Feedback Forum - What Do We Want to Read

[Deborah, Moderator]

A discussion regarding the choice of books and author was started in thread set aside for research of our current book. Please continue the discussion here. I'm expecting this discussion to get lively (smile). Please remain respectful of everybody's opinions. I know you all know this. It just makes me feel better to reiterate it.

[Frances, Moderator]

I'm going to continue a discussion started under The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner about what we would like to be reading in this group going forward. Concerns were raised (with which I agree) that a number of our last reads didn't really qualify as "great" and I also wonder if that is one reason that the numbers in the discussions have fallen off-certainly there was not much discussion for either Carmilla or for The Time Machine. This may also have to do with the increase in the number of books that are being read at any one time.

I do want to stress how much I am enjoying being part of this community, how much more I enjoy my reading knowing I will have people to discuss it with afterwards and how much I appreciate all the hard work the moderators have been doing. I also want to acknowledge that we are all at different places in our reading-for some I expect sticking with the "greats" will mean a lot of rereading and that they/you would prefer more adventurous reading. However I know I've joined this group to get some support in reading the classics and that is what I would like to be doing going forward.

[Deborah, Moderator]

Thank you Frances for your comments. I noticed a falling off in the discussions earlier than the books you mentioned so I'm not sure if that was the cause or just having additional impact. I joined the group for the same reason you did, and was lucky to have a friend refer the group to me.

We are all in different places with our reading. If there's a book that is a reread for me, I will usually watch the discussions and not participate as much. I love the time period this group covers. There are many "greats" that I haven't read and look forward to reading. I've enjoyed the exposure to some authors I might not have heard about or read.

I look forward to the comments of the group members in this forum.

[Linda2]

It was I who brought up the topic. I think we can expand to lit. of other countries without reading 2nd-rate authors.

[Renee]

I am relatively new to this group, having joined at the beginning of the summer to read The Forsyte Saga. While I admit to some surprise at the variety of reads offered, I must say that I LIKE the variety. Yes, I want to continue my quest toward reading the "classics" of Western literature, but mostly I want to feed my brain.

Without this variety, I don't know when I would have gotten around to The Forsyte Saga, although it was in my list. And, while LeFanu and Wells were not high on my list of preferred authors, I am glad to have read them via this group. Glad to have been privy to the discussion. Glad to investigate the "roots" of many novels/movies/etc. which have become part of our cultural mythology. In fact, I'm looking forward to the Justified Sinner because I know it to be a "classic" whichhas lost popularity in these times . But, never-the-less impacted the literate public of its time. Again, I don't know when I might have explored this title, if not for the opportunity provided by this group.

I also love the opportunity to revisit/reread the rich novels of this period. I've thoroughly enjoyed the discussion on David Copperfield, in spite if the fact that've That long been my favorite Dickens. And, I look forward to continuing with the Dickens Project, both for the rereads and finally getting to novels I've missed.

I think, however, that variety is key. Going forward, we may want to alternate between the better known "classics" of the western cannon(sp?) and some of those that are less well-known. (Also, I have to admit that I am really, really glad we didn't choose the Icelandic novels. I think I need to work up to those.) Maybe we want to take on a nice, chewy Scott like Ivanhoe or Waverly, for which The Two Drovers will make a nice lead in.

[Nancy]

I don't usually comment, but I would like to get in on this thread. I agree that some of the reads have been weak, but we have also read the Forsyte Saga and we are in the midst of reading Zola. I definitely believe the Wilkie Collins we have read has some great themes in them.
I finished The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner last week and although the writing is very often redundant; beating the theme into your head over and over again. The book has relevance to the period in which it was written and in relation to Calvinism. I don't think it is a great book, but I do think it is a worthy read.
Now, back to the general issue of more "great" books. I personally think we should try German works or more Russian works. We have got Zola, whom I love!
And I have one last thing. Rochelle want books would you suggest we read?

[Deborah, Moderator]

Thanks for all the posts. The desire to read Russian, German, French, etc. was the reason we decided to "read around the world". Please put any titles of interested on our to be read shelf.

[Renee]

Okay. I just tried to add Waverly and Ivanhoe, but they were already on the "to read" board. So I threw in Queen Margot (awesome story from Dumas' Valois trilogy. You guy will LOVE it!) And, Can You Forgive Her? (Trollope, first of the Palliser novels), because I've been wanting to read the Pallisers for a long time.

