Reading Grp - Pick a Book for March 2005

[maddog]

I scanned the FF Reading Group thread and made a list of all those who I thought had seriously nominated at least one book. I've picked one book nominated by each person to create the poll. Those who know better than I should figure out a way to have a "potential nominees" thread. At any rate, if none of these is satisfactory, we can create a new poll. If this poll works, I hope to leave it open until Feb 28 (we start reading on Mar 1). Sound OK?
#236

[Beth]

I voted Chatterly, but I would like to also include that Catch 22 is also a good choice. I had some difficulty with its style, but liked its humor, thus, I never read much of it. I would love to read it in a group discussion. I think what the author is trying to say in his ironic humor could be better understood.

[livius drusus]

I voted Brave New World because it's been ages since I read it and it's gotten far more topical lately.

[viscousmemories]

I'm going to make my decision in February. :yup:

[Seven of Nine]

I picked Sirens of Titan. I'm too late for the poll, of course, but after reading liv's post, I'd also like to suggest Player Piano by Vonnegut.

[livius drusus]

Do you mean Player Piano is particularly topical right now, Seven? More so than Sirens, perhaps? Sorry about my Vonnegut ignorance, but I'd definitely like to remedy it. :)

[Seven of Nine]

Do you mean Player Piano is particularly topical right now, Seven? More so than Sirens, perhaps? Sorry about my Vonnegut ignorance, but I'd definitely like to remedy it. :)

eek, liv! I'm the last person you want to remedy your supposed "ignorance"! :sadcheer:
Right now? To me, the more things change the more they stay the same.
Player Piano touches me more, and I reread it about every six years. That doesn't mean it's the more topical work for anyone else, though.
There's a sense in which nearly all early Vonnegut novels remain germane, as do his short stories (perhaps particularly Harrison Berrigan, sp?).
I enjoyed Sirens, of course, but don't feel the same compulsion to keep it an ongoing part of my life, and that's how I normally determine topicality: some works endure.
I have no compelling intellectual argument, because stories aren't about intellect to me.
It really just comes down to this:

I own Animal Farm, but not Nineteen-Eighty-Four.
I own In Watermelon Sugar, but not Willard and His Bowling Trophies.
I own Player Piano, but not The Sirens of Titan.

It's possible that everyone else would be disappointed; that this particular vision of the future wouldn't move them, becuase they would find themselves unable to enjoy Player Piano, for always thinking to themselves "But what does this have to do with what's happening now?".

If I had to state just a few words what I believe is the theme of PP, I suppose that I would say that it explores what life is like in a society in which no individual is particularly necessary.
I think that's very topical indeed, but it's not like BNW or Fahrenheit 451; instead, Vonnegut sneaks up on you. For PP, Vonnegut created a future which is not primarily predictive (although it has its moments :D). It's a setting which displays the protaganist's struggle to find meaning in his life when society does not provide any validation whatsoever.

In Vonnegut's God Bless You, Mister Rosewater, the opposite is true, so it's set in the present. Rosewater is about a man whose life is so imbued with meaning that his relative worth to society is irrelevant to him.

erk. erm. akk. I think I have a furball.

[livius drusus]

Don't cough anything up on account of me, Seven. I think that's a great post. It really makes me want to read Vonnegut, that's for sure. :yup:

[Seven of Nine]

Don't cough anything up on account of me, Seven. I think that's a great post. It really makes me want to read Vonnegut, that's for sure. :yup:

oh good. Sometimes when I try to explain why someone might like a book (or film), it backfires somehow. :doh:

Although, when I told someone that Watership Down was like Last Temptation of Christ, only with bunnies, the person bought it anyhow. :eek:

[viscousmemories]

It came down to a choice between Sirens of Titan and Brave New World for me. I think I read the former 10 years ago, but I'm not positive. I know I've never read the latter but I've always meant to. That said I voted for the former, since I suspect it's the lighter (moodwise) of the two.

