The Syndicate

Only a few days left! get those suggestions in everyone!

Last chance to get your submissions in. I'm going to make the poll in the morning sometime!

Yippee!!

Yay, I am looking forward to some good book discussion, hopefully troll free~

S~V~S wrote:hopefully troll free~

Nope.

Oryx and Crake (Book 1 of Maddaddam Trilogy) by Margaret Atwood

Life and Times of Michael K by JM Coetzee

The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco

Shades of Grey by Jasper Fforde

Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro

Go Set A Watchman by Harper Lee

Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel

Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

Wittgenstein's Mistress by David Markson

The Wolf's Hour by Robert R. McCammon

Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie

The Valley of Amazement by Amy Tan

If I missed anyone's book submission please let me know ASAP!

I allowed for three voting options. If everyone would like to do weighted votes we can do that as well. Just make note of the order you'd like in the thread.

Here are my weighted votes.

1) Oryx and Crake - I've read one Atwood book before (The Handmaid's Tale), and I really liked it. Also, I have an affinity to trilogies.
2) Station Eleven - The dystopian setting sounds interesting here.
3) Wittgenstein's Mistress - I've never read a book like this one before, and it looks intriguing. I feel like it will be either amazing or not interesting at all, no in between ground.

Werewolf Nazi-Fighting Secret Agent.

Just saying.

1)Go Set a Watchman
2) Tie between Station Eleven and Never Let Me Go

Oh my goodness this is so difficult (which I guess is good, because I want to read almost all of these, so I won't be heartbroken if my choices don't win).

1) Shades of Gray - read one of Fforde's books back in college and loved his style. This looks intriguing.
2) The Wolf's Hour - agreeing with llama. Historical fiction/fantasy mixed with werewolves? Sign me up!
3) Midnight's Children - been on my list for a while.

Close 4th was Go Set a Watchman - I'll read this one regardless. I'll never hear the end of it when I go back to work if I don't (also I'm interested in it :P ) I also just finished Never Let Me Go a few weeks ago, and that's the only reason I didn't pick it.

thellama73 wrote:

S~V~S wrote:hopefully troll free~

Nope.

Very sincerely, I prefer not to be trolled. Being mocked hurts my feelings, and I don't enjoy it.

Voted.

nijuukyugou wrote:1) Shades of Gray - read one of Fforde's books back in college and loved his style. This looks intriguing.

It's my favourite of Ffordes books. I think it managed to blend his rather unique style with thought-provoking ideas well. I nominated it because I want an excuse to read it again

I have to research before I vote.

love historical fiction, voted Midnight's Children because I've never read a novel set in India before.

fingersplints, about when do you anticipate the book discussion? I'm going to be out of town in early September so I'm thinking I might have to miss the first discussion. I'm just asking for your estimate as to timing of the discussion.

juliets wrote:fingersplints, about when do you anticipate the book discussion? I'm going to be out of town in early September so I'm thinking I might have to miss the first discussion. I'm just asking for your estimate as to timing of the discussion.

Well, I'd like to discuss this with everyone still. I started the Book Club, but it's everyone's club so I want to do what works best for everyone. I was thinking about a month a book? Everyone reads at different speeds, so I want to make sure the timeline works for all.

So you might still be fine to participate in the first book, and then can take book 2 on vacation with you.

I'm still deciding on my third choice. (I've read Wolf Hall so it won't be that one, but I highly recommend that as well. It was very good.)

1. I just got this for my birthday! so excited



2. Oryx and Crake - Like MetalMarsh, I really like trilogies. I've read Surfacing and always meant to read The Handmaid's Tale.

I've read both Oryx and Crake and The Handmaid's Tale. I read O&C on a cruise because Simon was three-weeks-old at the time- lots of time spent in the cabin!

Intriguing read- one I recommend, though a tad dated (but what sci-fi isn't?).

fingersplints wrote:

juliets wrote:fingersplints, about when do you anticipate the book discussion? I'm going to be out of town in early September so I'm thinking I might have to miss the first discussion. I'm just asking for your estimate as to timing of the discussion.

