The Bowie Book Club discussion

Hello all Ziggies and Ladies Stardust...

Our vote to choose the first reading which will start on February 1st is close to an end. Being so, it is time to start planning ahead our March reading. From January 21st to January 31st, each one of you can recommend a book to be added in our next poll. What is important to nominate a book?

- Each member can nominate just one book.
- The book must fit in one of the following group bookshelves: 100 must read or Bowie references.
- In case you think of a book to nominate that is not part of any of those two lists, you must explain why you are suggesting it. For example, if you saw Bowie mentioning it before, send the reference. If it is part of a Bowie song, refer it...
- Keep in mind that our goal is not to read books about Bowie. Our goal is to read books that were admired by him as the great reader he was.

On February 1st, I'll upload the list with the contestants for March book. The poll will remain open until February 10th. The terms for a book to make the list are:
1st - The ones mentioned more times.
2nd - In case there is a tie between nominees, the one to make the cut will be the one mentioned first.
3rd - The list cannot have more than ten books and less than 5.

May the nominations begin...

I would like to nominate A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess

Amanda wrote: "I would like to nominate A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess"

Thank you, Amanda...

I would like to nominate Lolita by Nabokov.

Hi!
I would like to nominate In Cold Blood

The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov, because it's the only one that I have in paperback at the moment (except Illiad, and I'm not the biggest fan of it) :)

Cynthia wrote: "I would like to nominate Lolita by Nabokov."

Thank you, Cynthia...

Mariana wrote: "Interviews With Francis Bacon by David Sylvester

I don't know if this is included in the list originally posted on Goodreads in our group, but I got it from this website:

http://www.davidbowie.co..."

Yes, Mari, this book is already on the bookshelf... If it makes it easier for you (I know because I am checking all the time), you can access the group's bookshelves here: https://www.goodreads.com/group/books...

Joéverson wrote: "Hi!
I would like to nominate In Cold Blood"

Thank you, Joey...

Samanta wrote: "The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov, because it's the only one that I have in paperback at the moment (except Illiad, and I'm not the biggest fan of it) :)"

Thank you Samanta.

Lidiana wrote: "Joéverson wrote: "Hi!
I would like to nominate In Cold Blood"

Thank you, Joey..."

Never give up.. :D

Joéverson wrote: "Lidiana wrote: "Joéverson wrote: "Hi!
I would like to nominate In Cold Blood"

Thank you, Joey..."

Never give up.. :D"

Sooner or later, everyone's book will be selected :)

I guess In cold blood. I'll try to nominate books that I have at home and also books I have already read because of my current academic issues hehehe

I'd like to nominate Nights at the Circus by Angela Carter.

I don't know if you want to have books from the last poll on this one or not, I just joined too late to vote for this one in the first poll! :)

Holly wrote: "I'd like to nominate Nights at the Circus by Angela Carter.

I don't know if you want to have books from the last poll on this one or not, I just joined too late to..."

Holly, it can be any book that you want, being or not on the previous poll.

Since next month is also St. Valentine's, I would like to nominate Sexual Personae: Art and Decadence from Nefertiti to Emily Dickinson…

Erma wrote: "As a second nomination...(If we are allowed) Lady Chatterley's Lover…"

Hi Erma... Only one nomination for each member, sorry...

Lidiana wrote: "Hi Erma... Only one nomination for each member, sorry..."

All good. There is always next year! :) Will delete my second nom...

Erma wrote: "Lidiana wrote: "Hi Erma... Only one nomination for each member, sorry..."

All good. There is always next year! :) Will delete my second nom..."

There is always next month hehehehe.

On the Road by Kerouac :)

Han wrote: "On the Road by Kerouac :)"

Thank you, Han...

Suellen wrote: "I guess In cold blood. I'll try to nominate books that I have at home and also books I have already read because of my current academic issues hehehe"

We super understand, sys... hehe

So far, we have 8 books on the run...

I would like to nominate Flaubert's Parrot. I'm reading it right now, and it is quickly becoming one of my favorite books.

Sirena wrote: "I would like to nominate Flaubert's Parrot. I'm reading it right now, and it is quickly becoming one of my favorite books."

Thanks, Sirena... Julian Barnes is one of my favorite authors. Love his wit. When I saw that Flaubert's Parrot was on Bowie's list I told myself "Of course he had to like Barnes. Two witty geniuses..."

Money by Martin Amis to make it ten:)

Peter wrote: "Money by Martin Amis to make it ten:)"

Great, Peter...

I would like to nominate 'In Cold Blood.'

Wendy wrote: "I would like to nominate 'In Cold Blood.'"

Thanks, Wendy...

I am feeling like I should start researching an edition of In Cold Blood for me to buy... Joey will be happy...

Fair point, Mariana!

Mariana wrote: "Hi, this is just a general question cause I'm curious of how other ppl feel towards certain readings streak. 1984 is no walk in the park and in cold blood seems like a champ for next month's readin..."

Fair point, indeed... I would love to hear from others as well how they feel about our reading schedule.

So, what's the lightest read of the ones nominated here? :D

Samanta wrote: "So, what's the lightest read of the ones nominated here? :D"

So far these are the ten nominees:

1- A Clockwork Orange
2- Lolita
3- Interviews with Francis Bacon
4- In Cold Blood
5- The Master and Margarita
6- Nights at the circus
7- Sexual Personae: Art and decadence…
8- On the road
9- Flaubert’s Parrot
10- Money

I do believe that are some very intense books on the bookshelf, however, I don't feel intimidated by most of them in terms of time to read. I don't think that neither 1984 nor In Cold Blood would need more than a month to be read.

