The Obscure Reading Group discussion

The winning book in our special run-off between W.G. Sebald's The Emigrants and Ann Petry's The Street is Petry's 1946 novel set in WW II era Harlem.

This thread is for any reaction, anticipation, or background information on Petry leading up to the 3-week discussion. When I get the book, I will determine how best to break it into three parts, each around 150 pp.

It appears that some stores do not have this copy: The Street, but they do have this copy: The Street, which I ordered. As for library copies, you're more likely to find the first version I mentioned or a hardcover.

Thank you to all who participated in our polls.

Picked up the kindle version yesterday. I no longer can read print books.

I'm definitely in on this one. I'll download it as well.

Carol wrote: "Picked up the kindle version yesterday. I no longer can read print books."
Why can't you read print books? You prefer the Kindle?

It will be a library copy for me, the older of the two versions you listed, Ken.

Check this out--how the book covers have changed over the years:
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/5-c...

I got both a kindled copy from my local library and the audio edition. Looking forward to both.

Pace yourselves. I won't start reading this till the last week of September.

Results may vary based on reading paces.

Just wanted to add that Ann Petry's "The Street" is available on archive.org and can be borrowed for 14 days, and they have several copies.

Excited about this one. My library has it on Overdrive.

Kathleen - the cover art changes are thought provoking.

I’m excited for this read, especially considering the current social justice awakening going on throughout the US and world. I’ve never heard of this novel or author at all!


The ebook is available on scribd if anyone uses that rather decrepit platform (my app keeps crashing every ten mins mid audio book so our relationship is rather sour currently 🥴)

JimZ wrote: "Carol wrote: "Picked up the kindle version yesterday. I no longer can read print books."
Why can't you read print books? You prefer the Kindle?"

Eyes and the books tire my arms out.

Ordered off Amazon. Hooked me in immediately. Great choice.

eBay decided to send me a $25.00 coupon for virtually anything that I wanted so I took advantage of that by purchasing a used copy of The Street along with four other used books including March by Brooks, Purple Hibiscus by Adichie and The Luminaries and The Rehearsal by Eleanor Catton. Sorry to go a little bit off-topic of this thread but I was pretty excited to get this little gift just as we were starting a new book.

Those books are a true gift to yourself!!

BarbaraW wrote: "Ordered off Amazon. Hooked me in immediately. Great choice."

That's a good sign, Barbara. And a hearty welcome to you!

Darrin wrote: "eBay decided to send me a $25.00 coupon for virtually anything that I wanted so I took advantage of that by purchasing a used copy of The Street along with four other used books including March by ..."


I ordered a new copy and, as always, "save" on shipping by ordering additional books so I meet the threshold. All told, this strategy means I spend more and thus LOSE money.

But wait. I get two additional books! In this case they are The Complete Works of Alberto Caeiro: Bilingual edition and Lyrical and Critical Essays. No one burns "free shipping" book money like I do.

For English members, it's published by Virago Books (paperbacks), but it's not in the 3 county libraries I'm allowed to use (that's dozens of libraries!) or in accessible versions, as far as I can tell.

There is the kindle.uk version, which is the one I will get if it comes down in price. At the moment ereader.iq tell me that it's at the highest price on kindle it has ever been.

I'd like to join in if I can :)

I’ve got the electronic one too. I read very slowly so I’m starting now. What is the due date?

My Kindle version was $2.99. U.S.

Denise, we won't start until October, and I think Ken is dividing into 3 week periods, so you should have plenty of time. I never start early, as I forget what happened when, and don't want to comment with spoilers to ruin it for other readers.

Diane, when I looked for a kindle version it was over $10. Did you buy this recently? Guess I should look again. I have a hold in at the library but I’m 3rd in line for the e-book.

Diane, I just picked up a kindle copy. I’m glad you mentioned the price as I had checked it last week before this special. Thanks. Now to cancel my hold.

I looked on Kindle the day the poll closed and it was 2.99 then. Saw the special a couple of days later. I just assumed that was the regular price, but it's nice that the special price is available just in time for our read.

I'm one of these Can't-Read-It-On-a-Kindle guys paying the price for smelling paper and ink. My hands like the smooth feel of it, too. Only my wallet's barking, but what else is new.

