Book Club Book Choices

[Hannah F]

My two are The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern (fantasy) and The Toy Makers by Robert Dinsdale (historical urban fantasy)

 

[James Charles]

1) I would love to get the Club's reaction to Trust, by Hernan Diaz (Pulitzer prize novel 2022).

2) Second choice: The Family Remains by Lisa Jewell (i picked this up at the San Francisco airport on my way back to Hawaii from NYC in October and read it on the flight (5 1/2 hours). This author has sold more than 10 million books in several languages.

@Jason L.

 

[Pamela Jo]

1) I would love to get the Club's reaction to Trust, by Hernan Diaz (Pulitzer prize novel 2022).

2) Second choice: The Family Remains by Lisa Jewell (i picked this up at the San Francisco airport on my way back to Hawaii from NYC in October and read it on the flight (5 1/2 hours). This author has sold more than 10 million books in several languages.

@Jason L.

I just bought Trust James. It was marked down at my local book store. It was between that and a Spanish author's thriller.

 

[Pamela Jo]

The Last Unicorn, Peter S Beagle.

A Judgement in Stone, Ruth Rendell

 

[Peyton Stafford]

Blue Angel by Francine Prose. Beautifully written academic comedy. Protagonist teaches creative writing at a small liberal arts college. Students have no talent. Then Angela Argo appears... Aside from the hilarious plot, I loved how Prose showed the characters' thoughts and feelings.

The Green Girl by Kate Zambreno. A young American woman works at Horrid's (Harrods in real life) department store by day and tries to make sense of her life. Don't we all? Beautiful writing.

 

[CarolMS]

The Green Girl by Kate Zambreno. A young American woman works at Horrid's (Harrods in real life) department store by day and tries to make sense of her life. Don't we all? Beautiful writing.

I would so love to see this book chosen for the book club. I'd forgotten about it, and you've reminded me it's one I've wanted to read since when I started writing my novel in 2012, soon after this book was first published. I think I heard about it from a review by Roxane Gay. whose recommendations I tend to find in sync with my interests. I just ordered the book, at last--thanks to your reminder--and read the testimonials, including this one from Gay:

“The best word to describe Kate Zambreno’s Green Girl is searing. . . A novel about a young woman who is learning how to perform her femininity, who is learning the power of it, the fragility of it.” — Roxane Gay, Bookslut

Yup. Sounds like my kind of book, and I suspect it will have some resonance with my novel. Thanks, Peyton! I hope it gets chosen.

 

[Peyton Stafford]

You might also enjoy August Blue by her. Loved the Roxanne Gay quote. Like yours, her writing resonates with me. I have your ms on my TBR list, and hope to read it over the weekend and get back to you.. But life is what it is...

 

[Jonny]

My two would be.

The Beekeeper of Aleppo - Christy Lefteri.

Sort of book I'd never think of reading but it came up as a freebie in Audible and what a treat. Harrowing but superb.

Piransei - Susanna Clarke.

One of the most mesmerising book I have read. Simply sunning.

 

[CarolMS]

You might also enjoy August Blue by her. Loved the Roxanne Gay quote. Like yours, her writing resonates with me. I have your ms on my TBR list, and hope to read it over the weekend and get back to you.. But life is what it is...

(For some reason I'm just seeing this posting from you now. I guess I somehow missed it early in the week. )

I'll look for August Blue. Thanks for letting me know about it.

Also, I'm assuming you saw my message about not needing to worry about the edits I made in my novel MS, since they are very small and won't be significant for the Beta feedback. I did attach the more edited version (8), in case you want to read that one. It's more polished than the first.

I have the draft of your novel saved. I think you said I should wait until you get your revision done. Send it along to me whenever you're ready to, or let me know if you want me to read the version I have.

Cheers! --Carol

 

[Pamela Jo]

I just bought Trust James. It was marked down at my local book store. It was between that and a Spanish author's thriller.

I am finding 'Trust' very hard going and I read Wall Street nonfiction sagas. Feels very, "OHH Look at me, I'm an Auteur." Because it won a Pulitzer I'm hanging in there. Like the child who got a pile of manure for xmas-I'm hoping there is a pony in there somewhere.

 

[yanapuma]

Star of the Sea by Joseph O'Connor, Sinead's brother

 

[Jason L.]

Star of the Sea by Joseph O'Connor, Sinead's brother

Thank you! What is your second choice? Also, who are you? I cannot discern from your handle.

 

[Bloo]

Is this still open? If so, here's two works of fiction straight from the banned books pile...

The Bluest Eye by Tony Morrison. Written in 1970 but set in early 1940s. It centers on the lives of several poor black characters.

Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison. Written in 2018 in a contemporary setting. It's told from the POV of a poor young Mexican-American man.

 

[Jason L.]

I am finding 'Trust' very hard going and I read Wall Street nonfiction sagas. Feels very, "OHH Look at me, I'm an Auteur." Because it won a Pulitzer I'm hanging in there. Like the child who got a pile of manure for xmas-I'm hoping there is a pony in there somewhere.

I am admiring the way he phrases things, but it is rather slow.

 

[Jason L.]

Is this still open? If so, here's two works of fiction straight from the banned books pile...

The Bluest Eye by Tony Morrison. Written in 1970 but set in early 1940s. It centers on the lives of several poor black characters.

Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison. Written in 2018 in a contemporary setting. It's told from the POV of a poor young Mexican-American man.

I'll do a new video because I had already chosen the lot, but I will choose afresh to input your stuff. It'll get done this week, unless you're okay being appended into September? I think that we were scheduled out through August.

 

[Bloo]

Thanks, Jason. Put mine in if you can, when you can.