Heaven: Ship of Fools Book Group - 2022 Edition

Sarasa

As promised a new thread to suggest books for next year.

It's already looking like an interesting programme.

2022
January Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte led by?
February The Dry by Jane Harper led by @Tukai
March Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi led by @Trudy
April Piranesi by Susanna Clarke led by @Sarasa
May The Colony of Unrequited Dreams by Wayne Johnson led by @Caissa
June The White Witch by Elizabeth Gouge led by @Curiosity killed
July
August
September The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Dare led by @Trudy
October East Lynne by Mrs Henry Wood led by Mili
November
December

Tukai

Seeing that Abdulrazak Gurnah has just won the the 2021 Nobel Prize for literature confirms my opinion that we should read an African author or two in 2022. But @Trudy (whose knowledge in these matters I respect) has already suggested two African books so, perhaps we should leave Mr Gurnah till 2023.

But I have another suggestion for 2022, namely The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams. The Marama had it in her RL book club (before lockdown) and recommended it to me. Even though it focusses on the forgotten women who helped compile the multi-volume Oxford English Dictionary (c 1890-c1920) , and I'm a man, I found it charming and revealing about that time and place.

Sarasa

Just to make sure this doesn't disappear, the programme for next year's Ship's Book Group so far. Anyone happy to lead on Jane Eyre?

2022
January Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte led by?
February The Dry by Jane Harper led by @Tukai
March Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi led by @Trudy
April Piranesi by Susanna Clarke led by @Sarasa
May The Colony of Unrequited Dreams by Wayne Johnson led by @Caissa
June The White Witch by Elizabeth Gouge led by @Curiosity killed
July
August
September The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Dare led by @Trudy
October East Lynne by Mrs Henry Wood led by @Mili
November
December

Caissa

May will be good for me. I have my second cataract surgery in mid-April.

Sarasa

Good luck with the cataract surgery. It made a vast difference to me, including making reading an awful lot easier.

Tukai

In anticipation of January, , I have just started to read Jane Eyre, for the first time in 50 years. But I'm a slow reader, especially when other things are happening or I have someem reading for w**k to compete for my time.

OTOH, Knowing that I was to lead discussion on it, I re-read The Dry a couple of months ago, and already have questions prepared. So if no-one volunteers soon to lead on Jane Eyre, perhaps we could swop the books for January and February?

fineline

Would people be interested to read Keri Hulme's The Bone People, or has it already been done? I was just seeing an article that Keri Hulme died a couple of days ago.

It's many years since I read it, but I remember it being an interesting and powerful book, quite long but very readable, and I'd like to reread it. I'd be happy to lead a discussion on it if people were interested in reading it. The story does involve trauma and abuse, so I guess that is important to mention as a trigger warning. The link I posted above talks a bit about the book. There's also a Wikipedia page about it, but it's full of spoilers.

Nenya

Tukai wrote: »

In anticipation of January, , I have just started to read Jane Eyre, for the first time in 50 years. But I'm a slow reader, especially when other things are happening or I have someem reading for w**k to compete for my time.

OTOH, Knowing that I was to lead discussion on it, I re-read The Dry a couple of months ago, and already have questions prepared. So if no-one volunteers soon to lead on Jane Eyre, perhaps we could swop the books for January and February?

If Jane Eyre were moved to February I could lead the discussion. I have read it, and I put in a vote for it when we were discussing next year's reading programme, but rereading it will take a bit of time. I've got no capacity for extra at present but this should change as January progresses.

Sarasa

That sounds like a plan @Tukai and @Nenya . I have read The Dry, and it is a quick read compared with Jayne Eyre. I'll swap the programme round. I thinkThe Bone People sounds like a good idea @fineline. I don't remember us doing it, so if we have it must have been quite a while ago. What do other's think?

January The Dry by Jane Harper led by @Tukai
February Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte led by @Nenya
March Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi led by @Trudy
April Piranesi by Susanna Clarke led by @Sarasa
May The Colony of Unrequited Dreams by Wayne Johnson led by @Caissa
June The White Witch by Elizabeth Gouge led by @Curiosity killed
July
August
September The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Dare led by @Trudy
October East Lynne by Mrs Henry Wood led by @Mili
November
December

MaryLouise

I'd also like to revisit The Bone People.

