Literary Exploration discussion

Jane wrote: "HI, I'm new. I love novels that have insight into people and life. I also love dance. Not into poorly translated/written books that feed on the need to be titillated like 'Girl with the Dragon Tatt..."

Hi, Jane, I've sent you a friendship request. I didn't like The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo I stopped reading it near the beginning because I found it slow and boring. But, my husband loved the series.

Someone banned twilight! Awesome

Mary wrote: "Someone banned twilight! Awesome"

lol, that's funny.

Long overdue, I think. xD

I also like the idea of a memoir theme. Would something like Angela's Ashes be in this category?

A road trip, or book about traveling would be interesting too. Just throwing it out there.

Franky wrote: "I also like the idea of a memoir theme. Would something like Angela's Ashes be in this category?

A road trip, or book about traveling would be interesting too. Just throwing it out there."
I think that's a good idea,a little different. Have
always been a bit scared of reading Angela's ashes,afraid that it will clutch the heart and hurt....

Sonali, actually I thought McCourt added in enough humor to make Angela's Ashes somewhat uplifting. (Although, most people don't see it that way.)

In my state, Wyoming, it(Twlight) is not banned in schools, but in some states it is.

Don't they know that banning a book is only going to make it more popular >.<

More popular? Is that even possible? -.-

Marlene wrote: "More popular? Is that even possible? -.-"

Let's hope not

I look at Lady Chatterley's Lover, what would happen if it wasn't banned

Yep banned books are always popular because they are forbidden fruit that need to be read by some people.

Brandie wrote: "Yep banned books are always popular because they are forbidden fruit that need to be read by some people."
Very true.As soon as Mumbai university banned Rohinton Mistry's Such a long journey everyone rushed to get a copy. I myself now want to read 'Three Hundread Ramayanas' because Delhi University just banned it.:-)

Franky wrote: "Sonali, actually I thought McCourt added in enough humor to make Angela's Ashes somewhat uplifting. (Although, most people don't see it that way.)"
Well then, I'll take a chance on it then. I wont buy it though, only borrow it from the local library...And I'll let you know....

Angela's Ashes is a good book but prepare for some depression. Maybe not a great read for the holiday season.

I loved Angela's Ashes. It's got some truly devastating moments in it, but overall there is a bittersweet optimism to it all, so I wouldn't say the book as a whole is totally depressing. A brilliant coming of age story, imo.

That said, if you look at the comments on the Angela's Ashes page here on goodreads, it's obviously a very devisive book too. Some Irish Catholics find it offensive, it would seem, because it plays on a lot of bad irish stereotypes. But you know, if it really is an honest memoir, I don't really see how you can argue against history. :p

Also- love the idea of road trip books. Maybe Kerouac's On the Road could be included?

Victoria wrote: "I loved Angela's Ashes. It's got some truly devastating moments in it, but overall there is a bittersweet optimism to it all, so I wouldn't say the book as a whole is totally depressing. A brillian..."

This is pretty much how I saw the book as well. I didn't find it too depressing. There's some hopeful moments amid struggle. McCourt has plenty of wit and charm in his writing.

So, anyone up for a noir theme? It was kind of thrown out there awhile back.

Ok so I've compiled a list of everything so far suggested -

Dystopian - Andi - September 2011 choice
Gender Identity - Lola
Goats - Me
Labyrinth - Booksy - November 2011 choice
Booker Prize loser - Brad - December 2011 choice
Middle East - Mary
Period Novel (time period to be chosen first) - Lori
Ocean/Desert - Lori
Holocaust - Kevin
Booker Prize winner - KL/Barbara - June 2011 Choice
Famous Philosophers - Barbara
Unusual Settings - Barbara
Blindness - Anda
Noir - Franky
Hard-boiled - KL
Hard-boiled & Noir Mix (Pulp) - KL
Victorian - Philippa
Alien - Jessica
Culture Clashing Horror - Jessica
Post-Colonial - Victoria
Any Culture Clash - Anne
Religion-associated fiction - Graham
Bildungsroman - Victoria - January 2012 choice
Medieval/Inquisition - Luana
Best of 2011 - Philippa - February 2012 choice
Set in Specific City - Lisa
Street Lit/Urban Fiction - Angela
GR Author - Me
Memoir - Mary
Indie - Hugh
Banned Books - Jessa
Road Trip/Travel - Franky

Idea of maybe moving to two books - Xeni

We've also already done Book That Became a Film, Post-Apocalyptic, Utopia and Historical Fiction

I still think goats/sheep/any ruminants (maybe not llamas because you can't trust llamas, sneaky things they are) would make for a good topic.

I don't mind moving to two books, but I think people may find that too much. Thoughts?

and what is a goat theme?

Kim wrote: "I still think goats/sheep/any ruminants (maybe not llamas because you can't trust llamas, sneaky things they are) would make for a good topic."

NOt lamas..Alpacka's maybe? (SP)

Knowledge Lost wrote: "and what is a goat theme?"

