---Houseboat: a Themed Read Export

Welcome to:

The Houseboat, a quarterly series of readings of Books with the Word "House" in the Title.

We have chosen Brideshead Revisited for our next read!

"We all dwell in a house of one room--the world with the firmament for its roof--and are sailing the celestial spaces without leaving any track...." John Muir

We're keeping a list of books already suggested: List So Far of Books With "House" in the Title and we, in our last 10 years of SeniorNet's Books, have already read some fine ones, such as A House for Mr. Biswas, The House of Mirth, A Painted House, Beach House, House of Sand and Fog and many others. You can add more for the future.

The concept of what "home" or a house means and how different authors treat this common theme will be fascinating to discover. We don't have any parameters, save the title implications, but one: the discussion of any book chosen must be able to be finished comfortably in one month.

Here is our past ballot: Previous Ballot

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Welcome!! Welcome to something we've wanted to try for a LONG LONG time and have not: a series based on a common theme in books and how different authors handle them differently.

Our object is to have fun and to talk together, and thus enrich our own understanding of what we're reading. Our readers here on SeniorNet have so many different life experiences and such a range of knowledge how can we not learn something?

Let's see how the first one goes, I'm envisioning something Quarterly, but let's see how we like it.

The only criteria is that we can comfortably discuss the entire book in one month. If a movie has been made of the book we'll take one more week to comment on IT, those who have seen it, much like we did Remains of the Day.

Our first book discussion EVER on SeniorNet was Snow Falling on Cedars and to get our first ever Book Club Online rolling we went thru quite a long process. We're old hands now but I'd like to try somewhat of a similar process, that is, bring here for nomination a book (see heading we've got a million books there with either House in the title or something that pertains to house and you can always nominate one that isn't on there) with House somehow in the title, and tell us about it and why you want to read it.

Bring us the title, a sentence from the book (see B&N or Amazon), a review and tell us why you think we would like it, in other words, please don't just drop the title, TELL us why you want to read it with us.

I'll go first, see next post!

Since the heading says the floor is now open, let's open it a little early to take the sting out of Tax Day (April 15th) here in the States.

Now what we want to do is give the title, a sentence from the book (look on Amazon or B&N) and/ or a review and why you want to read it.

I'm going to nominate Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh. I came to this book late in life after I had seen the Jeremy Irons movie. It seemed to me that every page I read I thought , OH I wish, how I wish I had somebody to talk to about this book. Maybe I do now?

It's hard to say what the book does NOT have in it, and harder to say what it means. It's almost a book you have to experience for itself: the lives of the privileged gentry in England seen from the perspective of an outsider. It's stunning.

I don't know much about Waugh except that I have tried to read his others and failed. He is very acerbic and in fact may not have been a very nice man. I know his first name is pronounced EVE lyn. I don't know how Waugh is pronounced but he, the one time I tried to read more about him, had quite a history and quite a past. I'd like to read this book, there's something in it for everybody, it's available in paperback and in any library and is 351 pages.

The movie should also be easily available maybe even thru the library and we can discuss it the week after the movie, because IF we read this one, EVERYBODY should see what they used for Brideshead (which, when you think about it, is a strange name for a house, isn't it?)

Here's a sample sentence:

"I HAVE been here before," I said; I had been there before; first with Sebastian more than twenty years ago on a cloudless day in June, when the ditches were white with fool's-parsly and meadowsweet and the air heavy with all the scents of summer; it was a day of peculiar splendour, such as our climate affords once or twice a year, when leaf and flower and bird and sun-lit stone and shadow seem all to proclaim the glory of God; and though I had been there so often, in so many moods, it was to that first visit that my heart returned on this, my latest.

Here's one of a billion reviews:

---Like most great novels, BRIDESHEAD REVISITED is about a great many things--not the least of which is the decline of English aristocracy. But at center, Evelyn Waugh's greatest novel (and one of his few non-satirical works) is about religious faith, and how that faith continues to operate in the lives of even those who seem to reject it, and how that faith supports even those who falter badly in it.

---BRIDESHEAD REVISITED is a too-often misinterpreted and misunderstood book that demands a thoughtful reading to get down into the marrow of its thematic bones. Powerful, beautiful, memorable--a book to read and enjoy again and again. Strongly recommended.

I really would like to read this book with our readers. Let's discuss!!!

Oh and by the way, simply canNOT think of a catchy or appropriate title for this discussion so suggest away!!!

Ginny, I read "Brideshead Revisited" before seeing the movie (I assume you are referring to the 12 part BBC production with Jeremy Irons) and thought the movie did a remarkable job of exactly catching the spirit and point of the book. And all the characters were perfectly cast to be exactly like they should be. It’s a pretty hefty book to take only a month on, and the movie is long enough to make it hard to get through in a week. But there is certainly a lot of meat for discussion. It helps if you are interested in the nuances of British society. There are also some religious issues which call for tact in the discussion.

I can’t promise to join the discussion until I see how deeply I get mired in Don Quijote’s Spain, but I would try, since I liked the book.

You’re right about Evelyn Waugh—he was pretty unpleasant personally, with many problems.

Terrific, I wish you would!!! I am hoping it can be done in a month. Page wise I know it can, but content wise? Yes the PBS series, (I had no idea it was 12 parts, I can still see Sebastian and his teddy bear) is the one I was thinking of, it would seem it's quite the production! I would love to see IT again too. I think they have just come out with it on a new reissue of DVD, I'll have to check. I'm working my way thru Upstairs, Downstairs, which I am somewhat disappointed in, this go round.

I can see that funeral now, tho, in Brideshead.

I must remember to subscribe here! Welcome!!! I am so glad to see you back!

Well, YAY!! I'm looking forward to this book group. I proposed several of the items on the list and there are so many already. So many look fabulous. It'll be fun to see which will be the first selected!

Marni

Yay II, Marni and welcome! I loved your description of your mornings and books in the Book Nook! There are a LOT of great books on that list, this will be fun, I keep hearing about other book groups doing this, and I'm really glad to finally be getting to do it, ourselves. Welcome!

Hi Ginny,

"If I Had a Hammer, I'd hammer in the morning..." Remember that song? It reminds me of this House of Books. I love the guys in the heading working away. They are cute. I can't wait to see what book is chosen.

Hey, Hats!!! Yay III! Yes I sure do remember that, so glad to see you here, what book would you like to see us read?

I'm excited about this selection and am looking forward to it, let's discuss nominees!

I like to build things, physically and online, let's do!

House of Mirth by Edith Wharton

I read this years ago, and it might make an interesting discussion.

The following is excerpted from an editorial review on Amazon:
"The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in
the house of mirth," warns Ecclesiastes 7:4,
and so the novel by Edith Wharton ... takes its title from this call to heed.
New York [in 1900] was a time of opulence and frivolity for those who could afford it. But for those who couldn't and yet wanted desperately to keep up ... like Wharton's charming Lily Bart, it was something else ... a gilded cage rather than the Gilded Age.

I've looked at the list. I've read the posts. I need to think about this some more and choose a title to recommend. I'll come back when I have one, and can post re your instructions, Ginny.

Oh! btw- what do you consider (pagewise) to be book that can be handled in a month?

Waugh is waw, like barbara waw waw, no?

Hmm,, I need to go back and check out Norah Lofts, since she wrote some house books and also of course find out if Tracy Kidders "House" is still available. I will return.

I'd like to nominate THE PROFESSOR'S HOUSE by Willa Cather.

Here follows an excerpt from a review on amazon:\

Bittersweet novel of uncommon insight, December 26, 2000 Reviewer: K. Eames "Just a guy with a nose" (Down in the valley, the valley below) - See all my reviews

This Cather novel can best be compared to a small symphony in a minor key. It is a gentle, bittersweet portrait of a successful scholar who finds himself emotionally isolated from his family in a transitional time in the family's development. A move from their familiar, too-small home to a newer, larger home highlights tensions and jealousies between his newly married daughters and the distance between himself and his wife. The first portion of the novel focuses on the professor's disappointing relationships with his family and colleagues, relationships he observes with poignancy and sadness. A smaller but equally important portion of the novel tells the story of Tom Outland, a young man whose life and death provide a backdrop for the professor's story.

Why this book? It's short- less than 300 pages. But more importantly, I was first introduced to Willa Cather just last year. I read her O PIONEERS and watched a show about her on PBS. Both things thoroughly fascinated me. I couldn't imagine why I had never read her before. I'd love a chance to read her again.

