Official Call for Book Club Selection Suggestions(for September'04)
Okay we have a few nominated already, and we will vote next weekend thats the twenty eighth. Remember: any OBCB member can nominate but only those who have participated in the previous discussion can vote.
[b]"Wild Sheep Chase"[/b] - Haruki Murakami
[img]http://images.amazon.com/images/P/037571894X.01._PE20_PIdp-schmooS,TopRight,7,-26_SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg[/img]
[indent]From Publishers Weekly
Immensely popular in Japan, the author's first novel to be published here is a comic combination of disparate styles: a mock-hardboiled mystery, a metaphysical speculation and an ironic first-person account of an impossible quest. The narrator is a modern Japanese yuppie: divorced, in a mildly exciting relationship and a much less exciting job as an ad copywriter, he lives unexceptionally until a photograph throws his life into chaos. The snapshot, which he uses to illustrate a newsletter, shows a field of sheep with one unique crossbreed, and the picture is special enough to have attracted the attention of both the nomadic friend who sent it to him and a right-wing Mr. Big who, moribund, wants the source found before he dies. The Boss's henchman, a sleek, scary majordomo, gives the narrator one month to track it down, and the story that ensues is a postmodern detective novel in which dreams, hallucinations and a wild imagination are more important than actual clues.[/indent]
[b]"The Painted Bird",[/b] - Jerzy Kosinski
[img]http://dkc.mse.jhu.edu/~teal/book_disc/painted_bird_3.jpg[/img]
[indent]
[b]Amazon.com[/b]
Many writers have portrayed the cruelty people inflict upon each other in the name of war or ideology or garden-variety hate, but few books will surpass Kosinski's first novel, The Painted Bird, for the sheer creepiness in its savagery. The story follows an abandoned young boy who wanders alone through the frozen bogs and broken towns of Eastern Europe during and after World War II, trying to survive. His experiences and actions occur at and beyond the limits of what might be called humanity, but Kosinski never averts his eyes, nor allows us to.
[b]The Merriam-Webster Encyclopedia of Literature[/b]
Semiautobiographical novel by Jerzy Kosinski, published in 1965 and revised in 1976. The ordeals of the central character parallel Kosinski's own experiences during World War II. A dark-haired Polish child who is taken for either a Gypsy or a Jew loses his parents in the mayhem of war and wanders through the countryside at the mercy of the brutal, thickheaded peasants he meets in the villages. He learns how to stay alive at any cost, turning survival into a moral imperative. Full of graphic... [/indent]
And I'm going to nominate:
[b]Checkpoint[/b] - Nicholas Baker
[img]http://images.amazon.com/images/P/1400044006.01._PE30_PI_SCMZZZZZZZ_.jpg[/img]
[b]From the Publisher
A Note from the Publisher[/b]
Checkpoint is a work of fiction by acclaimed author Nicholson Baker, a novella that explores the peculiar angst many Americans are feeling right now about their country and their president. The book is set up as a conversation between two old high school buddies. One of them, in despair about the direction the country is going, is convinced he must kill the president; the other tries to talk him out of it.
Baker wrote Checkpoint in response to the powerless seething fury many Americans felt when President Bush decided to take the nation to war. "How do you react to something that you think is so hideously wrong?" asks Baker. "How do you keep it from driving you nuts? What do you do with your life while this wrong is being carried out? What are the thoughts—the secret thoughts, the unpublishable thoughts, so to speak—that go through your head?"
Some people have rational responses. Others do not. Baker’s book does not suggest violence is ever an appropriate response. But in order to understand the reasons why a violent act is always a mistake, one must first look at the contemplation of such an act.
The dialogue in Checkpoint is angry, funny, pointed and absurd. All of it has relevance to our world. And it is through the conversation in this novel that Baker hopes to raise important questions about how we react to violence—both individually and as a nation.
Checkpoint will go on sale in bookstores nationwide August 10.
[b]From the Inside Flap[/b]
[i]From Nicholson Baker, best-selling author of Vox and the most original writer of his generation, his most audacious novel yet.
