Less - General (No Spoilers) (Sep 2018)

[Caroline]

This thread is for general/background discussion on September's mod pick, Less by Andrew Sean Greer. Feel free to provide general comments about your thoughts, questions, comments as you read through, but no spoilers please!

For those who have started, what are your thoughts so far? Have any of you read anything else by Greer? This was my first.

Here are links to review, some discussion questions from the NY Times, and a video interview Greer did with the PBS News Hour. I haven't read or watched yet but I believe there will likely be at least some spoilers in each.

NY Times discussion questions

PBS interview

Review

[Marc]

I put in a request for this at two library systems a month ago and I'm still no where near the top of the queue...
:-(

[Kathleen]

Me too! It'll be at least two or three weeks for me I think.

I haven't read anything by him yet. I was introduced to him from a talk he gave as part of a University of Iowa online writing course I took a few years ago. I remember this little anecdote he told about ordering calamari at an Italian restaurant when he was four years old, and how funny his grandmother from the rural south thought that was. The story wasn't hilarious or anything, but the way he told it was special and kind of sweet. That's what I'm thinking his humor may be like in this book.

[David]

I checked to see how available the book is where I am. My public library has a waiting list of 54 people, which means it would be roughly a 3 month wait if I requested it. But one of the local University libraries has a copy checked in right now. Here you can take books out from the University libraries with a public library card, but most people don't know they can do that.

I've actually found many occasions where there was a long waiting list at the public library, but I could get it from a University right away. Of course, I can't explain why students or faculty at the Universities seem so often not to check these books out. You'd think there'd be at least one person who has time and the interest to read recent fiction.

[Hugh]

I have a copy and will read it soon, but probably not this week. I know nothing about the book or the writer.

[Neil]

My mum always told me “if you haven’t got anything nice to say, don’t say anything”. So I will be keeping quiet on this one!

[Meike]

I had major reservations when I started reading this, and the text does question the readers' preconceptions regarding what a Pulitzer-winning novel should look like - but I was pleasantly surprised!

I feel like it is Greer's genius that he took a main theme of the modern novel - the shattered, frightened self, whose world is falling apart- and told the story in a brand new tone. The modernists were mostly employing a serious, defamiliarizing tone, and a fragmented structure, but Greer finds a new take by - hold on! - making this experience accessible and wrapping it in a kind, humorous tone. (My full review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...)

[Dan]

Neil wrote: "My mum always told me “if you haven’t got anything nice to say, don’t say anything”. So I will be keeping quiet on this one!"

Ah, Neil, did we have the same mum?

[Marc]

Belated thanks for the university library rec, David!

[LindaJ^]

I have the book but am now reading the NBA fiction longlist, so there are 9 books ahead of it. I might get to it in about 3 weeks!

[Caroline]

I'd be curious to hear what it was that you didn't like for those of you who didn't care for it.

Thanks for sharing your review, Meikie - I'll have to check it out!

LindaJ^ - sounds like you will be keeping busy for a bit!

[Marc]

Borrowed an electronic copy from a neighbor and am already halfway through. My gut told me I wasn't going to like this, but I'm quite enjoying it on many levels!

[Kathleen]

Got my book from the library earlier than expected, and excited to start reading!