After some deliberation.. " In This House of Brede" by Rumer Godden. Opening sentence.. The tower of Brede Abbey was a landmark for miles. From reviews... I could read and reread forever the descriptions of the seasons and the liturgy invoked. My review.. If you ever wanted to know about cloistered nuns and how they function, this book would certainly be the one to read.

I'd love to read the "House of Mirth" by Edith Wharton. I have always loved Wharton's books and she certainly had a knack for revealing what New York society was like at the turn of the century. Have we changed I wonder since than?

Oh, oh ...
House of Mirth was discussed in 2001.
I just thought I'd better check the archives ... nomination withdrawn.
Sorry

Since "House of Mirth" has already been read, I vote for the following: 1. The House of the Seven Gables by nathaniel Hawthorne 2. Bleak House by Charles Dickens 3. The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allen Poe 4. Jamaica Inn by Daphine DuMaurier 5. A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen 6. A House Divided by Pearl Buck 7. The House of the Dead and Poor Folk by Dostoevsky

Any of those seven books would be one I'd like to read.

See you soon.

"Housekeeping" : A Novel by Marilynne Robinson

"The Cider House Rules" by John Irving

Welcome Welcome!!

GAWSH, I wondered why nobody was talking in here!! And here you all are! I need to set Subsctiptions here!

Welcome, Mippy! Yes the GB did the House of Mirth, do you have another you'd like to suggest?

Welcome, Scootz! You asked: what do you consider (pagewise) to be book that can be handled in a month?

Emmm I dunno, what do you all think? I would think not over 100 pages a week, not over 400 pages? And the word "comfortably" makes me think depending on the book we might even like less. We want to enjoy this and not all people read quickly.

I'd say as a sort of rule of thumb, under 400 pages?

??

What say you all?

On the WAW WAW like Barbara Wah Wah MANY thanks, I won't forget that, just like Dan Rather and his Princess and Prince of Whales. Won't forget that either, it was alternately hilarious and awful.

Scootz, The Professor's House looks out of this world, too! I have never heard of it, a wonderful nomination. Thank you!

Stephanie, I'd love to read Tracy Kidder's House too, I think we would get a lot out of that one but oh boy: In This House of Brede! Have always wanted to read that, thank you for that nomination, too!

Scrawler, what wonderful taste you have, 4 nominations!!! What we're doing here (and horselover, too) is a bit different, sorry to have not gotten here in time, we're giving (I'll fix the heading)

The title and author of a book that we think we can comfortably read and discuss in a month.

A sentence from the book (if we can get one on Amazon or aother site, if not, leave that off.

A review of the book

And most importantly: WHY, our own thoughts WHY we want to discuss that book.

What we'll do is gather these and you'll talk about YOUR candidate and we'll discuss these till we take a vote.

So Scrawler, all of your nominations are treasures, will you do the above for the one you most like (if you can pick just ONE! I think Bleak House with its 900 pages must wait for the GB, it was in so many run offs they really want to tackle it there).

The floor is now open to hear YOUR nomination and why, and give us some information (I'll put those last things in the heading, sorry not to have before!)

I can't WAIT to really discuss with this group some of these choices, what FUN!!

Welcome horselover, I'm so glad to see you again!! Where you been? We've read Cider House Rules, will you tell us about Housekeeping and why you'd like to see us read it?

I would love to hear more about Housekeeping. Never heard of it.

My House In Umbria by William Trevor

I thought of this book after having rented the marvelous movie, starring Maggie Smith.
Here's an bit of a review on Amazon:
Emily Delahunty, mysterious and not entirely trustworthy, ... quietly runs a pensione in the Italian countryside, writes romance novels, [and] muses on her checkered past. [Then] her world is changed forever as the train she is riding in is blown up by terrorists. Taken to a local hospital to recuperate, she befriends the other survivors, an elderly English general, an American child, and a German boy, and takes them all to convalesce at her villa ...

But I like several of the nominations already made, too!

Another comment, if I may: If we vote around May 1, and hear the results on, say, May 7th,
it often takes more than a week to receive a book order placed on line. Would May 15th be too soon?
Just asking.

My first hit on this site. Read all the posts. I have a suggestion for a name. If this is going to be a constant, continuing site I thought HOUSEBOAT might be a good name . We will float from one book to another and visit the places (books) where we land. Opinions please.

I would vote for Evelyn Waugh because I don't know his written work, just the PBS version. Sounds interesting.

Judy

I am not ashamed to select a book for discussion based on length. I've debated this with my own club and we came up with <= 375 pages as a guideline. I'm not sure why, but there was a 386 page novel up for consideration and we decided that was 'long' but the 374 page book was doable in a month. I suspect that a 400 page limit would be just fine in here and a bit easier to subscribe to than our more refined limit.

Kleo

We already read House of Mirth, A House for Mr. Biswas, A Painted House and House of Sand and Fog . The discussions are in the Archives.

I quite recently saw a posted list of books with "house" in the title or implied, in which the books we have read were marked by an asterisk in red. Unfortunately I cannot find it right now.

That list is up in the heading, Traude, underlines and begins "list so far. . ."

Mippy, "My House in Umbria" is coming up very soon on my Netflix list. I'm glad you thought it was good.

The Professor's HOuse sound interesting, but I want to look at these titles some more.

Not really a "house" book, but I've just started "The Lighthouse" by P.D. James. I've not read much of her, but am enjoying this one.

Lighthouse by P.D. James is an entertaining read, and I enjoyed it, especially as I've read the
previous novels in the series. However, I don't think it would fit in here for a discussion.
Pedln ~ Do tell ... if you agree or not!

HAPPY EASTER to all!

Ginny,

On naming this group- can you tell me more. Are we always doing books with "house" or just what? I need a frame of reference.so I can work on a name.)

PS- Love that pic of you entering the podiatrist's.

This started as a list of books with the name House in the title somewhere and has evolved into lets read at least one house book. Nominations are now open..I think Ginny may be off somewhere playing games.

Re: where is Ginny ...
She is having to catch up on a ton of work in all her Latin classes, after her internet connection was
down part of last week. Bravo, Ginny!

Anyway, I also thought that the plan was to discuss one or more books with House as a word in the title!
Do we need any more nominations? or not?
Do we also need some more participants? or does that always just happen?

THANK you all so much for carrying the ball SO well, of conversation and nominations, much appreciated. As always our book discussions here depend more on the READERS than the LEADERS, well done!

I appreciate that, Mippy, and you are right, this is a BIG WEEK for our Latin students, about to take the National Latin Exam, it's scramble scramble scramble, I wish I DID have time to play a game, any game! Hahahaa

But our classes conclude May 2 and I'm already getting our nominees here from the library, to read over (and have ordered Brideshead Revisited simply because I want to have it and read it again).

And yes, this is a different kind of book discussion, let's count the ways, but first let's respond to these fine posts!

I would love to hear more about Housekeeping. Never heard of it. Me too, Stephanie and I hope to get back into the book Nook where you win, hands down, THE strangest place to read a book! Hahaaha LOVED that and can't get that out of my mind.

Thank you, Mippy for the My House In Umbria by William Trevor nomination. Those of you whose nominations are not in the heading PLEASE tell us some more, we intend to discuss these and compare them, so we need more!

It often takes more than a week to receive a book order placed on line. Would May 15th be too soon? I hope not. I hope we can conclude here a bit before May 1, as we already have a super slate up there, I think we can close the nominations when we're ready, but we could have as many as 10 to shoot for? We need to start May 15, so we can be well thru in June, even if we add on a week for the movie if there is one, because in July we'll read the Frank McCourt Teacher Man.

Judy, welcome! I absolutely LOVE Houseboat! We'll have to change the graphics in the heading, but this is just a working on discussion anyway, the very minute we move this back in the general discussions, we can go with Houseboat, love that! We can name it something every month for that matter! LOVE it!

Kleo, I agree and I think that makes sense, it's going to be hard as Pat H said earlier to do justice to some of the titles suggested which are under 400 pages, let's limit the size, Guys?

Thank you Traude and Pedln and good points about what has been read, Traude, and Pedln I must get hooked up with Netflix, is Brideshead Revisited on it, by any chance? All thru the trip to Greece, that is all I heard about: Netflix!

