F13 Book Club

[Samwise]

Anyway, speaking of book picking, have any of you read A Canticle for Leibowitz?  cmlancas says he hasn't, so he might not be able to throw links at us in lieu of actual discussion.     If Marg and Lam haven't read it either I think that should be our next book.  It counts as both "science fiction" and "modernism".  Assuming I don't misunderstand what "modernism" is, which I probably do.

[lamaros]

I didn't blame you, I said that my response to you is what cmlancas took issue with, but the problem was that it was made in response to a specific point you had made (about the landscape of SF in the 50's and 60s) but that context was lost later one with all the quoting.

I didn't blame you at all. :( Sigh.

Also, I tried to avoid talking about it and Stray said to continue...

Like I said. I have no problem with discussing things in a different way, I assume the same goes for anyone (margalis and cmlancas I 'spose) who was involved in such stuff. But unless people mention it to you how are you meant to know? The only response to this was:

"I don't think it's annoying at all. Go right ahead. This is what book discussions should be about!"

Who's to know?

Anyway, speaking of book picking, have any of you read A Canticle for Leibowitz?

Havn't read it.

[Johny Cee]

The tone of the discussion went pretty aggressive early on,  for no apparent reason.  Seemed like things could have been rerouted more constructively with a couple of "could you clarify this point?"

I blame Samwise.  He's glib.

[Samwise]

 

[Margalis]

Testosterone poisoning for the lose.

cmlancas designate a successor that will choose the next book. Sounds like the simples thing to me. That person picks, then picks a successor.

[Rendakor]

cmlancas acting like a teacher instead of a peer turned me off immediately. Then it turned into a Politics thread. Also, I made what few comments I could think of, but the book did not seem very deep to me. Those of you wanting more discussion should keep things civil; I'm not whipping out the epeen over something I don't care about.

I don't like the successor idea; a list is better, to make sure everyone gets a shot.

Edit: wow, double fail...I give up. Someone merge this with the book club sticky since my cellphone is being .

« Last Merge: Today at 09:45:42 AM by lesion »

[Tebonas]

lamaros, Miasma, Samwise, Rendakor, Margalis, Strazos, Lt.Dan, hal, Stray, Tebonas, sigil, NowhereMan, MaceVanHoffen, Bokonon, Prospero and Phildo

Don't know how my name slipped in there. Didn't read the first book due to delivering problems with Amazon (basically my only delivering method for non-mainstream english books). I strongly suspect I might have that same problem again in the future.

[stray]

Also, I tried to avoid talking about it and Stray said to continue...

My bad. Didn't know it'd make things worse. I thought you and cmlancas were actually on the right track for a book discussion, despite it getting a little heated.

[lamaros]

I'd really like to recommend the following book, Homesickness by Murray Bail, but it is out of stock at Amazon and being an Australian author will probably be hard to find in places overseas, so I wont. It's a great book nonetheless.

There are some bits to it that might go past non-Australian readers (there are bits that will go past everyone) but it's not that big a flaw to my mind. It's a distinctive book with Bail's style strong throughout, and where it works to much better effect than his more well known book, Eucalyptus.

The Amazon review gives a good explanation of it:

http://www.amazon.com/Homesickness-Novel-Murray-Bail/dp/B000H2M3CO/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1201214860&sr=8-2

[Samwise]

So, we were theoretically supposed to start a new book yesterday and I don't think one's been formally put forth yet.  Someone needs to seize the reins and establish how new books get picked.  That someone should probably be cmlancas since it was his idea, he started the thread, and he can edit the first post.

[lamaros]

cmlancas post below makes my timewasting pointless and confusing. removed.

[cmlancas]

Sorry if I got all pedagogical, I really was just trying to help discussion. Then, it devolved from  to  to  to  . Interesting how they were all in a line. Unfortunately, I think I fell for the troll-bait.

That part of the thread might should've been snipped off, but I just couldn't help but respond. 

Anyway, yes, I think we should make a list. I'm going to hop on a MUD and do a random number generation.

The results:
1- lamaros, 2-Miasma, 3-Samwise, 4-Rendakor, 5-Margalis, 6-Strazos, 7-Lt.Dan, 8-hal, 9-Stray, 10-Tebonas, 11-sigil, 12-NowhereMan, 13-MaceVanHoffen, 14-B-o-k-o-n-o-n, 15-Prospero and 16-Phildo

11,3,8,4,1,10,9,16,2,15,13,7,5,14,6,12

So, the book list will be, (and I'll post this on the first page):

sigil, Samwise, hal, Rendakor, lamaros, Tebonas, Stray, Phildo, Miasma, Prospero, MaceVanHoffen, Lt.Dan, Margalis, Bokonon, Strazos, and NowhereMan

For the constraints of the next book, your pick must be inside Mystery/Noir. Some choices have already been posted if you're confused or if you don't know what to pick.

