October Nominations

[Kell]

Yes, it's time to start the next round of nominations! I know we're only just starting to read the September book, but we need to start thinking about our next choice which will be read during October.

The nominations thread will remain open till the evening of Saturday 15 September, after which a selection will be chosen for the poll.

Let the nominations begin!

~~*~~
- 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 as it helps people to know what they're seconding!

- Please make sure the books you nominate are available in paperback (as we don't want to make it prohibitively expensive for members to take part in the reading circle).

- If the book you're nominating is part of a series, please make sure it is either the first one or a stand-alone (or the sequel to one already read by the reading circle).

[Kell]

With it being October - the month that includes Halloween - I'd like to offer up a spooky book as my first nomination:

The Secret of Crickley Hall by James Herbert:
The Caleighs have had a terrible year...They need time and space, while they await the news they dread. Gabe has brought his wife, Eve, and daughters, Loren and Cally, down to Devon, to the peaceful seaside village of Hollow Bay. He can work and Eve and the kids can have some peace and quiet and perhaps they can try, as a family, to come to terms with what's happened to them...Crickley Hall is an unusually large house on the outskirts of the village at the bottom of Devil's Cleave, a massive tree-lined gorge - the stuff of local legend. A river flows past the front garden. It's perfect for them...if it a bit gloomy. And Chester, their dog, seems really spooked at being away from home. And old houses do make sounds. And it's constantly cold. And, even though they shut the cellar door every night, it's always open again in morning... The Secret of Crickley Hall is James Herbert's finest novel to date. It explores the darker, more obtuse territories of evil and the supernatural. With brooding menace and rising tension, he masterfully and relentlessly draws the reader through to the ultimate revelation - one that will stay to chill the mind long after the book has been laid aside.

----------

And as my second nomination, I'd like to suggest a classic with a slightly "ghostly" theme:

The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux:
A haunting tale of suspense and intrigue set in 19th century Paris. As Monsiers Richard and Moncharmin prepare to take over as acting mnagers of the Opera House, they discover their predecessors have bequeathed them the "Opera Ghost". A seperate memorandum book has been set aside for his various whims, including extravagant financial needs. Heedless of the numerous warnings to comply with these strange demands the managers shrug it all off as a practical joke taken too far. Then a sequence of eerie coincidences and tragic events follow, culminating in the sudden disappearance of the beautiful prima donna Christine Daae in mid-performance. Tortured by the pangs of unrequited love, the mysterious figure living beneath the Opera House has been awaiting his chance to strike - and once he does, he is deadly...

[FishAndChips]

I second The secret of crickley hall.

[Angel]

I've just read The Secret of Crickley Hall so I can take part in the chat

[Nici76]

I have read The Secret of Crickley Hall as well so like Angel, I can join in as well :D

[Michelle]

I got half way through, then put it down.. but that was when most books were being put down! I'll third it, or fourth it, or whatever! :)

[Kell]

Well, Crickley Hall is looking popular - anyone want to nominate something else too?

[Icecream]

I have always wanted to read The Phantom of The Opera.

[angerball]

I'd like to nominate 2 favourites of mine:

Out by Natsuo Kirino:
Four women who work the night shift in a Tokyo factory that produces boxed lunches find their lives twisted beyond repair in this grimly compelling crime novel, which won Japan's top mystery award, the Grand Prix, for its already heralded author, now making her first appearance in English. Despite the female bonding, this dark, violent novel is more evocative of Gogol or Dostoyevsky than Thelma and Louise. When Yayoi, the youngest and prettiest of the women, strangles her philandering gambler husband with his own belt in an explosion of rage, she turns instinctively for help to her co-worker Masako, an older and wiser woman whose own family life has fallen apart in less dramatic fashion. To help her cut up and get rid of the dead body, Masako recruits Yoshie and Kuniko, two fellow factory workers caught up in other kinds of domestic traps. In Snyder's smoothly unobtrusive translation, all of Kirino's characters are touching and believable. And even when the action stretches to include a slick loan shark from Masako's previous life and a pathetically lost and lonely man of mixed Japanese and Brazilian parentage, the gritty realism of everyday existence in the underbelly of Japan's consumer society comes across with pungent force. FYI: This novel has been made into a Japanese motion picture.

Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk
Featuring soap made from human fat, waiters at high-class restaurants who do unmentionable things to soup and an underground organization dedicated to inflicting a violent anarchy upon the land, Palahniuk's apocalyptic first novel is clearly not for the faint of heart. The unnamed (and extremely unreliable) narrator, who makes his living investigating accidents for a car company in order to assess their liability, is combating insomnia and a general sense of anomie by attending a steady series of support-group meetings for the grievously ill, at one of which (testicular cancer) he meets a young woman named Marla. She and the narrator get into a love triangle of sorts with Tyler Durden, a mysterious and gleefully destructive young man with whom the narrator starts a fight club, a secret society that offers young professionals the chance to beat one another to a bloody pulp. Mayhem ensues, beginning with the narrator's condo exploding and culminating with a terrorist attack on the world's tallest building. Writing in an ironic deadpan and including something to offend everyone, Palahniuk is a risky writer who takes chances galore, especially with a particularly bizarre plot twist he throws in late in the book. Caustic, outrageous, bleakly funny, violent and always unsettling, Palahniuk's utterly original creation will make even the most jaded reader sit up and take notice.

[Kell]

I'll second Out by Natsuo Karino - it's been on my wishlist for a little while now and I'm in the process of getting hold of a copy...

[Spooncat]

I'd like to nominate these two

A Spot Of Bother - Mark Haddon

At 57 George is settling down to a comfortable retirement, building a shed , reading historical novels listening to light jazz. Then Katie ,his unpredictable daughter announces she is getting remarried to Ray. Her family is not pleased - as her brother Jamie puts it Ray has "stranglers hands". Katie cant decide if she loves Ray,and her mother Jean is a bit put out by the way the wedding planning gets in the way of her affair with one of her husband's former work colleagues. Jamies tidy life crumbles when he fails to invite his lover Tony to the nuptials.
Unnoticed in the uproar George discovers a sinister lesion on his hip and quietly begins to lose his mind.

The Life of Pi -Yann Martell

After the tragic sinking of a cargo ship, one solitary lifeboat remains bobbing on the wild ,blue pacific. The only survivors from the wreck are a 16 year old boy,named Pi , a hyena , a zebra(with broken leg) a female orang-utan ... and a 450 lb Royal Bengal tiger.

[Laramie]

I nominate Wicked Lovely:

Rule #3: Don't stare at invisible faeries.
Aislinn has always seen faeries. Powerful and dangerous, they walk hidden in mortal world. Aislinn fears their cruelty—especially if they learn of her Sight—and wishes she were as blind to their presence as other teens.
Rule #2: Don't speak to invisible faeries.
Now faeries are stalking her. One of them, Keenan, who is equal parts terrifying and alluring, is trying to talk to her, asking questions Aislinn is afraid to answer.
Rule #1: Don't ever attract their attention.
But it's too late. Keenan is the Summer King who has sought his queen for nine centuries. Without her, summer itself will perish. He is determined that Aislinn will become the Summer Queen at any cost—regardless of her plans or desires.
Suddenly none of the rules that have kept Aislinn safe are working anymore, and everything is on the line: her freedom; her best friend, Seth; her life; everything.
Faerie intrigue, mortal love, and the clash of ancient rules and modern expectations swirl together in Melissa Marr's stunning 21st century faery tale.

