Please don’t remove this from the list, I would attempt any of them.Hopefully more people will add to the choices,
Has anyone read Tom Lake, would there be enough to discuss ? I listened to audio, half heartedly, so I may have missed important elements. Would like to hear others weigh in on this one. Meryl Streep is amazing narrator of the audio,
Long Bright River, my front runner. I read this long ago, and would like to reread, and think it would be hefty enough for a discussion. The tie in with the movie or tv series is added bonus.
Consider The Overstory by Richard Powers. I’m reading it for another book club, and I’m finding it remarkable. Won the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2019.
We have some wonderful choices here. I’m going to pare them down to a Ranked Choice Voting number, in my usual semi-arbitrary fashion. Books that are pulled can always reappear in the future.
I’m going to remove Vera Wong because I think @jollymama is right – it might be good to have a meatier selection this time. Sutanto’s book sounds like fun, but perhaps missing the layers we’d want for discussion. I’m also going to remove Durrell’s memoir, since it seems to have generated less interest than some of the other titles. I will add Overstory – it’s gotten great reviews that jibe with @VeryHappy’s “remarkable.”
@Caraid, I don’t think we’ve ever read a fantasy!
In my recollection, they are usually vetoed, but I’d like to go that route at some point, because I need to expand my horizons and expanding is much, much easier with all of you to help me along. I’m going to leave just one fantasy choice on the list – Ink Blood Sister Scribe. (For future reference if we consider later, both Chakraborty books suggested are #1 in a series.)
That leaves us with:
North Woods - Daniel Mason
Tom Lake - Ann Patchett
Long Bright River - Liz Moore
Ink Blood Sister Scribe - Emma Törzs
The Overstory - Richard Powers
I would love to read any of the above choices! Five is a good number for voting, but don’t vote yet. I’ll post the RCV link shortly.
I started The Overstory in 2019 and was enjoying it and learning from it – but didn’t finish before it was due back at the library. I see on Goodreads that it’s 502 pages. I’d definitely tackle it again, especially considering we have two months till discussion time.
North Woods made me think of The Source by James Michener, one of my favorite books of all times. It’s the story of multiple civilizations on an archaeological site going from prehistoric times to the (when written) present. I would never recommend it for the book club because it’s huuuuge, but a great read.
Someone correct me if I’m wrong, but I think State of Wonder was the only Ann Patchett we’ve read – and that was a great discussion. Could you be thinking about Anne Tyler? We read Tyler’s A Spool of Blue Thread, which was in more of the “meh” category.
@Marilyn, I’ve never heard of The Source. I do love the premise of North Woods and it was on a lot of top ten lists.
My son has the book (but hasn’t read it yet). I did a fast flip and it looks dense. A quick glance tells me it’s the type of book that would be enhanced by a group read.
Truth is, I think all five of our choices are excellent! Only time – and VOTING – will reveal the winner. Ballot
I probably read the Ann Pratchett from a mention in the best book I’ve read thread then! The Overstory looks like the sort of book I wouldn’t mind reading with a reading group, but probably wouldn’t read on my own.
Glad you posted that, I heard that story and of course immediately thought of the book! But yeah, I think that keeping an octopus at home probably isn’t fair to the octopus.
24 hours and 15 voters later, the winner is Ink Blood Sister Scribe by Emma Törzs.
I’ve never heard of the book or the author, but I’m excited to jump in! I’m continually intrigued by everyone’s suggestions and the way the final vote goes.
There is someone among us who doesn’t like fantasy books, although at the moment, I can’t remember who that is. I noticed on the raw data table that while over half the voters selected Ink Blood Sister Scribe as their first or second choice, three people put it as their last choice. Whoever you are, don’t abandon us! We promise to be entertaining even if the book isn’t.
Ink Blood Sister Scribe is on the shelf at my library, with only a short waiting list for the Kindle version, so hopefully that bodes well for accessibility for the rest of you.
(Every time I see the title of the book, my brain says Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.)
Blushing over here while timidly raising hand. It doesn’t sound like my thing at all. Of course I won’t abandon you, though! I’d say there’s about a 13 percent chance I will read this one, but I will lurk in your discussion, for sure, and interject my opinions on the August choice!
I’m happy to read a fantasy book — perhaps it will get me out of the mystery book jag I’m on currently!
The book is on the way to me and as no one is on the waitlist, I would be able to renew it a couple of times before the discussion starts.
.)