Remembering John Fowles

[Scheherazade]

Following the death of John Fowles (http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showthread.php?p=123823#post123823), the Book Club will read one of his book to remember him. If you would like to take part, please vote in the poll by November 15th.

John Fowles (http://www.fowlesbooks.com/)


The Collector (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0316290238/qid=1131409032/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-9326777-5007829?v=glance&s=books&n=507846)

Aristos (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/8476696388/qid=1131409075/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/103-9326777-5007829?v=glance&s=books)

The Magus (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0440351626/qid=1131409156/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/103-9326777-5007829?v=glance&s=books)

The French Lieutenant's Woman (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0316291161/qid=1131409199/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/103-9326777-5007829?v=glance&s=books)

The Ebony Tower (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0316287458/qid=1131409242/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/103-9326777-5007829?v=glance&s=books)

Daniel Martin (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0316290394/qid=1131409278/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/103-9326777-5007829?v=glance&s=books)

The Tree (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0316289574/qid=1131409346/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-9326777-5007829?v=glance&s=books)

Mantissa (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0316290270/qid=1131409385/sr=2-1/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_1/103-9326777-5007829?v=glance&s=books)

A Maggot (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0099480417/qid=1131409417/sr=2-3/ref=pd_bbs_b_2_3/103-9326777-5007829?v=glance&s=books)




Book Club Procedures (http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showthread.php?p=57103#post57103)

[Darlin]

Scheherazade, I think this is a very good idea. I've never had a desire to read any of his books before and only saw a little bit of the French Lieutenant’s Woman but after looking through the list you provided I think it might be enjoyable to have a go at a few. Normally I would have picked the French Lieutenant’s Woman but I think the Ebony Tower might be a good book to start with after looking through all the book summary’s and some of the reviews.

[starrwriter]

I loved "The Collector." Very strange story, but I couldn't put the book down.

[Scheherazade]

The Collector is the only Fowles book I have read and I agree with Starrwriter that it is a bizarre and compulsive read. I have always wanted to read The Magus and The French Lieutenant's Woman so this might be a good chance to try another of his books.

[clarity]

I've read The Collector and The Magus. The Magus is longer, stranger and more bizarre than The Collector. :) I'd be keen to read another of his books.

Clarity

[Nightshade]

Oh I think Ill vote for the mangus I pretty sure Ive shelved that a couple of times so I know I can get my hands on it :D

[Nightshade]

Ok Im voting the french Lit woman
and I now have a copy of both it and the collection which should I start with??

[Jay]

When are we reading the winner? I'm off to borrow the French... one in a few minutes. It better win then :D

[Scheherazade]

The poll will close on the 15th and we will be reading it during the following weeks.

[Diceman]

I discovered John Fowles two years ago, and have read all the above listed books (except The Tree) in that time. I am greatly saddened by the news of his passing. I will not vote on the poll since I won't be joining in your communal reading, but here's what I reckon:

Forget "The Aristos". I enjoyed it, but it's philosophy, not a story.

Forget "Mantissa", this one was artsy-fartsy claptrap.

Forget "Daniel Martin". Some acclaim it as his best, but I found it very hard to get into and overly long. It did not grab me as did his other works.

"A Maggot" could be a good choice for a communal read. I imagine that you will be arguing among yourselves about what the hell is going on well before you reach the end of the book! However it's a very unusual book, mostly written in an "interrogative" style, and will not be everyone's cup of tea.

"The Magus" is excellent, but longish and quite involved. This also would lend itself well to discussion; each person will see something different in it. However I would start with something shorter unless you've all read some Fowles before.

"The French Lieutenant's Woman" is excellent. This is the book which got me hooked on Fowles. It is full of subtext and existential themes, however it starts slowly, takes a while for the underlying themes to develop. You will enjoy this most if you have a penchant for "period" literature.

I first read "The Collector" many years ago, thought it was OK, nothing special. I re-read it last year after "discovering" Fowles and got a lot more out of it. With greater familiarity of Fowles' work I could better appreciate the subtexts inthe novel. It is a really well-crafted piece of literature.

Finally "The Ebony Tower", a collection of short stories. The titular piece is of the greatest length, and is like a cut-down version of "The Magus". Another of the stories (Poor Koko) has some similarities with "The Collector". The final story didn't turn me on at all, but the rest were fantastic. I would recommend "Ebony Tower" to anybody wanting to get into Fowles' literature, since this provides a good "sampler" of the rest of his oeuvre. However, as a single piece for discussion, it might be a poor choice since you will have a number of seperate stories to consider.

Good luck and enjoy whichever book you choose. I'm envious of those of you who are experiencing Fowles for the first time!

[Darlin]

Diceman, what great advice! I've voted for the Ebony Tower because I thought it might give me an idea of what his stories were like but I agree it might not be as easy to discuss as one story alone would be. I think your brief summaries are excellent and should be helpful for anyone else who hasn't voted yet.

[papayahed]

I guess I'll give this guy a whirl. It looks like a French Lietenants woman is going to win..

[Jay]

It better! I've already borrowed it ;)

[Nightshade]

me too and im not looking for any more books :D

[Scheherazade]

Going once...

[Helga]

I say Collector, that book changed my life. I love it and I will never thank my old teacher enough for introducing me to the novel. The most romantic and beautiful book in a kind of nasty way I have ever read. I just finished reading Fowles biography and that just made me love him more!

[Scheherazade]

Going twice...

[Jay]

Already started reading ;)
I've read 'all' 2 chapters and I'm already thinking I'm gonna like this one.

[Darlin]

The French Lieutenant's Woman it is then? When do we start reading?

[Kiwi Shelf]

o_o
I overlooked this, maybe I will read it now and then have had some discussion for when we do it in class :)