The January Big Read

rathbone · Post by **rathbone** » 31 Dec 2004, 12:41

Nominations please for the coming month.

Personally I'd like to read Ian Rankin's Fleshmarket Close or the Bob Dylan Autobiography.

foxy · Post by **foxy** » 31 Dec 2004, 12:49

I fancy 2 books

Bhudda Da by Anne Donvan and

The 5 People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom

Both look excellent and Waterstones have a 3 for 2 offer on

Sandra · Post by **Sandra** » 31 Dec 2004, 15:08

foxy wrote:
The 5 People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom

That would do me - I just bought the book recently but still to read it. Have you read Tuesday's with Morrie, Foxy? Great book, video is fantastic too, I borrowed it off Pal of Porty. You need a large box of hankies by your side when you watch it though.

I have Tuesday's with Morrie book if you want to borrow.

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 31 Dec 2004, 17:00

foxy wrote:I fancy 2 books

Bhudda Da by Anne Donvan and

The 5 People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom

Both look excellent and Waterstones have a 3 for 2 offer on

Enjoyed "Bhudda Da" and fancy reading "The 5..." Foxy. Mind you Rathbone, I wouldn't mind too much if Rankin was picked. I'm easy really

bellybabe · Post by **bellybabe** » 31 Dec 2004, 18:02

Sandra wrote:I have Tuesday's with Morrie book if you want to borrow.

Ooh, me! Me! Me! Please!

Loved 5 People.
And have read Fleshmarket Close...always happy for books I've had time to read to be chosen...

DG · Post by DG » 31 Dec 2004, 18:59

I may have to sit this one out as I'm looking forward to reading the books I got for Christmas. However, heard good things about Bhudda Da by Anne Donvan - plan to read this in the future.

DG

ecm · Post by **ecm** » 31 Dec 2004, 19:08

I'd quite like to read the Rankine one too.
I know nothing about Mitch Albom but like the idea that a few of you are keen so, I guess I'm happy to go with the majority.

bearcub · Post by **bearcub** » 31 Dec 2004, 20:04

I got 'Fleshmarket Close' at Christmas so quite happy if this is chosen, however I lucked out in December too as I'd already read 'Curious..' so shouldn't be greedy

rathbone · Post by **rathbone** » 02 Jan 2005, 10:36

foxy wrote:I fancy 2 books

The 5 People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom

Okay Foxy, you have the floor this month!!

The January Big Read will be The 5 People You Meet In Heaven

foxy · Post by **foxy** » 02 Jan 2005, 16:03

rathbone wrote:
foxy wrote:I fancy 2 books

The 5 People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom

Okay Foxy, you have the floor this month!!

The January Big Read will be The 5 People You Meet In Heaven

Delighted Rathbone

...I'll get a copy next time I can face the shops

Sandra · Post by **Sandra** » 02 Jan 2005, 21:23

Just read the January book this evening - fantastic thought provoking read.

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 02 Jan 2005, 21:47

Sandra wrote:Just read the January book this evening - fantastic thought provoking read.

That's quick reading Sandra

I haven't even bought my copy yet!

ecm · Post by **ecm** » 17 Jan 2005, 21:42

How are folks getting on with the read? I haven't even got the book yet.

I'll try to get a copy this weekend.

Pal of Porty · Post by **Pal of Porty** » 17 Jan 2005, 22:04

I got the Albom book from Santa but I have not had the chance to read it yet. I expect it to be so good I was saving it for when I am really in the mood to enjoy it.

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 17 Jan 2005, 22:05

Still not bought my copy yet ecm...

mr magnolia · Post by **mr magnolia** » 17 Jan 2005, 22:06

um, nor have I got it yet...

ecm · Post by **ecm** » 17 Jan 2005, 22:10

Shame on us!
We'll be into Februaury before we know it.

foxy · Post by **foxy** » 17 Jan 2005, 23:03

Just bought it today...might start in bed if i can keep my eyes open...probably manage a page at least

rathbone · Post by **rathbone** » 18 Jan 2005, 09:15

ecm wrote:Shame on us!
We'll be into Februaury before we know it.

