Some months back (or was it years?) we attempted to institute a book of the month type club here, but failed to attract much interest. Perhaps most of our populace here was too busy at the time to commit to something as regular as a book club, or potentially the lack of interest derived from the fact that we chose Ayn Rand's 'Atlas Shrugged' as our first book of the month...I'm suspecting that both are true but the latter was the key factor.

If there is some interest, let us say...more than 5 people who have time and are willing to give it the effort, perhaps we could try again with an equally interesting but much shorter book in overall length. I would not be averse to rummaging through a heavy tome, but I realize different people here have different schedules and reading speeds.

If you are interested, please signify so in this thread...we can work out the book we shall read later. Maybe we could start at the beginning of November with our first book choice if we can find enough participants.

Count me in Jazz. I can always find time to read. (an 8 a week person)

I'm in! I read all the time - you can tell by looking at my house If I'm not on here, I am reading I think it would be great to have a book club on here, and tie my two addictions together.

ok count me in- perhaps we could pick a book called - The Adventures of Friedrich Nietzsche"?

I can't guarantee to join you all every month, but I do have a little more free time on my hands during the Winter months so I'll willingly join in when I can. Even if I can't keep up with you all it will be interesting to read everyone's views on the subject material afterwards.

Do you wan't a few more suggestions for some 'books of the month' or will each member take a turn in choosing in due course? How do you propose to play this?

Okay...we seem to have 5 people thus far, any other takers?

I'd like to join as well, but I cannot guarantee that I can get my hands on all suggested books... I'll give it a try though!

That may well prove to be a problem with me also Leau. I live out in the sticks and nowhere even near a library, but we can just join in whenever we can.

I am near a library, but I don't think it has too many English books... But like you said we'll join in whenever possible!

I'm happy to give it a try - I get to read a lot whilst commuting.

I'm like Izzi and no where near a library but would like to join in if it is a book that I can get my hands on

I'll also join when I can. I think this is a very interesting idea.

Hi folks...what a surprisingly positive reaction, it sounds like we'll have a decent-sized group this year.

Now, the next concern...which book should we read? I'm of the opinion that we ought to try and stick with 'great books'...that is, classic English (or translated) literature. That way the folks from non-English speaking countries or more remote locations will have a better chance of acquiring the books we choose. Certainly I'm not completely averse to selecting more recent books, but if we do that we probably ought to give ourselves a bit more leeway in terms of time.

I would like to leave it up to you folks to make suggestions, maybe we can find a book or two that most of us either haven't read or haven't read for ages. What say you? (Please don't say...'A Nietzsche Reader'!)

Jazz,

You can count me in. I love to read (it is one of my favorite things to do)

Reading tends to relax me. I can whip through a book, no matter the size, in a short time

Agnes (JTJ)

I would like to work with some of the classics. As I read through other peoples posts in other threads, I realize just how far behind I am. Although I read at least 5 books a week, I have a pitifully short list of classics that I have read.

Ixnay on IetchseNay for me, but we could do something that everyone had avoided, like Tale of Two Cities or something. Actually my grandmother did the book clubs as a senior and she once confessed she was having a hard time getting into it. (she was one of the rare women of her generation in the West to have a college degree though) I told her to do like me, read the comic version!

I'll do it if I can get my hands on it.
The reason I suggest something like Tale of Two Cities is that not only is it one of those things we can usually get our mitts on in any English speaking country, but it's pretty good reading. I haven't reread it in many years though.

I'd be open to many things though. Can't get many things new here but I have about 2000 books in my house.

I tried A Tale Of Two Cities a couple months ago and just about bashed my head against the wall But I think if I had support and encouragement, such as here in the book club, it would be easier to get through. After a couple of tries, I made it through Great Expectations and loved it.

Tale of Two Cities sounds nice. I've also been thinking about the Aeneid...maybe we could do that during the 2nd month? Any other nominations?

Starting with the classics sounds OK to me, although I have to say that I've made a mental note to tackle some of the recent suggestions from the excellent 'Mind expanding books' thread.

Advance warning about forthcoming book selections is a great idea, and would certainly be helpful for the weightier tomes from my point of view.

I agree, izzi. Even one month ahead would help. That way if we finish one early and know that the next one is going to take longer to read, we can get started on it.

A one month warning probably wouldn't be enough for some of us on the acquisition aspect. A decision on the list to cover several months at a time would be better.

I see your point. I live 1 and a half blocks from the library, plus there are 5 others within a 30 mile radius that all work on a lending system with each other, so my card is good at all 6. I tend to forget that not everyone is so fortunate.

A peal of laughter, French libraries are so bad, well, most of them not the ones in some areas I suppose, that the thought of being able to use the public library is ludicrous.

The university libraries are the worst I've ever seen.

The only thing I can get here in English is contemporary British books and they cost me about 12 pounds a pop.
So the classics might have to do for many of us at first.
By the way, I've probably got the Aenid at home somewhere, but I don't think I'd last long after work.

Candide is a great book, yet, I hope the translation is as good.

UGH - you poor thing! I can imagine it would be hard to get books written in English when you live abroad. So from now on, when the library doesn't have what I want (rare occurance), I won't feel upset, but be grateful that I have so many others to choose from.

Well I bought about twenty five books in the UK this past summer, just can't crack open that Antonia Frasier one, don't feel up to it.
I read the others though in about 3 weeks.