Books on the Nightstand discussion
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BOTNS #53
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I found myself thinking that Ann and Michael must be reading my mind this whole episode. I have often thought that I will never have time to read everything I want to read. Ann's comment about having the dream of winning the lottery has actually been a topic of conversation on my house. My husband is a keeper of books and has hundreds of books filling the shelves in our basement right now( I see where you are coming from Michael). I am not a keeper of books though because for the most part we have been moving from place to place and our books have been boxed up for years. I prefer to keep a few of my favorites and then get new books a few at a time. Then I either give them away or do the whole paperback swap thing in the net.Now that I am finally settling into a house I have one book shelf in my bedroom, a few of the prizes of our collection( my husband collects very old books, and signed copies) are on a bookshelf displayed in the living room. The rest have to be in our basement, and will probably, someday resemble the picture on the podcast page. The plan is to add an addition someday for a library...when that winning lottery ticket comes our way. As for books I can't believe I haven't read.. Catcher in the Rye tops that list. Why it never showed up in my school reading I don't know. To Kill a Mockingbird is a favorite of mine since high school though. Well, I could talk about this episode for a few days, but I will leave it at that.
Mod
Ann & Michael - I listened to you on the stairmaster this morning and loved your conversation about unread books. I'm a passer of books; I read one then give it to someone who will like it. (Naturally, I'm a bookseller!) I keep only those I've LOVED, often trading up from a well-worn paperback to a used hardcover. That said, I still have piles and boxes full of books all over my house, in the backseat of my car, under my desk and in various bags here and there. You never know when you might need something to read! No matter how prepared I am, though, I'll never get to all the books I WANT to read! I have yet to read Michael Chabon, and I only got to Gatsby a couple of years ago. Inspired by your summer reading challenge, Michael, I started Anna Karenina, but failed to finish it - I think I got lured away by Joyce Maynard or Jonathan Tropper...
I have the 50 page rule, too, Ann. Do you know my corporate name?
Mod
Fifty Pages In, Inc. - and no, no one ever "gets it" or gets it right. Bad name.
I, too, was listening to this while at the gym and when Ann admitted to never having read Kavalier & Clay, I immediately tried to go to the mobile site to leave a strongly worded comment about this hole in your shelves, Ms. Kingman. But, cooler heads (and a slow connection) prevailed and I now only strongly recommend, nay, entreat you to read it. The comic book aspect is merely a device and you don't have to be a fan of that genre to enjoy the book, something my wife confirmed after I raved about the book for so long that she was compelled to read it.
And hey, if you don't like it, you can leave a strongly worded comment of your own for Michael and me. . .
It's hard to admit it, since the book is so popular. . . but I don't like The Poisonwood Bible! (Heresy!) I understand the appeal, but I thought it was overwrought and the dialogue a little cheesy. It is fun to get swept up in an epic novel with important themes, spanning continents and decades. . . I would rather go with something like "Fall on Your Knees" by Ann-Marie McDonald or 'The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami. Kavalier and Clay is wonderful- 'The Yiddish Policemen's Union' (speaking of a sweeping, consuming novel) is even better! I don't think it's necessary to have an interest in any of the topics woven into either book- Michael Chabon makes it all so enjoyable.
I too have a plethora of unread books. I have books on my bookshelf, books piled on the floor, books piled in my bedroom and on my night stand. I only keep those that I truly absolutely fall in love with. I donate the others or list them on paperbackswap.comOne book I'm embarrassed to admit that I haven't read yet is The Great Gatsby. I own it but have yet to read it.
And Ann, give The Poisonwood Bible more than 50 pages. It took me a bit to get into it, but once I did, I couldn't put it down.
"The Poisonwood Bible" is not my favorite of Barbara Kingsolver's novels. I agree with the commenter above who thought it was just a bit overwrought. But it was my entree into her books and I have loved everything else of hers I've read. As to what I HAVEN'T read--don't think I'll ever catch up. I started falling behind as a kid when I never got around to read "Little House on the Prairie" or "Little Women".
My favorite Barbara Kingsolver novel is "Prodigal Summer." I liked Poisonwood Bible, and admire how she could have so many narrators, and some of the descriptions are wonderful. I listened to it, too, and was surprised when Michael said it was narrated by a man. He did a great job of capturing all those voices and it must have been seamless since I had forgotten that the voices weren't female.
Libby wrote: "My favorite Barbara Kingsolver novel is "Prodigal Summer." I liked Poisonwood Bible, and admire how she could have so many narrators, and some of the descriptions are wonderful. I listened to it,..."
Umm, I think Dean Robertson, who narrated The Poisonwood Bible, is a woman. Robertson Dean is a man and another narrator. Prodigal Summer is narrated by the author, who I'm pretty sure is a woman too.
Umm, I think Dean Robertson, who narrated The Poisonwood Bible, is a woman. Robertson Dean is a man and another narrator. Prodigal Summer is narrated by the author, who I'm pretty sure is a woman too.
Tanya wrote: "Libby wrote: "My favorite Barbara Kingsolver novel is "Prodigal Summer." I liked Poisonwood Bible, and admire how she could have so many narrators, and some of the descriptions are wonderful. I l..."Oh, good, my memory serves me right. I could have sworn it was a woman who narrated "Poisonwood Bible," but when Michael said it was a man, I looked it up and thought, because of the name Dean, that it was a man. I didn't listen to "Prodigal Summer," but read the book.
Mod
I loved The Poisonwood Bible and everything else I have read by Kingsolver. I think it is a book that everyone should read at some point and I often recommend it to people who don't often read. I have heard so much hype about Kavalier and Clay, and almost everyone I have talked to despised it. I will still check it out eventually.
Mod
I too listened over the break and was interested to hear Ann say she had never read Poisonwood. Since I just read it myself tho and have yet to read any Michael Chabon (I know, I know. I have a long list of shame --see below), I didn't judge. I did want to add that it's very different from The Bean Trees which I think Ann read recently. I really liked Poisonwood and can see why it's assigned in schools now as it's a book you really have to discuss with someone after you're done. My one minor complaint is I found some of the foreshadowing to be a little heavy handed.
Most embarrassing for me is I've never read Kurt Vonnegut. I have no excuse.
Mod
Linda
I finally finished The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay! It was an amazing book. I listened to it and the narrator really made the story come alive. I am so happy that I finally got around to this book.Next up - The Poisonwood Bible!
Marsha
My rule is I read as many pages as my age. If I can't get into it, I give up. Life is too short to waste reading something I am not enjoying!