March '11 Realist Novel Poll

[Scheherazade]

Please nominate the "Realist" novel you would like to read in March 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.


Literary Realism (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Literary_realism)

[OrphanPip]

Realist fiction, hmm...

I'll nominate Leslie Feinberg's Stone Butch Blues.

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

[Paulclem]

Old Goriot by Balzac. A superb book.

[Dark Muse]

The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James

[Jozanny]

Sche, I have a question first before I step back into the club--are we obligated to read the vote winner if we're not interested? I already know about not nominating if we aren't sure we're going to participate-- but I have book guilt over selections that didn't suit my fancy.

I'd quibble, as well, over maybe two of these titles being realist...(ut oh) but shall leave it blowing in the wind.

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

I'll nominate Elliot's Middlemarch, since I've been wanting to read it for a while now.

[Jozanny]

Well, let me go ahead and nominate Aiding and Abetting by Muriel Spark. You can all read the reviews on Amazon on your own, but she is riding the usual literary blowback of the recently deceased who have previously established their reputations, and I wish I knew her or Doris Lessing. We don't have enough strong womens' voices like theirs, and I probably would have benefited from knowing either. They were bad mothers, btw, and I revel in the knowledge. :)

(I am working, and thus, contentious...)

[Scheherazade]

Nominations so far:

1. Stone Butch Blues Leslie Feinberg

2. Old Goriot by Balzac

3. The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James

4. Middlemarch

5. Aiding and Abetting by Muriel Spark

And I would like to nominate The Jungle by Upton Sinclair.
Sche, I have a question first before I step back into the club--are we obligated to read the vote winner if we're not interested? I already know about not nominating if we aren't sure we're going to participate-- but I have book guilt over selections that didn't suit my fancy.No, Jozzy. You don't *have to* read the winners (of course, it is nice if you do but sometimes it simply does not suit one and there are usually enough members who are taking part in the discussions).

[dfloyd]

An American Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser

[Jozanny]

Since I have read everything nominated except OrphanPip's title and my own, I obviously won't have to exert much of an effort if I decide to tag along for the duration. Portrait I know too well, however, and therefore might observe from above with an occasional rumble :)

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

And also like reading An American Tragedy, but Middlemarch is still my first choice.

[arrytus]

I'm not 'in the club' so to speak but I'll nominate the overlooked work of Sinclair Lewis and nominate 'Main Street'

[Dark Muse]

I'm not 'in the club' so to speak but I'll nominate the overlooked work of Sinclair Lewis and nominate 'Main Street'

Oooh I really want to read that

[manolia]

The Portrait of a Lady by Henry James




And I would like to nominate The Jungle by Upton Sinclair.

I'll read either of these if they win : ]

[mrv]

Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert

[the facade]

Must admit I have never heard of any of the books that made the list, except for madame bovary and middlemarch. think i'll refrain from voting...

[Jozanny]

As to nominations other than my own, I will participate if The Jungle wins even though Upton sacrifices his skill to his socialism. I have not read Middlemarch in years, but no; it is long and follows the traditional didactic points of 19th century English novels, and I am engaged with other GE titles.

I just finished An American Tragedy, so I can post without actually rereading. Is that cheating? :D

With Balzac the jury is out. I downloaded a huge Balzac file to the k and bookmarked a novel I have not started yet, and though I read gay authors, Pip's title seems indicative of civil rights outcry, and I have been there, done that, and I'd have to buy it or drive to library. We'll see.

Main Street will suit me, and just like that, it is in my 20th century file!

But, if I may make a modest plug, some of you might like Spark; she is original, daring, venturesome, and not considered post modern :eek:

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

Holy crap. I just saw the length of Middlemarch. I wish I could change my vote to Main Street.

[Paulclem]

I disliked Middlemarch, though I like her Silas Marner.

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

Actually, if I could, I think I'd change my vote to The Jungle.

[Jozanny]

Look, me love Henry James. I have spent my life pursuing him and trying to honor Michael's desire that I add my voice to a trillion critical papers on him, but I've read Portrait at least five times, so pick something else. It is absolutely imperative! :wink5:

[Scheherazade]

Going once...

[Jozanny]

Sche, it may be going, but you have a three way tie :eek:. One of my other reading groups has a run off vote

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

Can I change my vote to the Jungle?

[OrphanPip]

In honour of the Wisconsin union protest, I cast a vote in favour of The Jungle, ha!

P.S. Solidarity forever!

[Scheherazade]

Can I change my vote to the Jungle?It is not possible to change the votes, I am afraid.

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

Yeah, but couldn't you just make a mental note . . . take one away from Middlemarch and add one to The Jungle. Does it really have to be "official"?

[IceM]

The best way to make my vote count is to create another tie. Go excitement!

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

If Scher would be so kind as to acknowledge my suggestion, it should be Jungle 6 and Bovary 5.

