Literary Contemporary Nominations & Vote • January 2017 - Page 2

Bookworm_Girl · 01-07-2017, 02:21 PM

The Master makes my list of favorite reads in the book club.

I was hoping for a new author. However, as a contemporary author, Tóibín does have an impressive body of work and long list of award nominations/wins that makes him worthy of a re-read.

By the way, Fiona Shaw starred in the Broadway adaptation of Tóibín's The Testament of Mary which was nominated for 3 Tony awards including Best New Play.

That's interesting that the Flanagan audiobook has an introduction! The ebook sample starts from the first chapter. From the table of contents, the ebook doesn't appear to have a section at all with historical background or literary criticism. I wonder why they added it to the audiobook.

As an aside, I like it when fiction books add a section at the back with details on the history, especially if the author took liberties and points out deviations. I typically skip introductions which are literary explanations and read them after the story so I don't get spoilers. Indeed it is frustrating when you download a sample and it is so lengthy that you don't get to the actual story before it ends!

Billi · 01-07-2017, 03:19 PM

I give one vote to
- Colm Toibin
- Evie Wyld
- Anthony Doerr

and two votes to
- Ruth Ozeki

sun surfer · 01-07-2017, 03:28 PM

I generally would prefer a new author too, Bookworm_Girl, but I think that Nora Webster, should it win, seems sufficiently (nay, very) different from The Master as to be unique, and it could be interesting for those of us who have read both to compare and contrast together. And interesting notes on Shaw, thanks for that!

I've also looked at the ebook sample of the Flanagan which does indeed start with the book. I've no idea why only the audiobook has an introduction. I am similar to you in that I skip intros until the end to avoid spoilers and such, so it was rather annoying having to turn off the audio sample and not be able to get an idea of how I might like the reader.

Bookpossum · 01-07-2017, 04:44 PM

No devious plan to collect votes from those with Irish connections! More that it sounded to utterly different from The Master - different country, period,situation, woman rather than man ...

sun surfer · 01-07-2017, 05:51 PM

Oh, I know Bookpossum! And fantasyfan hasn't even chimed in yet, heh. It was just a little jesting as the funny thought struck me while on Audible looking up the top two vote-getters with their Irish and Australian connections.

Bookpossum · 01-07-2017, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sun surfer

Oh, I know Bookpossum! And fantasyfan hasn't even chimed in yet, heh. It was just a little jesting as the funny thought struck me while on Audible looking up the top two vote-getters with their Irish and Australian connections.

sun surfer · 01-08-2017, 11:23 AM

Voting is now closed and each nomination finishes with an odd number of votes, oddly enough.

The winner is Nora Webster by Colm Tóibín! Bookpossum will have the discussion thread up soon.

Bookpossum · 01-08-2017, 06:20 PM

The thread is up though waiting to be made "sticky". You can find it here.

Sorry about the book image: I need expert advice on how to make that bigger.

01-07-2017, 02:21 PM	#16
Bookworm_Girl E-reader Enthusiast Posts: 4,871 Karma: 36507503 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Southwest, USA Device: Kindle Oasis 3; Kobo Aura One; iPad Mini 5	The Master makes my list of favorite reads in the book club. I was hoping for a new author. However, as a contemporary author, Tóibín does have an impressive body of work and long list of award nominations/wins that makes him worthy of a re-read. By the way, Fiona Shaw starred in the Broadway adaptation of Tóibín's The Testament of Mary which was nominated for 3 Tony awards including Best New Play. That's interesting that the Flanagan audiobook has an introduction! The ebook sample starts from the first chapter. From the table of contents, the ebook doesn't appear to have a section at all with historical background or literary criticism. I wonder why they added it to the audiobook. As an aside, I like it when fiction books add a section at the back with details on the history, especially if the author took liberties and points out deviations. I typically skip introductions which are literary explanations and read them after the story so I don't get spoilers. Indeed it is frustrating when you download a sample and it is so lengthy that you don't get to the actual story before it ends! Last edited by Bookworm_Girl; 01-07-2017 at 02:31 PM.

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01-07-2017, 03:19 PM	#17
Billi Wizard Posts: 3,388 Karma: 14190103 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Berlin Device: Cybook, iRex, PB, Onyx	I give one vote to - Colm Toibin - Evie Wyld - Anthony Doerr and two votes to - Ruth Ozeki

01-07-2017, 03:28 PM	#18
sun surfer languorous autodidact ✦ Posts: 4,235 Karma: 44637926 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: smiling with the rising sun Device: onyx boox poke 2 colour, kindle voyage	I generally would prefer a new author too, Bookworm_Girl, but I think that Nora Webster, should it win, seems sufficiently (nay, very) different from The Master as to be unique, and it could be interesting for those of us who have read both to compare and contrast together. And interesting notes on Shaw, thanks for that! I've also looked at the ebook sample of the Flanagan which does indeed start with the book. I've no idea why only the audiobook has an introduction. I am similar to you in that I skip intros until the end to avoid spoilers and such, so it was rather annoying having to turn off the audio sample and not be able to get an idea of how I might like the reader.

01-07-2017, 04:44 PM	#19
Bookpossum Snoozing in the sun Posts: 10,137 Karma: 115423645 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Melbourne, Australia Device: iPad Mini, Kobo Touch	No devious plan to collect votes from those with Irish connections! More that it sounded to utterly different from The Master - different country, period,situation, woman rather than man ...

01-07-2017, 05:51 PM	#20
sun surfer languorous autodidact ✦ Posts: 4,235 Karma: 44637926 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: smiling with the rising sun Device: onyx boox poke 2 colour, kindle voyage	Oh, I know Bookpossum! And fantasyfan hasn't even chimed in yet, heh. It was just a little jesting as the funny thought struck me while on Audible looking up the top two vote-getters with their Irish and Australian connections.

01-08-2017, 11:23 AM	#22
sun surfer languorous autodidact ✦ Posts: 4,235 Karma: 44637926 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: smiling with the rising sun Device: onyx boox poke 2 colour, kindle voyage	Voting is now closed and each nomination finishes with an odd number of votes, oddly enough. The winner is Nora Webster by Colm Tóibín! Bookpossum will have the discussion thread up soon.

01-08-2017, 06:20 PM	#23
Bookpossum Snoozing in the sun Posts: 10,137 Karma: 115423645 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Melbourne, Australia Device: iPad Mini, Kobo Touch	The thread is up though waiting to be made "sticky". You can find it here. Sorry about the book image: I need expert advice on how to make that bigger.

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