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ReadItSwapIt Forums » Book Chat » RISI Book Group and other reading group chat » SEPTEMBER POLL (RISI BOOK GROUP)

SEPTEMBER POLL (RISI BOOK GROUP)

Last post 08-25-2008 16:41 by foreternity. 10 replies.
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  • 08-21-2008 20:50 Post ID: 397,990 

    SEPTEMBER POLL (RISI BOOK GROUP)

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    Here are the choices for Septembers book.   Hope everyone likes them.  

    Beloved by Toni Morrison  In the troubled years following the Civil War, the spirit of a murdered child haunts the Ohio home of a former slave. This angry, destructive ghost breaks mirrors, leaves its fingerprints in cake icing, and generally makes life difficult for Sethe and her family; nevertheless, the woman finds the haunting oddly comforting for the spirit is that of her own dead baby, never named, thought of only as Beloved. A dead child, a runaway slave, a terrible secret--these are the central concerns of Toni Morrison's Pulitzer Prize-winning Beloved. Morrison, a Nobel laureate, has written many fine novels, including Song of Solomon, The Bluest Eye, and Paradise--but Beloved is arguably her best. To modern readers, antebellum slavery is a subject so familiar that it is almost impossible to render its horrors in a way that seems neither clichéd nor melodramatic. Rapes, beatings, murders, and mutilations are recounted here, but they belong to characters so precisely drawn that the tragedy ... 

     

    Haven't read this one, I stumbled on this one by accident and thought it looked interesting.

       

     

    Fingersmith by Sarah Waters

     

     

    Fingersmith is the third slice of engrossing *** Victoriana from Sarah Waters. Although lighter and more melodramatic in tone than its predecessor Affinity, this hypnotic suspense novel is awash with all manner of gloomy Dickensian leitmotifs: pickpockets; orphans; grim prisons; lunatic asylums; "laughing villains" and, of course, "stolen fortunes and girls made out to be mad". Oliver Twist (which is mentioned on the opening page), The Woman in White and The Prince and the Pauper all exert an influence on it but none overawe. Like Peter Ackroyd, Waters has an uncanny gift for inventive reconstruction. Divided into three parts, the tale is narrated by two orphaned girls whose lives are inextricably linked. It begins in a grimy thieves kitchen in Borough, South London with 17-year-old orphan Susan Trinder. She has been raised by Mrs Sucksby, a cockney Ma Baker, in a household of fingersmiths (pickpockets), coiners and burglars. One evening Richard "Gentleman" Rivers, a handsome  

     

    Spotted this on a few members' atfr.  I was intrigued and thought this one might make for some lively discussion.         

     

    Northern Lights by Philip Pulman  

     

    Lyra's life is already sufficiently interesting for a novel before she eavesdrops on a presentation by her uncle Lord Asriel to his colleagues in the Jordan College faculty, Oxford. The college, famed for its leadership in experimental theology, is funding Lord Asriel's research into the heretical possibility of the existence of worlds unlike Lyra's own, where everyone is born with a familiar animal companion, magic of a kind works, the Tartars are threatening to overrun Muscovy, and the Pope is a puritanical Protestant. Set in an England familiar and strange, Philip Pullman's lively, taut story is a must-read and re-read for fantasy lovers of all ages. The world-building is outstanding, from the subtle hints of the 1898 Tokay to odd quirks of language to the panserbjorne, while determined, clever Lyra is strongly reminiscent of Joan Aiken's Dido Twite.  The trilogy belonged to my son, who left them behind when he moved out. This one is on my tbr and thought it might be a bit different.  Anyone who has read it seems to have really enjoyed it.   

     

    The book of lost things by John Connolly  'Once upon a time, there was a boy who lost his mother !' As twelve-year-old David takes refuge from his grief in the myths and fairytales so beloved of his dead mother, he finds the real world and the fantasy world begin to blend. That is when bad things start to happen. That is when the Crooked Man comes. And David is violently propelled into a land populated by heroes, wolves and monsters in his quest to find the legendary Book of Lost Things.

     

    Also on my tbr, sounds fascinating!     

     

     Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt 

    When I look back on my childhood I wonder how I managed to survive at all. It was, of course, a miserable childhood: the happy childhood is hardly worth your while. Worse than the ordinary miserable childhood is the miserable Irish childhood, and worse yet is the miserable Irish Catholic childhood". So begins the luminous memoir of Frank McCourt, born in Depression-era Brooklyn to recent Irish immigrants and raised in the slums of Limerick, Ireland. Frank's mother, Angela, has no money to feed the children since Frank's father, Malachy, rarely works, and when he does he drinks his wages. Yet Malachy - exasperating, irresponsible and beguiling - does nurture in Frank an appetite for the one thing he can provide: a story. Frank lives for his father's tales of Cuchulain, who saved Ireland, and of the Angel on the Seventh Step, who brings his mother babies.

     

     

    Read this years ago and loved it, not all doom and gloom, it has plenty of humour in it too.

