The Next Best Book Club discussion

My book is winning for the Irish theme and nobody has nominated anymore books since Lori opened the polls. Two things that haven't happened while I've been in this book club. Hurray!

I hope Shutter Island wins for Cat. 1. Give me a push to read it before I go see the movie. Anybody seen it yet?

Jayme - you may want to consider not reading it before the movie comes out. I dont say it often, but if you really want to see the movie, the book will probably ruin it for you. Especially if you see it with people that have not read the book.

Hmm, I'll think about it. But usually if I watch the movie first, I lose interest in reading the book. And then if I do read the book, I'm stuck seeing the actors from the movie, instead of my own made up people.

Is it the plot twists that make it worth watching first?

See, and I would probably advise the opposite. I think that if you're going to see the movie first, you might as well just skip the book altogether - at least in the case of this particular book. In my (humble, I swear) opinion, seeing the movie first will strip the book of any real impact it might have had. I don't think reading the book first would have the same effect on your opinion of the movie, even knowing how it ends. The movie still acts as an enhancement of the story, bringing the characters and setting to life visually. You still "gain" something by watching the movie after reading the book. (I know I'm not explaining this well, lol). I don't think you will "gain" anything or get anything new by reading the book after seeing the movie. Maybe it's because the screenplay adaptation is so true to the book. Maybe it's because it's a pretty short novel that reads like a movie anyway, so there wasn't too much to change or leave out. And maybe I'm just weird like that. :o) I'm not discounting Bridgit's opinion at all, just throwing a different viewpoint out there. Either way, it's a kick ass story. ;o)

I agree with Cait. In my experience, I have always thought it better to read a book before seeing the movie, otherwise the book is ruined.

I agree as well.

Cait wrote: "See, and I would probably advise the opposite. I think that if you're going to see the movie first, you might as well just skip the book altogether - at least in the case of this particular book. ..."

I generally would agree, but it sounded like she was really excited for the movie. I dont think there is a point in seeing/reading both. The twist IS what it is all about. Either way, whichever you experience first will ruin the other. This is not a case where the book will give you a better appreciation for the background/characters in the movie.

My husband and I read Shutter Island about 2 months ago and loved it. We're going to see the movie tonight. Hopefully I like it...I'm usually VERY critical of a movie after having read the book! We both wonder what they (the makers of the film) have changed.

I agree with others in that if I see the movie first, I generally lose interest in reading the book. I enjoy reading a book and visualizing the story without the influence of a movie or its actors. If I watch and then read, the pictures in my head are from the movie, not my own imagination!

I see what you mean, Bridgit. I'm going to have to figure out which I'd rather, watch or read. Hmmm...choices.

Ohh my, Shutter Island leads the polls as of this moment... I'm getting excited... ^_^

I'm sort of surprised Shutter Island isn't getting all the votes but, then again, a lot of people have read it already and some probably want to avoid the hype book.

I am watching the polls very closely...I want to start reading the March selections early!! I love when books I already own are leading in the polls : )

I have read both last year. I don't have shutter Island,passed it along to other people. I think I still have Dorian Grey. I will have to look.

Oh, Shutter Island is tied to Flowers for Algernon now! I would be ok with that, it's only been on my list since high school...

As long as The Historian doesn't win I'm happy. I'm not feeling up to reading that doorstopper right now.

The winners for our March Group read are::::


Shutter Island

and

The Picture of Dorian Gray


Discussion threads will be opened on March 1st.
Look forward to seeing who will be joining us this coming month!!!

HA! \I just started Shutter Island today!

Woohoo, I just bought Shutter Island for kindle for $4.39 and The Picture of Dorian Gray was free. I am hoping to participate this month!

Shutter Island is a go for me. I am double minded about Dorian Gray.

I'll definitely be reading both. Dorian Gray is pretty short Carol, you should give it a try.

I'll be reading Dorian Gray - haven't read that since high school!
Just read Shutter Island, so won't be re-reading that, but will join in the discussion, if that's OK.

I have read Dorian Gray , I didn't find it interesting enough. I would have to dig it up around here. If it is at my fingertips we will see.