[Seven of Nine]

It came down to a choice between Sirens of Titan and Brave New World for me. I think I read the former 10 years ago, but I'm not positive. I know I've never read the latter but I've always meant to. That said I voted for the former, since I suspect it's the lighter (moodwise) of the two.

vm, I've read both, and I also think that Sirens is the lighter read.

Sadly, I doubt if I can obtain a copy of either in time. I can lurk, though, until I do. :)

[viscousmemories]

vm, I've read both, and I also think that Sirens is the lighter read.
I thought as much. I really love Vonnegut's style. :yup:

Sadly, I doubt if I can obtain a copy of either in time. I can lurk, though, until I do. :)
Oh come'on! I found both on the book cart at the county jail. Surely your local library can compete with that! :)

[Ronin]

Oh come'on! I found both on the book cart at the county jail. Surely your local library can compete with that! :)

You really would be surprised, vm.

:jail:

[viscousmemories]

Damn, that would suck. :sadnana:

I've probably been spoiled by growing up in a college town and having lived in or near big cities ever since. I can't imagine not having a fully stocked library nearby.

[Seven of Nine]

Damn, that would suck. :sadnana:

I've probably been spoiled by growing up in a college town and having lived in or near big cities ever since. I can't imagine not having a fully stocked library nearby.

Oh, we have one, but I can't get there. The library has a service which delivers books to me (which is good), but only every three weeks (which is bad).

[maddog]

Hello readers:

I'm going to treat this poll like a horse-race and not an election. No majorities required. "Brave New World" wins by a nose as the Reading Group book to read during March 2005.

On Tuesday Mar 1st, I will go to the "Caged Bird" thread and intro the discussion.

You must forgive me; I've been ill for a couple of weeks and have pressing work on Monday to try to make up some ground for end-of-the-month production stats.

Who would like to host discussion of the March book and set up the new selection poll?

#326

[livius drusus]

There's nothing to forgive, obviously. People are dropping like flies at work -- mainly from the flu. How are you feeling now, maddog?

I think you should start a new thread to intro the discussion on "Caged Bird". IMO, it works better as an op.

[John Carter]

Am I missing something? I have looked and I don't see a thread that seems appropriate for making nominations.

[maddog]

Am I missing something? I have looked and I don't see a thread that seems appropriate for making nominations.
No, not missing anything. To set up my poll, I simply combed back through some thrown-out suggestions in the "Let's have a reading group" thread. I think the "system" contemplates some kind of nomination method, but better heads than mine will understand how to organize it (e.g., one overall ongoing nominee thread; a per-month nominee thread; how to get the nominations down to a workable size, etc.). My poll may have had too many choices, but as it was the inaugural poll, I simply picked one book named by each person in the "group" thread who had thrown an idea into the hat.
#328

[livius drusus]

I think one overall ongoing nominee thread would be a good idea at this juncture. If it gets too crowded we can always shift to a per-month thread. Perhaps we can brainstorm on how to narrow down the nominations for the monthly poll in that thread.

[TomJoe]

Being Mr. Observant, I didn't see this poll until it was already closed.

I would have voted for Catch-22, which I assume was put in the poll based on my recommendation.

:cry:

[Seven of Nine]

Being Mr. Observant, I didn't see this poll until it was already closed.

I would have voted for Catch-22, which I assume was put in the poll based on my recommendation.

:cry:

I can't help but wish Catch-22 had won. Not only is it a great book, but I own it.

As say this as Ms. Observant, who failed to call the librarian immediately and order every book on the list. :cry:

[Crumb]

Well Catch-22 should definitely be carried over to the next list, because I own it too and have read it. It is fabulous. I voted for brave new world though because I hadn't read it.

[xouper]

HAH! Y'all can blame me. I was the very first vote in the poll for Brave New World, which is available free on the web.

http://www.huxley.net/bnw/


For me it was a toss up between that and Catch-22, so I would definitely consider voting for that next month.

[viscousmemories]

Hey that's awesome! I haven't been able to get to the library yet. Thanks, xouper.

Is that really the whole book? It seems pretty short.