F13 Book Club

[cmlancas]

Book 1: Cat's Cradle by Kurt Vonnegut.
Book 2: A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter Miller.

The order of picking books is as follows:
sigil, Samwise, Rendakor, lamaros, Tebonas, Stray, Phildo, Prospero, MaceVanHoffen, Lt.Dan, Margalis, Bokonon, Strazos, and NowhereMan
Modded: 02/03: Removed one from the list per his own wishes.

So I'm an English Major or something. I'm sure there are more of us out there in the intertubes, but I'm wondering if some of ya'll would like to start an informal book club. I'm more or less interested in literature rather than books, but I'm open to suggestions.

Thoughts? 

(edit by Samwise: added link to first thread)

[schild]

Let's start with Lovecraft? ^_^

[cmlancas]

When I wrote this thread I was really thinking H.G. Wells or Arthur Miller.

We really could do Lovecraft if you want though. If people want to brainstorm some authors, we could take a poll at the end, possibly.

I really would like to stay away from non-lit though, if at all possible. "The Return of the Book" thread is over there someplace, and it has been done once before.

On second though, we could do genres instead. I'll nominate 20th Century Modernism and 20th Century Feminist Lit.

 

[Paelos]

I'll nominate 1800's European Authors.

[Mandrel]

Henry Miller

[Venkman]

How does this book club work? Is it just the snooty version of Return of the Book, or is there like some sort of exchange that happens?

[Miasma]

I don't get that either, would we all come back on an assigned date and discuss what we thought were allegories while the authors role over in their graves screaming "it's just an adventure book about a guy hunting a fucking whale you assholes"?

[lamaros]

We all read then discuss? I'm down.

Pick a good book, though.

When I wrote this thread I was really thinking H.G. Wells or Arthur Miller.

H.G. Wells is fun. And an easy place to start.

On second though, we could do genres instead. I'll nominate 20th Century Modernism and 20th Century Feminist Lit.

 

I'm going to take the grin as a punchline..

I don't get that either, would we all come back on an assigned date and discuss what we thought were allegories while the authors role over in their graves screaming "it's just an adventure book about a guy hunting a fucking whale you assholes"?

Maybe we should read collections of author's letters just so we can get the notion that they have much much more to say about their own work than we could ever come up with...

I wouldn't mind reading an American author (given I have a subject on such this semester) but would suggest that given the crowd here the book picked be to the shorter and simpler side of literature to begin, so at least more than two people end up reading it.

I don't see what the point would be if we read different books on the same topic, it'd require much more effort on everyone's part to generate an interesting discussion from that.

[Lt.Dan]

Spooky.  My New Year's resolution was to raised my reading level above scif-fi/fantasy targeted at 15 year olds.  Of course I broke that today by reading another Eriksen book 

Count me in.

[lamaros]

Spooky.  My New Year's resolution was to raised my reading level above scif-fi/fantasy targeted at 15 year olds.

I was bringing in the new year reading the Chronicles of Narnia again. (The Last Battle is painful...)

[tazelbain]

So no F13 Fight Club? 

[cmlancas]

How does this book club work? Is it just the snooty version of Return of the Book, or is there like some sort of exchange that happens?

Yes, I suppose we'd do one or so every one to two weeks (or whatever set time). I'm tired of only reading stuff for class and the like. I'd like to have a separate subforum (if we get enough people) so we can post/archive our discussions in a neat and organized manner. Also, we can have two threads for each book, one with spoilers, and one without. If we happen across a book I am studying through my coursework, I could post some stuff from there as well (as well as anyone else who has permission from an instructor/professor). Overall, in response to your question, it would be read, then write, then discuss.

I don't get that either, would we all come back on an assigned date and discuss what we thought were allegories while the authors role over in their graves screaming "it's just an adventure book about a guy hunting a fucking whale you assholes"?

We don't have to read anything by Melville if it makes you happy. I would, however, enjoy hearing what you thought about the books we read.

I don't see what the point would be if we read different books on the same topic, it'd require much more effort on everyone's part to generate an interesting discussion from that.

