July '11 / Existentialist Reading Poll

[Scheherazade]

Please nominate the "existentialist" novel you would like to read in June 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.

[Dark Muse]

*edit*

Nomination will be forthcoming as I decided I was not altogether satisfied with my original choice and want more time to think it over.

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

It often seems "Existentialist" is a synonym for "unbearably boring." May have to skip this one. . . .

[Veho]

It often seems "Existentialist" is a synonym for "unbearably boring." May have to skip this one. . . .

Why not give it another try? Perhaps you'll be converted (unless Nausea is chosen)...

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

I'll give it a try, most like.

[jlb4tlb]

"The Trial" Franz Kafka

Been meaning to read this for awhile. Looks like fun.

[Dark Muse]

I had a really hard time narrowing my nomination down to one choice, but finally I have chosen and made myself promise I would stick to this, no more changing my mind.

Cloud Atlas

[Scheherazade]

Nominations so far:

1. The Trial Frank Kafka

2. Cloud Atlas

[TheFifthElement]

I had a really hard time narrowing my nomination down to one choice, but finally I have chosen and made myself promise I would stick to this, no more changing my mind.

Cloud Atlas

A totally amazing book. Good choice DM.

[David Lurie]

Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk

I saw the movie when it came out and since then I have always intended to read the book.

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

Fight Club is an existentialist novel? I loved that book. Maybe I'm not clear on what "existentialist" means, as that book was anything but boring. Wikipedia, here I come!

Edit: I think I had the ideas of existentialism confused with transcendentalism .... probably why I assumed this category would be boring. Glad I was wrong. I don't know if I'll make a nomination, though.

[Veho]

I nominate The Myth of Sisyphus by Camus.

[Paulclem]

Why not give it another try? Perhaps you'll be converted (unless Nausea is chosen)...

I was going to choose Nausea. I wanted to go back to it and see if I understood it any better. Not to worry.

[Dark Muse]

I was going to choose Nausea. I wanted to go back to it and see if I understood it any better. Not to worry.

I would love to read that book. I am a Sartre fan. No Exit is my all time favorite play.

[Veho]

I was going to choose Nausea. I wanted to go back to it and see if I understood it any better. Not to worry.

Please do nominate it, if it's your choice. I wasn't being entirely serious and could benefit from a re-read myself.

[Scheherazade]

Nominations so far:

1. The Trial Frank Kafka

2. Cloud Atlas

3. Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk

4. The Myth of Sisyphus by Camus.

[TheFifthElement]

I was going to choose Nausea. I wanted to go back to it and see if I understood it any better. Not to worry.

I loved Nausea.

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

Wellllll, if Nausea is so good, and no one else wants to nominate it, and since I don't know much of anything about the genre, I will nominate it ... so, I nominate Nausea by whoever wrote it.

[Paulclem]

Wellllll, if Nausea is so good, and no one else wants to nominate it, and since I don't know much of anything about the genre, I will nominate it ... so, I nominate Nausea by whoever wrote it.

:lol:

Now what will I nominate?

It was Jean-Paul Sartre by the way.

Er... I nominate The Age of Reason then.

[TheFifthElement]

Excellent selections so far. A choice between Sartre and Sartre eh Paul? How to choose :D

I'd like to nominate Hard-boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami. There are some parallels with The Castle by Kafka, and I feel it's about time for a re-read. That being said, I'd be happy to read any of the nominated books (again, I've read them all) except, perhaps, Cloud Atlas as I only re-read it a few months ago. It is an excellent book though.

Tough choice.

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

Er... I nominate The Age of Reason then.
Two of my favorite come from this book:

"My own mind is my own church."

and

"All national institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian or Turkish, appear to me no other than human inventions, set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit."

Yeah, Thomas Paine is the man.

[Scheherazade]

Nominations so far:

1. The Trial Frank Kafka

2. Cloud Atlas

3. Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk

4. The Myth of Sisyphus by Camus.

5. Nausea

6. The Age of Reason

7. Hard-boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami

[Shakira]

I nominate As I Lay Dying

[Psyche Zenobia]

I've always wanted to read The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera. Another book in my queue is Hesse's Steppenwolf. My favorite existentialist books (that I have read) would have to be C&P Dostoevsky and Camus The Stranger.

I'd have to nominate the first one, though, methinks!

[gekko]

Hi all. It's my first post on here although I've been a lurker for a while. I just wanted to say that I'm definitely in for the July book club. Obviously I can't nominate or vote as I don't have 50 posts yet. Fortunately, I'd be happy to read any of the books nominated so far :).

[Scheherazade]

Nominations so far:

1. The Trial Frank Kafka

2. Cloud Atlas

3. Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk

4. The Myth of Sisyphus by Camus.

5. Nausea

6. The Age of Reason

7. Hard-boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami

8. As I Lay Dying




I've always wanted to read The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera. Another book in my queue is Hesse's Steppenwolf. My favorite existentialist books (that I have read) would have to be C&P Dostoevsky and Camus The Stranger.

