The Shadow of the Wind was already a CC Book Club selection – before your time with us (in 2010)! The Shadow of the Wind April CC Book Club Selection
LOL. I think I knew that once upon a time. I joined when you discussed Possession, one of my favorite books of all time.
How about something by Isabelle Allende? I loved House of the Spirits when I read it a million years ago, but never got around to reading anything else. Recently someone suggested The Stories of Eva Luna if we wanted to talk about short stories, though perhaps one would want to read Eva Luna first.
Will admit after the last two books in the mood for a page turner. Haven’t been reading much so just trying to participate in suggestions
prince of Tides - powerful book
Never read - snow falling on cedars orPeace like a river
I have these to be read
my Friends - Bachman
And Broken Country Claire
Hall
Took Ignatius advice and looked at the best books thread -and lots of love for The Correspondent! Buzz with that book over there
I re-read The Thorn Birds last spring – I think because we had talked about it briefly during one of our CC discussions? Anyway, it’s still a page turner, although the central “romantic” relationship is pretty unhealthy and maybe also creepy by 2025 standards. I enjoyed the re-read (sort of
), but I don’t think I’d want to read it again.
I sense we’re leaning toward a contemporary novel, so let me cull through what’s been suggested above (so many good ideas!) and come up with a selection for voting.
Not sure we can get less healthy romance or creepier than Wuthering Heights! But yes, there was a lot that was uncomfortable in that book. I am going to reread it but would rather rewatch the miniseries.
Yes, you’re absolutely right about that! Heathcliff is 1,000 times worse than Father Ralph, and Wuthering Heights wins the creepy relationships contest hands down.
I believe it was close to a tie (it’s reading as a tie now) last month so I nominate The Unseen World. Obviously not a classic though. Would anyone want to read A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, I tried to read it eons ago and was bored, but so many people love it I’d be willing to give it another go if there were interest.
I’ve read A tree Grows in Brooklyn several times but not recently. I did reference it recently when discussing our family cemetery plots with my brother; he’s turning over two of the remaining four to me. There’s a conversation in the book that the situation called to mind. (He hadn’t read it but I’m positive his wife and daughter have.)
Hi, sorry, I didn’t mean to disappear – had to deal with something at home that took me away from the computer for the day.
Thank you for all the suggestions. My sense from the comments is that going the contemporary route is preferred, so I decided to eliminate the classics for this round. We’re flexible — we can reschedule Classics Month for another time.
I try not to be dependent on ratings, but Enlightenment made me skittish, so I narrowed down the remaining choices based on high Goodreads scores (4 or over).
So there are five contenders:
Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall
The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
My Friends by Frederik Backman
The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow
The Unseen World by Liz Moore
Here’s the ballot – please rank all five choices in order of desire. Thanks!
Looks like I started the voting, but admittedly after reading samples I am only interested in two of them. Didn’t vote beyond them so as not to skew results. I’m not in the mood for death or grief, no matter how beautifully written.
Marilyn agree with you, after reading if The Broken Country was sad found out it is and considered an emotionally heavy book. Regret mentioning it now- in the mood for something lighter too
Here, I know we all like to watch the “results” bars move around: RCV123 - Results
We’re about half-way to the finish line – generally have 12-15 voters.
24 hours and 13 votes later, The Ten Thousand Doors of January wins by a nose!
@Marilyn, get ready for a re-read.
I don’t want any spoilers, and I don’t want to read any reviews (until I’m done), but my impression is that this is an uplifting adventure fantasy, with a bit of a love story thrown into the mix (good for February
).
Since it’s a 2019 book, it should be fairly easy for everyone to get their hands on. My library has it on the shelf right now; whereas, I am #346 in line for The Correspondent. (We can put that book on the voting list again for April if everybody else finds themselves in the same boat.)
Just snagged my copy on E-bay!! It will be a good January book.
And some mysteries to solve! I don’t remember details but do remember finishing and thinking, I’d like to read that again - and discuss it! It builds a bit slowly so be patient.
It’s available on Kindle Unlimited if you subscribe.
“The Ten Thousand Doors …” sounds good to me.
Adding my 2 cents re: “The Correspondent” – it’s excellent! I read it for my RL Book Club and everyone in the group liked it. The previous month we read “The Broken Country.” IMO the writing was good but the storyline was quite sad and most of the characters were unlikeable.
Looking forward to this!: The Ten Thousand Doors of January - February CC Book Club Selection
What are you reading in the interim?
I am nearly finished with the short novel, The Spinning Heart by Donal Ryan. Many years ago – in 2014 to be exact, I looked it up! – this book was recommended by the late NJTheatreMOM. Those who remember her will recall that she was a discerning reader (to put it mildly). She wrote in one of our discussions, “The most recent prize-winning book I read that more than fulfilled its promise was The Spinning Heart by Donal Ryan.” I made a note of that, but the book languished on my to-read list until this past summer, when I was in a bookstore in Ireland and saw it on a table, signed by the author. I thought of her, picked it up, and came home with a fine souvenir. Thank you NJTheatreMOM, eleven years after the fact.
What a testimony to NJtheatermom, that more than a decade later you remember her -makes me think of invisible life of Addie larue and the need to be remembered
What an amazing confluence of events,while in Ireland you find a signed copy of that book! - makes me think of the cosmic connections and random moments that happen ala “enlightenment “ ——