Meet Jay.
Meet Ben.
Jay has summoned his old friend Ben to a hotel room not far from the nation’s capitol. During the course of an afternoon, they will share a delicious lunch and will crack open a bottle of wine from the hotel minibar. They will chat about everything from Ben’s new camera to Iraq to the unfortunate fate of a particular free-range chicken.... [/i]
[url=http://smithandstephenson.net]Another LitBlog[/url]
[img]http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0446602175.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg[/img]
Editorial Reviews
Ingram
Two deadly criminals, Two-Face, a twisted former DA, and the Riddler, an evil computer genius, devise a sinister revenge plot against Gotham City, its protector, Batman, and his new partner, Robin.
Availability: Usually ships within 1-2 business days
[b][u]123 used & new from $0.01 [/b][/u]
[url]http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0446602175/qid=1093425352/sr=ka-1/ref=pd_ka_1/104-2368230-9739149[/url]
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/Lazlosdead/completeLazloSig.jpg[/IMG]
[QUOTE=mnchch]Well it appears no one cares anymore about the bookclub. So can we read my suggestion "wild sheep chase". That would be great. A response would be even better.[/QUOTE]
dude, it's already been nominated. this thread is to make new nominations; the voting thread comes later.
i am not making any nominations this month. 
i'll vote for wild sheep chase.
[QUOTE=moe.ron]dude, it's already been nominated. this thread is to make new nominations; the voting thread comes later.
i am not making any nominations this month. :)[/QUOTE]
it was my original nomination. and since no one had responded i was just suggesting we read my nomination because im a self-righteous prick like that.
I'll nominate "Girlfriend in a Coma" by Douglas Copeland.
[IMG]http://www.chuckpalahniuk.net/fan/cw/allstars/ahoffBronze.gif[/IMG]
[QUOTE=ahoff]I'll nominate "Girlfriend in a Coma" by Douglas Copeland.[/QUOTE]
Cool, I was meaning to get a Coupland book soon. I just didn't know which one to get.
[QUOTE=moe.ron]dude, it's already been nominated. this thread is to make new nominations; the voting thread comes later.
i am not making any nominations this month. :)[/QUOTE]
gave up on getting us to read Pugilist?
Bah, I can't vote this month... oh well.
[QUOTE=ahoff]I'll nominate "Girlfriend in a Coma" by Douglas Copeland.[/QUOTE]
Oooh, I love that book.
I'm gonna nominate:
[IMG]http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/0340747978.02.LZZZZZZZ.jpg[/IMG]
Simply because I loved it and hated it at the same time, and want some people to discuss it with!
[QUOTE=glamhoth]gave up on getting us to read Pugilist?[/QUOTE]
yes, pretty much. thanks for pointing out my defeat, screech.
well i have to make some attempts to lessen your victories over me...
if it helps, thom jones is now higher on my list of to-read authors.
Okay, you can take this or leave it. Since I just joined the book club and then didn't participate in the first month's book, I'm assuming that this post will be safe to disregard.
That said, I have a suggestion to get this thing going. I was looking over the "past selections" thread and recognized most of the titles. Many are in fact featured all over this sight. My point is that I think more people will read and review the books if they are already on their radar. If they've thought "I'd love to read that book/author" at any point, than they will probably dive right in. This is why I nominated a Coupland book. The Tesseract by Garland would probably generate some excitement. Some Easton Ellis, Welsh, etc.
Anyway, food for thought. Sorry if I offended anyone. (And just for the record, I LOVE the idea of reading more obscure titles and fiction from other countries; it just doesn't seem to generate the neccessary discussion. This was NOT a critique of the books being selected.)
[IMG]http://www.chuckpalahniuk.net/fan/cw/allstars/ahoffBronze.gif[/IMG]
.JPE "owenwarland's picture")
I know I haven't taken part in any discussion yet, but anybody read Sherman Alexie around these parts? He's got some great collections, and I'm sure that people would like him.
