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Heaven 2023: Ship of Fools Book Group - 2023 Edition

SarasaSarasa All Saints Host
edited January 2024 in Limbo
Yes it is that time already.
So far two choices that seem to be popular are Elizabeth Gouge's The Little White Horse and Elizabeth Gaskell's Cousin Philis and I also think Damon Galgut's The Promise would be worth reading. What else would people like to read in 2023 and who fancies leading a discussion?
I'll start a rough programme when we have a few more ideas.
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Comments

  • TukaiTukai Shipmate
    I have three suggestions , all of which are books I have read in the past year or so, and have commented briefly on on the "Books we are reading" thread(s).

    > The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams
    > The Tolstoy Estate by Steven Conte
    > The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte

    The first is a fairly recent best-seller, so widely available. It's set in Oxford around 1900 when the original majestic Oxford English Dictionary was being compiled.
    The second, set in WW2 Russia but also a fairly recent book has become more widely available than before; it's now on Google Play and Kindle as well as a physical book.
    The third is a "neglected" classic from the 1840s, suppressed for many years as it was a bit too frank about domestic violence in that era, even (or especially) in aristocratic circles.

    I would be willing to lead on any two of these.

  • MaryLouiseMaryLouise Shipmate, Host Emeritus
    I'd be very keen to lead a discussion on Damon Galgut's The Promise, but am worried about not being able to get online due to power cuts. If we could do it in March or April --and if I am unable to lead the discussion, could we postpone?
  • NenyaNenya All Saints Host, Ecclesiantics & MW Host
    I'd be particularly interested in The Little White Horse, The Dictionary of Lost Words and The Promise. I could possibly lead on the first of those but I led on the last Elizabeth Goudge so would be keen for someone else to have a turn with her.

    I should say that the first half of next year is looking busy for me already; also there will be a lot of reading to do with my course, which finishes in June.
  • SarasaSarasa All Saints Host
    Thank you @Tukai, @MaryLouise and @Nenya.
    I remember you talking about The Tolstoy Estate @Tukai, but I still can't get it for kindle in the UK which is a shame. The other two are no problem. I'm so glad you want to lead on The Promise @MaryLouise. I think your insight into the story will be invaluable.
    This is the start of a possible programme for 2023

    January Cousin Philis by Elizabeth Gaskell, led by @Sarasa
    FebruaryDictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams led by @Tukai
    MarchThe Promise by Damon Galgut, led by @MaryLouise
    April
    May
    June
    July
    August
    SeptemberThe Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte, led by @Tukai
    October
    November The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Gouge, led by @Nenya.

    This can be swapped round as need be. What else do we fancy reading? I've just read The Magician by Colm Toibin. It is a fictionalised account of the life of Thomas Mann, and I enjoyed it, which as I've never read any of Mann's works was a bit surprising. It is rather long though.
  • MiliMili Shipmate
    I'm happy to lead a book in the middle of the year. 'The White Girl' by Indigenous author Tony Birch sounds interesting https://sydneyreviewofbooks.com/review/birch-white-girl/
  • MiliMili Shipmate
    We could also read a Liane Moriarty book sometime if people are interested in a well known author. I enjoyed reading 'Apples Never Fall' and plan to read 'The Husband's Secret' this year.
  • SarasaSarasa All Saints Host
    The White Girl does sound interesting @Mili, which month would suit you best?
  • MiliMili Shipmate
    May works for me
  • SarasaSarasa All Saints Host
    edited January 2023
    Thanks @Mili.
    Here is the revised programme. Still some gaps, so more suggestions welcome.

    January Cousin Phillis by Elizabeth Gaskell, led by @Sarasa
    February Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams, led by @Tukai
    March The Promiseby Damon Galgut, led by @MaryLouise
    April
    May The White Girl by Tony Birch, led by @Mili
    June
    July
    August
    September The Tenant of Wildfell Hall [/]by Anne Bronte, led by @Tukai
    October
    November The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Gouge, led by @Nenya.
    December
  • Tree BeeTree Bee Shipmate
    I’ve reserved Dictionary of Lost Words from the library, so I’ll be joining in in February.
  • TrudyTrudy Shipmate, Host Emeritus
    I've requested if from my library, but there's a long hold so not sure if I'll be ready by Feb. Currently it says 6 week wait so maybe not too bad?
  • TrudyTrudy Shipmate, Host Emeritus
    Trudy wrote: »
    I've requested if from my library, but there's a long hold so not sure if I'll be ready by Feb. Currently it says 6 week wait so maybe not too bad?

