Jan 2014 Open Pick - Lobbying (aka Help this book win the poll!)

[Daniel]

This month, we're going to experiment with having a thread in which to sway the opinion of group members during the poll. Make a case here as to why Book A is the best of the bunch. Beg and plead members to change their vote to Book B because it only needs a few more ayes to push it over the line. If you're trying to make a difference in the poll results, this is the place to do it.

[LindaJ^]

I've been lobbying for the Flamethrowers each month it has been on the poll. So far this month, it has not gained quite as much momentum as the past two months. Perhaps everyone who was voting for it has, like me, already read it and, unlike me, ready to move on to something they have not!! Besides how much I like the book and how much I would like to hear what you all have to say about what I see as a very unique style, I have a practical reason to share -- the Goldfinch is too heavy for me to drag to Spain with me over Christmas so I have to put off starting it until mid-January and it is so long, I probably won't be able to timely participate!

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Linda wrote: "I've been lobbying for the Flamethrowers each month it has been on the poll. So far this month, it has not gained quite as much momentum as the past two months. Perhaps everyone who was voting fo..."
Linda, why do you like this book so much? I have to admit I didn't connect with it very well.

[LindaJ^]

Jenny wrote: "Linda wrote: "I've been lobbying for the Flamethrowers each month it has been on the poll. So far this month, it has not gained quite as much momentum as the past two months. Perhaps everyone who..."

This is one of the first books where the style trumped the plot for me. One thing that engaged me fairly early were the digressions on things such as "China girls" that had me doing Google searches to see if they were for real, and they were. Another was how the characters were developed. The primary character is almost an empty vessel as the book begins, knowing only that she wants to do art in NYC. And this is the Andy Warhol era that Patty Smith wrote about in Just Kids. (I thought Kushner got that scene spot on.) As she moves on, she starts to explore who she wants to be through considering those she interacts with, most of whom are quite interesting in varied ways. And then there is global social/political stuff going on - in NYC, in Italy, and in South America.

There is more but I've not really parsed it. For me, the book was multi-layered and the world expored through a number of observation points. There are quite a few themes that can be examined independently, as well as collectively. And I just loved the motorcycle speed scenes.

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Thanks, that should help those who haven't read it.

[Lily]

I nominated The Goldfinch , but, at least for now, I have voted for The Flamethrowers . I wanted those interested in The Goldfinch to be able to take advantage of the Kindle edition offer. Also, I added it to my own TBR. But, really, it is too long for me to try to read it over this holiday season and have a good discussion in January.

Personally, I read Middlesex a number of years ago and am not ready to re-read it, although it is a book well worth the time spent. All of the selections here seemed interesting this month, but several of you have been lobbying for The Flamethrowers for some time and I do have a copy of that as well that needs reading! (I enjoyed one of her earlier books which I had purchased based on the enthusiasm expressed for TFTs.)

[Zulfiya]

I would not mind reading The Flamethrowers as a buddy read. I nominated and voted for Middlesex, but I also would like to read The Goldfinch.

On the other hand, I purchased The Flamethrowers on sale, so I think it is worth reading some time soon.

I do not see why we can not have a buddy read.

[Lily]

With both The Flamethrowers (Rachel Kushner) and The Goldfinch (Donna Tartt) having been chosen by the New York Times Review of Books as among the five best fiction books of 2013, it sounds to me as if we are surrounded by potential good reads.

[LindaJ^]

I definitely want to read The Goldfinch (the only one of the 5 best NYT fiction books I have yet to read) and discuss it but I have been wanting to discuss The Flamethrowers since I finished it. Trying to be a good club member, I am even reading The Children's Book this month and contributing a bit (so far) to the discussion.

I read Middlesex when it came out, but no longer have the book, so won't be much of an active participant in that discussion if it wins!

While I will continue to lobby for The Flamethrowers, any of the current top 3 should arouse good discussion in January.

[Deborah]

Middlesex was a wonderful book, but maybe a bit mainstream. I'm hoping for the flamethrowers

[Terry]

What do you mean by mainstream, Deb? Curious. I thought it was exemplary and very literary.

I'm most keen on The Teleportation Accident, which just seems to have awesome chutzpah, but I'm also quote keen on The Goldfinch, as I very much enjoyed Secret History.

[Dianne]

I'm new to the group...and not exactly lobbying, but I'd like a discussion of "The Goldfinch." It seems to be the most talked about book of the year, and I'd like to hear what this group thinks of it.