And I'm always keen to talk more about Jane Eyre!

Tree Bee

Just popping up to say thank you @Sarasa for continuing to keep the ship book group going. I know it’s hard work at times! Though I don’t participate any longer I still read the thread.

Tukai

OK. I confirm I will lead on The Dry in January (which is nearly upon us!)

Sarasa

Thank you @Tukai. The Dry was a book I enjoyed, and I think others will too Thanks for suggesting it.

When do you fancy doing The Bone People @Fineline?

I like the look of our programme for next year so far. Lots of different books, something for everyone.

Trudy

I would have a shot at re-reading The Bone People to join in a discussion -- it's been many years since I've read it, and I recall it as being powerful but quite emotionally difficult to read, so it would be interesting to see what a re-read with many years' more perspective would be like.

fineline

Sarasa wrote: »

When do you fancy doing The Bone People @Fineline?

I can do July, if that works.

Sarasa

That sounds good @fineline , then we can do something light and fluffy in August.

January The Dry by Jane Harper led by @Tukai
February Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte led by @Nenya
March Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi led by @Trudy
April Piranesi by Susanna Clarke led by @Sarasa
May The Colony of Unrequited Dreams by Wayne Johnson led by @Caissa
June The White Witch by Elizabeth Gouge led by @Curiosity killed
July The Bone People by Keri Hulme led by @fineline
August
September The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Dare led by @Trudy
October East Lynne by Mrs Henry Wood led by @Mili
November
December

Is it too early to talk about 2022's Christmas read?

Mili

I have finally caved to using ebooks from my local library due to the pandemic and have borrowed a copy of The Dry. It's been one I wanted to get around to reading.

fineline

Have we ever done Little Women as a Christmas read? I just thought of that as I watched and enjoyed the newest film adaptation on Netflix recently, and then thought it would be fun to reread. I'm actually rereading it now, but would happily reread it next December too.

Sarasa

@fineline, that sounds like a great idea to me. The film was one of the last things I saw at the cinema before covid struck, but I haven’t read the book since I was a child. What do others think?

LatchKeyKid

The Dry is on reservation at my library.

Nenya

Little Women for the next Christmas read is an excellent idea. I love that book and would be delighted to reread it again in December. I also saw the film... back in the day when cinemas felt safe places to be... Thank you for the suggestion @fineline .

Mili

Yes I love little Women too! To clarify, should we read the version that just covers the March girls' childhood or the one that includes their marriages as well. In Australia these are usually two books with the second book titled Good Wives, but I think in the U.S. it is only one book?

Curiosity killed

I love Little Women too, but thought there were four books in the series, Little Women, Good Wives, Jo's Boys and Little Men (probably not in the right order)? Not just two? I have read them all, years ago.

Mili

Yes there are 4 altogether, though the first too are the best known. The movie adaptions always cover the first two and these two books are sometimes sold as one volume. Alcott got sick of the series so in the last chapter of Jo's boys she outlines the futures of all the younger generation so people might be satisfied without another book about them!

Mili

I would recommend reading the first two as the second book/part is more eventful and is about the same characters 3 years after the first book ends. The whole series is free online as is well out of copyright.

Nenya

I didn't know that in some countries the contents of Little Women and Good Wives are one book and have been deeply irritated by series and films calling themselves Little Women and then straying into the territory of Good Wives.

The Ship is such an education.

fineline

Ah yes, in the UK, we separate Little Women into two books, the second one called Good Wives, though Alcott didn't give it that name - it was just the second volume, published a bit later, and incorporated into the first book, so it's all one book in the US, simply called Little Women. I agree reading both volumes would be preferable. It's the full Little Women story people are familiar with from the movies.

Caissa

I first read Little Women when I was 10-ish. Would love to revisit it.

Sarasa

Great, the programme for this year is coming together really well. I've just added Little Women. Just need something for August and November now. I was wondering about David Lodge's How Far Can they Go? for one of the remaining slots, what do people think?