    Lots of people must have passed on the book as it just became available today. Now I'll be a month ahead of the book club!
  • finelinefineline Shipmate, Host Emeritus
    I got The Dictionary of Lost Words from a charity shop. I'm often seeing it in charity shops.
  • CaissaCaissa Shipmate
    Any interest in reading either of the new Cormac McCarthy books? I have read The Passenger and I am just finishing Stella Maris. The latter is shorter and might be a better choice.
  • MarkDMarkD Shipmate
    I wonder if this group has ever read Wendell Berry’s Jayber Crow? I only read last year this novel that came out on 2000 but it goes on my short list of favorites. Lots of themes, many of them Christian.
  • NenyaNenya All Saints Host, Ecclesiantics & MW Host
    fineline wrote: »
    I got The Dictionary of Lost Words from a charity shop. I'm often seeing it in charity shops.

    Oh, really? I keep looking and haven't found a copy yet. I'll keep trying - we have loads of charity shops where I live. I'm hoping to join that discussion but have rather a lot of other reading on at present.
  • SarasaSarasa All Saints Host
    edited February 2023
    Just stopping this from sinking into the depths. Any ideas for the gaps?
    I really enjoyed Kate Atkinson's Shrines of Gaiety recently. Does anyone fancy that?

    February Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams, led by @Tukai
    March The Promiseby Damon Galgut, led by @MaryLouise
    April
    May The White Girl by Tony Birch, led by @Mili
    June
    July
    August
    September The Tenant of Wildfell Hall [/]by Anne Bronte, led by @Tukai
    October
    November The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Gouge, led by @Nenya.
    December
  • TrudyTrudy Shipmate, Host Emeritus
    I liked Shrines of Gaiety too ... probably didn't go deep enough into it to want to lead a discussion on it, but I'd participate if someone else did!
  • SarasaSarasa All Saints Host
    I think Shrines of Gaiety might have to be one for next year as it isn't in paperback yet. I certainly haven't seen copies in the charity book shop I work in either.
    I'm wondering about another classic for April. Anyone got any ideas? I loved Hester by Margaret Oliphant when I read it a while ago, but it is a bit of a doorstop and I guess Mrs Oliphant isn't a nineteenth century author that many people will have read.
  • SarasaSarasa All Saints Host
    Sorry for the double post but something I've read recently that is very short and has a lot of things that would be interesting to discuss is Becky Chamber's A Psalm for the Wild Built the first book in her Monk and Robot series. I'm not sure how widely available it is as I read it on my Kindle.
  • TrudyTrudy Shipmate, Host Emeritus
    Oh, I love the Monk and Robot series! A very nice short read, and so much there to discuss.
  • jedijudyjedijudy Heaven Host
    edited February 2023
    That looks very interesting, @Sarasa!
    Edited to say I've added the book to my Nook.
  • SarasaSarasa All Saints Host
    Great, I'll put Psalm for the Wild Built on the list for April. I'm happy to lead it unless you fancy it @Trudy?

    February Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams, led by @Tukai
    March The Promise by Damon Galgut, led by @MaryLouise
    April A Psalm for the Wild Built by Becky Chambers led by ?
    May The White Girl by Tony Birch, led by @Mili
    June
    July
    August
    September The Tenant of Wildfell Hall [/]by Anne Bronte, led by @Tukai
    October
    November The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Gouge, led by @Nenya.
    December
  • TrudyTrudy Shipmate, Host Emeritus
    I'm fine with you leading it, but I will join in enthusiastically!
  • SarasaSarasa All Saints Host
    As @MaryLouise has problems accessing the Internet at the moment, I'm re-jigging the programme for this year slightly. I'll lead on A Psalm for the Wild Built in March and we'll have the The Promise in October. That means we have a gap in April. I was wondering about another classic. Have we ever done D.H. Lawrence for instance, as I've read very little of his work.

