June book voting.

[IWilKikU]

This month we got 11 noms, so I cut out Portrait of an Artist by Joyce, firstly because it was nominated a few months ago and utterly defeated, secondly it was the fourth nom by the same member, so I didn't figure he/she would be to sad to see 1 of 4 fall out. :D. The other books that are reappearing on the nom board (Androids and Eden) both almost won last month, so they stayed.

And the choices are:::::::::::::
Do Androids Dream of Electric sheep? - Philip Dick
The Quiet American - Graham Green
The Jungle - Upton Sinclair
The Godfather - Mario Puzo
Don Quixote - Miguel de Cervantez
East of Eden - John Steinbeck
Lolita - Vladamir Nobokov
The Handmaid's Tail - Margret Atwood
The Brothers Karamazov - Fyoder Dostoyevsky
Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austin


Please please please don't make a huge book like Don Quixote win. I wont be able to take part if it does. Too much going on.

[amuse]

have to marinate no ruminate on this one ;) for a while - too many good choices. :)

[Kiwi Shelf]

I went with Eden, seeing as I nominated it and with school winding down may actually have time to read it.

Not to nick pick or anything, but last I checked Handmaid's didn't have tails. hehe

[emily655321]

Whoo boy. In the spirit of this year's presidential primaries, I'm gonna hold off till I see whether the Bros. K. or the Android Sheep get more votes, so I don't waste my own -- I'm gonna be an "Anybody But Steinbeck" voter this time around. :p

[EAP]

Lolita!

[amuse]

i'm intrigued by the title "The Handmaid's Tail [sic :p]" so voted for it, though i'm always up for another reading of P&P, and really should one day reread Steinbeck.

[IWilKikU]

I really wanted to wait until I saw who people were voting for, but since I started the thread and demanded that everyone vote, and since I nom'd a book myself, I figured that I would vote for it. :mad: Someone else better pick mine so I don't feel like I voted for Nater :mad:!

[verybaddmom]

as i originally suggested Margaret Atwood, i felt it only appropriate that i vote for her book. however, i feel kind of silly as it is the only book on that list that i have already read...repeatedly.
I am just finding lately that in my small town, i am having a hard time finding some of the books that are being suggested; we have a rinky dink little bookstore and a pathetic public library, both of which are dedicated to Dr. Seuss and magazines and not much else. the only bonus to either is the fact that last week in digging through the rejects section of the used book store, i found a copy of "The Picture of Dorian Gray" with added bonus "De Profundis" published in 1954....for $4.00. YAY.

[IWilKikU]

Thats not something to celebrate over. Unless you were celebrating that you're little bookshop had the good sense to throw it in the reject section.

[verybaddmom]

eeeeeekkkkk.....i have no response to that but to gasp and to possibly change color with rage and offense!!!!

i sometimes wonder about you kik, sometimes you have great taste in books (i am a huge fan of Stephen King myself) but your musical interests....(i refer here to your venomous reply to anyone appreciating nickelback) and your distaste for Oscar Wilde, who i have spent much time researching and appreciating: well, i find you confusing....

[IWilKikU]

Glad I can keep you guessing. My girlfriend of 2 and a half years still is confused by my uh... shinanagins. :)

[emily655321]

At the risk of beginning to sound like Kik's toady, I didn't much care for Dorian Gray either. Well, actually I didn't finish it. I found it amusing for the first couple of chapters, but I soon decided that I appreciate Wilde's sense of humor far more in small doses. Which surprised me, because I've always loved him. -- If you need proof for some bizarre reason, I would be happy to scan a photo taken of me in Pere Lachaise, paying those unique respects common to visitors of his tombstone. :D (The only black lipstick-print on it, btw.)

[emily655321]

Okay, I voted for Fyodor. I didn't get the chance to vote for Deany, so I'm going Nader-voter on this one.

http://www.turtlerock.com/RalphDontRun/

[Kiwi Shelf]

I must be strange because I tried to read "Handmaid's Tale" and just could not get through it! Despite how everyone I know said I would love it, I just didn't like it...
I suppose if it wins I could give it another try, but I wish you had suggested "Oryx and Crake," I adored that book.

