New Book Club Proposal

[Kerri]

Hello! I am not sure if everyone was aware that we had a nice little book club on the HL board going for awhile. I think because we finished the books we decided on, plus no one really liked the last book Mansfield Park, it kind of fizzled out. Well, I really enjoyed the discussions and it really helped me branch out into reading new books. So, my proposal is that we use the voting already done to choose the last round of books and take the second most popular choices. If you don't remember, the results were:

Contemporary Fiction
Handmaid's Tale- Atwood /////
The Mistress of Spices- Divakaruni //////////
When We Were Orphans- Ishiguro////
Fortune's Rocks- Shreve
The Hours- Cunningham ////
The Last Time We Met-Shreve

Non-Fiction
Wild Swans- Chang
Simple Living Guide-Luhrs ///////////
The Passionate Nomad-//
The Perfect Storm
Endurance //////

Classics
Mansfield Park //////////
Madame Bovary /
Mrs. Dalloway ////////
Crime and Punishment //
Pride and Prejudice

We already read Mistress of Spices, The Simple Living Guide, and Mansfield Park. The second place books were : Handmaid's Tale by Atwood, Endurance by Alfred Lansing (there is also a book entitled The Endurance by Caroline Alexander, but I wasn't sure which one you were referring to), and Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf.

Following the same format as the last time, how about if we discuss Handmaid's Tale, the end of October, Endurance at the end of November, and Mrs. Dalloway at the end of December. Let me know if you are interested and if you have and suggestions or advice. Happy reading!

[tracey67]

Hi -- I've never participated in the book club discussions before, but I wanted to add something to your suggestions (which seem like really great choices, BTW). If you DO decide to read Mrs. Dalloway, you may want to consider combining it with The Hours by Michael Cunningham. I haven't read either book, but I know that The Hours intertwines a story about Virginia Woolf writing Mrs. Dalloway with a completely new story. The Hours was written recently (within the last 5 years, I think) and won the Pulitzer prize. I have many friends who have read both books, and they all really enjoyed The Hours and say that it makes a great companion to Mrs. Dalloway.

Anyway -- just a thought -- and if I can find the time, I'd love to read along with you guys and join in the discussions.

tracey

[Sara Emily]

Kerri, I'm really glad and grateful you posted this thread, as I was beginning to miss our little book discussion group. I think your suggestions are good ones, and you can count me in.

Also, I was glad to read Tracey's addition, and plan on reading The Hours as well. If December gets too busy with holiday activities, perhaps it could be a Jan. add-on. I guess it really depends on how large and formidable a book the Virginia Woolf volume is. I've never read anything of hers, and had always planned to, so I'm glad for this opportunity to read AND discuss.

[mmanddf]

I read all the time, and I agree with tracey67 that Mrs. Dalloway should be read in conjunction with The Hours. In fact, it is better if you read Mrs. Dalloway first, then the hours, it will be so much more meaningful. I would love to join the discussion...Handmaid's Tale is awesome and unforgettable! You have chosen some really good books, and some really good authors.:)

[Chefzhat]

How nice! I'd love to read and chat!! Can you post a few more details?? What same format as last time??

Debie

[dcornelius]

I am working all week end but will be at Barnes and Nobel on monday to get the first book. Tell us new people how this is done! When, so on and so on...

[SusieO]

Thanks for bringing this up, Kerri. I think we have some really great ideas going here.

For those who were not around for last summer's book discussions, we read one book per month and then discussed it at the end of the month, or beginning of the next month. Someone would post a discussion question and everyone who wanted to would comment on it.

I like the idea of reading the second choices, and also the idea of reading The Hours after Mrs. Dalloway. So just to clarify, I think this is what we're saying we want to read:

October - The Handmaid's Tale
November - Endurance
December - Mrs. Dalloway
January - The Hours

Count me in!

[KValley]

Sheepishly checking in! I did read and did enjoy Mansfield Park, but got too busy to comment. So count me in on this next round of books, beginning in November (already read and won't have time for discussion of Handmaid's Tale, but life calms down a bit in November).

I love the idea of reading The Hours as a companion to Mrs. Dalloway. Thanks so much for the suggestion, Tracey!

So looking forward to CL Book Club Round Two!

[SusanT]

I just finished reading Handmaid's Tale. It's one of the most chilling and disturbing books I've ever read. I'll be interested in hearing everyone's reactions to it.

[Nirak]

Thanks for starting this up again. I read your summer selections about a month late so then I just read your discussion threads to enhance my experience. Since so many didn't love Mansfield Park, I skipped that. I would love to be in on the next wave of books. I read Handmaid's Tale many years ago and was dying to discuss it! It will be fun to read it again. I have started "The Hours" twice and couldn't get going with it ... now I know that being familiar with Virginai Woolfe will help alot. I think doing related material can really enhance a book group discussion. I'm looking forward to reading & discussing with this group.

[Susan]

<<October - The Handmaid's Tale
November - Endurance
December - Mrs. Dalloway
January - The Hours>>

Count me in also! I read Handmaid's Tale many years back so I will dig it out of my shelves. I've wanted to read the others since they were originally mentioned, especially Mrs Dalloway. Thanks for resurrecting the book club!

~Susan~

[SusanT]

Read Alias Grace if you haven't already. It's fascinating.

[KathrynY]

I'm interested in participating this time around - the selections above sound great. :)

I read the summer books, but didn't end up posting. So many others had such great thoughts and insightful comments, it was fun to follow along.

Thanks, Kerri, and everyone for reviving the Book Club!

[kima]

First I apologize for my lack of participation with the last book-Mansfield Park. It was a very busy summer and try as I might I jusy couldn't get into MP. I really think the book club is fun and even if we don't all comment alot it is good motivation to all read the same book. Now that fall is here I am sure I can settle down and read some classics.
I have read The Handmaid's Tale. It is a very disturbing book- but relevant to the situation of Afghanistan women under the Taliban. When I read THMT I thought- well this could never happen- but of course it has. A very thought provoking book but be forewarned it is quite dark and chilling!!
Anyway I look forward to a great discussion.
Thankyou so much for starting the club up again Kerri. We will start the discussion at the end of October??

[pammy]

I lurked around the book discussion threads this summer, but was reading other stuff at the time (books I had borrowed from a co-worker, I really feel the need to read those first and return them before starting my own).

Anyway, I also read the Handmaid's Tale years ago, will have to dig out my copy (or did I borrow it from the library when I was going through my Atwood phase, hmmmm). SusanT, I'm going to have to take another stab at Alias Grace, I abandoned it about halfway through, couldn't stick with it.

I'm really excited about Mrs. Dalloway - has been on my "to read" forever. Looking at the list of other runners up, I hope we get to Crime & Punishment, one of my favorite books of all time, would love to reread it again and talk about it with all of you. My other fav of all time (goes way back to childhood, will still pull it out to reread it makes me feel so good) is Little Women. I know, I'm a sap.

[Kerri]

Yea! I am excited about our next round of discussions then. Just a little note about the format, it is VERY informal. Usually, somebody, anybody, can bring up something the liked or didn't like and ask questions to the other readers about it. Maybe for the Handmaid's Tale we can find organized questions that are used when this is read in schools. The main thing is not to be shy!

[Veronica]

Count me in starting in November. Sounds like fun! I read the Handmaid's Tale years ago, so I won't have time to reread it this month. But, I'm looking forward to Endurance. That sounds like a great book.