Bastille Day (July 14th) Reading Poll

[Scheherazade]

Please nominate a book by a French author

for

our

Bastille Day (July 14th) Reading

by June 30th.


As always, only the first 10 nominations will be included in the poll.




***Some information on the books***

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Little-Prince-Antoine-Saint-Exupery/dp/0749707232/ref=sr_1_1/203-0011263-7238300?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1183243803&sr=1-1)

Whatever by Michel Houellebecq (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Whatever-Michel-Houellebecq/dp/1852425849/ref=pd_bowtega_2/203-0011263-7238300?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1183244080&sr=1-2)

Nausea by Sartre (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nausea-Penguin-Modern-Classics-Jean-Paul/dp/014118549X/ref=pd_bowtega_1/203-0011263-7238300?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1183244158&sr=1-1)

The Wall (Intimacy) by Sartre (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wall-Modern-Voices-Jean-Paul-Sartre/dp/184391400X/ref=pd_bowtega_1/203-0011263-7238300?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1183244236&sr=1-1)

The Man in the Iron Mask by Dumas (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Man-Iron-Mask-Wordsworth-Classics/dp/1840224355/ref=sr_1_1/203-0011263-7238300?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1183244279&sr=1-1)

The Charterhouse of Parma by Stendhal (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Charterhouse-Parma-Penguin-Classics/dp/0140449663/ref=sr_1_1/203-0011263-7238300?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1183244336&sr=1-1)

Stranger by Camus (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stranger-Albert-Camus/dp/0679720200/ref=pd_bowtega_3/203-0011263-7238300?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1183244378&sr=1-3)

The Ice People by Rene Barjavel (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ice-People-Rene-Barjavel/dp/0583120695/ref=sr_1_1/203-0011263-7238300?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1183244459&sr=1-1)

Madame Bovary by Flaubert (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Madame-Penguin-Classics-Gustave-Flaubert/dp/0140449124/ref=pd_bowtega_1/203-0011263-7238300?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1183244506&sr=1-1)

***This poll will be closed on July 7***


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

[Virgil]

Oh I would love to participate, but I'm swamped with backlogged reading. Some day I will read Stendahl's, The Red and the Black. But until then...

[papayahed]

Can it be set in France or does it have to be a french author?

[Quark]

Stendhal is an good suggestion, but maybe The Charterhouse of Parma instead of The Red and The Black. Perhaps, a novel with a more moving plot would be better than an incisive satire of Restoration France. While I like The Red and The Black for its psychological bent, the story sometimes sacrifices pages that could be spent furthering the story or deepening the characters on clever jabs at the, then, contemporary French Society. Many of the references and societal criticisms are lost on a twenty-first century audience; and, while this problem may be unavoidable in realist literature, we probably should choose a novel less committed to the time period.

Other suggestion might be Zola or Balzac--Pere Goriot and Germinal in particular.

[Virgil]

I've read The Charterhouse of Parma and enjoyed it. I did not know The Red and the Black was a slower movng novel. I just know it is the more famous of the two.

[Quark]

Why didn't you suggest the novel that you enjoyed rather than one you've never read?

[Virgil]

Why didn't you suggest the novel that you enjoyed rather than one you've never read?

I've been meaning to read The Red and the Black. It's on my book shelf just sitting there waiting for me. :D

[Quark]

Well, forget what I've been writing anyway because my vote doesn't count according to the rules. I just wanted to take part in one of the book club discussions. I've been peering in periodically at the discussions like someone looking at a fun party from behind a sheet of glass. I just thought I would enter the room once and feel important.

[Virgil]

Well, forget what I've been writing anyway because my vote doesn't count according to the rules. I just wanted to take part in one of the book club discussions. I've been peering in periodically at the discussions like someone looking at a fun party from behind a sheet of glass. I just thought I would enter the room once and feel important.

Why doesn't your vote count? I think you need 50 posts and you will have that in a few minutes.

[Quark]

I know I'm dangerously close to being relevent

[Virgil]

I know I'm dangerously close to being relevent

Well, if you reply to this you will be. :D

[Quark]

Consider this my touchdown dance

[Scheherazade]

Can it be set in France or does it have to be a french author?A French author, please... Just to add some variety :)

Quark>Glad you have decided to join us :) Nominations are limited to one per member so would you like to pick one of the books you mentioned in your earlier posts?

I would like to nominate The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery. I know it is listed as children's book but I hear it can be read/interpreted in different ways as well (and also it is a quick read! :p).

