MobileRead November 2009 Book Club Nominations - Page 7

Ea · 10-21-2009, 02:13 PM

For rounding out the field with a very old classic, I nominate "Beowulf" - preferably in the Seamus Heaney translation.

When the fearful monster Grendel comes to Hrothgar's Hall and dashes his warriors' hopes, installing himself in the great hall and eating people alive, the hero Beowulf arrives from over the sea to wrestle the beast. He saves the Danes, who sing of his triumphs, but soon the monster's mother turns up to take him hostage...

Composed toward the end of the first millennium of our era, Beowulf is the elegiac narrative of the adventures of Beowulf, a Scandinavian hero who saves the Danes from the seemingly invincible monster Grendel and, later, from Grendel's mother. In the contours of this story, at once remote and uncannily familiar at the end of the twentieth century, Seamus Heaney finds a resonance that summons power to the poetry from deep beneath its surface.

AnemicOak · 10-21-2009, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ea

By the way, you make me want to suggest "Seven Gothic Tales" by Karen Blixen (Isak Dinesen) for nomination. It's by a Danish author, but originally written and published in English.

Speaking of Danish authors. Have you read Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset (the trilogy Kransen, Husfrue and Korset)? I was just looking at it and wondering how it was. I see Penguin Classics has an English translation.

GA Russell · 10-21-2009, 03:11 PM

WT Sharpe suggested Topper by Thorne Smith for Halloween reading in another thread. I would like to nominate it here.

My synopsis: George and Marian Kirby are happily married when they die together. As ghosts they haunt the staid banker Topper. Marian spends the book attempting to seduce Topper. The novel raises the question: If marriage is "till death do us part", would it be adultery for a ghost to cheat on her husband?

mikaelalind · 10-21-2009, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

Speaking of Danish authors. Have you read Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset (the trilogy Kransen, Husfrue and Korset)? I was just looking at it and wondering how it was. I see Penguin Classics has an English translation.

Um.. Sigrid Undset is actually Norwegian, not Danish. Could remember wrong though.

Ea · 10-21-2009, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnemicOak

Speaking of Danish authors. Have you read Kristin Lavransdatter by Sigrid Undset (the trilogy Kransen, Husfrue and Korset)? I was just looking at it and wondering how it was. I see Penguin Classics has an English translation.

No, unfortunately I haven't, but she's a well known and respected author, and I would give it a go if I were interested. Just be careful with the translation. Sometimes a translation can break an otherwise good book.

What we had to read in school was so boring, and I ended up being more interested in English authors than Danish. It's only recently I've started to discover that there's something of worth 'closer to home'.

Ea · 10-21-2009, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikaelalind

Um.. Sigrid Undset is actually Norwegian, not Danish. Could remember wrong though.

I looked her up. She's born in Denmark (Kalundborg), but is in fact Norwegian. Her name is definitely Norwegian

mikaelalind · 10-21-2009, 03:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ea

I looked her up. She's born in Denmark (Kalundborg), but is in fact Norwegian. Her name is definitely Norwegian

Ah. Thanks for the information, Ea

Sparrow · 10-21-2009, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GA Russell

WT Sharpe suggested Topper by Thorne Smith for Halloween reading in another thread. I would like to nominate it here.

I'll second 'Topper'.

geneven · 10-21-2009, 09:53 PM

Swerving to Swedish authors, I recommend The Holy Land series by Nobel Prize winner Par Lagerkvist. I think there are four books in the series, of which Barabbas is the best known. Try to find the hard cover version, which has very cool maze-like drawings.

AnemicOak · 10-21-2009, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ea

I looked her up. She's born in Denmark (Kalundborg), but is in fact Norwegian. Her name is definitely Norwegian

My mistake. I saw she was born in Denmark and just thought 'Danish Author'. A friend had recommended her book and I happened to see your post an hour later.

AnemicOak · 10-21-2009, 11:01 PM

I nominate Walden by Henry David Thoreau

Quote:

'If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music he hears, however measured or far away.'

