2019 Booker Shortlist Discussion

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

Wrong link


https://www.theguardian.com/books/201...

[WndyJW]

I recognize Coetzee’s talent, but I don’t enjoy his books. I find them cold and joyless in a way even some brutal books I’ve read are not.

I’m glad to hear that others enjoyed Wolf Hall, I will soldier through through section where I usually lose interest this time. I like historical fiction and used to really like the medieval period so I should enjoy these books.

[Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer]

I am terrible at setting up new threads but maybe time to make this a 2020 discussion.

[Paul]

There has been a 2020 thread for some time but I rather killed it by a gratuitous dig at my least favourite author of 2019.

[MisterHobgoblin]

(as in naughty)

... but nice!

[WndyJW]

MisterHobgoblin wrote: "(as in naughty)

... but nice!"

Yes, naughty, but nice.

[Antonomasia, Admin only]

It probably didn't help that this 2019 thread was still pinned. It has now been unpinned and the 2020 thread, pinned:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Happy New Year!

[Ella]

WndyJW wrote: "I recognize Coetzee’s talent, but I don’t enjoy his books. I find them cold and joyless in a way even some brutal books I’ve read are not.

I’m glad to hear that others enjoyed Wolf Hall, I will so..."

I could have written that post exactly. Shame - as I have a lovely first edition signed of the two Coetzee books, but I really don't want them. Maybe it's time for me to make a seller account on Abe's rather than always buying.

[Antonomasia, Admin only]

Seller fees may be lower on eBay.

[Ang]

Which two do you have signed, Ella? I don't think it's easy to get signed Coetzees as he doesn't usually attend prize events, etc.

[WndyJW]

They are probably worth something so you can sell them and use that money for your book allowance or for black women writers.

[Ella]

Ang - I'm a moron. They're in a box right now but they aren't first editions. They're first US editions. I got them both from Powell's books, so they're in fancy boxes w/ little booklets containing an interview, and of course, they're signed. I have the The Childhood and The Schooldays of Jesus. I stopped my Powell's subscription, but I do wonder if they'll get him to do a hattrick w/ the Death of?

[WndyJW]

Signed books are valuable even if they aren’t 1st editions.

[Ang]

Yes, and nothing wrong with US firsts either. I have loved almost everything I have read by Coetzee and that is a lot. I didn't care for Foe.

[MisterHobgoblin]

WndyJW wrote: "Signed books are valuable even if they aren’t 1st editions."

Ang wrote: "Yes, and nothing wrong with US firsts either. I have loved almost everything I have read by Coetzee and that is a lot. I didn't care for Foe."

It depends on how rare/desirable a book is. Most second-hand books are worth nothing, whether they are signed or not. In some cases, first editions are so scarce that reprints are valuable. Some writers sign so few copies that a dedicated copy is valuable whereas most dedicated copies are not that desirable. First editions are best when they are the first edition anywhere in the world - subsequent first editions in the US, UK, Australia etc. are less attractive. Overall, though, if you want a good return on your money I would recommend beanie babies slightly ahead of books.

[WndyJW]

Are you mansplaining to me, MHG? :) (I joke because I know I can with MisterHobgoblin.)

It pains me to say this, but MisterHobgoblin is right, collectible books are not in hot demand now, unless it’s a true 1st/1st inscribed by say Bernhard to Sebald, which is to my advantage since my long dormant dream of being a book collector was brought to life by Galley Beggar books. I have started looking for books I can afford and since people aren’t buying collectible books now I have acquired a few, not because I think I’ll make a fortune on them one day but because I love looking on my shelf and seeing a book Sylvia Townsend Warner held and inscribed to a poet friend of hers, or 1st/1st Iris Murdoch The Sea, the Sea from A.S. Byatt’s personal library, in which she wrote her name as A.S. Duffy and dated. Just as valuable to me are my father’s worn 60 yr old Classic Club books he bought in a college and my mother’s 60 yr old Jane Eyre and Wuthering Heights, and my Spiritualist great-great grandfather’s copy of The Summerland by Andrew Jackson Davis, a Spiritualist who is mentioned in Possession. Those are priceless, but only to me.

Maybe I’ll start collecting beanie babies....

[MisterHobgoblin]

WndyJW wrote: "Are you mansplaining to me, MHG?"

I have never understood women's objection to mansplaining. I would have thought they should find it emancipating. How else are they to know things?

[Trevor]

I hope the “how else to know things” is a joke…

[Trevor]

It is, right?!

[WndyJW]

It is a joke. MisterHobgoblin and I forged a virtual friendship in virtual fire of debating books and authors. We agreed that when someone posts a contentious comment we picture that person relaxed and smiling while typing, not angry or defensive. It’s important to assume the best about other members and not read negative tones of voice in written statements in forums like this or feelings get hurt and offense is taken. Public forums where disagreements are inevitable are not for everyone.

I admire MHG’s courage in wading into a discussion fraught with triggers and “buttons,” the discussion of motherhood, working moms, stay at home moms. I think he was the only man willing to engage in that topic.

[MisterHobgoblin]

WndyJW wrote: "It is a joke."
That's a relief. I was worried for a while that I might have been serious.

[WndyJW]

Well, you never have to worry about being taken seriously. Ever. :)

[Ella]

You two are hilarious to read.

You know what? My younger sister had a TON -- a TON - of beanie babies. At the time she was playing with them, my older sister complained that she should not be allowed to do so - they should be in special plastic containers, etc, for resale.

I also used to collect baseball cards. I had Cal Ripken Jr, Eddie Murray - mostly the Baltimore Oriole players, but thinking back to what these two collections would be worth makes me think if we'd had less fun as children, I could maybe buy another book this year.

Anyway, the books are boxed. When I do come across them, I'll figure out if they're worth anything. Also, maybe someone I know will want them. Also, the third in the trio will come out soon.

I realized that it's these books that I don't really like that much. I like other books Coetzee wrote very much.

[Antonomasia, Admin only]

Wendy, this is bad timing I'm posting this now (had been waiting for someone else to say something earlier) but there is some unpleasant history going back a long way (and some of it not so very long ago) and it's not without reason Trevor made posts like that.