I'd have to nominate the first one, though, methinks!


Hi all. It's my first post on here although I've been a lurker for a while. I just wanted to say that I'm definitely in for the July book club. Obviously I can't nominate or vote as I don't have 50 posts yet. Fortunately, I'd be happy to read any of the books nominated so far :).Welcome to the Forum, Psyche and Gekko. :)

If you can increase your posts counts before the end of the month, you can still nominate/vote.

[sethyirak_7]

I would love to get in on this. However, I am in Afghanistan (deployed) at the moment and can't really visit the local library to pick up books. I should be home around September and can hopefully join in by then. I'm new to this site, and figured this could be a good way to become aquainted with how these discussions work.

[Paulclem]

I would love to get in on this. However, I am in Afghanistan (deployed) at the moment and can't really visit the local library to pick up books. I should be home around September and can hopefully join in by then. I'm new to this site, and figured this could be a good way to become aquainted with how these discussions work.

Hi Seth.

Can't you get someone to post it out to you when it's been decided on?

[sethyirak_7]

Hi Seth.

Can't you get someone to post it out to you when it's been decided on?

Yes, but it is unreliable and it takes a good long while. How long do you guys usually decide on material before the month it is for? Post here takes anywhere from 2-4 weeks, depending on the sender and the state of things.

[Paulclem]

Yes, but it is unreliable and it takes a good long while. How long do you guys usually decide on material before the month it is for? Post here takes anywhere from 2-4 weeks, depending on the sender and the state of things.

There usually delays as people get hold of the books from Amazon and libraries. i suppose it would help if we decided soonish and got the final vote. Scher usually runs the nominations. perhaps she'll give you a clearer picture of the timing.

[Scheherazade]

Nominations so far:

1. The Trial Frank Kafka

2. Cloud Atlas

3. Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk

4. The Myth of Sisyphus by Camus.

5. Nausea

6. The Age of Reason

7. Hard-boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami

8. As I Lay Dying

Yes, but it is unreliable and it takes a good long while. How long do you guys usually decide on material before the month it is for? Post here takes anywhere from 2-4 weeks, depending on the sender and the state of things.Welcome to the Forum, Sethyirak :)

I can understand how obtaining books can be problematic at times. Unfortunately, none of know which book will be read the following month. However, the threads are never closed so whenever you get to read them, you can come back and post your comments.

Good luck in Afghanistan! :)

[sethyirak_7]

Nominations so far:

1. The Trial Frank Kafka

2. Cloud Atlas

3. Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk

4. The Myth of Sisyphus by Camus.

5. Nausea

6. The Age of Reason

7. Hard-boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami

8. As I Lay Dying
Welcome to the Forum, Sethyirak :)

I can understand how obtaining books can be problematic at times. Unfortunately, none of know which book will be read the following month. However, the threads are never closed so whenever you get to read them, you can come back and post your comments.

Good luck in Afghanistan! :)

Awesome. That might be what I will end up doing. However, I may get lucky for the month of July. The reader app on my iTouch has a free library, and one of the many books on that free reader is As I Lay Dying. So I will just sit back and keep my fingers crossed. :thumbsup:

[Leobloom]

Hi everyone,
This is my first post here, the forums look great. I'm 200 pages into Ulysses at the moment so I might be finished by July, I hope to be anyway. I know I can't nominate but I really think a Dostoevsky should be on the list. How about Notes from the Underground? It's short, only 200 pages or so, and one of the first and most important existential novels.

[mrv]

I've always wanted to read The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera. Another book in my queue is Hesse's Steppenwolf. My favorite existentialist books (that I have read) would have to be C&P Dostoevsky and Camus The Stranger.

I'd have to nominate the first one, though, methinks!

I don't see The Unbearable Lightness of Being in the nominations so far.

[faithosaurus]

I'm surprised I don't see The Stranger by Albert Camus on here. I am in love with that book.

Though I see that Psyche Zenobia mentioned it. And one of the nominated books is by Camus.

[Scheherazade]

Nominations so far:

1. The Trial Frank Kafka

2. Cloud Atlas

3. Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk

4. The Myth of Sisyphus by Camus.

5. Nausea

6. The Age of Reason

7. Hard-boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami

8. As I Lay Dying

I'm surprised I don't see The Stranger by Albert Camus on here. I am in love with that book.

Though I see that Psyche Zenobia mentioned it. And one of the nominated books is by Camus.Would you like to nominate that one? :)

[IceM]

On behalf of Leobloom, I nominate Notes from the Underground.

[ChicagoReader]

Hello everyone, I obviously don't have enough posts to nominate but I am definitely up for joining in this group reading. All of the books look interesting though I must admit I would love to see The Trial or Notes from the Underground become the chosen reading!

