July Nominations

[Kell]

Time to start nominations for the July reading circle choice!

Please only make nominations and seconds here, rather than discussing the books nominated or going off-topic. Also, bear in mind that having hundreds of nominations makes it more difficult, so please limit yourself to a maximum of two nominations per person, although you can second as many as you like. Please also remember to post a synopsis of the books you nominate - it helps people to know what they're seconding!

The nominations thread will remain open till the evening of Sunday 17 June, after which a selection will be chosen for the poll.

Let the nominations begin!

[Kell]

I'd like to kick off by nominating the following two books:

Lady Chatterley's Lover by D. H. Lawrence:
Constance Chatterley feels trapped in her sexless marriage to the invalid Sir Clifford. Unable to fulfill his wife emotionally or physically, Clifford encourages her to have a liaison with a man of their own class. But Connie is attracted instead to her husband's gamekeeper and embarks on a passionate affair that brings new life to her stifled existence. Can she find a true equality with Mellors, despite the vast gulf between their positions in society? One of the most controversial novels in English literature, Lady Chatterley's Lover is an erotically charged and psychologically powerful depiction of adult relationships.

The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje:
The final curtain is closing on the Second World War, and Hana, a nurse, stays behind in an abandoned Italian villa to tend to her only remaining patient. Rescued by Bedouins from a burning plane, he is English, anonymous, damaged beyond recognition and haunted by his memories of passion and betrayal. The only clue Hana has to his past is the one thing he clung on to through the fire? a copy of The Histories by Herodotus, covered with hand-written notes describing a painful and ultimately tragic love affair.

[Renniemist]

I want to second the English Patient, because I have it on my TBR pile. I also really fancy it.:D

[Angel]

I don't mind Lady Chatterley's Lover - I'm reading at the moment and thoroughly enjoying it!

[Purple Poppy]

I'd like to nominate The Woodlanders, by Thomas Hardy. For those of you doing the Classics Challenge this is your chance for a taste of Thomas Hardy. It is not as despressing as some of the other novels. Here is the synopsis...

Synopsis
'If ever I forget your name let me forget home and heaven...But no, no, my love, I never can forget 'ee; for you was a good man, and did good things!' Love, and the erratic heart, are at the centre of Hardy's 'woodland story'. Set in the beautiful Blackmoor Vale, The Woodlanders concerns the fortunes of Giles Winterborne, whose love for the well-to-do Grace Melbury is challenged by the arrival of the dashing and dissolute doctor, Edred Fitzpiers. When the mysterious Felice Charmond further complicates the romantic entanglements, marital choice and class mobility become inextricably linked. Hardy's powerful novel depicts individuals in thrall to desire and the natural law that motivates them. This is the only critical edition of The Woodlanders based on a comprehensive study of the manuscript and incorporating later revisions.

I loved this book. It's time to read it again! Hope some of you will join me.
Pp

[Angel]

I've read the Woodlanders a couple of times - and I would recommend it as a light introduction to Thomas Hardy.

[wrathofkublakhan]

For my two nominations, I'd like to suggest:

My Name is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok:

From wikipedia....
My Name Is Asher Lev (1972 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1972_in_literature)) is a novel by Chaim Potok (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chaim_Potok) about a Hasidic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hasidic) Jewish (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish) boy from Brooklyn (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brooklyn), Asher Lev, who is a child artist (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artist) prodigy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prodigy).
Lev struggles with his family and the people of his Hasidic sect for the right and freedom to use his great gifts as a drawing and painting artist, against the tendency of his people to view art as a waste of time, or worse--as a manifestation of the "sitra achra" (the "Other Side", the realm of the demonic). His father is an international worker for the spreading of orthodox Judaism among Jews and political advisor to the Rebbe, the spiritual leader of the sect; he travels the world in an effort to unite and bring hope to disparate Jewish communities around the world, including aiding Jews in Russia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Jews_in_Russia) suffering under the persecution of Stalin (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stalin). As a result of the vastly different paths he and his father take and of the effect his art has on his family and people, Asher is forced to confront the implications of his gifts as an artist.
And another by the same author, Chaim Potok -- The Chosen

From wikipedia...
The Chosen is the story of the friendship between two orthodox Jewish boys growing up in 1940's Brooklyn. Reuven Malter, the narrator of the story, is the son of a teacher and scholar of modern methods of studying Jewish law. Danny is the genius son of a Hasidic Rabbi, whose people live completely within the bounds of traditional Jewish law. They meet for the first time as rivals in a baseball game between their school teams that turns into a spiritual war. Danny hits a line drive to Reuven's eye, sending him to the hospital, possibly blind in one eye. Danny visits Reuven in the hospital and after a struggle the two boys become friends. Reuven learns about Danny's life and finds that the Hasidic boy is much different than he had expected
Chaim Potok was a terrific author, typically dealing with growing up in the Jewish faith during WWII in Brooklyn. I've read six or seven of his books and have found them moving on an emotional level, educational on a historical level and brilliant in introducing me into what it'd be like to live as a Hasidic Jew, something which is almost alien to me in concept and theme.