    New Programme

    February Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams, led by @Tukai
    March A Psalm for the Wild Built by Becky Chambers led by @Sarasa
    April
    May The White Girl by Tony Birch, led by @Mili
    June
    July
    August
    September The Tenant of Wildfell Hall [/]by Anne Bronte, led by @Tukai
    October The Promise by Damon Galgut, led by @MaryLouise
    November The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Gouge, led by @Nenya.
    December
  • MiliMili Shipmate
    Thanks for letting us know. I was reading The Promise while I waited for my library copy of February's book to arrive and just finished it. It will be an interesting book to discuss in October!
  • NenyaNenya All Saints Host, Ecclesiantics & MW Host
    @Sarasa , I'm really grateful for the way you are proactive with this. :smile:

    I confess I'm not a huge fan of D H Lawrence but I am not able to take on too much more reading at present, being focussed on what's needed for the course I'm doing that finishes in June. Also my current real life book club book is huge. :flushed: (I'm skim-reading :wink: .)

    I am also not good at remembering what we have already done, but for April The Day of the Triffids or Rebecca spring to mind. I know both of those well and would be glad of a reason to reread one of them and could possibly lead the discussion. However, it would depend on who else could join in and keep it going as I'm potentially away a couple of times in April.

    That may not help at all :neutral: , sorry.
  • SarasaSarasa All Saints Host
    Great minds think alike @Nenya. I was wondering about Rebecca too. I'm reading Du Maurier's Frenchman's Creek at the moment. I must admit I'm enjoying it, though it is rather silly. Rebecca I read not that long ago and there is lots in that we could discuss. As someone who is phobic about a lot of plants I'm going no where near Day of the Triffids, though one of Wyndam's other books might be worth a look at.
    I don't fancy your current book club book at all. I'm no good at reading stuff flagged up as being heart-breaking etc. etc.
  • NenyaNenya All Saints Host, Ecclesiantics & MW Host
    That's interesting that we were thinking along the same lines @Sarasa !

    The only other Wyndham I have on my shelf is The Midwich Cuckoos which I haven't reread for many years. I'd give it a go, but would prefer Rebecca; would be glad of a chance to reread that and can take on the leading of it - unless someone else would prefer to, or has a different idea - but would be a bit more limited than I like to be, as I said.

    I read Frenchman's Creek for the first time last summer and, like you, enjoyed it but found it a bit silly.

    I was discussing my real life book club book with a member of the group with whom I had lunch today and I was gratified to find her echoing my less-than-enthusiastic views on it. It has some rave reviews on places like Goodreads and Amazon and there am I being picky about the many inconsistencies (who copy-edits properly these days? I ask myself) and the adolescent style... :neutral:
  • SarasaSarasa All Saints Host
    edited February 2023
    Great @Nenya, I'll pencil you in as leading it, but if real life gets in the way I'm sure we can sort something out. I watched the most recent film version when I had Covid last summer and it was an ideal I don't feel very well so I'm lying on the sofa sort of watch. I ought to watch the 1940 version again sometime too.

    February Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams, led by @Tukai
    March A Psalm for the Wild Built by Becky Chambers led by @Sarasa
    April Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier led by @Nenya
    May The White Girl by Tony Birch, led by @Mili
    June
    July
    August
    September The Tenant of Wildfell Hall [/]by Anne Bronte, led by @Tukai
    October The Promise by Damon Galgut, led by @MaryLouise
    November The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Gouge, led by @Nenya.
    December
  • Mavis GrindMavis Grind Shipmate
    Is anybody doing anything with The White Girl? If this isn't dead in the water I'll get a copy and join in.
  • Mavis GrindMavis Grind Shipmate
    Sorry, forget I said anything. I missed the thread.
  • SarasaSarasa All Saints Host
    Just realised we have nothing penciled in for June. Any ideas?
  • Mavis GrindMavis Grind Shipmate
    May I nominate The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark. Nice and short, but pithy.
  • SarasaSarasa All Saints Host
    The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie is a good idea @Mavis Grind . I don't think we've done it, at least not recently. Would you be able to lead it if I put it down for June or July. Leading means opening a thread at the start of the month and posting some questions around the 20th. You can do more, add links to interesting websites or videos for instance, but it isn't essential.
  • Mavis GrindMavis Grind Shipmate
    I should be able to do that, @Sarasa. One reason I suggested it is that it is a book I have studied academically, although it's a good while since I have read it. It's quite short, too, although Muriel Spark's style can be disconcerting. A point of interest in itself. There's a 1960s film with a youthful Maggie Smith in it which some might like to compare if they can. There are important differences!
  • SarasaSarasa All Saints Host
    That's great, id June or July best for you? I saw the film when it first came out, and I have read the book, though it isn't my favourite Spark. That would be Girls of Slender Means, which is one of my favourite books of all time by any author.
    I was wondering about a golden age detective novel for one of the other months.
  • Mavis GrindMavis Grind Shipmate
    Put me down for July. It will give me a chance to find my feet.
  • HeavenlyannieHeavenlyannie Shipmate
    I saw it on stage in the mid 1990s with Patricia Hodge playing the lead - wonderful.
  • SarasaSarasa All Saints Host
    Great @Mavis Grind . Revised programme for the rest of the year as follows:

