Posted by Sterling on 10/9/2011, 11:52:04, in reply to "Nominations for 2012"
98.71.98.6
OK, I'll go first with my nominations. I know we're only allowed ten. If I get a great idea after I've posted, can I withdraw one and substitute another? All right. Here goes:
Humphrey Clinker - Tobias Smollett
For several years, we've read something from the 18th century (Defoe, Diderot, Sterne). It would be fun to continue to do so. I thought of Richardson (too long and, I've always suspected, too boring), maybe a Fielding I haven't read (still a good idea, but I've read his most famous novel), and even de Laclos (but I've already read Les liaisons dangereuses, and I suspect everyone else has too). I've read Roderick Random by Smollett and enjoyed it. HC is widely considered his most famous and funniest novel.
Elective Affinities - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
This has long sounded like an interesting novel to me. Goethe is a major artist, and I've only read Faust. This novel of marital infidelity (I believe) sounds like his most interesting. It has been a subject of considerable debate for two centuries. Is it moral or immoral, satire or tragedy, etc.? It sounds like a good subject for discussion.
The Eustace Diamonds - Anthony Trollope
I read The Way We Live Now and enjoyed it. I hoped to put a Dickens on this list that I haven't read, but I can't seem to generate much enthusiasm for his lesser known novels. Trollope may not be Dickens, but he is considered one of the masters of the English novel. I've always associated him with Dickens (for some reason). Why The Eustace Diamonds, the third novel of the Palliser sequence? Well, I doube that I'll read them all. This is regularly recommended as a the most enjoyable. Besides, The Lifetime Reading Plan suggests starting here.
The Moonstone - Wilkie Collins
Oh, I don't know. We all enjoyed reading The Woman in White. I'm interested in reading his other most famous novel, which is also considered to be the first detective novel in English.
Which brings us to:
Dashiell Hammett
Raymond Chandler
At some point recently, we thought about reading classics of a genre. These two invented the modern style of crime/private eye novel (very different from Doyle, Christie, etc.) I'm not really ready to propose specific works, but I suggest that we read both since their novels are relatively short. From Hammett, I'm fond of Red Harvest, the first and most relentless of his novels. The Maltese Falcon is the most frequently cited, but I think that's mostly because of the famous movie. They're all good. If we pick them, we can discuss which novel(s) we want to read. Similarly, with Chandler, The Big Sleep is the best known, but again I think this is partly because of the famous film. I think possibly Farewell, My Lovely or The Long Goodbye, but we can decide later. Incidentally, in many ways Hammett and Chandler are very different. Comparing them would be fun.
The Good Soldier - Ford Madox Ford
Widely considered his best novel, especially if you exclude the tetrology Parade's End. I've intended to read him for years. I think this novel might be an interesting companion piece to Elective Affinities. It's on many "best" lists, including Bloom, Smiley, Burt, The Modern Library, etc.
Suttree - Cormac McCarthy
I thought Blood Meridian was amazing, but the violence and horror are not really right for our group. Besides, I've read it :^) I thought that The Road was disappointing. Suttree is often listed as one of McCarthy's finest novels. Apparently, it is both humorous and very sad -- quite unlike his ferocious works.
I've got some other idea, but I think these seven (counting Hammett and Chandler as one) are enough for today.
--Previous Message--
: Let's go ahead and open the floor for nominations for
: our monthly readings for next year.
:
: The process and rules will be exactly the same as last
: time: Anyone may nominate, even brand new members. The
: nominations will close, and voting begin, whenever all
: of our regular participants have finished. You may
: nominate up to 10 books each. You don't have to post
: all your nominations at once, and you may change them
: at any time. If you wish, you can be creative by
: making contingent or combination nominations such as
: "whichever book wins the Giller Prize" or
: two short books to be read together. Provide as little
: or as much information about the books you nominate as
: you care to. Campaigning is certainly permitted. All
: nominations will go on the ballot; they don't have to
: be seconded.
:
: Earlier I posted lists of anniversaries, awards, and a
: breakdown of nationalities we have read in the past.
: This is purely for inspiration, not to limit your
: choices. Others are welcome to post such lists as
: well.
:
: I'm eager to see what the rest of you are interested
: in reading. At this point I have no particular books
: in mind myself.
:
:
:
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