Group Reads -> October 2021 -> Nomination Thread (A book set in, or about, the 1930s won by Tender is the Night (1934) by F. Scott Fitzgerald)

[Nigeyb]

Looking forward to what else, if anything, we come up with


Who else is nominating? Or thinking about it?


Nominations so far...

The Fortnight in September (1931) by R.C. Sherriff (Nigeyb)
Summer Before the Dark (2014) by Volker Weidermann (Susan)
Tender is the Night (1934) by F. Scott Fitzgerald (Roman Clodia)
A Cat, a Man, and Two Women (1936) by Jun'ichirō Tanizaki (Ben)

[Ben]

Having slept on it and taking into account Alwynne's comment, I'd like to change my nomination to The Makioka Sisters. It looks like a meatier book that would give a richer taste of Japan in the 30's.

[Pamela]

I won’t be nominating this time, I already want to read all 4 nominations and haven’t a clue which I’m going to vote for…

[Nigeyb]

Thanks Ben. Thanks Pamela.



Looking forward to what else, if anything, we come up with

Who else is nominating? Or thinking about it?


Nominations so far...

The Fortnight in September (1931) by R.C. Sherriff (Nigeyb)
Summer Before the Dark (2014) by Volker Weidermann (Susan)
Tender is the Night (1934) by F. Scott Fitzgerald (Roman Clodia)
The Makioka Sisters (1948) by Jun'ichirō Tanizaki (Ben)

[Roman Clodia]

Ben wrote: "Having slept on it and taking into account Alwynne's comment, I'd like to change my nomination to The Makioka Sisters. It looks like a meatier book that would give a richer taste of Japan in the 30's."

I've been meaning to read Makioka Sisters forever so good call, Ben - but what a hard choice!

[Roman Clodia]

Susan wrote: "Just have to say that I LOVE Amor Towles...."

I always feel a bit bad for disliking books that I know other people love so glad you're sticking up for him :)

[Susan]

Roman Clodia wrote: "Susan wrote: "Just have to say that I LOVE Amor Towles...."

I always feel a bit bad for disliking books that I know other people love so glad you're sticking up for him :)"

Not that he needs it, I'm sure!

[Lynaia]

I was thinking of something by Pearl S. Buck but I don’t really see a definite 30’s setting apart from Dragon Seed which focuses on the Japanese invasion in 1937 versus general life in the 30s.

[Roman Clodia]

Lynaia wrote: "I was thinking of something by Pearl S. Buck but I don’t really see a definite 30’s setting apart from Dragon Seed which focuses on the Japanese invasion in 1937 versus general life in the 30s."

Another writer I'd like to read.

[Kathleen]

Susan wrote: "Roman Clodia wrote: "Susan wrote: "Just have to say that I LOVE Amor Towles...."

I always feel a bit bad for disliking books that I know other people love so glad you're sticking up for him :)"

N..."

Thank you both for your thoughts on Towles! I will definitely read him, and then see which side I fall on. :-)

I would love to read Hotel Florida: Truth, Love, and Death in the Spanish Civil War. I will hold off on nominating, and see if Jan nominates that one. I'm also very interested in The Makioka Sisters--glad you decided on that one, Ben!

[Tania]

I've also wanted to read The Makioka Sisters for years, it isn't available at the library, so I haven't got round to it, but this might be the time to buy it.

[Lynaia]

Did some more research and decided to nominate This Proud Heart by Pearl S. Buck.

In the 1930s, as her second marriage approaches, a brilliant and independent sculptor faces tensions between her art and everyday life in this novel by the author of The Good Earth.
This Proud Heart narrates the experience of a gifted sculptor and her struggle to reconcile her absorbing career with society’s domestic expectations. Susan Gaylord is talented, loving, equipped with a strong moral sense, and adept at anything she puts her hand to, from housework to playing the piano to working with marble and clay. But the intensity of her artistic calling comes at a price, isolating her from other people—at times, even from her own family. When her husband dies and she remarries, she finds herself once again comparing the sacrifice of solitude to that of commitment. With a heroine who is naturalistic yet compellingly larger than life, This Proud Heart is incomparable in its sympathetic study of character.

