All About Books discussion

Hi folks! :-)

It's that time again - Fiction Read Nominations for November 2013.

The 'rules' are:

- One nomination per person
- First six 'seconded' nominations will be put in a poll where members can vote on their choice.
- The book should be fiction but should not be a 'classic' novel, as we have a separate bi-monthly classics read.
- The book nominated should be available in paperback form.

This thread will remain open until 6th October or until 7 seconded nominations are made. The poll will be open from 7th October until 13th October and the winner will be announced on the 14th October.

The Fiction read does not have to tie in to the bi-monthly theme challenge.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask on this thread :-)

As I am trying to read more of German literature in the coming days I would like to nominate Christa Wolf's A Model Childhood.

I would like to nominate Under the Domeby Stephen King. I have not read this book yet as I waited until the TV show ended which veered away from the book. I'd love to read this science fiction tale from him. It is also one of the books I am reading for the end of the year by him besides Doctor Sleep.

I'd love to read Under the Dome but the size feels so imitating.

Dhanaraj wrote: "As I am trying to read more of German literature in the coming days I would like to nominate Christa Wolf's A Model Childhood."

I am going to have to second that. With an exclamation mark. Or two.

Jenny wrote: "Dhanaraj wrote: "As I am trying to read more of German literature in the coming days I would like to nominate Christa Wolf's A Model Childhood."

I am going to have to second that. With an exclamat..."

That is nice. But I have a fear whether this book is easily available and I hope it is easily available.

Dhanaraj, I've just checked and it's been published in 'Virago Modern Classics' and available to buy from 0,01 pound(used) to 10 pound(new). As to library availability in either the UK, Italy or the States I don't know.

Seems good.

Jenny wrote: "Dhanaraj, I've just checked and it's been published in 'Virago Modern Classics' and available to buy from 0,01 pound(used) to 10 pound(new). As to library availability in either the UK, Italy or th..."

Just checked and it is available in my library system through interlibrary loan so my guess is it is available for most people.

Can't seem to find Christa Wolf's A Model Childhood so far. I think it's sold on amazon through private sellers though.

There is another English title too for the same book. Check this one out: Patterns of Childhood.

This is the link(one of the new ones is amazon itself)

Dhanaraj wrote: "There is another English title too for the same book. Check this one out: Patterns of Childhood."

The title is much closer to the German one, however this version seems to be more expensive (on amazon.uk.co at least)

Thanks Jenny for the Amazon link.

The Thirteenth Tale

Christine wrote: "The Thirteenth Tale"

I'll second this!

It took me forever to decide on ONE to nominate. haha That means I need to stop adding to my to-read list.

Also, problem is, I can't see any books or discussions prior to August so I don't know what you guys have read!

Christine, that's because this group didn't exist prior to August, but some of us came over from another - now closed - group. However: new group, new books, so just feel free to nominate whatever you want as long as you don't find it the group's book shelf already!

Thank you! That makes sense. haha I thought it was some weird group setting or something.

LOL, an interesting yet somewhat cruel way of testing our member's intelligence: find the hidden books!!! ;)

I'd like to nominate The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón as I still haven't read this, and really want to!

ooh Shirley I second this it is in my bookshelf waiting for me :)

Shirley wrote: "I'd like to nominate The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón as I still haven't read this, and really want to!"

Read it already!

Dhanaraj wrote: "As I am trying to read more of German literature in the coming days I would like to nominate Christa Wolf's A Model Childhood."
I have to confess I don't know this book. Will look into it!

Well, I've just ordered a second-hand copy of the Christa Wolf book. It depends on the print size whether or not I'll be able to read it when it arrives, but I couldn't see a large print version and it's not available in English for the kindle

Gill wrote: "Dhanaraj wrote: "As I am trying to read more of German literature in the coming days I would like to nominate Christa Wolf's A Model Childhood."
I have to confess I don't know this book. Will look ..."

Gill, apparently many of us did not know of her. She was not well known outside the German speaking world. I just stumbled on that book and on Christa Wolf and great books come to us many times by chance.

Dhanarah, that's why I thought I'd buy the book now. Even if it isn't the fiction read I'd like to read it sometime any way.

I like sonme of her novels a lot - the most famous: Cassandra: A Novel and Four Essays, Der geteilte Himmel.
If I remember rightly she was born in the eastern part of Germany, but before the war, and described the division of the german people looking deep inside them.

Dhanaraj wrote: "Gill wrote: "Dhanaraj wrote: "As I am trying to read more of German literature in the coming days I would like to nominate Christa Wolf's A Model Childhood."
I have to confess I don't know this boo..."

I can't find it in my library or on the kindle and it looks like it's quite expensive second-hand...looks like a good book, though.

Gill wrote: "Dhanarah, that's why I thought I'd buy the book now. Even if it isn't the fiction read I'd like to read it sometime any way."

That is good to know.