I recently bought and re-read My Name is Asher Lev and I still think it's a brilliant piece of work. The Chosen is brilliant as well, it's only taint is that a only so-so movie was made and if you've seen the movie then the book may not seem as wonderful as ... well, as it really is!

[FishAndChips]

I second The Woodlanders. Its ages since I read a classic and I loved Tess.

[kitty_kitty]

I second Lady Chatterleys lovers as it will save me from buying another book and it is on the never ending TBR pile

[happyanddandy]

I will second Chaim Potok - 'My Name is Asher Lev' - enjoyed this author immensely many many years ago and would like to reread now.

[chocolategal]

I would like to nominate Bram Stoker's Dracula, from what i can tell, you haven't had any horror nominations!!


Out line V.rough!!


Dracula, a vampire from transylvania, a classic halloween costume and linked with Whitby, England, when the vampire falls in love with a human can utter chaos be round the corner!!]


If this is wrong could someone correct it, we read it in school but never got to the end of it and our local libary has closed down for refurbishments, am=nd i havent been able to get to another one, i think i am going one sturday!

[Kell]

I would like to nominate Bram Stoker's Dracula, from what i can tell, you haven't had any horror nominations!!
We actually read Frankenstein by Mary Shelley at the end of last year, and also The Devil in Gray by Graham Masterton earlier on that year - both scary stories...

Anyway, here's a more full synopsis of Dracula by Bram Stoker for you, Chocolategal:
When Jonathan Harker visits Transylvania to help Count Dracula with the purchase of a London house, he makes a series of horrific discoveries about his client. Soon afterwards, various bizarre incidents unfold in England: an apparently unmanned ship is wrecked off the coast of Whitby; a young woman discovers strange puncture marks on her neck; and the inmate of a lunatic asylum raves about the 'Master' and his imminent arrival. In Dracula, Bram Stoker created one of the great masterpieces of the horror genre, brilliantly evoking a nightmare world of vampires and vampire hunters and also illuminating the dark corners of Victorian sexuality and desire.

(Incidentally, it's an old favourite of mine!)

[lovesreading06]

I would like to nominate two books ,

Round Ireland with a Fridge by Tony Hawks

Most from the back of the book.

A foolhardly attempt to win a drunken bet led to Tony Hawks have one of the best experinces of his life-joined by his trusty travelling companion-cum-domestic appliance he found himself in the midst of a remarkable inspirational and at times down right silly advantage.

This is the record of the unlike pairs fortunes as there made there way from Dublin to Donegal, from Sligo though various countries.

Against all the odds, Round Ireland with a fridge is one of the most inspirationtional stories you will every read. Join the fear less pair as there battle on towards Dublin. And a breathtaking finale that is both moving and uplifting and a fitting conclusion to the whole ridiculous affair.

Second One
Fast Freinds by Susan Dunlap (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/105-1543358-3064422?%5Fencoding=UTF8&search-type=ss&index=books&field-author=Susan%20Dunlap)

From amazon
Book Description
A gripping new novel from the author of the Jill Smith mystery series
A secret in Liza Silvestri's past means she can't look for help from the police when her husband Jay is shot dead in their private hideaway in Los Angeles. But it turns out Jay had his own secrets, and Liza is about to find out a whole lot more about the man she loved. And so Liza goes on the run, with just her oldest school friend, Ellen, and her pet pig for company . .
.

[wrathofkublakhan]

Is there a master list or an easy way to find which Reader's Circle books have been chosen in the past?
Betcha a nickel Time Travelers Wife is on the list, lol.

[Kell]

Is there a master list or an easy way to find which Reader's Circle books have been chosen in the past?
Betcha a nickel Time Travelers Wife is on the list, lol.
There's no master list, but all the books we've chosen for reading circle have their own threads HERE (http://www.bookclubforum.co.uk/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=20).

And we DID read The Time Traveler's Wife. The thread is HERE (http://www.bookclubforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=403). It was rather popular!

[wrathofkublakhan]

There's no master list, but all the books we've chosen for reading circle have their own threads HERE (http://www.bookclubforum.co.uk/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=20).


Now I see, thanks!
Tidy little list there, if you ask me - nice broad swath through literature. Congrats.

[Kell]

Nominations close on Sunday, so if anyone wants to make any further nominations, or second those already mentioned, now's the time to do it!

[FishAndChips]

I'll second Dracula.

[Kell]

Thread now closed.

please go to the polling post (http://www.bookclubforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=3445) and cast your vote!