[NickAdams]

I would like to nominate Samuel Beckett, but would you consider him a French author? If not: I would nominate Sartre; I would like to read his short story or play collection.

[hastalavictoria]

Albert Camus is amazing. I've read The Stranger...(aka The Outsider...depending on translation) and I LOVE it.
Either that or The Plague or The Fall, which I have not read, well I read the begining of The Plague, but got caught up in other things and couldn't finish it. But it was fantastic as well.

Anyway...I want to read something by Camus, if I have not already made that apparent...

[Scheherazade]

I would nominate Sartre; I would like to read his short story or play collection.
Anyway...I want to read something by Camus, if I have not already made that apparent...Thanks for your nominations but could you be more specific and choose one book to nominate, please?

[kilted exile]

Whatever (http://www.amazon.ca/Whatever-Michel-Houellebecq/dp/1852425849/ref=pd_bowtega_3/702-7999109-9213631?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1182799278&sr=1-3) by Michel Houellebecq

[Virgil]

Whatever (http://www.amazon.ca/Whatever-Michel-Houellebecq/dp/1852425849/ref=pd_bowtega_3/702-7999109-9213631?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1182799278&sr=1-3) by Michel Houellebecq

I've recently learned of Houllebecq. The review made him seem interesting. Have you ever read him Kilt?

[kilted exile]

I have read whatever, after seeing it mentioned in a post by Unnamable. I really enjoyed it, I saw some similarities between him and Brett Easton Ellis. Ellis is writing for the graduates of the 80's/early 90's, whereas I see Houllebecq as being the Ellis for my generation.

I specifically recommended Whatever because it is short and can be read within a week or so, however there is still plenty to discuss regarding themes and ideas.

[manolia]

Whatever (http://www.amazon.ca/Whatever-Michel-Houellebecq/dp/1852425849/ref=pd_bowtega_3/702-7999109-9213631?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1182799278&sr=1-3) by Michel Houellebecq

Hmmm that's interesting. Moira likes this author if i am not mistaken

[weepingforloman]

Just for the heck of it-- Les Instituts de la Religion Chrétienne by Jean Cauvin (The Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin). He was, after all, French, and, hey, it would probably take at least a month to read.

[Il Penseroso]

Hmmm, actually Whatever sounds pretty interesting. I'll nominate Sartre's "Nausea" since it's been sitting on my bookshelf staring at me. But I may vote for Whatever.

Also relevant, has anyone seen La Haine? I just finished watching it, and then saw this thread. Interesting coincidence, and very moving film.

[NickAdams]

Beckett:bawling:

Sartre's The Wall (Intimacy)

[jeff66]

Just reading the rules of the forum , I see that I may not be entitled to that vote.
Anyway , if you are looking for a good french book , try "Voyage au bout de la nuit " from L.F. Celine .

[Quark]

If we already have Stendhal picked, then I think I'll go for something a little more intellectual. How about Nausea?

[Scheherazade]

Nominations so far:

1. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery

2. Whatever by Michel Houellebecq

3. Nausea by Sartre

4. The Wall (Intimacy) by Sartre
Just for the heck of it-- Les Instituts de la Religion Chrétienne by Jean Cauvin (The Institutes of the Christian Religion by John Calvin). He was, after all, French, and, hey, it would probably take at least a month to read.The Club is for works of fiction, I am afraid, WFL.
If we already have Stendhal picked, then I think I'll go for something a little more intellectual. How about Nausea?Stendhal hasn't been picked yet and Nausea has already been nominated.

[Bakiryu]

Is the Three Musketeers French?

[Scheherazade]

Indeed it is, Baki.

[Bakiryu]

OOOh then I nominte that and also 20 years After and The Man In the Iron Mask, Also by Dumas.

um....and The Count of Monte Cristo!

[Scheherazade]

One nomination only please! :)

[hastalavictoria]

Okay. since I must pick one :( I'll pick The Stranger by Camus, because I know it's amazing.

[Brigitte]

I'd like to nominate The Man in the Iron Mask by Dumas.

