21st Century Literature discussion

Before opening the nomination thread, I would like to reiterate our efforts in creating an group atmosphere conducive to participation. Our expectation is that anyone who nominates or votes for an open pick selection has every intention of joining the discussion should their book of choice win the poll.

Some quick ground rules: Everyone is allowed one nomination, but remember that eligible books must be works of fiction published from 2000-2014. Selections that are overly genre or fail to meet the group standards of literary quality will not be permitted in the final poll.

Nominations will wrap up early next week and the poll will run for about a week following. Happy nominating!

I would like to nominate The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating by Elisabeth Tova Bailey. This slim volume (190 pages) was published in 2010. The goodreads blurb says:

"In a work that beautifully demonstrates the rewards of closely observing nature, Elisabeth Bailey shares an inspiring and intimate story of her uncommon encounter with a "Neohelix albolabris" a common woodland snail. While an illness keeps her bedridden, Bailey watches a wild snail that has taken up residence on her nightstand. As a result, she discovers the solace and sense of wonder that this mysterious creature brings and comes to a greater under standing of her own confined place in the world... Told with wit and grace, The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating is a remarkable journey of survival and resilience, showing us how a small part of the natural world illuminates our own human existence and provides an appreciation of what it means to be fully alive."

Julia wrote: "I would like to nominate The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating by Elisabeth Tova Bailey. This slim volume (190 pages) was published in 2010..."

Julia, that looks like an exceptional work. Unfortunately for these nominations, though, it also appears to be nonfiction. Is there perhaps a work of fiction you might have in mind to nominate instead?

Because I really enjoyed the discussions in the last short story pick, I would like to nominate another short story collection: Sweet Home by Carys Bray.

Her collection won the Scott prize in 2012, and about the winning books Jen Hamilton-Emery [Director of Salt Publishing] said: ‘Since developing the Scott Prize to promote and support debut short story writers, I have read and selected winners from hundreds of manuscripts. (...) Carys Bray and Rob Roensch combine impeccable craft with unforgettable imagery to create stories that are surprising, psychologically resonant, emotionally complex and, above all else, a sheer joy to read. Carys and Rob, on either side of the Atlantic, both demonstrate that the short story is thriving and developing in the 21st century and I look forward to working with the writers and publishing their books later this year.’

well julia you have added something to my reading list in any case.

I am always in two minds about making nominations with this group because the suggestions other people come up with are so interesting but I think The Woman Upstairs by Claire Messud is written with such an angry and delicious voice from the little I have read so far that I think it might make a great discussion.

Daniel wrote: "Julia wrote: "I would like to nominate The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating by Elisabeth Tova Bailey. This slim volume (190 pages) was published in 2010..."

Julia, that..."

Certainly, Daniel--have to keep all my goodreads groupos straight lol :-) This one is based on history but is a fictional account, and is one of my favorites:A Madman Dreams of Turing Machines by Janna Levin. The Amazon blurb says:

"Kurt Gödel’s Incompleteness Theorems sent shivers through Vienna’s intellectual circles and directly challenged Ludwig Wittgenstein’s dominant philosophy. Alan Turing’s mathematical genius helped him break the Nazi Enigma Code during WWII. Though they never met, their lives strangely mirrored one another—both were brilliant, and both met with tragic ends. Here, a mysterious narrator intertwines these parallel lives into a double helix of genius and anguish, wonderfully capturing not only two radiant, fragile minds but also the zeitgeist of the era."

The book was published in 2007.

Janna J. Levin is an American theoretical cosmologist. She holds a PhD in theoretical physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, granted in 1993, and a Bachelor of Science in Astronomy and Physics from Barnard College, granted in 1988....Since January 2004, she has been an assistant professor in astronomy and physics at Barnard College. In 2006, she published A Madman Dreams of Turing Machines, a novel of ideas recounting the lives and deaths of Kurt Gödel and Alan Turing.

I had drafted my message with my nomination and it suddenly disappeared! So I am going to try again.

I nominate Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. This is Adichie's first novel, first released in 2003. It is set in Nigeria after a military coup. I am eager to read it and want to do so before I read Americanah, which won this year's National Book Critics Circle award.

How about The Luminaries? Someone nominated it for a January selection, but because it was a brand-new book, the waiting lists were too long in local libraries, and the book was excluded from the nominees. Maybe this time, the novel will be chosen.

I would like to nominate Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter.

I'm going to close this up tonight unless anyone needs another day. Let me know if you're still thinking.

There are too many good ones on the list such that I am not going to nominate The Burgess Boys by Elizabeth Strout this month, but I'm going to throw out this post so that if there is someone among those who have been voting for it previously who would like to see it in the ring again this month, do go ahead and nominate it. Otherwise, I'll be back another month. The book has several themes I think could be interesting to discuss.

can I add Tenth of December by George Saundrrs? Just started reading it. I'm on the tablet which won't do links for me, sorry about that

In a nod to the Women's Prize shortlist announced today, I'd like to throw Burial Rites into the ring.

Dierdre,

We have in fact just decided that Tenth of December will be our Moderator pick for May. So you get your wish!

But you also get an alternative nomination, if you get it in before Deborah closes this thread (I'd be quick! If you don't manage it, find solace in the fact we'll be reading your first choice anyway).

That's great, Daniel. I don't think I'll nominate another book - it's another busy month and there are plenty of interesting nominations here already. I've just read the first story and can't wait to read the rest.