Possible second fiction book

[Suzanne]

Hey Bleach, and anyone else who may not want to read, "one of those Japanese books", do you want a few more choices? I have always wanted to read, "Good Omens", Neil Gaiman/Terry Pratchett. Two other books that are on my list to read are: something (haven't decided which one) by Chuck Palahniuk, and, "Mara and Dann", Doris Lessing.

Also, wilde mentioned, "The English Patient".

Would anyone have any interest in one of these for a possible second fiction book discussion? DQ is done in June.

[meliamom]

I would like to read The Help, and I gave it my three votes. I'm not familiar with the Doris Lessing novel you mentioned, but I am familiar with the author. I agree that it seems that most of the books for the fiction vote are the same genre.

[oblivion]

If it's not The English Patient, I'd go for one of those books as well alongside the one from the official poll.

[Darcia]

I read Rant by Chuck Palahniuk and, I know I'm in the minority, but I didn't like it. I haven't read The English Patient, yet, but it's on my to-read list. (Along with almost 400 others!)

[bleachededen]

I would read any Palahniuk (I've read Fight Club and Lullaby, but would even be willing to read one of those again), and even though I just finished reading Good Omens for the second time a few weeks ago before my obsession with Dune, I would definitely read it again in a heartbeat, especially with BookTalk members to discuss it with. It's just so much fun!

I don't know anything about the Lessing book but I've heard good things about her and would be willing to give her a try, but I definitely don't want to read The English Patient, and The Help just doesn't seem to be calling to me the way it calls to everyone else. So those two aside, I'm game for anything.

And maybe I'll even try to read one of those Japanese books, too. We'll see.

Also, thanks Suzanne (and undoubtedly Chris O'Connor) for giving us an alternative to the other official book that some of us may not want to read. I know you don't have to, and I appreciate that BookTalk is so accommodating and wanted to make sure I thanked you for that.

[wilde]

Bleachededen, trust me, "The English Patient" didn't call to me either. It's required reading for me.

[bleachededen]

Bleachededen, trust me, "The English Patient" didn't call to me either. It's required reading for me.

I don't think The English Patient calls to anyone, but that's just me. I was referring to The Help. So many people have been praising this book to heaven and because I have a stubborn/rebel streak in me, that just makes me want to read it even less. It just doesn't seem appealing to me, and I won't read something just because someone else says it's good. It can't be helped.

Good luck with The English Patient, there, girlie. At least you can take solace in the fact that the book is probably far less tedious than the movie.

[Theomanic]

It's funny, but part of what I've always thought was great about book clubs were people reading things they didn't want to read. For example, I was in a book club that had a "You read EVERY book" policy and while I was completely uninterested in Timothy Findley, when his book came up I dutifully read it - and really liked it! The diversity that I was forced to experience really broadened my horizons. Granted, I did not like every book I read, but overall it was a great experience.

Side question: what is so off-putting about Japanese writers?

Also: don't see why the hate for Japanese writers? I didn't know they were so offputting.

[bleachededen]

It's funny, but part of what I've always thought was great about book clubs were people reading things they didn't want to read. For example, I was in a book club that had a "You read EVERY book" policy and while I was completely uninterested in Timothy Findley, when his book came up I dutifully read it - and really liked it! The diversity that I was forced to experience really broadened my horizons. Granted, I did not like every book I read, but overall it was a great experience.

Side question: what is so off-putting about Japanese writers?

Also: don't see why the hate for Japanese writers? I didn't know they were so offputting.

There's no hate, from me, anyway, but it's not the type of book I want to read at this time, and nothing I've read about either of the Murakami books intrigues me enough to want to read it, and the hype that I have seen buzz about it makes it even less appealing. There is such a thing as taste, and as I am not in a college classroom but in a voluntary book forum where I can have a say in what I would like to discuss, I would like to see options for people who may not like the book that wins the popular vote. Yes, there is something to be said about broadening horizons, but on a site that asks users to determine books and doesn't assign them, I feel that I shouldn't be "forced" to read anything. Reading is supposed to be pleasurable, not a chore, and "forcing" me to read either one of the Japanese books that are winning in the poll would not broaden my horizon, but distance me from this community, which I would hate to have happen because I really like being on this site.

I don't see how this could affect you negatively, Theomanic, since the way the poll is going, either book you suggested will be up for discussion. Here we are just trying to suggest a second book to go along with it for those who don't want to read the official books from the poll, and I see absolutely no harm in that.

Also, our ideas about book clubs are a bit different. I would never join a group that forced me to read a book I didn't want to read, or I just wouldn't read that book with the group and get kicked out if the rules were like the one you were in. Reading is always pleasurable for me, but I like to at least have an interest in the subject matter/style of a book, and if I don't have that, I won't want to read it, and even if I do read it, it will cease to be a pleasurable experience and thus negate the whole purpose of reading. You may think one way, but others think differently, and that is why a second book has been suggested, and I am very grateful to Suzanne and Chris O'Connor for allowing us another option.

Also note that if many readers of fiction don't read the books from the official poll, there will be little discussion actually taking place, and that causes members and prospective members to shy away from the site, thinking that nothing is actually discussed here, which will hinder BookTalk's goal to get more members and strong discussions going. Having two books going at the same will invite more discussion, and maybe even cross discussions from one book to the other. While you might see it as being closed-minded, I think it will actually be very beneficial to BookTalk members and the site as a whole.

[Suzanne]

Ok, so lets decide on a second fiction book.

I'll throw in: "Mara and Dann", Doris Lessing

http://www.amazon.com/Mara-Dann-Adventu ... 006093056X

I would love to read anything by Chuck Palahniuk, (would love to read "Fight Club" actually) or "Good Omens", Gaiman/ Pratchett.

So, what do you all think? What other suggestions do you guys have? Lets try to pick something within the next week or so.