This book is also available on Hoopla in both ebook form and audio, if your library participates. I prefer real books too, Ken, but sometimes the convenience of Kindle and ebooks is just hard to resist.

I approve of the Kindle and audio options 100%. I'm just stuck in my paper rut, which alarms my book shelves no end.

Just rec'd my paperback copy of the book, the second printing of Mariner Books issued in 2020. It totals 374 pp. and by all accounts is a fast read. If we break it into a 2-week discussion, it would look like so:

Chs. 1-8 (180 pp.)
Chs. 9-18 (193 pp.)


And if we break it into a 3-week discussion, it would look like so:

Chs. 1-5 (120 pp.)
Chs. 6-12 (137 pp.)
Chs. 13-18 (117 pp.)

Of course, using these chapter numbers in different editions will give you different page counts, but in general it should work out pretty close.

Do people care whether it's a 2-week or a 3-week slice? I'll hold my opinion so as not to sway the crowd, but am interested in everyone's preferences.

I'm fine with a two week discussion.

I prefer three weeks.

I like 3 weeks also.

I'm fine with either.

Also fine either way.

Either

Three may be better for my reading tolerance lately but I can play catch up if needed.

OK, I'll go with the 3-week way, as more seem to prefer that or either. It would also follow the pattern of the first two discussions.

Note to newbies in the group or lurkers thinking of joining: You don't have to FINISH this book by Oct. 1st. You'll only have to read Chapters 1-5 by that date. Then you can continue to read the next installment while the previous installment is discussed.

Some people who read quickly have two books going during the ORG discussions. That way they can read our book piecemeal and the second book at their usual pace.

Fine with me. I have two other books to finish for other book groups first, and then will get on with the first chapters of The Street. Looking forward!

Man, you more-than-one-book-group people put me to shame! (Of course, I've never been in a RL book group, but I've seen enough of my wife's to say they should be called Wine Groups.)

One of them meets Saturday morning, the other on Monday morning — both by Zoom — so, nope, no wine, Ken. Good coffee, instead!

Yvonne wrote: "One of them meets Saturday morning, the other on Monday morning — both by Zoom — so, nope, no wine, Ken. Good coffee, instead!"

Great strategy. If your RL group is too much about the wine, schedule for 10 a.m.!

Got my reserved copy from the library yesterday, eager to start it soon!

I bought the kindle book but I haven’t had time to even think about reading. I may have to skip this discussion. Life is getting in the way. My hope is to join in but I am not sure if I will be able to!

Sandra wrote: "I bought the kindle book but I haven’t had time to even think about reading. I may have to skip this discussion. Life is getting in the way. My hope is to join in but I am not sure if I will be abl..."

If not, not, and everyone understands. But don't give up hope! Life might give you a breather in the coming weeks. It is unpredictable, after all.

T-Minus 8 days and counting. Slow readers, start your engines -- not to finish by Oct. 1st, but to have the first five chapters read, is all.

Probably I will put up the first discussion thread on the eve (Wed., Sept. 30th). Probably I will start reading The Street myself this coming weekend.

Man. Can't believe it's going to be October already. Fasten your seat belts and hide with a book!

Library kindled version was due already and went back unread because there are holds on it. So I paid the $2.99 to Amazon to get my own kindled copy. Looking forward to it as soon as I finish Year of Wonders this week for my other book group.

It is an easy read. Just have to find the time and motivation. I tried to find photos to post of what Harlem looked like in the 1940’s.

I hate to think of the 40s at a time in our history that's bringing the 30s to mind.

Thank God history doesn't repeat itself.

Ken, I certainly hope you’re right. 2020 is giving too great a dose of American History.

Sue wrote: "Ken, I certainly hope you’re right. 2020 is giving too great a dose of American History."

And we may be broaching new territory this fall if, as threatened and for the first time since our inception as a nation, there is no peaceful transfer of power.

(Gee, I wonder if The Street has any politics? In a way, I hope not.)

About to begin the book. I anticipate a sociological look at the time, hopefully no politics.

I began it yesterday. Taking it slowly. I do not see this as political. I think it is a fair picture of the time it portrays.