UK Book Club discussion

The random generator has spluttered out the next genre. For February it's going to be 20thC American Classics. Now what to read?

I've already read The Great Gatsby, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Catcher in the Rye, The Grapes of Wrath, Catch-22. I will have to dig through my to read list, I'm sure there'll be something there...

What about you?

I'm reading one now. by Michael Shaara.

by N. Scott Momaday.

Of Mice and Men, The Grapes of Wrath and Catch-22 have all been on my tbr list for some time so I'll probably read one of them.

Caroline, of those three I liked 'Of Mice and Men' best.

Just been checking my shelves. I think it's going to be 'The Colour Purple' for me - it'll get me Georgia for the US challenge too.....

I suppose I could make one more effort to wade through the intermiable tennis chapters and finally fiinsh Infinite Jest or read the copy of The Great Gatsby as it had Lenardo Di Caprio on the cover. Maybe the latter as I heard a lecture on the editorial revisions, although I think I might prefer if it was still called West Egg as I love quirky titles.

Liz wrote: "Caroline, of those three I liked 'Of Mice and Men' best."

Having checked my actual real-life bookshelves, I've realised that that's the only one of the three I don't own a copy of! Will order at the library and hope it comes in soon. If not it will be one of the other two :)

After recently really enjoying Slaughterhouse-Five I thought I'd read another Kurt Vonnegut, Breakfast of Champions. For ages I thought I didn't like his writing style because the first book I read of his was Cat's Cradle which I found pretty mind-numbing.

I may have a look for something by willa cather as I've heard her name mentioned a lot recently or alternatively Rabbit run as it is sat in a big pile somewhere. I also wouldn't mind rereading some Irwin Shaw but haven't since the 70's when I had a splurge after seeing Rich man poor man' - Probably end up being none of the above but looking forward to choosing.

I would like to read The Grapes of Wrath either this month or later in the year. The Great Gatsby is also something I could read. I suppose I start with: Breakfast at Tiffany's.

Andrew, I enjoyed Willa Cather's 'A Lost Lady', last year. (She's good for Nebraska in US challenge too!)

I love Willa Cather but I've ordered Go Tell It on the Mountain. Still got 3 to read for USA challenge but dont know of any classics set in any of them.

I thought I might go for The Call of the Wild by Jack London I think it published 1903 so just about right century. Although I'm also tempted to revisit some John Steinbeck too.

Away on a sort of Conference, I finished the book I was reading and searched my Kindle for anything that might fit this months theme. All I could find was Fahrenheit 451. I hope it counts. It was an enjoyable read though.

Davidg wrote: "Away on a sort of Conference, I finished the book I was reading and searched my Kindle for anything that might fit this months theme. All I could find was Fahrenheit 451. I hope it co..."

Yes, I think it counts! Good book. I read it a while back and enjoyed it too.

I'm stuck for this challenge. looking at my read books it looks like I don't enjoy American classics as they all have only 1 or 2 stars! I really need a suggestion I'm going to love to convert me to this genre!

Just finished reading Breakfast of Champions. Very, very strange but very good.

I've decided to re-read The Old Man and the Sea which I studied at school and really didn't get on with. I gave it 1 star originally but I'm hoping this re-read will enlighten me and I'll appreciate whatever it was I missed the first time round!
Plus it will get me Cuba and its only 99 pages long. Do you get the feeling I'm eagerly anticipating March's genre? lol

Kate (Trojanhorse) wrote: "I've decided to re-read The Old Man and the Sea which I studied at school and really didn't get on with. I gave it 1 star originally but I'm hoping this re-read will enlighten me and I'll appreciate whatever it was I missed the first time round!
Plus it will get me Cuba and its only 99 pages long. Do you get the feeling I'm eagerly anticipating March's genre? lol ..'

Ha ha! Hopefully it will be better this time around. My copy of The Color Purple has arrived at the library. Must get down there to pick it up. I know it's not going to be a bundle of laughs, but I hope it's compelling...