I've only read 1 book by Pearl S. Buck, Pavillion of Women, and really enjoyed it. I would really like to read more by this author.

[Jan C]

What happened to Hotel Florida: Truth, Love, and Death in the Spanish Civil War? I thought someone nominated it.

I'll nominate it if no one else will.

I've read and thus no longer have Ostend: Stefan Zweig, Joseph Roth, and the Summer Before the Dark. I generally donate books after I've read them. There are too many books in this house.

[Nigeyb]

The original comment about Hotel Florida: Truth, Love, and Death in the Spanish Civil War was...


Jan C wrote: "I have Hotel Florida: Truth, Love, and Death in the Spanish Civil War and would be interested in that.

I'll check out what else I may have."

...which I did not take as a nomination

I'll add it to the list now

Thanks Jan

And thanks Lynaia

Two great new nominations


Nominations...

The Fortnight in September (1931) by R.C. Sherriff (Nigeyb)
Summer Before the Dark (2014) by Volker Weidermann (Susan)
Tender is the Night (1934) by F. Scott Fitzgerald (Roman Clodia)
The Makioka Sisters (1948) by Jun'ichirō Tanizaki (Ben)
This Proud Heart (1937) by Pearl S. Buck (Lynaia)
Hotel Florida: Truth, Love, and Death in the Spanish Civil War (2014) by Amanda Vaill (Jan)


Who else is nominating? Or thinking about it?

I think we may have all nominations now

[Nigeyb]

I'll post the poll tomorrow morning (UK time)


Last call for nominations

[Adina]

I don't really know the rules for nominating but I will try. It is my first one, mostly because I always miss the deadline.

I saw there is a tendency to read mostly British/American books so my proposal for this theme is a French one, for diversity. I am thinking about Journey to the End of the Night by Louis-Ferdinand Céline.

It was published in 1932 and it is a modern classic, I guess.

The blurb: Louis-Ferdinand Celine's revulsion and anger at what he considered the idiocy and hypocrisy of society explodes from nearly every page of this novel. Filled with slang and obscenities and written in raw, colloquial language, Journey to the End of the Night is a literary symphony of violence, cruelty and obscene nihilism. This book shocked most critics when it was first published in France in 1932, but quickly became a success with the reading public in Europe, and later in America where it was first published by New Directions in 1952. The story of the improbable yet convincingly described travels of the petit-bourgeois (and largely autobiographical) antihero, Bardamu, from the trenches of World War I, to the African jungle, to New York and Detroit, and finally to life as a failed doctor in Paris, takes the readers by the scruff and hurtles them toward the novel's inevitable, sad conclusion.

Let me know if it is a valid proposal and if it would be interesting to put it out there for vote.

[Susan]

Nominations have to be either published, or about, the suggested theme, and so, yes, that is a perfectly valid nomination, Adina. Thanks for participating :)

[Nigeyb]

Thanks Adina - great nomination. Glad you slipped it in.


Nominations...

The Fortnight in September (1931) by R.C. Sherriff (Nigeyb)
Summer Before the Dark (2014) by Volker Weidermann (Susan)
Tender is the Night (1934) by F. Scott Fitzgerald (Roman Clodia)
The Makioka Sisters (1948) by Jun'ichirō Tanizaki (Ben)
This Proud Heart (1937) by Pearl S. Buck (Lynaia)
Hotel Florida: Truth, Love, and Death in the Spanish Civil War (2014) by Amanda Vaill (Jan)
Journey to the End of the Night (1932) by Louis-Ferdinand Céline (Adina)

Poll going up tomorrow morning (UK time)

Last call for nominations

[Jonathan]

I have been unsuccessful with my recent nominations (only Nigel’s picks have garnered fewer votes, I suspect) so I will sit back on this one.

And haply the Queen-Moon is on her throne,
Cluster'd around by all her starry Fays;
But here there is no light

[Alwynne]

Celine's an interesting choice, I remember trying this at Uni but not much about it beyond the fact that for the rantings of a far-right nihilist it was surprisingly readable. Although it was written before his full-on anti-Semitic work, so maybe it's more toned down than later novels?

