NYRB Classics discussion

Last year we read Lies and Sorcery. I thought it might be fitting to try another publication with a higher page count from NYRB with the hope that the group read will help motivate us to get through another of these longer books. I am limiting the selections to three books published by NYRB Classics in 2025, one book from 2024, and one book from 2019 which begins a series that will be completed in 2025.

Effingers Gabriele Tergit 864pp
A Fortunate Man Henrik Pontoppidan
880 pp
Bomarzo Manuel Mujica Lainez 688pp
Memoirs from Beyond the Grave: 1768-1800 François-René de Chateaubriand 584pp
Chevengur Andrei Platonov

Any comments would be welcome. I will post a poll for the January 2026 group read as soon as the December poll closes.

Coincidentally, my copy of “Memoirs from Beyond the Grave” is being delivered today. Both the Tergit and Pontoppidan look interesting.

I read “Bomarzo” about a month ago. The prose is absolutely gorgeous, the storyline sounded so intriguing, and I immersed myself in it. But unfortunately for me, midway through it became a rather ponderous read, bogged down by its own beautiful language and a storyline that ultimately fizzled out.

I loved the Morante last year.

All three sound good, but The Effingers is VERY high on my TBR, really excited for another big family saga.

How did I miss Chevenger on the list?? I must check it out. 🙂

I plan to read both Chevengur and Bomarzo next year. I'm calling it my Chevengur-Bomarzo Year.

I’m willing to bet you’re one of the very few planning a Chevengur-Bomarzo year. :)

They both sound very good and I hope to have the focus to read them one day.

Last day for voting on the January group read. Pretty tight race at the moment.

Effingers by Gabriele Tergit and translated by Sophie Duvernoy has won a tight race in the poll for the January read. I was looking forward to any of the nominated books but like that a recent release was chosen since I think it shows NYRB is continuing to publish material the readers want to read. I am looking forward to this in January. There was only two votes maximum separating the top four books which also shows that NYRB is consistent in offering what the readers enjoy.

ahhh, this means I will finally get to a tome that has been on my bedside table for four years :)

I have this and am looking forward to the read in 2026