Potential Books For Reading

[Ramblingsid]

In all seriousness I like Liam's suggestion of something by John Cowper Powys.

[Colette Jones]

Originally Posted by Ramblingsid

so why are we using these arbitrary criteria to reduce the lists? Bah humbug!!

Because Stewart specified he would rather we read translated literature for the group reads (some people will be able to read the original, but I didn't think he meant original in English).

[Elie]

I think this is a great idea and have just purchased August's book.

For future reads, how about The Tin Drum by Gunter Grass, or Darkness At Noon by Arthur Koestler, or Death In Venice by Thomas Mann? I'm equally happy to read things recommended by other people though - book groups are great ways to discover new authors.

[lionel]

Originally Posted by Aiculik

Have you read it?

Yes, although it was a while ago.

Originally Posted by Aiculik

Was it violent?

Oh, no. La Jalousie is more geometry than anything else. There's not really any plot, no psychological analysis but much psychology, the same view is seen from different (but the same first person) angles, and there's no resolution, only questions. I've probably said too much now, but wow, is this a different read!

[lionel]

Originally Posted by Ramblingsid

In all seriousness I like Liam's suggestion of something by John Cowper Powys.

Me too. I'm in favo(u)r of the discusson of any anarchist, anyway - why do you think I'm into Kelman and Britton, for instance?

PS Why are you gettin serious all of a sudden? There must be a plot goin on somewhere!

[Ramblingsid]

Originally Posted by Colette Jones

Because Stewart specified he would rather we read translated literature for the group reads (some people will be able to read the original, but I didn't think he meant original in English).

Ah did he? Missed that

Well there's room for everything of course - as long as we don't throw the baby out with the bathwater - whatever that means.

Still we appear to have enough suggestions to last us until about 2025 - some poetry would be nice though

[beelzebubbles]

I suggest something by Saramago. I have been meaning to try him.

[Liam]

Originally Posted by Ramblingsid

as long as we don't throw the baby out with the bathwater - whatever that means.

Penelope Fitzgerald wrote a wonderful (if slightly unsettling) short-story, based on true events, about a village doctor attending a pregnant woman on a distant farm. She gives birth to twins, and they throw the second twin out onto the muck-heap, mistaking it for the afterbirth. Not until she begins to whimper quietly do they realize what the fuck happened! Both girls survive though, and go on to have careers, and "the rest of it."

I should like to nominate Heaney's Selected Poems.

He's my favorite living poet, so I second your choice wholeheartedly! (Which of his collections do you like the most?)

Or, in a spirit of compromise, how about Seamus Heaney's translation of Beowulf?

I've only read it a couple of... hundred times, but OK!

In all seriousness I like Liam's suggestion of something by John Cowper Powys.

Well, considering that the shortest book the man ever wrote is STILL around 600 pages, not gonna happen, sorry, .


Cheers,
L

[lionel]

Originally Posted by Ramblingsid

Well there's room for everything of course - as long as we don't throw the baby out with the bathwater - whatever that means.

Ah, this is not a silly comment at all: some translations do indeed have this effect. Caveat, emptor. But then...

[Colette Jones]

Sorry Ramblingsid, I tried to link in my post to Stewart's spec of translated lit but it got stuck trying to edit. I think it's about two pages back from the end of the "Group Reads?" thread.

Is anyone else having problems with the forum getting a bit stuck on occasion? I get it when trying to look at PMs or members or even sometimes just bringing up the unread posts in a thread. I have a new-ish PC though so I know it could be my anti-virus or whatever I might not yet have thought of...

[Stewart]

Originally Posted by Colette Jones

Sorry Ramblingsid, I tried to link in my post to Stewart's spec of translated lit but it got stuck trying to edit. I think it's about two pages back from the end of the "Group Reads?" thread.

I think I just said it would be a preference. In the end, it's discussions like this that, when people show interest, will get books on to the list. 600 page books do sound a bit much for a book group where you want maximum participation. The ultimate consideration should be availability.

[Beth]

Is there only one translation of If On a Winter's Night? Want to make sure I get the right one for the group read. I've wanted to read this for a long time, and relish the thought of reading and discussing it with others.

[liehtzu]

Originally Posted by Liam

Although I love Patrick White and have all of his books at home, there's no potion in the ocean that's going to help some of our fellow-members finish (or even get to the half-way point) of White's behemoth in a month! Especially not those of us who have, I dunno, day-jobs.