On naming this group- can you tell me more. Are we always doing books with "house" or just what? I need a frame of reference.so I can work on a name.)

PS- Love that pic of you entering the podiatrist's. hahaha Scootz, I wanted to see if Constantine had bunions like I do (he did!) haahahah

Well we're reading books which all have the word HOUSE in the title or refer however obliquely to one. Brideshead Revisited for instance is the NAME of a great house in England. So we'll be revolving around Houses in this series, which will meet quarterly. I wish we had started this earlier. I wanted to, but didn't House of Sand and Fog, what does it mean to own your own house and what would you do to attain that goal? A House for Mr. Biswas, same thing, treated differently. How do different authors treat the same theme? Beach House, a modern book, same theme, same thing, it's fascinating when you begin to make the comparisons. But we'll start the series with one we have not read and make our own conclusions from it!

And any and all titles will be rotated! All suggestions welcome!

What fun, what do YOU suggest? We'll discuss the pros and cons, maybe do some reading ourselves of the candidates on Amazon or B&N and be ready to vote maybe BEFORE May 1, so get those nominations in now.

Remember: we need the title and author, a review, hopefully a sentence or two so we can see the style (we can all see these on Amazon) AND the reason (this is the most important thing of all) why YOU want to read it or you think WE might?

Let's discuss!

I want to read Brideshead Revisited because I think of it every day. But I'm not sure I understand it or what it means.

On Easter Sunday my DIL and I were walking around the vineyard and talking about cemeteries and death and I said I was blown away by the funeral in the movie Brideshead Revisited: she had not seen it. It's no wonder it was an old PBS in 12 parts or something before her time.

When I took that course at Oxford on the Decline and Fall of the British Empire in India, we toured at Knebworth, which was the home of a former Viceroy of India and the family home of the Bulwer-Lytton family, (he of the most awful first line contest named FOR him) but there I saw the same thing. (Knebworth was chosen by Tim Burton as the setting for "stately Wayne Manor" in the movie Batman)

There's SO much in it, I really would like to know what you all think. That's the real reason I want to read it, but I find it's considered a masterpiece, a classic and a lot of other impressive things.

But all of the books here look wonderful, I don't think we can lose with any of them!

Yes we need lots of readers, once we get up a slate we'll advertise more!

Meanwhile, let's have a couple of more nominations and WHY??

OK! Now we have a nautical theme in the heading and I'll ask patwest to put some books hanging on that houseboat line!

I would like to nominate "The House of the Seven Gables" by Nathaniel Hawthorne. I have owned the book a long time. Something about the book intimidated me all these years. Maybe it's the name of the family and the mansion. The name is Pyncheon. Picking it up recently I felt no intimidation just a desire to find out more about this family and their home. I became involved with the structure of the house. Here is how Nathaniel Hawthorne describes the house in the first chapter.

"Halfway down a bystreet of one of our New England towns stands a rusty wooden house, with seven acutely peaked gables, facing towards various points of the compass, and a huge, clustered chimney in the midst. The street is Pyncheon Street; the house is the old Pyncheon House; and an elm tree, of wide circumference, rooted before the door, is familiar to every town-born child by the title of the Pyncheon Elm. On my occasional visits to the town aforesaid, I seldom failed to turn down Pyncheon Street, for the sake of passing through the shadow of these two antiquities--the great elm tree and the weatherbeaten edifice."

I love those lines. I like a book that leaves me wanting more. This person, in the first chapter, always made a special effort to take the route pass the elm tree and the huge wooden house. Doesn't the structural design of the house seem complicated? The way the house is built makes me think more about the Pyncheons. Are their lives in some way similar to the architectural structure of the house?

Ginny, will the "house" series continue? Are we only reading one "house" book and that's it?

The houseboat is adorable. The Pyncheon mansion seems awfully dreary, morose. I guess the houseboat would cheer up the Pyncheon mansion, if it were picked.

PatW, thank you for the hard work.

I second the motion, Hats. I to would like to read "The House of Seven Gables" by Nathaniel Hawthorne.

"...And wise Uncle Venner, passing slowly from the ruinous porch, seemed to hear a strain of music, and fancied that sweet Alice Pyncheon - after witnessing these deeds, this bygone woe, and this present happiness of her kindred mortals - had given one farewell touch of a spirit's joy upon her harpsichord, as she floated heavenward from the House of the Seven Gables!"

"The House of the Seven Gables": "Hypocrisy, witchcraft, murder and betrayal are the recurring themes in "The House of the Seven Gables." It is the story of a curse. Moreover, it is based on the tradition of a curse pronounced on the author's own family.

In mid-19th century Salem, Massachusetts, Judge Jaffrey Pyncheon is determined to find the property deeds of his rich uncle, seemingly murdered by his cousin Clifford. His machinations and their effect on the rest of the family, together with the consequences of past misdeeds that come back to haunt the action, make this great novel comparable to "The Scarlet Letter." In presenting the last generations of a decaying New England family, Hawthorne is able to indulge his mastery of quaint, fanciful and grotesque figures, as well as giving rein to his humor and love of romance."

And according to the introduction: "In "The House of the Seven Gables," written directly after "The Scarlet Letter", Hawthorne examines many of the same issues [found in "The Scarlet Letter"] but from a more comic point of view. It was what he called 'a more natural and healthy product of my mind'."

If hypocrisy, witchcraft, murder and betrayal doesn't wet your appetite than certainly "a story of a curse" and a "curse pronounced on the author's own family should. And if that's not enough what about finding out what the author meant by 'a more natural and healthy product of my mind'. These are the reasons I want to read this book.

I thought Poe was up there? If not, I would like it to be, but I thought someone already nominated it and a few others that aren't there. Am I missing something?

Kleo

Scrawler,

I am glad you second the motion.

Kleo,

There is a link to all the house books in the heading. "The House of Ushers is on the list. Ginny has made it really easy for us and fun too.

Hats, no, not the long list in the link, the short list up above there are only four books listed, and I thought Usher had been one of them, but it's not there, so I'm a bit confused about what is going on.

Just scroll up this page and you'll see the four titles with oars beside them, no clicking on links or going elsewhere.

Kleo

Oh, I see what you mean. Kleo, I don't know. Yep, I see those few titles.

Thank you, Hats, and Scrawler, up goes The House of the Seven Gables, many thanks!

Hats, no we'll keep right on, my first thought was quarterly but if the idea catches on we might do more than that, let's see how much people enjoy it!

Kleo, the Poe was, as Hats suggests, originally nominated in the Book Nook for the purpose of the list in the link above, if it has been nominated HERE I have missed it, sorry. Do you want to nominate it and tell us why and a bit about it?

Well, here's Scrawler's post:

"Scrawler - 09:50am Apr 13, 2006 PT (#17 of 40) Books with House in them I'd like to read:

Since "House of Mirth" has already been read, I vote for the following: 1. The House of the Seven Gables by nathaniel Hawthorne 2. Bleak House by Charles Dickens 3. The Fall of the House of Usher by Edgar Allen Poe 4. Jamaica Inn by Daphine DuMaurier 5. A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen 6. A House Divided by Pearl Buck 7. The House of the Dead and Poor Folk by Dostoevsky

Any of those seven books would be one I'd like to read.

See you soon."

And Usher had been in the heading in here also. Anyway, down to it:

Why Poe? Well we'll be reading a book about him later on, The Poe Shadow by Matthew Pearl, so the timing is perfect to spice that up. We also just read and discussed Robert Louis Stevenson's Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde and debated horror a bit.

I consider Poe to be the master, And his stories always have a great bit of psychology in them. I discussed him while taking a class at the UW when I was very young--he's amazing, and his stories have such depth, seen even more when I read them as an adult.

I love short stories. In junior high school I was the resident expert on short stories because I was obsessed with reading the best of them, Poe, O' Henry, Jackson, Hemingway, Chechov. Tales with a bit of terror were my favorites, though.

Here is a wonderful opening line of poetry and sentence from the Fall of the House of Usher:

Son cœur est un luth suspendu;
Sitôt qu’on le touche il résonne.

De Béranger.

DURING the whole of a dull, dark, and soundless day in the autumn of the year, when the clouds hung oppressively low in the heavens, I had been passing alone, on horseback, through a singularly dreary tract of country, and at length found myself, as the shades of the evening drew on, within view of the melancholy House of Usher.