But, seriously, if you just voted Bovary to make a tie and not because it's the book you'd really like to read, you have angered me greatly, sir! Plus, it isn't like we go into a tie-breaking vote to determine the winner ... it is just chosen.

[OrphanPip]

The best way to make my vote count is to create another tie. Go excitement!

Oh! Scab!

[Jozanny]

If it is Flaubert, me out. No reflection on his importance, I just decided to follow my heart, and I am making plans to bolt the United States and stay bolted, wheelchair, poverty and all. I am upsetting my family a great deal and don't care, I want out of what I'm in, but if Upton squeaks in maybe I can wing it.

[Scheherazade]

If Scher would be so kind as to acknowledge my suggestion, it should be Jungle 6 and Bovary 5. Oh, Scher's kindness is boundless; however, it would be impossible for us to keep a track of all the vote changes if such changes became regular part of the process.

What's more, I see it as an opportunity to read something different. Why does it matter which book we read so much? We are all book lovers here, are we not?


Going twice...

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

Oh, Scher's kindness is boundless; however, it would be impossible for us to keep a track of all the vote changes if such changes became regular part of the process.


True. Plus, it was my fault for making a hasty vote in the first place.

[TheFifthElement]

Having just read The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie I'm well up for reading more Muriel Spark. She's amazing. Go Aiding and Abetting :D

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

So, what's the verdict? I'll read either Bovary or Jungle. Just need to know what book to order. :nod:

Edit: Hey! Someone voted for The Jungle. Alright! Close the poll, QUICK, lol.

[Jozanny]

[Crazy disabled American shrew who cannot be tamed hugs Fifth_Element and takes notes on British civility...]

Fifth, when we can synchronize schedule I am open for a buddy read on Spark, maybe 8 weeks? I have to get my latest chaos in order.

[Razeus]

I'm down to participate. Just let me know which book to download to my Kindle.

[Scheherazade]

Fifth, when we can synchronize schedule I am open for a buddy read on Spark, maybe 8 weeks? I have to get my latest chaos in order.I wouldn't mind joining in either.

[Jozanny]

I wouldn't mind joining in either.

*Hugs Sche too!*

I'm feeling soppy:p

Seriously, I'll clear my slate for Spark soon; only seen the films but think she'd delight me.

[jlb4tlb]

Looks like we have a winner with "The Jungle." I just downloaded it on my "Nook" for free. Looking forward to the read, last time I read this was jr high I believe.

Namaste

Jeff

[Paulclem]

I've not read any Upton Sinclair. I'll try to get hold of it.

[Razeus]

Ok, I've got The Jungle. How does this (meaning the book club) work?

[TheFifthElement]

[Crazy disabled American shrew who cannot be tamed hugs Fifth_Element and takes notes on British civility...]

Fifth, when we can synchronize schedule I am open for a buddy read on Spark, maybe 8 weeks? I have to get my latest chaos in order.

Excellent! I ordered my copy of Aiding and Abetting last night, so should receive in the next week or so. I've just started The Golden Notebook (I'm having a slightly feminist 'must read all the great, under-appreciated, under-represented women writers' phase at the moment) which I reckon will take me a couple of weeks to read but after that I'm yours whenever you're ready :D Let me know when suits and I'll make sure I'm available.


I wouldn't mind joining in either.

Make that a threesome :D

[OrphanPip]

Ok, I've got The Jungle. How does this (meaning the book club) work?

Scheh will make a thread soon enough, then you can just post your thoughts.

And to those who are cheap, The Jungle is in public domain and free on the internet. It's even available on this site.

[dfloyd]

Teddy Roosevelt did, and threw his breakfest out of a White House window. When you read the section on how sausage was made, you'll understand why.

After this incident, Upton Sinclair was invited to the white House.

[Scheherazade]

I have downloaded it from Project Gutenberg for my ereader.


*Hugs Sche too!*
Make that a threesome :DWhoohooo!

:D

[Razeus]

Scheh will make a thread soon enough, then you can just post your thoughts.

And to those who are cheap, The Jungle is in public domain and free on the internet. It's even available on this site.

Any big difference between the uncensored version vs the plain version?

[Jozanny]

I'll post here rather than in the actual discussion that I may jump in a little late. I have a lot going on, and I just finished Sylvia's Marriage around mid-2010, and it is a weird send up by Upton of Jamesian leitmotifs. I have The Jungle and a number of other titles by Sinclair, but he annoys me, and is one of those true believers who mars his talent with proselytizing, and he knows it.

I love books as much as my writing, and yet can never find a plateau to relax anymore and just dig in and enjoy a head to head, and I don't have a career, nor am I in school, nor have I had a good paying deadline for years. My literary pleasures just cannot seem to converge with my virtual timelines :nopity: