New Reading List for Montrose Great Books - Results of Election plus a minor change - Merry Christmas
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A Aman
Dec 8, 2009, 1:21:32 PM12/8/09
to bookclub-3...@meetup.com, MontroseG...@googlegroups.com
Hi everyone --
Below is the new reading list. It's amazing to me how the list is so diverse. I think it is exciting and also ambitious. Guess I'm going to have to give up some of my TV time if I want to keep up (slow reader here). Thanks to everyone for participating, especially to those making suggestions for the ballot. That can take some work not counting the effort it takes to lead when it comes time for your book to be discussed.
Hope no one minds that I've made a small change to our schedule. I plugged in a short story by E.M. Forster as a new addition. And I've eliminated one of the two slots for discussing THE MANUSCRIPT FOUND IN SARAGOSSA because after thinking more about it, Jo and I thought it best not to split it up. This leaves us only one meeting for discussing THE MANUSCRIPT.
Please note that because of the short length of the short story, you still have effectively (almost) two months to read THE MANUSCRIPT FOUND IN SARAGOSSA . Hopefully it won't be too hard to be disciplined and start reading early for those wanting to tackle this. For those who like the shorter readings, you now have one more short reading to like. So I think this is a "win/win" and hope you think so too.
Have a great Christmas and Happy New Year!
--Alice
http://www.houstonbookclubs.org/Montrose
http://www.houstonbookclubs.org/blog/
http://groups.google.com/group/MontroseGreatBooks
http://www.houstongreatbooks.net/group.html?id=17
http://www.houstonbookclubs.org/GreatBooksGuide.htm
=====UPCOMING TITLES=================
January 7, 2010 IF ON A WINTER'S NIGHT A TRAVELER by Italo Calvino (publ 1979) 304 pages
Author was the most-translated contemporary Italian writer at the time of his death, and a noted contender for the Nobel Prize for Literature. List of awards of author can be viewed on wikipedia.org
This book is about a reader trying to read a book called IF ON A WINTER'S NIGHT A TRAVELER. According to this book, the entire novel, even its plot, is an open trajectory where even the author himself questions his motives of the writing process.
--Jo will lead discussion
February 4, 2010 THE PRINCE by Niccolo Machiavelli (publ 1532) 134 pages
Sometimes shockingly direct how-to manual for rulers who aim either to establish and retain control of a new state or to seize and control an existing one. Makes a clear break from the Western tradition of political philosophy that preceded the author where the thinkers of this tradition were concerned with issues of justice and human happiness, and with the constitution of the ideal state.
--Alice will lead discussion
March 4, 2010 THE DEATH OF IVAN ILYCH by Tolstoy (publ 1886) 86 pages
Tells the story of the life and death, at the age of 45, of a high court judge in 19th century Russia who is a miserable husband, proud father, and upwardly-mobile member of Russia's professional class. The story progresses in the second half of the novella to the judge's terror as he battles with the idea of his own death caused by a trivial accident and then finally to his deathbed and his final interactions with his family.
Available online at http://www.ccel.org/ccel/tolstoy/ivan.txt
--Brian will lead discussion
April 1, 2010 THE MACHINE STOPS by E.M. Forster (publ 1909) 31 pages
A short science fiction story that describes a dystopian world in which almost all humans have lost the ability to live on the surface of the Earth. Each individual lives in a cell, with all bodily and spiritual needs met by the omnipotent, global Machine. Those who do not accept the deity of the Machine are viewed as unmechanical and are threatened with “Homelessness”.
Available online at http://archive.ncsa.illinois.edu/prajlich/forster.html
Note: I will make some copies of the short story available (no guarantees I won't run out of copies). Hope that some of you will be able to download it on your own or buy the short story collection by the author or check it out from the library.
Also Note: This short story being relatively short should leave more time so you can start reading early for next month, given that THE MANUSCRIPT FOUND IN SARAGOSSA is rather long at 656 pages.
--Alice will lead discussion
May 6, 2010 THE MANUSCRIPT FOUND IN SARAGOSSA by Jan Potocki (pub 1805-1815) 656 pages
A great late-18th century classic of Polish/French fiction that is a web of stories reminiscent of the Arabian Nights. The narrator of the story tells of the brigands, demons, succubi and evangelists he encounters. The stories cover a wide range of genres and subjects, including the gothic, the picaresque, the erotic, the historical, the moral, and the philosophic; and as a whole the novel reflects the author's far-ranging interests, especially his deep fascination with secret societies, the supernatural, and "Oriental" cultures.
