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[issybird]

Originally Posted by CRussel

Hmmm. That brings up things like Circling the Sun, a fictionalized retelling of the life of Berryl Markham. Or even Berryl's West With the Night.

West with the Night won't be eligible again for two more years.

[CRussel]

True. I was thinking in more general terms about the types of books, and it would seem to me that memoirs rather nicely fall into this category, since they're clearly retellings from the person's perspective and an impartial, external observer might well have seen things a bit different.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by CRussel

True. I was thinking in more general terms about the types of books, and it would seem to me that memoirs rather nicely fall into this category, since they're clearly retellings from the person's perspective and an impartial, external observer might well have seen things a bit different.

I was thinking more about historical people or events as told by a third party (Wolf Hall as an example, although I wouldn't nominate that) and not a memoir unless there's independent sources and it's know to be highly fictionalized, but that's what makes horse races.

[Catlady]

I was all set to nominate I Was Anastasia by Ariel Lawhon, a fictionalized account of the woman who claimed to be Anastasia. But when I checked, I discovered it's not available in the UK, New Zealand, or Australia. Bummer.

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by issybird

I was thinking more about historical people or events as told by a third party (Wolf Hall as an example, although I wouldn't nominate that) and not a memoir unless there's independent sources and it's know to be highly fictionalized, but that's what makes horse races.

Indeed, that's what makes horse races.

When I first thought of this, I was on that same page. But then when I thought some more, I decided that many memoirs are, ultimately, retellings with the intent of putting the teller's spin on history. Which leaves me thinking that they should qualify.

Obviously, the third party fictional memoirs, such as Circling the Sun, or her Hemingway - The Paris Wife, qualify. And might even be an interesting choice. OTOH, I've read Circling the Sun, and not sure whether I want to read The Paris Wife. But then, I'm not at all sure what I'd like to nominate this time.

[issybird]

The April nomination thread is up. The Way I Heard It: Retellings

[Victoria]

Originally Posted by Catlady

I was all set to nominate I Was Anastasia by Ariel Lawhon, a fictionalized account of the woman who claimed to be Anastasia. But when I checked, I discovered it's not available in the UK, New Zealand, or Australia. Bummer.

Catlady, thanks for mentioning it anyway. I’ve always found her facinating! The book’s still in hardcover in Canada at least, so it may have broader distribution / lower costs in time.

I’ve just finished reading this thread - it’s great background for newbies. Plus, a rich source for new book suggestions. Next, I’ll pick away at the earlier nomination threads, to tide me over until the fun of April voting, and March discussions finally start. They seem so long away

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by Victoria

Catlady, thanks for mentioning it anyway. I’ve always found her facinating! The book’s still in hardcover in Canada at least, so it may have broader distribution / lower costs in time.

I’ve just finished reading this thread - it’s great background for newbies. Plus, a rich source for new book suggestions. Next, I’ll pick away at the earlier nomination threads, to tide me over until the fun of April voting, and March discussions finally start. They seem so long away

I just started listening to the audiobook of I Was Anastasia. So far, so good.

[issybird]

I ran across the following image, a WPA poster from the Library of Congress, on a friend's Facebook page and was tickled, as it seemed so very apropos to me personally and to the clubs.



We're currently reading Dickens and have read Dumas within the past year; I also have read a book by Clemens in 2019. Most of the others are on my "have to get to this sooner rather than later" list, except Scott, as I didn't love Ivanhoe (read it for 9th grade and it was a MR Book Club selection) and Austen (two book club selections). Tolstoi, Eliot, Clemens and more Dumas and Dickens have also been selections, only poor old Thackeray and Hawthorne have been left out in the cold. Or March wind.

Hoping others who haven't seen it before enjoy it, too.

[Bookpossum]

Lovely poster. But no Trollope? He has become a firm favourite of mine in recent years.

[gmw]

I fear that I am in an unfortunate mood for reading Dickens. I usually quite enjoy his books but I'm only up to chapter 4 and already I'm planning the murder of a couple of the characters!

Spoiler:

Maybe something in the Lumps of Delight and I can get both of them, especially that insipid little ... oh dear, this should wait until the 15th.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by gmw

I fear that I am in an unfortunate mood for reading Dickens. I usually quite enjoy his books but I'm only up to chapter 4 and already I'm planning the murder of a couple of the characters!

Spoiler:

Maybe something in the Lumps of Delight and I can get both of them, especially that insipid little ... oh dear, this should wait until the 15th.

Hah! Right there with you, but I won't elaborate either.

Just the same, I'm loving it; I'm finding it so deliciously creepy and that element is part of it.

[Victoria]

Originally Posted by gmw

I fear that I am in an unfortunate mood for reading Dickens. I usually quite enjoy his books but I'm only up to chapter 4 and already I'm planning the murder of a couple of the characters!

You may discover a few more to dispatch shortly. I’ve definitely worked with one of them in a past life

[Dazrin]

I'm still waiting to get Daughter of Time (5 weeks left on my library hold it estimates. ) so I'm thinking ahead for the May nominations.

We're a week out from nominations for May, You're Never Too Young, Children, any grand ideas that anyone wants to share?

I am going to ask my daughter what she recommends as a first pass. How does everyone feel about Harry Potter?

[Catlady]

Originally Posted by Dazrin

I'm still waiting to get Daughter of Time (5 weeks left on my library hold it estimates. ) so I'm thinking ahead for the May nominations.

We're a week out from nominations for May, You're Never Too Young, Children, any grand ideas that anyone wants to share?

I am going to ask my daughter what she recommends as a first pass. How does everyone feel about Harry Potter?

Since you asked ... I read the first Harry Potter early on (though it was after everyone else in the world had read it), and thought it was a big overhyped nothing. I never read another Harry Potter, never watched a Harry Potter film, never paid any attention to J. K. Rowling--and I never feel like my life is in any way diminished by my indifference to all things Potter.