Ken’s Comments (group member since Jan 21, 2020)

Ken’s comments from the The Obscure Reading Group group.

VOTING UPDATE: DAY 2 of 3

On Day One, we garnered 24 votes.

If you haven't already, please VOTE.

As of now, we have a five-way tie for first place, with two titles tied just one vote behind the leaders of the pack.

Meaning: Every vote counts!

(But you knew that.)

Yvonne has kindly pointed out that one book on our list, Not Forgetting the Whale, has been reissued with the title The Whale at the End of the World.

When I tried to change it in the poll, though, it showed that I already had the book (despite the title difference). I could delete one and add the other, but fear it may toss votes, so I'll leave it as is.

Be sure, on any of these titles, to click "additional titles," especially in the case of translations and different publishers.

Carol wrote: "https://youtu.be/PDJ_Mz8ftqI"

I know it shows my age, but I heart Carly Simon. And too bad video wasn't around when Ponce de Léon was. It can be, like nothing else, the Fountain of Youth!

Diane wrote: "I am "fully vaccinated" which here means two shots and a two week period after the 2nd one. Never heard of one being given in the thigh Jean. I got my notice first thing this morning Ken, but other..."

Yeah, some I'd rather read more than others, but I'm happy to read whichever choice wins because, you know what, sometimes books you don't think you'll like can surprise you.

Believe it or not, Ripley, there is only ONE book on this list that I've read already -- Père Goriot -- and that was so long ago it would be like reading it new.

So, yeah. Win-win no matter what surfaces Thursday morning.

Matthew wrote: "I've had some difficulties with the notifications too. I was ill yesterday and never managed to send off anything for the poll but the choices made by everyone else look great. Glad to be going int..."

Sorry you've been under the weather. In the Age of Covid, innocent remarks like "I felt ill" take on added concern, that's for sure! We wonder if we'll ever achieve herd immunity now given the momentum-killing pause caused by J&J's single shot and the political assault on science caused by...well, I best be kind and not get into descriptors.

Kathleen wrote: "Goodreads notifications still seem to be sporadic, but I think I got your notice right away, Ken.

Wow--what a selection! I was happy to see some previous nominees. I've only read (and loved) two, ..."

Thanks for verifying, Kathleen. Agreed re: the list. I still have to go through it and read up on all of them. For now, I was just busy pulling up links and creating the poll. First things first, as the chicken told the egg (...or was it the egg told the chicken?).

Bionic Jean wrote: "My email notifications are incredibly slow at the moment and usually I find I've replied to something ages before the notification arrives! In this case I've got one of your messages, Ken, but have..."

Oh, good. I'm glad it's only me not getting notifications about the poll. Maybe I forgot to check a box called "send to self as well" or something.

I do move all the "losers" to a thread in the Logistics folder of our group -- the one with a long name. Something or other about being nominated but not chosen. That way people can read interesting picks that didn't win on their own, if they wish. (Note, too, that two of the past "losers" have been nominated again for June in this poll. Déjà, meet vu!)

Tempted to vote for one you didn't nominate? I almost always do. And this time, as once or twice before, I didn't bother nominating a title, as the list looked rich enough as it was (read: plenty of butter and cream already).

Glad you're here, Darrin. Hope others come by, too.

In the past, when sending out polls, they've immediately appeared in both the GR messages and home emails. This time, nothing. Nada. Crickets. So I sent a SECOND invite to the poll.

Maybe they'll both arrive some time today. GR begins to resemble the United States Postal Service in that sense.

The JUNE poll is up, and it's a handful -- 17 titles. Take your time exploring and thinking before voting. You have today, tomorrow, and Wednesday to decide.

By Thursday morning, the dust should settle leaving ONE winning title. I look forward to it, as we have classics, philosophy, poetry, and contemporary to look over!

Paul wrote: "I am delighted to join this book club. Many book clubs engage readers in one book a month but I am seldom interested in that particular book. I like the flexibility of one book every three months. ..."

Welcome, Paul, and I hope you enjoy the June choice and reading/discussion experience.

Tomorrow morning, ably assisted by a hot black coffee by my side, I will put together the poll to send to all our members.

If you still haven't sent a nominee and had been planning to, it's now or Never Never Land (tell Peter we said hi).

Jan wrote: "Kathleen wrote: "Oh boy--time to nominate! I love trying to come up with an obscure book that is still hopefully widely library-accessible, and can't wait to see what we come up with. This group is..."

It'll be great to have you back in the fold, Jan. So glad the arduous year (Covid + School = Challenges!) is winding down for you!

Bionic Jean wrote: "Thanks Ken! Having looked closer I'm not really sure it would have much appeal as a group read though, so will stick with the one I've sent :)"


OK, no problem!

Bionic Jean wrote: "I liked the look of one of the previous nominations so much that I've nominated that one (as I'm allowed) :) Of course Parkinson's Law dictated that just today I discovered a "lost" novel by one of..."

You can always switch your nomination, Jean, if you feel strongly about it. I'm not putting the titles up until Monday morning, so it's as easy as crossing off one and entering another.

Take that, Parkinson (& In-Laws)!

So far, we have 8 books nominated, and "eclectic" is the collective word for them.

I still haven't decided on my own nomination, but I have two days left, a few possibilities, and a few red herrings to fish out.

Thanks to the first 8 nominators and, to those still thinking, good luck with it!

Put your thinking caps on, people. Next week you'll get my message for ONE book nomination, should you desire to enter one.

You'll get the hang of it, Sam. And if you have questions about using GR or the group, don't be shy about asking. We've all been there.

Sue wrote: "Ken, I haven’t read any of his stories and really had no idea where to begin. So I never did. Thanks for the suggestion. I will try following through with it."

You can just pick a few to sample online if you want here.

In addition to "Indian Camp," which is tough, but I like it, some of the more famous stories are...


The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber

The Snows of Kilimanjaro

Hills Like White Elephants

Soldier's Home

Big Two-Hearted River Parts I and II

My Old Man

Bionic Jean wrote: "It's fine Kathleen :) I do the same myself ... and thank you!

I'm looking forward to the next "pick", and hoping it will be something American, or otherwise equally a bit out of my comfort zone."

Only another week or so till the call for nominations goes out. The variety of nominated books, from classic to contemporary, this genre to that, is always amazing, but tough choices are kind of fun, no?

Sue wrote: "I decided not to watch or record the series. I did like A Moveable Feast but found A Son Also Rises just so so. And have never been “inspired” to read further. Like many, I have been turned off by ..."


Did you enjoy any of the short stories, Sue? Many are gloomy due to EH's fascination with death, but they're executed with uncanny precision. The best short example I can think of is "Indian Camp" in his first story collection, In Our Time. The final line haunts you.

Sandra wrote: "Ken, I must admit that I do like some of Hemingway, a few of his short stories worked well for my students to use as a piece of prose reading in Forensics. And now I appreciate his writing style mo..."


Wow! "Forensics" sounds like a top-notch class. Where I taught, we had exciting offerings called "English Language Arts," is all.