As yet I've been unable to pick up a copy of Maxwell's "The Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn". Hopefully though I'll be able to join in the discussion later in the month.

David Copperfield - Charles Dickens
The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Graheme
Beowulf - Anon
Robinson Crusoe - Daniel Defoe
Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
Slaughterhouse Five - Kurt Vonnegut

Of the titles already mentioned I would prefer to go with either Brave New World or Slaughterhouse Five.

Given as alternative options for previous months:

Frankenstein - Mary Shelley
The Canterbury Tales - Geoffrey Chaucer
The Idiot - Fyodor Dostoevsky
The Loved One - Evelyn Waugh
The Giver - Lois Lowry
Les Miserables - Victor Hugo
To Kill A Mockingbird - Harper Lee

May I also throw in the following suggestions:

Cider With Rosie - Laurie Lee
Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy
Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte
A Connecticut Yankee In King Arthur's Court - Mark Twain
A Picture Of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde

Wow lots of books to choose from. Rather than add to the list here are my votes in no particular order:

Brave New World
Slaughter House 5
Canterbury Tales
Idiot
Far from the Maddening Crowd
Picture of Dorian Gray

How about James Agee's A Death In The Family, Flann O'Brien's At Swim-Two-Birds, Vikram Seth's The Golden Gate, T.H. White's Mistress Masham's Repose and Jerome K. Jerome's Three Men in a Boat?

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How oddly coincidental Tjoe; about "Three Men in a boat". I'm currently reading Connie Willis' "To say nothing of the dog" which i have read expands upon that line.

Please, anything but Robinson Crusoe! I know I've been out of the discussion for awhile, but I hope to join in again in future months.

Waugh's "Loved One" might be pariticularly interesting to discuss with both Americans and Englishmen in the group, since it is written by an English author but is a satire on American Hollywood.

Of the others suggested, I think "Beowulf" would be interesting, and short enough that busy folk can join in too.

If we read a Vonnegut, I'd prefer something other than "Slaughterhouse Five," since every American school kid seems to be assigned that nowadays, and though for some reason regarded as his "classic," it isn't necessarily his best. However, it would be the easiest of his titles to come by.

I'd like "A Brave New World," as I've never read it, and yet it is one of those key books someone is always mentioning.

I'd also be up for "A Picture of Dorian Gray," since I started it on my own about a month ago and found it amusing but somehow got off track from it; reading it with a group may be just what I need, and I've always wanted to read it.

So, my top picks:

1. The Picture of Dorian Gray
2. Brave New World
3. The Loved One
4. Beowulf

Here's how I rate them..

1. David Copperfield
2. Robinson Crusoe
3. Brave New World
4. The Wind in the Willows

I don't really know too much about "Slaughterhouse Five" and "Beowulf" so I can't say anything about that.

I preface this post by apologizing if I am come across as bossy. it is certainly not my intent. I just had two quick questions.

I had the chance to finish the February book selection "Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn". I didn't want to step on anybody's toes by starting a thread, but wondered if anyone had a chance to start the book, or had comments. I'm curious to know if any UK readers in school had to learn the monarchy as US students had to learn the presidents in order.

The previous posts had lots of book suggestions for the coming months. Any concensus or is that still being hashed out?

Thanks!

sebastiancat, I’ve opened a thread for “The Secret Diary of Anne Boleyn, “ but suggest we wait a little longer before posting.

On the basis of the comments we’ve had so far, I think we might go with Aldous Huxley’s “Brave New World” for March. It should be fairly easy to get hold of: in fact there’s an on-line text here (a bit surprising, since Huxley died on the same day as JFK, and the book must therefore be still in copyright).

I'm more than happy to go along with Huxley's "Brave New World" for March. It's one of those books that I've always intended to get around to reading one day.

So then, of the options raised it would seem that the following books have been given some degree of support:

(in no particular order)

"The Picture of Dorian Gray" by Oscar Wilde
"Three Men in a Boat" by Jerome K Jerome
"The Loved One" by Evelyn Waugh
"Beowulf"
"The Wind in the Willows" by Kenneth Grahame
"The Idiot" by Fyodor Dostoevsky

Perhaps they could be slotted into forthcoming months, Tom, unless anyone has any particular objections.

The other titles suggested would be equally worthy choices, but many, admittedly, are similar in genre to books we have already discussed in previous months. I know that I could list dozens of my favourites which would fall into that category.

We still haven't tackled a play though, and as Shakespeare wasn't a very popular choice how about Christopher Marlow's "Doctor Faustus" or Ben Jonson's "Volpone"? Then again, we could try Wilde's "The Importance of Being Earnest" as a comparison to "The Picture of Dorian Gray".

What say the rest of you?

Thank you so much Tom. And again I am terribly sorry if the wording of my post came across as bossy. I've been thrilled with the book choices since I started following the forum last summer and invariably share the books with a co-worker and friend.

Only speaking for myself, of the books listed by izzi, I have read "Beowulf" and "Dorian Gray" and would be willing to read a play instead of either of the two selections. It sounds like there are enough choices to have reading material thru the summer!

I´ve read "Brave New World" when I was in high school and I didn´t really like it back then, but I´d be willing to give it another try.
As for the other suggestions, "Dorian Gray" and "David Copperfield" sound great, (especially "Dorian Gray", because I haven´t read that yet) but I´d also be quite interested in something a bit "older" like e.g. "Beowulf "

So it's "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley for March?

Yes, I think it should be "Brave New World" for March. Maybe we should set a timetable. I'd suggest

Chapters 1 to 4: by Monday 8th
Chapters 5 to 9: by Monday 15th
Chapters 10 to 13: by Monday 22nd
Chapters 14 to 18: by Monday 29th


For April, in the light of comments so far, I'd suggest "The Picture of Dorian Gray." Are there any strong objections?

Sounds good to me. I actually prefer the idea of focussing our attention on a few chapters at a time as it potentially allows for a fuller discussion of the book as a whole.

I've started on Brave New World, and I have The Picture of Dorian Gray ready for next month.

I'm on board with "Brave New World" as well.

I'll be without my computer for a while, so I'll catch up with you all when I can.

April is nearly halfway done. Has there been any thought about future selections for May and June?

It would be good to go with something a little more light hearted. I particularly like the idea of Jerome K Jerome's "Three Men in a Boat" suggested by tjoebigham. How about the rest of you?

I actually purchased the book based on Tjoe's suggestion, so i have it to read. I'd be up for it.

I’m sorry that I haven’t been around in the forum recently. I moved house towards the end of April and I’m just about ready to resume ordinary life again now.

I think “Three Men in a Boat” is an excellent choice for our next book: it’s probably time that we had a rather more light-hearted subject. Since we’re already some way into May, can I suggest that we make it our choice for June, and carry on with “Dorian Gray” for the time being (I’ll get down to reading this in the next few days).

Again, my apologies for neglecting the forum recently.

Delaying the start of the next book of the month is an excellent suggestion, Tom. There's still so much which could be discussed regarding Wilde's works, and it'll also give others some time to get hold of "Three Men in a Boat" ready for next month.

Great idea. This will give me a chance to comment on Dorian Gray over the next couple weeks.

Looking through the previous posts for recommended works, and trying to get a reasonable mix of genres and styles, a possible schedule for the next few months might be:

July: Beowulf
August: Slaughterhouse Five
September: The Loved One
October: David Copperfield
November: Frankenstein
December: The Wind in the Willows.

Any comments/objections/improvements?