I disagree, actually. Come to think of it, I don't think I should have suggested any of the shorter novels that I suggested. A month is a nice long time, and I think a book - and the discussion of a book - the length of Pamuk's White Castle will be well exhausted quite quickly. A bigger, meaner one like Riders in the Chariot would be a richer discussion topic.

In that spirit, Llosa has come up and I DO have The Green House on the shelf. That would work for me. Or perhaps each of us interested should suggest two and then we'll vote?

[Ramblingsid]

Originally Posted by Beth

Is there only one translation of If On a Winter's Night? Want to make sure I get the right one for the group read. I've wanted to read this for a long time, and relish the thought of reading and discussing it with others.

Well, mine is translated by William Weaver and appears to have been first published in the UK in 1981.

[Ramblingsid]

Originally Posted by beelzebubbles

I suggest something by Saramago. I have been meaning to try him.

me too and I concur wholeheartedly

[Ramblingsid]

Liam, on the Heaney matter I would have to say "North" as this was the first of his collections that I came across in the mid to late 70s - I remember it having a great impact on me at the time - it may even be on my list of 50 favourites elsewhere on this forum.

It's a collection I return to time after time and it never disappoints me. But lets face it nothing of his ever does.

And on the matter of John Cowper Powys and other producers of mammoth works who is to say that, if we all agree on a mega-work, we can't also decide to have a six or eight week discussion to give us all time to get to grips with it. We make the rules here after all.

[Colette Jones]

Originally Posted by Beth

Is there only one translation of If On a Winter's Night? Want to make sure I get the right one for the group read. I've wanted to read this for a long time, and relish the thought of reading and discussing it with others.

Originally Posted by Ramblingsid

Well, mine is translated by William Weaver and appears to have been first published in the UK in 1981.

My copy (or my library's copy, I should say) is the William Weaver translation also.

[Liam]

Liehtzu:

I disagree, actually. Come to think of it, I don't think I should have suggested any of the shorter novels that I suggested... A bigger, meaner one like Riders in the Chariot would be a richer discussion topic.

Since I've read most of White's books, I don't care either way, but yeah, when you put it THAT way, longer novels do seem more compelling. My top three favorites from White, in order of personal preference: A Fringe of Leaves, The Eye of the Storm, Voss. I've also enjoyed his plays; Netherwood is particularly good.

...

Ramblingsid:

...if we all agree on a mega-work, we can't also decide to have a six or eight week discussion to give us all time to get to grips with it. We make the rules here after all.

May I suggest, then, all 12 novels of A Dance to the Music of Time? Never read it myself, but methinks it's about time... .

[North is]... a collection I return to time after time and it never disappoints me.

That one is a wee bit political, if you know what I mean, especially the poems Viking Dublin, Bone Dreams, Act of Union, etc. I prefer the later collections, The Haw Lantern (1987) and The Spirit Level (1996).

...

Colette:

My copy (or my library's copy, I should say) is the William Weaver translation also.

Ditto.




Cheers,
L

[promtbr]

If Colette, Kevinfromcanada and I can pursuade enough to our (possible October Nobel Winner Camp)
I will throw out:

Lovely Green Eyes– Arnost Lustig
In The Dutch Mountains– Cees Nooteboom (Maybe too short, he's pretty much a novella-guy )
The Discovery of Heaven– Harry Musilich
Wizard of the Crow– Ngugi Thiong’o
Edit; added:
The Greenhouse-- Vargas Llossa
Marks of Identity-- Jaun Goytisolo (maybe too inacessible and less readily available for us ... but he is for sure a contender)


If squeaky wheels are not in our favor, from Lietzu’s list I second:
The Tartar Steppe-- Dino Buzzati
Naomi-- Tanizaki Junichiro
The Garlic Ballads-- Mo Yan
Three Trapped Tigers-- G. Cabrera Infante
Short Letter, Long Farewell-- Peter Handke

---

[Ramblingsid]

Originally Posted by Liam

Ramblingsid:

That one is a wee bit political, if you know what I mean, especially the poems Viking Dublin, Bone Dreams, Act of Union, etc. I prefer the later collections, The Haw Lantern (1987) and The Spirit Level (1996).

ah well it could be that I am a wee bit political myself and of course it was very much of the time and place in the mid seventies when I first came across it, as was I, a relative youngster not long turned 20. But I still love it.

And yes I love the other two you mention as well ..