Poe

That opening sentence alone should clinch Poe's place as the master of opening sentences. (Although my favorite is "The thousand injuries of Fortunato I bore as best I could, but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge!")

We could read just this one short story, or a couple of his from a collection. This one is on-line complete. I think SeniorNet would be a sophisticated and interesting group to dissect Poe with.

Kleo

That's very exciting. I am glad the "House" theme will continue.

Kleo,

Aren't we going to read Poe stories along with the Matthew Pearl book?

Hats,

I don't know what's going on with the Pearl book, but I would like to read and discuss some before reading his book, and especially soon after reading a later master of horror, Robert Louis Stevenson.

Kleo

Kleo,

You are right. Robert Louis Stevenson left me feeling the same way. I wanted to read more books with that genre in mind. Years ago I did see "The House of Ushers." I can't remember one bit of it. I do remember being scared out of my wits. I would love to read it.

I have read one of his short stories too. It might have been the one you mentioned where he builds a wall around the man in revenge or something like that. Poe is one of the great ones.

Judy Shernock,

I just read your reason for the title "Houseboat." What a good reason. We will float from book to book.

Ginny, Netflix does have "Brideshead Revisited". It takes 3 DVDs.

If you watch DVDs much, I recommend Netflix. They have a gigantic collection. For instance, when we were discussing "The Waste Land", I was able to rent "Tom and Viv" from them. If you watch about 3 movies a month, it is as cheap as Blockbuster (or was when I did the arithmetic; prices keep changing) and you could say it's worth something to have such a large collection and not to have extra charges no matter how long you keep a movie.

Thank you Hats! I think it's fun, too. I'm looking forward to this one, hopefully we won't all fall overboard, it's going to be fun!

Pat H, well that tears it, my first Netflix will be Brideshead Revisited, 3??DVD's? Oh devoutely to be wished. That's all I heard on the trip in March, Netflix, Netflix, Netflix, I'll go get set up right away.

Kleo, OH I see what you mean, yes we need more than the title and I see Scrawler has gone for The House of Seven Gables, so if you like, since you have provided such good background, we'll add Poe, too, I love Poe.

Too bad Tennyson didn't write about Houses (did he?) We are simply going to HAVE to read Tennyson!

Now we have 6 good nominees, anybody else??

Little house on the prarie? I love cabot grove:)

Wow! I am amazed and honored to have my suggestion for "Houseboat" not only chosen but illustrated so well! Thank you!

I have read all of P.D.James's works. However it is not the kind of genre that is discussed on this site. Each one is a superb mystery but quite different from the Literature that is discussed here. If we wished to discuss mystery writers I think Agatha Christy is the great genius of that genre. Worldwide only the Bible has outsold Agatha Christy. Her books have been translated into at least 50 languages.

I have a book to add to the "House" list: The House at Pooh Corner by A.A.Milne. There are other titles niggling at my brain and I will come up with them,perhaps tomorrow.

Judy

Judy, I like your Houseboat idea with the image of floating from book to book. Well said.

I'm kind of puzzled about your statement "but quite different from the Literature that is discussed here." I was not aware that we were limited to any kind of "genre" or type of book here at SeniorNet. From what I have seen, we offer a wonderful variety of reads, accommodating many tastes. How did someone so delightfully express it -- "a buffet of books?"

I would like to nominate:

A House-Boat On The Styx, by John Kendrick Bangs. Bangs is mostly forgotten now, I suppose, but a hundred years ago he was America's favorite author. I'm proud as punch about my 8-volume, green and gold set of his works.

The sub-title is, 'Being some account of the divers doings of the associated shades.'

The shades are, of course, the eminent dead that Bangs brings back to life in that other world, or on their way there, across that most famous of all rivers. George Washington is there hosting a big dinner of distinguished people: Shakespeare, Socrates, Tennyson, Dr Johnson, and on and on.

It's all very funny. I believe John Kendrick Bangs even outsold Mark Twain with his humor. For example, in one of his books, I believe it is Coffee and Repartee, he points out an unusual advantage of the recently invented telephone. No longer, the good Rev Whitecollar hears from a fellow gentleman lodger in Mrs ...'s guest-house, will the missionary have to run the risk of landing in some heathen's cooking pot, when he can call up prospective converts from his study.

But my heart I left in Brideshead. I'll second Ginny's choice.

'What a place to live in!' Charles Ryder says, when he first sees the magnificent place. Even so, most of the family would rather be somewhere else it seems. Getting to know all the Marchmains is an experience you won't forget.

Welcome, Jonathan and bluebird!

Bluebird, if you would like to nominate the Little House on the Prairie, please tell us more about it, please include a review or a line from the book and tell us why you'd like to read it here. My father read the Little House series to me and I will never forget it.

Jonathan, oh I have not heard of that book in absolute years! And you have a SET of him? At one time everybody read that, I am tempted to try to get a copy and read it again on my own (so many great nominations here, all of them a good read), it made a huge impression me, and didn't people used to talk about it a lot? I'm glad to even hear of it again!

Up it goes, Bluebird, do elaborate, ad well as you, too, Horselover, we hope to discuss the titles, read about them ourselves and see what we'd like to read.

Judy,

I've asked to have the Milne added to the list of Books With House in the Title: I am a huge Milne fan, but never read the Pooh books believe it or not.

Pedln, Books Buffet! I have the same problem with books that I do a buffet: can't push back from them. ahahaha

Oh yes but what of the funeral scene? Did you see the movie, Jonathan? I got my copy of Brideshead yesterday, I wonder if it will stand the test of time!?! I want to have all the books nominated so I can see more about them, tho Amazon has now a thing where you can look inside, I really like that. Have you all seen it?

Welcome!

Goodness, I remember John Kendrick Bangs from my childhood, but had no idea he was still (or again) in print. I see that you can get "A Houseboat on the Styx" in paperback from amazon.com.

Never heard of this Bangs chap. Just how far back does he go?

Cathie, a pre-Senior

(but not too pre-)

Pat, it's available ONLINE! A Houseboat on the Styx

Scootz, it's before my time (hahahaha)...kind of like that old song, "do you remember, if you remember, well Dearie you're much older than I") hahaha

Would you believe it was written in 1895? hahaaha

There's a big thing on it in Wikipedia, not very flattering and gives the plot away but here are some interesting bits:

Bangs' idea of setting people in Hell (called Bangsian fantasy) is quite similar to a book called God Bless You, Dr. Kevorkian by Kurt Vonnegut, although that work was set in Heaven (not that it matters—Vonnegut explains that everyone winds up there regardless). It is interesting that the one other thing the two books have in common is that Shakespeare did not, in fact, write his plays.

"Shakespeare did not, in fact, write his plays? " That was written in 2006, where's Deems?!?

Bangsian Fantasy? You heard it HERE!

Bangsian Fantasy? You heard it HERE!

ROFLMBO!!!!! Thanks Ginny. YOu've restored my faith ion SN.

I'm with Pedlin, I wonder about the statement "but quite different from the Literature that is discussed here." I really don't understand why anyone would think that PD James' books would be something that would not be discussed on SeniorNet. We have discussed numerous mysteries on SeniorNet. We used to have a Mystery Book Club. I led a discussion on an Agatha Christie book there once along with various other mysteries. I cannot find the mystery book club in the archives. I thought it was still there but if it is now I can't find it.

Joan Grimes

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JOAN G!!!!

Thanks Marni but I have a few more days yet. It is only Tuesday night and my birthday is not until later this week.

Joan Grimes

OK.. Joan... Happy Early Birthday from your one time roommate. Steph

Hi Steph,

I did not mean to get this discussion off the subject.

Thanks for the birthday wishes, onet ime roomie. That was fun gathering wasn't?

Oh by the way folks I went back and looked for the Mystery Book Club in the Archives and I did find it.

I have always wanted to read Brideshead Revisited but never have done it. I think I will see about ordering it now.

Joan Grimes

I read Brideshead many many years ago, but I could reread it. As I remember it was interesting although a bit veddy veddy english.

Why I wrote "not discussed here". From what I've read on this site the emphasis is on the characters and character development and historical context. P.D.James is plot driven i.e.the characters have to fit into the plot and don't have a life of their own outside of the plot. The information given is to heighten suspense and not to see how the characters intermingle or how they act under different circumstances.The characters are like "clues" .

