February '13 / Henry James Reading Poll

[Scheherazade]

Please nominate the Henry James book you would like to read in February in this thread by January 14th.

Please remember that:

- Only those members with 50+ posts can nominate.

- One nomination per member.

- Only the first 5 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]

The American

[victorianfan]

Washington Square

[Gladys]

As a lover of Henry James I'll happily read or reread whatever is chosen. Since Americans are well represented on the forum, I'll nominate The Bostonians (1886).

I've just read and loved What Maisie Knew, and read and hated The Awkward Age. One easy, the other impossible.

[Scheherazade]

Nominations so far:

1. The American

2. Washington Square

3. The Bostonians

Nominating The Ambassadors.

I will read whatever wins the poll as well.

[Gladys]

Nominating The Ambassadors.

I enjoyed it, soon after reading and loving the two great contemporary novels The Wings of the Dove and The Golden Bowl, although I found reading The Ambassadors a little more challenging.

I've also read, years ago, the early novel Washington Square and delighted in its subtlety.

[Scheherazade]

The poll will be closed on January 31st.

[Gladys]

Who nominated What Maisie Knew? :skep:

[Scheherazade]

Who nominated What Maisie Knew? :skep:I have added it to the poll to have 5 books.

[Scheherazade]

If anyone is interested, all these titles are available at Project Gutenberg:

http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/gutbook/author?name=James%2C%20Henry%2C%201843-1916

[Gladys]

...all these titles are available at Project Gutenberg

I have all of them on my new Nook Simple Touch, but I may use the local library anyway. I am finding myself endlessly cross referencing when I use the eReader! :frown2:

[Bibliophile79]

How come no Portrait of a Lady?

[Scheherazade]

It has not been nominated.

[Scheherazade]

Going once...

[Gladys]

Punting on the result of the reading poll, I've just read the first, very short chapter of The Bostonians. In the opening paragraph the sister, speaking of Olive Chancellor, says:


...she wouldn't for the world expose herself to telling a fib. She is very honest, is Olive Chancellor; she is full of rectitude.

I've learnt from hard experience of reading Henry James how important such an early observation becomes in understanding ambiguous behaviour later on!

[Scheherazade]

Looking forward to reading a James novel.

Going twice.