Finished 5 People at the weekend. It's quite an easy read, so you should all be able to catch up. Just be prepared - I shall be asking for the February nominations next week!!

mr magnolia · Post by **mr magnolia** » 18 Jan 2005, 10:37

Does anyone here feel able to offer advice in structured literary criticism? I don't, but I would like to think that after reading a 'set' book I could offer more than I have so far in the way of comment - 'er, I didn't like it' and 'er I did like it' are OK but I don't think I'm adding much to the sum of human knowledge with my comments to date.

is there a set of issues /subjects that reviewers cover in their blurb? Or should we just offer a mark out of 10 or 20?

ecm · Post by **ecm** » 18 Jan 2005, 10:53

mr magnolia wrote:Does anyone here feel able to offer advice in structured literary criticism? I don't, but I would like to think that after reading a 'set' book I could offer more than I have so far in the way of comment - 'er, I didn't like it' and 'er I did like it' are OK but I don't think I'm adding much to the sum of human knowledge with my comments to date.

is there a set of issues /subjects that reviewers cover in their blurb? Or should we just offer a mark out of 10 or 20?

I have enough trouble reading books these days without then compiling a structured review of them.
It would feel like some kind of homework assignment.

I know what you mean though, Mr. M., but I'm happy just to make a few comments/observations along the way.

Poppy · Post by **Poppy** » 18 Jan 2005, 10:54

mr magnolia wrote:Does anyone here feel able to offer advice in structured literary criticism? I don't, but I would like to think that after reading a 'set' book I could offer more than I have so far in the way of comment - 'er, I didn't like it' and 'er I did like it' are OK but I don't think I'm adding much to the sum of human knowledge with my comments to date.

is there a set of issues /subjects that reviewers cover in their blurb? Or should we just offer a mark out of 10 or 20?

A lot of reviewers are rubbish anyway, so I'd not take their blurb as a good way of presenting lit crit! They often have their own personal/political axes to grind.

All I'd suggest is that if you say 'er, I didn't like it' then try to work out why you didn't like it - or did like it. Or a bit of both. If you find a book difficult to follow it's often not you - just the author being pretentious! And what one person enjoys another doesn't - neither is right or wrong. Same as a TV prog or a film, really!

Sandra · Post by **Sandra** » 18 Jan 2005, 11:40

Pal of Porty wrote:I got the Albom book from Santa but I have not had the chance to read it yet. I expect it to be so good I was saving it for when I am really in the mood to enjoy it.

It is brilliant pop and such an easy read, I read it in a day, bearcub is now engrossed in it (not the usual type of book he'd normally read)

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 18 Jan 2005, 11:42

Poppy wrote: All I'd suggest is that if you say 'er, I didn't like it' then try to work out why you didn't like it - or did like it. Or a bit of both. If you find a book difficult to follow it's often not you - just the author being pretentious! And what one person enjoys another doesn't - neither is right or wrong. Same as a TV prog or a film, really!

Spot on advice Poppy.

As ecm says, this should be fun, not a homework assignment. It is more interesting though, as Mr M says, if people can explain what really caught their interest or turned them off certain books, so please forgive me if I make the following suggestions as starting points for anyone who is interested. Think back to all those English classes you had at school - please tell me they weren't a waste of time

- and perhaps, consider some of these aspects;

PLOT - is it fast moving or too pedestrian? Engaging or unrealistic? A page turner or turnoff? Inventive or ridiculous?

SETTING - how does it contribute? Is it set in the future or past? Is the setting a place that means something to you personally? Is it, for example, a place where you grew up or currently live in or always wanted to visit? Is it vividly described?

CHARACTERS - realistic or underdeveloped? Can you empathise or are you disinterested in what happens to them? Likeable or laughable?

THEME- Why has the author written this book ? Is there a message? Does it explore an issue that you feel close to? (For example, I was interested in reading "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime" as my brother has Asperger's.) Does it examine a single aspect of an individual's life or explore a wider issue ?

LANGUAGE - Long, over complicated sentence structures or simple, well written prose? Unusual, vivid descriptions or lacklustre, jaded writing? Effective use of dialogue,dialect etc?

NARRATIVE STYLE - Who tells the story? Do we have a greater insight into a single narrator's thoughts, feelings etc. or are there various viewpoints explored?