I started this book for a project in AP Eng, and unfortunately I couldn't read all of it as I had to get working on the project, so I just read and then typed the assignment, but I really loved it. Ah, and it'd make Baki's choice a little easier. c[:

[Quark]

Stendhal hasn't been picked yet

In that case, I will nominate The Charterhouse of Parma

[Scheherazade]

Nominations so far:

1. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery

2. Whatever by Michel Houellebecq

3. Nausea by Sartre

4. The Wall (Intimacy) by Sartre

5. The Man in the Iron Mask by Dumas.

6. The Charterhouse of Parma by Stendhal


Okay. since I must pick one :( I'll pick The Stranger by Camus, because I know it's amazing.Victoria,

Only members who have 50 posts or more can nominate/vote, I am afraid. If you increase your posts count by Saturday, we can include your nomination, too :)

[Taliesin]

We can nominate "Stranger" by Camus by ourselves because in the olden days we were quite a poster and thus have more than 50 posts. Plus, we quite liked that work.
So we'll do it.

BTW, we read the first fifty pages of "Red and Black" and hated it.
"Little prince" is also a good choice. We have always wanted to read Exupery's Vol de Nuit (Night Flight). However, we have a feeling that we might even have enough grasp to read Little Prince in French but we are quite certain that we couldn't read Night Flight in French.
But it is still "Stranger"

[Regit]

Could I please nominate "The ice people (La Nuit Des Temps)" by Rene Barjavel. I'd love this to be included in my summer reading, since I've been meaning to read it for a while. Thank you.

[Scheherazade]

We can nominate "Stranger" by Camus by ourselves because in the olden days we were quite a poster and thus have more than 50 posts. Plus, we quite liked that work.
So we'll do it.Yes, I think you *just* make the cut with that post count! :p


Could I please nominate "The ice people (La Nuit Des Temps)" by Rene Barjavel. I'd love this to be included in my summer reading, since I've been meaning to read it for a while. Thank you.Since you ask so nicely... ;)

So, at the moment:

1. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery

2. Whatever by Michel Houellebecq

3. Nausea by Sartre

4. The Wall (Intimacy) by Sartre

5. The Man in the Iron Mask by Dumas.

6. The Charterhouse of Parma by Stendhal

7. Stranger by Camus

8. The Ice People by Rene Barjavel

[_Shannon_]

I'm gonna nominate Madame Bovary by Flaubert. It's not quite on my short list but has been orbiting around it :)

[Scheherazade]

1. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery

2. Whatever by Michel Houellebecq

3. Nausea by Sartre

4. The Wall (Intimacy) by Sartre

5. The Man in the Iron Mask by Dumas.

6. The Charterhouse of Parma by Stendhal

7. Stranger by Camus

8. The Ice People by Rene Barjavel

9. Madame Bovary by Flaubert[/b]

Last nomination up for grabs!

[Brigitte]

Ooh hurry anyone! I want to start voting and oh my... please vote for something short. (; There's lots of reading going on this month... :0

[Scheherazade]

***Some information on the books***

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Little-Prince-Antoine-Saint-Exupery/dp/0749707232/ref=sr_1_1/203-0011263-7238300?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1183243803&sr=1-1)

Whatever by Michel Houellebecq (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Whatever-Michel-Houellebecq/dp/1852425849/ref=pd_bowtega_2/203-0011263-7238300?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1183244080&sr=1-2)

Nausea by Sartre (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Nausea-Penguin-Modern-Classics-Jean-Paul/dp/014118549X/ref=pd_bowtega_1/203-0011263-7238300?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1183244158&sr=1-1)

The Wall (Intimacy) by Sartre (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Wall-Modern-Voices-Jean-Paul-Sartre/dp/184391400X/ref=pd_bowtega_1/203-0011263-7238300?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1183244236&sr=1-1)

The Man in the Iron Mask by Dumas (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Man-Iron-Mask-Wordsworth-Classics/dp/1840224355/ref=sr_1_1/203-0011263-7238300?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1183244279&sr=1-1)

The Charterhouse of Parma by Stendhal (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Charterhouse-Parma-Penguin-Classics/dp/0140449663/ref=sr_1_1/203-0011263-7238300?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1183244336&sr=1-1)

Stranger by Camus (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Stranger-Albert-Camus/dp/0679720200/ref=pd_bowtega_3/203-0011263-7238300?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1183244378&sr=1-3)

The Ice People by Rene Barjavel (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ice-People-Rene-Barjavel/dp/0583120695/ref=sr_1_1/203-0011263-7238300?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1183244459&sr=1-1)

Madame Bovary by Flaubert (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Madame-Penguin-Classics-Gustave-Flaubert/dp/0140449124/ref=pd_bowtega_1/203-0011263-7238300?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1183244506&sr=1-1)

***This poll will be closed on July 7***

[Brigitte]

I can't believe it, but I'm completely torn between three choices. Aiiish.