Critical Praise for Wicked Lovely
"A fully imagined faery world which even non-fantasy (or faerie) lovers will want to delve into."
— Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"Enjoyably sultry."
— Kirkus Reviews
"Riveting and dark. I love this tale!"
— Tamora Pierce
"A debut that reads like the work of a seasoned pro."
— Charles deLint
"The unusual combination of past legends and modern-day life gives a unique twist to this "fairy" tale."
— School Library Journal
"Melissa Marr adds elegantly to the sub-genre of Urban Faery with this enticing, well-researched fantasy."
— Annette Curtis Klause
"A modern-day fairy tale, wherein the girl saves herself. Many fantasy readers will find themselves happily at home here.
— Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (recommended)

View more (http://javascript<b></b>:ShowHide(moreBookCriticalPraise, ctl01_ContentPlaceHolder1_ucBookCriticalPraise_ctr lViewAllCriticalPraise);)
Reader Reviews from FirstLook
Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr is a masterpiece of suspense! I could not put it down, literally, until the last page was turned… at after three in the morning. The heroine is strong and believable, and the romantic tension is through the roof without resorting to smutty scenes. Add in a twist of faerie royalty, magic, deadly competition, and a few excruciating plot twists, and you’ve got a great book.
— Sarah (Biddeford, ME)
It's one of the most fantastic books I've ever read, and that's saying something!

[Michelle]

That does sound interesting DWMG, but I think Kell posted last time that we were going to stick with books out in paperback, to stop it getting too expensive for members. :)

[Laramie]

Oh...yeah...I remember now...sorry!!

I'll renominate it when it comes out in paperback :lol:

[ii]

I'd like to second A Spot of Bother.

And nominate Miss Garnet's Angel by Salley Vickers because it's for October and October is all about masked balls and that makes me think of Venice.

The Amazon.co.uk says:
The new edition of Salley Vicker's sensational debut novel. Miss Garnet's Angel is a voyage of discovery; a novel about Venice but also the rich story of the explosive possibilities of change in all of us at any time. Julia Garnet is a teacher. Just retired, she is left a legacy which she uses by leaving her orderly life and going to live -- in winter -- in an apartment in Venice. Its beauty, its secret corners and treasures, and its people overwhelm a lifetime of reserve and caution. Above all, she's touched by the all-prevalent spirit of the Angel, Raphael. The ancient tale of Tobias, who travels to Media unaware he is accompanied by the Archangel Raphael, unfolds alongside Julia Garnet's contemporary journey. The two stories interweave with parents and landladies, restorers and priests, American tourists and ancient travellers abounding. The result is an enormously satisfying journey of the spirit -- and Julia Garnet is a character to treasure.

[Maureen]

I'll second Life of Pi. As you might have noticed I enjoyed this book, and I would think it would make a great discussion.

[jay]

Phantom of the Opera, I really fancy that one but will have a go at whatever is the most popular, just hope i'll be able to read it quickly enough to take part in any discussions :readingtwo:

[Kell]

... just hope i'll be able to read it quickly enough to take part in any discussions :readingtwo:The threads remain open permanently, so members who read the books later on can leave their comments too, and occasionally rekindle discussion on them. I hope you'll join us in many reading circles to come, as well as having a look back at some of the older reading circle threads. :)

[scottishbookworm]

I nominate "A spot of bother" by mark haddon


:readingtwo:

[Kell]

I nominate "A spot of bother" by mark haddon:readingtwo:
As this one's already been nominated, we'll count this as a second for the original nomination.

[Kylie]

Life of Pi sounds interesting, but I'd like to second A Spot of Bother as I've already got it on my shelf and it also sounds pretty good!

[lovesreading06]

I third or fourth a spot of bother

I second Miss Garnet's Angel by Salley Vickers

[Gyre]

I seconded 'The Secret of Crickley Hall' because I read it not long ago, so I can join in. I quite fancy reading 'The Phantom of the Opera' as well.

I would like to nominate:

'Norwegian Wood' by Haruki Murakami

When he hears her favourite Beatles song, Toru Watanabe recalls his first love Naoko, the girlfriend of his best friend Kizuki. Immediately he is transported back almost twenty years to his student days in Tokyo, adrift in a world of uneasy friendships, casual sex, passion, loss and desire - to a time when an impetuous young woman called Midori marches into his life and he has to choose between the future and the past.