[dhm]

I have just joined the site and hope to participate in the book of the month discussions. My vote goes to "The Handmaiden's Tale" because I like Margaret Attwood but anything other than "East of Eden" (which I just read) is fine with me.

Look forward to chatting with you all.

Kiwi Shelf- It's interesting that you didn't like "The Handmaiden's Tale" but loved Orxy & Crake; I love most of her other books but am finding O & C difficult to engage in. Maybe I will like "The Handmaiden's tale"!

[verybaddmom]

go handmaid's tale!

*makes circular gesture in front of body with hands in fists*

[crow]

I voted Handmaids Tale, because a friend recommended it, and Ive not read any of hers before.

Ive read Lolita along time ago and dont really want to revisit it.

[Kiwi Shelf]

Actually "Oryx and Crake" is the only book by her I have ever managed to read
I tried "Alias Grace", too, no luck

[Capnplank]

Went with Dostoyevsky to tie it up. I have actually been meaning to read that one, while I didn't especially care for any of the Atwood stuff I have read.
Would have maybe gone for East of Eden if it hadn't recently been the Oprah book. Much as I like Steinbeck, that just gives me the oogies.

[flier58]

I too have just joined this site, I must admit that the only title on the list that I recognise is P&P:confused: so I can't comment on any of them but that one. I haven't actually read P&P but I really enjoyed the BBC's period drama of the book.

[IWilKikU]

I'll quite possibly still be on Hunchback in may :(

[verybaddmom]

im still trying to find a copy of Hunchback, kik. you are way ahead of me.....

[amuse]

btw, i never started a cat (tennessee williams) thread because i haven't read it in like five years, can't find it at any used book stores and really don't want to buy it new...
HOW :) did your paper go?

[verybaddmom]

well, still writing it, but its coming along nicely. like i said, once ive focused my thesis, its just a matter of picking the points i wish to use to support it and then digging them out of the works that ive read. i was just SO struggling with that thesis, and have been for over a week, so i even tried writing the essay to see where it went and then tried to develop a thesis from there. that failed miserably, and i was back to square one. truthfully, i have written about five complete essays regarding mr Wilde over the last two months, but i have scrapped every one. i dont know what my problem is, but i think i might have finally passed it.

whew. anyhow, i've recently re-read cat and would be thrilled to discuss it with you once you have reread it. would you be interested in an online copy? i think i may have seen one in my travels. if you like, i'll take another look....

[amuse]

cool. glad to hear it.

re: cat: please! after an hour i gave up. thanks vbm.

[EAP]

Please no Dostovosky! Please no! Better Atwood then Dostovosky, please! :(:(:(

[emily655321]

Oh, poor EAP :( Well, if it's Atwood I'll finish Bros. K. on my own anyway, so it doesn't matter to me. It's starting to look like I'll be spending longer than anticipated with Hunchback, too, so that wouldn't be a problem.

By the way, I know what it stands for, but I still can't help reading your name as "eep." :p

[CBW]

I am new to this forum, but this is exactly what I am looking for. I always wanted to be in a book club, but there are none locally.
I am too late to read Hunckback, since I am already into another book, but I look forward to the next selection. I may try to read Hunckback (it's been sitting on my desk for months) if I finish my current one soon.
I also have Don Quixote on my desk, but I did not vote for it because I know that many of us are finishing up the semester next month and will have little time to dedicate to such a large book. I do look forward to tackling that book soon, though.

[dhm]

Welcome aboard CBW. There are a few of us newbies this month.

EAP- what does your name stand for. I'm curious since I work for an EAP (Employee Assistance Program) firm and it's weird to see the Acronym in this context.

To the regulars the voting is now tie between Atwood & Dostoyevsky. When does voting close? I'm eager to get started since I finished my last book yesterday.

[emily655321]

Hi dhm. This isn't the official voting thread -- it's just one Kik cooked up to get a general idea of the way people were leaning. I believe actual voting opens next week? Anyway, there's a book a month, so the next book starts May 1, whichever that may be.

