Suggestions needed for November/December fiction discussion

Suzanne · Wed Oct 12, 2011 9:30 pm

What book of fiction should we read for the months of November and December?

Should we pick a fantasy novel, a classic or something current? What novel do you think would make for an active and exciting discussion?

Any member with a minimum of 25 posts may make a suggestion. Each selection must include a link to a site that describes the book and gives details.

Member feedback on the novels suggested is important to the process of selecting a book for discussion. Please read through the suggested novels and make comments on those novels that are of interest to you. Also, please state if you intend on participating in the next discussion.

The novels with the most positive feedback will be placed in a poll. Voting in the poll will be available to all members with 25 or more posts on the boards of BookTalk.org. The novel with the most votes in the poll will become our next book of fiction for discussion during the months of November and December.

wilde · Wed Oct 12, 2011 10:27 pm

I'm going to suggest a book by one of my favorite authors. I haven't read it yet, but it was the last book he wrote before he died. It's a really short book, & I might make another recommendation later this week... we'll see.

Cain by Jose Saramago

Amazon page


	Quote: Amazon review In his final slim novel, the late José Saramago gives a cheeky modernist update to a timeworn biblical tale. After killing his brother Abel in an exasperated rage, Cain makes a deal with a CEO-like God and escapes with little more than a donkey and a few snacks, doomed to nomadic immortality. As he wanders through time and space, the handsome itinerant interferes with the dealings of a familiar cast of characters--Noah, Moses, Isaac--forever altering the course of legend along the way. Deeply flawed and all too human, despite the eternal life granted him, Cain also struggles openly with the idea of faith in the face of an equally flawed God. By turns philosophical and hilarious, Cain shows off the scope of Saramago’s talent and makes a fitting coda for a superlative writing life. --Mia Lipman

I thought some of the people here might enjoy reading it. It's a retelling of the story of Cain... but the author, Saramago, was an atheist. He wrote another similar book- The Gospel According to Jesus Christ.

As for other suggestions/ideas, I am in the mood for fantasy. :3

Avid Reader · Thu Oct 13, 2011 10:27 am


	wilde wrote: Cain by Jose Saramago

I haven't participated in one of these yet, but this sounds like a novel I might like, so I vote for "Cain."

Aqueda_Veronica · Thu Oct 13, 2011 4:28 pm

My dear friends,
I would like to cordially invite you to the world of Polish literature. To get us started I though I'd bring the short stories by Bruno Schulz to the table. I wish to nominate "Sanatorium Under the Sign of the Hourglass" or "The Street of Crocodiles".

Schulz is considered one of the classics of the XXth century, back in high school his novels were on my suggested reading list but somehow I never got round to them. Since lately I've hardly been reading anything in Polish at all, it would be a nice change.

Some time ago I came across this paragraph in a special edition of Newsweek:


	Quote: "Shot by a Nazi during World War 2, forgotten and forsaken during Communistic times, now in demand again. Called "the Polish Kafka". Just the titles of his narratives are enough to get your imagination going. In fact, it is a read for connoisseurs of elaborate and exquisite writing."

For more information please refer to the below Wiki articles:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruno_Schulz
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanatorium_Under_ ... _Hourglass
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Street_of_Crocodiles

Of course, I would be more than happy to lead the discussion or give more information on Polish literature and history

Robert Tulip · Thu Oct 13, 2011 5:51 pm

Books that would make for an interesting discussion are

1984 by George Orwell

Darkness at Noon by Arthur Koestler

The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende

Suzanne · Sun Oct 16, 2011 11:05 am

25 or more posts are needed to suggest a book JohnGNelson. The reason for this rule is we have found that few members with less than 25 posts actually participate in the discussion.

lindad_amato · Mon Oct 17, 2011 1:10 pm

Oh, the Polish option sounds good. It would be nice to try something from another country. I used to read a lot of Jerzey Kosinski. But then, I love Isabel Allende. Some many books, so little time.

I recently read The Emperor's Children by Claire Messud. It is a very well written pre/post 9/11 chronicle of the lives of several Manhattanites. http://www.amazon.com/Emperors-Children ... 715&sr=1-1

And, one of my favorites, Russell Banks has a new book called Lost Memory of Skin. http://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0061857 ... eader-link

So I'll throw those into the nomination mix.

kelstan · Mon Oct 17, 2011 6:01 pm

The Russell Banks sounds GREAT, or the Isabel Allende.

Aqueda_Veronica · Tue Oct 18, 2011 4:40 am

To be honest, if my proposition does no go through I would opt for Isabell Allende too! The reason for that is because I already got a copy of the novel from my library

Please keep in mind guys that some of us don't live in the US so if you choose a title that has just been published, you automatically exclude those who don't have the access to the book.

martinthebandit · Wed Oct 19, 2011 2:14 am


	Aqueda_Veronica wrote: To be honest, if my proposition does no go through I would opt for Isabell Allende too! The reason for that is because I already got a copy of the novel from my library Please keep in mind guys that some of us don't live in the US so if you choose a title that has just been published, you automatically exclude those who don't have the access to the book.

G point

And the Polish option sounds good to me, mainly because I suspect they might be outside my comfort zone, which is good

heledd · Wed Oct 19, 2011 3:44 am

I agree with that. Many of us do not have easy access, especially to new titles. So when do you actually decide on what book to discusss, and do you only do one at a time?

Damifino · Wed Oct 19, 2011 9:14 am

The House of the Spirits by Isabel Allende

Looks like I can get this one from my local library easy enough. Not sure if I am allowed to vote as I am a newbie.

In the first post Suzanne explains that you need 25 or more posts to vote. You currently have 18. Keep posting quality stuff and you'll soon be able to vote.

-- Chris O'Connor

giselle · Wed Oct 19, 2011 11:21 am

I read Allende's 'Island Beneath the Sea' not too long ago and I'd be intreested to read another Allende for comparison.

Suzanne · Wed Oct 19, 2011 4:53 pm


	heledd wrote: So when do you actually decide on what book to discusss, and do you only do one at a time?

We only have one main fiction disscusion.

This thread will remain open for suggestions until October 21. The two to three novels that receive the most positive feedback will go into a poll. The poll will be open on Sat, Oct. 22.

There is a nice selection of novels for this discussion, making a decision is going to be difficult.

Suzanne · Thu Oct 20, 2011 8:42 pm

Hello Aqueda_Veronica:

There is an interest in your suggestion of Polish Literature. It is a great suggestion by the way. Which book would you recommend we read if your nomination does in fact get selected. There is enough positive feedback for a Bruno Schulz novel to be placed in the poll.

Thanks

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