2018 Book Group - we're making a list - make a suggestion

[Chillywhippet]

It would be great to decide on books for the rest of the year.

So far we have

January North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell

February Fatherland by Robert Harris

So what do we want on our list?
What categories do we want? Just fiction? Maybe a few non fiction, Biography/autobiography?

Two other suggestions that have been made so far
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry

The North and South discussion begins tomorrow but I will post a short summary here with no spoilers if people want to know what people thought.

North and South Thread with spoilers in discussion

I found being in a book club the worst thing for getting me back into the reading habit. I felt obliged to read other people's choices but, because I wasn't enjoying them, I'd read them really slowly. And then never have time for reading my own choices.

Sorry, not helpful.

Thanks for assembling the list. My comments below- no comment means don't mind.

Lesser known by famous author
Suggestions
A Handful of Dust by Waugh
This is a strange book. I am constantly drawn back to it even though I find it quite weird.

Shakespeare and/or novel

Tempest/ Hagseed,
Othello/ Chasing the Stars
King Lear /Wise Children.

Would suggest Othello. Not sure why- I just find the themes interesting. Also there are some good adaptations for those that want to watch as well.

Plays

Punk Rock by Simon Stephens
Pink Mist by Owen Sheers
4.48 Psychosis by Sarah Kane
Our Country’s Good by Timberlake Werternbaker
Oedipus Rex by Sophocles
Trystan and Yseult by Anna Maria Murphy/Kneehigh.

Would be fascinated to read Oedipus Rex having watched it aged 11 when it was our School Play.

Ditto T&Y as I know the story in outline but would like to read.

Maybe you could choose a category / genre for March chilly then anyone can add suggestions and then some kind of vote type thing, first one off the list five people want or something. I don't know.

Good idea Mama - if Chilly doesn't mind

East West Street and Pink Mist are absolutely awesome and probably my favourite books of last year. I cannot recommend them highly enough. And they are both very readable by people without expertise either in that type of book or e.g. law and international relations.

I third mamapants and jaimes!

A good non fiction is The Wicked Boy by Kate Summerscale which also ticks the historical box.

How about Sapiens, or has that been done?

Haven’t forgotten task of deciding. Just been very distracted by GCSE work in my house.

Patrick Rothfuss hasn't finished his trilogy, I don't know if that will make a difference to choosing it here.

The first one was released in 2007 and the second in 2011. The final one has no release date as yet.

He's released I think three novella stories set in the Kingkiller world but still no proper final book. Probably because there's so much to resolve after the first two books.

I liked the first two books (my mother tried to read the first one and described it as "That book where a metal spider fell on that man and the other man got older whenever he came downstairs") but if you like to read all the books in a series quite quickly this might not be the series for you.

Return of the Soldier by Rebecca West because it's about World War 1 and was published in 1918, so would be good for November for the 100th anniversary of the end of WW1. Rebecca West also supported women's suffrage so relevant for that centenary too.

Hi chillywhippet have you come to a decision about the March book? I've actually finished the Feb book ahead of schedule so keen to get cracking with the next if poss

Hi Plenty
Just on way home after trip away.

I was wondering about the Shakespeare play and/or novel combo. What do you think?

There are some good nonfiction sughestions too.

ooh where'd you go- anywhere nice?
Shakespeare sounds a plan - which one were you thinking of?

Right then. Let's try the Shakespeare play and or novel. I think the discussion should work for people who have managed to read just one or both. I

The question is which one?

Shakespeare play and/or novel

Tempest/ Hagseed,
Othello/ Chasing the Stars
King Lear /Wise Children.

I've not read any

You could also go for King Lear/ A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley.

I vote king Lear, with any novel.

Great. the field narrows.

King Lear the play

Which novel though

Wise children or A Thousand Acres?

Will have a look at some blurbs or happy to go with a preference?

I read A Thousand Acres years ago and loved it. I'm just finishing the last book in her Thousand Years trilogy at the moment and she is one of my favourite writers so I'm very biased in favour of Jane Smiley.
I didn't enjoy the only Angela Carter book that I have managed to read so far but I guess I would give her one more chance if you decide to go with that one. The play/novel is a great idea for a book club month.

OK

March is play and/or novel

King Lear by Shakespeare

A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley

The other novel suggestion was Wise Children by Angela Carter if anyone wants to continue with the theme

Plenty we went to see Hamilton the musical. We bought the tickets in January 2017 so our teens ere very excited and loved every minute.

cool!
both ordered as well as a set of bodies notes for king Lear!

brodies notes

Have ordered A Thousand Acres.
Own King Lear already but never read it.
Looking forward to these. Been years since I've read any Shakespeare

There is a film version of A Thousand Acres as well-Jessica Lange, Michelle Pfeiffer and Jennifer Jason Leigh are the sisters in it. I never saw it but have ordered it from the library along with the book. I have never read any Shakespeare plays except the two we had to study in school so am both looking forward to and a bit nervous about King Lear.

Ooh interesting - I always feel bad about my lack of knowledge of most Shakespeare plays. Only really know the ones I studied at school. Need to finish fatherland then see if I can manage play and book.

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley would be a great sci-fi book club pick. Easy to read and one the most thought-provoking books ever written. I didn't think all that much of The Power either.