Please nominate the books you would like to read during the Christmas holiday by December 10th.
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Please nominate the books you would like to read during the Christmas holiday by December 10th.
Oh, how about The Chimes by Charles Dickens? Short, Christmassy, free for those who are happy to read online - wonderful second paragraph. I started it last year and didn't finish it.
My nomination anyway.
Holidays on Ice - by David Sedaris.
"Santaland Diaries" never fails to make me laugh.
Since for Halloween I saw a perforance of that as a play, I 2nd that nomination as I would like to read the story.Quote:
Originally Posted by Neely
Nominations so far:
1. The Chimes by Charles Dickens ?
2. Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris
I would like to nominate Christmas Holiday by W. Somerset Maugham.
Anything but Henry James. I was disappointed with it last year.
I can't believe it's come round so quick!
Nominate something, then!Quote:
Originally Posted by Paulclem
:D
Er.... I will when I think of it. :DQuote:
Originally Posted by Scheherazade
I was disappointed because I voted for him never having read any James... and never will again...too little time...
Was that The Turn of the Screw? I think it was. It's certainly worth re-reading if so Paul honest, James is page by page stuff, but worth the investment I think. Why not nominate it again?:hat:Quote:
Anything but Henry James. I was disappointed with it last year.
Nope. No Sir - I didn't like it. I did take part in the discussion, but I found myself drifting from it - bored in all honesty.
Stumped about what to nominate though. A seasonal novella to discuss on those wintry nights in over the extended xmas holidays. Super. Hmmm - what to nominate though. I've got to now - I had to open my big...keyboard... and say something - Scher's told me I've got to.:D
The Cricket on the Hearth. Turn of the Screw is not very christmassy, but neither is it boring. James is to be savored as an acquired taste.
A mystery created by laborious sentencing - thrilling. I found the obtuseness couldn't hide the woman's insanity. For me there was no mystery - just a contrived obscurity.Quote:
Originally Posted by dfloyd
Having read it I don't like his style. I never did have much taste.:biggrin5:
One should never discount the obvious.
A Christmas Carol. by Charles Dickens.
Nominations so far:
1. The Chimes by Charles Dickens ?
2. Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris
3. Christmas Holiday by W. Somerset Maugham
4. The Cricket on the Hearth
5. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Er.. still thinking..
A Christmas Carol, by Charles Dickens
Old Christmas, by Washington Irving.
Turn of the Screw may not seem very Christmasy, but it was based on a ghost story told to James by Archbishop of Canterbury on Christmas night...a long held tradition of telling ghost stories at that time.
"Under the Greenwood Tree" by Thomas Hardy...begins with Christmas and is one of his lighter tales - not tragic at all. I love the book and the BBC movie version. Plus it's not a long book.
A fine tradition. Pity about the story in this case.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lady19thC
What about The Hogfather - Terry Pratchett.:smile5:
I've voted for The Cricket on the Hearth even though I suggested The Chimes because I've nearly finished The Chimes. However they are both relatively small so these could be read together anyway. So far I think it is okay and I'm enjoying it more than I usually do with Dickens, but I'm still not completely sold. Great descriptive passages in places and characterisation but I tend to get a little tired with Dickens at the best of times, so I find my attention floating a little. Readable though.Quote:
Originally Posted by dfloyd
We read Hogfather couple of years ago... It was an entertaining book but not sure if it deserves a second reading.
Going once...
Broke the tie. I've started, but not finished, A Christmas Carrol exactly eleven times. This will give me a bit of incentive.
Going twice...
Still going twice...
Since the tie did not break, we will go with A Christmas Carol as it is the most topical one.
Get your copies ready and I will start the thread later today.
The Girl with no Shadows by Joanne Harris - that was last year but it certainly felt like holidays and winter :D
I had been reading The Turn of the Screw last year in Christmas time but also a few years before, so I kinda wanted to remember myself how good it was. It's one of the best ghost stories I have ever read - it's certainly worth reading and reading again :blush:Quote:
Originally Posted by Lady19thC