Liz wrote: "My copy of The Color Purple has arrived at the library. Must get down there to pick it up. I know it's not going to be a bundle of laughs, but I hope it's compelling..."

I loved it and the book that inspired it Their Eyes Were Watching God. I read both for my US Tour and they inspired me to research what this cornbread was that everyone was eating and now I bake this American classic (which predates European settlers) with great regularity.

Have decided to go with , a Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of America's Dust Bowl years. Now I just have to wait for it to arrive. Think I may also read as its been on my TBR shelf for ever.

Mercia wrote: "loved it and the book that inspired it Their Eyes Were Watching God. I read both for my US Tour..."

Yes, I'm going to use it for Georgia too ;)

Also reading by John Steinbeck - I've already got a book for California but hey ho...

So far I enjoyed and
I'm now reading - I missed the film at the cinema so thought I'd try the book instead.

I'll be interested to hear how you found Carol, Andrew. I have seen the film and thought it excellent but I've no idea how much poetic licence they took with the book.

Em wrote: "I'll be interested to hear how you found Carol, Andrew. I have seen the film and thought it excellent but I've no idea how much poetic licence they took with the book."

It was a really interesting read Em. I haven't seen the film although my wife raved about it but I really want to see it now. It captures the time well although there is a lot of expression of feelings on the page as Therese's thoughts so will be curious to see how that was captured in the film. I'd recommend it.

I read Breakfast at Tiffany's which I enjoyed a lot.

I've been reading the short stories and novellas by H.P. Lovecraft, compiled in one volume, Necronomicon: The Best Weird Tales, all written in the 20th century. I never thought about it, but I guess that would qualify as an American 20th Century classic?

Read noble laureate Toni Morrison's Beloved, which deals with the theme of the dreadful legacy of slavery set in the immediate post-emancipation era in Ohio, near Cincinnati. harrowing tale written in beautiful prose. A true classic, even if published as recently as 1987.
Full review http://mmmporium.com/beloved

Andrew wrote: "Em wrote: "I'll be interested to hear how you found Carol, Andrew. I have seen the film and thought it excellent but I've no idea how much poetic licence they took with the book."

It was a really ..."

Thanks, next time I land some Amazon vouchers - think I'll treat myself to Carol.

I read The Great Gatsby for the first time. I found I was reading it with images of the Robert Redford movie in my head and the dire episode of Endeavour that placed Morse in the story. Ironically I was reading a movie tie-in edition linked to the Leonardo Di Caprio movie.

I felt I knew most of the storyline, but it was the closing section that was most interesting, which I don't recall the Redford movie dealing with (and Morse turned into a murder mystery unconnected to the novel) but due to spoilers I can't say why I liked the novel's ending so much.

Was hoping to read Of Mice and Men this month but I'm still on the waiting list at the library so I went for The Grapes of Wrath instead. I'm not sure 'enjoyed it' would be the right words as it was a very depressing read at times but I gave it 4 stars.

I landed on my feet this month - I loved Cannery Row - excellent book, great description of a place in time, I felt the characters were utterly convincing.

I also enjoyed The Call of the Wild which is set right at the end of 19th Century (albeit published in 1903) not sure if it scrapes in 20th Century or not but nevertheless, I appreciated this novella more on the re-read than I did first time around.

Just made it! . Published in 1950s, a semi-autobiographical story of a reformed preacher. Good story ut found the last chapter a bit long!

So, whats next? Have enjoyed the last two genres.

BTW The Color Purple was good. Well worth a read.

Catching up on the challenge: Can put , and a re-read of in this category.

Just finished Close Range. Fond some of the stories to be very moving. Wyoming seem to be a depressing place to live.

Tania wrote: "Just finished Close Range. Fond some of the stories to be very moving. Wyoming seem to be a depressing place to live."

I thought that too!

Not 20th C but I think this will eventually be regarded as a 21st C American Classic......American Rust by Philipp Meyer.