    May The White Girl by Tony Birch, led by @Mili
    June
    July The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark, led by @Mavis Grind
    August
    September The Tenant of Wildfell Hall [/]by Anne Bronte, led by @Tukai
    October The Promise by Damon Galgut, led by @MaryLouise
    November The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Gouge, led by @Nenya.
    December

    What do people feel about a Freeman Wills Crofts for June?


  • NenyaNenya All Saints Host, Ecclesiantics & MW Host
    Sarasa wrote: »
    What do people feel about a Freeman Wills Crofts for June?
    I've never read any and it's not really my preferred genre, which I know isn't a reason for not trying. However, I am going to be a bit pushed for time in June.

    I've read The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and will be interested in the discussion; I used to own a copy but it seems to have disappeared. Plenty of time to source one between now and July. :smile:
  • SarasaSarasa All Saints Host
    Any more ideas for June? I'm away for most of the first two weeks of the month and then pretty busy when I return, so getting this sorted now would be good. I've heard good things of The Romantic by William Boyd. Anyone else fancy that?
  • MiliMili Shipmate
    I'm happy with any choice. I like to be challenged to read genres and authors I might not choose myself, as well as enjoying old favourites of course.
  • Mavis GrindMavis Grind Shipmate
    I'm up for William Boyd.
  • finelinefineline Shipmate, Host Emeritus
    I can lead a book discussion if you need someone to sometime, but the Boyd book doesn't look interesting to me, so not that one. Did we ever read a Ruth Rendell/Barbara Vine, and if not, would people like to? The Barbara Vine ones are psychological thrillers and I really like them. I haven't yet read King Solomon's Carpet and I want to, so if other people want to read it too, I could lead a discussion.

    Or do people prefer something more literary? I could lead Mrs Dalloway, as I'm rereading this at the moment. And at some point I want to read My Ántonia by Willa Catha. So those are some ideas of books I could lead, if people were interested to read and discuss any of those.

    Or if people aren't interested in any of those, I'm also interested to read A Man Called Ove, and The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, having watched the movies.
  • SarasaSarasa All Saints Host
    Thanks @fineline . How about August and what do people fancy? I’d quite like a Ruth Randell/Barbara Vine as I haven’t read one of those for a long time.
    I’ll lead on the William Boyd for June if that’s ok with people.
  • NenyaNenya All Saints Host, Ecclesiantics & MW Host
    I've never read a Barbara Vine and feel I should, although psychological thrillers are not my thing at all. I'd be up for trying King Solomon's Carpet in August if I can source a copy; plenty of time to explore various avenues for that.

    I've read The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and have it in Kindle form; happy to revisit it if other people would like to do that one.
  • finelinefineline Shipmate, Host Emeritus
    Yes, I could lead King Solomon's Carpet in August if people would like to read this.
  • SarasaSarasa All Saints Host
    That’s great. I’ll sort it all out when I’m back from holiday on the 12th.
  • SarasaSarasa All Saints Host
    Just bumping this up as we're at the end of the month with the updated programme

    May The White Girl by Tony Birch, led by @Mili
    June The Romantic by William Boyd led by @Sarasa
    July The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark, led by @Mavis Grind
    August King Solomon's Carpet led by @Fineline
    September The Tenant of Wildfell Hall [/]by Anne Bronte, led by @Tukai
    October The Promise by Damon Galgut, led by @MaryLouise
    November The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Gouge, led by @Nenya.
    December ?

    Just got December to fill this year, any ideas of a Christmas themed read?

    Also would anyone like to take on running the group next year? I feel its time I let someone else have a go.
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