There are mystery writers that manage to do both . Conan Doyle and Colin Dexter come to mind. So as much as I love reading PD James It seemed to me we would be stuck in the discussion of her works to a limited number of possibilities. However I'm sure there are folks that have a different opinion. And I'd love to hear from them on this subject.

Judy

Sthepanie, I agree that "Brideshead" is veddy, veddy English. If you are a "Brit-watcher", as I am, it is a great filling in of a small segment of society from between the wars to the end of WWII. If you are not, it's either a useful introduction to the times, or another hurdle getting in the way of a very good story.

I would like to nominate "China Court" by Rumer Godden. The book is very charming. "China Court" is the name of a house. I can't imagine living in a house with a name. I think the idea is very nice. The name, I think, makes a house a home. Anyway, the author goes into great detail describing the house. I am carried away with the descriptions of rooms named after colors: the brown room, red room and yellow room. There is a mahogany edged bathtub. There is no gas or electricity. With all the house has or doesn't have, it's easy to fall in love with "China Court." If the house makes me feel this way, how will I feel about the people in the house?

There is also all the names of objects used. I have never heard of some of these items: asparagus tongs, india ink, a paper knife, willow-pattern pan. I guess some of these items are antiques now.

It's not a silly, light of heart book. There is a lot to think about in this book. It's about a time gone by and other rich and important themes. Plus, gardens and flowers are mentioned so often, I could almost sniff the roses through the pages.

Stephanie, I am glad you picked a Rumer Godden book too. I wonder if there is a book about Rumer Godden's life?

Here is one quote from the book.

"To watch her among her flowers is, as John Henry her husband says, like watching a scholar in his library who, as he talks, goes to one shelf or another, pulling out a book to show, to brood over, or to read from."

The Godden sisters ( both are authors) cowrote "Two Under the Indian Sun" A story of their childhood in India.. I loved is.. Just as good as "Flame Trees of Thika" about an African childhood. which I also loved. I love biographies about people who grew up in a totally different environment.. I also would love to live in a house with its own name, much more common in England than here.

Stephanie,

Thank you for those titles. I have the same feelings as you. I like to read about people who grew up in different worlds than my own world.

Beautiful, Hats, thank you so much, the descriptions here make me want to read every book, and I'm trying, have already been to the library twice.

Bluebird!

Scootz, hahaha HEY! You got that right!

Joan and Pedln what an interesting discussion, thank you Judy for initiating it. I love your slant, and mention of Christie, gives us something more to think about. I'm also a total fan of Agatha Christie, and in fact am listening to The Mirror Cracked or Crack'd right now in the car. I knew that Christie had a special way with her characters, that is she almost never describes them physically, it's sort of an art with her in that she gives away this or that so that the reader actually populates the character rather than the author, it's one of her many sort of techniques. I wonder if we might want to read one of hers and compare?

That's the very thing that as readers, critical readers, we might want to try: drawing back a bit and looking at things from that angle, and I understand what you all are saying, and am very glad of this super discussion.

The reader of this series is Hugh Fraiser, who plays Captain Hastings on the Poirot PBS series. He is amazing. He's got so many voices you think it's a play and he's got David Suchet's Poirot down to a science (I imagine he's heard it enough). Suchet reads these, too, I'd love to hear his.

I at one time bought the entire Christie set, everything she ever wrote, from Bantam press. And read each one. And her two autobiographies, her books as pseudonym (one of which was her favorite book) and one biography of her. All of her books are in hardback and bound as a set, not very pretty, black, but hardback. Despite having read them all, I am fascinated with the Mirror Crack'd and can't remember "who done it," in fact I am so fascinated by the voice and rendition of Frasier's Crazy Lady Whoever it's like seeing a movie. I am really enjoying this one (please don't tell me hu dun it!)

I did take out Netflix, Pat, and now they say that Brideshead is 3 disks as you say, and the first is on delay, I am not sure what they'll send, so I have about 500 selected. I like Bollywood, loved, absolutely loved Lagaan and I also like Amir Khan so have all of his movies also waiting, as well as Jewel in the Crown, this is going to be FUN!

Joan G, whenever your birthday is, many happy returns of the day, I hope it's a wonderful day for you!

I am not sure if Brideshead will hold up to our new selves (has anybody noticed the signifigance of the name?) but as soon as we close the nominations we'll have a high old time enjoying discussing each candidate.

Do you think 10 is enough? Should we draw the line at 10?

An interesting point on Brideshead Revisited, as to the British aspect of it and what it may be saying. Too bad we can't compare it to Remains of the Day, another piece very much like it, would you say, those of you who have read both? Or not? Theme wise?

Comparative literature!

Nothing wrong with that. There's no use to pretend as readers WE don't do it? There's some kind of thought or sentiment that sometimes says that oh I can't or don't want to "look closely" at a book because it ruins it for me. It might be interesting to examine THAT thought, too, some time. Judy I like your thoughts there, we might like to apply them to all books we read. I have not ever been able to finish a James, I have no idea why, different strokes, I guess? Maybe I can't concentrate long enough.

I know that Saramago's lack of paragraphs is a death knell for me , I can't read him!

Stephanie, there are TWO Godden sisters? And one wrote of INDIA? WOW, must have it. THANK YOU THANK YOU for that!

Hats and Stephanie, I would also like to live in a house with its own name and almost named our farm: pretentious here so did not do it. Love the small cottages names in England tho, and the 8 lines of address, too. Love it.

Stephanie, have you read the two sequels to Flame Trees of Thika? They are as good as it is. She just died, unfortunately.

And of course Rumer Godden lived in Lamb House, also famous for Henry James and the last tenant EF Benson, in Rye England.

Let's stop with 10 books nominated, don't you all think that's enough to discuss and pick over?

We can have one more. I hope that those who have espoused books will come and discuss them, pro and con and let's see what we feel like reading for our first HOUSE book!

May we nominate Agatha Christie? I don't have a title in mind.

"The Flame Trees of Thika". What a super book!

I would vote for "House" by Tracy Kidder as a good beginning to our house reads. If you have ever built a house of your own, you will respond to this.

Another good one is "House of Spirits" by Isabel Allende. I certainly enjoyed that one.

Hats, sure you can nominate one with House in the title!

Welcome, Ann, we've only got room for One (and a Bonus Christie) more today, please choose one and tell us a little about it, why you want to read it and give us a review or quote from it to whet the appetite, those are ALL winners! Welcome!

This is only one "House" title for Agatha Christie. The title is "Peril at End House." I like the fact that a "ghost" is involved. I like the "Mirror Crack'd" title too. I am sure someone else might have better title ideas for Agatha Christie.

"Someone is stalking the lady of End House. She claims her only friend is a ghost. Hercule Poirot has his more earthbound theories of what's happening."

I also like "Murder at the Vicarage." Colonel Protheroe is found shot in the minister's study. I like the idea of a man of God as a suspect for murder. This mystery is "unique....Loosely based on Christie's own grandmother, ...unacquainted with the depths of social depravity."

Good for you Hats, pick one Christie!! (You can't go wrong with Christie, which one will you choose!?!)

"Murder at the Vicarage"

I have to go with the original post that Agatha Christie has a lot more meat for a general book discussion than Anne Perry. I've read more Anne Perry books than Agatha Christie books, and I've only had one discussion based on each book. The Anne Perry was a normal 1-hour face-to-face book discussion, while the Agatha Christie had us closing down two coffee shops and opening a third discussing the book.

This isn't to say there isn't anything to discuss in Anne Perry. But there's something unique about Agatha Christie. Her books seem so ordinary and one-dimensional. But they're neither.

I would love to read and discuss an Agatha Christie, Hats.

Kleo

Kleo,

I am glad. I like Christie too.

OK, good ideas here, you got it, Hats, and what an interesting description of it, I did not know that!

I haven't read any Anne Perry, Kleo, that's interesting, but I do like Christie, any book we choose will be super.

ONE more slot open!!!

We do have a house, on Cape Cod, with a name.
But if this is too off subject, I won't go into detail.
Anyway, if someone comes to the door, and asks for Mrs. D...
I know it is a salesman, because there is no Mrs. D ...
Only the house has that name.

I've read a lot of Anne Perry books, which are enjoyable; but I consider them to be light reading, not meaty enough to be candidates for book groups.

