[Dazrin]

We are getting off topic, but...

Originally Posted by JSWolf

You wouldn't know it by the nominations.

I don't think you have an accurate assessment of the literary club. From the last couple open nomination periods only 2 of the 5 poetry nominations were written before 1990 and only 1 of the 6 nominations from the Southeast Asia selections were before 1980. From the rotating nominations they are very dependent on what theme the nominator chooses. Billi nominated 8 older works, but HomeInMyShoes nominated only 2 out of 17 that were written before 1980. Their recent numbers don't support your theory.

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Is literary being called literary for the story or for the writing because I'e read some books where the story is not literary, but the writing is. For example, Perdido Street Station is literary for the writing, but not the story.

Here is the definition that they are using for the literary club:

Originally Posted by sun surfer

What is literature for the purposes of this club? A superior work of lasting merit that enriches the mind. Often it is important, challenging, critically acclaimed. It may be from ancient times to today; it may be from anywhere in the world; it may be obscure or famous, short or long; it may be a story, a novel, a play, a poem, an essay or another written form.

I haven't read Perdido Street Station (yet) but, from what I have heard about Murakami, I could certainly see it or something like it being nominated for the literary club. I think a book like The Golem and the Jinni would fit as well.

Back on topic...I think for the main book club the problem has been trying to read books that are difficult to read or depressing rather than fun books to read. I wasn't at all interested in reading Dubliners or The Grapes of Wrath in this club because they are just not fun books to read. Excellent writing and stories (so "they" say), but just not at all fun.