Backroom Book of the Month Club

[Proletariat]

Any interest in reading something for the sole purpose of finding out how your fellow Orgahs took it? Consensual experiences are something I think alot of people in general dig; personally I keep coming back to the backroom for that in particular. Don't tell me none of you have seen an interesting headline, book, or movie where you didn't think, 'Hrm, what would Louis or Frag have to say?' or 'I bet Don C and Pindar would have a good lol at this!'

What I think could be fun, is starting a book club, where anyone interested can suggest a book they'd like discussed, with a line or two about why. Then the selections can be put to a poll thread for a few days, and then we have our book. Anyone who's interested in participating then has a month or so to work their way through the book, and it can be discussed in that thread. Obviously people's book-reading time varies greatly from Orgah to Orgah, so a simple spoiler tag can be used if you feel like you're talking about a part of the book that can ruin it for someone who's behind you in page turning. I'd like it to be totally obligation free; if you're a part of the voting process and you were campaigning hard for Anna Karenina and yet an illustrated bio of Spiderman wins the vote, you should obviously feel no guilt in saying to hell with that month.

Anyway, just curious if there's any interest at all back here in something like this. I was just throwing out some rough guidelines, and if you're interested yet you have different ideas for an approach, I'm all ears.

[Productivity]

I would be interested in this.

[KukriKhan]

Capital idea.

My nomination: Guns, Germs, and Steel (The Fates of Human Societies) (http://www.amazon.com/Guns-Germs-Steel-Fates-Societies/dp/0393317552), Jared M. Diamond, W. W. Norton, 400+ paperback pages.

Full disclosure: recommeded to me by backroomer Idaho.

Wiki synopsis:

According to the author, an alternative title would be A short history about everyone for the last 13,000 years.[1] But the book is not merely an account of the past; it attempts to explain why Eurasian civilization, as a whole, has survived and conquered others, while refuting the belief that Eurasian hegemony is due to any form of Eurasian intellectual, genetic or moral superiority. Diamond argues that the gaps in power and technology between human societies do not reflect cultural or racial differences, but rather originate in environmental differences powerfully amplified by various positive feedback loops. He also, most explicitly in the epilogue, argues that societies with food surpluses and high-to-moderate degrees of interaction with outsiders are more likely to encourage great people to realize their full potential and to adopt new inventions.




...Don't tell me none of you have seen an interesting headline, book, or movie where you didn't think, 'Hrm, what would Louis or Frag have to say?' or 'I bet Don C and Pindar would have a good lol at this!'...


Heck I do that everyday. :)

Fine idea Prole. I hope it takes root.

[CountArach]

I would do it if I had time.

Nice idea :2thumbsup:

[Strike For The South]

Hop on Pop-Dr. Suess

[Crazed Rabbit]

I suggest:
Watership Down by Richard Adams
Simply one of the best stories ever put on paper, it follows a band of rabbits that travel across dangerous countryside to make a new home, with terrifying and exciting adventures on the way. A masterpiece.

Also, I don't care really for Germs.

Crazed Rabbit

[HoreTore]

I'll join! However, since I'm stuck in Norway, getting hold of any foreign books who are not well known is rather hard... but anyway:

Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

A good an quite interesting book. Highly entertaining, and yet it manages to tell us something about the human mind..

[Big King Sanctaphrax]

I'm in, but only if we don't read Watership Down. I don't feel like crying for two days again.

How about Sebastian Faulks's Birdsong? That's a good book-club book. The harrowing story of a young Englishman's experiences before and during the First World War, capturing the destruction of a generation.

[Don Corleone]

I think this is an awesome idea. But thus far, we've put forward ideas for 4 books, all of which are a significant reading commitment.

Can I suggest that Prole start a poll and put a 3 (or 4) day time limit on it? At the end of that time, we all agree to accept the group decision and head to the local bookstore or library?

And no using Cliff Notes Gregoshi!

[Tristuskhan]

"Let the hounds loose", short stories by Brady Udall. The best short stories I read for long, and "the crual sea" by Nicholas Montserrat -one of the best tales about war, along with Mario Rigoni Stern's "il sergente nella neve" (it's been translated in english: the sergeant in the snow, just read it!)

