The Sleepwalker’s Guide to Dancing sounds like it might be pretty good… I am very interested in reading about South Asian people, because I am related to some by marriage. There is one type of book about South Asians that I don’t like very much, and that is the kind that is overly populated by very quirky characters. I don’t seem to “get” the comedic aspects of these novels in the same way that a South Asian reader probably would. I’m not sure whether Mira Jacobs’ book is in this category, but I do see a few red flags in some of the descriptions of the book.
In addition, The Sleepwalker’s Guide to Dancing is quite long (over 500 pages) and I have so many other books on my “to be read” shelf.
Any comments, since you have listened to the book, cartera45?
With regard to Sleepwalker, I had completely forgotten how long it is. I couldn’t put it down so it didn’t seem that long. The word “quirky” doesn’t come to mind. I found them very endearing and truly missed living among them. I actually reread most of the book because I enjoyed them so much. It is not a culture I am intimately familiar with so the “culture clash” was very interesting to me. I love books that make me laugh out loud and cry in close proximity and this book did that.
Thanks, @ignatius. @NJTheatreMOM, I’ve never read one of Trigiani’s book. I got it off a top read list and remembered it had been suggested before. It sounded interesting and had many positive recommendations. There is a love story, but I don’t know if there is any bodice ripping involved.
Wow, cartera45, that’s a great endorsement of The Sleepwalker’s Guide to Dancing. It’s the exact same way I felt about the very long A Suitable Boy. I didn’t want it to end.
I would not mind a little – no, make that a lot – of bodice ripping in the right book. Like, say, Lady’s Chatterley’s Lover.
But anything that is described as “romantic, atmospheric, dramatic, sweeping, love story” tends to scare me off. I especially hate “sweeping” for some reason, lol.
I love what PLANTMOM said about loving this moment, when the next selections are discussed! I agree it’s such fun.
Latley, I’ve been enjoying several books, none would be good for book discussion here. Nora Webster, introduced me to Colm Toibin, The Paying Guests (clothes torn off in romantic passion for those interested), The Signature of All Things ( made me forget Elizabeth Gilbert wrote Eat, Pray, Love ( which is a good thing). All the light We Cannot See, and now reading The Secret History, by Donna Tartt.
Will Lady Chatterley slither languidly past the goshawk, as in the tale of the tortoise and the hare? There must be other ones, but I can’t think of them.
My goodness, what an eclectic mix of books and (and opinions). I have been thoroughly entertained from the sidelines.
I’m glad you all like this part because I may be about to extend it by sending everybody back to the drawing board. Here is what I am tossing and why (and no one can take it personally—that’s rule 78.2.1 from the CC Book Club Handbook, Volume 1). I may be about to break a few hearts, but this is what goes out:
*H is for Hawk* because a March 3rd release date (per Amazon) cuts it too close for an April 1st discussion, and also makes it unlikely that anyone could get the book from the library (and the kindle version is expensive).
*The Age of Innocence* because PlantMom and mathmom have read it.
*Orfeo* because NJTheatreMOM declared it a “Nope.” (Remember, as always, anyone can strike a book without hesitation.)
-The Prodigal Women by Nancy Hale because it appears to be out of print, or at least not readily available (please correct me if I’m wrong).
*Lady Chatterley’s Lover*, partly because mathmom has read it (and so have I—years ago) and partly because our quotes from the text would end up looking like this:
^ That’s transcribed directly from my Unexpurgated 1928 Orioli Edition. Except there are no asterisks in my copy .
And finally, *The Shoemaker's Wife* because when push came to shove, NJTheatreMOM would exercise veto power, so I’m just staying one step ahead of her (yeah, we know you all too well, NJTM :) ).
That leaves us with:
North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante The Sleepwalker’s Guide to Dancing by Mira Jacob A Darker Shade of Magic by Victoria Schwab (but FYI, it won’t be released until February 24th)
*Dancing Fish and Ammonites: A Memoir/i by Penelope Lively
(I have reservations about this personally because I have never read anything by Penelope Lively and it seems funny to start with her semi-memoir, but if you think knowledge of the author’s work isn’t necessary, I’ll take your word for it.)
That’s six books. Six is enough to vote on IF everybody is happy with all (or nearly all) the choices, but there may be books on the list that someone would prefer to have removed. If so, say the word! We will find other choices. There’s plenty out there.
Happy with the choices. Enjoy the process as always. And had a good laugh at the quote from Lady Chatterly’s Lover. I’ll rank my top three (or abstain - all look good) tomorrow.
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You could add one of her novels - none of them are very long.
But I have reservations too, only because I haven’t read it yet. My impression from reviews is that it would be interesting on it’s own. She has a very spare, simple style.
^^^ Not a bad idea. *Oleander, Jacaranda: A Childhood Perceived/i - childhood; *Dancing Fish and Ammonites: A Memoir/i - old age. Her other books are equally slim.
I really hate being the main veto-er here, but when My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante ended up making the semi-final cut, I read a few pages of the book on Amazon (thank heavens for that feature) and discovered that I simply cannot stand the writing style. Can. not. stand. it.
It don’t know if it’s the original writing or the translation, or what. I know Ferrante is very popular. But there is no way I could read that book, or probably any of her books. I’m sorry.
The following list might get rearranged later, but right now my choices would be:
North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell. A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler.
The Penelope Lively duo. The Sleepwalker’s Guide to Dancing by Mira Jacob.
The Mira Jacob book is #4 only because of its length. North and South is also somewhat long, but I’m reading it for another group with a discussion starting March 1, so I would be killing two birds with one stone.
No problem, NJTM. Strong opinions make it easier to zero in on a choice. Here are the five remaining:
North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell A Spool of Blue Thread by Anne Tyler The Sleepwalker’s Guide to Dancing by Mira Jacob A Darker Shade of Magic by Victoria Schwab
Duet: Oleander, Jacaranda: A Childhood Perceived and Dancing Fish and Ammonites: A Memoir by Penelope Lively
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