20.5 - Bigger is Better - ChrisEverest's Task: Love And Not Quite Love

[Dlmrose, Moderator Emeritus]

20.5 - Bigger is Better – ChrisEverest’s Task – Love and Not Quite Love

My two favourite writers, both no longer with us, are Robert B. Parker – the American crime writer -and Alan Plater – a particularly Northern type of Englishman (ie Don’t think of Grey suits, Umbrellas and Bowler hats).


Read ONE book from one of the following options.
Required: State which option you chose when you post.

Option 1- LOVE: Read a book by a single author (no co-authors or books by multiple contributors) whose last name (name in the last position) ends in –ER

The book must be by an author who is new to you this season.

Required: State the author is new to you.
Optional: If you have never read Parker or Plater you are doubly-blessed and I would love to read any book reviews by newcomers to their writing.


Option 2: NOT QUITE LOVE: Read James Joyce’s Ulysses (Any edition)

This is the nightmare book that haunts me - I have NEVER finished it. I’ve started it so many times that I have despaired of a straightforward readthrough. It is so obviously a magical book but I get sidetracked every time I try to read it. Soooooo I am now writing/copying it out by hand – a line or so every day in my journal. As it’s the record of one single Dublin day in one man’s life I have decided it can give structure and meaning probably for the remainder of my days.
This can be a re-read for the truly heroic.

[Christopher]

I know Robert B. Parker is revered in the world of Crime Writing but Alan Plater's books are far less well known. Many of his works were made into TV films (The Beiderbecke Trilogy being the most famous) with James Bolam playing Trevor Chaplin and Barbara Flynn as Jill Swinburne.If you have never read either Parker or Plater.... Enjoy and/or ....er.... don't.

[Christopher]

As always with SRC and what I like most about it is the encouragement to read NEW authors. To boldly go wherever the next task setter directs you. It shows you new writers your friends have recommended and encourages (IMnotsoHO)a more measured and rounder view of literature. Everyone needs a friend. Everyone needs books.

[Dlmrose, Moderator Emeritus]

This help thread is open!

[Morgan]

Ulysses is evil. I have finished it, written papers on it, and been forced to watch a film adaptation (1960s) that enlightened me on some aspects of the book I hadn't understood on reading--not necessarily in a good way in regards to one scene in particular. It's sort of a right of passage though once you're on the other side of it.

But reading this task also gave me a smile because it was probably the easiest decision on options I have ever made! Plus gives me an opportunity to try out an audiobook I've been wanting to read.

[Ashley]

Would The Portable Dorothy Parker be okay? The Goodreads page lists 2 authors but the second author only wrote the Introduction.

[Book Concierge]

In keeping with past challenges ... can we read an author that is NEW TO ME in THIS season (i.e. may read another book by the author for Spring, but have never read the author before this season)

For myself, I'm thinking of William Kent Krueger for Option 1 ... never read anything by him before, but his #1 in a series fits another challenge in SRC Spring.

So could I still read him for this task even if I read the #1 in the series for a different Spring 2015 task?

[Christopher]

Ashley wrote: "Would The Portable Dorothy Parker be okay? The Goodreads page lists 2 authors but the second author only wrote the Introduction."

Yeah that's fine.
I wonder how "portable" the portable James Joyce would be ?

[Christopher]

Book Concierge wrote: "In keeping with past challenges ... can we read an author that is NEW TO ME in THIS season (i.e. may read another book by the author for Spring, but have never read the author before this season)

..."

Yes that's okay.

[Sharice]

I'd like to read Geek Fantasy Novel it says Young Adult as one of the genre's and that makes me uncertain as to whether it qualifies. This author is new to me in total. I have never heard of them before, this may be their only novel.

[Melanie]

For Option 1 - I'd like to read Etta and Otto and Russell and James by Emma Hooper . This author would be new to me.

[Dlmrose, Moderator Emeritus]

Sharice wrote: "I'd like to read Geek Fantasy Novel it says Young Adult as one of the genre's and that makes me uncertain as to whether it qualifies. This author is new to me in total. I have never ..."

There are no YA genre restrictions

[Dlmrose, Moderator Emeritus]

Melanie wrote: "For Option 1 - I'd like to read Etta and Otto and Russell and James by Emma Hooper . This author would be new to me.

[bookcover:Etta and Otto and Russell and Jame..."

That would work- name ends in -er and new-to-you