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Group Reads -> July 2024 -> Nomination Thread (won by The Bell Jar (1963) by Sylvia Plath
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Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie.
It comes loaded with acclamation: Booker Prize in 1981, The Booker of Bookers in 1993 and the Best of the Booker in 2008.
Saleem Sinai is born at the stroke of midnight on August 15, 1947, the very moment of India’s independence. Greeted by fireworks displays, cheering crowds, and Prime Minister Nehru himself, Saleem grows up to learn the ominous consequences of this coincidence. His every act is mirrored and magnified in events that sway the course of national affairs; his health and well-being are inextricably bound to those of his nation; his life is inseparable, at times indistinguishable, from the history of his country. Perhaps most remarkable are the telepathic powers linking him with India’s 1,000 other “midnight’s children,” all born in that initial hour and endowed with magical gifts.
This novel is at once a fascinating family saga and an astonishing evocation of a vast land and its people–a brilliant incarnation of the universal human comedy. Twenty-five years after its publication, Midnight’ s Children stands apart as both an epochal work of fiction and a brilliant performance by one of the great literary voices of our time.
I will nominate A Room with a View. Why? I haven’t read this since my early 20s and it would be interesting to reread with more mature eyes. Plus it is short and will take me somewhere warm and sunny in July. Maybe this might resonate with you.
Mod
The Bell Jar (1963)
by
Sylvia Plath
I thought I'd choose something that I expect to take me out of my comfort zone
I have never read any Sylvia Plath and feel I should put that right
And all I know about The Bell Jar is it's a classic
Hopefully those that have read it (probably most of you) might feel it's worthy of a reread
The blurb is certainly enticing...
The Bell Jar chronicles the crack-up of Esther Greenwood: brilliant, beautiful, enormously talented, and successful, but slowly going under—maybe for the last time. Sylvia Plath masterfully draws the reader into Esther's breakdown with such intensity that Esther's insanity becomes completely real and even rational, as probable and accessible an experience as going to the movies. Such deep penetration into the dark and harrowing corners of the psyche is an extraordinary accomplishment and has made The Bell Jar a haunting American classic.
Mod
All of which means I'd jump at reading it with you lovely people.
Ahh, some real classics. But it's the only one of Rushdie's that I’ve read, RC, and I've read A Room With a View and The Bell Jar twice already.I’m nominating one that might have been nominated here before (or was it another group?).
True Grit by Charles Portis, a book and a writer I’ve wanted to read for a long time. Written in 1968, it takes place
in the 1870s, when young Mattie Ross learns that her beloved father was gunned down by his former handyman. But even though this gutsy 14-year-old is seeking vengeance, she is smart enough to figure out she can't go alone after a desperado who's holed up in Indian territory. With some fast-talking, she convinces mean, one-eyed US Marshal "Rooster" Cogburn into going after the despicable outlaw with her.
Like Huckleberry Finn, which I'm reading now as Preparation for Percival Everett's "James", Mattie is said to have one of the great "voices" of American literature.
Mod
Thanks for some great nominations - already a magnficent set of choices with, hopefully, more to come
Nominations so far
Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie (Roman Clodia)
A Room with a View by E.M. Forster (Sonia)
The Bell Jar (1963) by Sylvia Plath (Nigeyb)
True Grit by Charles Portis (Ben)
Great choices and I'd happily reread any of the four . True Grit is one of my all time favourite novels and, yes Ben, Mattie is a singular and wonderful character. I think it's Donna Tart's favourite novel and she reads the audiobook . Long time since I read The Bell Jar or Room with a View and Midnight's children is a playful delight .
Mod
Another book I haven't read. I did Forster's Howards End for A level which rather put me off him, though I did read A Passage to India as an undergrad.
Florence (?) in July would be nice.
What a wonderful and varied group of nominations! Midnight’s Children is the only one I haven’t read yet, but the others are worth revisiting. (Plus, it’s been awhile!)
I was thinking of nominating but I’d be happy to read/reread any of these - great choices.
Mod
I’ll get the poll up in about 18 hours so this is a last call for nominations
Mod
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2...
Nominations
Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie (Roman Clodia)
A Room with a View by E.M. Forster (Sonia)
The Bell Jar (1963) by Sylvia Plath (Nigeyb)
True Grit by Charles Portis (Ben)
As usual don't know what to vote for, I'm not a Rushdie fan but it's a timely rec. I've always meant to read the Portis and I've been contemplating rereading the Forster and the Plath anyway!
Mod
The Bell Jar (1963) by Sylvia Plath - 3 votes, 30.0%
True Grit by Charles Portis - 3 votes, 30.0%
Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie - 2 votes, 20.0%
A Room with a View by E.M. Forster - 2 votes, 20.0%
Mod
The Bell Jar (1963) by Sylvia Plath - 3 votes, 27.3%
True Grit by Charles Portis - 3 votes, 27.3%
A Room with a View by E.M. Forster - 3 votes, 27.3%
Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie - 2 votes, 18.2%
A three way tie at the moment
https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/2...
Mod
The Bell Jar (1963)
by
Sylvia Plath
The Bell Jar chronicles the crack-up of Esther Greenwood: brilliant, beautiful, enormously talented, and successful, but slowly going under—maybe for the last time. Sylvia Plath masterfully draws the reader into Esther's breakdown with such intensity that Esther's insanity becomes completely real and even rational, as probable and accessible an experience as going to the movies. Such deep penetration into the dark and harrowing corners of the psyche is an extraordinary accomplishment and has made The Bell Jar a haunting American classic.
Mod
and
A Room with a View by E.M. Forster
Both got three votes apiece so if there's an appetite for a buddy read of either, or both, then reply in the affirmative, and if there's at least two participants per title, we can set them up
Mod
See you in July
I’d be up for either, actually, but I haven’t read True Grit since I was a girl so that would be my Buddy preference.
Thank you. I’d love to do True Grit as a Buddy Read
I’ve seen the John Wayne film many times but not read the book. I’d be interested in joining you for a buddy read.
Mod
Reading the 20th Century
Books mentioned in this topic
The Bell Jar (other topics)A Room with a View (other topics)
Howards End (other topics)
A Passage to India (other topics)
True Grit (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Sylvia Plath (other topics)Sylvia Plath (other topics)
Salman Rushdie (other topics)
Please supply the title, author, a brief synopsis, and anything else you'd like to mention about the book, and why you think it might make a good book to discuss.
Happy nominating