Already lots of choices. I need to start looking them up…
Oh man, you guys are making me work this time around. Just to make things more difficult, I’m going to put East of Eden back on the list.
Re Seveneves, 900 pages is a lot of heft! But we have proven our mettle with The Luminaries and 11/22/63, so I’ll keep it on the list and let the chips fall where they may during elimination rounds.
I would be willing to take the plunge into non-fiction, but would prefer it as a duet paired with fiction, to reduce the risk of a too-short discussion along the lines of “So that happened.”
However, I can’t think of a good pair at the moment. The only non-fiction book on my to-read list is Being Mortal by Atul Gawande and what would we pair that with? Cancer Ward by Alexander Solzhenitsyn? I mean, I’d do it, but it would definitely fall into the category of Worst Summer Beach Reads Ever.
Some of my thinking behind the list I’m about to post:
I’ve read Bel Canto – loved it, but since we’ve already read an Ann Patchett novel, I’ll eliminate that one. Same for The Sparrow – I haven’t read it, but we’ve done Mary Doria Russell.
I have reservations about graphic novels—not really kindle material, for starters. However, Maus is a classic that I feel I should read, so of the three, I’ll add that to the list.
mathmom mentioned Kingsolver and I’ve never read The Poisonwood Bible, so I’ll throw that in there. It’s possible all of you have read it, so it might get booted straight off and that’s fine. NJTM mentioned Edith Wharton, so I randomly chose The House of Mirth.
I’m eliminating Mary Lawson because our last two choices have been contemporary family drama/dynamics and I sense from the wide variety of suggestions that we may want to move in a different direction for this round.
I don’t know anything about Charles de Lint, so will need recommendations for a specific title if we want to add him.
I eliminated a couple other books based on various comments above (already read, not a favorite, etc.). We are left with this all-over-the-place list:
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon
Seveneves by Neal Stephenson
The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton
Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
Neuromancer by William Gibson
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
Maus: A Survivor’s Tale by Art Spiegelman
Start cutting! What won’t you read above? (Or…start adding! What do you wish was on the list?)
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon - I recommend pairing this with The Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon. It’s a somewhat different take (reminded me a bit of Flowers for Algernon - ie sci-fi, but not space ship sci-fi) on Aspergers/autism. I happened to read the two at the same time and thought they really complimented each other. It won a Nebula. That said, I don’t really need to reread it/them again, but would if others are enthusiastic.
I hated the only Chabon novel I read - the magical realist one about baseball.
Loved Age of Innocence so happy to read Wharton. Read jillions of Thomas Hardy’s in high school - I know Far From the Madding Crowd was less gloomy than most of them. I think my favorite was Return of the Native.
As for de Lint - I think one of these two:
Memory and Dream (Newford #2)
Isabelle Copley’s visionary art frees ancient spirits. As the young student of the cruel, brilliant artist Vincent Rushkin, she discovered she could paint images so vividly real they brought her wildest fantasies to life. But when the forces she unleashed brought tragedy to those she loved, she turned her back on her talent – and on her dreams.
Now, twenty years later, Isabelle must come to terms with the shattering memories she has long denied, and unlock the slumbering power of her brush. And, in a dark reckoning with her old master, she must find the courage to live out her dreams and bring the magic back to life
Trader (Newford #4)
Leonard Trader is a luthier, a maker of guitars. Johnny Devlin is chronically unemployed. Leonard is solitary, quiet, responsible. Johnny is a lady-killer, a drunk, a charming loser.
When they inexplicably wake up in each other’s bodies, Johnny gleefully moves into Leonard’s comfortable and stable existence, leaving Leonard to pick up the pieces of a life he had no part in breaking.
Penniless, friendless, homeless, Leonard begins a journey that will take him beyond the streets of the city to an otherworld of dreams and spirits, where he must confront both the unscrupulous Johnny Devlin and his own deepest fears.
I’m afraid that Neuromancer and the de Lint books sound unappealing to me. 
Sorry, mathmom.
However, I think Seveneves would be an interesting challenge! Reading that book seems like it would be a bold new venture for this group – and it’s brand new.
I was intrigued by the review here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/31/books/review/seveneves-by-neal-stephenson.html
The following is something to think about:
Actually, I like to imagine that I would not mind the “techsposition” referred to above, or maybe I could skim some of it. The book does sound good, from that review.
No problem NJTheatreMOM, I joined this group to read more regular fiction, so it’s all good. I’ve only read Stephenson’s Snow Crash, but it was excellent.
I like the sound of the Elizabeth Moon book. I added the option of pairing it with Flowers for Algernon—seemed like that would be an interesting set. I’m poised to cut them, though, because mathmom has read all three—Haddon, Moon and Keyes. But I’m leaving them on for the moment in case there is a groundswell of enthusiasm (or in case you just want to make notes for your off-month reading).
I removed Neuromancer and Kavalier and Clay.