Disdainful of America's growing commercialism and industrialism, Henry David Thoreau left Concord, Massachusetts, in 1845 to live in solitude in the woods by Walden Pond. Walden, the classic account of his stay there, conveys at once a naturalist's wonder at the commonplace and a Transcendentalist's yearning for spiritual truth and self-reliance. But even as Thoreau disentangled himself from worldly matters, his solitary musings were often disturbed by his social conscience.

MelC · 10-22-2009, 09:16 AM

Second Walden. I've been meaning to read it and this might give me the impetus to do that.

Mel

mores · 10-22-2009, 09:21 AM

I nominate "The Picture Of Dorian Gray" the most boringest book on the planet.

You know the thread about books that you just can't bring yourself to put down? This is one you can't bring yourself to pick up.
(Dorian Gray was cool in "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen", though.)

AnemicOak · 10-22-2009, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mores

You know the thread about books that you just can't bring yourself to put down? This is one you can't bring yourself to pick up.

dreams · 10-22-2009, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mores

I nominate "The Picture Of Dorian Gray" the most boringest book on the planet.

You know the thread about books that you just can't bring yourself to put down? This is one you can't bring yourself to pick up.
(Dorian Gray was cool in "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen", though.)

I had to suffer and actually read that one in Lit class at university. That is one on my "Never Again" list.

10-22-2009, 09:21 AM	#103
mores Guru Posts: 834 Karma: 102419 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Vienna, Austria Device: iPhone	I nominate "The Picture Of Dorian Gray" the most boringest book on the planet. You know the thread about books that you just can't bring yourself to put down? This is one you can't bring yourself to pick up. (Dorian Gray was cool in "The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen", though.) Last edited by mores; 10-22-2009 at 09:23 AM. Reason: type-ho

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10-21-2009, 02:13 PM	#91
Ea Wizard Posts: 3,490 Karma: 5239563 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Denmark Device: Kindle 3\|iPad air\|iPhone 4S	For rounding out the field with a very old classic, I nominate "Beowulf" - preferably in the Seamus Heaney translation. When the fearful monster Grendel comes to Hrothgar's Hall and dashes his warriors' hopes, installing himself in the great hall and eating people alive, the hero Beowulf arrives from over the sea to wrestle the beast. He saves the Danes, who sing of his triumphs, but soon the monster's mother turns up to take him hostage... Composed toward the end of the first millennium of our era, Beowulf is the elegiac narrative of the adventures of Beowulf, a Scandinavian hero who saves the Danes from the seemingly invincible monster Grendel and, later, from Grendel's mother. In the contours of this story, at once remote and uncannily familiar at the end of the twentieth century, Seamus Heaney finds a resonance that summons power to the poetry from deep beneath its surface.

10-21-2009, 03:11 PM	#93
GA Russell Montreal wins Grey Cup! Posts: 7,583 Karma: 31484197 Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Raleigh, NC Device: Paperwhite, Kindles 10 & 4 and jetBook Lite	WT Sharpe suggested Topper by Thorne Smith for Halloween reading in another thread. I would like to nominate it here. My synopsis: George and Marian Kirby are happily married when they die together. As ghosts they haunt the staid banker Topper. Marian spends the book attempting to seduce Topper. The novel raises the question: If marriage is "till death do us part", would it be adultery for a ghost to cheat on her husband?

10-21-2009, 09:53 PM	#99
geneven Member Retired Posts: 124 Karma: 340 Join Date: Aug 2008 Device: Nokia N800, N810, Kindle 2	Swerving to Swedish authors, I recommend The Holy Land series by Nobel Prize winner Par Lagerkvist. I think there are four books in the series, of which Barabbas is the best known. Try to find the hard cover version, which has very cool maze-like drawings.

10-22-2009, 09:16 AM	#102
MelC Evangelist Posts: 410 Karma: 2081 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Toronto, Canada Device: Cybook Gen3, PRS600	Second Walden. I've been meaning to read it and this might give me the impetus to do that. Mel