I re-read Dorian last year. The copy I pulled from the library had someone's previous notes written in the margins. Occasionally I would come across a page where a previous reader had written, "SATAN!" in the margins. It seemed to be the direction they were taking in a paper they must have been writing. It was amusing, and I'm sad it's not in every copy of the book. I found it enhancing to the reading. :)

I wish it were in every book too, El! I read Dorian a few years ago, and while it has some nice ideas (and I love the character of Lord Henry)- Dorian himself is such a boring wimpish guy. (And I want to see more of the debauchery and what else people are getting up to, even when they're not un-aging.)

Looking forward to the SHUTTER ISLAND discussion - the book freaked me out (in a good way) and I just saw the film!

Sometimes I go to the library, open random books, and write SATAN! a few times in the margins. Just something I do for fun.

Alex wrote: "Sometimes I go to the library, open random books, and write SATAN! a few times in the margins. Just something I do for fun."

LOL!!

I brought Dorian Grey quite some time ago so now it will be pushed forward

Alex, you are a naughty boy. I wonder if the people who get the books keep looking for Satan to jump out at them.

Donna wrote: "HA! \I just started Shutter Island today!"

This for me as well.

I loved Shutter Island and will enjoy participating in the discussion. I will try Picture of Dorian Gray, The, but I have tried it before and couldn't get into it.

A friend loaned me Shutter Island, and today I fetched The Picture Of Dorian Gray. I read the Finnish translation in high school, I think, don't remember much so I thought I'd read the original this time around :)

WoW! Shutter Island won and I'm currently reading it in anticipation of the movie. Will be joining the discussion later... ^_^

Sweet my nomination won!

Now I'm sad that I never find anything interesting written in my library books!

I've already read them both. I really liked them and hope everyone else does too!

Yay! Just wanted to point out that you can download The Picture of Dorian Gray for free direct from the GR page (on right) or from Google Books to name two...

I've been making lame jokes on this thread for a couple of days now without realizing we'd settled on books. I just thought people liked talking about Dorian Gray. :P I ordered this gorgeous set of clothbound books for my wife for Christmas, and Dorian Gray happened to be among them, so I'm totally in. Looking forward to it.

(If you're interested, because I know we're all book geeks, this is the edition:
http://bookpage.wordpress.com/2009/10... - beautiful, right?)

I've seen them in person- seem a bit stiff, charging $20 for freesource, despite what the article says.

Valid point, Kaion. The sad fact is, I buy a lot of things I don't really need just because they're pretty.

My wife is a bookbinder by hobby, so she's particularly interested in this sort of thing.

I bought Hound of the Baskervilles in those designs, Alex. It has bugs all over it, I love it.

I was just reading Sherlock Holmes last night! I have the collected works on my Kindle and I often read a short story or two between other books.

Is anyone else totally obsessed with the "compare books" feature? I do it all the time. Jayme, we're 70% similar based on only five books. Kaion, we're gonna have to fight about Heart of Darkness.

Nothing wrong with a little splurge- as long as you read them, it's not a complete waste, unlike *cough* all the TBR books hidden away in my garage.

Alex, in my defense, you give 38% of your books 5 stars and I only give 8% of my books 1 star: in short, statistically I hate Heart of Darkness more than you love it. ;)

statistically I hate Heart of Darkness more than you love it.

Ha...that's hilarious. You win. :)

"There are three forms of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics" - Benjamin Disraeli.

I read Shutter Island this winter and am looking forward to the discussion. It's a book that I still think of once in a while and that is unusual.

The Picture of Dorian Gray I've also read, but very long ago (30+ years). I think it's time for a reread on that one!

Alex wrote: "I've been making lame jokes on this thread for a couple of days now without realizing we'd settled on books. I just thought people liked talking about Dorian Gray. :P I ordered this gorgeous set..."

Alex I have bought this set also, so I'll be reading my new pretty Picture of Dorian Gray too! I absolutely love the set and they look fantastic on my shelf! I many not have needed some of them... but I just couldn't pass them up!

Alex, I've seen those editions at my local indie, and I always stop and look at the titles longingly before my husband drags me away. They are gorgeous, and must look so good in a home library!

The problem is that they make the books next to them look shabby.

Tell your husband that when he has to drag you away from things, he's supposed to take a note so he doesn't have to stress out about your Christmas present next year. :)

LOL!! Alex, thanks for the laughs on this Winter's day. :) Bring that humor to the discussion threads next month!

There is a major rain storm over New England...and I picked this week to read Shutter Island. I am so creeped out!!

Eliza, it suuuuuucks out there, huh? I might kill my dog so I don't have to walk him anymore.