For June, would anyone be interested in reading "Coming Up For Air" by George Orwell? I'm very curious about this book, as it seems to be considered the best of his lesser known work - some even say it's his best book period. I plan on reading it regardless, but, of course, it would be great to be able to discuss with others. Anyway, here's the Amazon link with reviews: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0156196255/102-9218436-4708948?v=glance&n=283155 And to whet your appetite a bit - you can read the first chapter here: http://whitewolf.newcastle.edu.au/words/authors/O/OrwellGeorge/prose/ComeingUpforAir/1_1.html
I would like to join yall for this. When is the "deadline" for this book (i.e. when do you start talking about it)? The end or the middle of the month? I looked at the Feb and March threads and couldn't see a descernable answer... ps - for what it's worth, my favorite book of all is Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card. Tops on my list include A Tale of Two Cities, On The Road, and The Andromeda Strain. Recommended reading: A Star Called Henry by Roddy Doyle, White Noise by Don DeLillo, and The Shy Photographer by Jock Carroll. I'm an english major who knows jack crap about books, has burned out on reading, and am seriously regretting my choice of major (plus I got a job at a video store and have been watching movies nonstop to recommend stuff for customers and to keep up with fellow employees' conversations). My only vote is that we read a horror novel for October. Are short story collections an option? I have one of George Orwell's that has some great stuff in it and that I'd like to finish.
From what I can gather most of us quit reading after starting anyways. just kidding.. sorta.. but really theres no deadline. The first book had the best banter for us because it was short and people were able to finish it. The rest have not had as much (although I have been on the same book since March )
I would recommend Snow Crash by Neal Stephenson. While it's not top shelf literature like Orwell or Harkes (j/k), it's probably one of the two or three most influential books of the past 15 years. While you read it, you can have fun noting all of the little things in the book that have come to pass in real life. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/05...f=pd_bbs_1/104-4589422-8501528?_encoding=UTF8
I seriously doubt many of us will be reading during the month of June, so let me know if you guys want to pick a book for next month. If we do, can I suggest The Thinking Fan's Guide to the World Cup by Matt Weiland and Sean Wilsey? I know it's non-fiction, but I thought it would be fun anyway.
I'd rather finish the copy of Snow Crash my friend lent me. It was just getting good when I had to put it on pause. My .02
Wow that looks extremely interesting. I'm leaving for Europe in 3 days (!!!! ) and am looking for something to read, that migh tbe something. edit: unfortunatelly I'm not sure if I'll be in the States when it comes out... I hope I can pick it up at Barnes and Noble in Atlanta on Saturday or Sunday. Do you think they would have shipped by then, Sara?
Oh, blah. I just looked on The B and N site and Amazon and it said June 1 for some reason. Oh well, I shall look in Atlanta and at any airport bookstores (you know they have everything ) for it.
Life of Pi was brilliant. I'm going to start into Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridian now as I realized I hadn't read any of the top books of the past 25 years list that recently came out. Feel free to join me and make it July's book. Q
What the hell? I have skipped a few and started reading a history book but I'd be happy to pick another one up with you guys before school starts.
Would Dostoevsky be too much? I have yet to read one of his books, but I hear great things (from actual tangible people, not critics), and the quotes people cite are always great. I still stand by my vote for Snow Crash from a while back though.
The Brothers Karamazov is one of the best books I've ever read (if not the best). I spent most of a summer during my college years reading it. It's obviously a bit long. I'll throw Notes from the Underground out there, if only to give me an excuse to get around to reading it. Good ol' Fyodor is not often known for being easy and enjoyable, however.
The interest for this seems to have died down. If you want to continue, please list your #1 and #2 picks for August.
Well, I haven't participated before but would like to this month. My two choices would be: as above, or God's Grace, Bernard Malamud I would also suggest Cat's Cradle, Kurt Vonnegut, but I know you guys read something of his recently.
1. Blood Meridian - Cormac McCarthy I'm struggling through the beginning of this one, but I'm trying. Question number one would be, "Where the hell are all the quotation marks?" 2. Whatever. I'm getting married and probably won't participate until Sept. Q