     

    September's book will be discussed on the 6th October. 

    September's book Poll (RISI book group)

     

    • Beloved by Toni Morrison (17.9%)
    • Fingersmith by Sarah Waters (20.5%)
    • Northern Lights by Philip Pullman (17.9%)
    • The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly (38.5%)
    • Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt (5.1%)
    • Total Votes: 39
    • Voting Ended: 9/1/2008
    Currently reading :Fractured by Karin Slaughter
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  • 08-21-2008 21:14 Post ID: 398,014  In reply to

    • count
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    Re: SEPTEMBER POLL (RISI BOOK GROUP)

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    Thanks Roz - what a great selection, so hard to choose I'd love to read all! I plumped for the Connolly in the end - I think I'll read even if it doesn't win.

    Currently reading ~ The Ice Harvest - Scott Phillips & Girlfriend in a Coma - Douglas Coupland
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  • 08-21-2008 21:21 Post ID: 398,019  In reply to

    Re: SEPTEMBER POLL (RISI BOOK GROUP)

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    I haven't read any of these but looks like a good choice with a broad range. I voted for The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly, it looks really great.

    Reading: Salem Falls - Jodi Picoult
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  • 08-21-2008 22:10 Post ID: 398,091  In reply to

    • brummiebird
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    Re: SEPTEMBER POLL (RISI BOOK GROUP)

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    I voted for 'The Book of Lost Things' as I have this on my tbr pile

    Currently reading: - The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood

    Number of books read in October: 1
    Number of books read in September: 2

  • 08-21-2008 22:22 Post ID: 398,095  In reply to

    Re: SEPTEMBER POLL (RISI BOOK GROUP)

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    I read the Book of lost things last year, and am unsure whether it was "great" or not, as I can hardly remember it now..... so am going for Fingersmith.

    Mrs Mac of janetandjohn

    For December, Mr and Mrs Mac wish every one of you, pagans and others alike, Yuletide Greetings. May you get what you deserve, and may you all get love.

  • 08-21-2008 22:58 Post ID: 398,114  In reply to

    Re: SEPTEMBER POLL (RISI BOOK GROUP)

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    Beloved is a really bizarre book, but despite that (or maybe because of it) I really enjoyed reading it. I'm currently rereading it and analysing it for my English dissertation, and there are so many interesting things about it! The only other one I've read is Northern Lights, and I really didn't enjoy it.

    Swaps Wish List
    Book count for this year: 118 Book count for November: 9 Book count for December: 3
    Currently Reading: Jo's Boys by Louisa May Alcott

  • 08-22-2008 20:14 Post ID: 398,531  In reply to

    Re: SEPTEMBER POLL (RISI BOOK GROUP)

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    Looks like there are two main contenders at the moment:  Book of Lost Things and Fingersmith. 

    I'm looking forward to the Connolly one, I will probably read Fingersmith as well though even if it doesn't win.

     

    Currently reading :Fractured by Karin Slaughter
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  • 08-22-2008 20:19 Post ID: 398,538  In reply to

    Re: SEPTEMBER POLL (RISI BOOK GROUP)

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    I voted for Book of Lost things too, been after a copy for a while now, so hopefully will get a swap for it!

    Nat

    Currently reading"Mercy" by Jodi Picoult.
    Books read in Nov: 9
    Books read in Oct: 6
    Books read in Sept: 3
    Books read in Aug: 9
    Books read in July: 10
    Books read in June:10
    Books read in May:8

  • 08-24-2008 13:42 Post ID: 399,396  In reply to

    Re: SEPTEMBER POLL (RISI BOOK GROUP)

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    natsplatt:

    I voted for Book of Lost things too, been after a copy for a while now, so hopefully will get a swap for it!

    Nat

    Nat,

    If you can't get a swap, I have a copy of it.  I can read it next and then pass it on to you.

     

    Currently reading :Fractured by Karin Slaughter
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  • 08-24-2008 13:58 Post ID: 399,403  In reply to

    Re: SEPTEMBER POLL (RISI BOOK GROUP)

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    rozzy1967:

    natsplatt:

    I voted for Book of Lost things too, been after a copy for a while now, so hopefully will get a swap for it!

    Nat

    Nat,

    If you can't get a swap, I have a copy of it.  I can read it next and then pass it on to you.

     

    Oh cheers, have an outstanding request for it at the mo, but will keep you posted if I need to borrow!

    Nat

    Currently reading"Mercy" by Jodi Picoult.
    Books read in Nov: 9
    Books read in Oct: 6
    Books read in Sept: 3
    Books read in Aug: 9
    Books read in July: 10
    Books read in June:10
    Books read in May:8

  • 08-25-2008 16:41 Post ID: 400,028  In reply to

    Re: SEPTEMBER POLL (RISI BOOK GROUP)

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     I've got The Book of Lost Things, found a hardback in a charity shop so I voted for that!

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