Group Reads -> December 2020 -> Nomination thread (Wild card month - won by The Quiet American by Graham Greene)

[Nigeyb]

There is no theme for our Group Read in December 2020 - it's a wild card month

You can nominate anything which is published in, or set in, the 20th century

Your nomination can be either fiction or non-fiction

Please supply the title, author, a brief synopsis, and anything else you'd like to mention about the book, and why you think it might make a good book to discuss.

If your nomination wins then please be willing to fully participate in the subsequent discussion

Happy nominating

[Roman Clodia]

Great image, Nigeyb!

I'm thinking something escapist for December, either funny or a page-turner. Flitting through my mind is:

Patricia Highsmith who some of us have said we'd like to read more of. I'm happy to revisit any of the Ripley novels, or maybe her Deep Water which I haven't read.

A Maigret novel?

Daphne du Maurier?

Something cosy and nostalgic like My Family and Other Animals or All Creatures Great and Small which I haven't read?

Or a classic like Jeeves and Wooster?

Maybe a Raymond Chandler?

Decisions... :))

[Nigeyb]

What a splendid list of possibilities RC


I am wildly applauding from the sidelines

I thought I might have a look at my shelf and see if anything leapt out at me

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Nigeyb wrote: "I thought I might have a look at my shelf and see if anything leapt out at me"

^ This!

[Rosina]

Do we have any themes lined up for the coming months, which it might be better to ignore for now? The list of books I have thought of as nominable grows every month, but there never seems to be the right theme.

[Nigeyb]

We have many exciting themes coming down the line Rosina however, if you don't mind, I'd rather keep them as a surprise until nearer the time.

Rosina wrote: "The list of books I have thought of as nominable grows every month, but there never seems to be the right theme"

Now's the moment. Choose the one you want to read the most. That said, it's always worth double checking how easy it is to procure in the US and Europe.

[Nigeyb]

My nomination....


The Quiet American (1955) by Graham Greene

Narrated in the first person by journalist Thomas Fowler, the novel depicts the breakdown of French colonialism in Vietnam and early American involvement in the Vietnam War.

I haven't read it. In my experience, there's always plenty to enjoy and discuss in Graham Greene's work.

So far as I can recall we've yet to do a book which covers Vietnam as a group read.

The Quiet American should be particularly interesting as it covers the early years.

I also know that The Quiet American received much attention due to its prediction of the outcome of the Vietnam War and subsequent American foreign policy since the 1950s.

Some critics in the US labelled the novel anti-American, others felt it highlighted important points about US foreign policy.

It has been adapted for cinema twice, once in 1958 and the second time in 2002.

I hope that, if nominated, it would inspire a lively and interesting discussion, and it should also be an interesting, enjoyable and provocative read. It seems to be easily available at a reasonable price in all the usual formats across the countries we reside in.

[Rosina]

OK then - but I reserve the right to renominate it if it's unsuccessful in this poll and it meets the criteria for a future month's theme.



I first read this when I was (about) thirteen, and it has stayed a favourite ever since. I have been part of group discussions of this book before, but new perspectives are always interesting.

"After enduring an injury at Dunkirk during World War II, Laurie Odell is sent to a rural veterans’ hospital in England to convalesce. There he befriends the young, bright Andrew, a conscientious objector serving as an orderly. As they find solace and companionship together in the idyllic surroundings of the hospital, their friendship blooms into a discreet, chaste romance. Then one day, Ralph Lanyon, a mentor from Laurie’s schoolboy days, suddenly reappears in Laurie’s life, and draws him into a tight-knit social circle of world-weary gay men. Laurie is forced to choose between the sweet ideals of innocence and the distinct pleasures of experience. "

[Roman Clodia]

Ha, I'd thought of Mary Renault too, Rosina. I've loved her Alexander and other Greek books to pieces, but have never read her modern-set fiction.

Hmm, spoilt for choice already!

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

I will nominate School for Love by Olivia Manning.