Edit: What the fuck is going on? Every time I type out Bok's name, it gives me something wacky.

[cmlancas]

sigil, if you could PM Samwise and I with your selection by say, tonight, that'd be swell. I'll try to reach you on steam and PM so he can edit my post (he has this newfangled neat lookin' thing on the first post) and I can start you a new thread.


Oh, and I won't    it up. I promise. So come out of your shells, people!

[Samwise]

Sigil, disregard the bit about PMing me.     cmlancas, you can always edit your own posts, unless we put you in the special group and nobody told me.

Also, just a suggestion -- you can skip the coordinating on PMs and stuff.  Just have the next picker start the thread for the next book.  cmlancas will see it and update the first post of this thread accordingly.  Everyone wins and I don't have to do anything.   

[lamaros]

I think picking books two weeks before read date woudl still be good, considering some people's trouble with ordering.

Also, should Soukyan be on that list?

[Margalis]

Couple comments:

1. There is no need to force people to pick from certain genres. If people pick genres they personally like over time that will represent all the genres in proportion to audience taste. If 25% of people want to read Noir then those 25% can pick Noir for their books.

2. It doesn't seem right to me to exclude people who didn't participate in the first discussion, especially people who read the book and were turned off by the fucktardery -- while including the fucktards. Posting in any of the book club threads should be enough assuming the person is still interested.

Let's just keep a list of all the interested people along with whether they have picked or not.

[cmlancas]

Oops. It isn't perfect. Just tack him on at the end? 

Oh, and I don't know how you did that nifty header stuff. It was nice and tidy and I liked it. About the only html I know is <a href=> :P

[hal]

Please remove me from your list as I am not participating. I just went back through the thread and failed to see where I had posted. But, what ever . Please remove me from your list.

Thank you

[Samwise]

Oh, and I don't know how you did that nifty header stuff. It was nice and tidy and I liked it. About the only html I know is <a href=> :P

BBcode is even easier than HTML. 

To make a link:

Code:

[url=LINK]link text[/url]

To make that nice horizontal line thing (a "horizontal rule"):

Code:

[hr]

You don't even have to type all that in.  To add a link, highlight the link text and click the button.  To add an hrule, click the button.  It's like using MS Word.

[Strazos]

OH damn, I've been using "<a href>" all these years.

[Samwise]

[url] is much better.  It automatically opens the link in a new window instead of taking over my precious f13 window.   

[Samwise]

So is sigil picking a book or what?   

Yes, I overuse the  emoticon.  But it so perfectly encapsulates the way I feel most of the day.

 

[cmlancas]

I move we should push him to the end of the line. Samwise, go ahead. (I know you'll be on here today  )

 

[Samwise]

Right then.  Book is A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller.  GO!

[lamaros]

hal Rendakor, if you're about I wondered if you had a book in mind (you're up next) and if so could let people know here in this thread a week in advance or so if it's going to prove troublesome to get a hold of.

Edit: hal asked above to be removed from the list.

[Rendakor]

I'm next?! OH SHI-

Since we're doing "Literature" it can't be anything remotely new, right? Let me check my collection when I get home, and I'll post my pick tonight. It won't be noir, but I'll try to get us away from sci-fi at least.

[Margalis]

I don't see why it can't be new. I also don't see why it can't be something you haven't read.

[lamaros]

Yeah go for broke, I will most likely pick something new that I havn't read when it's my turn. (But from an author I trust).

[Rendakor]

Alright well, assuming everyone hasn't read it, my pick is Battle Royale by Koushun Takami.

[lamaros]

If you've read it is there any specific translation you recommend?

Looks like there's only one translation going around.

[Rendakor]

The original japanese, of course!

Didn't even think of that to be honest. Mine's translated by Yuji Oniki, the one published in the US by Viz. Tried to find it on amazon, the one they have on there that is the novel and not the manga looks like mine, but they don't have a translator credited.

Edit: Yea I wasn't aware there was more than one, so your comment confused me.

[Samwise]

Alright well, assuming everyone hasn't read it, my pick is Battle Royale by Koushun Takami.

Haven't read it.  Will start looking for it as soon as I finish Canticle for the umpteenth time.

[lamaros]

Is that more or less than the nth time?

[Phildo]

I may need to bow out of this for a few months until school is over.  I just can't keep up with the pace of the reading and actually study at the moment.  I'll still be happy to recommend a book when my turn comes around, though.

[Samwise]

Is that more or less than the nth time?

The answer to that question varies with the value of n.