Good choices, Mary! Just like NJTM, “I read part of Reading Lolita in Teheran a few years ago, thought it was great, and have always meant to go back and finish it.” I’ve also always wanted to read Persepolis.
I’m still interested in the other choices, too. I read Arcadia by Lauren Groff for another book group, and I liked it a lot.
How did I miss almost two weeks of discussion threads??? Am I reading correctly that the choice is set for next time? (skimming the thread quickly here) The Iranian pair looks interesting - I’d be glad to give it a shot if that is definitive. I wondered if the group has ever read The Moonstone by Wilke Collins? Somehow, thinking back on The Bookman’s Tale, I was reminded me of that (much better) work.
I feel like weighing in on Bookman - not that I have anything to add and not that I disagree with anything already said! I started the books with such excitement - art history is my passion and the Pre-Raphaelites a special interest. Very disappointed that this didn’t figure more prominently, but maybe it was my wishful imagination, I did get some of the aura that I feel when in front of a Pre-Raphaelite when reading the earliest depictions of Amanda. Probably just projecting my mental images of the characters into an imaginary Victorian frame.
I found the book a quick read, as did others, but found the ending very contrived. I wanted Agatha Christie’s skill - she doesn’t appear to invent the circumstances that bring about her conclusions, they just arise naturally. Lovett doesn’t have that ability. Enjoyable enough, but the ending was not satisfying. Life doesn’t wrap up that perfectly.
I read the book In January and had to return it to the library - it was a short term loan as it was a book club selection for some of their groups. Interesting, even though I read it only 4 - 5 weeks ago, I had trouble remembering enough specifics to follow all the comments made in previous links - not at all like when I was reading people’s thoughts on Thomas Hardy’s “Crowd” which I read decades ago! Says something about the definition of a classic vs an entertaining read, I think!
I’m in a quandary. I put Bookman on the list for my city’s book club, prior to reading the book. Since CCers and myself had mixed reviews, Do not know if I should change the book. In 9 years, I’ve never done this. In hindsight, I should have read the book first. I just think it shallow.
@bookworm, what is the criteria for making your list?
Unless you are looking to predict the next Hemmingway, I wouldn’t worry about suggesting Bookman. The premise is clever, construction a change from the norm (even if you found, like me, that the construction was not executed at 100% effectiveness), characters clearly drawn even if “too good to be true”, etc. It was a book lacking In what it seemed to promise, which made it disappointing. It does present the whole Shakespeare identity question in a way that can lead (as it did in the discussions here) to personal research and consideration. People read for different reasons. Having a new simply entertaining, fast read doesn’t have to be a bad thing. If nothing else, it sharpens the critical examination skills and increases the appreciation of better works. IMHO!!
Yes, Momofadult, the Iranian duo was chosen for next time. Here is a link the new thread:
If you make a little comment on the new thread, it will be marked as a thread you’re participating in and you will be more likely to spot it when it gets near discussion time.
The book club read The Moonstone in 2010. Here’s a link to the discussion:
Thanks @NJTheatreMOM. I will eventually figure out the technological tricks. Maybe… !!
Momofadult, thanks for your excellent posts! Our book club threads are always “open,” so it’s never too late to comment.
Our timetable is to read a book every other month, then discuss it for about 10 days, after which we contribute suggestions for the next title and then vote. It does go by pretty fast once we get started!
Anyone can suggest a title and anyone can vote. There is not a lot of structure–the voting group varies slightly each time, depending upon who visits the thread on the day we choose the next title. I look forward to having you join us for our April duet!
I don’t think it’s so terrible to have a less than perfect book for a book club. The frustrating thing about this particular book was that it had such promise of being a much better book than it turned out to be. It reminded me quite a bit of The Storied Life of A. J. Friky which I thought ended up being much better than the sum of its parts.
Both Fikry and Bookman had some redeeming qualities. The book that really fooled us was that clunker The Glass Room. I believe I was the one who originally suggested it (mea maxima culpa). It was actually shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize. I’ll admit that we did enjoy discussing it, though.
You’re forgiven because you also suggested Cloud Atlas and The Luminaries. ^:)^
Just saw “bridge of spies” and doing some background reading about Mark Rylance ( of Wolf Hall fame) and portrays Abel in the movie.
Rylance is a renown shakepeaean performer, and former director of the Globe Theatee
I will post this in the bookman tale, discussion thread as well-
Relating to Shakespeare true identity.
From wiki
Shakespeare controversy
On 8 September 2007 Derek Jacobi and Rylance unveiled a Declaration of Reasonable Doubt on the authorship of Shakespeare’s work, after the final matinée of I am Shakespeare, a play in Chichester, Sussex.
The actual author was proposed to be Christopher Marlowe, Francis Bacon, the Earl of Oxford, Edward de Vere or Mary Sidney (Mary Sidney Herbert, Countess of Pembroke). The declaration named 20 prominent doubters of the past, including Mark Twain, Orson Welles, John Gielgud, Charlie Chaplin, Charles Dickens, Ralph Waldo Emerson and actor Leslie Howard,
and was made by the Shakespeare Authorship Coalition duly signed online by 300 people to begin new research.
Jacobi and Rylance presented a copy of the document to William Leahy, head of English at Brunel University, London.[9] Rylance wrote (co-conceived by John Dove) and starred in The BIG Secret Live—I am Shakespeare—Webcam Daytime Chatroom Show (A comedy of Shakespearean identity crisis) which toured England in 2007.
I came across this clip when we were first discussing The Bookman’s Tale. SJCM’s post reminded me to share it:
Just saw this upcoming auction announcement - the “holy grail” of shakepeare folios