TT book reading and discussion club

I have a copy which will be available circa 6th February if anybody would like to borrow it.

yes please, Rus

Ok Its Yours!

don't forget the book to read _now_ is middlesex which has lots of great reviews and 2003's pullitzer. I popped it into the tt calendar too.

Rus, do you have the correct book? I only ask because "The Labyrinth" by Catherynne M. Valente seems a bit obscure, whereas "Labyrinth" by Kate Mosse is much more available. Greg called me from Heathrow to ask, because the Mosse book was there. We've chosen Valente book.

I suppose I don't mind *too* much waiting an extra month. Yes, I already have The Labyrinth. I was planning on waiting to read it until closer to the time of the book club meeting, so it would be fresh in my mind. Having it sitting on my bookshelf, I'm getting impatient to read it, so I'm just going to go ahead and do that. Maybe I'll read it a second time before we meet; it's pretty short.

In case anyone else reads and enjoys The Labyrinth, Cat's new novel The Grass-Cutting Sword has just become available for pre-order on Amazon today. In her own words:

WHERE I’M LIKELY TO FIND IT by HARUKI MURAKAMI in the New Yorker. if you're looking to read something more by this person.

If you guys are planning to do kafka, I have a copy of the book here, I'd be interested in the discussion as well. It's a really intriguing read

I don't usually take part of the reading club, at least so far, but I would like to join. I'm a bit confused right now about which book are you reading because it seems that it's Middleessex, but there's also a lot of talk about The Labyrinth. Could someone clarify this please? I think that it may be that both books are to be discussed, but on the calenar there is only one entry in march for middleessex. Thanks for the info. Good reading to all!!

Panama, the book for March and meeting time and location are posted TT book club - 5pm Sunday 12.Mar.2006. The book to be discussed then will be Middlesex.

Thanks Upquark. Already ordered the book. Hope to be there for discussion.

Bad news on the Laybyrinth front. A check of several Manhattan Barnes and Noble's turned up nothing. So, it looks as though we'll have to Amazon it at the exorbitant rate. Though I doubt anyone other than me will care, I couldn't get them to track down a copy of Kill Your Idols (rock criticism anthology edited by Jim DeRogatis) either.

Shocklines has the Labyrinth for $16.00.

What the heck is Shocklines?

EDIT: Just realized that the link in Saan's post takes us to something called Shocklines, but I'm still somewhat benighted.

It's your one-stop-shop for horror.
Innit

Just an FYI, in case anyone is planning on coming to the March 12 book club and hasn't yet read Middlesex. I noticed today that the Munich branch library in Moosach has a copy available in the English book section.

I'd like to join in on the 12th if that's ok. I'm up to page 300 now, so I might just make it in time.

Of course, the rule is anyone who would be able to finish the book and would like to show up on the date is welcome to the book club. Since I recommended this book, I am really looking forward to the discussion. I suspect that this book might arouse complete opposite feelings, can't wait until Sunday. This is my second time to read this book, and there are more details which I overlooked when I read it last year come to the surface. Interesting experience, because I normally don't have the patience to read a book twice.

I haven't joined you all before to discuss books. Where are you meeting on Sunday? I don't see a location in the calendar. Thanks!

The location was set to a certain restaurant, but er, um [tugs at his collar] we may need to find a different location.

Just finished the book today. Good stuff. "Arousing opposite feelings" is an interesting way to describe it.

Suggestions for venue: somewhere that has wine?

sorry, are we going to change to a new location?

Younvruer, I'm still not entirely sure of the status of the TwiBa (and for heaven's sake, let's not get weird about it on this thread) but I'm under the (possibly mistaken) impression that they are closed. If so, we'd need to find somewhere else.

Up Quark- they are open. And since I am not drinking wine until after Easter, they still have plenty...

they are still open
not sure if i can make it this sunday, i'm only on page 107

Thrilled to hear they're still open. So, that's this Sunday, 5:00, TwiBa.

Topsy, park yourself in a chair for a few hours and get cracking. It's good stuff.

Its a good read this one. Very saga-esque but quite easy to read, and a bit interesting too. I will be there on Sunday to chat about it.

I'm definitely planning on coming too. I'm from the Detroit area, so the book had an extra nostalgia dimension for me. Will hold off on any other comments until Sunday!