January The Dry by Jane Harper led by @Tukai
February Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte led by @Nenya
March Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi led by @Trudy
April Piranesi by Susanna Clarke led by @Sarasa
May The Colony of Unrequited Dreams by Wayne Johnson led by @Caissa
June The White Witch by Elizabeth Gouge led by @Curiosity killed
July The Bone People by Keri Hulme led by @fineline
August
September The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Dare led by @Trudy
October East Lynne by Mrs Henry Wood led by @Mili
November
December Little Women (and Good Wives) by Louisa May Alcott led by @fineline

David

A book I really enjoyed reading last year after a Franciscan friar friend recommended it to me was Azazeel, by Youseff Ziedan.

Tukai

IMO, How far can they go is probably Lodge's weakest book; it feels very dated. His best is Changing Places, which I found laugh-out-loud funny, while the more wry Nice Work feels less dated.

Sarasa

Just bumping it up as it is very nearly February. Any suggestions for August and November welcome. I've just started re-reading Jane Eyre ahead of next month's book club. I'm really enjoying it this time around, and I can't quite put my finger on why.

This year's picks:

January The Dry by Jane Harper led by @Tukai
February Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte led by @Nenya
March Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi led by @Trudy
April Piranesi by Susanna Clarke led by @Sarasa
May The Colony of Unrequited Dreams by Wayne Johnson led by @Caissa
June The White Witch by Elizabeth Gouge led by @Curiosity killed
July The Bone People by Keri Hulme led by @fineline
August
September The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Dare led by @Trudy
October East Lynne by Mrs Henry Wood led by @Mili
November
December Little Women (and Good Wives) by Louisa May Alcott led by @fineline

Sarasa

Just bumping this up as its a new month.

The programme for the rest of the year. The discussion of February's book Jane Eyre is still on-going if you haven't yet joined in and the thread for March will open soon.
Any ideas for August or November? I've just read The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gower and loved it. Any one fancy doing that in November?

March Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi led by @Trudy
April Piranesi by Susanna Clarke led by @Sarasa
May The Colony of Unrequited Dreams by Wayne Johnson led by @Caissa
June The White Witch by Elizabeth Gouge led by @Curiosity killed
July The Bone People by Keri Hulme led by @fineline
August
September The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Dare led by @Trudy
October East Lynne by Mrs Henry Wood led by @Mili
November
December Little Women (and Good Wives) by Louisa May Alcott led by @fineline

Sarasa

Bumping this up again.
The discussions for Jane Eyre in February and Transcendent KIngdom in March are still open if anyone wants to add to those discussions.
The Programme for the rest of the year. If no one has any other ideas I'll pop The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock in for November, but we still need an August read

April Piranesi by Susanna Clarke led by @Sarasa Now Open
May The Colony of Unrequited Dreams by Wayne Johnson led by @Caissa
June The White Witch by Elizabeth Gouge led by @Curiosity killed
July The Bone People by Keri Hulme led by @fineline
August
September The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Dare led by @Trudy
October East Lynne by Mrs Henry Wood led by @Mili
November
December Little Women (and Good Wives) by Louisa May Alcott led by @fineline

Tukai

I had a couple of suggestions upthreads of books , namely The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams, or Changing Places by David Lodge. I could lead on either of these in August, DV.

Sarasa

Thanks @Tukai. Can I put you down for Changing Places in August?I do like David Lodge's work, and it would be good to revisit that one. If everyone is happy with Mrs Hancock and the Mermaid for November that would fill out the programme for the year nicely.

Tukai

August looks OK by me at this stage, health and other things permitting.

Sarasa

Thanks @Tukai, I can step up if there is a problem. Therefore programme for the rest of the year is now:

April Piranesi by Susanna Clarke led by @Sarasa
May The Colony of Unrequited Dreams by Wayne Johnson led by @Caissa
June The White Witch by Elizabeth Gouge led by @Curiosity killed
July The Bone People by Keri Hulme led by @fineline
August Changing Places by David Lodge led by @Tukai
September The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Dare led by @Trudy
October East Lynne by Mrs Henry Wood led by @Mili
November The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gower led by @Sarasa
December Little Women (and Good Wives) by Louisa May Alcott led by @fineline

Sarasa

There has been a slight change of programme as @Caissa can't lead May's discussion, so I've moved The Colony of Unrequited Dreams to November and put The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock in it's place. It does mean I'm leading two months in a row which I don't mind, but I have a feeling @Curiosity killed may not be around to do June's pick. Does anyone fancy taking that on, as three month of me might be a bit too much.

