January / South African Reading Poll

[Scheherazade]

In January 2008, we will be reading a book by a South African author.

Please nominate the books you would like to read

(one nomination per member, please)

by November 30th.

* Only those books which are available on amazon in English will be included in our poll. *

Note: Only the first 10 books will be included in the poll.


Some information on the books:

Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton (http://www.amazon.com/Cry-Beloved-Country-Alan-Paton/dp/074326195X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1196698583&sr=1-1)

Slow Manby J.M. Coetzee (http://www.amazon.com/Slow-Man-J-M-Coetzee/dp/0099490625/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1196698658&sr=1-1)

Conservationistby Nadine Gordimer (http://www.amazon.com/Conservationist-Nadine-Gordimer/dp/0140047166/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1196698720&sr=1-1)

Coconutby Kopano Matlwa (http://www.amazon.com/Coconut-Kopano-Matlwa/dp/1770093362/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1196698825&sr=1-1)

The Power of Oneby Bryce Courtenay (http://www.amazon.com/Power-One-Novel-Bryce-Courtenay/dp/034541005X/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1196698893&sr=1-2)

Disgraceby J.M. Coetzee (http://www.amazon.com/Disgrace-Penguin-Essential-Editions-Coetzee/dp/0143036378/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1196698961&sr=1-1)

My Son's Storyby Nadine Gordimer (http://www.amazon.com/My-Sons-Story-Nadine-Gordimer/dp/074756275X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1196699340&sr=1-1)

Martha Questby Doris Lessing (http://www.amazon.com/Martha-Quest-Novel-Perennial-Classics/dp/B000GG4JOG/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1196699398&sr=1-1)

Waiting for the Barbariansby J.M. Coetzee (http://www.amazon.com/Waiting-Barbarians-J-M-Coetzee/dp/0099465930/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1196699466&sr=1-1)


* * * This poll will close on January 1st. * * *
Book Club Procedures (http://www.online-literature.com/forums/showthread.php?p=57103#post57103)

[Niamh]

Do they have to be public domain?

[Scheherazade]

No, but they need to be available on amazon (in English).

[Niamh]

oaky here is ny nomination
Cry, Beloved Country by Alan Paton

[thelastmelon]

My nomination is:
Slow Man by J.M. Coetzee.

[papayahed]

The Conservationist - Nadine Gordimer

http://www.amazon.com/Conservationist-Nadine-Gordimer/dp/0140047166/ref=pd_bbs_3/102-6296934-3229704?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194007530&sr=8-3

[SleepyWitch]

Coconut by Kopano Matlwa (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Coconut-Kopano-Matlwa/dp/1770093362/ref=sr_1_18/202-2435933-4159840?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194009652&sr=1-18)
it's only available as a used book on amazon UK, though :(

[Scheherazade]

Wow, so many nominations already:

1. Cry, Beloved Country by Alan Paton

2. Slow Man by J.M. Coetzee

3. The Conservationist by Nadine Gordimer

4. Coconut by Kopano Matlwa (My library doesn't have it but Waterstone seems to have it - but they took 2-3 weeks to deliver.)

I would like to nominate the Booker Prize winner Disgrace by J.M. Coetzee.

[Niamh]

good choice sher! I can get that one in work! :p

[barbara0207]

Just wanted to suggest "Disgrace" myself when I saw it had already been nominated. Good choice!

[Scheherazade]

Just wanted to suggest "Disgrace" myself when I saw it had already been nominated. Good choice!I have decided to change my nomination. So, if you like, you can nominate Disgrace, Barbara! :)

My new nomination is:

The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay

Nominations at the moment:

1. Cry, Beloved Country by Alan Paton

2. Slow Man by J.M. Coetzee

3. The Conservationist by Nadine Gordimer

4. Coconut by Kopano Matlwa

5. The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay

[barbara0207]

I have decided to change my nomination. So, if you like, you can nominate Disgrace, Barbara! :)


Thanks, I will. So my nomination is "Disgrace" by J.M. Coetzee.

[thelastmelon]

Thanks, I will. So my nomination is "Disgrace" by J.M. Coetzee.

Have you read anything by Coetzee before?

[barbara0207]

I read "Disgrace" the year he won the Nobel Prize; before that I hadn't even heard his name. I would like to reread the book but I know I won't unless I have to (not because it's bad but because there are so many other books on my list ...) :)

[hellsapoppin]

I read Doris Lessing's Martha Quest many years ago. It was largely overlooked by the American public as we never came to terms with apartheid and its evil {the reason being that we were preoccupied with Vietnam and domestic racism}. The main character is a portrayal of a young South African woman who serves as a microcosm for the 20th century and its turbulence. The book is definitely worth considering.

Recently, Mrs Lessing was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature and it was richly deserved.

[rmd]

Just found out about this place and like the idea of an online monthly book discussion.