[Deborah, Moderator]

Great. Thanks Renee. I double checked the poll with regard to Confessions (January book), 18 voted to read this book. Conversely there was a three way tie for a book for February with approximately 8 votes for the 3 winners.

[Daisy]

Reading books from other countries is definitely a nice idea.

The Time Machine and Camilla were unusual even though they did not impress me. In fact, I didn't finish The Time Machine. However, I'm truly glad I read them, or at least got a taste of them.

[Lynnm]

I actually like the variety. I wouldn't want to read novels from other countries every month, and I wouldn't want to read only the "greats" every month.

Personally, I love our projects. I've been participating in the Dickens Project and love it. I like reading every novel written by an author - you can really understand the author's world perspectives.

I would like to see more when the Dickens Project is finished. Read through all of Austen's novels, Twain, Trollope's Palliser novels, etc.

Also, I wouldn't mind reading some non-fiction: Thoreau's Walden for example.

[Deborah, Moderator]

I was participating in the Dickens Project until life got in the way. I was very sorry to have to stop. I enjoyed the Le Fanu, but I had him before, although not that book.

This discussion has gotten me thinking that maybe we should be pulling more from our lists and less from off the top of our heads (as a group) when we make suggestions or nominations. If we all put our "wish list" on our to be read shelf, we should be able to get quite the variety because we are such a diverse group. Sitting here pondering...

[Lynnm]

Renee wrote: "Okay. I just tried to add Waverly and Ivanhoe, but they were already on the "to read" board. So I threw in Queen Margot (awesome story from Dumas' Valois trilogy. You guy will LOVE it!) And, Can Yo..."

Would love to read the Valois trilogy. Great suggestion!

And just noticed that you suggested the Palliser novels as well. It would be wonderful to read the entire series!

[Zulfiya]

Three massive projects at the same time, Lynnm?:-) Honestly, I have been eyeing it for years. And yes, I know, we are mostly reading English writers, even if we try to expand our horizons, but let us be honest about the 19th century literature - there are three cornerstones if we are talking about novels: British, Russian, and French. I am all for expanding the horizons and want to read Polish, Spanish, and German writers, and I think we really should do it, but maybe we should read proportionally. If the contribution of the big three was more significant than others, then we read them according to their contribution to the literary heritage.

The ration 3:1 seems fair to me. We read only one novel by Hardy. Trollop has never been dabbed into. We still have Balzac, Thackery, Daudet, Thomas Mann, George Sand, Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Gogol and Sienkiewicz.

On the other hand, we can run into the problem of running out of fuel because the reading material is finite and limited.

The solution is the one the purists might have hard time accepting - a paired read. E.g. David Copperfield by Dickens and Charles Dickens: Life by C. Tomalin, Great Expectations by C. Dickens and Jack Maggs by P. Carey, Villette by Bronte and The Brontes: Wild Genius on the Moors by J. Barker, Pride and Prejudice by Austen and Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James, etc.

As far as more obscure novels and genre readings, I think they are useful - once or twice a year. They might shed light on the origin of genre fiction and give us a certain feeling of fun!

These are my two cents:-)

Honestly, I think we have had a very productive year.

[Nancy]

Turgenev

[Zulfiya]

Shame on Russian me:-) Of course, Turgenev!

[Deborah, Moderator]

While the idea of another project intrigues me, I would suggest we don't start another until one of the two current ones have been completed. I think three would spread us too thin in terms of moderators and discussion.

I think it will be quite a while before we run out of choices. We haven't done Twain or Hawthorne or Austen in the last few years that I can remember. One of each of those plus one we've already voted on takes us thru May. I'm not saying that's what we will do. It's just an example. We are talking, not taking the projects into account, about 12 books. That's not a big number when you think of it.

What I seem to be perceiving from the feedback so far is:

1. We like the projects.
2. We like diversity.
3. Diversity will some times mean not all of us will enjoy particular reads.
4. We like the classic cornerstones (listed in previous post), but do want to explore other countries. However, if possible, this exploration should include some minor or obscure works, but not a steady diet of them.

Anything else?

[Zulfiya]

Deborah wrote: "While the idea of another project intrigues me, I would suggest we don't start another until one of the two current ones have been completed."


