July / Counter-Culture Literature Reading Poll

[Scheherazade]

Please nominate the "counter-culture literature" novel you would like to read in July in this thread.

Please remember that:

- Only those members with 50+ posts can nominate.

- One nomination per member.

- Only the first 10 nominations will be included in the poll.


The Book Club readings are for those who would like to read and discuss books together with other members.

If you are not able to take part or unwilling to (re)read your own nominations, please refrain from nominating book.


Information on counter-culture literature (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counterculture)

[papayahed]

So many choices! erm....

[The Comedian]

What exactly do we mean by "counter-culture" here? I'm not looking for an exact definition, necessarily, just a better sense of the type of book to nominate.

[EDIT: And one more question, does a graphic novel count as a novel?]

[Scheherazade]

What exactly do we mean by "counter-culture" here? I'm not looking for an exact definition, necessarily, just a better sense of the type of book to nominate.

[EDIT: And one more question, does a graphic novel count as a novel?]To be perfectly honest, I was not very sure either (nominated and chosen by members so...). I did a little search on Wiki *oh, noes* and it seems like Beat Generation and such. And graphic novels are listed there too so why not? :D




Information on counter-culture literature (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counterculture)

[Uberzensch]

Well, I wish I had something a little less obvious to suggest, but here goes...

On the Road, Jack Kerouac

[papayahed]

I'm torn between Junky and Hell's Angels: A Strange and Terrible Saga

[The Comedian]

Here's my official nomination:

American Splendor: The Life and Times of Harvey Pekar


The link to Amazon.com

http://www.amazon.com/American-Splendor-Times-Harvey-Pekar/dp/0345468309/ref=pd_sim_b_1

[PoeticPassions]

I am going to second Comedian's nomination. It is a terriffic graphic novel/comic book :)

[The Comedian]

I am going to second Comedian's nomination. It is a terrific graphic novel/comic book :)

Thanks PoeticPassions -- it's a book that I've long wanted to read, but have yet to do so. Your recommendation makes me want to read it all the more.

Good hunting!

[lupe]

I am sorry to say that the definition proposed by Wikipedia on "counter-culture literature" cannot satisfy even the minimum of serious criteria to allow me nominate a novel. The Wikipedia article is, by the way, the first to note that there are problems on the "quality standards", the "neutrality" and the "verification" of its contents.

And to start with the obvious: counter- to witch culture we are talking about?

[Scheherazade]

Nominations so far:

1. On the Road by Jack Kerouac

2. American Splendor: The Life and Times of Harvey Pekar



I am sorry to say that the definition proposed by Wikipedia on "counter-culture literature" cannot satisfy even the minimum of serious criteria to allow me nominate a novel. The Wikipedia article is, by the way, the first to note that there are problems on the "quality standards", the "neutrality" and the "verification" of its contents.

And to start with the obvious: counter- to witch culture we are talking about?Hi Lupe,

I understand your confusion and frustration very well as I am not very clear on the issue either. However, the Book Club is a not a part of a school activity. If you think something is suitable for this genre, just nominate it. It is up to others to vote for it or not. :)

Re. which culture: English speaking cultures.

[papayahed]

Wiki seems to have a pretty good definition :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counterculture


Countercultural milieux in 19th-century Europe included the traditions of Romanticism, Bohemianism and of the Dandy. Another movement existed in a more fragmentary form in the 1950s, both in Europe and the US, in the form of the Beat generation, or Beatniks,[2] followed in the 1960s by the hippies. However, the act of labeling any group is a controversial activity. For example it could be stated that a "gangsta" counterculture has formed in the last few decades, but this would clearly raise many issues about who is imposing what standards, and why.

[Scheherazade]

Wiki seems to have a pretty good definition :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CountercultureSo, what are you nominating?

:D

[papayahed]

So, what are you nominating?

:D

I'm still mulling it over.

[lupe]

Re. which culture: English speaking cultures.

