January / South African Reading Poll

[Scheherazade]

In January 2008, we will be reading a book by a South African author.

Please nominate the books you would like to read

(one nomination per member, please)

by November 30th.

* Only those books which are available on amazon in English will be included in our poll. *

Note: Only the first 10 books will be included in the poll.

Some information on the books:

Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton

Slow Manby J.M. Coetzee

Conservationistby Nadine Gordimer

Coconutby Kopano Matlwa

The Power of Oneby Bryce Courtenay

Disgraceby J.M. Coetzee

My Son's Storyby Nadine Gordimer

Martha Questby Doris Lessing

Waiting for the Barbariansby J.M. Coetzee

* * * This poll will close on January 1st. * * *

Book Club Procedures

[Niamh]

Do they have to be public domain?

[Scheherazade]

No, but they need to be available on amazon (in English).

[Niamh]

oaky here is ny nomination
Cry, Beloved Country by Alan Paton

[thelastmelon]

My nomination is:
Slow Man by J.M. Coetzee.

[papayahed]

The Conservationist - Nadine Gordimer

http://www.amazon.com/Conservationis...4007530&sr=8-3

[SleepyWitch]

Coconut by Kopano Matlwa
it's only available as a used book on amazon UK, though

[Scheherazade]

Wow, so many nominations already:

1. Cry, Beloved Country by Alan Paton

2. Slow Man by J.M. Coetzee

3. The Conservationist by Nadine Gordimer

4. Coconut by Kopano Matlwa (My library doesn't have it but Waterstone seems to have it - but they took 2-3 weeks to deliver.)

I would like to nominate the Booker Prize winner Disgrace by J.M. Coetzee.

[Niamh]

good choice sher! I can get that one in work!

[barbara0207]

Just wanted to suggest "Disgrace" myself when I saw it had already been nominated. Good choice!

[Scheherazade]

Just wanted to suggest "Disgrace" myself when I saw it had already been nominated. Good choice!

I have decided to change my nomination. So, if you like, you can nominate Disgrace, Barbara!

My new nomination is:

The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay

Nominations at the moment:

1. Cry, Beloved Country by Alan Paton

2. Slow Man by J.M. Coetzee

3. The Conservationist by Nadine Gordimer

4. Coconut by Kopano Matlwa

5. The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay

[barbara0207]

I have decided to change my nomination. So, if you like, you can nominate Disgrace, Barbara!

Thanks, I will. So my nomination is "Disgrace" by J.M. Coetzee.

[thelastmelon]

Thanks, I will. So my nomination is "Disgrace" by J.M. Coetzee.

Have you read anything by Coetzee before?

[barbara0207]

I read "Disgrace" the year he won the Nobel Prize; before that I hadn't even heard his name. I would like to reread the book but I know I won't unless I have to (not because it's bad but because there are so many other books on my list ...)

[hellsapoppin]

I read Doris Lessing's Martha Quest many years ago. It was largely overlooked by the American public as we never came to terms with apartheid and its evil {the reason being that we were preoccupied with Vietnam and domestic racism}. The main character is a portrayal of a young South African woman who serves as a microcosm for the 20th century and its turbulence. The book is definitely worth considering.

Recently, Mrs Lessing was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature and it was richly deserved.