Early American Literature discussion
Common reads
>
Nominations for group reads
Mod
Mod
I've been tentatively thinking that we might do a group read in June. How would the rest of you feel about that idea?
Mod
Since our group's chronological focus runs up to World War I, Willa Cather's novel O Pioneers! (1913) falls just inside of it. I've read only a small amount of Cather's work, but have always wanted to read more; and I've considered this particular novel a must-read ever since I watched the wonderful Hallmark Hall of Fame adaptation starring Jessica Lange (https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0105038/ ). So I'll nominate that one for our consideration!
I'd like to nominate Washington Irving's The Sketch Book which contain "Rip van Winkle" and "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow"
Mod
Okay, we'll definitely put that one in the poll! I've read The Complete Tales of Washington Irving; but it's been over 30 years since I did, and I could use a refresher on many of the stories. So if The Sketch Book is the group's choice, I'll join in the read.
Mod
Mod
In my post above, I floated the idea of doing a May buddy read (of O Pioneeers!), if anyone wanted to. However, that won't work out after all; I've unexpectedly gotten a review copy of a new historical novel that I need (and want) to prioritize as much as possible, so that will take up much of May.
Mod
Mod
Mod
In that case, Doreen, I think the idea of a group read might still be viable after all! I'll reinstate my suggestion of O Pioneers, since you're game to read that one --unless you can narrow your Mark Twain interest down to one nomination?
Mod
Mod
Since Doreen accesses Goodreads on a cell phone that won't let her vote on polls, I cast my vote for her suggestion! :-)
So, O Pioneers! is no longer being included in the poll?
Mod
Mod
Since we had two other nominations, and I didn't want to scatter the votes too widely (group participation has been rather scanty lately, so I was afraid the poll might only have three votes cast, all for different books! :-) ), I withdrew my suggestion of O Pioneers!. But I still consider it a must-read; and I'd love to read it with this group! At present, we do a common read (at least) once a year, in June; so I definitely plan to nominate it next year.
Okay thanks. I haven't really set my mind on anything yet, so just checking out the options.
Mod
Mod
I apologize to the group for failing to catch this earlier, before the current poll was set up and people were voting on it! Given that it's now come to light, though, I'm inclined to think that we probably don't want to do a repeat group read of a book we read about a year and a half ago. Under the circumstances, is there a consensus that we should declare A Tramp Abroad (which is already leading by a wide margin) as the poll winner by default?
Mod
Werner wrote: "Well, the question in my previous comment didn't generate any response; but the end of the poll has rendered it moot. A Tramp Abroad has won, with eight votes to just two for The Sketch Book; so it..."Sorry, I would have answered but I'm new here and not very active in general, So I was trying to leave it to the longer term members to decide.
A Tramp Abroad works for me. that's what I voted for anyway :)
Mod
Don't hesitate to comment any time you feel like it, even if you are relatively new! We like to have everybody make themselves right at home here.
Mod
In message 17, Doreen suggested that we do O Pioneers! as our next read. I was able to read it last summer, and it got five stars from me. Although I wouldn't read it again so soon, I could definitely contribute to a discussion of it if it's the book chosen; and I still think it would make an excellent choice. We can definitely put it in the poll --which I usually try to post around the beginning of May-- if there's still interest in it then.
Another possibility (and given that we do a group read every year, these don't have to be just possibilities for 2023; they can be titles to consider for future years as well) might be Behind a Mask: The Unknown Thrillers of Louisa May Alcott. The complete, 780-page collection of her work in this vein, Louisa May Alcott Unmasked: Collected Thrillers is on my to-read shelf; but I read the short sampler back in 1989, and want to reread it before tackling the huge chunkster. It would be great to share that (re)read with this group!
Mod
Mod
Newly active group member here. I’ll read whatever the majority decides. I just finished the five Leatherstocking Tales of Cooper. I’m reading bios of all the 19th century American authors. Have done Alcott, Poe, Margaret Fuller, Dickinson, Thoreau, Emerson, Longfellow, Twain so far. Currently reading bios of Cooper and Whitman. I think I’ve found the right group.😀
Mod
My reading of nonfiction about literature has been scanty, so I've never read any book-length biographies of authors --which is a pity, because I know there are many good ones out there. You might be interested in checking out (and maybe commenting on!) this thread: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... .