"Housekeeping," a novel by Marilynne Robinson:

"The book though proving to be a challenging read, does make one think. And in discussing it with others, I found not every one agrees about what Robinson is trying to say. Certainly the power of abandonment and its consequences comes through. It is the story's themes and the ambiguity of the ending that makes HOUSEKEEPING a good choice for book discussion groups!"

Ginny, Would choosing an Agatha Christie encroach on Bill's mystery discussions?

"The House of Spirits is probably Allende's most famous and important book. In it, she chronicles the life of a family, as the patriarch grows from a child to an elder, with the world changing all around him while he tries to keep it the same. Through the lenses of the Trueba family, we follow the portion of Chilean history that eventually leads to the 1973 coup. Of course, the author is niece of Salvador Allende, the socialist president democratically elected that was removed from power and killed by Pinochet." Amazon opinion.

"If anyone deserves to be compared to John McPhee, Tracey Kidder does. His non-fiction prose comes closest to McPhee's in engaging the reader and making the most minute detail seem fascinating.

Aside from the pure pleasure of reading, "House" is also a manual for how and how not to build a house. Every time I have a problem in the construction of my house, I think back to the shabby, confrontational way the builders were treated in "House" and approach my builder with that in mind." Reviewer opinion.

This book is non-fiction and House of Spirits is historical fiction.

Both are good reads but totally different from each other.

I truly loved House by Tracy Kidder. I agree that it is a manual on how to have a house designed and built.. It is also entertaining as any novel. Yes, I loved Elspeth Huxley and read all of the books, both about Africa and the later stuff. I knew she had died recently. Women who write about Africa are an interesting bunch. Having a senior moment, but (aha, got it) Beryl Markham wrote some interesting stuff about growing up wild as wild can be in Africa. Interesting woman. I love Christie and have read like Ginny all of her, plus the biographies and the stuff she wrote under another name.

Thank you Horselover, that looks quite intriguing. As you know books that make for good discussions are often prized and I am looking forward now to our discusson as our slate of first time Nominees is officially closed!

Thank you Ann we'll add both of yours, I read House by Tracy Kidder and like Stephanie I really enjoyed it but I could not but come away with a feeling that....well if we discuss this one we'll all weigh in.

Our list of Nominations is now closed and on Monday we'll begin to discuss each carefully with a view to what YOU feel like reading this time, so be ready to stick your OAR in!

Ding Dong.. the slate is closed.. Or possibly the witch.. See ya Monday

I think I'm going to stick with "The House of the Seven Gables." I've always liked Hawthorne. With recurring themes like hyprocrisy, witchcraft, murder and betrayal what a "lively" discussion we could have. Besides that sentence on the back of the book: "Moreover, it is based on the tradition of a curse pronounced on the author's own family" intrigues me.

I hope that at some point we can read all the books that were picked and also what was on your earlier list, but for now my vote would be for "The House of the Seven Gables."

I'm working on having a thought tomorrow on each and every one of them, Ginny.

Yes, Scrawler, one can hardly go wrong with "hypocrisy, witchcraft, murder and betrayal." Plenty of that less the witchcraft, substitute the evil of human greed, in Poe. Good old standby themes.

Kleo

Scrawler and Kleo,

I am very excited about "The House of Seven Gables." We can't go wrong with Nathaniel Hawthorne.

I feel apprehensive about "House" by Tracy Kidder. How in the world will I ever understand the way a house is constructed???

I am really happy to see other Agatha Christie fans. Would love to see what a discussion of her work is like with a group. I can remeber the day I turned 13 and rushed to the Public library to take out my first "Adult Books". One of them was "Ten Little Indians" by Christy. I was mesmerized and read under the quilt with my flashlight to complete the book. And I still remember what I thought : "How did she do that?". After reading many of her works I still feel that there is not an excess word to be found in her books. The villages she writes about are every neighborhood in every land peopled by our neighbors who are not always what they seem to be.I think her basic tenet of tearing away our illusions as the book progresses is the reason she is the most read author in the world.

Judy

We visited The House of the Seven Gables, also known as the Turner-Ingersoll Mansion, in Salem, Massachusetts. It was built in 1668, and is the oldest surviving 17th century wooden mansion in New England. It's a real place that inspired Hawthorne to write his novel.

Here's a picture: http://www.7gables.org/

Marni, that's interesting to know NH to write by a "real" place. Thank you for the link. That's a good link too.

What an interesting link! I love visiting historical homes like that. Makes me want to read the book. I'm going to look at all the books this morning at BN after the dentist and return this aft with which ones have my interest up.

We visited the Seven Gables many years ago. Salem is an interesting town indeed. Hats.. That is what is so magical about House. He makes you see what is happening in words. Absolutely the neatest book. I love Agatha and would glad reread her. Must confess that I read Seven Gables but it is not a favorite of mine. Hawthorne always used 10 words when 1 would do.

Stephanie, now I get it! I bet "House" is a "neat" book. I have always liked books picked by Ann. Ann picked "The Cornflake House" too.

I thought about the "House" by Tracy Kidder last night. I am feeling really excited about that one.

I remember reading an Agatha Christie on my way from Phila. to Tn. I had just gotten married. While Bill drove, I read. I can't remember the title. I don't think Agatha Christie ever wrote a "bad" plotted book. She really had a talent. She wrote so many books too.

I liked "Scarlet Letter." I would never try to read "The House of Seven Gables" by myself. At the beginning, it looks pretty difficult. That's why I am glad the group chose it. I will need all the help available.

A bright good morning to you, some changes in the ballot above and this morning we'll start talking about the books nominated here.

Thank you Scrawler!

Thank you Hats, we were posting together, what excitement here.

Of course we all support our own cause/ book!! But just like the ancient Romans, our task here now is to talk up ALL of the selections pro and con and then Jane has the ballot ready now, we'll all vote on May 1. May Day. There will be no second place choices, so whoever gets the most votes wins.

We need to remove this one time the Fall of the House of Usher, Kleo, as it's felt that that might conflict with the September Matthew Pearl offering. Certainly any person can read it themselves on their own or as augmentation of that discussion and certainly we can offer it again in this series in the future but here in the Books we try to work together with other discussions, and not cause a conflict. I hope you don't mind if we pull that one for this ONE vote. I appreciate your understanding apparently in September we'll be drowning happily in Poe, and that may spawn and entire Poe series too.

So that leaves us the ballot in the heading which has a duplicate I'm told and which I need to fix now.

So let's begin to "stick our own oars" in.

First off, I did NOT know that the House of the Seven Gables was a REAL house! That seems to offer the opportunity for some in depth extra research or knowledge or discussion as well. Of course Hawthorne is one of the best, so you can't lose with him, and yet for some reason I'd like to try something a bit more challenging.

I liked Hat's remark on Tracy Kidder's House, too. That's the very kind of thing we want here. No you won't learn about home building if we read House, it's non fiction, but you will learn about ….what? What would those of you who have read it say? Am I the only one who came away loathing the owners and feeling sorry for their pretensions? That's a real house, what happened to THEM? Fascinating book which we could chew on forever, I'd like to read, IT, too.

I would like to read Brideshead Revisited , my own nomination, because it seems to be on layers. It's not a new book. It's an easy story to read, but there's something running under it. Like a shark under the ocean. I could never figure it out. I never knew what it was saying, where it was leaning and what it meant.

It's simple enough: an outsider returns during the WW (is it I or II?) to a place he had come to know through an old college chum. He'd gone home with him over holiday and gotten involved with the family. It says something about the British upper class, viewed from the POV of an outsider, which of course we ALL are also, and their way of life but it touches on religion too and a lot of other stuff, it's really quite stunning. I had hope that with the sharpness of our SeniorNet readers, I MIGHT just come away this time understanding it, so I would like to try. It's an easy read, but very deep as they used to say, and very controversial. I don't know what he's saying beyond a great story, but you have the nagging feeling he's saying SOMETHING elusive. And there IS a great movie, too.

I think all the books nominated look great and I think any one of them would make a very satisfying read. I have never heard of Housekeeping but I've also never read ANY Allende, that's not good either: so all of them offer up good potential.

We need to get up now summaries of plots and I'll do that tomorrow, in the heading, which YOU have supplied here to compare.

Now the Cather and the Goddens canNOT fail to be but perfect experiences. It's been a long time since I read Cather (OR Godden) and so there's no way we could be disappointed in any of the three, but it depends on what we're wanting NOW to read, what sort of book do you think we'd most like, or experience?