Duet: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon with The Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon
OR The Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon with Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes
Seveneves by Neal Stephenson
The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton
Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
Maus: A Survivor’s Tale by Art Spiegelman
Please continue to veto and/or help guide the selection process!
I would be interested in East of Eden, Far From the Madding Crowd, Anna Karenina, or Seveneves. I’m not eliminating the others, because I can probably be convinced to read them.
I’m not real keen on revisiting Flowers for Algernon. I read the book and saw the movie (Charly). I’ll admit it was years ago, but still…
No eliminations from me either just some books I’m more interested in reading.
**Top choices/b:
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time with The Speed of Dark
Seveneves
**Second choices/b:
*Anna Karenina
Far from the Madding Crowd
The Poisonwood Bible*
**Third choices/b ):
*East of Eden
The House of Mirth*
I’d need to see Maus paired with something this time around. It stands alone better in one of our busier times of year but we’ve aimed for longer, leisurely-er book in summer.
I’ll watch to see what else gets eliminated and then try to rank a top three or four.
Good job Mary!
We’re getting there!
I removed Algernon and *Maus/i ). I also removed The House of Mirth. I know it wasn’t technically eliminated, but since it ranks 7th on ignatius’ list, and is not in Caraid’s top four, there’s no point in keeping it when we have other good choices.
Duet: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon with The Speed of Dark by Elizabeth Moon
Seveneves by Neal Stephenson
Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
Anyone feeling lukewarm about any of the above titles? We could vote with six, but it’s easier if the list is winnowed down to four or five.
I agree that Maus should be paired with something. Too bad the kindle doesn’t handle graphic novels yet! Maus and Persepolis are in black and white which probably helps, but Watchman is in color.
I guess I’d choose Maus, but agree it needs a pairing - it could also be paired with another Holocaust book - but maybe we could revisit the idea later in the year.
So my choices unless more get added of course!
Far From the Madding Crowd (and let’s watch both movies too - that would be really fun to discuss IMO)
Seveneves
Maus (but happy to boot it to a later date)
The Poisonwood Bible
Anna Karenina/House of Mirth/East of Eden - all books I feel mildly guilty about not reading, but they all sound equally depressing!
^ We cross-posted. I already took Maus off, but I like the idea of pairing it with another book for a future discussion.
No eliminations here.
Haven’t read any of those- and, no real preferences…
And once again:
- The duet or *Seveneves* or *Far from the Madding Crowd*
I have no problem with any of the following if picked, but all sound less like kick-back-in-the-summer reading to me. If not chosen this time, I hope the titles crop up again.
- (or #4, I guess) *The Poisonwood Bible*
- (or #5-6) *Anna Karenina* or *East of Eden*
I have to say I feel guilty about The Poisonwood Bible. My mother so wanted us (daughters) to read it - she loved it. None of us picked it up at the time. My oldest daughter just listened to it on audio - in memory of her grandmother - and also loved it. I even have the audio edition thanks to my daughter - but It still remains right where it is on my list at the moment.
mathmom: I understand if you don’t want to revisit the duet but the suggestion is great. I’d like to think I’ll follow up on it even if it doesn’t get chosen - but for now it remains one of my top choices (with enthusiasm).
Sorry I’ve been absent from the Blue Thread discussion, but I’m tiptoeing in to raise my hand for East of Eden! It’s been on my shelf for quite a long while, and I’m feeling in need of reading a classic title.
- *Seveneves*. (I read the sample of the beginning on Amazon and liked it so much that I wanted to get the book and chomp right into it. I will almost certainly read it even if this group doesn't.)
- *Far From the Madding Crowd/i OR *Anna Karenina*.
- The duet (too lazy to write out the titles).
I must admit that I am very lukewarm about both The Poisonwood Bible and East of Eden, though I would be willing to read either if they were chosen.
(I have never read any Kingsolver and have never been tempted to, though I know she is popular.
I went through a Steinbeck phase when I was much younger and I have never really felt like revisiting him. I should read Grapes of Wrath someday, but I probably won’t.)
NJTM: I read Kingsolver’s The Bean Trees and Pigs in Heaven: one I like and one I am ambivalent about. I’m wondering if we shouldn’t just grab NJTM while she’s considering a sci-fi book and hang on. 
Sticking with my choices from above. First time I’ve posted by phone - please excuse any errors.
Ahhhhhhh " the bean trees" …a favorite from long ago
Quite the recommendation from NJTM–enough to get me investigating her top picks a bit more. I’d try either Seveneves or Far from the Madding Crowd. I’m not so wild about the duet because I’ve already read the first of the titles, and I want to read something new (for me, that is 
)
Ha ha! 
Well, you know The Sparrow, which I’m currently reading, is about a Jesuit mission to aliens on another planet. Also, sort of by coincidence, I recently read The Book of Strange New Things, which had similar subject matter, though the plot was very different. I am liking The Sparrow, but I have a feeling that my final assessment will be that the other book is better.
The writing style of Seveneves really grabbed me in the sample on Amazon. I’ll read something in almost any genre if I like the writing well enough.