<p>I’ve read Water for Elephants and thought it was ok but didn’t live up to its hype. Cutting for Stone is meatier and has many different aspects to discuss, so I think it would make for a livelier conversation.</p>
<p>I just did a quick look at each of these books. If I was purchasing for only myself, I would pick Cutting for Stone. </p>
<p>ignatius - I’m about a third into The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo and enjoying it. I have slowed down because school (teaching) just started back up for me. Once the start of the year madness slows down I’ll get back to reading.</p>
<p>I’m willing to go with either book since I’ve already read “Water for Elephants,” and will be reading “Cutting for Stone,” as noted above.</p>
<p>Brief thread hijack :)</p>
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<p>I’m just about a third into the book and like it also. Are you aware that two maps of Hedeby Island got left out of the English copy of the book? You can find them online if you’re interested. I printed copies and find it’s helping me figure out not only who’s where, but also who’s who. Anyway, just thought I’d share the info.</p>
<p>Thanks ignatius. I wasn’t aware of the missing maps. I’ve found them and will use them.</p>
<p>I’m fine with either new book being proposed as I havent’ read either of them. ( I’m just finishing up The Six wives of King Henry VIII- loving it!) I love our book club as the comments are great and I’ve read some great books I might have not picked up.</p>
<p>^^^ Haven’t read either of those mentioned above, sorry can’t be more helpful. Mary and others it’s really up to you.</p>
<p>Am reading Shanghai Sisters now (Not suggesting, just want you to know that I do read -LOL)
Did read The Girl with Dragon Tattoo and didn’t care for the violence, so I haven’t read the others.</p>
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<p>I’m worried about the level of violence. I haven’t hit any violence yet (page 200 so far), but I know it’s coming. Rather I’ve heard it’s coming. I have the movie sitting here on the counter, but decided to read the book before watching the movie. If the violence level is too much for me in the book, I’ll return the movie unwatched. I chose not to watch it at the theater due to its length and possible level of violence. The movie for the second book is at the theater now, but I’ll probably wait and watch it on DVD for the same reason.</p>
<p>I know you read. I now have Breakfast with Buddha on my list because of your rec. :)</p>
<p>Cutting for Stone has been moved and seconded, so I’ll bang the gavel and declare it our October selection. I’m looking forward to it! I’ll start a new thread soon to alert anyone else who might be interested. Thanks for all your input—there are always so many wonderful suggestions.</p>
<p>(ignatius, if you can get through The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, you’ll have no problem with “vivid descriptions of surgery.” :))</p>
<p>Thanks Mary. I’ll go out and get Cutting for Stone. I hope I can add more to the next conversation. I’m a book club newbie. I did enjoy reading all the comments this month.</p>
<p>I didn’t know that The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo was overly violent. I just heard it was good.</p>
<p>^ it is REALLY good, and please, Ignatius and others, don’t let my bias effect you.
When I use the term violence related to this particular book, I mean a “violence against women”, even though it’s goal is the exact opposite. A friend was not bothered by this in the book, but had to look away during those scenes in the movie. </p>
<p>I found it dark and nteresting that Steig had witnessed a gang rape when he was young. Creepy to me. I think he was working out some personal issues with this book.</p>
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<p>Great! Please don’t ever hold back on posting your comments. The more people who participate, the more wide-ranging and varied the conversation. FYI, as of today, Cutting for Stone is $8.69 at Amazon ($7.99 in Kindle format). At 688 pages, that’s just a little more than a penny a page—a bargain :). (Of course, then you have to buy more books to get the free shipping, but I always find that disturbingly easy to do.)</p>
<p>Just ordered.</p>
<p>Have you seen the fairly new, clothbound, hardcover Penguin classics? Both daughters started collecting their favorites. Choices purchased so far: Jane Eyre, Pride and Prejudice, and Wuthering Heights. Anyway, whenever I’m short the amount required for free shipping, I order another requested classic. Today I ordered Treasure Island. :)</p>
<p>Have a look (*Ours have no numbers on the spine - maybe because I order individual copies and not as a set.):</p>
<p>Series 1: [Clothbound</a> Series 1 : CB-SMITH](<a href=“http://www.cb-smith.com/index.php?/clothbound/clothbound-series-1/]Clothbound”>http://www.cb-smith.com/index.php?/clothbound/clothbound-series-1/)</p>
<p>Series 2: [Clothbound</a> Series 2 : CB-SMITH](<a href=“http://www.cb-smith.com/index.php?/clothbound/clothbound-series-2/]Clothbound”>http://www.cb-smith.com/index.php?/clothbound/clothbound-series-2/)</p>
<p>Oops - I think I’m off topic - again. Still the books are so gorgeous and reasonably priced that I had to share.</p>
<p>^ Beautiful books. The set would be a great gift for an adult child moving into his or her first house or (long-term) apartment. I know my daughter would love her own collection of the classics when she is in a more permanent set-up.</p>
<p>I haven’t read the entire thread, but just in case no one else has mentioned this, I really enjoyed the narrator on the Audible edition of Cutting for Stone.</p>
<p>Thanks for the info, shyparentalunit. The reader is Sunil Malhotra and anyone who is considering the audible version can listen to a 5 minute clip here: [Amazon.com:</a> Cutting for Stone: A Novel (9780739382851): Abraham Verghese, Sunil Malhotra: Books](<a href=“http://www.amazon.com/Cutting-Stone-Novel-Abraham-Verghese/dp/0739382853/ref=tmm_abk_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1282188626&sr=1-1]Amazon.com:”>http://www.amazon.com/Cutting-Stone-Novel-Abraham-Verghese/dp/0739382853/ref=tmm_abk_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1282188626&sr=1-1)</p>
<p>Just had to share this, because it reminded me of this thread, and Mary’s personal family accounts of Daniel Ellsberg.</p>
<p>Daniel Ellsberg - 2010 - discusses the WikiLeaks / Iraq War, and compares it to his efforts to end the Vietnam War. </p>
<p>[YouTube</a> - Pentagon Whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg on Upcoming Iraq War Wikileaks Docs (Part 1 of 2)](<a href=“Pentagon Whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg on Wikileaks Iraq War Docs (Part 1 of 2) - YouTube”>Pentagon Whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg on Wikileaks Iraq War Docs (Part 1 of 2) - YouTube)</p>
<p>^ Hi SJCM! My earlier comments were actually about Daniel Berrigan (on whom the character of Corrigan was based). But there are certainly similarities between Daniel Berrigan and Daniel Ellsberg: Both men were opposed to the Vietnam War and used controversial methods to express this (Ellsberg by releasing classified government documents and Berrigan by destroying draft files). And neither was a friend of the FBI! I suspect that Corrigan (had he existed in the real world) would have supported both of them in their non-violent opposition to an unjust war.</p>
<p>^^^^ Right you are, Mary. I confused the two Daniel’s!</p>
<p>Wouldn’t Fernando (from the chapter “Tag”) have loved to be a part of this project?</p>
<p><a href=“‘Underbelly Project’ Hidden Art Show in Abandoned Subway Station - The New York Times”>‘Underbelly Project’ Hidden Art Show in Abandoned Subway Station - The New York Times;