[Lorenzo_H]

Count me in!

[Banquo's Ghost]

I think this is a wonderful idea and will do my best to support it.

My view would be that for the Backroom, we should suggest non-fiction only - as when I have the thoughts Proletariat describes in relation to other Orgahs, it is never in connection with a novel, but in a fascinating essay, documentary or non-fiction book.

I would also suggest that we pitch books we haven't read ourselves, but plan to because they have caught our attention. That would ensure we all discover the book together and can discuss impressions as we go, making a more real-time process suited to the forum environment.

[Husar]

I didn't read a book for some years, which also makes me feel very un-intellectual and that's why I like the idea.:2thumbsup:
If I can get and afford the book, I'll try to take part in this.:beam:

[Duke of Gloucester]

I'm in

[Sarmatian]

"7000 days in Siberia" written by Karlo Stajner (C(K)arlo Steiner).

True story. Austrian communist that worked in Austrian and Yugoslavian communist party finally ends up in USSR. Tensions before ww2 are building up and he gets accused of being a gestapo agent and sent to Siberia. A book about twenty years he spent there.

I don't know how much this book is known around the world but it is definitly worth reading. There are several copies on Amazon, and I also think german version shouldn't be too hard to find...

[Rodion Romanovich]

I recommend:
"The name of the rose", by Umberto Eco. An atmospheric novel with a plot centered around a series of murders in a Medieval monastery, filled with historical references, philosophical thoughts, and good dialogue. It contains some incredibly well written scenes, IIRC for example an inquisitor scene, and some good description and discussion of thoughts in the Medieval world, especially in the monasteries and religious orders.

[Louis VI the Fat]

Brilliant idea, Prole!

I'll participate, but on a loose basis. That is, with so many great books out there, and so precious little time, I'll only participate when it's about a book I'd love to read.
I don't mind if it's fiction or non-fiction. I do think non-fiction generally would better suit the Backroom environment.

I've read Guns, germs and steel before. Great book, highly recommended. Currently, I'm having a great time reading 'Maus', by Art Spiegelman. I finished part I yesterday night in bed. I couldn't put it down. Unfortunately, only near the very end did I realise there is also a part II. :wall:
I'll be running to my bookshop on monday...

[Bijo]

The idea is not bad, but it would require people to spend lots of time in reading books. I would prefer a philosophical question (or something of the likes) -- without the necessity of a book at hand -- where you can simply jump in if you have anything to say you think necessary.

I would not participate, but I would not oppose the idea either.

[Devastatin Dave]

Careful guys, Oprah might sue.:laugh4:

[doc_bean]

I like the idea, but like Louis will only be able to loosely participate.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

I think this is an awesome idea. But thus far, we've put forward ideas for 4 books, all of which are a significant reading commitment.

Can I suggest that Prole start a poll and put a 3 (or 4) day time limit on it? At the end of that time, we all agree to accept the group decision and head to the local bookstore or library?

And no using Cliff Notes Gregoshi!

I'll try it.

Don's suggestion as to a poll has much merit.

Let Prole run the poll and break any ties as seems mete to her.

[Csargo]

Sure why not.

[Devastatin Dave]

I read "See Spot Run" over the past few months. This was a challenging book considering the impact that this canine with its decision to run. Metaphorically speaking, the mere fact that this animal represented the need to run, and not only ran, but ran fast shows the "need" to run from the domestication and bondage of one's overlords and how society conforms us all to not only "see" Spot, but also "see him run". It was deep man, soooo deep. My Son was a little pissed though because I forgot to give it back to him after he had loaned it to me for my reading enjoyment for the past 2 months. If you want to something deep, meaningful, and life changing, I strongly suggest this literary masterpiece.:2thumbsup:

[Fragony]

Hey somebody is interested what I have to say! Also recommended this one in the book review thread but this one cannot be recommended enough because there simply isn't anything like it.

http://www.booksattransworld.co.uk/houseofleaves/house%20leaves%20final.jpg

First novel to really use typography, and it's very scary.

