June 2021 Moderator Pick, Please Vote!

[Marc]

The poll is up for the June 2021 Moderator Pick:
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/220696
Voting ends May 21st.
The discussion will start June 15th.
As usual, please only vote if you plan to read and join the discussion should your pick win.

Books in Contention:

The Mermaid of Black Conch by Monique Roffey
Winner of the 2020 Costa Book Award and currently in contention for the 2021 Republic of Consciousness Prize, Roffey's fantastic tale, founded upon the Caribbean's mythology and history, take the story of a cursed mermaid and mixes various approaches and contexts. Independent publisher Peepal Tree Press has landed Roffey and this book on many a radar thanks to her unique blend of myth and sharp reality.

Baron Wenckheim's Homecoming by László Krasznahorkai
Hungarian maestro Krasznahorkai delivers what just might be his final novel (if rumors are to be believed). Nearing his life's end, a Prince Myshkin–like figure returns to the provincial town of his birth with hopes of reuniting with his high school sweetheart (he just escaped from exiled life in Buenos Aires where he incurred a few too many casino debts in). It's Krashnahorkai, so you know there'll be existential dread, absurdity, unforgettable characters, and a little Zen.


White Teeth by Zadie Smith
Frequently listed on "best of 21st century lit" lists, this is one 21st century "great" the group has yet to tackle. Centered around Britain's relationships with people from formerly colonised countries in Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean, the story focuses on the later lives of two wartime friends—the Bangladeshi Samad Iqbal and the Englishman Archie Jones—and their families in London. It's certainly had a chance to fade with time, but has a well-earned and untarnished rep.

[LindaJ^]

I've read Mermaid and White Teeth and they are excellent. But despite the love many GR friends have for Krasznahorkai, I don't think I'd like him, so I've been avoiding him. Perhaps if his book wins, I might be tempted, but I shan't be voting!

[Marc]

I'm not trying to convince you otherwise, Linda, but out of curiosity I'm asking: What makes you think you wouldn't like him?
(I can definitely see him turning off more than a few readers despite my personally thinking he's wonderful.)

[LindaJ^]

I have somehow connected his style to that of Can Xue. I managed to read her book Frontier and tried to read Love in the New Millennium (not very hard, though) and resolved to never attempt so again -- too many books and too short of time to waste on authors who I just do not get. If his book were under 200 pages rather than over 500, I might give him a shot!

[Marc]

I'd recommend starting with Satantango (274 pgs) if you decide to give him a go.

Frontier is on the TBR list for this year. The only Xue I've read is Purple Perilla, which was very short (3 short stories). Kept me interested, but didn't overwhelm me.

[LindaJ^]

Frontier was so frustrating. Everytime I thought I had caught onto the story line, it went somewhere else. It was just an amorphous pile of pages. I wasn't struck by the language so I found nothing to engage me. Thanks for identifying a much shorter book by László Krasznahorkai. I will check it out.

[Marc]

Xue seems pretty hit-or-miss for a lot of readers.

[Sam]

I don't see much similarity between Krasznahorkai and Xue. I'm sure Linda has a reason for linking the two, but I would not recommend one having read the other. Linda, could you clarify why you find them similar?

[LindaJ^]

Sam, I cannot clarify at this time, as I've not read anything by Krasznahorkai. My "connection" of the two is completely arbitrary, based on a gut feeling from reading descriptions of their writing styles. I have bought the e-book edition of the book Marc suggested as a possible place to start and will soon give it a go.

[Marc]

The Mermaid of Black Conch has taken the vote!
Discussion will start June 15th. Thanks for everyone who voted. Should be a fun discussion.