And Greg, sorry about the Eggers. Still reading it, believe it or not.
[QUOTE=Jess]Oooh, I love that book.
I'm gonna nominate:
[IMG]http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/0340747978.02.LZZZZZZZ.jpg[/IMG]
Simply because I loved it and hated it at the same time, and want some people to discuss it with![/QUOTE]
If you would have (or maybe you still can) nominate Mitchells new one, Cloud Atlas, then I'm certainly game. I have it right here and am i few pages into Letters to Zedelghem.. Mitchell is certainly worthy.
So...tomorrow is the first and where is TLC? A suggestion since a lot of us have been so busy lately:
Who would like to host the discussion? Volunteers? Step forward with your book suggestion and we'll vote for the most vehement candidate.
[url=http://smithandstephenson.net]Another LitBlog[/url]
But it seems that Wild Sheep Chase has the most attention.
[url=http://smithandstephenson.net]Another LitBlog[/url]
[QUOTE=H.D.Thoreau]... A suggestion since a lot of us have been so busy lately:
Who would like to host the discussion? Volunteers? Step forward with your book suggestion and we'll vote for the most vehement candidate.[/QUOTE]
a book club co-op? god, that's such a great idea!! where did you get such an idea? you must have one kick-ass muse, let me tell you.
p.s. you should read #9 dream when you finish cloud atlas.
[QUOTE=Jess]Oooh, I love that book.
I'm gonna nominate:
[IMG]http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/0340747978.02.LZZZZZZZ.jpg[/IMG]
Simply because I loved it and hated it at the same time, and want some people to discuss it with![/QUOTE]
This was really good. I'm readinh Mitchell's Brand new [I]Cloud Atlas[/I] right now.
Quite excellent.
I was here. Then I wasn't. Then I was again.
so much for being ahead of the game... i actually hope my book (well mnchchchchc's this time, Wild Sheep Chase) doesn't win because i havent read it yet (damn you other books that tempt me!)
Glamhoth we can share. I'm not that selfish. The book can be ours both.
So its sept 1st, what are we reading?
NEVER! *hordes all the copies of wild sheep chase in the world*
yea... so what's goin on? are we just gonna skip this month or what?
since we dont have a lot of time, I recommend a shorter book!
[img]http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0590568884.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg[/img]
[url]http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0590568884/qid=1094062157/sr=5-3/ref=cm_lm_asin/002-0948156-6686466?v=glance&s=books[/url]
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/Lazlosdead/completeLazloSig.jpg[/IMG]
Glamhoth-all of the copies? even the ones that are in the original japanese language? Because I figure you can have the english language ones and I'll teach myself japanese and take those!
i do believe our OCBC moderator asked if there was anyone willing to host the next book club discussion...once you guys are done being wise-asses, maybe we can get down to business?? 
well we gots ta vote first no?
damn straight all of the copies, i'll give you one if you pay me lots of moneys
"When the snow blows wild,
And the days grow old
Beware the Snowman, my child
Beware the Snowman
He brings the cold"
why we gots to vote first?
i vote for wild sheep chase. SHOCKER. i can try and moderate but i havent read the book yet so the discussion won't start for about a week or so.
well...to reach a general consensus on what book to read, otherwise it's just posting about a book in the book club forum which people do already
[QUOTE=moe.ron]i do believe our OCBC moderator asked if there was anyone willing to host the next book club discussion...once you guys are done being wise-asses, maybe we can get down to business?? ;)[/QUOTE]
I can't cuz someone took away my ability to make threads.
[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v298/Lazlosdead/completeLazloSig.jpg[/IMG]
[QUOTE=mnchch]i vote for wild sheep chase. SHOCKER. i can try and moderate but i havent read the book yet so the discussion won't start for about a week or so.[/QUOTE]
is mnchch the only person willing to step up to host the book club discussion?
Well it appears no one cares anymore about the bookclub. So can we read my suggestion "wild sheep chase". That would be great. A response would be even better.