Good split. Makes it seem almost easy.

That sounds fine to me, Jane.

Well, I think we will start the discussion of parts 1,2 and 3, on January 15th and then continue the discussion on through February with parts 4 and 5. If anyone has a better idea, please let me know.

I just have one big ole book. Jane, I think you can divide it any way you see fit.

Since I nominated 2666, I guess that means that I will be the moderator. Are we going to discuss the first volume starting Jan. 15 and then continue with the second and third volumes in February? My edition has parts 1,2, and 3 in the first volume.

Barbara, You're scared??!!! I'm reading this along with 'Ulysses' for my other group!!!

uh oh ...

Sorry. Hyperbolic moment, is all.

You scared me for a minute there, Newengland. I have the paperback edition of 2666 and it has 898 pages.

Suzanne, I read several dozen pages in the store (or more /sheepish grin/) before deciding to buy it. They were enjoyable and I think it promises a good read.

I hope it rewards my liking for long novels.

How could it not, weighing in at 2,666 pages?

I'm with you, Russ! Mine should show up in the next few days. I have read many great comments and reviews, so trying not to 'over-anticipate ...

Nov. 1. Seems like a good time for me to pull 2666 off the shelf and get going with the reading. Not going to miss this discussion. I hope it rewards my liking for long novels. :)

I've been meaning to read 2666, so that will be a good time for me, though I'd better start now as I'm not a fast reader. I have it in hardcover. I love hardcover books, even ones this size. It's not so bad. DROOD and THE TERROR are longer.

Great list. I'm delighted that An Artist of the Floating World, one of my nominations, made it. I was afraid, though others here gave it such good reviews, that they wouldn't want to read it again. On the other hand, I've already read The Man Who Made Vermeers but I will certainly be in on that discussion.

And, I want to reinforce Sherry's advice to renominate your book if it didn't make this cut. I've had a number of nominations make it on the 2nd or 3rd try.

I need to talk to the Feedback group, because I can't get any changes to the books to stick. I was trying to put that Whitaker was the discussion leader for the Pamuk book, and besides not saving the change, the whole book is not on our front page now. Hmmmph.

Unfortunately, Yulia didn't nominate any of the books this time. The nominator, for the reading list anyway, is listed on our group bookshelf. You can see it on our front page. The "group discussion leader" for Midnight's Childen is Al. I need to look up who nominated some of the Classics so I can add that information.

Sherry,

Don't forget to post who nominated the books so that we know who will lead the discussion. I hope one of them is Yulia because she does such a great job.

Jane

Al wrote: "Jonathan:

I nominated it and would love it if you participated in the discussion. I nominated it for a few key reasons:

1. the reviews here have been great and it already seemed to generate a lot..."

Thank you Al! And thank you Sherry! I'll be delighted to discuss the book with the group. Please just keep me posted on when it will be and I'll look forward to it!

All best,
Jonathan

I second Al's reasons, Jonathan. I was so pleased that it won, too, since I had just bought a real copy (as opposed to the Kindle copy). I'm really looking forward to talking about it with CR and with you.

Jonathan:

I nominated it and would love it if you participated in the discussion. I nominated it for a few key reasons:

1. the reviews here have been great and it already seemed to generate a lot of good discussion

2. there has been a lot of talk here lately of trying to incorporate more non-fiction into our choices

3. you have been pretty active on here and so I thought it would be great fun to have the author involved in the discussion

So yes, please, plan to participate!

Wow! I've been offline for the past few days (deadlines, deadlines, deadlines....) and so am only checking back in with Goodreads now after some time away. And I'm thrilled, flattered and delighted to see that The Man Who Made Vermeers was even nominated, much less that it landed in a tie for first! Thank you to everyone who nominated or voted for it! If the book does end up being discussed, please let me know how (or if) you'd like me to participate! I don't want impose of course. But if you think it would be fun for me to be a part of the conversation that would be great.

Thank you!!!!
Jonathan

I know nothing of his poetry, NE. I'd have to google it up like anyone else. Meanwhile, I am midstream in a succession of houseguests. Who knows when they'll let me out of the kitchen.

I was surprised to read that the Chilean-born Bolaño (1953–2003), author of that door-stopper monstrosity 2666, was first a poet. In fact, you can buy his collection of poesy (The Romantic Dogs) which weighs in at only 77 pages (half of them in Spanish).

Come on, Ruth! Let's dig up some of that doggone poetry (uh, unless you already have). I hear it's steamy stuff (which never hurt a poem that I know of).

Great selection. Can't wait to read 2666 and the Ishiguro!

Bolano is three volumes. It might take two months to get through it!
Jane (my computer won't do tildes)

I've read 3 of the 6, but I'll happily reread the Ishiguru, and perhaps Vermeer.

I've only read one. The Bolaño is a monster of a book. I'll make sure not to pair it with War & Peace.

Thanks, Sherry. I'm looking forward to the new schedule.

All great book, but darn I have read 4 of 6 :-(

Yays, just plain yays!

This was the first time that I can remember that there was a four-way tie for first. Those four are:


2666 by Robert Bolaño

An Artist of the Floating World by Ishiguro

Serena A Novel by Ron Rash

and TA-DA

The Man Who Made Vermeers Unvarnishing the Legend of Master Forger Han van Meegeren by our own Jonathan Lopez.

The next two vote-getters were:

Every Man Dies Alone by Fallada

and Three Day Road by Boyden.

Very very close on their heels, but for us, another day were Sansom, Eng, Adiche, Martin and Christensen.


I strongly suggest if you were the nominator of some of these close books, to nominate them again next go-round. One of these days they may end up at the top of the list.

I'll get together with Ricki and decide on the schedule, but we know for sure that War & Peace will be in August. We'll work the list around that.