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28 November 2005

Accepting Nominations! Yet another book club thread. [More:]

Alright, peeps. This is the official MeCha Book Club nomination thread. You can nominate one book each, so make sure you pick and pick well. Please link to a review or brief synopsis of the book so that I can read it over. If you link to amazon, please edit the referrer crap out of your link (if you're not sure how to, start at the end of the URL and keep deleting parts and then hitting "enter" until it no longer gives you the book you were looking at, then go back one. It should look like this; no more, no less).

You do not need to nominate a book to participate, but you do need to participate to nominate a book. If we select your nomination and then you don't read it, you won't be able to make nominations (for awhile, at least)! Furthermore, to that end, and in the interest of having as many of us read a book at the same time as possible, for now I'm disallowing books you've already read, especially books you've just read. My idea is to encourage exploration; to read books you want to read but haven't yet. You can nominate the book you were about to read, though.

I'll leave nominations open for approximately 24 hours (10 AM EST tomorrow), after which we'll have the voting. Also note whether you'd prefer to have the voting in a thread, or by secret ballot (so no one's feelings are hurt) which would amount to e-mailing me your selection.
I'm going to stick with my earlier selection of Sinclair Lewis' Babbitt. It's freely available online, about American conformity, and has certain parallels with the current climate in the US. I've been planning to read it for a few months, but have not gotten around to it. This seems like the perfect opportunity.
posted by Eideteker 28 November | 10:06
(and don't worry or obsess about things too much; this is just to get started. Because I'm aiming to start Dec. 1st, I need to get a move on. We can change things around next month if people don't like how this one works out.)
posted by Eideteker 28 November | 10:12
The Crying of Lot 49 -- shorter, snappy Pynchon.
posted by warbaby 28 November | 10:19
An Artist of the Floating World - Ishiguro. I've been meaning to read it for years. Short and IIRC beautiful prose. Complications of postwar Japan.
posted by selfnoise 28 November | 10:23
Thucidides, as sam, hugh and I have already suggested. But we'd better alot two months so everybody has a chance to get through it.
posted by warbaby 28 November | 10:23
secret ballot.
posted by warbaby 28 November | 10:24
I second warbaby; I've read it, but would gladly do so again.
posted by tr33hggr 28 November | 10:25
I guess i'll go with Cloud Atlas-Mitchell.

(do we have to start the 1st? it's my bday--or is that the date we should start reading only?)
posted by amberglow 28 November | 10:31
I would dearly love to have a discussion of William Chambliss' study of corruption in Seattle, On the Take because my Dad and some of his friends were involved in outing the pinball scandals in the 60's there are still repercussions where I live.
posted by warbaby 28 November | 10:32
tr33hggr, which one? I've made three so far... Just enthusiastic, I guess.
posted by warbaby 28 November | 10:34
(warbaby: you only get ONE nomination. :) )
posted by selfnoise 28 November | 10:34
Warbaby: One nomination only.
amberglow: That's the day you start reading, to discuss in January.

Please don't forget links. I'm not doing the research for you.
Also, if you have a preference, don't forget to mention if you'd like open or closed (secret) voting.

I know it goes against the idea of MeCha, but I'd like to have one comment per person in this thread (except for me, as the Mini-Mod) so that it's easier for me to read through. The old thread is still open for discussion. This is purely for nominations!
posted by Eideteker 28 November | 10:46
I nominate The Sparrow based on many AskMe book thread recommendations. If it sucks, I don't have bad taste in books, THEY do!
posted by agropyron 28 November | 10:49
Only ONE?!?!?! Sheesh. Well, that would be The Crying of Lot 49. Don't Ever Antagonize The Horn.
posted by warbaby 28 November | 10:50
Oh, I forgot the rules on Amazon links. Here's a better link: The Sparrow
posted by agropyron 28 November | 10:50
I suppose I'm the last person standing who hasn't yet read Life of Pi, right? I'll nominate it, just in case.

But I've seen three* recommendations here already that I'd be delighted with, so whatever we end up with is likely be very interesting.

