May 2017 BOTMs - Results

[John]

We ended up with a tie for Popular Vote Winner between 2001: A Space Odyssey and Dangerous Liaisons. The Randomizer chose Dangerous Liaisons. At first Hal said he wouldn't open the pod bay doors, but relented when informed that 2001: A Space Odyssey would be the Weighted Vote Winner.

The remaining 19 books that received votes were tossed into the pod bay, I mean the Randomizer, which selected Waiting for the Barbarians. So, our BOTMs for May, 2017 will be:

Popular Vote Winner - Dangerous Liaisons, by Pierre-Ambroise Choderlos de Laclos

Weighted Vote Winner - 2001: A Space Odyssey, by Arthur C. Clarke

Random Selection - Waiting for the Barbarians, by J.M. Coetzee

So what are your reading plans for May? Dangerous Barbarian Liaisons in Space? Or some Jesting? Or perhaps the Chinese version of the Game of Thrones - Three Kingdoms?

[Pip]

Definitely not Waiting for the Barbarians, I didn't enjoy it when I read it the first time!

[Kristel]

I really think Dangerous Barbarian Liaisons in Space is the book for me. I will continue to journey through Infinite Jest. I am half way through and definitely have been going way to slow. I will possibly read 2001: I have planned to read it every time it has been a BOTM but never got around to it. I'm blaming Hal.

[Tracy]

Kristel wrote: "I really think Dangerous Barbarian Liaisons in Space is the book for me. I will continue to journey through Infinite Jest. I am half way through and definitely have been going way to slow. I will p..."
Which Hal? The computer or the tennis player in Infinite Jest? Or both? :)
I haven't read any of these- plan to listen to Dangerous Liaisons, and read the other two. At least they're short, since I've still got a lot of IJ to read.

[Kristel]

Tracy wrote: "Kristel wrote: "I really think Dangerous Barbarian Liaisons in Space is the book for me. I will continue to journey through Infinite Jest. I am half way through and definitely have been going way t..."
Good one, Tracy. It could be either one so I will go with both.

[Sushicat]

Who let the barbarians in? I intend to take a space trip and maybe visit the barbarians.

[Diane]

As much as I enjoyed both Dangerous Liaisons and 2001, I doubt that I will re-read either one. I will read Waiting for the Barbarians and Infinite Jest, though.

[Pip]

Love it, Kristel! If I can listen to Dangerous Liaisons then I will.

[Jen]

I have not read any of them so I will try to read all three. About 65% done with Infinite Jest so I'll be plugging along with that too. Honestly IJ has made it hard for me to get to any other serious reading. Mainly filling with light reads while I make my way through Infinite jest.

[Diane]

I will be reading Dangerous Liaisons and 2001. And of course Patrick's challenge.

[John]

I just don't recall, which if any of the BOTMs I have on my shelf in Florida, where I left this group of books thinking I would surely be back down before this. Sadly not. I will find out Sunday. I have gotten back into Three Kingdoms in a big way - it took a few chapters to pick up the thread, so I may just push through to finish and get questions up for all four books leaving IJ for June. I'm not sensing anyone is really enjoying that.

And, perhaps, the next labour.

[Patrick]

I just finished a busy travelling period for work and, unlike previous occasions, I failed to keep up with my prior reading pace; in fact, I am fairly behind compared to what I had planned initially. No Liaisons for me. There is one novel Hal be finishing jest in time by the end of the month, well before undertaking another Odyssey. In the meantime, I'll seek refuge in my personal Kingdoms and start digesting the Remains of my BOTM pile; the Barbarians can wait. We will also have some cleaning up to do next month with Hercules.

[Pip]

Actually IJ is amazing. It IS enjoyable, but it is also really challenging.

[Tracy]

Pip wrote: "Actually IJ is amazing. It IS enjoyable, but it is also really challenging."

I wholeheartedly agree, Pip! This is becoming one of my favorite reads off the list for both these reasons.

[Jen]

I am loving Infinite Jest too. But like others find it very time and energy consuming. I will recommend that it be read slowly over more than one month because it requires a significant amount of intellectual energy to process and enjoy.

[Becky]

I don't have any of these on my shelf, so I'll probably read a past BOTM or possible a Labour of Hercules (if I have it).

[John]

So I have Barbarians and will read that. Glad to hear people are enjoying it. I have been flying through the second volume of Three Kingdoms so I think I will stick with my reading plan. I'll start IJ in June and if it runs into July that will be fine as I will hopefully be finished with Three Kingdoms.

[[deleted user]]

Have not read any so have ordered all from the library and aim to read them all.

I am also nearing the halfway mark for IJ

Yet to start Romance

[[deleted user]]

Which translation is everyone reading for Dangerous Liaisons?

[Tracy]

Book wrote: "Which translation is everyone reading for Dangerous Liaisons?"

I'm going to listen to it-as read by Gabriel Woolf.

[Diane]

Book wrote: "Which translation is everyone reading for Dangerous Liaisons?"

The copy that was available at my local library is translated by Richard Aldington. I am not excited that it is tiny type.

[[deleted user]]

Don't think I have a choice of either of those translations will just pick one at random :)

[Kristel]

The book I ordered from ILL was published 2010 but not sure who translator is until it arrives.

[Hilde]

I have just ordered the Barbarians from the library, and will try to join you on that one.