June 2014 Mod Pick

[Terry]

In June, alongside the Open Pick, we'll be reading:



Invisible by Paul Auster.

The Guardian calls it 'a fascinating and highly accomplished novel'. The New York Times calls it 'the finest novel Auster has ever written', and the Washington Post says of him:

'Auster has perfected a limpid, confessional style, then used it to set disoriented heroes in a seemingly familiar world gradually suffused with mounting uneasiness, vague menace and possible hallucination.'

We hope you'll join us and tell us what you think, in June.

[LindaJ^]

Terry wrote: "In June, alongside the Open Pick, we'll be reading:



Invisible by Paul Auster.

The Guardian calls it 'a fascinating and highly accomplished novel'. Th..."

I'm in. The reviews indicates this is one of those love it or hate it books. I've not read anything by this author so I will approach it with no expectations!

[Tiffany]

It sounds like an interesting book. I can't wait to start!

[Steve]

Liked orAcle night. M up. For it

[Casceil]

Steve, I think this might be right up your alley. Months ago (maybe a year ago) someone posted a link to a site (I wish I could find it now) that "mapped" authors in relationship to each other, by which were similar. The goal was to find authors similar to an author you enjoyed, but you could also use it to find authors who were "between" two particular authors. Out of curiosity, I searched to see who would fall between David Foster Wallace and James Joyce. The answer was Paul Auster.

[Linda]

This is the map I remember someone, somewhere, posting not too long ago, but you enter a single author and see which authors surround it.

http://www.literature-map.com/paul+au...

This looks like a good book. I joined this group a couple months ago and have yet to join in on a read. I have been in a classics-mode lately.

[Kristina]

UH OH !! I think I will be playing with literature map all night.

[Julia]

Thanks so much, Linda--I put in Kurt Vonnegut and am thrilled with all the names around him, especially Haruki Murakami!
http://www.literature-map.com/kurt+vo...

[Lily]

Linda wrote: "This is the map I remember someone, somewhere, posting not too long ago, but you enter a single author and see which authors surround it.

http://www.literature-map.com/paul+au... ..."

Linda -- Perhaps as part of this discussion? Although certainly available from a number of places for years. Am glad to see the site being enjoyed and the word spread about it -- I keep it bookmarked.

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

Haven't decided yet about reading our June selections. I didn't vote.

[Steve]

Casceil wrote: "Steve, I think this might be right up your alley. Months ago (maybe a year ago) someone posted a link to a site (I wish I could find it now) that "mapped" authors in relationship to each other, by..."

Thank you, Casceil. I can kinda-sorta see the connection. Of course, the only thing I have read by Auster is Oracle Night and The Country of Last Things. I think his writing may be closer to DFW's nonfiction work.

[Steve]

This will be my first reading group in Good Reads (joined this month). I'm looking forward to it. I also weighed in on a vote in another group and they picked the one I voted for. So it looks like I am going to start with not one, but two, reading groups. And, no, I am NOT a fast reader. Yikes!

[Linda]

Lily wrote: "Linda -- Perhaps as part of this discussion? Although certainly available from a number of places for years. Am glad to see the site being enjoyed and the word spread about it -- I keep it bookmarked."

Oh yes, it was that thread, I remember it now. And you posted the link. Thanks!

[Lily]

Steve wrote: "So it looks like I am going to start with not one, but two, reading groups. And, no, I am NOT a fast reader. Yikes! ..."

Welcome, Steve! Tried to figure out what your other read is going to be, but didn't succeed (view spoiler)[ -- checked out the polls for one of your groups, The Book Addicts, but didn't find you. Didn't find a book choosing poll for the other one. (hide spoiler)] Hope you will enjoy the discussions here. My experience is this is a lively, thoughtful board.

I see you liked this review of Invisible, which doesn't seem to give any spoilers, but certainly tantalizes:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Lily]

Linda wrote: "Oh yes, it was that thread.... Thanks!"

Linda -- Thx to YOU for picking it up and spreading its existence. I'm delighted to see people apparently enjoying it. I forget it, then resurrect and use it again -- and have for years. I suspect Laurele (Western Canon board) introduced me to it back in Barnes and Noble book club days.

http://www.literature-map.com/

[Steve]

Lily wrote: "Steve wrote: "So it looks like I am going to start with not one, but two, reading groups. And, no, I am NOT a fast reader. Yikes! ..."

Welcome, Steve! Tried to figure out what your other read is g..."

Thanks Lily. I joined the group reading Mr. Penumbra's 24-hour Book Store as well. Either I voted for that one and said I would read Extremely Loud...or vice-versa. Or maybe I didn't vote at all. I tried to, but I am old enough that things Internet do not come to me naturally.

BTW,if you don't mind sharing, I would be interested to know how you like "Thinking, Fast and Slow." The workings of the unconscious mind is a topic I have developed some interest in.

[Lily]

Steve wrote: "...I tried to, but I am old enough that things Internet do not come to me naturally...."

Steve -- I'm old enough that I don't buy that reasoning, even if it is true I lived in the industry. It is frustrating for all of us at times, including a son still near the start of his career in the field. Just swear and try something else. (If you want to check on voting in a poll, click on Polls, then the number of votes alongside a choice (just checked, you did vote for Extremely Loud...).)

Hope you are enjoying Mr. Penumbra... I read that with this board a few months ago and found it fun.

"Thinking..." is one of those books I started on the basis of a good recommendation from a trusted friend. I liked what I read, but it got pushed aside by other reading and I haven't gotten back to it. I tried to advocate it to my f2f book club, but one member who had found it "slow" baulked and I didn't succeed. Kandel's Age of Insight may well be the "better" book, but I have found it slow and it, too, languishes on that stack I return to periodically for a few chapters at a time (I haven't been maintaining my progress status on it).

[Steve]

Thanks for the description. I read "Subliminal" earlier this year, which was good, not great. From what I can see form Age of Insight, Subliminal is more like a primer for the same topic.

[Steve]

Just picked up "Invisible" and "Mr. Penumbra's..."so I am ready to go. I went old school. Actually drove to the Barnes and Noble Book Store and searched the shelves for them.

[Whitney]

Steve, as a fellow slow reader I can tell you that I just finished Invisible, and it is a fairly quick read. One of those books with a very easy prose style hiding a deeper complexity. Enjoy, and see you in the discussion!

[Julia]

Steve wrote: "Just picked up "Invisible" and "Mr. Penumbra's..."so I am ready to go. I went old school. Actually drove to the Barnes and Noble Book Store and searched the shelves for them."

Yay bookstores, Steve :-) I found a tiny used bookstore just last month in the town where I'm moving, so I know where I'll be spending much time. Enjoy your "old school" reading!