Jerusalem in 1945 is a city in flux: refugees from the war in Europe fill its streets and cafés, the British colonial mandate is coming to an end, and tensions are on the rise between the Arab and Jewish populations. Felix Latimer, a recently orphaned teenager, arrives in Jerusalem from Baghdad, biding time until he can secure passage to England. Adrift and deeply lonely, Felix has no choice but to room in a boardinghouse run by Miss Bohun, a relative he has never met. Miss Bohun is a holy terror, a cheerless miser who proclaims the ideals of a fundamentalist group known as the Ever-Readies—joy, charity, and love—even as she makes life a misery for her boarders. Then Mrs. Ellis, a fascinating young widow, moves into the house and disrupts its dreary routine for good.

Olivia Manning’s great subject is the lives of ordinary people caught up in history. Here, as in her panoramic depiction of World War II, The Balkan Trilogy, she offers a rich and psychologically nuanced story of life on the precipice, and she tells it with equal parts compassion, skepticism, and humor.

[Susan]

Ooh, good nomination, Elizabeth. I love Manning.

[Chrissie]

Ditto, great nomination Elisabeth,

In fact all the nominations are intriguing.

[Nigeyb]

Who else is nominating? Or thinking about it?


NOMINATIONS so far....

Nigeyb: The Quiet American (1955) by Graham Greene
Rosina: The Charioteer by Mary Renault
Elizabeth: School for Love by Olivia Manning

[Roman Clodia]

After much pondering, I'm nominating Birds, Beasts and Relatives by Gerald Durrell, part 2 of his The Corfu Trilogy, and the sequel to My Family and Other Animals.

This book continues the story of Gerald's chaotic childhood in sunny Corfu with his wildly eccentric family. Set in the 1930s, it ends in 1939.

It's rated 4.33 on here and 4.7 on Amazon out of 500 ratings. Available on Kindle and Audible, and should be accessible in libraries.

The follow up to My Family and Other Animals and the second book in The Corfu Trilogy, the beloved books that inspired ITV's television series The Durrells.

In this second collection of tales concerning the Durrell family on the island of Corfu, young Gerry continues to be captivated by the fascinating flora and fauna of their adopted home - much to the bemusement and upset of his long suffering siblings and mother.

Whether it's lamp fishing by night or roving the countryside with his mentor Theodore, Gerry encounters intoxicated hedgehogs, tarantulas, dung beetles, water spiders and other animals, some of which become the family's very unwanted pets.

[Nigeyb]

Great nomination RC. I used to love a bit of Gerald Durrell, a charming writer, and I am sure his work still really stands up


NOMINATIONS so far....

Nigeyb: The Quiet American (1955) by Graham Greene
Rosina: The Charioteer by Mary Renault
Elizabeth: School for Love by Olivia Manning
Roman Clodia: Birds, Beasts and Relatives by Gerald Durrell

[Roman Clodia]

I reread My Family and Other Animals last summer and yes, it was as good as I remembered - especially Widdle and Puke!

[Susan]

I read a lot of Gerald Durrell when I was at school, but I haven't read him since. I do keep meaning to try Lawrence Durrell and shall get to him one day.

[Roman Clodia]

I'm intending to reread Lawrence Durrell's The Alexandria Quartet at some point - his prose is stunning but it's a heavy book that needs concentration - definitely not a December pick!

[Susan]

No, absolutely not However, I did note after posting this that some of his books have been reduced in price, should you be interested.

[Nigeyb]

Any final nominations?

[Chrissie]

The two Durrell brothers write completely differently! It's like night versus day.

I set out to read the entire Alexandra Quartet--I gave up.

[Roman Clodia]

I read Alexandria Quartet at uni, Chrissie, and got totally lost amongst all the Gnosticism in the later books but was seduced by the beguiling prose anyway. But yes, it's hard to imagine something more different from Gerald's sunny memoirs - and his portrait of Larry is hilarious!

[Chrissie]

The funniest thing about Larry is Gerald's depiction of him. Otherwise, the older brother leaves me cold.

[Chrissie]

If it is not too late, I would like to suggest The Price of Love by Arnold Bennett. I know several of us like the author.

ETA: He is more info, which I found at at Librivox.

