[xpressway2yrskull]

I think it's a great idea. So long as there's actually a decent number of people prepared to discuss afterwards.

[Glice]

I'm tentatively interested, because I have enjoyed the pleasures of a book club before.

I share Truncated's concerns, to some degree, but would also like to say that I suspect it'll be easier to get people to read Kundera than Stephen King. Something no-one has read would be quite difficult to find, but I would rather not have to suffer the ilk of either authors I have suggested here.

Perhaps we could start with Genesis, and work our way up from there?

[truncated]

I know you didn't just knock Stephen King.

I have had similar hallucinations regarding cheese villification on this board as well.

It must be me.

[Glice]

Read veneration where you feel it is wanted. I'm just waiting for the takers on the Kundera-bait to be honest.

[truncated]

I suppose I'm ambivalent toward Kundera, though I've only read "Unbearable Lightness."

I found him unnecessarily convoluted at times, and was basically unimpressed.

However, I'm open-minded. If someone can suggest a novel of his that will change my mind, I'd give it a go.

*Edit/disclaimer: Yes, I shorten album and book titles when writing them out. No, I do not use the appropriate ellipses or brackets. So piss off.

[DemonBox]

count me in. the library here is not so good, but i know they order stuff if i ask, it takes some time though.

[Glice]

Originally Posted by truncated

I suppose I'm ambivalent toward Kundera, though I've only read "Unbearable Lightness."

I found him unnecessarily convoluted at times, and was basically unimpressed.

However, I'm open-minded. If someone can suggest a novel of his that will change my mind, I'd give it a go.

*Edit/disclaimer: Yes, I shorten album and book titles when writing them out. No, I do not use the appropriate ellipses or brackets. So piss off.

I get pissed off with him because every idiot and their dog keeps telling me I should read him... he's gone into that category of 'intellectual books for people who aren't very clever' (cf - On the Road). He's a distinctly average writer.

Now, can I get seconded in my proposition that people read something by Genet?

[alyasa]

King sets great mood, can I join? Reading Thomas Pynchon, first time; shocking...

[TheDom]

I'm in. Sounds cool.

[umjammer atomsk]

Sounds like it could be interesting. Reading a book a month then discussing. Cool, I'm in. As long as I can get copies of the books we're assigned, it'll be a sinch.

[truncated]

Originally Posted by Glice

I get pissed off with him because every idiot and their dog keeps telling me I should read him... he's gone into that category of 'intellectual books for people who aren't very clever' (cf - On the Road). He's a distinctly average writer.

I'll second that, at least.

Originally Posted by Glice

Now, can I get seconded in my proposition that people read something by Genet?

Are we talking Jean Genet? I've never read him, so I'd be up for that. Play or novel?

[Glice]

Originally Posted by truncated

I'll second that, at least.



Are we talking Jean Genet? I've never read him, so I'd be up for that. Play or novel?

Either's good. I haven't read all of the books, and I wasn't aware there were plays. He is possibly a little difficult to get hold of (in the UK at least), so perhaps not ideal for an international book club, but I would certainly recommend you, trunky-wunky, reading lady of the flowers.

Books that are easily available: Finnegan's Wake. How about reading that kids? Eh? Eh?

[golden child]

ive read finnegans wake
dumbest book ever

see post #21 for more info

[Glice]

Originally Posted by golden child

ive read finnegans wake
dumbest book ever

see post #21 for more info

I take issue with use of the word 'dumbest' - perhaps you're confusing the word 'dumbest' with 'best'?

But no, all joking aside, it's a terrible idea, I love that book more than any other, but it is utterly ridiculous to expect other people to enjoy what is the most deeply unreadable book I can think of (with Derrida's 'Glas' and 'of Grammatology' coming in in 2nd and 3rd place respectively)

[Rob Instigator]

I would love to join a book club.

there are many ways to do it. you could have a circle, where you pass 6 books around 6 people, and just go around...
lots of ideas.

[SpectralJulianIsNotDead]

Originally Posted by truncated

I can't believe I paid money to sit in a classroom and listen to a group of naive, pompous fucks expounding upon the symbolism of monkey heads in "Woman Warrior" and stroking each other's cerebral cocks. Because frankly, if you need someone else to point these things out to you, you're a lost cause anyhow, and you should put the book down before you even bother to begin it.

Haha. I read Woman Warrior, errr, I read the first 1/3rd and skimmed the rest. My main comment on the book was that I understood what she meant in the first part because my aunt comitted suicide. It seemed very Oprah Book-clubish to me though, so I gave my copy to my Mom and she liked it.

[SpectralJulianIsNotDead]

Originally Posted by golden child

some books im interested in reading, these are books i own but havent read yet and will be reading soon regardles...

tropic of cancer - henry miller
the idiot - fydor dostoyevsky (too long?)
notes from the underground - fydor dostoyesvsky
anything by kafka
anna karenin - tolstoy
democracy in america - alexis de tocqueville
a farewell to arms - ernest hemingway
a modern instance - william d howells
the republic - plato
neuromancer - william gibson
battlefield earth - l ron hubbard (long)

The problem with that list is about half those books a lot of people have read or will read anyways.

[truncated]

If Genet is difficult to obtain for you UK folks, an alternative I would suggest is something by Naguib Mahfouz (ignore any postmodern tags that may be applied to him). Culturally educational, excellent prose style, and entertaining. Just a thought, though I'd opt for Genet first.

[Savage Clone]

Originally Posted by truncated

I know you didn't just knock Stephen King.

Hack.

[truncated]

Your cruelty is astounding.