OK, thanks for the precision. I will therefore leave to English speakers the task to define their "culture" and their "counter-culture"...;)

[TheFifthElement]

Naked Lunch - William S. Burroughs

[Drkshadow03]

Watchmen by Alan Moore and David Gibbons (Graphic novel)

[Stargazer86]

How about Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thomason

I'm still not totally clear on what falls into the "counter-culture" genre but I was thinking this might fit into that category

[behindblueeyes]

yayyyyyy for being out of school and done with schoolwork and summer reading (almost) :D

last english exam tomorrow for more-than-probably ever and i'm realizing how much i'm enjoying studying for it...

sorry for an off-topic post.
i'd really like to read some huxley but i'm fraid that won't qualify as counterculture. boo. oh well, i'll read both :)

[Silas Thorne]

'The Glass-Bead Game' by Herman Hesse.

[bouquin]

Scum by Isaac Bashevis Singer

[papayahed]

okok before I miss my chance - Junky by William Burroughs

[Scheherazade]

Nominations so far:

1. On the Road by Jack Kerouac

2. American Splendor: The Life and Times of Harvey Pekar

3. Watchmen by Alan Moore and David Gibbons

4. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thomason

5. The Glass-Bead Game by Herman Hesse

6. Scum by Isaac Bashevis Singer

7. Junky by William Burroughs

[The Comedian]

Scher,

My selection (#2) is by Harvey Pekar; I forgot to add that to my initial post.

[BlackPuma]

low life by luc sante i think would make a good nomination..

[Michael T]

My daughter tells me I have to read the graphic novel 'Watchmen' but I wouldn't mind reading 'Naked Lunch' by William S. Burroughs either so I'll happily second the nominations for both of those. By the way...would 'Brighton Rock' by Graham Greene count? If so, I'll nominate that as another choice.

[Scheherazade]

would 'Brighton Rock' by Graham Greene count? If so, I'll nominate that as another choice.I don't know the book. How do you think it might "qualify"?

[Nightshade]

My daughter tells me I have to read the graphic novel 'Watchmen' but I wouldn't mind reading 'Naked Lunch' by William S. Burroughs either so I'll happily second the nominations for both of those. By the way...would 'Brighton Rock' by Graham Greene count? If so, I'll nominate that as another choice.


I don't know the book. How do you think it might "qualify"?

Is that the one with pinky the gangster?

[Michael T]

I don't know the book. How do you think it might "qualify"?



I’m not sure Scheherazade because I haven’t read it yet! :D I think it may qualify due to the main protagonists attitude to sex and crime/good and evil.

Yes Nightshade, I believe it is the one with ‘Pinkie’. Perhaps you could shed light on whether the book would qualify. :)

[Nightshade]

I’m not sure Scheherazade because I haven’t read it yet! :D I think it may qualify due to the main protagonists attitude to sex and crime/good and evil.

Yes Nightshade, I believe it is the one with ‘Pinkie’. Perhaps you could shed light on whether the book would qualify. :)

Well I never finished the book not a fan of Greene. I think I skimmed the first chapter and it seemed word for word the film, scher I am shocked you havent seen its an old black and white classic. Ok, but I dont really see how it could be counter culture. Then again I don't really understand this whole counter culture malarky at all.

oh before i forget Ive had an idea on how we should rfead next year ( its amazng what you think of when you can sleep at 3 am. I think we should read books by period, like renissance, long 18th centurey wwi etc :d

[Scheherazade]

Read or Die Vol. 1

[Nightshade]

Not sure it it really fits but
Pattern Recognition by William Gibson.
Read it for my RL book club and was the only person who really got it because a lot of it is forum related. I swear there were archetypal members of the litnet in that book. :nod:

[Scheherazade]

Nominations so far:

1. On the Road by Jack Kerouac

2. American Splendor: The Life and Times of Harvey Pekar by Harvey Pekar

3. Watchmen by Alan Moore and David Gibbons

4. Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thomason

5. The Glass-Bead Game by Herman Hesse

6. Scum by Isaac Bashevis Singer

7. Junky by William Burroughs[/QUOTE]

8. Low Life by Luc Sante

9. Brighton Rock by Graham Greene

10. Read or Die Vol. 1


Not sure it it really fits but
Pattern Recognition by William Gibson.
Read it for my RL book club and was the only person who really got it because a lot of it is forum related. I swear there were archetypal members of the litnet in that book. :nod:Sorry, Night but we have already got the 10 nominations. If anyone withdraws theirs, I will add yours.

