New? Introduce Yourself By Saying a Friendly Hello

[Sue]

Thanks for the info on the Turgenev, Carol.

[Sara]

Ken wrote: "Hi, Sara. I hope by "summer" you mean June, the month we flip to everyone's favorite season (well, except for Mr. Fall here).

As a new member, you can actually vote on June's three finalists if y..."

Thanks for the welcome all! Yes, indeed, I did vote, but all three sound great so I've gone and ordered a copy of each ~ found them all in paper at Alibris! Looking forward to some great reading and conversation.

[Carol]

Sara wrote: "Ken wrote: "Hi, Sara. I hope by "summer" you mean June, the month we flip to everyone's favorite season (well, except for Mr. Fall here).

As a new member, you can actually vote on June's three fi..."

Even Jacob

[Sara]

Aah, by "on paper" I meant non-ebook. I believe The Books of Jacob isn't out in paperback yet, so that one will be hardcover. Sorry for not being clearer.

[Plateresca]

Hi!
I guess I was supposed to introduce myself when I joined the group, so maybe better now than never :)

But I do find introductions confusing. People usually mention their age and where they live, and I do not really feel this is representative. My 'Favourites' shelf here on GR is much more so!

I've been lurking here a bit and I like your choice of literature and how you discuss books, so, looking forward to talking to you about books :)

[Ken]

Plateresca wrote: "Hi!
I guess I was supposed to introduce myself when I joined the group, so maybe better now than never :)

But I do find introductions confusing. People usually mention their age and where they li..."

Welcome officially, Plateresca. Agree that age and GPS shed little light on people. Favorite books, more so.

Alas, I don't even have a "Favorites" shelf, which is weird, because I have an awful lot of them.

[Plateresca]

Well, if you go to your read books and sort them by rating, you see the books you've rated highest, - presumably, this should say something about you. I see that you do read a lot - no book is daunting for you, is it? :)

'Compare books' is another fascinating option :)

Oh yes, and thank you, officially :)

[Ken]

In truth, I am sometimes daunted by big books. The moment I talk myself into starting Tokarczuk's The Books of Jacob or Mann's The Magic Mountain, I find an excuse to read another six shorter books instead.

Later, I tell myself. Later.

That said, I'm proud to say I've made my way through Moby-Dick, Don Quixote, and a raftful of Russian novels from the Golden Era of Russian Lit.

P.S. Never knew about that 5-star trick. Will give it a try.

[Plateresca]

Oh, I was daunted by 'The Books of Jacob', but not so much by the size as by the subject. But then I read that it's compared to 'War and Peace' and Mantel's Cromwell trilogy and was morally prepared to give it a try, although I did sigh with relief when it didn't win. I voted for Turgenev, although I didn't expect people would want to read two Russian classics in a row (I know they're very different).

I read 'The Magic Mountain' as a teenager (which I don't really count) and I keep meaning to reread it :)

My most daunting read so far must have been The Mysteries of Udolpho. I read it to better understand Northanger Abbey and it was not so much that it was long (I've read and reread Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, and will probably reread it again soon) as that it was not my cup of tea. But I was on a plane I didn't really want to be on, this was of great help in finishing the book :)

[Ken]

Thought I'd read The Mysteries of Udolpho, but no, it was The Castle of Otranto, right next door.

I swore off Austen many decades ago. Call it pride. Call it prejudice.

As for the last, never realized that Mr. Strange and Mr. Norrell took up 500 pp. each! Will be avoiding that "magic" for awhile. Or, shall I say, Mann's Magic will come well before.

Nota bene: I managed to read Buddenbrooks: The Decline of a Family long ago, but that's because Hemingway did, and damn it, I can do anything Hemingway can do. Except drink that much.

[Lydia]

Hi, Ken, and all...is the June book by Turgenev, also known as "Home of the Gentlefolk?" I don't see "Home of the Gentry" at my library and it sounds like a translation difference, thanks, Lydia

[Carol]

Lydia wrote: "Hi, Ken, and all...is the June book by Turgenev, also known as "Home of the Gentlefolk?" I don't see "Home of the Gentry" at my library and it sounds like a translation difference, thanks, Lydia"

I will answer, yes it is. For some strange reason it goes by a few different titles, maybe due to the translator.

[Ken]

Lydia wrote: "Hi, Ken, and all...is the June book by Turgenev, also known as "Home of the Gentlefolk?" I don't see "Home of the Gentry" at my library and it sounds like a translation difference, thanks, Lydia"

Welcome to obscurity, Lydia. I guess gentlefolk and the gentry are all one in Russia. We could use some gentle folk in power over there, in fact.

[Pamela]

Friendly hello from Tacoma, Pacific Northwest, U.S. Happily, I have one of those lovely but elusive creatures—the independent bookstore—in my neighborhood and I am looking forward to continuing to support them as I join you for my first read in October. Thanks for having me. Cheers!

[Yvonne]

Welcome, Pamela! Lucky you to have a neighborhood bookstore. Mostly I rely on Kindled books checked out of my county library system. Often our obscure books aren't available that way though; would be nice to have a nearby indie bookseller. In any case, happy reading. ~Yvonne

[Ken]

Hi, Pamela. Lucky indeed! Not an independent bookstore in sight in my hometown (much less neighborhood). Glad you'll be able to jump in this October. Welcome!

[Kathleen]

Hi Pamela, and welcome. Yay independent bookstores! I'm looking forward to our October read, and glad you'll be part of it!

[Phil]

Hi all, new to this group - I love Jude the Obscure - such a gloomy yet amazing read. I can't quite work out what you are currently reading though - any tips on where I find that. I live near London, love classics, modern fiction and especially Steinbeck, Melville and anything a bit challenging.

[Ken]

Phil wrote: "Hi all, new to this group - I love Jude the Obscure - such a gloomy yet amazing read. I can't quite work out what you are currently reading though - any tips on where I find that. I live near Londo..."


Hi Phil, and welcome. We are in the process of selecting a book to read starting Oct. 1st even as I type. Kathleen will be sending out a poll with all nominations soon. It should arrive in our message box here on GR so you can check out the books and vote for one.

Once a winner is chosen after two rounds of voting, we'll have around four Sept. weeks to find it and read it, if we so choose. Glad you liked JUDE. We did, too!

[Kathleen]

Phil wrote: "Hi all, new to this group - I love Jude the Obscure - such a gloomy yet amazing read. I can't quite work out what you are currently reading though - any tips on where I find that. I live near Londo..."

Hi Phil--glad to have you with us! You're joining just in time, as Ken said, for our next read to begin. The poll will be up tomorrow, and we do a quick turn-around, so please be sure to vote.

I am a big fan of Jude too. I'm currently reading A Pair of Blue Eyes, and I recently read The Woodlanders, but I think Jude will stay my favorite Hardy.

Our obscure book choices are often challenging, so I think you'll be happy here!

[Ken]

Doing some housekeeping here when I realized this thread wasn't marked to stay on top (where a WELCOME MAT belongs!).

If you're fairly new and want to give a shout-out, now you know there's a friendly place for it!

[Mitch]

I'm harboured up in the Welsh Valleys. I work outdoors, mostly on farms, walling, fencing, and general repair work. I was a focused on my rugby, but a knee injury has put me on the sidelines for good. In the off-seasons, when finance allowed, I took to the mountains: mostly Asia and the Himalayas. I took to reading whilst recovering from my surgery. It's becoming a big thing. As one door closes, another door opens.