[Scheherazade]

Hello everyone, I obviously don't have enough posts to nominate but I am definitely up for joining in this group reading. All of the books look interesting though I must admit I would love to see The Trial or Notes from the Underground become the chosen reading!You have got almost two days to increase your post count and nominate a book.

And it's been done in the past!

Welcome to the Forum :)

Nominations so far:

1. The Trial Frank Kafka

2. Cloud Atlas

3. Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk

4. The Myth of Sisyphus by Camus.

5. Nausea

6. The Age of Reason

7. Hard-boiled Wonderland and the End of the World by Haruki Murakami

8. As I Lay Dying

9. Notes from the Underground


Last nomination up for grabs!

[ChicagoReader]

Thanks! and man, after looking up the wikipedia articles on the titles I hadn't heard of I'm especially excited. Specifically for Cloud Atlas and the Murakami novels, both seem very unique and interesting. Am I allowed to vote even though I don't have the 50 posts?

[Scheherazade]

Thanks! and man, after looking up the wikipedia articles on the titles I hadn't heard of I'm especially excited. Specifically for Cloud Atlas and the Murakami novels, both seem very unique and interesting. Am I allowed to vote even though I don't have the 50 posts?I am afraid you need to increase your post count to 50 to make your vote count, Chicago.

I voted for Fight Club. Even though I watched the movie, I thought the book's gotta be better and I have always wanted to read something by Chuck Palahniuk (I love saying "Chuck").

[Paulclem]

Hi Scher.

Did you know that chuck in Yorkshire means to throw? You can also use in contexts like chucking it down and chuck up.

[OrphanPip]

Did you know that chuck in Yorkshire means to throw? You can also use in contexts like chucking it down and chuck up.

Are there places in the English speaking world where chuck doesn't mean this? lol

[Paulclem]

Are there places in the English speaking world where chuck doesn't mean this? lol

I don't know. We live and learn. :biggrin5:

[lieasleep]

Can't vote but some other suggestions:

They Shoot Horses, Don't They? by Horace McCoy
Disgrace by J.M. Coetzee
The Day of the Locust by Nathanael West
Choke by Chuck Palahniuk
(don't know if you guys do plays but)Waiting for Godot & Endgame by Samuel Beckett

All of the above are awesome. Well I am not a huge fan of Choke, but the ideas in it were real good

[aliengirl]

I've been wanting to participate in the book club but always put it off for some reason or other. But I think I can do it now. I've voted for 'Notes from the Underground' as it has been on my reading list for a long time. All the other nominations were great. Actually I've started reading Kafka's The Trial last month but could not continue. Will go back to it soon.

[Scheherazade]

I think we read Notes from Underground a while back so will be happy something different this time.

*hint, hint, wink, wink*

Fight Club!

[Paulclem]

Fight club - liked the film, and I haven't read any of Chuck's stuff either.

[Dark Muse]

Fight club - liked the film, and I haven't read any of Chuck's stuff either.

Even though I really did not like the movie, I am currious about reading the book

[IceM]

Crap. Ever since my first nomination won, almost a year ago, I've gone 0-2. I think now it seems I might go 0-3.

All soon to be three losses have lost to Scher. :mad2:

[Scheherazade]

Crap. Ever since my first nomination won, almost a year ago, I've gone 0-2. I think now it seems I might go 0-3.

All soon to be three losses have lost to Scher. :mad2:Hey, you say that as if that is bad thang!

:p

[Paulclem]

Even though I really did not like the movie, I am currious about reading the book

Yes. He has a good reputation, but I've never got round to the books yet.

[ChicagoReader]

Crap. Ever since my first nomination won, almost a year ago, I've gone 0-2. I think now it seems I might go 0-3.

All soon to be three losses have lost to Scher. :mad2:

Don't lose hope! Im working on my post count and I plan on voting for Notes from the Underground as I've read Fight Club before and wasn't that impressed.

[aliengirl]

Don't lose hope! Im working on my post count and I plan on voting for Notes from the Underground as I've read Fight Club before and wasn't that impressed.

Thanks in advance.:) I would be very happy if we get to read this one.

[IceM]

YETH! We have a tie!

Calling all scabs, vote for Notes of the Underground!

[Mutatis-Mutandis]

Notes from the Underground has my vote. I hope everyone who saw the movie and still voted for Fight Club liked the movie, because it's pretty much exactly, word-for-word, like the book. I read it after seeing the movie and found it extremely boring.

[ChicagoReader]

Notes from the Underground has my vote. I hope everyone who saw the movie and still voted for Fight Club liked the movie, because it's pretty much exactly, word-for-word, like the book. I read it after seeing the movie and found it extremely boring.

Thank you!

[Scheherazade]

Going once...

[Scheherazade]

I will let the poll run couple of extra days to resolve the tie.

[Scheherazade]

Going once...