"Rachel Louise Fleckring works for the elderly Mrs Maldon, and although with the woman for only a short time, she is taken into the heart of the family. She falls in love with one of Mrs Maldon's descendents, but along the way, she has to come to terms with the fact that he isn't, perhaps, the perfectly honest man she thought he was."

[Nigeyb]

Chrissie wrote: "If it is not too late, I would like to suggest The Price of Love by Arnold Bennett. I know several of us like the author."

There's always time until the poll goes up

Thanks Chrissie for another tempting nomination

Anyone else?




NOMINATIONS so far....

Nigeyb: The Quiet American (1955) by Graham Greene
Rosina: The Charioteer by Mary Renault
Elizabeth: School for Love by Olivia Manning
Roman Clodia: Birds, Beasts and Relatives by Gerald Durrell
Chrissie: The Price of Love by Arnold Bennett

[Chrissie]

That's nice.

[Nigeyb]

Last call for nominations


The poll is going up tomorrow


NOMINATIONS....

Nigeyb: The Quiet American (1955) by Graham Greene
Rosina: The Charioteer by Mary Renault
Elizabeth: School for Love by Olivia Manning
Roman Clodia: Birds, Beasts and Relatives by Gerald Durrell
Chrissie: The Price of Love by Arnold Bennett

[Nigeyb]

The poll is up


Vote now...

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2...

[Nigeyb]

Poll watch


I thought Olivia Manning was going to cruise to victory, and of course she may yet do that very thing. However, at the time of typing our poll looks like this...

The Quiet American by Graham Greene - 3 votes, 42.9%
School for Love by Olivia Manning - 2 votes, 28.6%
The Price of Love by Arnold Bennett - 1 vote, 14.3%
Birds, Beasts and Relatives by Gerald Durrell - 1 vote, 14.3%
The Charioteer by Mary Renault - 0 votes, 0.0%


Vote now...

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2...


NOMINATIONS....

Nigeyb: The Quiet American (1955) by Graham Greene
Rosina: The Charioteer by Mary Renault
Elizabeth: School for Love by Olivia Manning
Roman Clodia: Birds, Beasts and Relatives by Gerald Durrell
Chrissie: The Price of Love by Arnold Bennett

[Nigeyb]

Poll watch


Still looking good for The Quiet American...

The Quiet American by Graham Greene - 4 votes, 44.4%
School for Love by Olivia Manning - 2 votes, 22.2%
The Price of Love by Arnold Bennett - 1 vote, 11.1%
Birds, Beasts and Relatives by Gerald Durrell - 1 vote, 11.1%
The Charioteer by Mary Renault - 1 vote, 11.1%


Two more days left to participate...

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2...


NOMINATIONS....

Nigeyb: The Quiet American (1955) by Graham Greene
Rosina: The Charioteer by Mary Renault
Elizabeth: School for Love by Olivia Manning
Roman Clodia: Birds, Beasts and Relatives by Gerald Durrell
Chrissie: The Price of Love by Arnold Bennett

[Nigeyb]

We have a winner


Our wild card Group Read choice for December 2020 is The Quiet American

Thanks to everyone who got involved

To accompany this read, our Mods' Choice is a spooky, seasonal selection of short stories....

The Valancourt Book of Victorian Christmas Ghost Stories

[Susan]

Ooh, sounds perfect for December, Nigeyb!

I did want to read the Olivia Manning though, so if anyone does fancy a buddy read at some point, I would be happy to organise that one.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Susan wrote: "I did want to read the Olivia Manning though, so if anyone does fancy a buddy read at some point, I would be happy to organise that one."

A buddy read would be lovely, Susan. I will fit it in whenever it is convenient for you.

[Susan]

Sounds great, Elizabeth. When would you like to read it? I will happily fit it in whenever is best for you.

[Susan]

Looking at what is coming up, I think November looks the most packed. I would say October or December are both possible, Elizabeth, if either suits?

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

I think I would prefer December. Thanks, Susan!

[Susan]

OK, Elizabeth. I will add it to the schedule.

[Elizabeth (Alaska)]

Yay! Thank you and it's on my spreadsheet too.

[Susan]

I have just added it to the list and will do a thread for it later. Looking forward to it :)