January 2016, Open Pick Nominations

[Whitney]

It's time to start nominating for our first book of 2016. The usual rules apply, if you're a new member please check out "How Things Work" in the Welcome folder. Nominations will be open for one week before the poll goes up.

And don't forget our upcoming reads for December, A Brief History of Seven Killings and Orfeo.

[Portia]

I would like to nominate Early Warning. This is the second book of Smiley's Last Hundred Years trilogy and takes place between the early 1050s and the mid-1980s. I admit with no shame that I liked this book very much because it centers on the first thirty years of my life and so has appeal for others of the Boomer generation. Early Warning refers to the fear we all had of being bombed by the Soviet Union. At a signing of her final book recently, I told Ms. Smiley how much I'd enjoyed the book and she replied, "Don't tell anyone, but it's my favorite, too." Gracious? Yes. Honest? Well, she was born in 1949.

Many of us have read the first book, Some Luck, so I think this one will work.

[Whitney]

Portia, did you mean to say that many have read Some Luck?

Do you think that Early Warning would work as a standalone for those who haven't read the first book?

[Portia]

You know, I did. I'll edit it.

That's a good question about standalone. I'll have to think about that. Does anyone who has read Some Luck want to weigh in? Certainly reading this first would help.

So, how does this group handle this sort of thing? Do we steer away from series so as not to exclude anyone? That sounds fair but didn't people read the Ferrante books? I only read the first, so I wasn't following.

[Portia]

Actually, I just found the Ferrante follow-ones. Didn't drum up much business, did they? Too bad. I've heard people love them.

So, should I withdraw Early Warning and ask for a Smiley trilogy thread?

[Whitney]

I don't think our format is very supportive of reading a series as separate discussions. I think adding Early Warning to the discussion of Some Luck would be the way to go, as we did with The Ferrante novels and with The Three Body Problem, and perhaps picking something else for the open pick.

You are welcome to add a thread to the discussion of Some Luck for continuing the series if you would like.

[LindaJ^]

I nominate Honeydew by Edith Pearlman. It has been awhile since we have read a short story collection. I thought these were lovely. The collection was on the 2015 National book award for fiction and I thought it was better than the one that made it to the finals.

[Portia]

Whitney wrote: "I don't think our format is very supportive of reading a series as separate discussions. I think adding Early Warning to the discussion of Some Luck would be the way to go, as we did with The Ferra..."

I'll try that. Thanks. And put my thinking cap on for another nomination:-)

[Marc]

For both the The Three-Body Problem and the My Brilliant Friend discussions additional threads were added for the subsequent books in the series. I think interest and participation varies widely for that sort of thing but it certainly can't hurt to try!

[Portia]

Great minds. I just opened a thread and asked Whitney to give it a quick QA. I'm hoping I can get some interest. Early Warning deals with events in the lives of the Boomers (1950s -1980s) so if course I loved it ;-)

[Lily]

Whitney wrote: "...I think adding Early Warning to the discussion of Some Luck would be the way to go, as we did with The Ferrante novels and with The Three Body Problem, and perhaps picking something else for the open pick...."

My two cents here: If someone wants to nominate a book in the middle of a series, why not allow it and permit the voting process to determine if there is enough interest in it as a stand-alone, either because it can be or because enough people have read the earlier books that they want to read this one with a group? Being a selection does tend to focus reading as a group more than simply adding to an existing discussion and therefore increases the probability of interaction. (Still some boards do a pretty good job of encouraging discussions to continue as additional readers come along.)

I am also not opposed to adding threads as Marc mentions @9. But couldn't such be a fall-back if a "series" book fails as a nomination? Or is that all just too complicated? You as our moderators do deserve our support for what has ease.

[Whitney]

Good point, and perhaps I jumped the gun a bit is suggesting it as an add-on instead of a separate read. My concern, even if it did win, is that we would be excluding people who don't have much interest in Jane Smiley, even if they are a minority in the vote. We try and pick a diverse range of authors and not have repeats, at least not close together. If there is enough interest that other books in a series could win, there should be enough interest to sustain a discussion in a dedicated thread. If it comes up again, we can reconsider the issue.

[Portia]

And, following helpful advice, I've opened a thread for Early Warning under the Some Luck thread, so everyone has a chance to check the novel out.

[Zulfiya]

Avenue of Mysteries by John Irving

[[deleted user]]

I would like to nominate The Gospel According to Pilate by Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt.

Excerpt from a review from Le Monde:
"To describe this novel as a good read, funny and entertaining would not be doing it justice. Make no mistake: the elements of farce and the skilful handling of Christ's life (with never any cheap jokes) are not just for the sake of invention.

Through the confessions of Yéchoua and the letters of Pontius Pilate, Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt subtly raises a number of genuine problems in a way that is never facetious. When Pilate meets Herod, for instance, there is more than just a hint of political manoeuvring and even racism in the air.