Revised Programme

April Piranesi by Susanna Clarke led by @Sarasa
May The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gower led by @Sarasa
June The White Witch by Elizabeth Gouge led by @Curiosity killed
July The Bone People by Keri Hulme led by @fineline
August Changing Places by David Lodge led by @Tukai
September The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Dare led by @Trudy
October East Lynne by Mrs Henry Wood led by @Mili
November The Colony of Unrequited Dreams by Wayne Johnson led by @Caissa
December Little Women (and Good Wives) by Louisa May Alcott led by @fineline

The Colony of Unrequited Dreams by Wayne Johnson led by @Caissa

Nenya

I would be happy to lead on The White Witch if @Curiosity killed is not going to be around to do it.

Sarasa

That would be great @Nenya. I'll check in with @Curiosity killed just in case she is going to be around, but if not I'll put you down to lead it.

Sarasa

I've not heard back from @Curiosity killed @neya, so you are on for June.

Programme now looks like this:

April Piranesi by Susanna Clarke led by @Sarasa
May The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock by Imogen Hermes Gower led by @Sarasa
June The White Witch by Elizabeth Gouge led by @Nenya
July The Bone People by Keri Hulme led by @fineline
August Changing Places by David Lodge led by @Tukai
September The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Dare led by @Trudy
October East Lynne by Mrs Henry Wood led by @Mili
November The Colony of Unrequited Dreams by Wayne Johnson led by @Caissa
December Little Women (and Good Wives) by Louisa May Alcott led by @fineline

Nenya

That's fine @Sarasa . The programme's looking good. I haven't read Piranesi but having followed the discussion I feel I'd like to.

Sarasa

Just bumping this up in case anyone wants to see what's coming up.

July The Bone People by Keri Hulme led by @fineline
August Changing Places by David Lodge led by @Tukai
September The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Dare led by @Trudy
October East Lynne by Mrs Henry Wood led by @Mili
November The Colony of Unrequited Dreams by Wayne Johnson led by @Caissa
December Little Women (and Good Wives) by Louisa May Alcott led by @fineline

The July thread as just opened and the threads are still open for earlier months if anyone still wants to contribute to the discussions on The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock and The White Witch.

I'm starting to think about next year like I do. What do people think of The Promise by Damon Galgut for next year? It won the Booker Prize 2021 and is about South Afrca's recent history as seen through the eyes of one family.

Trudy

Could I switch the September book with someone else, if either October or November might be willing to trade? When I volunteered I didn't realize I would be on vacation, much of it without good access to wifi, during the time we would be discussing September's book.

Caissa

I can switch.

Trudy

That would be great, thanks! November will be a much better month for me to lead discussion this year.

Sarasa

Great that's sorted @Caissa and @Trudy

Programme now looks like this for the rest of the year:

July The Bone People by Keri Hulme led by @fineline
August Changing Places by David Lodge led by @Tukai
September The Colony of Unrequited Dreams by Wayne Johnson led by @Caissa
October East Lynne by Mrs Henry Wood led by @Mili
November The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Dare led by @Trudy
December Little Women (and Good Wives) by Louisa May Alcott led by @fineline

Nenya

Given the recent comments on June's book thread, I wonder if there would be any interest in reading The Little White Horse sometime next year? It's another Elizabeth Goudge, and not everyone has an appetite for her, and is ostensibly a children's book so it's an easy read but it's thought provoking - at least, @Sarasa and I think so!

Sarasa

The Little White Horse is a good suggestion, but I'm trying to remember if we did it a few years back. Can anyone remember if we did or not?

Tree Bee

We read Green Dolphin Country by Elizabeth Goudge a few years ago. The edition I read had an introduction which included an enormous spoiler! Great book anyway.