MobileRead April 2010 Book Club Nominations

[lilac_jive]

Originally Posted by Sparrow

I think we've already done 'Three Men in a Boat' iirc.

But I don't think there's a rule about excluding previous MRBC choices.

We read it last year for the humor category.

[Sparrow]

Originally Posted by lilac_jive

We read it last year for the humor category.

Yep, I found the discussion thread and amended my post to include it.

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by Sparrow

We've already done 'Three Men in a Boat'.

But I don't think there's a rule about excluding previous MRBC choices.

I think that should be a rule. What do you all think? I mean Topper and others have been nominated before but didn't win.

BOb

[beppe]

My third and last recommendation

I'd like to propose A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain
and we can find it at Gutenberg

Wikipedia says "The novel explains the tale of Hank Morgan, a 19th-century resident of Hartford, Connecticut who awakens to find himself inexplicably transported back in time to early medieval Britain at the time of the legendary King Arthur".

P:S.
There are more books that I would like to share a discussion, but I cannot find them as ebooks on the Net. They are

Comma 22 by Joseph Heller that I consider hilarious and my wife not.
The Good Soldier Švejk by Jaroslav Hašek. I saw it - for mere $ 29.00 - chez samizdat (*)
Only When I Larf by Len Deighton
My Uncle Oswald by Roald Dahl
Home is the sailor, in portuguese Os velhos marinheiros ou o capitão de longo curso by Jorge Amado.
Karl Valentin's TingelTangel (*)
The Revolt of Gunner Asch by Hans Hellmut Kirst, first of the 5 books series "Band: 08/15 ..." (*)
Dienstbüchlein by Max Frish. I could not even find the English translation, but this is really hilarious.
Changing Places by David Lodge, first of a series
Confessions of Felix Krull by Thomas Mann (1954)

(*) to have these books on my reader I'd be ready to chance my soul on the DarkNet. Nah, that's not true.

[kennyc]

I'll SECOND A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain.

It's on my TBR list!

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

I think that should be a rule. What do you all think? I mean Topper and others have been nominated before but didn't win.

BOb

Agreed. New rule..... did I say that

[Sparrow]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

I think that should be a rule. What do you all think? I mean Topper and others have been nominated before but didn't win.

BOb

I agree too, previous winners will already have a discussion thread.

[JSWolf]

I agree that previous winners should be excluded.

But what about taking books from the middle of a series? i think that should be a no-no unless it's the next been in the series where every book previous to that one was a winner.

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by kennyc

I'll SECOND A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain.

It's on my TBR list!

Is this a Humor book or just a humorous book? Is there a difference?

BOb

[Zipr]

Edit: disregard post.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Is this a Humor book or just a humorous book? Is there a difference?

BOb

from wikipedia: While the book pokes fun at contemporary society, the main thrust is a satire of romanticized ideas of chivalry, and of the idealization of the Middle Ages common in the novels of Sir Walter Scott and other 19th century literature. Twain had a particular dislike for Scott, blaming his kind of romanticism of battle for the southern states deciding to fight the American Civil War.

also under the description it says:

Genre(s) Humor, Satire, alternate history, science fiction, fantasy

Humor being listed first....

[weatherwax]

Fool from Christopher Moore

I have read a couple of books from this author and loved them all.

This is from Publisher's Weekly (as cited on Amazon):
Starred Review. Here's the Cliff Notes you wished you'd had for King Lear—the mad royal, his devious daughters, rhyming ghosts and a castle full of hot intrigue—in a cheeky and ribald romp that both channels and chides the Bard and all Fate's bastards. It's 1288, and the king's fool, Pocket, and his dimwit apprentice, Drool, set out to clean up the mess Lear has made of his kingdom, his family and his fortune—only to discover the truth about their own heritage. There's more murder, mayhem, mistaken identities and scene changes than you can remember, but bestselling Moore (You Suck) turns things on their head with an edgy 21st-century perspective that makes the story line as sharp, surly and slick as a game of Grand Theft Auto. Moore confesses he borrows from at least a dozen of the Bard's plays for this buffet of tragedy, comedy and medieval porn action. It's a manic, masterly mix—winning, wild and something today's groundlings will applaud. (Feb.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

[beppe]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

Is this a Humor book or just a humorous book? Is there a difference?

BOb

My modest opinion: it is a Humour book when while reading it you find yourself laughing . Humorous you just smile. Or worst, one just emits humors, either sanguine, choleric, melancholic or phlegmatic.

[GA Russell]

Because Topper does not need my vote, I will second My Man Jeeves.

[ficbot]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

But what about taking books from the middle of a series? i think that should be a no-no unless it's the next been in the series where every book previous to that one was a winner.

Well, some series do not need to be read in order. I guess you just have to trust the nominator not to choose a book which most people will find hard to follow? I read 'Mort' as my first Discworld book and it was quite easy to follow for a newbie.

I don't think we should weigh the club down with all sorts of rules. Trust people to nominate a good book, and then vote for the one you want and don't vote for the other ones.