Jorge Luis Borges - convening thread

[Cecily]

Allen wrote: "Ooh, I'm reading "The Circular Ruins" next since the title bears a resemblance to a significant plot point of the Southern Reach trilogy I'm also reading :)

Titles can be deceiving tho..."

And with Borges, you are never sure what's real and what's not. It's an excellent story though, and it does indeed feature circularity.

[Cecily]

Traveller wrote: "It would have been so nice if everyone could have had 2 or 3 votes, since now we're hard put to choose - I did want to read Library of Babel and Tlön, Uqbar, Orbis Tertius..."

I'm sure all of those will be discussed in the coming month, especially as The Library of Babel and Tlön, Uqbar, Orbis Tertius are two of his best-known, and maybe most totemic stories.

[Saski]

Cecily wrote: "Traveller wrote: "It would have been so nice if everyone could have had 2 or 3 votes, since now we're hard put to choose - I did want to read Library of Babel and Tlön, Uqbar, Orbis Tertius..."

I'..."

Re multiple votes, what if instead we had multiple polls, perhaps labelled something like: first choice, second choice, third choice? Could GR block that?

[Traveller]

Ruth wrote: "Re multiple votes, what if instead we had multiple polls, perhaps labelled something like: first choice, second choice, third choice? Could GR block that? ..."

No, they won't block it, it will be fine. I was indeed thinking that we should perhaps open, say one story on a Monday/Tuesday and then the next one on a Thursday/Friday and of course leave the threads open indefinitely - that way it would be easier for people to cherry-pick without things becoming too confusing.

We do seem to have two clear winners for now, so we could start the first week off with those, and then, when we close the first poll on Sunday or Monday whichever Cecily prefers, I can immediately put up the next poll, which would consist of all the same choices with the exception of the two already picked out, and so on, every week until nobody feels like reading any more Borges. :)

We can always change the rules as we go along, if necessary.

[Annelies]

I would love to read along. I never read any Borges before so I don't have any preferences and let myself be guides by you. These short stories seem the right thing to read for me right now, since I just moved to another country and am moving into my new apartment next week. Trying to get internet and library subscription sorted asap ;-)

[Traveller]

Welcome Annelies, we're looking forward to have you participate. No prior experience needed as long as you have access to what appears to be the winning stories for the week, being The Library of Babel and The Circular Ruins.

Good luck with your move!

[Traveller]

Dear members, the voting is over and our 2 clear winners are: The Library of Babel in first place, with 6 votes, and The Circular Ruins in second place with 4 votes.

We will therefore start with Library of Babel shortly - I'll post the link as soon as Cecily, who is going to introduce some of the stories for us, has arrived back home and recovered sufficiently to make the first thread for us. :)

[Traveller]

Our first story discussion thread is up! Please see:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Warmest thanks to Cecily, who despite travel problems and work pressures has come through for us beautifully!
Thank you Cecily!

[Cecily]

The runner up in our poll now has a discussion open, The Circular Ruins, here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Three stories have tied for third place: The Garden of Forking Paths, Tlön, Uqbar, Orbis Tertius, and The South. Depending how things go, I may start discussion for all three together, some time on Sunday. I don't want to flood people with discussions, but am keen that everyone who wants to join in can do so, even if they haven't read the first few stories selected.

[Cecily]

It's fairly quiet here, and I know it's a public holiday in the US, so I've started a discussion for just one of the stories tied in third place. The others will follow in the next few days.

The South:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Cecily]

I hope the USicans amongst us enjoyed their holiday weekend.

The Tlön, Uqbar, Orbis Tertius discussion is up and open:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

It's such a meaty story, I was torn between a very brief intro, and something a bit more substantial, to ease things for those who are new to JLB. I may have gone a little too far the other way.

[Kamakana]

do not know if anybody else notes this, but it is fun that borges can be inspiring: http://www.strangehorizons.com/2011/2...

[Cecily]

And now The Garden of Forking Paths:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Cecily]

Members of this group will have seen Traveller's PM, inviting anyone to open threads for new JLB stories. You can do it in whatever way you like; there's no need to follow the example of the existing topics.

Meanwhile, Trav has opened one for The Book of Sand, which fits well with some of the existing discussions:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

And I have opened one for the very different (realistic, and with a female lead) Emma Zunz:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Klowey]

I don't know how active this thread is but the Collected Fictions is available free in PDF at this link:
https://posthegemony.wordpress.com/wp...

I've got a goal to read all of Borges but since I'm reading other books too it will take a few years. I've already finished many.

I am keeping track mostly from the wikipedia entry on his bibliography. I'm not sure if you can see this:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...