[Mortis Anarchy]

The Little Prince all the way! I love this book!!!:D

[Brigitte]

Yes, yes... that's what I voted for. Short... and it sounds really interesting. People make it seem as though the contents are magical. xD;; I'm interested in the whole, "it seems childish" but then it's really, "ooh... something deeper." ^__^

And again, it's the shortest one on the list!! (;

[manolia]

This time the poll is very interesting..i will hold my vote for a while ;)

[NickAdams]

:idea: The Wall sounds like a great read.:brow:

[Scheherazade]

Going once...

[Scheherazade]

Going twice...

[Quark]

Wait, we have a tie. What now?

[_Shannon_]

Shoot I didn't get a chance to come back and vote in time!

[Il Penseroso]

In the event of a tie we read Nausea right?

[genoveva]

Are we waiting for a tie breaker? Someone please vote!

[Il Penseroso]

I'm about halfway through Nausea. I'm a bit disappointed really. I don't think I'll be able to read whichever book is belatedly chosen, but I wouldn't mind seeing what others think of it.

[NickAdams]

I'm about halfway through Nausea. I'm a bit disappointed really. I don't think I'll be able to read whichever book is belatedly chosen, but I wouldn't mind seeing what others think of it.

What disappoints you about the books?

[genoveva]

We need a tie breaker!

[NickAdams]

I've already read The Stranger and, as some might kow, didn't like it; however, I have purchased a copy of it in French today. My French has suffered during this summer and needs to be improved for this coming semester. I've already voted for the Wall, I stand by that decision, but if The Stranger is picked I will join the discussion.

[Il Penseroso]

I don't know if it's the translation or perhaps that I read To the Lighthouse just before beginning Nausea, but the prose just seems a bit flat. That combined with a story where nothing happens I guess just turned me a bit off initially, but I'll have to get back into it. It's not bad, just probably not what I've been in the mood for lately.

I still have yet to read any Camus. I'll have to change that soon. I respect your ability to read it in the original French, very admirable. I only wish I knew a foreign language well enough to read an entire book in it.

[NickAdams]

That combined with a story where nothing happens I ...

This quote from Sartre may answer this:
"In order that the most ordinary event should become an adventure, it is only necessary that it should be recounted. That's what deceives people: man is always a story-teller, he lives surrounded by his own and other's stories and sees all that happens to him through them; he tries to live his life as if it were a story he was telling. But you must choose: Live or recount. ... When you live, nothing happens. The scene changes, people come in and go out, that's all. There are never any beginnings"

[NickAdams]

Too bad this failed to blossom.

[Scheherazade]

Yes, I would like to apologise for this. Due to some unexpected developments in my personal life, I could not carry it out as we had planned (I was away from the forum for a while); I owe you guys one.

We will save it for next year! :)

[NickAdams]

Yes, I would like to apologise for this. Due to some unexpected developments in my personal life, I could not carry it out as we had planned (I was away from the forum for a while); I owe you guys one.

We will save it for next year! :)

I hope everythings is ok now. No need to apologize, I was able to catch up on other reads.;)

[NickAdams]

Until next year then.

[DapperDrake]

So whats happening here then? last year?, this year?, next year?, never? :p

I'd like to read The Wall by the way.

[NickAdams]

So whats happening here then? last year?, this year?, next year?, never? :p

I'd like to read The Wall by the way.

We can try to salvage Bastille Day, if you have The Wall. Portrait of the Artist was going to be the last book of modern fiction that I was going to read this year, but I'll make an exception for The Wall.

[lugdunum]

We can try to salvage Bastille Day

If you do, please count me in. :thumbs_up The Wall seems like a perfect choice. (Though, I'm opened to any of the others on the list)

[Scheherazade]

The Wall was not selected in the poll; however, if you would like to read this book, you can start a separate thread in the General Literature section.

[lugdunum]

:thumbs_up Good point Scheherazade. I hadn't noticed that.

To be honest I jumped to the last message and didn't even see the polls... tsk tsk tsk. sorry... :blush:

So is this poll going to be revived anyway (even though it's a bit late for Bastille day ;) )?

[NickAdams]

The Wall was not selected in the poll; however, if you would like to read this book, you can start a separate thread in the General Literature section.

That was the plan.;)


If you do, please count me in. :thumbs_up The Wall seems like a perfect choice. (Though, I'm opened to any of the others on the list)

Then there was three. I will create the thread this week.

[Brigitte]

Late, yes... but which book won? O_o; There's a tie!! *too tired to look back on other pages...* Oh oh! This is last year's poll. What will you pretty people be reading then?