21st Century Literature discussion

Nominations are now open until September 22nd for the November 2018 Open Pick.

Nominating guidelines:
- Fiction (original & translation, if applicable) first published between January 1, 2000 and November 1, 2017. For translations the latter date must be an English edition.
- One nomination per person (please do not nominate or vote for a book unless you are certain you can read and discuss if it wins)
- A book this group has not yet read (see group bookshelf)

If you are nominating, please begin your post by stating "I nominate [name with hyperlink to book]"

I nominate Moonstone: The Boy Who Never Was by Sjón. Robert came up with this but it didn't win the last vote, so I hope this time, the book will be victorious!

Meike wrote: "I nominate Moonstone: The Boy Who Never Was by Sjón. Robert came up with this but didn't win the last vote, so I hope this time, the book will be victorious!"

This is the book I voted for last time. The votes among last month's losers were a fairly even split, so it's hard to know if any repeat nominees have an inside edge. But so far this is the only book nominated, so it must be winning! (for now)

Early days. I am not nominating this time.

Meike wrote: "I nominate Moonstone: The Boy Who Never Was by Sjón. Robert came up with this but it didn't win the last vote, so I hope this time, the book will be victorious!"

Great!

I nominate Home by Marilynne Robinson

Bryan wrote: "I nominate Home by Marilynne Robinson"

I believe, I may very well be interested in reading your nomination than mine. SMH! Do I need to have read Gilead before Home, or can they be read as a stand alone?

Ami wrote: "Bryan wrote: "I nominate Home by Marilynne Robinson"

I believe, I may very well be interested in reading your nomination than mine. SMH! Do I need to have read Gilead before Home, o..."
It can be read as a stand alone novel. It was my first Robinson and I had no problems at all.

Robert wrote: "Ami wrote: "Bryan wrote: "I nominate Home by Marilynne Robinson"

I believe, I may very well be interested in reading your nomination than mine. SMH! Do I need to have read Gilead be..."

Thanks, Robert.

Home was my least favorite of the Gilead trilogy but still very good. The books in the trilogy can all be read as standalones or in any order. Gilead is one of my favorite books of all time.

I nominate The Gallows Pole by Benjamin Myers. I couldn't see it on your Bookshelf so I hope it's not one the group has read before.

Catriona wrote: "I nominate The Gallows Pole by Benjamin Myers. I couldn't see it on your Bookshelf so I hope it's not one the group has read before."

Nope--we haven't read this one yet, Catriona!

I've yet to read a Robinson book I didn't adore. I third or fourth the comments about order not mattering in the Gilead series.

Home was the first Robinson I read and is still my favourite (perhaps because I struggled to identify with Ames). If we choose it we can probably make a space to discuss the rest of the trilogy.

I'm glad to hear that others had similar reactions to Gilead that I did. Definitely one of my 'best-of the 21st Century' picks.

I've been wanting to get back to Robinson ever since I finished Gilead--this would be a good nudge. I've got Lila waiting for me as well

As a side note, I really enjoyed The Death of Adam: Essays on Modern Thought by Robinson as well.

I nominate The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller. I just finished Circe and loved it, but it doesn't meet the November 2017 guideline. I'm eager to read Achilles.

Suzy wrote: "I nominate The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller. I just finished Circe and loved it, but it doesn't meet the November 2017 guideline. I'm eager to read Achilles."

It's a good book, but the group has read it already.

I nominate Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie.

Peter wrote: "Suzy wrote: "I nominate The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller. I just finished Circe and loved it, but it doesn't meet the November 2017 guideline. I'm eager to read Achilles."

I..."

Oh, darn! Should have checked. :)

I nominate Go, Went, Gone by Jenny Erpenbeck.

The poll is now up here:
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/178425-what-will-be-our-november-2018-open-pick-remember-if-you-vote-for-a

Voting ends September 30th!
Thanks for all the wonderful nominations.

Thanks for organizing all of this, Marc and Hugh!

Yes, great job as usual, guys!

In case any of you didn't get the message Marc sent out a few days ago, the November moderator pick is Trampoline: An Illustrated Novel by Robert Gipe.

Thanks for remembering that Marc

Go team!
:D

Sjón is like the Sigur Rós of literature (meaning, has this huge, seemingly very well-deserved following and I'm only just hearing about him long after the fact; and, of course, he's from Iceland!).

Gonna be another tough round of voting with so many great options.

Just a note: I don't know if The Gallows Pole has been published in the US, but from what I can tell it has not been published in Canada. Not only do my libraries not have it, but the major bookstore chain (Chapters / Indigo) does not have it as existing on their website, and they have everything. It sounds like a book I'd like to read sometime, but I'd like to be able to get it from a library and I don't know when (or even if) that will be possible.

Good points to bring up, David. Those voting for it, should be aware that accessing a copy may not be easy depending on where you live. Amazon and Book Depository have paperback options, but I also have not seen this book in my local library systems or bookstores in the U.S.

The Gallows Pole is definitely worth getting hold of - it was originally published in the UK by Bluemoose, a small independent. I am hoping Go Went Gone is available in paperback by then...

Marc wrote: "Sjón is like the Sigur Rós of literature..."

There's some truth to that! But in fact - sorry, nerd alert! - Sjón performed with The Sugarcubes and wrote several songs for Björk! :-)

Meike wrote: "Marc wrote: "Sjón is like the Sigur Rós of literature..."

There's some truth to that! But in fact - sorry, nerd alert! - Sjón performed with The Sugarcubes and wrote several songs for Björk! :-)"

Ah, so I've liked him even longer and been completely oblivious!
It's a good thing my ignorance doesn't get in the way of my enjoyment. :D

This group is serving us all the nerdy facts, Marc! :-)

Keep'em coming!

Marc wrote: "Meike wrote: "Marc wrote: "Sjón is like the Sigur Rós of literature..."

There's some truth to that! But in fact - sorry, nerd alert! - Sjón performed with The Sugarcubes and wrote several songs fo..."

There's an excellent passage/interview about Sjon and Bjork in this book : Bjork's Homogenic and if you're a fan, I strongly recommend it. :)

Robert wrote: "There's an excellent passage/interview about Sjon and Bjork in this book : Bjork's Homogenic and if you're a fan, I strongly recommend it. :) "

I am. Will definitely check this one out--thanks!

Go, Went, Gone takes the victory!

Carol, you up for moderating in November?

Marc wrote: "Go, Went, Gone takes the victory!

Carol, you up for moderating in November?"

Yes.

Great--thank you, Carol!