I would never manage three projects at the same time. Either we put one on hiatus (and dedicated members would be MAD:-) Isn't it nice to be so passionate about books?) or wait for a while. The latter seems reasonable to me.

Not that my opinion is the final one. It is for the group members to decide.
And we have not done anything Russian recently, and I would not mind leading it in a month or two. The K Brothers is excellent, but I think The Idiot is the acme of Dostoevsky's heritage.

[Deborah, Moderator]

Zulfiya wrote: "Deborah wrote: "While the idea of another project intrigues me, I would suggest we don't start another until one of the two current ones have been completed."


I would never manage three projects ..."

I'm amazed at what you've been managing, and feel no one could ask you to manage a third project. I don't think it fair to interrupt the two current projects. I think, if we choose one, it will need to be understood that the new project will have to wait a bit.

The Idiot is one of the three that are tied for first place for next month. I'm not opposed to that and have asked Silver if we should vote on one of those three. I agree it's not up to us as moderators. It is up to the group. It also needs to be attainable.

[Zulfiya]

I know it is a tie, so I was wondering whether we want to run another poll or read them consecutively? :-)

[Lynnm]

Yes, three projects at one time would be unmanageable. I was thinking of when the Dickens Project ran its course. (Although that will be awhile.)

We could modify it to just a handful of books by an author. (We did that with the Sherlock Holmes novels/short stories). Renee and I both mentioned the Palliser novels. Even that might be too much because I think there are 6 in that series. But a trilogy might work. Or for example with Twain, read both Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn.

And to add to what Zulfiya said, maybe we could do a paired read. And doesn't even have to be a biography. For example, an Austen novel with a modern interpretation of that particular Austen novel or even a film version of the book.

[Deborah, Moderator]

I have no problem with a few of an author's books over a few months or even a pairing of classic with modern. However, modern doesn't fit into our designated time period. Most of us are here because of the time period. One problem I do see with say reading Trollope for three months is if a member is not interested in that, and not participating in a project, it's three months before they can participate. I think that may be why some members have not been pleased with our recent choices. We were doing science fiction/supernatural for the last several months.

For myself, there are times when I'm not interested in reading a particular selection so I wait for the next one. Waiting for several months in a row would not be something I would enjoy.

[Lynnm]

Deborah wrote: "The Idiot is one of the three that are tied for first place for next month. I'm not opposed to that and have asked Silver if we should vote on one of those three. I agree it's not up to us as moderators. It is up to the group. It also needs to be attainable. "

I would like either The Idiot or CT Yankee. We just did two Gaskell novels recently. But just my humble opinion... ;)

Although to be fair, there s/b a runoff between all three. If people want a third Gaskell, then why not?

[Lynnm]

Deborah wrote: "I have no problem with a few of an author's books over a few months or even a pairing of classic with modern. However, modern doesn't fit into our designated time period. Most of us are here becaus..."

True enough.

Maybe we could do two books per month? Would that be too much with the two projects going as well?

[Renee]

Double check me, please.

January
Dickens: finish David Copperfield
Justified Sinner (Hogg)
Two Drovers (Scott) -short stories
More Rougons

February
Dickens: Bleak House
Connecticut Yankee (Twain) OR
Wives & Daughters (Gaskell) OR
The Idiot (Dostoyevsky)
More Rougons
Another short story collection??

March
More Dickens
More Rougons
An as yet to be chosen novel
Another short story collection

I missed the Rougons boat. But, I don't think I could have added another book to my month. (Skipped Grubb Street because I didn't think I could fit it in.)

[Lynnm]

Seeing it like that, Renee, we do have a lot of choices!

(For end of January/February Dickens, I think we are reading a Dickens biography before moving to Bleak House. Zulfiya can correct me if that is wrong).

[Deborah, Moderator]

Thanks Renee. I was about to say three was too many for three moderators. One of which is already handling two large projects. You quantified it nicely. We do have lots of choices.

[Zulfiya]

You are right. Claire Tomalin and then my favorite BH. Renee, I hope it will not divert you from participating. I really value your insightful comments with interesting quotations. DC is the most autobiographical books, so prior to the DC read, we decided to read his biography as well.
CT's seems to be more conducive for the group discussion than other similar books.