:readingtwo:

[kitty_kitty]

I would like to Nominate

John Connolly - The book of lost things

'Once upon a time, there was a boy who lost his mother !'As twelve-year-old David takes refuge from his grief in the myths and fairytales so beloved of his dead mother, he finds the real world and the fantasy world begin to blend. That is when bad things start to happen. That is when the Crooked Man comes. And David is violently propelled into a land populated by heroes, wolves and monsters, his quest to find the legendary Book of Lost Things.

To follow on from the fairy Tale thread in the general discussions bit

[LittleLijah]

The secret of Crickley Hall sounds good to me.

[Laramie]

I want to nominate the Gift, which is the first in the 4-part trilogy (I'll explain in a sec) called the Pellinor series. It's by Alison Croggon. Here's a review someone did on a forum...

have you read any of the Books Of Pellinor? They're a fantasy series that can be found in either the adult or teenage section depending on which country you're in (they could belong to either--it's one of those crossover-types). The third in the quartet, The Crow, was just released in the UK (*runs to shop*Must ... buy ... copy ... now). I can honestly say they're one of my favourite sets of books ever. The Gift (Or The Naming, if you're in the USA) acquaints you with Maerad, who goes from slave to all-powerful bard (bards are similar to wizards/witches/mages/magical-type-folks) over the course of the book. There's also Cadvan, her teacher (and one of the most fanciable guys in literature. Mmm ...) who's one of my favourite characters of all time. Together they have to stop the Nameless One who's doing the classic trying-to-take-over-the-world thing. The second book, The Riddle, follows on from that.

I can't wait to get my hands on The Crow, but unfortunately the fourth book hasn't been written yet. I can't wait for the second draft to be done, because Alison usually posts a few sample chapters on her website!

Apart from the lovable characters, the books are great thanks to their style. Alison's been a poet for years (actually living off her earnings! Wow!) and it really shows up. Not only are the poems at the beginning of sections actually good (a rare thing in fantasy books, I find. Usually the author just shoves in a really bad song *coughtolkiencough*, but Alison's are actually worth reading) but the text itself has a lyrical sort of flow that's so much better than any poetry I've ever read.

Example (not a very pleasant one, mind you--the books aren't exactly 'happy happy joy joy' all the time): "Freedom was a fantasy she gnawed obsessively in her few moments of leisure, like an old bone with just a trace of meat; and like all illusions, it left her hungrier than before, only more keenly aware of how her soul starved within her, it wings wasting with the despair of disuse."

It's a pretty long sentence, but it just seems to flow. And check out the alliteration, nifty usage of a semicolon and what may possibly be a metaphor or a simile (I'm not too great with these Englishy technical terms). And that's from the second page! There's no way I can ever match her grace with words, but I learnt a lot by reading the books. Whenever I'm erring towards writer's block, I pick one of them up, read a few pages and usually I'm motivated to write again. A single sentence from The Gift inspired the entire trilogy I'm working on, simply through evoking one emotion.

I really think anyone wanting to see a good example of writing (fantasy or not) should check out these books. I put off buying The Gift for ages because, well, I'm a cheapskate and it cost more than most other books on the shelf, but I was so glad when I finally did--I read the first book and went out to buy the second straight away. I've been almost as excited about the release of The Crow as I was about Harry Potter And The Half Blood Prince (Ok, so maybe not THAT excited)


So, it's a four-part trilogy because it was originally going to be a trilogy, then Alison decided to split one of the books because it would be too long (around 1000 pages!!)

It's an amazing book, and a great one to re-read again...and again...and again...and - you get the idea.

[Janet]

So, it's a four-part trilogy...
Just like Douglas Adams and his trilogy in five parts!

I'd like to second Phantom of the Opera - I've been meaning to buy it for ages as my son and I love the film version and all four of us love the Lloyd Webber CD we have of it!

[Kell]

This thread is now closed. Please cast your vote in the polling thread for the October choice.