Oh, and EAP stands for Edgar Allan Poe, by the way. What does dhm stand for? :D

[dhm]

Oh thanks *enlightened face* I'm glad someone told me this is not the official voting poll. I wondered why the thread was so vaguely worded- it all makes sense now. May 1 is not far away so I guess I'll have to wait patiently.


DHM doesn't stand for anything as exotic as my fav author/poet it is a cross bw my intials and my work password.


Originally posted by emily655321
Hi dhm. This isn't the official voting thread -- it's just one Kik cooked up to get a general idea of the way people were leaning. I believe actual voting opens next week? Anyway, there's a book a month, so the next book starts May 1, whichever that may be.

Oh, and EAP stands for Edgar Allan Poe, by the way. What does dhm stand for? :D

[IWilKikU]

Actually folks, this IS the official voting thread. Admin doesn't have time to run the book club, so its left up to us. Somehow I'm always the one who ends up starting these voting threads, but I'm not an official book club MOD.

The way it works: 1st-15th is nomination time. Whoever starts the voting thread (usually me) posts a poll thread (like this one) on the 16th, with all (or if there are more than ten, most) of the noms. Everyone votes until the last of the month, the book with the most votes is the new book, nominations start again. We've never had a tie before, so if this is a first I don't know what will happen, but Admin is pretty good about declaring the official book by the 2nd or 3rd, so maybe he'll choose, or maybe we'll revote with just the two books as noms, who knows? :confused:

[verybaddmom]

go handmaid's tale....c'mon handmaid's tale
*said in manner of one cheering on horses at the track*

[dhm]

Thanks IWilKikU clear as mud. (btw can you explain your user name? It seems like a thinly disguised attempt to mask violent tendencies; I must be wrong?) Maybe a two book poll. I'm with Verybaddmom mostly because I like Atwood and the book is shorter which is imp since May is a big month for me already.

[IWilKikU]

Well, actually my user name IS a thinly disguised attempt to mask violent tendencies. You are very perceptive :D :D. Thats what I do to people who vote against me in the book club :p

[dhm]

lol. I stand warned! You're going for Atwood right? Please say yes...

Cowering in fear :D

[IWilKikU]

Ok guys, The Book Club is in a state of emergency!!! Last month we chose Hunchback of Notre Dame, which is the longest club book to date. We chose it at a crucial time in the semester, and seeing as the majority of us that take part in the club are students, we had to prioritize, and I think only one person actually finished it. Congrats Starling. I'm not even half way done with it. Now we're approaching a new month and most of us arn't ready for a new book. I propose that extend Hunchback for one more month. I know, those of you who arn't reading it won't like this idea, but those of us who actually are never were able to finish.

If no one likes this idea, we still have a big problem. Its 10:33 PM GMT, and there's a three way tie between P&P, Brothers, and Handmaid. If we do elect a new book, I propose that we undergo a 10 day period of revoting with only these three as nominees. That way Nader-voters, like myself, will be able to pick from one of these three, where before we voted for a loser :(. I think thats an aceptable form of tiebreaker. Do you? What say you, Admin?

Then again there is still an hour and twenty minutes for someone to break the tie the old fassioned way.

[emily655321]

I'm all for extending Hunchback, personally. I know there were a couple of people who joined in the middle of the month who expressed interest in reading it too, so.. my two cents.

If we do that, though, would we begin again with nominations for June, or just vote for the ones in this poll again at the end of May?

[amuse]

yesyesyes! *clean your minds up! seriously, that's a great idea. i haven't picked it up notre dame in a few days, and here it is may and so only - picks up book ('bout time :D) - almost halfway through.

[GapingStarling]

I think it sounds like a good plan all around -- especially if we vote on the tied ones about half-way through the month, then we'll have more time to read whichever wins for the next month, too. (Does that make sense? It does in my head) :)

[emily655321]

Haha yeah it does. That's the good thing about running the club polls and stuff ourselves. We'll know when everyone's done, and can decide what to do next. Depending on what book gets chosen, we could either do it just for the latter half of May or get a head start on June. Although... P&P and Bros. K are 1.5 monthers I guess. Atwood fans, about how long is Handmaid's Tale?

[GapingStarling]

In my opinion, it's not a killer but it's pretty on par with P&P lengthwise, so I would say it's a 1 1/2er as well...