I had assumed that we would read the same author from a particular genre. That's what all the voting was about.

[cmlancas]

Apologies for posting to my own post, but another idea might be to focus more on anthologized short stories. It might be more accessible to more members with time restrictions.

[lamaros]

Apologies for posting to my own post, but another idea might be to focus more on anthologized short stories. It might be more accessible to more members with time restrictions.

I was going to suggest that (I thought I did but then noticed that I didn't) and agree.

[Johny Cee]

I'd be down with a book club, in whichever format is most agreeable to the majority of folks.

Generally,  the bulk of the stuff I read is genre fiction (scifi/fantasy,  smattering of historical fiction and horror [I'd read more,  but this genre is moribund]) and history (Rome, 17-18th century Colonial American, smattering of European history) but it's as much because I don't have a source of good recommendations as anything else.

To echo Schild, Lovecraft is a good choice in that it's mostly short stories,  and his stuff is a standout in the horror genre.  Bad choice because I'd bet many of the people here have read him already, and the whole racism thing.

Something like Palahniuk (Fight Club, Haunted) or Cormac McCarthy (No Country for Old Men, Blood Meridian, The Road) might be an idea. 

[Margalis]

There's no such thing as literature, it's just another genre.

[Strazos]

Yeah, I didn't quite get that distinction either. I understand you guys want to read stuff a bit more high-brow than, say...Salvatore? But beyond that, not sure what you guys meant.

[Prospero]

Do we have to get tweed jackets and pipes to join? If so, I'm in.

[Der Helm]

I am in. 

[Margalis]

Typically everyone has a couple of weeks to read the same book, then they discuss. Books are typically books that foster discussion, as in not Tom Clancy or something like that.

[Viin]

What's wrong with Tom Clancy!?!?

This sounds like fun, but if the chosen books are too boring I'd have to pass. So, I say we elect someone who has good taste in books, and they can pass "the torch" to the next person to select a book.

[lamaros]

What's wrong with Tom Clancy!?!?

This sounds like fun, but if the chosen books are too boring I'd have to pass. So, I say we elect someone who has good taste in books, and they can pass "the torch" to the next person to select a book.

Book discussions are generaly more fun when they're interesting books, not just easy to read.

If we choose something like Clancy I'm not going to bother.

Going to have to pick something pretty popular if you want people in the US, Europe and Australia to all be able to get their hands on it.

Or pick classics. I would prefer classics.

[Strazos]

Oh, just start with the Illiad. That's easy enough.

Or possibly the Aeneid, I've never actually read that one. Or even King Arthur, in Olde English.

[Margalis]

What kind of discussion can you have about Tom Clancy? "I liked it." "The part where he shot the guy was cool." It doesn't make them bad books but there isn't much to talk about with them.

Typically books are chosen that are on interesting topics, done in an interesting style or something of that sort. For example Lovecraft has a very distinctive style, both writing style as well as tone and setting. It might be interesting to compare to more modern authors and styles. (Not advocating Lovecraft, just saying)

[Lt.Dan]

How about we discuss the groundrules for the f13 knitting circle before we start throwing book names about?

To kick things off lets make a list of things we need agreement on.  Stuff like;
- all read the same book
- how do we choose a book
- how do we go about reading the book and then commenting (eg wait till end of agreed reading period, jump in as we go, spoliers or not)
- any other rules about getting the book - costs, library access,
- whatever other issues anyone thinks we need as a groundrule

PS cmlancas - I thought you were a butcher.  shouldn't you be knee deep in gore or something?

[stray]

I suggest that everyone read this.



Don't know what fiction to suggest though. I'm really not too keen on it, except some classics. And as far as "genre" fiction goes, you'll find me reading Mickey Spillane far before I even touch an RA Salvatore book.

[lamaros]

Oh, just start with the Illiad. That's easy enough.

Or possibly the Aeneid, I've never actually read that one. Or even King Arthur, in Olde English.

Pope or Fagles? Etc, etc! 

