Literary caleb72 Run-Off • June 2015

[sun surfer]

Help us choose the June 2015 selection to read for the MR Literary Club! The run-off poll will be open for one day.

The run-off vote is single-choice. A discussion thread will begin shortly after a winner is chosen.

The rotating nominator (this month - caleb72) may not vote in the poll. In the event of a tie, the tie will be resolved by the rotating nominator.


Select from the following 20th century works:


1941-1950: Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh

Spoiler:

The most nostalgic and reflective of Evelyn Waugh's novels, Brideshead Revisited looks back to the golden age before the Second World War. It tells the story of Charles Ryder's infatuation with the Marchmains and the rapidly-disappearing world of privilege they inhabit. Enchanted first by Sebastian at Oxford, then by his doomed Catholic family, in particular his remote sister, Julia, Charles comes finally to recognize only his spiritual and social distance from them.

1961-1970: Justine (The Alexandria Quartet #1) - Lawrence Durrell

Spoiler:

The time is the eve of the World War II. The place is Alexandria, an Egyptian city that once housed the world's greatest library and whose inhabitants are dedicated to knowledge. But for the obsessed characters in this mesmerizing novel, their pursuits lead only to bedrooms in which each seeks to know—and possess—the other. Since its publication in 1957, Justine has inspired an almost religious devotion among readers and critics alike.

[Bookworm_Girl]

I totally couldn't decide! In the end I picked Durrell because I already have it on my TBR list. I've seen the movie and LOVE the soundtrack for Brideshead Revisited. It would be nice to read the book. However the other one would be new to me.

[caleb72]

Two great choices - if I say so myself.

I am a bit sad that Rabbit, Run didn't make it though.

[sun surfer]

I've seen the terrific Brideshead Revisited mini-series while Justine would be new to me. I'll happily read either but I think I'd really enjoy reading and discussing Brideshead with the group so that's what I voted for.

Originally Posted by caleb72

Two great choices - if I say so myself.

I am a bit sad that Rabbit, Run didn't make it though.

Originally Posted by sun surfer

I've seen the terrific Brideshead Revisited mini-series while Justine would be new to me. I'll happily read either but I think I'd really enjoy reading and discussing Brideshead with the group so that's what I voted for.

Yes, I saw that series years ago and recently read the book. So my second choice out of the original list.

[Bookpossum]

Tough choice as I originally voted for both of them. I decided to go with Durrell because though I read it many years ago, it's less familiar to me than the Waugh, because of that great television series all those years ago.

Of course once you read "Justine", you just have to go on and read the other three books of the Quartet!

[Bookpossum]

Well Caleb, it's up to you to choose!

[sun surfer]

Yep, this is a first for the rotating nominations and the tie-breaking vote is up to you, caleb!

[caleb72]

Well - I guess I have a play in this after all.

I'd really like to dive into Durrell, but Brideshead has been hovering in my consciousness for a while now. Unlike most, I haven't seen the serial in the 80s - just snatches here and there - and I haven't seen the more recent movie.

I'd love to read this book, discuss it here and then watch the dramatisations.

So I guess we have a winner - Brideshead Revisited it is. I will start reading today and I'll catch up with you all when I'm finished.

[Bookpossum]

I'll dust off my copy immediately!

[paola]

I'll call myself off, as I have to read Handful of Dust first.

[sun surfer]

Brideshead it is and the discussion is here.

paola, I suppose you know this already and just prefer to read A Handful of Dust first but it's not necessary before Brideshead; this is my first Waugh but as far as I know they're not related.

[paola]

Originally Posted by sun surfer

Brideshead it is and the discussion is here.

paola, I suppose you know this already and just prefer to read A Handful of Dust first but it's not necessary before Brideshead; this is my first Waugh but as far as I know they're not related.

thanks sun surfer, but it is one of my challenges (reading all of Waugh in chronological order - I have I think all of his titles, got in a 90% kobo coupon spree... )

I will get there though.

[Bookpossum]

If you have a good run of reading time this month, you might read them both?

[paola]

Originally Posted by Bookpossum

If you have a good run of reading time this month, you might read them both?

thanks for the thought Bookpossum, but I've been struggling to catch up with normal reading time since last month, finishing a grand total of 7 books so far - yes, it is that depressing... Looking forward to holidays, which are however still a couple of months away!