Remembering that the topics of discussion were divided in parts of the book exactly for everyone to be able to read on their own pace. So, no one has to finish the book until February 1st. The idea is that as you read you come up with ideas that you feel like discussing with others. That's why I count as if we had almost 45 days to read each one (counting from the day the book is chosen until the last day of the last month).

Someone joked that it will takes 8 years and a half to read the whole list. That's a long time in my point of view hahahaha. Also, if we ever encounter a book that we feel that 30 days is not enough time to read it and talk about it, we can extend the deadline, right?What do you guys think?

Mariana wrote: "In terms of time, I'm ok with it. I've set a reading challenge of 75 books for this year, God help me. Am I optimistic or what? Lol

Like I said, I just wanted to throw my thoughts out there. I'll ..."

Your challenge is bigger than mine hahahaha. I am on realistic mode nowadays...

Ohhhh, and other thing, the book discussion will never be closed. So, if three years from now someone decides to reignite the 1984 talk, the space will be there still.

Mariana wrote: "In terms of time, I'm ok with it. I've set a reading challenge of 75 books for this year, God help me. Am I optimistic or what? Lol

Like I said, I just wanted to throw my thoughts out there. I'll ..."

175 this year. Last year I put 100 and read 175 :D :D

Samanta wrote: "Mariana wrote: "In terms of time, I'm ok with it. I've set a reading challenge of 75 books for this year, God help me. Am I optimistic or what? Lol

Like I said, I just wanted to throw my thoughts ..."

Wow... I am embarrassed... Mine is 40 books...

Nah..don't be...I just read A LOT of light reads last year.

Samanta wrote: "Nah..don't be...I just read A LOT of light reads last year."

I almost didn't achieve my reading goal last year. I read The Goldfinch, which I planned to read in two weeks tops, but it took more than a month... So boring...

Mariana wrote: "Samanta, I want to be like you when I grow up."

Hahahahahahaha...

I just love reading and do my best to read. It's like my personal rebellion against the reality of having to go to work every day and act like and adult, when I really don't want to leave my house....or my books (and I love my job!) :)

Samanta wrote: "Mariana wrote: "Samanta, I want to be like you when I grow up."

Hahahahahahaha..."

Teach us your tricks...

Trick number one: live at least 30 minutes away from you destination so that you can read while commuting from one place to another. :D

Trick number two: Ignore house chores. :D

That's about it!

Well, having an raising kids takes a toll on your reading. Actually, you read other kinds of books ;-)
I would not give the advice to ignore your kids though but, when they are old enough, you can teach them to leave you alone when you're reading a book as "mommy's special time".
Another tip in order to have peace and quiet so you can stay in your element (books, remember!) is to speak to them about the book you're currently reading as this can spark their interest in books whilst having exciting conversations about life, love, meaning, spiritual search, death, etc.
Since they literally LOVE David Bowie, telling them that mommy is reading a book that David'd loved will do the trick.
:-D

Cynthia wrote: "Since they literally LOVE David Bowie, telling them that mommy is reading a book that David'd loved will do the trick..."

That's adorable, Cynthia... May I ask how old are your kids? I have a 2 year old niece who loves Bowie as well.

My mom used to do something similar with me when I was very young. She would always talk to me about the books she was reading, and she would sometimes read some parts aloud when I was disturbing her reading time too much. So I had to sit with her and she would say for me to pay attention to the words because as soon as I learned to read, I would be reading for her.

My son is 10 years old (and almost a half) and my daughter is 8 1/2 years old.
Your mom did the right thing! No wonder you're an avid reader today :-) I will think of reading them excerpts.
But, for now, they're just immersing themselves in Bowie's music and, by doing so, picking up some English :-)

Cynthia wrote: "My son is 10 years old (and almost a half) and my daughter is 8 1/2 years old.
Your mom did the right thing! No wonder you're an avid reader today :-) I will think of reading them excerpts.
But, f..."

Great way of immersion... :)

I'll second the Flaubert, if we do that, and if we can second more than one, then also Nights at the Circus, because it's one I never before heard of.

The Paglia will take most people longer than a month to read. It's taken me like ten years so far. It's a lot of attitude to squeeze into even so large a book.

Robin wrote: "I'll second the Flaubert, if we do that, and if we can second more than one, then also Nights at the Circus, because it's one I never before heard of.

The Paglia will take most people longer than..."

Thanks, Robin... Just one nomination per member every month is allowed :)

Robin wrote: "I'll second the Flaubert, if we do that, and if we can second more than one, then also Nights at the Circus, because it's one I never before heard of.

The Paglia will take most people longer than..."

Following your comment, I've looked up the Paglia book. There are some controversies going on there. It might be a heavy read indeed, ever more so right after having read 1984...

Nevertheless I think all books chosen by Bowie are challenging.

Flaubert's Parrot appeals to me as well, but I will have to read Madame Bovary first since Julian Barnes wrote Flaubert's Parrot as a mirror book to Flaubert's masterpiece as well as being a biography of the French author.

Oh, I'm going to have to throw my hat in for Flaubert's Parrot. It sounds intriguing, and Julian Barnes writes beautifully.

Adriana wrote: "Oh, I'm going to have to throw my hat in for Flaubert's Parrot. It sounds intriguing, and Julian Barnes writes beautifully."

I have to say that Barnes is my "new" favorite writer. About 3 years ago I bought Sense of an Ending just because I loved the title and the book cover (sometimes I do that when I go to to bookstore on a whim). I read the book in one sitting and I felt like the whole meaning of my life (as a reader, at least) had changed.