ONE book on this list that I've read already -- Père Goriot -- and that was so long ago it would be like reading it new.

So, yeah. Win-win no matter what surfaces Thursday morning.

Ken, I haven’t read any of the books on the poll but there are a few that I have wanted to read and a couple that also appealed immediately when I looked them up. I voted for one but there are so many rich possibilities in this list.

I've read a few of them but excited to see what comes up in the end! Bring on Thurs.

https://youtu.be/PDJ_Mz8ftqI

Carol wrote: "https://youtu.be/PDJ_Mz8ftqI"

I know it shows my age, but I heart Carly Simon. And too bad video wasn't around when Ponce de Léon was. It can be, like nothing else, the Fountain of Youth!

Yvonne has kindly pointed out that one book on our list, Not Forgetting the Whale, has been reissued with the title The Whale at the End of the World.

When I tried to change it in the poll, though, it showed that I already had the book (despite the title difference). I could delete one and add the other, but fear it may toss votes, so I'll leave it as is.

Be sure, on any of these titles, to click "additional titles," especially in the case of translations and different publishers.

VOTING UPDATE: DAY 2 of 3

On Day One, we garnered 24 votes.

If you haven't already, please VOTE.

As of now, we have a five-way tie for first place, with two titles tied just one vote behind the leaders of the pack.

Meaning: Every vote counts!

(But you knew that.)

Carol wrote: "https://youtu.be/PDJ_Mz8ftqI"

Ahhhh ... Carly! And she's barefoot! Those were the good old days. Thanks, Carol.

👍🏼

And for added affect the 2016 Nobel Prize for Literature.....drum roll

https://youtu.be/IwOfCgkyEj0

So...thought I'd take a sneak peek at next month's read. Eventually found an online copy in an obscure archive and read the first seven pages. How come this author, who I have never heard of before knows so much about me? Promptly went to my Kobo and bought the book. I generally prefer to borrow from the library, but that wasn't an option. #sigh I'll now wait for the Big Read to begin.
Alison.

Yes, that first chapter is like finding a mirror, isn't it, Bookbook?

I'm still holding off but fast approaching the date, later this week, when Calvino and I meet. Brushing up on my Italian, I am (even though he was born in Cuba, of all places).

Yes, Ken, I am fascinated by Calvino's life. What a life he lived, and then he captures us -- or so many of us -- so well. Like Sara wrote, "finding a mirror" is so apt for the internal process he taps into, even though his own life was so unique.

Welcome to the new members!
More are coming to this group faster and faster, and I'm looking forward to what you all will contribute.

Off I go to Sunday morning chores and school preparations for summer.

With a smile,
Jan

Alison wrote: "So...thought I'd take a sneak peek at next month's read. Eventually found an online copy in an obscure archive and read the first seven pages. How come this author, who I have never heard of before..."

Hello, Alison,
Yes, his tone and broken fourth wall create such a wonderful, intimate "aha, I know you!" I laughed imagining myself in many of the scenarios he set up. Some of those are completely foreign to me, but then I think, "Ah, but I'd love to try reading -- or doing anything at all -- in that situation."

Back to my morning tasks I go.
Enjoy what comes today.
Jan

Jan wrote: "Alison wrote: "So...thought I'd take a sneak peek at next month's read. Eventually found an online copy in an obscure archive and read the first seven pages. How come this author, who I have never ..."

Alison wrote: "So...thought I'd take a sneak peek at next month's read. Eventually found an online copy in an obscure archive and read the first seven pages. How come this author, who I have never heard of before..."

Reading your comments this morning made me realize just how excited I am to have someone to talk to about Calvino, lots of someones! This is certainly a book for book-lovers if ever there was one.

"I am here--and everyone is in some "here"--and the only thing we can do is try to communicate with one another." -- Czeslaw Milsoz, 1969

Here is an obscure book that we hopefully can read, if it is ever published. Who knew Steinbeck wrote a werewolf novel?
https://www.theguardian.com/books/202...

Darrin wrote: "Here is an obscure book that we hopefully can read, if it is ever published. Who knew Steinbeck wrote a werewolf novel?
https://www.theguardian.com/books/202......"

Wow, I hope they do.

I would read it!

Me, too, though I really should get around to Cannery Row and Tortilla Flat first (makes mental note for summer TBR tower).

The one book I had a hard time with was The Winter of Our Discontent. I finally read it a couple of years ago.

When you finally read it, Carol, did you like it? I found it was one of those books I was unsure of while reading and then couldn't let go of after. A marvelous piece of genius in the end.

I still haven’t read him. Someday.

Yes, he didn’t disappoint. I have read most of his body of works.

Sue wrote: "I still haven’t read him. Someday."


Wow. Amazing you ran the gauntlet of the American school system without being assigned a Steinbeck.

On another note (middle C, for warming up), I started the Calvino today. Middle-C is for "Clever."

I have read most of Steinbeck, my favorites being the Cannery Row and Monterey Bay characters in Tortilla Flat. Long time since I read Winter of Our Discontent, so can't remember most of it. I too started the Calvino, but that cleverness gets old, so it's going slowly.

Another who has read almost all of Steinbeck. East of Eden is hands down his best work for me.

The Calvino was interesting and clever in the beginning, and now it is plodding, but I have made it to Chapter Six, which is quite a bit further than I got the first time I tried. It is so complicated that I am hoping I don't forget everything I have read before the discussion begins.