Paula’s Comments (group member since Jun 18, 2025)

Paula’s comments from the Reading the Chunksters group.

My heart is telling me to nominate Infinite Jest. It is an absolute masterpiece and one of my favorite books of all time. However, I have already read it twice and I would really like to read something I haven't already read, so Zulfiya, my copy is glaring at me too. But hey everybody, if you haven't read it, I urge you to pick it up. To quote another excellent book, Infinite Jest is a "heartbreaking work of staggering genius". If you do decide to tackle it, there is a great website to help you: www.infinitesummer.org. The discussions that were held there are awesome.

Andrea wrote: "Hmmm, there are two books that I would like to see nominated. Maybe I'll wait and see what others throw in before I tip my scales one way or another."

Me too. I'm torn between two books.

Cleo wrote: "Ah good! I can't wait!"

I know, me too!!

I'm going to pass on this one as well. I've already read it and, for me, there just isn't anything that would make me want to revisit it.

You guys enjoy, happy reading!!!

Cleo wrote: "I'm reading:

The Essays of Montaigne - Complete

Antigone

[bookcover:Russian Thinker..."

You have a great list too, Cleo!

Thanks for this thread!

I just finished The Instructions, am rereading Bleak House for another group and I'm currently reading The Good Soldier Švejk.

In September, I'm reading Ulysses with yet another group. When my brain seems about to fizzle, I pull out a Nero Wolfe mystery for some easy fun.

Oh, and I'm also reading The Complete Short Stories. Proust is always in the mix as well; when I finish, I just start over again.

Kristin Lavransdatter and Dombey and Son are on deck for later in the Fall. And, of course, I'm looking forward to what will be coming up here :)!

Zulfiya wrote: "I will open a nomination thread next week. Books like Dhalgren, Underworld, Gravity's Rainbow and others are likely contenders."

Hi Zulfiya, do you know when the thread will be opened? I'm really looking forward to it :).

I was looking through the bookshelf of a group I just joined and I saw they read Outlander last year. Most went into it with enthusiasm, but quickly became bored with it. I saw one comment of particular interest...the reader said there should really be a new category of book she called the "historical soap opera"...contrived plots, silly, unbelievable coincidences, terrible dialogue and cardboard characters. My opinion only, but this described Outlander perfectly for me. In that bucket, I would also drop in Fall of Giants. I probably disliked Fall more because, really, Follett used to write better than this. Before his medieval trilogy, that is. I only read Pillars before I donated it and Fall to my local library.

I know I sound harsh, but if you are going to write 900+ page novels, you should have something interesting or amazingly entertaining to say. A 900 page potboiler is overkill - 250 pages should suffice. But what do I know? Both authors tap dance all the way to the bank and they have millions of readers who love their stuff.

I'm not saying that every group read has to be a DQ (heaven forbid) but there should be enough in the book to keep a discussion going. As I said before, if anyone could have kept a discussion going, it is Zulfiya, but there just wasn't anything to say. At the end of the day, this should have been a 250 page book enjoyably lapped up along with a bowl of ice cream or a bag of chips.

Andrea wrote: "I'm going to throw The Good Soldier Švejk by Jaroslav Hašek into the mix.

"

Actually, I'm going to withdraw my nomination for A Soldier of the Great War because, having read a sample of this book, I intend to vote for it. So, I can't in good conscience nominate a book that I'm not going to vote for :). I am so excited to read this one - I hope it wins, but if it doesn't, I will be reading it anyway. My copy is already on the way to me.

I will be reading Helprin's book as well, and I will let you know if he gets preachy :). He and I are polar opposites on a lot of issues, so, Zulfiya, I'll give you the scoop once I finish it :). I live just outside of Washington D.C. where we argue politics over breakfast and while brushing our teeth before bedtime, so it takes a lot to ruffle my feathers. But now that I think of it, there is a veritable host of literary authors who build their political philosophies into their books. And I don't mind reading an "agenda" that differs from my own. It stimulates me - inspiring me to better define, formulate and articulate my own. But woe unto Helprin if he bores me while he's doing it. Ha!

But back to the nominations!!! :)

Andrea, thank you so much for putting your nomination out there! I would never have known about it otherwise. I heartily second your nomination.

Andrea wrote: "I'm going to throw The Good Soldier Švejk by Jaroslav Hašek into the mix.

"

Ok, read more about it, fell heavily in pre-read love, and ordered it.

Paula wrote: "Linda wrote: "Zulfiya wrote: "we will be reading The MOST CHALLENGING BOOK OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY as a modern classic read"

I am salivating... :D"

Me too!"

So, when do we find out what it is? (As I jump up and down like a little kid!)

Andrea wrote: "I'm going to throw The Good Soldier Švejk by Jaroslav Hašek into the mix.

"

Hmmm, this looks really excellent!

Zulfiya wrote: "I am not trying to discourage anyone about Helprin, but his political agenda is usually very obvious in all his novels I have read so far. Get ready if it wins. :-)"

I agree, but friends who have read this one say it is the exception.

I nominate A Soldier of the Great War by Mark Helprin

Linda wrote: "Zulfiya wrote: "we will be reading The MOST CHALLENGING BOOK OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY as a modern classic read"

I am salivating... :D"

Me too!

Zulfiya wrote: "Sorry for a huge post.

Anyway, the mods' current opinion is to post another thread this Monday and if people are posting, then read it as a regular read, but if they are not, we will be posting o..."

It was an excellent post :). I'm very much looking forward to the next book you moderate. You do a great job!

JoLene wrote: "@Paula, I understand Zulfiya's point. She specifically asked me why I would vote for a book that I had already read and didn't think it was very deep.

I understand the mods frustration as I am ..."

That sounds like an interesting group, which one is it? The one with the daily schedule...

I think Zulfiya's point is that, since August 4th, she has been having a conversation with herself. Not everyone will have the same ideas of what constitutes a "meaty" book; however, it isn't unreasonable to expect that members who voted for this book should participate.

On another group site, the moderators adopted measures where poll votes were weighted based upon participation in past discussions and in still another, members could not participate in a particular activity unless they had made a minimum of an established number of posts.

I did not vote for this book and elected not to participate because I read it and disliked it, but certainly anyone who has enjoyed it should be able to take the talking points Zulfiya has diligently contributed each week and enjoy the discussion.

Just my thoughts.

Michelle wrote: "I suppose what I'm learning about myself as I edge nearer to 30 is that I enjoy a little romance. Yes, this one does have a "face palm" cheesiness to it in some parts, but I find myself getting so ..."

Michelle, I have been struggling to find the right word to sum up my feelings for this book and you nailed it for me: cheesy. I am not a big romance reader but I have certainly enjoyed several. But not this one. I did soldier on through the end to at least be fair to the novel. But it was empty calories for me. And I so wanted to like it because nothing makes me happier than a series of chunky novels. I'm restricting myself to this one comment because I really don't want to put a damper on the group dialogue. I'm sure there are plenty of books I love that leave people scratching their heads.

I've read The Historian and would love a reason to move it to the top of my TBR pile to enjoy all over again. I read it when it first came out so it would almost be a new read.