October 2020 book selection

[Sheri]

Hi all, figured I'd start a thread for picking the end of the year book selection.

Standard rules:

1) Please don't just list books you're planning to read. Give a sentence or two on why you think we should read a book as a book club.

2) If you made a suggestion before, please re-submit it for this time to be included. I won't be going to past suggestion threads, this is a new round.

3) If someone already listed something you like/what you would suggest, you can "vote " for it by adding support. You can add your own reasoning why you think we should read it.

After that, we'll gather up the books that have the most support and put them into a proper poll for the final selection.

[Megan]

I will suggest Cloud Atlas for the following reasons:

1. I'm on a David Mitchell at the moment and would like people to discuss his books with.
2. Based on the movie, it seems like there would be a lot to discuss with this one.
3. We haven't done one that's been made into a movie, I don't think, so it could be fun to talk about the differences/similarities.
4. It's not a new release and it seems like most libraries have multiple copies, both print and electronic, so it would not be difficult to obtain.

[Shel]

I'll propose Pride by Ibi Zoboi. It's a modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice with all characters of color. I'm really making an effort to read more BIPOC authors; this jumped out at me on some "best of" list or other, and it might be fun to compare it to the original (which I'll confess I've only read once, so maybe I'd re-read that as well along with it).

[Megan]

I enjoyed Pride - it is a bit more simplified version of the P&P story, but great characters. And Addie LaRue is definitely on my list, so I would be interested in that, too!

Another BIPOC suggestion (to which Ibi Zoboi contributed, I believe) is A Phoenix First Must Burn - I've heard good things from multiple friends, and since it is an anthology, it's a good introduction to multiple BIPOC authors at once.

[Alexa]

I would like to read something less heavy (maybe even comedic). I'm even happy with something like All Creatures Great and Small (which intersperses sad episodes in funny episodes).

[Megan]

I'm always up for something funny - it's been many years since I read All Creatures Great and Small, and while I don't remember finding it particularly humorous at the time, some of it may have gone over my head since it was in school...and I believe there is a Masterpiece Theatre version coming out sometime in the near future, so that would be another reason!

[Daniele]

I'd be up for All Creatures Great and Small as well :)