Someone mentioned Doris Lessing. Her first novel, The Grass Is Singing, is worthy of a nomination.

Coetzee's Disgrace would be great for discussion.

I read The Conservationist a long time ago and don't remember all that much about it except that I liked it.

[Scheherazade]

Nominations at the moment:

1. Cry, Beloved Country by Alan Paton

2. Slow Man by J.M. Coetzee

3. The Conservationist by Nadine Gordimer

4. Coconut by Kopano Matlwa

5. The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay

6. Disgrace by J.M. Coetzee


Welcome to the Forum hellsapoppin and rmd! :) Looking forward to reading your comments on our discussions.

Has anyone heard anything about The Power of One? It is one of the books in BBC's Big Read list and has got excellent comments on amazon:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Power-One-Bryce-Courtenay/dp/0140272917/ref=pd_bbs_2/202-3597701-9886222?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194259623&sr=8-2

[rmd]

I will nominate The Grass Is Singing by Doris Lessing.

[NickAdams]

I've wanted to read Disgrace for some time now.

[Scheherazade]

Hope you will be able to join us, Nick! :)

rmd> Unfortunately, only those members with at leas 50 posts can nominate/vote in the Book Club... Which is not so hard if you visit our General Chat/Games section. :)

[rmd]

Fair enough.

[NickAdams]

Hope you will be able to join us, Nick! :)

Me too. I haven't been able to participate in the past few months. I can't wait for the new year.

[bouquin]

I would like to nominate My Son's Story by Nadine Gordimer.
Thanks.

[Scheherazade]

Nominations so far:

1. Cry, Beloved Country by Alan Paton

2. Slow Man by J.M. Coetzee

3. The Conservationist by Nadine Gordimer

4. Coconut by Kopano Matlwa

5. The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay

6. Disgrace by J.M. Coetzee

7. My Son's Story by Nadine Gordimer

[jlb4tlb]

I would like to nominate "Martha Quest" by Doris Lessing. Sounds like a good read.

Jeff

[B-Mental]

Me too. I haven't been able to participate in the past few months. I can't wait for the new year.

I'm very excited about this new year, and the turn that the Book Club has chosen for the following year. I think we should retain this format for future reference, and maybe make a rule that no country remain on for more than two years in a row. This would definitely diversify everyone.

There are some great books that people are referring, and I am happy to have some good ones to add to my list. I might just make January my South African reading month. Thanks everyone.

[Scheherazade]

Nominations so far:

1. Cry, Beloved Country by Alan Paton

2. Slow Man by J.M. Coetzee

3. The Conservationist by Nadine Gordimer

4. Coconut by Kopano Matlwa

5. The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay

6. Disgrace by J.M. Coetzee

7. My Son's Story by Nadine Gordimer

8. Martha Quest by Doris Lessing


B-Mental> If we decide to follow 'Country of the Month' method the following year as well, probably we will make sure that the same countries do not get picked (we already have this rule for books: the same book cannot be read in two consecutive years).

[Pensive]

oaky here is ny nomination
Cry, Beloved Country by Alan Paton

I would have nominated this one too. :D I had it in my book shelf and a few days ago while looking at it, I just thought of trying it and now I am more than half way through it. (only about thirty pages are left!) I would say it's quite interesting.

[bunker_70]

I was planning on reading "Waiting for the Barbarians" by Coetzee so that would be my nomination.

[Scheherazade]

Nominations so far:

1. Cry, Beloved Country by Alan Paton

2. Slow Man by J.M. Coetzee

3. The Conservationist by Nadine Gordimer

4. Coconut by Kopano Matlwa

5. The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay

6. Disgrace by J.M. Coetzee

7. My Son's Story by Nadine Gordimer

8. Martha Quest by Doris Lessing

9. Waiting for the Barbarians by Coetzee

Last three days!

[Scheherazade]

Some information on the books:

Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton (http://www.amazon.com/Cry-Beloved-Country-Alan-Paton/dp/074326195X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1196698583&sr=1-1)

Slow Manby J.M. Coetzee (http://www.amazon.com/Slow-Man-J-M-Coetzee/dp/0099490625/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1196698658&sr=1-1)

Conservationistby Nadine Gordimer (http://www.amazon.com/Conservationist-Nadine-Gordimer/dp/0140047166/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1196698720&sr=1-1)

Coconutby Kopano Matlwa (http://www.amazon.com/Coconut-Kopano-Matlwa/dp/1770093362/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1196698825&sr=1-1)

The Power of Oneby Bryce Courtenay (http://www.amazon.com/Power-One-Novel-Bryce-Courtenay/dp/034541005X/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1196698893&sr=1-2)

Disgraceby J.M. Coetzee (http://www.amazon.com/Disgrace-Penguin-Essential-Editions-Coetzee/dp/0143036378/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1196698961&sr=1-1)

My Son's Storyby Nadine Gordimer (http://www.amazon.com/My-Sons-Story-Nadine-Gordimer/dp/074756275X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1196699340&sr=1-1)

Martha Questby Doris Lessing (http://www.amazon.com/Martha-Quest-Novel-Perennial-Classics/dp/B000GG4JOG/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1196699398&sr=1-1)

Waiting for the Barbariansby J.M. Coetzee (http://www.amazon.com/Waiting-Barbarians-J-M-Coetzee/dp/0099465930/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1196699466&sr=1-1)


* * * This poll will close on January 1st. * * *

[papayahed]

After reading the reviews I'm torn between The Power of One and My Son's Story.

