MobileRead June 2013 Book Club Vote

[Bookatarian]

School is winding down and summer reading awaits. Looking forward to June and participating...what awesome choices on the list! It will be difficult to choose, for sure, but The Giver has been used in my school, yet I haven't read it yet. Definitely will get one vote from me since it was on my "to read" list anyway.

[drofgnal]

I went with Orphan Master's Son. I sounds interesting.

[medard]

Well I was hoping for Among Others to tell the truth, I never really read a book that has won the Nebula Award and the Hugo Award (as far as I know) and I'd like to change that someday. On the other hand, The Swerve sounds really interesting, too. The clash of cassicism and modernism is an every day problem. The Renaissance will never come to an end I guess.

[desertblues]

Every half year or so I hear from someone who has influenced the change from the medieval period into the Renaissance. Last month when I was in Uzbekistan I was told that Timur Lenk (Tamarlane) influenced Renaissance.....http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timur

Spoiler:

Timur arguably had the most impact on the Renaissance culture and early modern Europe. Timur's achievements have both fascinated and horrified Europeans from the fifteenth century to the early nineteenth century.
European views of Timur were mixed throughout the fifteenth century with some European countries calling him an ally, while others saw him as a threat to Europe because of his rapid expansion and brutality.
When Timur took down the Ottoman Sultan Bayezid at Ankara, he was often praised and seen as a trusted ally by European rulers such as Charles VI of France and Henry IV of England because they believe he was saving Christianity from the Turkish Empire in the Middle East. Charles VI of France and Henry IV of England also praised Timur because his victory at Ankara allowed Christian merchants to remain in the Middle East and allowed for their safe return back home to both France and England. Timur was also praised because it is believed that he helped restore the right of passage for Christian pilgrims to the Holy Land.
Some European countries viewed Timur as a barbaric enemy who presented a threat to both European culture and the religion of Christianity. Timur's rise to power moved many leaders, such as Henry III of Castille, to send embassies to Samarkand to personally scout out Timur, learn about his people, make alliances with him and to try to convince him to convert to Christianity in order to avoid war.

I am certainly curious what the writer of the Swerve has to say about it all, and I will read the book.
But having said this; there is a fine selection this month and I think Hella Haasse's book ' The Tea Lords' is an outstanding novel, so I'm hoping for that one.

[Bookpossum]

Originally Posted by medard

Well I was hoping for Among Others to tell the truth, I never really read a book that has won the Nebula Award and the Hugo Award (as far as I know) and I'd like to change that someday.

Not even The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula Le Guin? I can't recommend that one highly enough.

Glad to see that The Swerve is still performing well!

[caleb72]

Wow! The Giver is making serious ground.

[JSWolf]

Among Others is a very good book. Well worth voting for. If it loses, it's because those that did not vote for it just don't want to read something very good.

[WT Sharpe]

I see The Giver is creeping up on the list. It's the winner of the Newbery Award. For those who are unfamiliar with this Award, it's a literary award for children's books.

It's only my opinion, but I'd rather read a National Book Award and Pulitzer Prize winner about the Renaissance than curl up with a children's book; no matter how well-written. It's The Swerve for me.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by JSWolf

Among Others is a very good book. Well worth voting for. If it loses, it's because those that did not vote for it just don't want to read something very good.

Very true. Reading is a form of self-flagellation for us. We look to other outlets for our entertainment and enlightenment.

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

I see The Giver is creeping up on the list. It's the winner of the Newbery Award. For those tho are unfamiliar with this Award, it's a literary award for children's books.

It's only my opinion, but I'd rather read a National Book Award and Pulitzer Prize winner about the Renaissance than curl up with a children's book; no matter how well-written. It's The Swerve for me.

My sentiments as well.

Originally Posted by issybird

Very true. Reading is a form of self-flagellation for us. We look to other outlets for our entertainment and enlightenment.

In all seriousness it is remarkable how evenly distributed the votes are. I was really hoping for Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World as it is one of the Murakami books that I hae not read, but given the most likely winners at thia I also hope it is The Swerve.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

I see The Giver is creeping up on the list. It's the winner of the Newbery Award. For those tho are unfamiliar with this Award, it's a literary award for children's books.

It's only my opinion, but I'd rather read a National Book Award and Pulitzer Prize winner about the Renaissance than curl up with a children's book; no matter how well-written. It's The Swerve for me.

I'd happily read several of the books on this list, including some for which I didn't vote, but unless I'm dipping into an old childhood favorite of my own, I generally limit kidlit to books I plan to discuss with a kid.

I've been intrigued by The Swerve since it was so well-received last year and the beauty of having it chosen, in addition to the pleasure of the discussion, is that it puts it on the front burner.

[desertblues]

Originally Posted by issybird

Very true. Reading is a form of self-flagellation for us. We look to other outlets for our entertainment and enlightenment.

he, he...you're already getting in the mood for The Swerve I notice.
It's quite a coïncidence: I'm watching the episodes from the 2nd season of the Borgias, where self-flagellation was a big thing, especially in the time of Savonarola. I just saw him burned on a stake.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Girolamo_Savonarola
So, yes, I'm hoping for the Swerve as well (or the Tea Lords, of course).

[Bookpossum]

A series on the Borgias must be highly entertaining! What a lovely lot they were.

I'm down here, cheering on The Swerve too.

[pynch]

Originally Posted by Bookpossum

... cheering on The Swerve ...

Fifteenthed(?).

[desertblues]

Originally Posted by Bookpossum

A series on the Borgias must be highly entertaining! What a lovely lot they were.

I'm down here, cheering on The Swerve too.

You would love the series, I'm sure. Here is the promovideo, with Jeremy Irons as the Pope. I saw this actor last week in the film Nighttrain to Lisbon; a filmed book of Pascal Mercier. Very nice film.