Oh dear! I'm getting carried away here....lecture over folks

Apologies if it seems as though I'm being pompous but I LOVE books and love talking about them too..........

mr magnolia · Post by **mr magnolia** » 18 Jan 2005, 12:16

That wasn't a lecture, Marya - it's a handy step for a hint, which is what I was after, thanks. (too many years doing sums and fiddling with my slide rule)

I love books too, but it really frustrates me when I cannot think of comments / remarks that convey what I felt about one I have read. (also, I'm a very careless reader - close the book and cannot remember the name of the main character? Thats me! I tend to remember books as a feeling or a flow of ideas rather than specific events and I remember characters as characters rather than names.) - Hmm, too many characters there but what the heck...

...I'm like that with watching footy as well, nowadays, - its simply a spectacle, an ebb and flow and some sparkly bits amid the dross. My constructive commentary skills are now limited to whether or not my macaroni pie is hot (it isn't) and whether the hot chocolate has been properly stirred (it hasn't)...

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 18 Jan 2005, 13:59

Thanks Mr M. I was just about to delete most of it after having second thoughts, but I leave it after all.....

Slide rules....I remember them! I took 6th year studies Maths, way back in the dark ages when computer programmes were written on punch cards and log tables weren't things interior designers used to give your house a 'rustic' feel

bearcub · Post by **bearcub** » 19 Jan 2005, 00:13

Marya wrote:PLOT - is it fast moving or too pedestrian? Engaging or unrealistic? A page turner or......................................................NARRATIVE STYLE - Who tells the story? Do we have a greater insight into a single narrator's thoughts, feelings etc. or are there various viewpoints explored?

Oh dear! I'm getting carried away here....lecture over folks Apologies if it seems as though I'm being pompous but I LOVE books and love talking about them too..........

You wouldn't be a teacher, would you Marya

bearcub · Post by **bearcub** » 19 Jan 2005, 00:19

mr magnolia wrote:I love books too, but it really frustrates me when I cannot think of comments / remarks that convey what I felt about one I have read. (also, I'm a very careless reader - close the book and cannot remember the name of the main character? Thats me! I tend to remember books as a feeling or a flow of ideas rather than specific events and I remember characters as characters rather than names.) - Hmm, too many characters there but what the heck...

I'm the same, Mr M, find it hard to articulate why I really liked a book - v frustrating, especially when you want to try and 'sell' reading a certain book to someone else

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 19 Jan 2005, 17:24

bearcub wrote: You wouldn't be a teacher, would you Marya

Blame Mr M...he started it!! It's all his fault. It wisnae me

foxy · Post by **foxy** » 19 Jan 2005, 19:51

Marya, I think your advice for literary criticism is brilliant and well received even if it does remind me of Higher English

Please don't mark our feedback on the book though

Pal of Porty · Post by **Pal of Porty** » 19 Jan 2005, 22:10

Maybe the person who gets the most marks for their Book Report can pick the following month's selection?

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 19 Jan 2005, 23:04

Don't even mention the word 'marking' to me thanks very much!

Anyway, isn't this meant to be for fun??

This all just brings back terrible memories of playing 'Trivial Pursuit' and everyone expecting me to get the literature questions right. I seldom could

Entertainment and Geography, now those categories I could manage!

foxy · Post by **foxy** » 20 Jan 2005, 12:06

Marya wrote:Don't even mention the word 'marking' to me thanks very much!
Anyway, isn't this meant to be for fun??

This all just brings back terrible memories of playing 'Trivial Pursuit' and everyone expecting me to get the literature questions right. I seldom could
Entertainment and Geography, now those categories I could manage!

I'm still going for A+

for my reading anyway

Sandra · Post by **Sandra** » 21 Jan 2005, 10:06

mr magnolia wrote:I love books too, but it really frustrates me when I cannot think of comments / remarks that convey what I felt about one I have read. (also, I'm a very careless reader - close the book and cannot remember the name of the main character? Thats me!

mmm bit like me too.

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 22 Jan 2005, 11:55

My copy arrived this morning so I'm trying not to read any of the above posts in case someone gives away the plot. I read Stephen Fry's "The Stars' Tennis Balls" on holiday and have just started to read Douglas Couplands' "All Families Are Psychotic", so I'll probably finish that before I start "The Five People". When does the essay have to be handed in? Can I get an extension please, Marya? I've got a note from my mum and everything.