According to one Amazon reviewer: "The plot, if it could be called such a thing, unfolds like a chinese puzzle, one unreliable narrative nested within another. ...It wends its way into your thoughts like an ear-boring worm." Though not well-known by Americans, it is defined as a masterpiece by every review I have read thus far.
Recommended publisher is Penguin Classics translated by Ian MacLean.
--Jo will lead discussion
June 3, 2010 THE MAN THAT CORRUPTED HADLEYBURG by Mark Twain (publ 1900) 128 pages
Classic tale that is a funny yet blistering indictment of political hypocrisy. A mysterious stranger is treated badly by the town of Hadleyburg-the town that proclaims itself "the most honest and upright town in the region." Through an ingenious sting operation, the stranger sets out to expose Hadleyburg's leading citizens and reveal their greedy, deceitful natures.
--Alice will lead discussion
Note: At end of discussion, group will vote on new titles for upcoming reading list. Ballot in progress at: http://www.houstonbookclubs.org/Montrose/ballots/jun3-2010.html
July 1, 2010 NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN by Cormac McCarthy (publ 2005) 320 pages
By far McCarthy's most exciting and suspenseful novel in recent years, the story speeds along, the body count rising in shocking scenes of depravity. A mesmerizing modern-day western. The plot follows the interweaving paths of the three central characters set in motion by events related to a drug deal gone bad near the Mexican-American border in southwest Texas.
--Brian will lead discussion
Aug 5, 2010 ORYX AND CRAKE BY Margaret Atwood (publ 2003) 416 pages
Critically examines developments in science and technology such as xenotransplantation and genetic engineering, particularly the creation of transgenic animals such as "wolvogs" (hybrids between wolves and dogs), "rakunks" (raccoon and skunk), and "pigoons" (pigs and humans, for organ transplants). This society has also produced an exacerbated gap between rich and poor, as well as the commodification of human life and sexuality in prostitution and online child pornography.
--David will lead discussion
Below is the new reading list. It's amazing to me how the list is so diverse. I think it is exciting and also ambitious. Guess I'm going to have to give up some of my TV time if I want to keep up (slow reader here). Thanks to everyone for participating, especially to those making suggestions for the ballot. That can take some work not counting the effort it takes to lead when it comes time for your book to be discussed.
Hope no one minds that I've made a small change to our schedule. I plugged in a short story by E.M. Forster as a new addition. And I've eliminated one of the two slots for discussing THE MANUSCRIPT FOUND IN SARAGOSSA because after thinking more about it, Jo and I thought it best not to split it up. This leaves us only one meeting for discussing THE MANUSCRIPT.
Please note that because of the short length of the short story, you still have effectively (almost) two months to read THE MANUSCRIPT FOUND IN SARAGOSSA . Hopefully it won't be too hard to be disciplined and start reading early for those wanting to tackle this. For those who like the shorter readings, you now have one more short reading to like. So I think this is a "win/win" and hope you think so too.
Have a great Christmas and Happy New Year!
--Alice
http://www.houstonbookclubs.org/Montrose
http://www.houstonbookclubs.org/blog/
http://groups.google.com/group/MontroseGreatBooks
http://www.houstongreatbooks.net/group.html?id=17
http://www.houstonbookclubs.org/GreatBooksGuide.htm
=====UPCOMING TITLES=================
January 7, 2010 IF ON A WINTER'S NIGHT A TRAVELER by Italo Calvino (publ 1979) 304 pages
Author was the most-translated contemporary Italian writer at the time of his death, and a noted contender for the Nobel Prize for Literature. List of awards of author can be viewed on wikipedia.org
This book is about a reader trying to read a book called IF ON A WINTER'S NIGHT A TRAVELER. According to this book, the entire novel, even its plot, is an open trajectory where even the author himself questions his motives of the writing process.
