June's Theme = Exploration - nominations and master list

[Cheryl]

Please suggest books having to do with exploration so we can vote and agree on 2-4 books to read together in June. We'd like to include both fiction and non-fiction.

Think about pioneers, conquistadors, Matthew Henson, etc.

We'll save Madame Curie and Proust (scientific and personal exploration) for another time.

[Janice, Moderator]

I have Space on my TBR shelf so I will nominate it.

[Cheryl]

Sounds good!

[Cheryl]

Absolutely, please, we need lots of nominations!

[jaxnsmom]

I'm stuck between The Constellations, How They Came To Be and Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void. Can I nominate both?

[Cheryl]

Of course you can, jaxnsmom! However, I'll need you to tell us how they fit the Exploration theme. A little blurb, like Judy is doing, is helpful to all of us. The first one especially seems (just going by title) to be more about science, or even astrology or mythology? We can always have an Outer Space themed Group Themed Read another month.

We'll have a poll, and then a run-off poll if necessary. And this will also serve as a master list for future reference - that is to say, almost like a bookshelf of the theme, but handier for members, especially ones who join after June and miss out on the discussions, to look at and add to. So I don't see why people might think I'd limit the number of nominations - ?

Otoh, Judy, a dozen from everyone might be more than I can fit into a poll. ;)

How's about this - for anyone who has more than three titles they'd like to suggest, could you you list them all, and put an asterisk by the ones you think would be the best choices for the group? I mean terms of being likely to be available at libraries and being interesting to a variety of readers and not too long and having ideas to discuss....

[Cheryl]

I'm rooting for New Found Land: Lewis & Clark's Voyage of Discovery, which is marketed to teens so it should not be too challenging for member to fit into their reading schedule. My library's blurb is different from the one on GR: "Summary: The letters and thoughts of Thomas Jefferson, members of the Corps of Discovery, their guide Sacagawea, and Captain Lewis's Newfoundland dog, all tell of the historic exploratory expedition to seek a water route to the Pacific Ocean."

I own Adventuring with Boldness: The Triumph of the Explorers, and have been meaning to read it because it's about the nitty-gritty that various expeditions had in common, not one epic but more of an analysis, kinda.

[Cheryl]

Sorry, forgot to say, the first one is listed as fiction. I'm confident it's well-researched, but, after all, we can't really know what Jefferson was actually thinking, eh?

[Kimberly]

I nominate Into Africa: The Epic Adventures of Stanley and Livingstone by Martin Dugard

[Snoozie Suzie]

Around the world in 80 days?

[jaxnsmom]

Cheryl - You're right. The Constellations is more scientific than exploration. I'm going to read it for another challenge task, and got excited that I might be able to kill two birds with one stone :)

Packing for Mars: The Curious Science of Life in the Void by Mary Roach probably isn't appropriate either. It's more an exploration of the effects of space exploration. Big Sigh...

Would Blue Latitudes: Boldly Going Where Captain Cook Has Gone Before qualify? Or does it have to be the original exploration?
Two centuries after James Cook's epic voyages of discovery, Tony Horwitz takes readers on a wild ride across hemispheres and centuries to recapture the Captain’s adventures and explore his embattled legacy in today’s Pacific.

[jaxnsmom]

I'd like to add Beneath the Sands of Egypt: Adventures of an Unconventional Archaeologist
Donald Ryan discovered a lost tomb in the Valley of Kings which contained Egypt's famous female pharaoh, Hatshepsut. This memoir gives the reader a good feel for the fieldwork involved in exploring the past. Great for those of us who dreamed of being an archaeologist.

[Cheryl]

Tx for clarifying, j. Blue Latitudes sounds like a great fit to me. So does the archaeology one. I think I'm adding both to my shelves whether or not they win.

I think I'd like a couple more nominations before I post the poll, so everyone, get your titles listed! We need to get voting soon! :)

[Cheryl]

The poll is up! http://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/65... I believe 6 of the 8 books are non-fiction, the only ones that are fiction being From Sea to Shining Sea and New Found Land: Lewis & Clark's Voyage of Discovery - if anyone knows differently please let us know.

[Cheryl]

http://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/65...

The poll is up to narrow our choices!
So, I think our fiction choices are From Sea to Shining Sea and New Found Land: Lewis & Clark's Voyage of Discovery. The other 6 are non-fiction. Please let us know if I'm wrong.

[Janice, Moderator]

Isn't Space fiction?

[Janice, Moderator]

But... but... Space is on the poll for voting so I thought it was being considered for this category.

Michener is an awesome writer. I haven't read this book either, but I would imagine that he starts off with the big bang theory or something to do with the origins of space.

[Cheryl]

I simply did not know that Michener's Space is fiction. If it doesn't win, please do nominate it again if/when an Outer Space or Astronomy theme is chosen. Maybe we can even hope it doesn't win...

[Cheryl]

The poll winners for June, for the theme of Exploration, are listed below for handy reference. I'm off to set up the threads for them, but I will lock those threads until June 1st (my time, which is the same as Goodreads's HQ time, PST, Greenwich -8, but I won't be staying up til midnite.... ;)

Start reading whichever one(s) you choose to as soon as you want to, and be prepared to discuss during the month of June!


Beneath the Sands of Egypt: Adventures of an Unconventional Archaeologist 12 votes, 26.1%
New Found Land: Lewis & Clark's Voyage of Discovery 8 votes, 17.4%
Blue Latitudes: Boldly Going Where Captain Cook Has Gone Before 7 votes, 15.2%

[Snoozie Suzie]

I don't think I will be joining the themed reads this month as I have a pile of library books that I keep renewing and they are bothering me. And I have some others I want to read as well. But, if I have a super-duper reading month then I may try and join you but it won't be until later in the month. Having said that I have to go to the library tomorrow and if they are there then who knows what will happen. (I'll be shouting "damn you GR!")

[Snoozie Suzie]

Well having had a look the only one my library system has is Blue Latitudes, so I have requested it. I just can't help myself!

[Snoozie Suzie]

Lol! Thank you Judy :-)

[Cheryl]

We always enjoy sharing with you Suzie - later in the month is totally fine! :)

[Snoozie Suzie]

Fank oo, fank oo :-)

[Snoozie Suzie]

Well it's out of my comfy zone so depending on my read I may be adding them all

[Cheryl]

That'd be great, Judy. That's exactly what I meant when I put the words "Master List" in the subject line. :)

[Cheryl]

Enjoying the fresh air and gardening is definitely a priority!

[Janice, Moderator]

I'm leaning towards Beneath the Sands of Egypt: Adventures of an Unconventional Archaeologist. I still haven't started May's read. (shame)

[Janice, Moderator]

Update - I started Still Alice last night and am already almost half way through.

[Janice, Moderator]

That engaging. :)

[Cheryl]

Cool! My mom has read a couple of books about Shackleton, and my dad is a Lewis & Clark buff. It's a more popular theme than I first realized.