An absurdity :P

Hugh (A.K.A. Hermit the Curmudgeon) wrote: "NOt lamas..Alpacka's maybe? (SP)"

Mini, wooly llamas

We could have:

Goat: A Memoir
The Feast of the Goat
The Men Who Stare at Goats
Goat Song: A Seasonal Life, A Short History of Herding, and the Art of Making Cheese
The Camel Club

:P

No more Lama Drama.... got it.

Uhm...regarding the Goat theme. Not necessarily an absurdity. *grin*
Vargos-Llosa's "Feast of the Goat"
http://www.amazon.com/Feast-Goat-Mari...

Gillian Roye's first in series:
http://www.amazon.com/Goat-Woman-Larg...

Edward Albee's "The Goat, or Who is Sylvia?"

http://www.amazon.com/Goat-Who-Sylvia...

John Barth's "Giles Goat Boy"

http://www.amazon.com/Giles-Goat-Anch...

And, Will Campbell's Memoir, "Forty Acres and a Goat"

http://www.amazon.com/Forty-Acres-Goa...

So, nuttin' wrong with a goat theme. *laughing*

If we're doing ruminants, I can recommend Three Bags Full, in which sheep set out to solve who murdered their shepherd.
There is also an earlier Murakami book called A Wild Sheep Chase.
And, of course, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?.

Melki wrote: "If we're doing ruminants, I can recommend Three Bags Full, in which sheep set out to solve who murdered their shepherd."

I like the sound of that :) But where is your review of it?

Are you kidding? I haven't read it yet. It's been on my shelf for years. If we pick it as a group read, then I'll HAVE to read it. See how that works?

I like the idea of a street lit/urban fiction theme. So would something like Down These Mean Streets by Piri. Thomas and you Drown by Junot Diaz fall under those categories? Or are they more memoir? Never read Drown, just excerpts from it, but I really loved Down These Mean Streets.

Ps. Sorry about any misspellings and out of place words. Im posting from my phone.

I'm throwing out 9/11 literature too!

I´ve read Three Bags Full and I can just say I totally LOVE it. Just forgot to put a review in, umh, forgive me?
But if you never saw a sheep in a church while the Reverend thinks it is a human. Well, let´s say it´s interesting.

I have to stop now or I´ll spoil everything for you, Melki.

@ Kim: Thanks for the goat/sheep idea. This would be something nobody could ever think of (except you, it seems) ;)

Melki wrote: "If we're doing ruminants, I can recommend Three Bags Full, in which sheep set out to solve who murdered their shepherd.
There is also an earlier Murakami book called [book:A Wild She..."

Ok, Three Bags Full actually looks really interesting.

I'm definately liking this goat/sheep idea. I think you're on to something Kim!

Who knew a sheep/goat theme could have so much potential.

I don't know if I could keep up with two books a month. Sometimes I barely find time to fit in the one. But it seems we have enough themes to keep us going for a while.

No wonder. There are so many books I want to read - they should make the day a few hours longer. And even that would never be enough. ;)

Two books a month sounds exciting, however may not always be able to keep up with it, and also, some books require a lot of discussion (like the one we are currently reading) and I feel we need to do books justice and discuss more thoroughly. So, in theory, I am in favour of the idea, but in practice, maybe not achievable.

I am also liking the sheep/ goat theme, although I agree with some of you, it will be a challenge to have a meaningful discussion around a goat, but who says we can't give it a go?

More moons ago than I care to mention, I was hired to work at B.Dalton Booksellers. On my first day, I noticed a book in the hobby section called Raising Sheep the Modern Way. I thought it was an odd choice for our somewhat urban location. The manager told me that the book had been special-ordered, never picked up, and had be languishing on the shelf for years.
About two years later, a very shy couple approached me and quietly asked if we had a book about keeping sheep. I broke out in a big old grin, and it was probably my happiest moment as a bookseller to lead them to the shelf and show them the little book that no one else wanted.

So, there you go, Kim. You may have started it as a joke, but it looks like we WILL be doing a theme read on ruminants.

Franky wrote: "So, anyone up for a noir theme? It was kind of thrown out there awhile back."

I am...ready for the noir theme that is.

The sheep/goat theme doesn't sound too baaaad...(sorry, couldn't resist). I'm in for that.

Sonali wrote: "Franky wrote: "So, anyone up for a noir theme? It was kind of thrown out there awhile back."

I am...ready for the noir theme that is."

I'm always ready for a Noir/Hard-Boiled theme (lets start our own book club....oh wait)

Thanks, Franky. I just learned it is possible to groan AND chuckle at the same time.

That is funny lol - never would have thought of it.

Franky wrote: "The sheep/goat theme doesn't sound too baaaad...(sorry, couldn't resist). I'm in for that."

LOL:-)

I was holding out for a Llama thing. You know, Lama lama mad at mamma...

Go on with Rama (L)lama Ding Dong and you got me ;)

What was that?

Ooo Eee Aaah ah ah
Ching ching
Llama, Llama bing bang?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dI7wMW...

for everyone who wants to laugh...