As for voting - I don't really have a preference - either open or closed is fine with me.

* update: make that four!
posted by taz 28 November | 10:51
The Pynchon; sorry warbaby! I second the Pynchon!
posted by tr33hggr 28 November | 11:09
Are we allowed non-fiction? If so...Introducing Time
posted by oh pollo! 28 November | 11:16
Since I've already read Never Let Me Go (nominated in the other thread), I'll second Cloud Atlas by Mitchell.
posted by matildaben 28 November | 11:28
Non-fiction works, too.
posted by Eideteker 28 November | 11:28
I'd like to nominate: How to lose friends and alienate people..mainly because its on the way to me already, but mostly I would just like to participate.
posted by tetsuo 28 November | 11:43
DaVinci Code.

What? Why is everyone staring at me?

posted by Lola_G 28 November | 12:03
I don't have a nomination, but looking forward to participating!
posted by gaspode 28 November | 12:03
I was only kidding. I can't think of anything to suggest but I would love to partake if I may.

Reading is fundamental. So they say.
posted by Lola_G 28 November | 12:04
The Alchemist's Door, Lisa Goldstein. Fantasy, true, by more in the style of Borges than Tolkein. Goldstein is one of a number of great fantasists that have been hidden away by over-broad genre labels.
posted by bonehead 28 November | 12:12
I'll third Cloud Atlas. The Yeti seemed to like it.
posted by everichon 28 November | 12:12
I nominated a book, so I don't know if I can second/fifth another, but Cloud Atlas does look good.
posted by agropyron 28 November | 12:18
Feeling like a broken record but just to make it official: The End of the Road by John Barth.
posted by amro 28 November | 13:17
I'm currently reading The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy. It's slow in places but beautifully written.
posted by tracicle 28 November | 13:47
actually, i wouldn't mind reading DaVinci Code--i haven't yet. : >
posted by amberglow 28 November | 14:46
and i've only ever read Somebody the Sailor by Barth, so that'd be good too.

of course, Cloud Atlas would be perfect tho. ; >
posted by amberglow 28 November | 14:53
Do I need to read the DaVinci code when I've already read Foucault's Pendulum?
posted by Eideteker 28 November | 15:00
Depends: Do you like potboilers?
posted by agropyron 28 November | 15:02
I nominate A Prayer for Owen Meany, since I just got it for an early Christmas Present for my Older Literary Friend. Watching Simon Birch won't count.
posted by muddgirl 28 November | 15:07
Eideteker: Do I need to read the DaVinci code when I've already read Foucault's Pendulum?.

DVC is like FP-Lite. YMMV.
posted by everichon 28 November | 17:14
Eideteker: Do I need to read the DaVinci code when I've already read Foucault's Pendulum?.

DVC is like FP-Lite. YMMV.
posted by everichon 28 November | 17:23
Dang, sometimes tabs are not helpful.
posted by everichon 28 November | 17:24
Eideteker: Do I need to read the DaVinci code when I've already read Foucault's Pendulum?.


I read an interview with Eco, where he said that F's P included the plot to DVC along with a host of others :)
posted by dhruva 28 November | 20:09
Hey, is the book going to be decided upon before Dec 1? I'm flying on that day, and it would be perfect to have my book club book (Cloud Atlas) in hand to get started.
posted by agropyron 28 November | 21:00
so, should we vote?
posted by amberglow 28 November | 23:34
Vote or no, we should decide quick-like so as to begin reading. Also, is someone going to lead the discussion? Will it be a different someone for every book?
posted by rebirtha 29 November | 01:57
I'm going to ask the person whose book we select to co-moderate the discussion with me (as I'm actually quite busy and may not have time to finish the book!), probably by coming up with 5 or so central questions to open up discussion.

Voting will begin in ONE HOUR.
posted by Eideteker 29 November | 09:07
Nominations are closed. Voting is now.
posted by Eideteker 29 November | 10:30
I had to cut my hair because I had squirrels || Cleaning

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