[verybaddmom]

293 pages of easy, absorbing reading...in my hand

the Handmaid's tale that is

[fayefaye]

I'd like to say that I will personally hurt anyone who votes for pride and prejudice... but that's another book i've already read so less reading for me! :D :) ;) gooooooo godfather!

[IWilKikU]

Well, since techinically WE run the book club rather than Admin, I'm going to take you're support as grounds for agreement that we should indeed extend hunchback. So... I'll start a new thread for voting on the three tied books only. We'll stay on Hunchback until the end of the month, and next month we'll read the winner of the next vote.

Ooooh!, Before I start a new voting thread, should we wait to actually start the vote until the 15th (standard date to begin voting), or should we just start it now?

!!!OR!!! Should we just leave this thread open until the end of the month, so that the other books also have a chance to win?

Argh. The choices :mad: :(

[amuse]

i say start soon
(alliterate az! :p)

[CBW]

Good, I wanted to finish reading Notre Dame, but set it aside for another time. I was waiting to see what was picked for May. I've been spending my time with the three muskateers while waiting. Now I can finish both, and not in a hurry.

[emily655321]

I think we should wait a till most of us are done or almost done with Hunch. We may be in the mood for something different than we are now, once we've gotten through this one. Heck, I might be in the mood for some nice, bite-sized electric sheep after a couple more weeks of medieval Paris, rather than diving into another long-y like Karamazov.

[subterranean]

Will anyone else support me for non-fiction book please?!

[Admin]

So you guys want to extend hunchback and continue voting on these books until June?

[verybaddmom]

sub, i would definitely support a non-fiction read, if it were on a subject that we could all find interesting. i would love to suggest something by Michael Moore, as his writing is so very cool and fascinating, but im afraid that any discussion on the reading would lead to politics, and all members of the club being banned.

btw, i have joined your club...hope you dont mind ;)

so i guess that i will have to go and try again to find a copy of hunchy and read the darned thing. i was really hoping to wait it out....although i have been struggling through "Atlas Shrugged" for a while now and im still not near the halfway mark.

on second thought maybe i'll just wait for June to join the club....

[emily655321]

Yes, please, Admin. :D

[papayahed]

VBM,
Is Atlas Shrugged as long winded as The Fountainhead? The fountainhead is a great book but it definatly could have been a lot shorter IMHO.

[verybaddmom]

i havent read the fountainhead .... yet. but i believe so. it seems to really drag in spots as there is so much description that i am afraid to skim (i have to try and write a critical essay when im finished reading it).
but i find the most annoying thing is how many times someone has a feeling that they are 'not quite aware of'....it's weird. sort of like "she looked at him with an expression on her face the he knew was important but that he did not recognize." etc. there seems to be a lot of that. so and so saw something that reminded him of something that he cant remember but he's sure its important and will think about it later.....grrrrrr

[fayefaye]

can I change my vote to Don Quixote?

[emily655321]

Can we just start the vote over?

[Kiwi Shelf]

Oh, but I actually own the two books that are tied, means I can participate without buying anything.

:)

[Dexter]

Hear good things about Margaret Atwood, esp. "The Handmaid's Tale (Tail?). I'd go for it, I hope its shorter than Don. Q.
Dexter

[verybaddmom]

Dex, if you are looking to read some Margaret Atwood, also be sure and try "Alias grace", "the robber bride", "cat's eye" and "the edible woman". also, her short story "the resplendent quetzal" (sp) was excellent.
i might be a fan...im not sure....

[dhm]

So Atwood is again tied in first place. Maybe this is a sign.

[Kiwi Shelf]

Dex, if you are looking to read some Margaret Atwood, also be sure and try "Alias grace", "the robber bride", "cat's eye" and "the edible woman". also, her short story "the resplendent quetzal" (sp) was excellent.
i might be a fan...im not sure....

Don't forget "Oryx and Crake," it's great as well

[IWilKikU]

All I have to say is that if you guys make me read fricking Pride and Prejudice, you're all going to have to listen to me bittch and moan about it for the whole damn month! No one wants that, do they?

