Nominate a book for the BGO read "Anything Goes"

[Adrian]

Yes, pretty simple theme this time: Anything you want!.

Suggest absolutely any book you like, and don't forget to second someone else's nomination too. Voting will start in a week.

(The previous read on Haruki Murakami's The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle is still going. This will run in parallel.)

[chuntzy]

I nominate Riceyman Steps by Arnold Bennett

Plot summary (from Wikipedia):-

The story takes place in 1919-1920 and deals with the final year in the life of its main character, Henry Earlforward, a miser, who keeps a second-hand bookshop in the Clerkenwell area of London. Henry marries Violet Arb, a widow who keeps a neighbouring shop, and who sees in Henry a financially secure future. Henry's parsimony drives them into an increasingly wretched existence. Their lives are contrasted to that of their maid servant Elsie Sprickett and it is she, despite her extreme poverty, who brings life and a future to the unfolding tragedy.

(available in paperback)

[megustaleer]

I haven't got anything in particular that I want to nominate.

I am most likely to vote for any book nominated that I already own and have yet to read, but otherwise would be happy to go for Chuntzy's suggestion, as I have enjoyed books by Arnold Bennett in the past and have not read that one.

[katrina]

It would be good to read a modern classic, like The Princess Bride by William Golden or Cold Mountain - these books would both gain a discussion on thier own but could also be compared to their film versions

[Barblue]

I would like to suggest New Grub Street by George Gissing because I have been meaning to read it for ages.

[Momo]

One of my favourite books ever:
Nowhere in Africa by Stefanie Zweig

Find the description here (http://www.bookgrouponline.com/forum/showthread.html?t=2793)

[tagesmann]

One of my favourite books ever:
Nowhere in Africa by Stefanie Zweig

Find the description here (http://www.bookgrouponline.com/forum/showthread.html?t=2793)I would like to second this. It looks like a great read. But it's £20.43 on Amazon so if it's chosen we'll all be trying to nab a second-hand copy!

[megustaleer]

Voting will start in a week.
I think your calendar is running slow.
Or maybe the BGO Bookgroup is in need of a break?

[Adrian]

I think your calendar is running slow.
Not been around much and I've been leaving it another day, and another day, hoping for more nominations.

Or maybe the BGO Bookgroup is in need of a break?
Quite possibly. Certainly a rethink on what gets read when might be in order.

[megustaleer]

Any thoughts on this, folks?

[Hazel]

How about BGOers telling us if they are still interested in a group read and any suggestion they'd make about the way we go about it?

[Flingo]

We've just chosen to read Alan Bennett's An Uncommon Reader for my RL book group. As I'll be reading it anyway, and I'm assured it's short, might it be worth a group read? I also know that some members have already read it, so we could inject some life into a forum?

I can have a look and see if there are any online reading group guides for whichever chosen book - that might give us a basis of discussion?

[Calliope]

I think maybe limiting it to a short book might be a good thing. I voted for the Murakami in the last read and then felt quite guilty when I saw how long the book was. I just have too much going on to commit to anything that substantial at the moment.

One idea I had is maybe injecting some life into it by nominating books that some people might already have read? People could read it again, or for the first time... and it would give some scope for people who are short on time to contribute to the discussion.

[tagesmann]

I do find it hard to commit to a large book as my TBR is so large. But a shorter book now and then wouldn't be a problem. How about we do some short books or even short stories for a few months and see whether that works?

One of the advantages of a shorter book is that even if you are not keen to start with or aren't enjoying the book, you don't have a big commitment in terms of having to complete it.

[megustaleer]

I tend only to join in the group read if it is a book that I am already wanting to read, or join in the discussion of a book I've read previously.

I like the theory of a group read and discussion, but somehow I find I'm always several books behind everyone else (in my RL bookgroup, too.)
A shorter book might help me catch up a bit - not that there are many of those published nowadays.

The Uncommon Reader sounds perfect to me. It's by Alan Bennett, it's short, it's funny and I gave it to
Younger Son's gf for Christmas, so I can borrow it back :D

[Hazel]

Short books, novellas, short stories, seems to be a good idea then. I'll third the Bennett.

[Minxminnie]

I tend only to join in the group read if it is a book that I am already wanting to read, or join in the discussion of a book I've read previously.


The Uncommon Reader sounds perfect to me.


What meg said. Both bits.

[chuntzy]

Have been meaning to read this book so The Uncommon Reader is fine by me

[Hazel]

Are we going with the Bennett then? I would quite like to get a copy...

[Adrian]

I reckon so. The Bennett it is.

[katrina]

A short book sounds good to me. I found with some of the reads that we pick a book and then start reading it within a week, if the book is not avaliable at the library I then don't have it on time - I'm trying to avoid buying any more books.
Maybe a three month schedule so people know whats coming up. Or we could make it bi-monthly as at the moment there is no fixed schedule to when a new book will start. 6 books doesn't seem as daunting as 12.

[Hazel]

Or we could make it bi-monthly as at the moment there is no fixed schedule to when a new book will start. 6 books doesn't seem as daunting as 12.Doesn't "bi-monthly" mean twice a month? So that would be 24 books a years? :confused: I think if we stick to novellas and short stories then we should be able to keep it going monthly. We could also nominate 1 short story, many of which can be found online if they are well known enough, and that way more people might join in if they don't have to fork out the cash to do so.

Anyway, I have just bought the Bennett and will get stuck in tonight.

[tagesmann]

I think short stories and novellas should mean we can manage monthly.

According to the OED bi-monthly means occurring every two months and occurring twice in a month. (The bi- prefix has other uses as well). Isn't English wonderful?

[Hazel]

Isn't English wonderful?No, it's bloody annoying. ;)

[Momo]

I'm not particularly fond of short stories but I just borrowed a book by Joyce Carol Oates "Dear husband," with short stories. Looks quite interesting.

[tagesmann]

No, it's bloody annoying. ;)
Further info...
Every other month is the more common usage. The OED suggests avoiding using bi-monthly when you mean twice a month.

[katrina]

Short stories and novellas are good with me, I know quite a few sites with good collections of stories on-line.