Mod
After the read last year, a couple of ideas that were kicked around for inclusion in this year's poll were O Pioneers! by Willa Cather and Behind a Mask: The Unknown Thrillers of Louisa May Alcott. Is everybody still game to see those included as choices? As I said earlier, I'd be happy with either one. (I've read both; but I want to reread the Alcott book, and I could contribute to a discussion of the Cather book, which got five stars from me last year.)
Mod
Mod
Mod
Mod
No, group reads aren't Zoom discussions; and you don't have to read the whole book on June 1. The read/discussion just officially starts on that day, although group members who join in can start later. The idea is just that sometime during the month of June, everyone who wants to reads O Pioneers, at his/her own speed. On June 1, I'll start a discussion thread, where those who are reading it (or who've read it before) can share their thoughts, questions, background information they found interesting, and impressions, etc. as they go along. When they finish, those who want to can link to their review, if they write one. That's really all there is to it! (Some groups go for more structure, but we don't.) Hope this helps!
I just downloaded a free Kindle copy.
Mod
Cool!
Mod
More recently, from 2021-23, we've tried to go with an annual read instead. But even there, the level of participation has been scanty. So my question is, do we want to give the annual group reads a rest (starting next year), at least for a time? We would continue to have the option of doing buddy reads on an ad hoc basis if enough people wanted to (the thread for suggesting those is here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... .) Would anyone miss the annual reads if we didn't do them?
Mod
Mod
I'm not sure I would be able to face classical English but I would be glad to take part to the group
Mod
Werner wrote: "By way of update, I recently broached the idea, on the "Group announcements" thread and by personal message broadcast to the whole group, of reviving the annual group read next June. So far, two pe..."Depends on what we read, it could push me to read something. (full disclosure- I work at the House of the Seven Gables and we're doing a podcast RAL for the 175th anniversary next year)
Pamela wrote: " I work at the House of the Seven Gables "😱😍
Mod
Mod
Some of my other groups use the group's to-read shelf for this purpose. In most groups, that shelf only serves to indicate a book actually picked for an upcoming read, and triggers a Goodreads notification to group members when the read is about to start; but it only does that if a starting and ending date for the read is actually set. Otherwise, the books are simply potential reads. (Of course, in some cases other members who've already read a particular book might choose to move it to the "read" shelf; but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. :-) )
Accordingly, over (probably) the next few weeks, I'll plan to move the books listed above in those messages to our group to-read shelf (and will delete those messages when the process is complete, to avoid redundancy). We don't have to pick group reads (in the event that we decide to do them again) from that shelf; but it will give group members a list of possibilities, all of which have a least one person who's interested in reading them. (I might also add appropriate titles from my "maybe" shelf.) Also, feel free to add to-read titles of your own to that group shelf! (In some groups, only mods can add books to the shelf, but we've never had that rule.)
Although I've been a GR member for several years now, I've never fully participated in a "group read" yet. I joined this group because I enjoy reading Early American Literature and hope to gain insights into some of these classics that I might not generate on my own by participating in discussions in which other viewpoints are expressed and may prove enlightening. So, yes, I would be interested in participating in an annual group read in June 2026.
Mod
I would likely join. I do want to read more early American authors. Though, I'm afrade I'm not the most active poster.
Mod
Is there not going to be a lit group now? This is all talking about next June?
If anyone wants a read now, the New Bedford Whaling Museum is doing a Moby Dick RAL podcast. https://www.whalingmuseum.org/program...
Early American Literature
Books mentioned in this topic
Benito Cereno (other topics)O Pioneers! (other topics)
Behind a Mask: The Unknown Thrillers of Louisa May Alcott (other topics)
Behind a Mask: The Unknown Thrillers of Louisa May Alcott (other topics)
Louisa May Alcott Unmasked: Collected Thrillers (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Herman Melville (other topics)Willa Cather (other topics)
Pamela and I have discussed (and like), the idea of doing an annual read. If the group wants to go that route, the ideal time for me to take part would probably be in May or June. From July through December each year, I have common reads I'm pretty much committed to in other groups, and another one each April. (And then too, I've started taking part in a long read each year in the early months, in yet another group.) But we want the idea to work for everybody, so my schedule isn't the only factor to be considered!
For those newly joining the group who aren't familiar with the idea of group reads, the idea is just that sometime during the designated month of June, everyone who wants to reads the chosen book, at his/her own speed. On the first of the month, I'll start a discussion thread, where those who are reading it (or who've read it before) can share their thoughts, questions, background information they found interesting, and impressions, etc. as they go along. When they finish, those who want to can link to their review, if they write one. That's really all there is to it! (Some groups go for more structure, but we don't.) Hope this helps!