[dhm]

And using a slightly different, but perhaps more compelling, argument than Kik's (:)) ... hasn't everybody who likes P & P (and I'm one) already read it more than once? Wouldn't it be nice to read something refreshingly new?

[amuse]

well let's discuss p&p at least! :D if we aren't to read it a 5th time! :D

[verybaddmom]

amuse, you should be pleased to know that i picked up three new books at the used book store today....P&P, W&P and Lady Chatterly's lover. that should keep me busy for the next year or so, considering that i am a few chapters into hunchback and still struggling with Atlas Shrugged :brickwall . arghh...why do i do this to myself. i think i should just stop, and read the ikea catalogue cover to cover for a break... :idea:

EDIT: i guess this post could be included in the "what has this forum inspired you to read" thread too!!

[Miranda]

I got a good book in the Oxfam shop yesterday too....The Handmaids Tale! I hope we don't have to read Pride and Prejudice...its a deadly boring, soap opera set in the past but The HandmaidsTale - well I didnt mean to cheat, but I read the first page and I couldnt put it down. What a difference in readability to the Hunchback of Notre Dame! I've never read any of Margeret Atwood before but I have Oryx and Crake on my book shelf that my friend gave me as a present but never got round to reading. I think I will be reading it soon...

[emily655321]

Aren't there two more people out there who want to read "Brothers"? :( All I know is my grandmother recommended "Handmaid's Tale" to my mother, and if they like it I KNOW it's going to suck, :p because they're "Lovely Bones" and "Girl With A Pearl Earring" people -- the latter of which my mother convinced me to read while we were in Paris, thus ruining for me FOREVER both Vermeer and my memories of that trip. :mad: :mad:

[Miranda]

Well time will tell if it's chosen Emily. Lots of people seem to like Atwood.gh I havent read any myself before and didn't expect her writing to be so intriguing. I have read the first chapters - and maybe it's cheating, but suspense is written into them from the very first sentence - you just have to read on to find out what will happen next. There is mystery interwoven into each paragraph, and you just want to read on quickly to find the answers. Whether this will continue throughout the book I dont know but I am very impressed with the beginning...don't knock it till you've tried it Emily!!

[dhm]

I liked lovely bones!

I've got the stage where I don't care what we read as long as we start! (My interium book is not very good). And it's a three way tie now?!

By the way I've released some bookcrossing books (for those who remember the thread) and got a journal note posted back- it's a fantastic feeling. Today I'm releasing "Vernon God Little"; how cool would it be if one of you found it?!

[amuse]

notre dame isn't boring - if some of the chapters are horrid, they're worth reading later. This Will Kill That was excruciating, but i plan to check it out again later. A Bird's Eye View of Paris was a bit of an architectural dissertation, but at the end became sublime, and that is on my reread as well. at the moment, the priest
spoiler

is declaring his love for esmeralda. not bad, considering he killed her lover for want of her hellish self.

and p&p is pretty layered; a soap opera, a study of family/marriage, others study it for feminist views. it's been used to soothe soldiers in wwii, and studied in the 70's.
ah well. each to our own.

[fayefaye]

*hugs amuse*
ahhhhh notre dame. nice that somebody should stick up for it. :)

[fayefaye]

wait, so what's the june book?????

[faith]

U cant vote for books u havent read. I have read only Preide and Prejudice (ohmy whata word to spell...) Well, but P&P is a great book, so maybe I woulda voted for it anyway. Lotta people seam to like it... thats nice!

[verybaddmom]

U cant vote for books u havent read.

i have to say that i disagree largely, as part of the fun of this club is having the opportunity to vote for and read books that you havent met before. i have felt guilty, in fact, voting for a book that i have read!

[emily655321]

Why can't you vote for books you haven't read, again? :confused: I thought that was the point of the book club? Oh well, so it's PandP, then, eh? Okay, I can live with that. :)

(And, this probably should be going in the Hunch thread, but I didn't mind Bird's Eye View very much either. Although, it certainly helps to have already seen Paris from the top of Notre Dame, because I could easily picture the view. It's just so hard to pick that book back up once you've put it down. :p)

[Admin]

Pride & Prejudice