2015: The Year of Reading Women discussion

Discussion and Group reads from Renata Adler

Wiki:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renata_A...

I'm interested in Adler, though probably later in the year.

I think you'll love her, Sue.

Kris wrote: "I think you'll love her, Sue."

I've certainly heard good things about her. This group is either going to be my salvation or my downfall for 2015 reading. Perhaps a bit of both. I'm getting excited at all the possibilities.

Huzzah for more Adler readers! And if I may be so bold Sue - start with "Speedboat" whenever you get around to reading her.

Brian wrote: "Huzzah for more Adler readers! And if I may be so bold Sue - start with "Speedboat" whenever you get around to reading her."

Thanks for the suggestion, Brian. I've seen that mentioned many times and the title alone has me curious.

I'm very interested in Adler. I have Speedboat & Pitch Dark on one of my shelves, probably wondering when they're going to get some overdue attention. I also missed out on a group read of both of them earlier this year in a different group due to too much on at the time, but I am determined to make the time this year. They would be my preferred starting point, but any of hers would be good to get through, so I'm open if others would prefer to read on of her other ones.

Adler is a wonderful choice! Speedboat was one of the best books I've read this year & has become one of my all-time favorites. Such a fresh approach! Looking forward to Pitch Dark, which I recently purchased.

I'm about to start reading Speedboat, and I've got Pitch Dark to read after that.

I'm new to Adler... Apparently Elizabeth Hardwick was a fan

I read both of these --Speedboat and Pitch Dark -- last year: they're really good. There isn't really a narrative (more in Pitch Dark than in Speedboat), but somehow they coalesce anyway. Of the two I think I preferred Speedboat.

I think there's a new book out, now that she's come back into fashion, but I haven't read it: After the Tall Timber: Collected Nonfiction. I did read the Pauline Kael piece, though it was a little difficult to evaluate from the perspective of someone who really never read many Kael reviews. I did like what seemed like Adler's commitment to trying to use writing to get at the truth, writing less often and better instead of generating the maximum content or inhabiting a persona. (That point actually seems all the more relevant now than it probably was when the essay was published.)

Okay, so if we get some people on board, I have a proposal for readings, seeing as we have a few reading/wanting to read both Adler & Hardwick. Also, Elizabeth Hardwick was apparently heavily influenced by the books of Renata Adler, so to read these together seems fitting.

May: Hardwick - The New York Stories & Adler - Speedboat

June: Hardwick - Sleepless Nights (though we can discuss it earlier than that ofcourse, seeing as a few have read it recently. I'll probably reread this in June though, it was that good) & Adler - Pitch Dark.

July: Hardwick - Seduction & Betrayal & Adler - After the Tall Timber (seeing as it's just come out).

Anyone who wants join the readings or discussions, even if you've read any/all of these before, please feel free to contribute. I can start the threads in the respective months to get us going if people are interested (once I figure out how, haha).

I've posted this on the Hardwick thread too to try and gather a few from that angle as well. :)

Russell wrote: "Okay, so if we get some people on board, I have a proposal for readings, seeing as we have a few reading/wanting to read both Adler & Hardwick. Also, Elizabeth Hardwick was apparently heavily influ..."

Sounds good! I'm in.

Much as I'd like to, I'm just too over-loaded right now to add anything right now. Enjoy

Anyone else in London? Waterstones have a nice edition of Pitch Dark in the remainders section for, i think, £3.99. I had a flick through and didn't fancy it... I ought to be more open minded haha