I'd like something with depth (all of the nominees have that apparently) that we can enjoy and get our teeth into. Is there any particular subject or plot you think you'd like to explore?

Christie would be fun, and maybe somewhat of a surprise, and there are several film treatments we might enjoy comparing. I'm going to say no this time to the Milne, I love Milne but not this time for my own self.

The Bangs might be intriguing, actually. I think this is a good slate.

What sort of book, if you could just sketch out your perfect first experience here, would you like to see us read and then maybe we can match the plot desires to the actual titles?

It's spring. This is a Low Key Book Club. I would like for my own self a good satisfying read. Something that holds my interest, a good story line, enjoyable. If possible something with some depth or originality of thought we can all chew on, something we can DISCUSS, while being good at the same time. Tall order? Or does it fit all the books here?

Ginny, and everyone,

I hope it's ok to be perfectly frank and I don't want anyone to be offended if I don't choose their offering. If they are, it's going to intimidate me to ever do this again.

I'd be really upset if that happened. (and btw- I don't mind if people don't care for the one I nominated).

There are a few that I have little to no interest in reading at this time. These are HOUSE AT POOH CORNER , MY HOUSE IN UMBRIA, HOUSE and HOUSE OF SEVEN GABLES. In order, here are my reasons- not in the right mood, saw the movie recently, not interested, and looks too dull, heard too many negative things. Had it on my shelf for years and just couldn't get interested. That link piqued my interest but I dunno.

Here are the ones I am giving a maybe to- IN THIS HOUSE OF BREDE and HOUSEKEEPING. Why only maybes here? I recently bought both HOUSE OF BREDEand CHINA COURT. I tried the former and couldn't get into it, but maybe with the group it'd be different. I read part of GILEAD recently and didn't care for it so I'm shying away from HOUSEKEEPING by the same author. Maybe I shouldn't be, but that's my story.

The following I could get excited about BRIDESHEAD, PROFESSOR'S HOUSE, CHINA COURT, HOUSE OF SPIRITS. I gave my reasons already for PH. For BRIDESHEAD, it's something I've long wanted to try. CHINA COURT- just bought it, looks good. HOUSE OF SPIRITS I read in the past few years and thought it was exceptional.

Agatha Christie I'm just not sure how that would be as a discussion book, but I'd be willing to try-maybe. ;)I would have said yes to Poe, but he's off the list. The Kendrick one I couldn't find anything about so I just don't know enough to say yeah, nay, maybe. Sorry.

I'm off to the dentist and then BN. I'm going to try to hold each of these books and glance through. If my mind changes on anything radically, I'll post.

At the end of the day, whatever is chosen, I'll have to decide if it's for me or not. With Don Quixote, Trollope and a f2f book I have to draw the line somewhere.

Scootz, that is just EXACTLY what we're hoping for here, and certainly no person will be offended if you don't like their particular pick as you say at this particular time. We didn't write these books.

Your post was perfect, just what I hoped for, and I hope to hear many many more, we've got a few days before we vote for the final ones and we'll vote on the full slate of 12 on May Day!

Anybody notice anything different about the heading illustration? Thank you Patwest!!! hahahaa

Good thoughts here already this morning, now we're ready for more, lovely discussion.

Come give us YOUR opinions, on what you'd like to read THIS TIME and why!!!

Ginny,

The post written by Scootz really helped me out. I would like to make a new assessment, if it's alright. First, I need to go think for awhile and come back. This is a very serious and fun undertaking. Scootz, thank you for giving an example.

Ok, as promised, I did look at all the books that they had on the list and changed my mind a bit on two- SEVEN GABLES didn't look as bad as I thought . I'll bump it up to a maybe.

HOUSEKEEPING I'll bump from a maybe to yes. Ok, my thoughts are in.

Several they didn't have any that really important to me. I always like to see and feel and glance through a possible read. HOUSE, HOUSEBOAT ON THE STYX. I'm going to continue to look for those and see if my mind changes. Guy at BN told me none of the BNs in town have it.

ADDENDUM- meant to add this. I'm somewhat curious about trying an Agatha Christie, even though I'm not sure of it's being a good discussion type book. It might just be fun to "lighten up" a bit and enjoy something not quite so literary. Everyone needs meat, but hey! a dessert now and then is a welcome treat. Also- I am watching the live trial on Court TV of the priest accused of murdering a nun. That has my interest up for MURDER IN THE VICARAGE.

Great, I like the idea of making lists and "bumping" this one up or down, just like Netflix, you bump in the queue this one or that one. I agree, Hats, this is perfect!

Styx, just FYI, is available online in several places, but it MAY be the only one. Has anybody tried to find ONLINE the House of the 7 Gables?

I just finished watching Shall We Dance, the Japanese original with subtitles and it's just precious, loved it, have you all seen it? It's restrained and just super.

Ginny, I saw Shall We Dance? when it was at the theater. Loved it!

Here's HOTSG online....

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/sevengables/

I added an addendum to my post above!

What's new in the heading? I can't see anything.

I love Willa Cather and never read this one, so that is high on my list. Seven Gables is a no for me. Just did not like it at all.. I have never read Allende and she is supposed to be good. I am sort of wishy washy about Brideshead.. Did read it when I was going through a streak of his books. I like House.. nominated and love the Brede book.. She is saying something important about human forgiveness in this book and she made me care about a wide variety of people in a short time. On Agatha, I would rather see a general Agatha discussion since she wrote so much, so well and in such different types of books. No Pooh..did that..Still dont get two of the finals. Need to get a review or something.

Stephanie and Scootz,

I love Willa Cather too. I am familiar with "O Pioneers" and "My Antonia." I am not familiar, at all, with "The Professor's House. I am very excited about that one.

Tracy Kidder's book, House, is not our best choice, IMO.

I have it here, having read it years ago, and looked it over again.
I just read two dozen posts, and someone (Ginny?) said:
"Am I the only one who came away loathing the owners and feeling sorry for their pretensions? ... what happened to them?" Loath, indeed.
This discussion of building a house is not, I suggest, worth our time.
Many of the other nominations are real literature, and this book is not; it's more of a riff on a magazine
article, expanded way too large.
(I did like several other non-house books by Kidder, by the way.)

Mippy,

I meant to make a comment about "House" by Tracy Kidder. It's not speaking to me. I just don't care for the plot. Sorry.

Ginny,

I began reading "Brideshead Revisited" on Amazon. I wanted to keep reading. One page talked about the changes between 1914 and 1923. The war changed the lives of people in dramatic ways. I would like to know about the war, the people and their adjustment to change. Is "Brideshead" the name of the house or the village? You must have told us. I have forgotten. Oh, I am really excited about "Brideshead Revisited."

I really think "Housekeeping" looks interesting too. From what I have read it is a novel mainly about women in a household. I would like to give this one a try.

"Housekeeping is a beautiful novel, not only because of the strength and compassion with which Robinson depicts her female characters, but also because of the enchanting beauty and ambience of her language which is rich in symbolism."

The symbolism would give us a lot to talk about, I think.

Ginny, I wanted to read it BECAUSE of the upcoming September discussion! Good grief, if I thought reading a book in September about Poe would ban him from reading lists until then I would never consider reading that book--and I'm betting that author would cringe at the thought. Poe is not a one read then forget him author.

I didn't catch anyone saying anything about the conflict? What post number, please, as I would like to paste my original post in response to that?

Kleo

Frankly, since Kleo has asked this question, I was also puzzled by how reading Poe now would conflict. To me, it would add to my enjoyment of the Pearl book and heighten my enthusiasm and get me ready for Pearl.

I'm honestly asking here because I don't understand how it "conflicts" and I'd like to know so I don't make a conflict myself in future when recommending books to read. It's totally contrary to my personal train of thought in preparing for a read.

It's always tender to pull a nomination, what happened was because we Discussion Leaders in the Books try to present our discussions in teamwork which compliment each other I asked the two Discussion Leaders involved with leading Poe books if they felt a conflict might ensue if we discussed the Fall of the House of Usher in a SeniorNet Book discussion, and the reply was yes. I should have thought of that before it went on the ballot, to check. Nobody is saying people can't read it, either for pure pleasure or in preparation for our September Event with Matthew Pearl.

