<p>I agree with others who have said that writers were wordier in the past. My dad lived from 1905 - 1984, and when he was in high school in the 1920s he was editor of his school newspaper. A few copies of that newspaper survive, and they are amazing… big sheets crammed with long, wordy articles printed in small type, and of course no pictures.</p>
<p>Like mathmom, I found H.G. Wells to be relatively plain-spoken. A few years ago, I thought I might re-read Ivanhoe, which I had enjoyed when I was a young teen in the 1960s. But I found it to be way too turgid for me! I thought, “Wow did I really read this when I was 13 or 14?!”</p>
<p>I’ve been enjoying everyone’s insightful comments. The writing style question is an interesting one! I actually prefer authors who are a little wordy. I would much rather read Shakespeare or Dickens than Hemmingway. It’s just a personal preference-I can certainly acknowledge the greatness of Hemmingway!
For me, vivid descriptions and turns of language put me a bit more into the story. That said-it is great to have so many books to choose from in this world!</p>
<p>And on that note, everyone should feel free to start thinking about our next selection. (But as usual, the current discussion goes on as long as anyone is inclined comment.)</p>
<p>I looked back at our past lists and I have no particularly strong feelings (today) either for or against any of the books considered. So if someone else wants to revisit any of the titles …</p>
<p>New releases: </p>
<p>The Maid’s Version - Daniel Woodrell (Only 176 pages)</p>
<p>The Rosie Project - Graeme Simsion (A romantic comedy - something fun just might be in order for the holidays) From The Washington Post review:</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>and </p>
<p>NOS4A2 - Joe Hill (So far off the beaten track, we may never find our way back again but, hey, it’s a Christmas book … genre - horror … and the reviews are good.)</p>
<p>Does anyone want to add Ender’s Shadow to the discussion? (Having just finished rereading it, but not wanting to spoil the fun for others either!)</p>
<p>^ I’m glad I read Ender’s Game game, but I don’t plan to read any of the sequels, so you can’t spoil anything for me! Feel free to carry on with Ender’s Shadow and beyond…</p>
<p>I think The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert is a novel that sounds interesting.</p>
<p>Americanah and Half of a Yellow Sun, both by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, are two novels that I have read and highly recommend. I would be happy to re-read either of them and discuss them. They are by a Nigerian woman writer who has a very accessible, engaging writing style. Both have the kind of upbeat endings that some of our members really appreciate. </p>
<p>Half of a Yellow Sun takes place in Nigeria and provides a fascinating look at a certain era in the 20th century history of that country. It has been made into a movie featuring the terrific actor Chiwetel Ejiofor.</p>
<p>For newcomers who are wondering where we’ve been…(the answer is all over the world, from the Island of Guernsey to Barcelona to Paris to Ethiopia to the Amazon rainforest to Stockholm…to Eros):</p>
<p>I veto Half of a Yellow Sun. I read this line in the Publishers Weekly review:
I immediately thought no. I really, really can’t go there unless NJTM assures me that I will be able to sleep nights after reading it. I don’t do “harrowing” well. I’m fine with Adichie’s Americanah. I’m finally off the wait list at the library. I pick it up next week.</p>
<p>Maybe The Rosie Project would be a better February (romantic comedy) book. My other two suggestions stand till vetoed. (Somehow I think one of them just may be, though I’m all for a horror book for Christmas. LOL) I do like the idea of a shorter book (one reason I suggested The Maid’s Version) because November and December are busy.</p>
<p>We need some more titles.</p>
<p>And for fans of the Enderverse, you may be interested in Card’s novella A War of Gifts. From Publishers Weekly:
</p>
<p>It takes place somewhere during Ender’s time at Battle School.</p>
<p>mathmom: I’m all for continuing on with Ender’s Shadow - it’s up next on my reading list.</p>
<p>The occurrence referred to in the passage that Ignatius quoted about Half of a Yellow Sun above is not something that is graphically described. It happens “off stage.” The story is mostly about how the Biafran independence movement affects a middle class family. It is definitely not a “beat you over the head with the horrors of war” type book.</p>
<p>The Maid’s Version sounds interesting…though perhaps harrowing in its own way? :)</p>
<p>Neither The Rosie Project nor NOS4A2 sound very appealing to me, but not to the extent that I would want to veto them.</p>
<p>ignatius, do you know that NOS4A2 is 720 pages? I’m not vetoing it by any means–we did 11/22/63@880 pages, we can do anything–but you might want to veto it yourself if you’re hoping for something shorter for November and December.</p>
<p>**mary13 **This online discussion is FOUR years young!
impressive, and It’s going strong, with many new participants discussing ENDERS GAME- and War of the Worlds.</p>
<p>i encourage all those new folks to throw out some suggestions for the next selection, and even if it’s not selected, it’s always fun to read what others are reading.
So, please, everyone join in now. </p>
<p>I’m not suggesting my summer reads, because they wouldn’t be good for discussion. i have been all over the place with my reading, and it’s scary that I have to consult my goodreads reviews to remember what I’ve read…</p>
<p>In no order- what I’ve read - The Fever Tree, The Obituary Writer, The Corrections (Franzen), Russ and Daughters:reflections and recipes from the house that Herring built
Just Kids ( Patty Smith) , Transatlantic , Colum McCann, Cats Eye ( Atwood)
Currently I have Week in Winter ( Maeve Binchy’s last book) on my nightstand.</p>
<p>I’ve just spent some time looking at all the " usual suspect lists"- trying to locate some suggestions for the next selection.
book movement,
ny times,
goodreads lists,
and nothing is jumping out.</p>
<p>Perhaps this list has some gems - list of Pulitzer Prize winners - fiction </p>
<p>I’ve never read any Alice Munro either. With the Nobel Prize info hitting the papers today, the timing might be really good for us to read one of her works. Also, we’ve talked in the past about reading short stories, which we’ve never done before.</p>
<p>author, what Munro works would you (or anyone else out there) recommend?</p>
<p>Alice Munro is a great suggestion. I’ve read some of her stories that have been published in The New Yorker, but never a collection.</p>
<p>I ran across the suggestion that the early collection The Moons of Jupiter would be a good one to start with for people who have never read Munro.</p>
<p>Munro’s Lives of Girls and Women is a volume of interlinked short stories that I believe is sold as a novel.</p>
<p>It would be nice to have a suggestion from someone who has actually read a book by Monro.</p>