Hum, I'm reading "Water Music" by: T.C. Boyle. so, I guess that means, I'll be serving the book club, not talking books.

Topsy, please come, we haven't seen you for the last two meetings.

TT, if you like T.C. Boyle I think you would like Middlesex as well -- in my opinion its fairly Boyle-esque...

For those who have finished, some links with discussion questions to maybe think about. If you haven't finished reading the book, I would suggest avoiding the questions, as some might give things away.

Middlesex link one
Middlesex Link two

Thanks Zard! So, will that be the next book up for discussion?

I do love A.S. Byatt as well. "The Crimson Petal and the White" was a good read. I got bored with "Angels & Insects", but loved the movie.

I finished Middlesex three weeks ago. I actually couldn't put the book down; I thought it was so good. So, I will be there Sunday for the discussion.

I'm still on page 327, so I'm afraid it's not looking good for me finishing the book :-(

It's an easy read. Pour yourself a bath and start reading.

If you're on 357, you can easily finish by tomorrow. I wrapped up 300 pages of it this past Monday and I'm a fairly slow reader. It's good stuff.

I was going to come tomorrow too but now I can't after all, what a pity!

Still on the same page and now stuck at work, so I can't make it :-( Sorry to let the side down.

Sorry, can't make it. Went snowboarding yesterday and this morning could barely get out of bed. I really wanted to go, too. Oh well, there is next month.

Hi Book Clubbers,

Just a reminder that The Munich Readery is offering a 10% discount off our used-price for any book that the Club is reading. If you'd like to know whether we have a book in stock, you can email me at:

bookmanjb@readery.de

or call:

089/121 92 403

John
www.readery.de

shite!! I just came back home!! Agghhh I read the damn book and forgot about the discussion today. aghhhh,.

How many of you turned up today then?
And who decides which book's to be discussed next month? Or have you already made up your minds?

There were 1, 2, 3,... 8 of us. It was a good discussion, I think one of the best so far. Opinions on the book itself were varied. The next book is decided at the meeting itself and it was decided to read "Wind-up Bird Chronicle" by Haruki Murakami. (And we are all going to hate it, right MizBunce? )

Another book had originally been chosen for March, but most of us were a bit leery about it, and as the member who had suggested it seems to have dropped out of the club, we have one person doing a test read of it to see if it's likely suitable. If it gets good feedback, we'll go for it next month.

It's also been decided to have a regular date for the book club meetings, which will be the second Sunday of the month. This will only be changed if it interferes with a long weekend or such. So the next meeting will be April 9th.

*tries not to go off in a huff*

It's in the afternoon sweetie, we can still have brunch and dinner with you.

I haven't dropped out of the club! I just haven't been able to make it the past few times. I read The Wind-up Bird Chronicle last summer and I'm not sure if I want to read it again so soon (and with it not fresh on my mind, I don't know how well I would contribute to a discussion) so I probably won't make the next meeting again. Oh well.

I may try to read it and stop in. Does someone send out reminders of meetings or notification when the bnew book is chosen? I sometimes miss this thread but would like to stay up to date on the happenings so that I can join in from time to time if I am actually in town when the meetings take place.

I have only attended one book discussion, so maybe I should just stay out of it, but I don't understand why you apparently think you should only come when the book suits you? And then expect everyone else to read your book?

Nobody else is going to stand up and vouch for the book you suggest if you're not there to justify your choice. And be there to discuss books others nominate.

It would be a very lonely place at the reading group on Sundays if the only person who shows up is the one who suggested the book. A good discussion ideally includes dissenting voices as well as people who loved the book (as we saw yesterday.)

Am I wrong?

I went to the first few book club meetings but have had scheduling/time conflicts with the last few. I don't see a problem with skipping a meeting because I don't want to read the same 600+ page book twice in a year. I wouldn't expect others to have a problem with that either, but who knows? I thought the whole point of opening the book club up to everyone was to make it possible for people to come and go, let the membership be more fluid.

It's obvious that people are wary of the book I suggested, since it is a bit obscure and also pricey. I understand that, so I've just let it go. I still would love to read The Labyrinth with some other people to discuss it with but it seems it likely won't happen. No big deal.


Of course!