Looks like this;

http://content.answers.com/main/content/wp/en/thumb/6/68/180px-HouseOfLeavesPage134.gif
http://writerresponsetheory.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/house_of_leaves-139.jpg

Book is a decent into madness, and the typography reflects that. When tension rises, sometimes only 1 or two lines on a page, works like an adrenaline rush. All sorts of neat tricks like this, and it goes very far, and becomes very twisted. Sometimes litterally.

[Incongruous]

Oh, good idea.

How about the Bone people?

[Proletariat]

Nice suggestions so far, I think I'll put up the poll at either lunch today or after work so the people who mainly sign on during weekdays have a chance to get their sayso. I like the idea of sticking with non-fiction for the backroom, but we have so many novels suggested so far, it might be a little late for the first month.

[Lemur]

I'll participate, and I agree with the notion that we ought to focus on nonfiction. I've been meaning to read A Long Way Gone (http://www.amazon.com/Long-Way-Gone-Memoirs-Soldier/dp/0374105235/ref=pd_bbs_1/102-1358406-4012162?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1182788421&sr=1-1) for a while, and would enjoy hearing others' reactions to it. Supposed to be a kick-butt book.

[Fragony]

It is, but do mind that it is fictional. Main character does not exist.

[Lemur]

It is, but do mind that it is fictional. Main character does not exist.
Really? Strange, since I saw him interviewed. Here's a YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWrimg_2rFY) of the man. Are we talking about the same book?

[Hosakawa Tito]

Capital idea Prole. I'll join in. I have two suggestions:
Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson
The Universe in a Single Atom by Dalai Lama

[Don Corleone]

As long as we're levying suggestions, how about "An Inconvenient Truth" by Al Gore? :laugh4: :laugh4: :laugh4: :laugh4:

Just kidding. I'd like to suggest "Where Have All the Leaders Gone?" by Lee Iacocca. I had been planning on reading it over the 4th anyway....

[Big King Sanctaphrax]

If people want to focus on non-fiction in the backroom, I could set up a fiction book-club in the frontroom, in a months time. Might be easier.

[Fragony]

Really? Strange, since I saw him interviewed. Here's a YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWrimg_2rFY) of the man. Are we talking about the same book?

Yes, it isn't really fictional, he knows what he's talking about, but he invented the main character. That shouldn't stop you from reading it, it's great.

[Banquo's Ghost]

I am conflicted. I have had "House of Leaves" on my list for a while (and it went up the list smartly after Fragony's recommendation in The Other Place :bow:) not least from professional curiosity. It's quite expensive here though, so it might push some budgets.

But I advocated a non-fiction approach, and ought to stick to my proposal. In which case, I need more thinking time to consider the list.

(At least if you all choose the graphic novel, I can bow out gracefully - never liked the form :beam: )

[Louis VI the Fat]

(At least if you all choose the graphic novel, I can bow out gracefully - never liked the form :beam: ) But this is the best commix book ever. There are these little mice and they are running and hiding from mean nazis who are everywhere and they mean harm to the cute mice but then this one mouse discovers that he has superpowers and he beats many nazi cats by shooting laser beams from his eyes and he tells his girlfriend mouse she sows a suit with SuperMouse for him but then they must flee anyway but still this book roXorX and the end is very sad.

[Tristuskhan]

Louis, don't be sarcastic! People who did not read it could believe you!

[Banquo's Ghost]

But this is the best commix book ever. There are these little mice and they are running and hiding from mean nazis who are everywhere and they mean harm to the cute mice but then this one mouse discovers that he has superpowers and he beats many nazi cats by shooting laser beams from his eyes and he tells his girlfriend mouse she sows a suit with SuperMouse for him but then they must flee anyway but still this book roXorX and the end is very sad.

Ah, Louis, what would I do without your sage guidance? I had been labouring under the misapprehension that a graphic novel was a work full of sex and violence, but now I know that they are in fact about cartoon animals, and in pictures no less, my life is complete - but clearly not my library.

~;p