Literary The MR Literary Club • Welcome, Information & General Discussion

[sun surfer]

And we're on to choosing March's topic.

All ideas are appreciated; just post! We're very flexible with our monthly topic; it can be a topic, theme, category or whatever else. This can also be collaborative so any little kernel of an idea is great.

The floor is now open!

[astrangerhere]

Originally Posted by sun surfer

And we're on to choosing March's topic.

All ideas are appreciated; just post! We're very flexible with our monthly topic; it can be a topic, theme, category or whatever else. This can also be collaborative so any little kernel of an idea is great.

The floor is now open!

I'd love to do something Roman in honor of the Ides of March.

[sun surfer]

I like that idea! We'd just need a title for it.

[AnotherCat]

I like it too.

? Rome - Republic and Empire (509BC - 476AD) ?

- or could limit it to one or the other if that too expansive e.g. Julius Caesar's Ides of March assassination was (late) in the Republic, but the well known novel I, Claudius would then be excluded as it spans both.

But would be happy with any other suggestion.

[sun surfer]

I was waiting to see if anyone else wanted to input but I'm liking the sound of that. I'm good with it being books about the Roman Empire or set in or written in 509BC - 476AD; I'm just wondering if others are good with that too since it'd be a stricter scope (though an interesting one!) than the kind of topics we've been having.

With the posts so far, I'm seeing three possibilities:

>Rome - Republic and Empire (based on AnotherCat's suggestion, and giving the narrower scope guidelines of 509BC - 476AD as mentioned)

>Rome - Republic and Empire (same but leaving it more interpretable to anything with any of the words or ideas conjured by the topic title, which could veer quite different)

>The Ides of March (based on astrangerhere's mention; probably also leaving it interpretable in lieu of any particular directional suggestion)


They all sound good to me! Any opinions from anyone (including astrangerhere and AnotherCat) on which would be most preferable?

[Bookworm_Girl]

I prefer something with broader interpretation yet still Roman-related so it's not too difficult to find nominations. I don't know much about Roman history or books. However, I have heard of the book "I, Claudius". Well, I don't know if that helps you any in deciding what to title it!

[AnotherCat]

I like the broader interpretation without the dates.

[sun surfer]

Great, so it sounds like we're coalescing around a broader take on 'Rome - Republic and Empire' for March, though I'll still mention the more particular possibilities in the italicised topic description too. I really like this topic title and it'll be fun to see what nominations we come up with.

[Bookworm_Girl]

Sounds good! It should be an adventure searching for nominations.

[sun surfer]

And we're on to choosing April's topic.

All ideas are appreciated; just post! We're very flexible with our monthly topic; it can be a topic, theme, category or whatever else. This can also be collaborative so any little kernel of an idea is great.

The floor is now open!

[sun surfer]

This isn't a topic suggestion, but I wanted to say how with the Covid-19 pandemic I was thinking about books I'd read relating to viruses and outbreaks, and three lit club books sprung to mind- Station Eleven, The Plague and Love in the Time of Cholera.

[AnotherCat]

Originally Posted by sun surfer

This isn't a topic suggestion, but I wanted to say how with the Covid-19 pandemic I was thinking about books I'd read relating to viruses and outbreaks, and three lit club books sprung to mind- Station Eleven, The Plague and Love in the Time of Cholera.

I had actually thought of suggesting "Virus" or something similar as the topic but thought it might promote the not uncommon thumping of keyboards encountered on forums from those whose waiting for something to take offence about. But not being one to take any notice of that type of plague I'm happy to suggest "Virus" or some twist on that e.g. "Pestilence", "Plague".

Haven't read Love in the Time of Cholera so maybe here is my chance .

[sun surfer]

I hadn't been thinking of it for a topic when I wrote the other post, but I like your idea!

What about 'Viral' for the topic title? It could open up the nominations to not only something to do with viruses and such but also the other newer meaning of viral as being much discussed because of some aspect especially unique or tantalising, or becoming very well known very quickly, sometimes for the wrong reasons. This could perhaps include infamous literary books, or ones that struck a chord in the zeitgeist, or books with plots, themes or titles involving something of that nature.

As for Love in the Time of Cholera, I liked it and I'd hazard a guess that you would too, although if I remember the reactions were a little mixed, but fyi it's already been a lit club selection so it's not eligible anymore. Still, if you ever read it I'd be interested in your reaction.

[AnotherCat]

His books do seem to get mixed reactions but that only from what I have seen, while I have a couple on my reading pile I haven't read any of his yet. Given his sound reputation I don't know why I haven't got into any of his books yet, really something I must put to rights.

I am happy with your topic suggestion or any other along similar lines that anyone would like to suggest.

[sun surfer]

Yes, me too; if anyone has any other topic or titles suggestions please post them!

I've read two Gabriel García Márquez books- Love in the Time of Cholera and 100 Years of Solitude. I liked them both. 100 Years was more of a fantasy/myth type of story, whereas Love was more realistic but still with a dreamy magical realism quality.