I actually felt “satisfied that the story had concluded while leaving the impression of an open-ended world” so I guess it worked for me.
I like mathmom’s explanation re the Camites (post #158).
I mentioned earlier that I was surprised when the book ended - I figured there would be two or three more chapters/sections before the end and felt like I was left hanging. At a minimum I wanted to learn more about Kaththree (if that’s the correct name; ebook has autoreturned so I can’t double check). Kathtwo had a lot of personality and I really liked her so was wondering how much of that personality transferred.
I wish Stephenson had tied things up a little better, or as has been said previously, that he had broken the book into two parts and expanded the ending in the future in the second book. There are so many possibilities with the Diggers and Pingers. Part of me wants to believe that blue will prevail, aligned with the Pingers. The other part is left tending to think the blue and red tribes will continue on skirmishing for another 5000 years until they destroy the earth themselves!
No suggestions … other than taking a look back at previously considered books. Sometimes we’ve had a hard time choosing one book over another.
Maybe someone has a title or two or three to be considered. I don’t this time.
I heard that one of this year’s Booker nominees, The Fishermen by Chigozie Obioma, is quite good.
I vaguely feel I ought to read David Foster Wallace. Still like the idea of a graphic novel or two. Or watching the movie(s) and rereading Thomas Hardy’s Far From the Madding Crowd.
Last time, we were considering three classics:
Anna Karenina
Far from the Madding Crowd
The House of Mirth
I’d be happy to read any of those.
Some of the people in my other online book group are going to be reading Thomas Mann’s The Magic Mountain as a side read in October. I plan to join in, though I intend to start the book early – as soon as I finish what I’m reading now.
I’d be happy to read any of NJTheatreMOM’s suggestions or Thomas Mann. I managed to spend five years in Germany without reading anything of his!
@ Ignatius - wait, stop the presses,
Ignatius doesn’t have her usual wonderful list of suggestions!!!
what !!! Say it ain’t so!
All these many years, with Ignatius’s solid suggestions every two months, and now nothin’
I feel the world will end tomorrow.The universe has warped.
My thoughts exactly!
I’d be happy with any of the classics suggested by NJTM, Thomas Mann included.
Another suggestion for sometime:
Hild, by Nicola Griffith–recommended by Neal Stephenson in some interview I watched online. Historical fiction about St. Hilda of Whitby, 7th century England.
Also, following up on the issue of growing food in space, the first ISS-grown lettuce was eaten today! “one small bite for man, one giant leap for #NASAVEGGIE”
http://www.popsci.com/first-space-grown-lettuce-tastes-awesome-astronauts-say?dom=fb&loc=contentwell&lnk=first-spacegrown-lettuce-tastes-awesome-astronauts-say%3Fsrc%3DSOC
I don’t think this group has read much historical fiction, and most of the ones I can think of have a modern day component. My sister-in-law was recommending Gore Vidal’s novel about Aaron Burr after we heard all about his military exploits when we were at the Maritime Museum in Vermont (on Lake Champlain). There was something else she recommended as well, but of course I can’t remember what it was.
Hild sounds good. We haven’t read much historical fiction - definitely nothing that takes us into seventh century Anglo-Saxon England.
Good list so far.
I read The Magic Mountain and subsequently crossed Mann off my reading list forever. “The dullest genius I ever knew,” observed writer Glenway Wescott. 
That said, NJTheatreMOM may love the book–I know she enjoys a challenge!
Has anyone read The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan? Winner of the Man Booker prize 2014, one of the Best Books of the Year at • The New York Times • NPR • The Washington Post • The Minneapolis Star-Tribune • The Economist • The Seattle Times • Financial Times: http://www.amazon.com/Narrow-Road-Deep-North/dp/0804171475/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1439248542&sr=1-1&keywords=the+narrow+road+to+the+deep+north
Did you by any chance read The Magic Mountain prior to 1996, Mary?
A new translation came out that year.
^ the goodreads review of The Narrow Road are " intense" - has anyone here read this one ?
This one may have been recommended before -
has anyone read
“My Brilliant Friend” Elena Ferrante / Goldstein ???
I ask because I just read a couple of Goodread friend’s reviews and wondered if anyone here has opinions about this?
"With this novel, the first in a trilogy, she proves herself to be one of Italy’s great storytellers. She has given her readers a masterfully plotted page-turner, abundant and generous in its narrative details and characterizations, that is also a stylish work of literary fiction destined to delight her many fans and win new readers to her fiction.
There are several interesting suggestions. I’ve had My Brilliant Friend checked out before, but I didn’t get to it. The Narrow Road sounds good, great reviews on Amazon!
Titles on my shelf:
To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf–classic I’ve been meaning to read for a long while.
A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara–this one’s had a lot of good press recently. Longlisted for the 2015 Booker prize.
The Remains of the Day I have this checked out, yet again, and maybe I’ll read it. Love the movie.
Aurora by Kim Stanley Robinson. Another sci-fi title suggested on Sci-Fri, I think.
Road Ends by Mary Lawson.
Fastest Things on Wings: Rescuing Hummingbirds in Hollywood by Terry Masear. Non-fiction, supposed to be very good.
Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy. Got this two months ago, but haven’t read or seen the movie!
Circling the Sun by Paula McLain. Historical fiction about Beryl Markham. I’m interested after reading Out of Africa but also a little wary because I was lukewarm about her The Paris Wife after reading A Moveable Feast.
^ I just finished Road Ends- yesterday - plant mom have you read Crow Lake her first book ?
SJCM, I have not read Crow Lake. I’m not sure why I even requested this book from the library, lol. Was it any good?
I read the NYT book review of The Narrow Road and didn’t think I needed to read it.
Ferrante OTOH looks intriguing.