I'm quite happy with what ever everyone decides to read, it will give me a good kick in the bum to read something that perhaps I wouldn't normally ... but are we going to be only doing the classics? It would be nice from time to time to do something that would be a bit easier to read and more modern.

Copago what about Courtenay? They'd get a kick out of that!
And we'd have the Aussie experts to explain stuff!
the one with the twins was great fun!
I found one more Dickens and it wasn't the Pickwick papers. My intelligence agent said that they were not necessarily together though I alphatized them a while back. I know if I buy it, the original copy will show.

The latest suggestions of Pickwick first, then Christmas Carol and the Aeneid(which I have never read, shame on me) suits me fine.
I have a very special affinity with Dickens. My Grandpa was an expert. he used to dress as Dickens and do one man shows, reciting the whole of The Carol by heart. He was brilliant, only relying on the lighting changes, as he sat in his chair and spoke those wonderful words.
I shall enjoy it.

Okay...it seems that we'll stick with the current schedule then, that being:

November - Pickwick Papers
December - A Christmas Carol
January - The Aeneid

My apologies to Tabby Tom, please stick with us and we'll make the special favor of asking you for the February selection, does that sound okay?

Copago, if you would be keen on it, perhaps you could make the March selection...something modern would be fine, just so long as it has the 'universal appeal' that the classics seem to have.

As has been suggested prior, if we can schedule books at a fair time distance, we will be able to ensure that everyone has ample time to acquire the books...so further suggestions about the reading list can certainly be added and debated here. I'll start a separate thread soon when we begin our discussion on the Pickwick Papers...probably this weekend.

Well, I've never read any of the three but A Christmas Carol, a very long time ago, but you can count me in, too.

Looking forward to starting

You know what's really nice here? That we're all admitting which ones we read and which ones we didn't manage to finish, and which ones we were forced to read....not bad!
Then again I confessed to not comprehending the ending of "2001 a Space Odyssey" in public...and had a very rapid support group formed!
Wish me luck, I'm hitting the big bookstore this weekend to see if I can bag the Pickwick Papers. Come on Penguin!

really Bruy- I thought the ending of 2001 was quite obvious...and any further elaboration would have only ruined it?

I haven't read 2001 yet. I guess that is another one I will have to check into. I saw the movie, so I have some idea, but generally, the book and the movie are not that similar.

Nope, the ending of 2001 still leaves me discontent, and many of us exist...don't know where the thread is now though...it was pretty funny.

This is very odd, I found even more Dickens last night, and yet...the Pickwick Papers is strangely missing...
I think that we have about 10 different things, even some old all the works of Dickens volumes...and it's not there...could there be a conspiracy?

It is going to be very difficult to get everyone to agree on what books to read. My suggestion is that jazz make the selections since he brainstormed this idea and if you choose not to participate in the chosen reading then that is fine. There are some selections that I will not want to read I'm sure. Also, when you list the selections please include the name of the author as some of us may not be familiar with the title. This will be a new experience for me. I love to read but I usually read contemporary novels; Le Carre, Ludlem, Baldaci, Archer, DeMille, Clancy, etc. The few classics I have read and enjoyed include: Robinson Crusoe, Lord of the Flies, and Animal Farm off the top of my head; however, I am anxious to try to classics again and see if I can gain something new from them and to try some I have never read. Anyway, let the reading begin!!

Diehard...thanks for that note, that's a good idea. Let me list the authors for our first three titles to begin:

Both the 'Pickwick Papers' and 'A Christmas Carol' are by Charles Dickens. 'The Aeneid' is by the ancient Roman author Virgil.

I will be making the final decisions on books that we will read, but I would like to remain rather flexible...I think everyone should have a say in what we read and I will always be open to suggestions. I would like to stick with classics, for the most part, but am not averse to 'modern classics' as well...but no Danielle Steele!

LOL!! Aw , Jazz, my favourite !

I've learned the hard way that she doesn't take an e...because I put the e on a quiz of mine, and then someone corrected me, I checked, half the websites gave the e the other half didn't, then I looked at the official and she doesn't have an e...whew! I changed it once then back...last time I use her name!
I mean Steel. At least I think I've got it right this time...

Ok, I've got a backup for the Pickwick papers if I can't find it today...right o....I just KNOW I'll find it after I purchase it here.
They are all alphabetized here though...I made my kids help me, and we did a pretty decent job. We really have a great Dickensian shelf.

If Copago is on, I wondered if there wasn't a Courtenay for us.

I remember the "e fiasco"!

Proof, if it were needed, that Jazz hardly bothers to read the jacket, let alone delve inside to the contents!!

Hey, izzi! It's great to know you're going to be reading The Pickwick Papers, too.

In fact, I've been following this thread, and I'm very pleased to see how many of us will be discussing it together.

Funny thing, when I waded through all the wonderful costumed spooks that prowled our Main Street yesterday afternoon, during Halloweenfest, to get to the library to pick up The Pickwick Papers, I found out that all the books my family had out had not been renewed correctly. If I hadn't needed that book, I'd owed about $15 worth of fines when I took them back!

I think the moral here is: it pays to read more classics, maybe?

As to choices of books, well, there's classic romance, too, like Pride and Prejudice. There's classic horror, too, and, really, classics in every genre. I'm concentrating right now on reading the first selection.

I know we should never, ever write in a library book, but somebody has written the modern meaning to every obscure word in The Pickwick Papers right in the margins--bless their heart.

HI REN- finally we get a chance to see your lovely countenance!

As for the glossary of obscure terms in the "Pickwick Papers" - leave that task for me- I shall compile and track down evervy darn word Dickens has to offer us.

I am already fetting upon the foetor sensation that the book "Confederancy of Dunces" was modelled after this lovely book.

and lastly, we ought to start a separate thread on the Pickwickian thread...

Bingo! I have the Confederacy of Dunces! Dang, I still don't have the Pickwick Papers...nothing open on Sunday here...I'll get it, I just know the bookshelf fairy will find my copy once I've hunted it at the bookshop.
The Confederacy of Dunces...now that would be a trip.

I am so glad you approve, Prof. it does show my good side, I agree.
I have a brand new and beautiful copy of the PP's (Oxford Iluustrated Dickens with original illustrations), so I am rarin' to go . Actually I read the preface stuff already.

I guess I am off to the library now........ I can get a good start on the PP in between trick or treaters Thursday night.

BOOK CLUB - FEBRUARY CHOICE

Jazz has invited me to select a book for February.

I'm very conscious that one of the greatest gaps in my literary knowledge is the works of Jane Austen. Although I've got them on my shelves, I've never got round to reading them.

I'm also aware that few of the people who read her seem to remain indifferent to her. Either they worship her or they can't stand her.

So (unless anyone has problems in getting hold of her works) I'll take the chance to get acquainted with her by selecting the first of her novels to be published - Sense and Sensibility

Oh yesss!! Jolly good show. I never need an excuse to read that one. Great idea! Already have the complete works too. Count me in.

Hurray, I think I have it...unless it's the only one I'm missing.

An excellent choice Tom, that is an Austen novel I have yet to read...and she is one of my personal favorites...capital, capital!