- all read the same book Yes
- how do we choose a book Topic/Genre/Timeframe picked in turn by participants, then everyone else makes ONE serious suggestion at most for that topic, and the topic chooser decides from them (bearing in mind the comments of others)
- how do we go about reading the book and then commenting (eg wait till end of agreed reading period, jump in as we go, spoliers or not) Two-three week reading period. After one week a SPOILER thread is started for discussion, after three a new book is chosen.
- any other rules about getting the book - costs, library access,  Better to pick books that are avaliable at libraries or cheaply avaliable second hand where possible. I know many/most probably wont have access to university libraries, but..
- whatever other issues anyone thinks we need as a groundrule everyone reads the books in english, pref. same translation if applicable

As it's cmlancas' idea I'd suggest he pick an area he's interested in and those of us intersted in participiating make a suggestion in that category.

[Soukyan]

Count me in if you do decide to do a book club.

As a suggestion, I have been doing the NYTimes Book Club for the past couple months. In November, we read War & Peace, and for two weeks of December, The Education of Henry Adams. The January book has not yet been announced, but I was thinking that if it is of interest to everyone here, we could do that book. The discussion would of course be here, but it's nice to see what the reader panelists have to say about the books as talking points as well. Just a thought I figured I'd throw out there.

[Engels]

I'm all about classics, but why not go for something a bit closer to the average f13'ers heart, like classic fantasy or sci fi? Asimov's Foundation, or Neuromancer, or even Game of Thrones or some such?

[lamaros]

I'm all about classics, but why not go for something a bit closer to the average f13'ers heart, like classic fantasy or sci fi? Asimov's Foundation, or Neuromancer, or even Game of Thrones or some such?

Because many will have already read them I assume. Not as much fun reading books you're read (and might not have liked) before over again.

Plus, if all you read is SF and fantasy you need some broadinin' imo.

[Margalis]

And people haven't read the classics?

How about "The Space Merchants." Classic sci-fi, considered one of the best works, yet I'll guess that most haven't read it. Timeless satire and you can discuss a variety of topics including how relevant it is today, the writing itself, the underlying political message, etc. Also very readable.

I think it would be a mistake to choose "classics", most people will drop out quickly and many will have already read them. I consider "The Space Merchants" an overlooked classic.

[stray]

"Timeless satire"? Hmm, sounds interesting. I'm not a big sci-fi fan, and most of the stuff I do like (literature or not) is comedy. For example, my favorite sci-fi show is Futurama. Otherwise, sci-fi, like fantasy, is some boring shit -- unless there's something to be made fun of.


[edit] Speaking of which, there was a book written awhile back by Eric Idle, called the Road the Mars. I never got around to it. Anyone want to keep that in mind? I mean... Python + Space Truckers and Robots. Can't be that bad.

[Margalis]

It's the type of sci-fi that has sci-fi trappings but is not really a science-fiction story. There are no laser swords and pew pew action, the point is not the science fiction part, that's just the setting.

Anyway more on topic I'm with lamaros for the most part on the details. Rotate categories, people give suggestions, etc etc etc.

[cmlancas]

We need a poll. I've brainstormed some categories and here's what I've come up with:

Early 20th Century Modernism
Later 20th Century Modernism
19th Century Romanticism
19th Century Victorianism
20th Century Feminist Lit
19th-20th Sci-Fi (A la The Time Machine, Brave New World, Farenheit 451)
19th-20th Century Mystery/Noir (A la The Long Goodbye, The Maltese Falcon, or even Poe's short stories)

Also, we can add stuff to this list. I've purposely left off poetry because I don't think that's a good place to start. Also, I think serious classics like Oedipus and The Aeneid are (imo) too much work for me. However, if you all are dying to read stuff like Pope, Marvell, Shakespeare, Donne, or Jonson, we can do that.
 


I think we should stick to short stories and keep it at about a week's time for the first month or so, and then broaden it to a novel when we get more people.

[Rendakor]

Count me in, need to diversify my reading habits.