Shirley wrote: "Dhanaraj wrote: "Gill wrote: "Dhanaraj wrote: "As I am trying to read more of German literature in the coming days I would like to nominate Christa Wolf's A Model Childhood."
I have to confess I do..."
I've just bought it for £4 25 including p and p on Amazon. That's under the title A Model Childhood.

@ Laura T, You were right about Christa Wolf's whereabouts. Her life seemed very interesting. For those of you interested on Christa Wolf this link might help - the obituary that appeared in THE GUARDIAN: http://www.theguardian.com/books/2011...

Will have to read at least some of her books and I will read.

@ Shirley, You are right about Christa Wolf's books not being easily available and the available copies are also relatively expensive. May be, it served here as an introduction to Wolf rather than being a choice for the group read, for the easy availability of the book plays an important role in the selection of the book to be read by a big group.

LauraT wrote: "I like sonme of her novels a lot - the most famous: Cassandra: A Novel and Four Essays, Der geteilte Himmel.
If I remember rightly she was born in the eastern part of Germany, but before the war, a..."

You are right Laura, and I guess it is not only her brilliant language that makes me love her so much, but also this bit of irrational bonding that happens because you know that someone shares a culture background, and saw life from the same side of the Berlin wall for a long time, much longer than I did obviously.

I adore her adaptations of mythology, Cassandra: A Novel and Four Essays which you named, but also Medea

Jenny wrote: "LauraT wrote: "You are right Laura, and I guess it is not only her brilliant language that makes me love her so much, but also this bit of irrational bonding that happens because you know that someone shares a culture background, and saw life from the same side of the Berlin wall for a long time, much longer than I did obviously.

I adore her adaptations of mythology, Cassandra: A Novel and Four Essays which you named, but also Medea "

Haven't read this second one; I should look for it.
Did you live in west Berlin even if only for a time Jenny?
The first time I came to Germany it was still divided - it was summer 1987 - but I stayed in Munster. When I visited Berlin the wall was only a museum - it was spring 2005 - and I fell in love with this city. I want to go back with my kids!! Think to see it with a "berliner"!!!!

I'm finding this hard to think of something, as I have so few 'modern' fiction books on my TBR, most of them seem to fall into the classics category. However, a book that I've just been reminded of on Jey's reading journey is A Thousand Splendid Suns so that's my nomination.

I have to agree that Christa Wolf books look really interesting and she's not an author I've ever heard of before.

LauraT wrote: "Haven't read this second one; I should look for it.
Did you live in west Berlin even if only for a time Jenny?
The first time I came to Germany it was still divided - it was summer 1987 - but I stayed in Munster. When I visited Berlin the wall was only a museum - it was spring 2005 - and I fell in love with this city. I want to go back with my kids!! Think to see it with a "berliner"!!!!
"

No never, I grew up in what was called "The Valley of the Ignorant", in Dresden, close to Czech border and Prague. It was called that because unlike people in East Berlin we never managed to secretly listen to Western Radio or see Western TV, we were too far from any signal to receive it, so we were entirely reliant on our East Berlin friends to explain the world to us (if we didn't want to rely on socialist propaganda that is) ;)

Oh and if you do, I'll come and have a 'Berliner' with you!!

Jenny wrote: "Oh and if you do, I'll come and have a 'Berliner' with you!!"

I will come. THe only thing is I don't know when. Before I have to solve my "house problem"!!!

So far we have:

Patterns of Childhood (A Model Childhood) - seconded
Under the Dome
The Thirteenth Tale - seconded
The Shadow of the Wind - seconded
A Thousand Splendid Suns

If I am mistaken or have missed any on this list, let me know :)

I would like to nominate Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides

That sounds very interesting, Elisa, I haven't heard of that one.

Shirley wrote: "That sounds very interesting, Elisa, I haven't heard of that one."

It is Shirley! It won the Pulitzer a couple of years ago, and I think that it is a truly great novel

Elisa wrote: "I would like to nominate Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides"

I second it! It's ages since I wanted to read it!!!!

Ooh I've been intrigued by the sound of Middlesex, but I'm put off because I HATED The Virgin Suicides....despite most people seeming to love it.

I'd still like to read "Small Island" by Andrea Levy. It's calling to me from the shelves...

I add also your title Jean then:

Patterns of Childhood(A Model Childhood) - seconded
Under the Dome
The Thirteenth Tale - seconded
The Shadow of the Wind- seconded
A Thousand Splendid Suns
Middlesex - seconded
Small Island

Thank you :)

LauraT wrote: "I add also your title Jean then:

Patterns of Childhood(A Model Childhood) - seconded
Under the Dome
The Thirteenth Tale - seconded
The Shadow of the Wind- seconded
A Thousand Splendid Suns
Middles..."

Thanks for making the updated list, Laura :)

Only 4 nomination days left, eek!

I would like to nominate The Shining Girls by Lauren Beukes.

I'd like to nominate A Scanner Darkly, I've never read anything of Philip Dick and I've heard good opinions and even praises on this book. :)