Well, I'd like to discuss this with everyone still. I started the Book Club, but it's everyone's club so I want to do what works best for everyone. I was thinking about a month a book? Everyone reads at different speeds, so I want to make sure the timeline works for all.

So you might still be fine to participate in the first book, and then can take book 2 on vacation with you.

A month per book sounds fine with me. If we can get this first book decided quickly then we may have the first discussion before i leave. And now, off to decide who to vote for.

Ok my order is:

Midnight Children
Station 11
Wittgenstein's Mistress

I almost don't care which of the nominated books we read they all look so good.

I've been out of the loop for a couple of weeks - has anything happened with the book selection?

I am happy to see you back, Juliets <3

I think Splints has been on the busy side, but hopefully this will get moving soon.

Sorry guys I thought I would have Internet access on my trip but I didn't have any wifi or phone reception. Will be back in London tomorrow

*pokes thread*
Hello friends, I some how missed this thread. I would like to participate in the reading of books in the company of friends. I don't see myself having time to play mafia during school, but i should be able to keep up with a book or two here. Don't particularly care what we read

Station Eleven looks like a winner. I've got a gift card to Barnes & Noble, so I'll probably wander over there this week and buy a copy.

Yeah, I will download it this week.

I haven't done any of the weighted vote calculations (if people wanted me to) and I had PM'd Canuck to vote since she is around now, but I will probably start getting that book as well.

Made wrote:*pokes thread*
Hello friends, I some how missed this thread. I would like to participate in the reading of books in the company of friends. I don't see myself having time to play mafia during school, but i should be able to keep up with a book or two here. Don't particularly care what we read

You are just in time! Welcome!

That's part of the reason I created this club. I might not have as much time for mafia lately, but I seem to have no trouble making time for reading.

I'm totes cool with "Station Eleven"! Not 100% sure I'll have time to be as active as I would have hoped (this semester may very well be hell for me), but I'll try to keep up and contribute!
And I agree with SVS's desire that trollishness would be very unwelcome in this book club. Debate and discussion and differing opinions and points of view? Hooray! Belittling and mocking and otherwise being asshattish? Boooooo!

I just added my late vote(s) but I can see that they make no difference as far as the winner goes so I don't think their tardiness is a big problem.

When do we start ??

S~V~S wrote:When do we start ??

i would also like to know

I'm not in this club but I'd definitely read Midnight's Children out of these because I've already read The Name of the Rose.

TinyBubbles wrote:

S~V~S wrote:When do we start ??

i would also like to know

This is the tricky part. How long does everyone need to get the book? I'd say we can all get it now and start reading. I can start a book discussion thread (or we can continue the discussion on this thread and I will create links to the start of each book discussion in the first post) then people can jump in when finished
Sorry for being so lame about this.timeto get serious :nod:

I just bought it yesterday, so I'll be starting it soon.

I am a fast reader, so I will start this weekend.

I will not be able to start until we return from our trip to england 9/17 so I'll have to either read fast or skip this book. I almost bought it the other week I wish I had now.

You'll be taking a few long flights, plus reading is a good way to help adjust to time zone differences.

I bought the book and it should be arriving on Friday

So .... Are people reading? Do we wait until everyone is finished to talk, or do we talk as we go along? I never did this how does it work?

I'm reading. I'm a quarter of the way through.

I have no idea either. This is my first book club.

I was really bummed when the main character died. What a gyp.


Oh wait, was I not supposed to give that away?

You're too busy writing books to read this one I imagine. :P

thellama73 wrote:I was really bummed when the main character died. What a gyp.


Oh wait, was I not supposed to give that away?

Back under your bridge, you!

I'm really enjoying this book. About two thirds of the way through.

Book finished... I'm ready to talk. Has anyone else finished it yet?

I found it to be a really beautiful book, well-constructed.

I know I'm late to the party but I just downloaded it today, I'm going to try to catch up. I'm a fast reader when I enjoy the book so hopefully I enjoy this one.

Third of the way through. If I didn't need to clean and cook and spend some time with MP I'd probably finish tonight. All this to say, I'm enjoying it so far.