Nominations for January 2021 Open Pick

[Hugh]

Nominations are now open until November 22nd for the January 2021 Open Pick.

Nominating guidelines:
- Fiction (original & translation, if applicable) first published between January 1, 2000 and January 1, 2020. For translations the latter date must be an English edition.
- One nomination per person (please do not nominate or vote for a book unless you are certain you can read and discuss if it wins)
- A book this group has not yet read (see the group bookshelf or the Index of all Group Reads here)
- A book that is not better suited to the wild card (genre) category

If you are nominating, please begin your post by stating "I nominate [name with hyperlink to book]"

The discussion will start on January 1st

[LindaJ^]

I nominate The Heaven of Mercury by Brad Watson.

Published in 2002, finalist for National Book Award Fiction in 2002. Southern Gothic. More recent novel, Miss Jane (which I read and loved), was on the longlist for the 2017 National Book Award Fiction.

[Bretnie]

Since Ishiguro came up in the "welcome" thread, I'd like to nominate his debut novel, A Pale View of Hills.

It looks like you guys read Never Let Me Go a while back, so if you don't do repeat authors I can find an alternative!

[Whitney]

Bretnie wrote: "Since Ishiguro came up in the "welcome" thread, I'd like to nominate his debut novel, A Pale View of Hills.

It looks like you guys read Never Let Me Go a while back, so if you don't ..."

We frequently do repeats, Bretnie, but unfortunately, this one was published in the 80's so doesn't qualify.

[Margaret]

I nominate Grief is the Thing with Feathers by Max Porter

[Hugh]

Thanks Margaret

[Bretnie]

Whitney wrote: "Bretnie wrote: "Since Ishiguro came up in the "welcome" thread, I'd like to nominate his debut novel, A Pale View of Hills.

It looks like you guys read Never Let Me Go a while back, ..."

Oops! Ha, I checked all the other things, but forgot the date. :)

[Whitney]

Bretnie wrote: "Whitney wrote: "Bretnie wrote: "Since Ishiguro came up in the "welcome" thread, I'd like to nominate his debut novel, A Pale View of Hills.

It looks like you guys read Never Let Me G..."

Not a problem, and it IS a good Ishiguro starter book. Do you have any other nominations?

[Eva]

I nominate The Secret River by Kate Grenville, which has won the Orange Prize (and many others) and was shortlisted for the Man Booker in 2001.

[Bretnie]

Whitney wrote: "Not a problem, and it IS a good Ishiguro starter book. Do you have any other nominations?"

I have it on my shelf, so I'll read it someday! (just like ALL the books on my shelf, right?!)

There are already some good nominations, so I won't offer up an alternative.

[Hugh]

Eva wrote: "I nominate The Secret River by Kate Grenville, which has won the Orange Prize (and many others) and was shortlisted for the Man Booker in 2001."
Thanks Eva - that one looks interesting, and coincidentally I have just read her Orange prize winner The Idea of Perfection.

[Eva]

Oh, she won the Orange prize for The Idea of Perfection! Sorry, I had misread the cover sticker. 😅

[Jenny]

Has Francis Spufford’s Golden Hill been done yet?

[Marc]

Golden Hill has NOT yet been read by this group, Jenny. Would you like to nominate it?

[Jenny]

Sure, Marc. I’d like to nominate Golden Hill. I’ve had it in my TBR pile since it came out and have heard GREAT things about it!

[LindaJ^]

Eva wrote: "I nominate The Secret River by Kate Grenville, which has won the Orange Prize (and many others) and was shortlisted for the Man Booker in 2001."

From the description, sounds like a good companion to the 2020 book The Yield by Tara June Winch, which was shortlisted in 2020 for Australia's Stella Award and digs into the experience of Australia's indigenous peoples at the hands of the white settlers.

[Hugh]

This is looking like an interesting set of options.

[Marc]

I second Hugh's comment--thanks for all the great nominations!

[Lesley]

I nominate [Grace Williams Says It Loud] by [Emma Henderson], shortlisted for the Orange prize in 2011.
It’s one I wouldn’t have picked up if I’d gone on the synopsis alone. It ended up being one of my favourites that year. Written to give voice to her sister.

[Hugh]

Last chance to nominate today - the poll will start tomorrow (23rd November)

[Hugh]

Nominations are now closed. The poll is up here, and will run until the end of November:
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2...

[Hugh]

Golden Hill has won the poll. Jenny - are you happy to lead the discussion? If so the other moderators and I will create the discussion folder and give you any help you need.

[Jenny]

Hugh, I’m not sure I’ll be able to. I’ve just been offered a new job and will be transitioning between jobs later this month. I’m not sure I’ll be able to keep up.

[Hugh]

It isn't much work, but if necessary I can do it.

[Jenny]

I’ll make it work. Just a little anxiety-riddled right now. Had no idea, this time last week, that I’d be quasi-changing careers during a pandemic. 2020...

[Marc]

Um... congrats, yes, Jenny?
Sounds stressful, but positive.

[Hugh]

Thanks Jenny.