But still more than the taut style, witty words and the comedy of so many scenes, it is the richness of the story that is so compelling, shifting with supreme virtuosity from the light-hearted to the serious, from humour to extreme gravity. It comes as no surprise to discover that Schmitt has also written about Diderot."

... I am not 100% sure it has been translated in English... which would be very weird because... well, isn't every book translated in English? Anyways, if this book turns out to not be eligible, I'd like to nominate instead Noah's Child (also from Schmitt).

From Le Soir:
"Noah's Child is a novel that needs no apology, nor does it need Schmitt to list his professional achievements. 'The story is Schmitt all over,' enthused its literary director. 'But it's all true,' the author adds. The novel is set in Belgium. War has broken out. A Jewish couple send their son, Joseph, into hiding as his only hope of avoiding the raids. The boy is hidden in a Catholic boarding school along with other Jewish Children. Father Pons, an eccentric Catholic priest, not only seeks to save these Jews but has gone so far as to reconstruct a secret synagogue in the crypt of his church. Here he studies the Jewish sacred texts so that the Children can preserve their identity. Joseph is curious about his identity and the Jewish religion. As though looking in a mirror, priest and Child question each other about their respective identities. Joseph finally comes to accept his history and he grows up to preach respect for other people, including in the modern land of Israel where intolerance is a constant threat. 'All history is contemporary and is told in the past tense. I want to show the current need to respect difference.' The novel is based on the true story of Abott André, curate of Namur, who built a similar synagogue and was honoured with the title of 'Just'."

[Casceil]

Not everything gets translated to English, and I have not found an English edition. But your second choice, Noah's Child, looks more interesting to me anyway.

[Hugh]

I won't nominate anything else until the Marlon James discussion is out of the way. I'd never heard of Schmitt - looks interesting but I suspect it will be difficult to find copies of any of his books in provincial England. The Irving, like many recent nominations, is too new to be available in UK paperback (most British publishers still insist on waiting a year before publishing paperbacks)...

[Portia]

Hugh wrote: "I won't nominate anything else until the Marlon James discussion is out of the way. I'd never heard of Schmitt - looks interesting but I suspect it will be difficult to find copies of any of his bo..."

How are you liking the James? I am about 1/4 in and finding it needs my complete concentration --a good thing. Lots of underlining, margin notes, and dog ears. Looking forward to the discussion.

[Hugh]

It's pretty bloodthirsty, but has an impressive range of voices, characters and motivations. I'd better not say much more than that at this stage...

[Lily]

I'll nominate Fortune Smiles by Adam Johnson since it just won the National Book Award, but my own reading time is so full at the moment, I'll probably not vote for it, or any of the January selections. I nominate it so others can decide if interested.

[Casceil]

I nominate Glow by Ned Beauman, the author who wrote The Teleportation Accident, which this group read a year or so ago.

[Teanka]

I'd like to nominate Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff. The book was a National Book Award Finalist and I'm interested in reading it.

[Portia]

I propose The Secret Chord by Geraldine Brooks. Her books get five stars from me.

[Kirsten]

Portia wrote: "I propose The Secret Chord by Geraldine Brooks. Her books get five stars from me."

I second that! I heard her interviewed on The Diane Rehm Show about this: http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/201...

[Portia]

I did, too. Good you for posting the link!

[Kirsten]

Portia wrote: "I did, too. Good you for posting the link!"

If you're a regular listener, check out my group on the books featured on Diane Rehm, as well as On Point with Tom Ashbrook: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...

[Portia]

Will do. Thanks.

[Whitney]

Last call for nominations, poll going up tonight!

[Whitney]

Nominations closed and the poll is up, here or from the homepage. Poll will be open until the end of the month. Thanks to everyone who nominated.

[Marc]

And the winner is [insert dramatic pause & drumroll here], The Secret Chord by Geraldine Brooks.

Portia, would you be interested in moderating this discussion?

[Portia]

It would be my pleasure, Marc. Thank you.

I really hope that the group has a chance to read the other books nominated in upcoming months. I voted for The Secret Chord because I nominated it, but all the books look worth a read and discussion.

[Marc]

Excellent--thanks for nominating it and leading the discussion!

This group always adds so much to my to-be-read list, too :D

[LindaJ^]

I see A Madman Dreams of Turing Machines as an upcoming book for January. Is that the moderator pick? I seem to have missed the announcement so thought I'd check before finding a copy.

[Whitney]

Linda wrote: "I see A Madman Dreams of Turing Machines as an upcoming book for January. Is that the moderator pick? I seem to have missed the announcement so thought I'd check before finding a copy."

Yes, it is. A mailing was sent out on the 1st to all members with the January book choices, should be in your GR inbox.

[LindaJ^]

Whitney wrote: "Linda wrote: "I see A Madman Dreams of Turing Machines as an upcoming book for January. Is that the moderator pick? I seem to have missed the announcement so thought I'd check before f..."

Thanks.