And yes, you are a reading dinamo. I wish I could do the same. Sigh, wishful thinking.

[Deborah, Moderator]

Zulfiya wrote: "You are right. Claire Tomalin and then my favorite BH. Renee, I hope it will not divert you from participating. I really value your insightful comments with interesting quotations. DC is the most ..."

Gosh, I'm a real slaggard as I think you are way above me as reading dynamo. I've always wanted to read both if those so maybe I can try to squeeze in one more or two! Why are my reading wants always bigger than my reading time?

[Zulfiya]

My New Year's Wish was to have 25 hours instead of 24. We all can definitely use an extra hour:-) Readers should be granted this extra hour by a reading god:-)

[Deborah, Moderator]

I love this idea. As it is hubby is wearing a sleep mask so I can read whenever I want during the night for however long I want. Yet, I still can't keep up with my tbr list. My New Years wish was to get control of my life so I could have more reading time.

[Renee]

Checking Amazon now for Dickens biography. I'm assuming its CD:A Life, not The Invisible Woman. Correct? Both are available for purchase and I don't want to spend my cash frivolously.

[Deborah, Moderator]

It's the one by Claire Tomalin.

[Renee]

Deborah-
That's my wish EVERY year. One of these years, I succeed!! :)

[Renee]

Hmm. Both are by Tomalin.

[Deborah, Moderator]

Ooh. Zulfiya you help Renee?

[Lynnm]

Zulfiya wrote: "My New Year's Wish was to have 25 hours instead of 24. We all can definitely use an extra hour:-) Readers should be granted this extra hour by a reading god:-)"

I agree!

Sadly, I figure that I need about 10 lives to read all the books that I want to read.

[Zulfiya]

Renee, this one
http://www.amazon.com/Charles-Dickens...

[Zulfiya]

I have got mine from Abebooks.com

http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/Searc...

[Renee]

10 lives = 20 eyeballs
You might just cover it all. ;)

[Renee]

Got it! Thanks, Ladies. I'm in!!

[Deborah, Moderator]

Ok. I think I have a suggest that might work for all of us.

Each month several books can be chosen from our to be read bookshelf. Nominations will also be requested from members. A poll will be created, and a vote taken. Majority wins. If a tie, a run off poll will take place. It should be noted, it is impossible to ensure that all who vote for a particular book will, in fact, participate.

With regard to future projects, we can create a thread for possible authors such as Trollope for consideration. That way we will have a working list when one if the current projects finish. Current projects will continue onto completion.

Please give me your thoughts. Will this help to ensure we are reading what the members desire?

[Zulfiya]

Concur! I will also try to schedule the project reads with minimal overlap, therefore, we will have more breathing space for regular nominations.

[Deborah, Moderator]

A poll has been placed on our page (it will be at bottom of page) to break the tie for February. Perhaps when there is such a tie, the remaining top choices automatically become part of next months voting process. The poll will be up until January 15th.

[Renee]

So...

-The "possible authors" thread would be Suggestions for the next author project??

-The "to read" bookshelf is for suggestions of particular novels

- There will still be a monthly suggestion thread, but the poll will include a few titles randomly chosen from the "to read" shelf

Is that correct? (I hope that's not annoying, but I don't like to make assumptions. And, I don't want to step on toes by throwing things out there willy-nilly.)

[Deborah, Moderator]

Renee, not annoying at all. It's always good to be clear. Yes, that's the gist of it. Remember, members can add books to the to be read shelf at any time. That way, a member can add a book when he/she thinks of it as well as make monthly nominations.

[Zulfiya]

I believe we are trying to create a pool of potential authors and reads. It will give us sense of direction, Renee. I am sure nominations will be more inclusive, but then we will have to update the TBR shelf.

[Zulfiya]

GR needs a conference chat option!

[Deborah, Moderator]

If members put the books on the shelf, they will automatically come off that shelf when we moderators indicate it has been read. My thinking is that the randomly chosen books will be chosen with an eye towards variety and different countries. Plus members still go thru the nomination process of saying I would like to add this book to this month's poll. If anybody else has a better idea of how we can keep the variety and the country while trying to meet the needs of a very diverse group, I'm all ears or should I say eyes?

[Renee]

It's a good plan, Deborah. I look forward to seeing what the next vote produces.