[Nigeyb]

Jonathan wrote: "I have been unsuccessful with my recent nominations (only Nigel’s picks have garnered fewer votes, I suspect) so I will sit back on this one"

Ever the optimist, I keep going back for more punishment!

The positive vibes directed at The Fortnight in September (1931) have got my hopes up. Then again, all the picks are enticing so it could go any which way.

[Alwynne]

I'm not sure how I'm going to decide what to vote for just as tempted by the ones I've read as the ones I haven't.

[Tania]

Adina wrote: "I am thinking about Journey to the End of the Night by Louis-Ferdinand Céline."

This one looks really interesting; sadly, my library doesn't have it.

[Stephen]

My library only has two of these.

[Roman Clodia]

Interesting choice, Adina - I haven't read Celine and would like to try - I've heard this books described as a dark version of On The Road.

[Nigeyb]

Time to vote


Click here...

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


Nominations...

The Fortnight in September (1931) by R.C. Sherriff
Summer Before the Dark (2014) by Volker Weidermann
Tender is the Night (1934) by F. Scott Fitzgerald
The Makioka Sisters (1948) by Jun'ichirō Tanizaki
This Proud Heart (1937) by Pearl S. Buck
Hotel Florida: Truth, Love, and Death in the Spanish Civil War (2014) by Amanda Vaill
Journey to the End of the Night (1932) by Louis-Ferdinand Céline

[Susan]

Just to say that Tender is the Night is currently £3 in the Audible sale.

[Nigeyb]

Two way tie atop of the poll with about 40 hours until it closes....


The Fortnight in September (1931) - 8 votes, 34.8%
Tender is the Night (1934) - 8 votes, 34.8%

This Proud Heart (1937) - 2 votes, 8.7%
Hotel Florida: Truth, Love, and Death in the Spanish Civil War (2014) - 2 votes, 8.7%
Journey to the End of the Night (1932) - This Proud Heart (1937) - 2 votes, 8.7%

Summer Before the Dark (2014) - 1 vote, 4.3%

The Makioka Sisters (1948) - 0 votes, 0.0%

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

[Ben]

Yes, I abandoned my nominated book, but it's a very strong list.

[Nigeyb]

That's what many do Ben. Vote for your number one choice before, if appropriate, switching to a title with a more realistic chance when the poll comes close to closing.

[Susan]

Ooh, exciting. I changed my title too. It would be nice if you won the poll for once though, Nigeyb :)

[Nigeyb]

I'm not holding my breath Susan.


I've even bought a £3 sale copy of Tender Is the Night from Audible. Thanks for highlighting that deal.

[Susan]

Oh, me too. I would enjoy both the current tied books, I think. Although I do think I have read Tender is the Night at some point.

[Nigeyb]

Tender is fab. I'd be happy to reread it.


I'll read the Sherriff too, whatever happens.

[Alwynne]

I switched votes from Ben's after the numbers started moving around. See it's going to be another edge of the seat contest.

[Lynaia]

Switched my vote to Tender is the Night. I started it once before but got distracted and never finished it. This was happening to me a lot at that time. Felt like I had suddenly developed ADD. Doing better staying focused now so I would like to try again.

[Nigeyb]

We have a winner....


* Tender is the Night (1934) - 10 votes *

The Fortnight in September (1931) - 8 votes

Hotel Florida: Truth, Love, and Death in the Spanish Civil War (2014) - 3 votes

Journey to the End of the Night (1932) - 2 votes
Summer Before the Dark (2014) - 2 votes

This Proud Heart (1937) - 1 vote

The Makioka Sisters (1948) - 0 votes

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

[Nigeyb]

We will also run The Fortnight in September as a buddy read during the same month as it got so many votes.


Really looking forward to both books

Thanks to everyone who got involved

[Pamela]

Great news, looking forward to both books, it was such a hard choice this month.

[Roman Clodia]

Great choices, everyone - and two interestingly different perspectives on the period, one set amongst socialites and movie stars on the Riviera, the other more down to earth with everyday people in Bognor (if I recall correctly).

[Nigeyb]

Absolutement


Excited for both books

Roll on October