The Syndicate

G-Man wrote:A few controversial/discussion-worthy books you may want to consider include:

-Mein Kampf
-The Communist Manifesto
-Pretty much any religious text
-Anything by L. Ron Hubbard
-Pretty much any book by a political commentator (Coulter, Krugman, etc.)
-On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life by Charles Darwin

You forgot Atlas Shrugged!

thellama73 wrote:

G-Man wrote:A few controversial/discussion-worthy books you may want to consider include:

-Mein Kampf
-The Communist Manifesto
-Pretty much any religious text
-Anything by L. Ron Hubbard
-Pretty much any book by a political commentator (Coulter, Krugman, etc.)
-On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life by Charles Darwin

You forgot Atlas Shrugged!

thellama73 wrote:

G-Man wrote:A few controversial/discussion-worthy books you may want to consider include:

-Mein Kampf
-The Communist Manifesto
-Pretty much any religious text
-Anything by L. Ron Hubbard
-Pretty much any book by a political commentator (Coulter, Krugman, etc.)
-On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life by Charles Darwin

You forgot Atlas Shrugged!

Ayn Rand isn't controversial to me. I read Anthem in high school, loved it, and I try to read it once a year. Never got to Atlas Shrugged but it'll have to wait.

In my little head I guess I had something more modern in mind. And though the political commentary books are very modern I'm afraid we'd end up in a discussion about politics instead of the book. I've talked a lot on this subject though so I think people are aware how I'm thinking. I want to hear what some others who want to be in the book club think. If several people agree they want to read one of those books they could be one sub-group and we'd just have to determine the others if thats the way we want to go.

A controversial and interesting book would be fine, but I def dont think a political one would be the place to start.

I think we all just PM our picks to Splints and she creates a poll, then no one has to feel judged for their suggestion. Especially by those not joining book club. lol.

Of course, I heard the review for the new book Grey are pretty atrocious. That could cause some fun controversy.

Oooo secret submission, good idea

I concur - splints, what do you think about secret submission to you as an idea?

Sounds great to me!!

G-Man wrote:A few controversial/discussion-worthy books you may want to consider include:

-Mein Kampf
-The Communist Manifesto
-Pretty much any religious text
-Anything by L. Ron Hubbard
-Pretty much any book by a political commentator (Coulter, Krugman, etc.)
-On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life by Charles Darwin

This is, obviously, not what I meant.


I'm happy with the idea of sending in anonymous suggestions then voting in a poll!

Can we send in one suggestion only? Or can we send a couple?

G-Man wrote:A few controversial/discussion-worthy books you may want to consider include:

-Mein Kampf
-The Communist Manifesto
-Pretty much any religious text
-Anything by L. Ron Hubbard
-Pretty much any book by a political commentator (Coulter, Krugman, etc.)
-On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life by Charles Darwin

I had honestly never heard of L. Ron Hubbard until his name came up in a Frank Zappa song.

I have no strong preference for a book we read or how we go about choosing it. But if the book is listed on Amazon's front page or made into a Hollywood movie in the last 5-10 years, I think I'd be less inclined to read it.

Let Canuck send in more than one. I won't send in one this time and just vote on whatever list comes out of this.

I'm ok with people sending in more then one.

I have not read most of the books mentioned here. I read for relaxation and fun. Not serious at all unless it is a garden or herb book. Then I can get quite serious and emotional while discussing corn or thyme.

I do enjoy reading great autobiographies or a really scary book.

I don't/will not read anything political bc at work I am the only dirt loving tree hugger so it is a constant debate at work which I have grown very tired of. You would not believe the discussion we had about that fucking rebel flag. I work with some real assholes.

I doubt I would read anything by Ron Hubbard though I might consider something from Ron Jeremy.

I would suggest Life by Keith Richards.

So I guess what I am saying is I do not think I will fit into this club though I hope everyone really enjoys this.

Best self help book ever; What Would Keith Richards Do? Countless useful nuggets of wisdom in there:

On Drugs:

"I've never had a problem with drugs, only with
policemen."

"If you are going to get wasted, then get wasted
elegantly."

"I've never turned blue in someone else's
bathroom. I consider that the height of bad
manners."

I recommend it~ it lays out the "I don't give a fuck lifestyle" very, very well.

Roxy wrote:I have not read most of the books mentioned here. I read for relaxation and fun. Not serious at all unless it is a garden or herb book. Then I can get quite serious and emotional while discussing corn or thyme.

I do enjoy reading great autobiographies or a really scary book.

I don't/will not read anything political bc at work I am the only dirt loving tree hugger so it is a constant debate at work which I have grown very tired of. You would not believe the discussion we had about that fucking rebel flag. I work with some real assholes.

I doubt I would read anything by Ron Hubbard though I might consider something from Ron Jeremy.

I would suggest Life by Keith Richards.

So I guess what I am saying is I do not think I will fit into this club though I hope everyone really enjoys this.

Rox, don't let any of the suggestions here deter you! Just a bunch of ideas people were throwing around to get things started. The actual book list will come from a vote, so submit whatever you like, Ron Jeremy included !
This is, as I understand it, a book club meant to serve the whims of its members, so just submit whatever books YOU personally want to read, and vote for the ones that float your boat "Relaxation and fun" are a perfect mandate for a book club! You will not be alone, I have no doubt, in having that as your motive

Roxy- We had grilled corn for dinner and thyme picked from the overgrown needing to be weeded garden. I strive to be a real gardener, but I just have the books really and not the time.

As far as books go, my go-to escape books are YA fantasy/sci-fi stuff, so yeah...not everyone's cup of tea. I am seriously over the vampires though. I blame the Twilight craze for somewhat ruining Buffy for me too.

It's going to take me days to pick the "perfect" submission. Decisions are so hard!!

Any thoughts on how long before the poll goes up? Should we give it another week or so to make sure everyone who wants to offer suggestions has time to do so? Or is that not enough time?

I think that a week sounds good. We can always re-evaluate at the end of the week if need be.

I'll PM those later who expressed interest, but haven't submitted a book yet in case they have one in mind and forgot.

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!