[Nightshade]

Thats grand, I must have misscounted :eek2:

[Nightshade]

Read or Die Vol. 1

Just been thinking aree you talking the magna? or the novel?
Because I can't seem to find an obvious english copy of the novel and the magna willonly take 20 minutes read at the most!
Edit see people sobbing about their non exsistnace http://www.animeonline.net/f25/read-die-novels-5401/

[Scheherazade]

Whichever is available.

:D

I was very tempted to nominate Peanuts but will save it for Christmas probably.

[Scheherazade]

Please, not On the Road!

:(

[Nightshade]

Oooh at least 2 comics/graphic books on that list :nod:

[Scheherazade]

Please, not On the Road!

:( :(

[qimissung]

I voted for that one-I haven't read it yet! I think it's unamerican not to have read "On the Road"! :p

[Scheherazade]

But what about those of us who are not Americans (and have already read the book)?

;)

[Niamh]

Please, not On the Road!

:(


Please, not On the Road!

:( :(

Oh god! not again! I 100% agree Scher. :(

[qimissung]

Read it again, with a side of fear and loathing? (just kidding!)

[Stargazer86]

What's so bad about On the Road? I've never read it..

[TurquoiseSunset]

I'd love Watchmen or The Glass-Bead Game to make it...

[Dark Muse]

I know there is still time yet, but what will you do if the tie is not broken?

[papayahed]

We need a push for Fear and Loathing...

[Stargazer86]

We need a push for Fear and Loathing...

agreed! :D

[The Comedian]

A surge for Watchmen!

[TurquoiseSunset]

Yes! But why are people so adamant about On The Road???? :(

[grace86]

I believe I may have broke the tie....I am finding myself in a moral position here in doing so. :D

I would like to read On the Road because I own the book, and it was given to me by my dad. The reason I chose it is because the last page, when he recites it makes him cry. And the only reason I can understand this doing so is because he is a product of his time. :D My dilemna is that I just started reading Gone with the Wind, and I'm now in a position where I broke a tie and feel inclined to put Gone with the Wind down so I can read On the Road.

Hehehe....hope that was a thoughtful response to breaking a tie! I've missed the book club. Think it's about time I join in again!

[UFO420]

Yo, how can I vote?

[TheFifthElement]

I nominated Naked Lunch back at post 16. Any reason this hasn't appeared in the poll?

[Michael T]

Yo, how can I vote?

You need to reach 50 posts before you can vote but you will have to be quick! (Most people suggest making up the numbers on the games/chat forums) ;)

[Scheherazade]

I nominated Naked Lunch back at post 16. Any reason this hasn't appeared in the poll?I am sorry; must have overlooked. Would have liked to offer to include it in the next poll but it is on a different genre so don't know how to make it up to you, really.

Maybe I can vote for your choice of book next time you nominate something? :)


Going once...

[medusa_woman]

Hi guys: I'm new here. I'd like to participate in the book club reading of On The Road. Do you have a set schedule? Or just blog when reading? Is there any closing chat? I saw that the live chat was eliminated awhile back.

[Scheherazade]

Hi guys: I'm new here. I'd like to participate in the book club reading of On The Road. Do you have a set schedule? Or just blog when reading? Is there any closing chat? I saw that the live chat was eliminated awhile back.We usually post our comments while reading the book; there is no set schedule.

The live chat was proving to be hard to arrange due to different time zones so we had to give up on that.


Going twice...

[papayahed]

pffwwwww, almost forgot to vote.

[papayahed]

a tie right?

[grace86]

Yay does that mean On the Road wins?! I can participate!!

[qimissung]

What happens next?

[King Mob]

Hi everybody, new here. I´ve been wanting to read On the Road for quite some time.

I´m in.

[Nabokov_love]

Well I was hoping the vote would go to 'Fear and Loathing' but rereading some Kerouac wouldn't hurt at all :)

I hope everyone enjoys it, and I am eager to discuss a book that is one of the most influential stories to Americans looking for an answer to their rebellion against capitalism and conformity. Kerouac's got all the beat and unwashed hair you could need :)