--Jo will lead discussion
February 4, 2010 THE PRINCE by Niccolo Machiavelli (publ 1532) 134 pages
Sometimes shockingly direct how-to manual for rulers who aim either to establish and retain control of a new state or to seize and control an existing one. Makes a clear break from the Western tradition of political philosophy that preceded the author where the thinkers of this tradition were concerned with issues of justice and human happiness, and with the constitution of the ideal state.
--Alice will lead discussion
March 4, 2010 THE DEATH OF IVAN ILYCH by Tolstoy (publ 1886) 86 pages
Tells the story of the life and death, at the age of 45, of a high court judge in 19th century Russia who is a miserable husband, proud father, and upwardly-mobile member of Russia's professional class. The story progresses in the second half of the novella to the judge's terror as he battles with the idea of his own death caused by a trivial accident and then finally to his deathbed and his final interactions with his family.
Available online at http://www.ccel.org/ccel/tolstoy/ivan.txt
--Brian will lead discussion
April 1, 2010 THE MACHINE STOPS by E.M. Forster (publ 1909) 31 pages
A short science fiction story that describes a dystopian world in which almost all humans have lost the ability to live on the surface of the Earth. Each individual lives in a cell, with all bodily and spiritual needs met by the omnipotent, global Machine. Those who do not accept the deity of the Machine are viewed as unmechanical and are threatened with “Homelessness”.
Available online at http://archive.ncsa.illinois.edu/prajlich/forster.html
Note: I will make some copies of the short story available (no guarantees I won't run out of copies). Hope that some of you will be able to download it on your own or buy the short story collection by the author or check it out from the library.
Also Note: This short story being relatively short should leave more time so you can start reading early for next month, given that THE MANUSCRIPT FOUND IN SARAGOSSA is rather long at 656 pages.
--Alice will lead discussion
May 6, 2010 THE MANUSCRIPT FOUND IN SARAGOSSA by Jan Potocki (pub 1805-1815) 656 pages
A great late-18th century classic of Polish/French fiction that is a web of stories reminiscent of the Arabian Nights. The narrator of the story tells of the brigands, demons, succubi and evangelists he encounters. The stories cover a wide range of genres and subjects, including the gothic, the picaresque, the erotic, the historical, the moral, and the philosophic; and as a whole the novel reflects the author's far-ranging interests, especially his deep fascination with secret societies, the supernatural, and "Oriental" cultures.
According to one Amazon reviewer: "The plot, if it could be called such a thing, unfolds like a chinese puzzle, one unreliable narrative nested within another. ...It wends its way into your thoughts like an ear-boring worm." Though not well-known by Americans, it is defined as a masterpiece by every review I have read thus far.
Recommended publisher is Penguin Classics translated by Ian MacLean.
--Jo will lead discussion
June 3, 2010 THE MAN THAT CORRUPTED HADLEYBURG by Mark Twain (publ 1900) 128 pages
Classic tale that is a funny yet blistering indictment of political hypocrisy. A mysterious stranger is treated badly by the town of Hadleyburg-the town that proclaims itself "the most honest and upright town in the region." Through an ingenious sting operation, the stranger sets out to expose Hadleyburg's leading citizens and reveal their greedy, deceitful natures.
--Alice will lead discussion
Note: At end of discussion, group will vote on new titles for upcoming reading list. Ballot in progress at: http://www.houstonbookclubs.org/Montrose/ballots/jun3-2010.html
July 1, 2010 NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN by Cormac McCarthy (publ 2005) 320 pages
By far McCarthy's most exciting and suspenseful novel in recent years, the story speeds along, the body count rising in shocking scenes of depravity. A mesmerizing modern-day western. The plot follows the interweaving paths of the three central characters set in motion by events related to a drug deal gone bad near the Mexican-American border in southwest Texas.
--Brian will lead discussion
Aug 5, 2010 ORYX AND CRAKE BY Margaret Atwood (publ 2003) 416 pages
Critically examines developments in science and technology such as xenotransplantation and genetic engineering, particularly the creation of transgenic animals such as "wolvogs" (hybrids between wolves and dogs), "rakunks" (raccoon and skunk), and "pigoons" (pigs and humans, for organ transplants). This society has also produced an exacerbated gap between rich and poor, as well as the commodification of human life and sexuality in prostitution and online child pornography.
--David will lead discussion
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