[kratsayra]

how exciting. I'd be happy to read any of these books in the book club. Although I did just read Coetzee's Disgrace not too long ago.

looking forward to it! :)

[Scheherazade]

Oh, a nice four-way tie! :D

[Pensive]

Oh, a nice four-way tie! :D

I think I shall break it. Just recently, I finished Cry the Beloved Country in which I think there are things I would like to discuss in 'Forum Book Club.' :D

[Scheherazade]

I think I shall break it. Just recently, I finished Cry the Beloved Country in which I think there are things I would like to discuss in 'Forum Book Club.' :DRead it many, many moons ago as well and liked it very much then. Wonder how I would feel now.

(And you haven't broken the tie yet!)

Only four votes in one week? That is very unusual! Not many are interested in SA literature?

[Niamh]

Thats really odd. I thought more people would have cast a vote by now!
We need some advertising......;)

[kratsayra]

Thats really odd. I thought more people would have cast a vote by now!
We need some advertising......;)

Aww man, I thought it was just cause January was far away. :(

It reminds me of how I barely have enough students registered for the African literature course I'm teaching next semester.

Come on people, Africa is awesome!! You don't know what you're missing! :p

[Pensive]

Read it many, many moons ago as well and liked it very much then. Wonder how I would feel now.

(And you haven't broken the tie yet!)

Only four votes in one week? That is very unusual! Not many are interested in SA literature?

Done! :D

I have also liked it, probably not too much but still it was good to read. The style was unique. Especially what attracted me was the freedom from 'speech-marks' by author. I wonder why he would do that. But it did make the reading more smooth for me I remember.

[Scheherazade]

After reading the reviews I'm torn between The Power of One and My Son's Story.Oh, come on! You know you want to vote for The Power of One! :D

[papayahed]

Oh, come on! You know you want to vote for The Power of One! :D

It's in the top two....How many kit kats is it worth??:D

[Scheherazade]

It's in the top two....How many kit kats is it worth??:DHow about I wrap all your Christmas gifts for ya? ;)

[thelastmelon]

Ah, I don't know if I'll have time for the January book. Hopefully I will, but we'll see. :)

[Scheherazade]

My nomination is:
Slow Man by J.M. Coetzee.


Ah, I don't know if I'll have time for the January book. Hopefully I will, but we'll see. :)Aww, does that mean you may not be able to join us even if Slow Man wins?

[thelastmelon]

Aww, does that mean you may not be able to join us even if Slow Man wins?

I hope I will, but it seems like I will have a lot to do for school.
But of course I'll try, no matter what book wins. :)

[Scheherazade]

A three-way tie? My favorite! :D

[thelastmelon]

Still a long way to go though! :thumbs_up

[Nossa]

I'm not sure if I'll be able to catch up..I have exams till Jan. 14th!
But I'll just nominate Disgrace...it seems like a good read.

[hellsapoppin]

JM Coetzee has a new book out and it appears to have many metaphysical ramifications:

http://books.guardian.co.uk/extracts/story/0,,2155838,00.html


''Diary of a Bad Year'' does appear to have a great many merits.

[Nightshade]

Oh come on... a 3 way split? Thats means I cant go looking foir the book till january ...grumble:(

[michael336]

I've heard great things about The Power of One as well. Should be good.

[Scheherazade]

Going once...

[thelastmelon]

Going once...

What happens if we don't get more votes?

[papayahed]

What happens if we don't get more votes?

That's when the trusty coin comes out.

[Scheherazade]

Going twice...

[papayahed]

Sold.

Slow Man by Coetzee

[thelastmelon]

Nominations so far:
8. Martha Quest by Doris Lessing


I was just thinking, how come she could get nominated for South Africa? Daughter of a man and woman from Britain, born in Persia, moved to southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) and later moved to England.

Was she nominated just because she was campaigning against nuclear arms and South African apartheid? Cause, she's not really South African.

[Niamh]

It was obviously in error but the voting is well over now and Slow Man was selected so....

[thelastmelon]

It was obviously in error but the voting is well over now and Slow Man was selected so....

Yes, I know that. It was just something that I thought about before, because I am to read a book by Lessing now myself and wanted to look her up before I read. And so I got confused. :) That's all.