Hi All,
Yesterday evening we discussed A Confederacy of Dunces. It was a quiet meeting...but very enjoyable and as we expected, Nathan251 didn't attend. Empty vessels make the most noise :)
We all loved the book. It was very very funny whilst be highly relevant. The topics dealt with in it were briliant and refreshing. There was no death or misery really and on the other hand, there was no real love element to it. So, it was different at least. The stereotypes were excellent also. Unfortunately, Tristan C who nominated it couldn't attend.
We also introduced our new, patented rating system :rolleyes:!
Kate gave the book 9.0/10Server gave the book 8.5/10I gave it 9.0/10.
Server nominated The Bridge Across Forever by Richard Bach.
By the way Pope Buckfast, can you update the reading list please?
The next book we will be reading/discussing is Sunshine Sketches of a Small Town by Stephen Leacock, nominated by Kate. This will be followed by The Poor Mouth by Myles Na gCapilin (or is it Flann O'Brien...or is that his alias? Hmmmm). This was nominated by Damien.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
A Confederacy of Dunces: Meeting Postponed until Tue 22nd July
Yesterday evening in Bar No. 8 we decided to postpone the BookClub meeting to discuss A Confederacy of Dunces until Tuesday next week. Very few members managed to finish it. I had 20 pages to go myself. It's well worth the read so we said we wouldn't spoil the ending. My book is 428 pages so it's quite a bit to get read. Very funny however.
In realtion to the meetings themselves, I suppose that they are very easy-going and relaxed. We don't stick rigidly to any format in relation to the correct procedure for discussing books. From day 1 the club was intended to be a social outlet whilst at the same time encouraging some productive use of time - reading books.
Everyone's welcome to come along. See what you think...and don't be shy. I'm sure for many of the outspoken members of Boards you will feel perfectly at home in an enviroment where their opinions are actually sought for a change :D
By the way, welcome to our newest bookClub member; Server from Germany.
In realtion to the meetings themselves, I suppose that they are very easy-going and relaxed. We don't stick rigidly to any format in relation to the correct procedure for discussing books. From day 1 the club was intended to be a social outlet whilst at the same time encouraging some productive use of time - reading books.
Everyone's welcome to come along. See what you think...and don't be shy. I'm sure for many of the outspoken members of Boards you will feel perfectly at home in an enviroment where their opinions are actually sought for a change :D
By the way, welcome to our newest bookClub member; Server from Germany.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
'Midnights Children' scoops 'Best of the Booker'
Salman Rushdies 'Midnights Children' has won the 'Best of the Booker'.
It has been selected as the best Booker winner in the prizes 40 year history.
It previously won 'Booker of Bookers' in 1993, the best of the previous 25 books.
Also nominated for both 'Booker of Bookers' and 'Best of the Booker' was 'The Siege of Krishnapur' which we read a few weeks ago.
BBC News Report is here
It has been selected as the best Booker winner in the prizes 40 year history.
It previously won 'Booker of Bookers' in 1993, the best of the previous 25 books.
Also nominated for both 'Booker of Bookers' and 'Best of the Booker' was 'The Siege of Krishnapur' which we read a few weeks ago.
BBC News Report is here
Thursday, July 3, 2008
The Sea by John Banville
Hello Everyone,
So far I think that this book created the least amount of discussion in the long history of BookClub meetings. I personally didn't find it to be a terrible story or anything. It just seemed as though it was written by John Banville with an expectation that it should be minutely analysed word after word by high-brow literary types. There were so many parallels with historical events, mythology, art & culture etc. introduced that I believe the story can't be taken just literally. Therefore I'd say in order to understand it's "brilliance" you would need to be fairly cultured in these categories. If the book is taken just literally, I don't see how it would have won the Booker Prize in 2005? I realise that most novels have a certain amount of these alternate themes running through them...but this was a bit much, unless of course you are into indepth analysis of novels.
Thank God for our next book, A Confedaracy of Dunces, which from what I have heard is a very funny satire. BookClub members seem to be getting a bit disillusioned with our choices so far, not because they are necessarily bad but moreso because they are a bit heavy or lacking in humour. This probably explains the low attendance at this meeting. Perhaps there's an element of "cherry-picking" going on? However, the idea of the BookClub to begin with was that members would take the rough with the smooth and so each member has the freedom to nominate their own choices. This may not be happening but I think it's unfair of members to nominate their own book, attend the meeting to discuss it, and then not go to the discussion of other member's books because they don't like the sound of them. Correct me if I'm wrong but this was a low turn-out and it was said jokingly in weeks leading up to it that it would be a quiet week for discussion.
Members who attended included;
Damien G,
Sandra L,
Caitriona S,
Anne Marie,
Kate B and,
TristanPeter
So far I think that this book created the least amount of discussion in the long history of BookClub meetings. I personally didn't find it to be a terrible story or anything. It just seemed as though it was written by John Banville with an expectation that it should be minutely analysed word after word by high-brow literary types. There were so many parallels with historical events, mythology, art & culture etc. introduced that I believe the story can't be taken just literally. Therefore I'd say in order to understand it's "brilliance" you would need to be fairly cultured in these categories. If the book is taken just literally, I don't see how it would have won the Booker Prize in 2005? I realise that most novels have a certain amount of these alternate themes running through them...but this was a bit much, unless of course you are into indepth analysis of novels.
Thank God for our next book, A Confedaracy of Dunces, which from what I have heard is a very funny satire. BookClub members seem to be getting a bit disillusioned with our choices so far, not because they are necessarily bad but moreso because they are a bit heavy or lacking in humour. This probably explains the low attendance at this meeting. Perhaps there's an element of "cherry-picking" going on? However, the idea of the BookClub to begin with was that members would take the rough with the smooth and so each member has the freedom to nominate their own choices. This may not be happening but I think it's unfair of members to nominate their own book, attend the meeting to discuss it, and then not go to the discussion of other member's books because they don't like the sound of them. Correct me if I'm wrong but this was a low turn-out and it was said jokingly in weeks leading up to it that it would be a quiet week for discussion.
Members who attended included;
Damien G,
Sandra L,
Caitriona S,
Anne Marie,
Kate B and,
TristanPeter
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