Catching up on Classics (and lots more!) discussion

October 2024 New School group read nominations are now open! Please review the requirements below for book eligibility.

1. Books that have already been featured as group reads are not eligible for nomination. Bookshelf

In the interest of variety, please wait a month to renominate a book that has been in the poll. These are the books from last month's poll:

Shadows of the Pomegranate Tree by Tariq Ali
Travels with Charley: In Search of America by John Steinbeck
Sweet Thursday by John Steinbeck
On the Beach by Nevil Shute
Seize the Day by Saul Bellow
The Girls of Slender Means by Muriel Spark

2. Eligible publication dates for books are 1915 - 1999.

3. When making a nomination, please use "add book/author" link to help moderators and others view the book selected.

4. Only seven books, by seven different authors will move forward to each poll. This will be determined by the number of seconds a book receives. The seven books with the most seconds moves to the poll.

5. One nomination and one second per member will be allowed. A nomination can be changed only until it has been seconded. Once seconded, in fairness to the member making the second, the nomination will stand.

5a. A second can be withdrawn and placed on another choice. This change must in some way be noted in a post such as, "I am withdrawing my second for book A and placing it on book B." It will be easier to moderator to track changes.

6. Only one book per author; in the event of more than one book by the same author is nominated, only the first one to receive a second will be eligible. The nominator of the ruled ineligible book will be able to nominate a replacement or second another already in nomination.

6a. Same author-multiple categories. The same author may be nominated in multiple categories in a single month as long as the nominations are for different books. In the case of identical nominations, precedence will go to the first one to receive a second.

7. Availability Members nominating for a monthly Group Read will need to check that a copy of the text is reasonably available for members, and is available in English. Moderators may disallow a nomination if a copy is not readily available.

Nominations will remain open until the 14th of the month. Polls will open on the 16th and run until the penultimate day of the month.

I nominate A Murder Is Announced by Agatha Christie (288 p., pub. 1950).

I nominate The Heat of the Day by Elizabeth Bowen 1948, 415p

I nominate Under the Volcano by Malcolm Lowry 1947 423pp

I nominate The Radetzky March by Joseph Roth. First published in 1932, 363 pages.

I nominate The Longest Day by Cornelius Ryan, 350 pp, pub 1959

average goodreads rating: 4.33 of 24,849

"The unparalleled work of history that recreates the battle that changed World War II ... the classic story of the invasion of Normandy, and a book that endures as a masterpiece of living history. A compelling tale of courage and heroism, glow and tragedy, The Longest Day painstakingly recreates the fateful hours that preceded and followed the massive invasion of Normandy to retell the story of an epic battle that would turn the tide against world fascism and free Europe from the grip of Nazi Germany. "

The Chosen by Chaim Potok, 1967, 271 pages. Sara and I are planning to Buddy Read this in October and it would be great to have a few more people sign up. If not voted in here, please go to the Buddy Read link and join us from there.

Terry wrote: "The Chosen by Chaim Potok, 1967, 271 pages. Sara and I are planning to Buddy Read this in October and it would be great to have a few more people sign up. If not voted in here, please go to the Bud..."

I think I'm already on the list and looking forward to it! :)

Kimberly wrote: "I nominate The Radetzky March by Joseph Roth. First published in 1932, 363 pages."

I second

I nominate The Day Lasts More than a Hundred Years by Chingiz Aitmatov, 368 pages, first published 1980

I second The Chosen by Chaim Potok because I have a physical copy of this book on my shelf I bought about 10 years ago. That being said, if it doesn't win the nomination I might not have time to read it in a Buddy Ready, so sorry Terris. Terry and Sara.

I taught a short story by Chaim Potok in Middle School, called "Zebra". It was excellent.

I second The Chosen.

AND I just downloaded the PDF of "Zebra"! Thanks, Lynn :)

I second The Chosen. I hope it wins, it would be great to have you in the read, Lynn!

I second Under the Volcano

this is one of those titles that I am aghast are not already on our group shelf

Thanks Darren.

AiK wrote: "I nominate The Day Lasts More than a Hundred Years by Chingiz Aitmatov, 368 pages, first published 1980"

I've read that Aitmatov writes his novels in Kirgirz language then self-translates them to Russian. I read a book of his shorter works in January- Toprak Ana (Mother Earth). I enjoyed it.

I will second The Heat of the Day.
I read The Chosen about 50 years ago- I suppose I could read it again :)

I 2nd The Heat of the Day

Thanks George and Julie :)

Seconding The Chosen

Under the Volcano

Thanks Dave

Thanks, Lori, Sara, Teris and Lynn.

spoko wrote: "I nominate A Murder Is Announced by Agatha Christie (288 p., pub. 1950)."

Seconded!

I second The Day Lasts More...

Nominations Update

The Chosen by Chaim Potok, 1967, 271 pages
Terry, Lynn, Terris, Sara, Lori

The Heat of the Day by Elizabeth Bowen, 1948, 415 pages
Janelle, George P., Julie

Under the Volcano by Malcolm Lowry, 1947, 423 pages
Sam, Darren, Dave

A Murder Is Announced by Agatha Christie, 1950, 288 pages
spoko, Aprilleigh

The Radetzky March by Joseph Roth, 1932, 363 pages
Kimberly, AiK

The Day Lasts More than a Hundred Years by Chingiz Aitmatov, 1980, 368 pages
AiK, Margaret

The Longest Day by Cornelius Ryan, 1959, 350 pages
J_BlueFLower

I second The Heat of the Day

I second The Longest Day.

roblox

Alex wrote: "roblox"

Is this a nomination? I need more information please.

I second The Heat of the Day.

I second A Murder Is Announced.

maybe a bit late but I nominate The Go-Between by L.P. Hartley (1953) 326 pages

"The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there"

I'll second The Go-Between.

I second The Go-Between

Nominations Update

The Chosen by Chaim Potok, 1967, 271 pages
Terry, Lynn, Terris, Sara, Lori

The Heat of the Day by Elizabeth Bowen, 1948, 415 pages
Janelle, George P., Julie, Kimberly, Laurie

Under the Volcano by Malcolm Lowry, 1947, 423 pages
Sam, Darren, Dave

A Murder Is Announced by Agatha Christie, 1950, 288 pages
spoko, Aprilleigh, Klowey

The Go-Between by L.P. Hartley, 1953, 326 pages
Darren, Wobbley, Chuck

The Radetzky March by Joseph Roth, 1932, 363 pages
Kimberly, AiK

The Day Lasts More than a Hundred Years by Chingiz Aitmatov, 1980, 368 pages
AiK, Margaret

The Longest Day by Cornelius Ryan, 1959, 350 pages
J_BlueFLower, Jen (Finally changer her GR pic)

All of this month's nominations will advance to the poll

The Chosen by Chaim Potok, 1967, 271 pages

The Heat of the Day by Elizabeth Bowen, 1948, 415 pages

Under the Volcano by Malcolm Lowry, 1947, 423 pages

A Murder Is Announced by Agatha Christie, 1950, 288 pages

The Go-Between by L.P. Hartley, 1953, 326 pages

The Radetzky March by Joseph Roth, 1932, 363 pages

The Day Lasts More than a Hundred Years by Chingiz Aitmatov, 1980, 368 pages

The Longest Day by Cornelius Ryan, 1959, 350 pages

Nominations are now closed.