New Leaf Nominations for September 2019 • Labour of Love: Working Class

[issybird]

As of now, with several appealing possibilities, I'm probably going to use my tickets in support of other nominations. For a nomination of my own, I've considered and rejected Zola's Germinal and Lawrence's Sons and Lovers; a third book would also work in January and I decided to keep it in reserve until then.

This could all change, of course!

[Bookpossum]

I will second My Life in France.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by Catlady

My first nomination is Bread and Roses: Mills, Migrants, and the Struggle for the American Dream by Bruce Watson (2005, 368 pp.).

Amazon US, $6.99.

I plan to read this in any case and I'm grateful you brought it to my attention. Unfortunately, I was on the verge of seconding this when I discovered that the price has gone up to $9.99. This is still well within our parameters, but it may make a difference. The Canadian price is essentially a wash now.

In my own case, I was very surprised that Boston Overdrive doesn't have it, but I can readily borrow it from the consortium of which Lawrence is a member and where I have borrowing privileges; it's just a little less convenient.

[CRussel]

Yes, unfortunately the price has gone up. And worse, neither of my libraries has a copy, though I've recommended it to both. I doubt they'll get a copy in soon enough, however.

[CRussel]

Originally Posted by Victoria

For my nomination I’ve focused on ‘labour of love’, aspect, and chosen My Life In France, by Julia Childs. She wasn’t from the working classes, but she certainly faced struggles as a female at the Cordon Bleu.

The book is available on overdrive at my library, so I hope in other countries as well.

In terms of Kobo, the sites recognize me as Canadian and sometimes adjust the prices accordingly. But from what I could see, it appears to be:
$14 USA
$14 CA
$10 AUD

It's unfortunate that this book is so expensive. It's a good book, and well worth the read. I have a DT copy, which I can use if we select it, or my libraries both have the audio version immediately available. (There's a significant wait for the eBook, unfortunately, though I'll likely get it in time, with luck.)

[issybird]

I get the feeling we're playing chicken.

I've had more possibilities than I have remaining nominations, but deciding to go with the OverDrive option made it easy. So I'm seconding Bread and Roses and thirding My Life in France.

[CRussel]

I'm seriously torn at this point. Neither of the two books I could put over the line at this point are likely to be available from my libraries in time. And both look promising. I'm going to have to think about this a bit.

[issybird]

Oh, I've meant to comment on Catlady's mention of Never Done. I love women's social history and while none of my OverDrive libraries has it, I see the local university has the paper book. On my list for the next time I'm there.

[Victoria]

Originally Posted by CRussel

It's unfortunate that this book is so expensive. It's a good book, and well worth the read. I have a DT copy, which I can use if we select it, or my libraries both have the audio version immediately available. (There's a significant wait for the eBook, unfortunately, though I'll likely get it in time, with luck.)

Sorry CRussel. My library’s wait is quite short, and since it’s an older book, I assumed it wouldn’t be bad for others either. But since ever library is local, it’s hard to know.

That said, it seems to me that ebook prices have been edging up to paper prices the last couple of years. And I’m always appalled when I check the Australian prices! They frequently make me take a potential nomination off the table.

PS -what’s a “DT copy”?

Originally Posted by issybird

I get the feeling we're playing chicken.

I've had more possibilities than I have remaining nominations, but deciding to go with the OverDrive option made it easy. So I'm seconding Bread and Roses and thirding My Life in France.

Yup, I’m playing chicken So for my final vote, I third Forty Fathoms Deep

[issybird]

Originally Posted by Victoria

Sorry CRussel. My library’s wait is quite short, and since it’s an older book, I assumed it wouldn’t be bad for others either. But since ever library is local, it’s hard to know.

Yup. A couple of my libraries have it available now, so I didn't look further.

PS -what’s a “DT copy”?

DT = Dead Tree, i.e., paper.

[Victoria]

Originally Posted by issybird

DT = Dead Tree, i.e., paper.

Thanks! Shoudda got that

[issybird]

We've got a day to go and there are a lot of nominations still in hand, in case anyone has had a last minute light bulb moment about the perfect book.

[Catlady]

Even though it's late, I've decided to go ahead and nominate John Steinbeck's In Dubious Battle (1936, 302 pp.).

At once a relentlessly fast-paced, admirably observed novel of social unrest and the story of a young man's struggle for identity, In Dubious Battle is set in the California apple country, where a strike by migrant workers against rapacious landowners spirals out of control, as a principled defiance metamorphoses into blind fanaticism. Caught in the upheaval is Jim Nolan, a once aimless man who find himself in the course of the strike, briefly becomes its leader, and is ultimately crushed in its service.

Amazon U.S., $12.99

Both e-book and audiobook are in Overdrive and available in all relevant countries. There's also a copy of the e-book at the Internet Archive.

[gmw]

Originally Posted by Victoria

Thanks! Shoudda got that

Well it could have been "Dear Text" - in either expensive or cherished sense, both would work for various paper books I have here.

[Victoria]

Originally Posted by gmw

Well it could have been "Dear Text" - in either expensive or cherished sense, both would work for various paper books I have here.

Good one! I’ve got too many of both sorts myself.