Since I don't want to be a spoiler for this unique experience in September, I thought/ think it best that we here not discuss The Fall of the House of Usher in advance of a discussion which is going to take UP Poe in depth with an author in September? It might ruin the experience in a couple of ways?

Nobody is saying you can't read it or should not read it, if you like, but we think to DISCUSS it might be a conflict and so that's why I need withdraw it?

We have 12 others which are superior and I like to try to work WITH the other Discussion Leaders here who have taken so much time and effort to procure for our Readers the very best experience available anywhere?

I hope this makes sense? We work here as a team, all of us. A collaboration, and a good one. We're about to HAVE a major Poe experience we will never forget in September. Surely taking off this one book from that super list above will not prove overwhelming? At least I hope not. I understand what you both are saying but since I have never read Matthew Pearl I have no idea of knowing what's in store and so need to comply with the instincts and request of those preparing that treat for all of us. I hope this makes sense. There is no post you can view, Kleo.

Hats, and Mippy on House, that's the reason that I think we might actually enjoy discussing it. I wonder for instance if there is any current press on it? That is, did they see themselves as the rest of us (or some of us) saw them? I have always wondered about that. Or did they think that they were just wanting the sun room here and the XXX there? I've never built a house. In fact we've never put so much as an addition on one. I don't know how it feels to get to do that, is everybody like them? And what IS the problem anyway with them? Why do so many people dislike them?

If they do. I think it would be a super read.

But as Mippy so wisely says, it's NOT "literature," either but an expanded article.

I agree Stephanie, I'd love to try the Cather, I can't remember the last time I read her. And Hats, Housekeeping does look good, have any of you had a chance to read a few lines of it? I'm going to B&N on Friday and will see if I can read it.

Stephanie, Brideshead (Hats, it's the house, don't you all see a lot of symbolism in that one?) anyway, I'm so glad you are really enjoying it, I've been afraid to pick it up, in fear the memory exceeds the experience now. But Stephanie, it's SO different from his others? I can't even get thru his others for some reason.

Scootz I love your addendum and I have a feeling if we started a Christie we might have to read them all, I'm steeped in Christie at the moment, watching a DVD of Miss Marple (with the incomperable Joan Hickson) and listening to tape.

(We have a very exciting thing about to debut, by the way, in the Book Exchange, regarding the lending of CD's in which we can share our audio CD's, watch for developments there!)

OK I'm going to find the Allende if I can on Friday and the Housekeeping and the Cather, those three sound like something I'd like to start reading, just to see how it flows. I was disappointed in the powerful Pulitzer Prize winning Mambo Kings, so it might be good to at least read a few lines and I like what Hats is doing, reading a few online.

I've asked somebody to make links to the posts of those nominating each book in the heading so we can each learn a bit more about that particular book.

What do the rest of you think about the different choices?? (We've never done a Christie series, actually, but it's a good idea, I like that.

But my next project is Tennyson. Eveyr line is a glory, we must read Tennyson, we have so many different experiences and backgrounds here, it will be like a United Nations of perspectives, we must read Tennyson and enjoy every word.

Ginny, I would love to read Tennyson. Is that coming soon?

Me, too, Hats, we need to MAKE it come soon, we need to schedule it, maybe for...I dunno, October or November??

Out flew the web and floated wide;
The mirror crack'd from side to side;
"The curse is come upon me," cried
The Lady of Shalott.

Now you KNOW what this is about. I could discuss THESE 4 lines forever. Here she is wanting to look at life fully for once instead of through a glass (literally) darkly. This speaks to women, aging, choices, I love this poem. We must read this. Maybe we should resurrect the old Women in Literature series, I think the last thing we did was The Yellow Wallpaper, also available on the Internet like Shalott.

It speaks to the Red Hat Society and a lot more, we must read this poem.

Could the Tennyson replace the Poe???? Those four lines just make my blood flow. I love that poem too. Although, I have no idea what it's really about.

Not this time in this "House" series, our ballot is set but Tennyson I think really deserves a Proposed of his own, and we'll get one up for the Fall (don't you? think he does deserve a slate all his own?)

The way our Proposed discussions work they are like voting anyway, if 3 or more people don't say, oh I'd love to read that with you then the entire discussion does not happen. I love the Lady of Shallot, I may read some Tennyson in preparation, after all, that's a very short poem, we may want more than one. Deems can advise us on what other one to read.

You know people used to read Tennyson religiously I wonder when that stopped. I personally see nothing wrong with sing song rhyme and we can discuss THAT too.

OH ULYSSES!!!!!!!!!! OH boy, just thinking of Tennyson makes the fall look inviting, let's do it!

Ginny,

I'm looking forward to it. Tennyson is a stand alone, his own slate.

Thanks Ginny and yes, I do believe I understand what you're saying.

is there a group hgere at SN that does a mystery group discussion? I know Bill does the classic ones, but I mean more mainstream mysteries.

Thanks, Scootz, not recently on the Mystery Series. We have had a couple in the past, but nothing recently. It's a good idea, tho.

I agree, Hats, I think he does deserve a slate of his own, I am thinking this could be another Yellow Wallpaper, that one broke every record we've ever had in a lot of ways. I wonder why he's not read much any more?

I mean LAYERS of meaning, not to even GET to Camelot!

Ginny,

This is going to be soooo exciting. I hope everybody joins in. The more posts the better. We will have a Tennyson party.

I just loved The Lady of Shalott! Loreena McKennitt recorded a very beautiful Celtic song version of the story of the Lady of Shalott on her album The Visit. Click on the link below and scroll down to find this song. You can listen to a bit of it.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000002LT2/102-9007052-9660942?v=glance&n=5174

Isn't "Fall of the House of Usher" a short story?

-----------------------

Speaking of houses, I read in today's newspaper that the Edith Wharton foundation has bought Wharton's library back for her house, The Mount. They will be asking people to "adopt" a book to pay for this.

Okay! Here are some of my other choices, if Seven Gables is not selected:

Brideshead Revisited In the House of Bride My House in Umbria A House-Boat on the Styx House of Spirits.

The others although excellant choices I feel don't have enough "meat" in them for a discussion.

I don't want to kick a dead horse here, but why specifically can't we read Poe? Are they planning on discussing the House of Usher in their discussion? I would think that discussing Poe here would help generate interest in their own discussion. I hope I have not offended anyone by my continuation of this subject, but I really want to know.

Thanks, Scrawler, we've always said we could discuss a phone book here but I agree that some books do have more meat than others, we probably need a very "meaty" dish: for our first go round, that's a good point. And still have fun, too. I want this to be fun and low key and real reactions to what's in the story from all the different perspectives, and I'm hoping people will bring in extra stuff for our edification too.

I appreciate your position on the Poe but I truly have said pretty much all I have to say and know? And so I really have nothing to add, I've explained it to the best of my ability? It's possible that discussing Poe here might add to interest in the next discussion, that's a good point, that's how we get up interest anyway. We can talk about anything we like here at any time, and raise interest. I have all of Poe's works, I may go read it just for the heck of it. hahaah But discussing it here formally I think might be something we might want to hold off on.

IF after the Matthew Pearl discussion we do our Quarterly House read, and it was not read during that discussion we can certainly nominate it again, it's not like it's going to fall off the earth or something if WE here don't discuss it right now? I do understand your point of view.

Marni, that is so interesting, they are asking people to "adopt" a book? Maybe we on SeniorNet, that is SeniorNet Books needs to "adopt" a book, how does that work??

What interesting things come up in this discussion! Me, too, Hats, I have a good feeling about Tennyson.

Actually, he's alive and well. He makes an appearance in A House-Boat on the Styx. He must have been pleasantly surprised when he reached the other side, to find himself in such distinguished company, and soon trading wit and wisdom with all the other distinguished lights from mankind's storied past. What a wonderful, clubby thing these shades have going on their houseboat. I dare say that Tennyson might never have written his gloomy In Memoriam if he had first read A House-Boat on the Styx.

We're invited to put in our 'oar', in this new 'House' series . It seems to me the Bangs book is the only one that provides the proper ambience

Some might feel that this is too light a read for a serious discussion. The best that can be said for it is that it leaves one with a nice warm feeling about looking into the distant future. About meeting all one's favorite people from days gone by. Homer, Vergil, Dante, they all had it wrong. We do get a second chance. Queen Elizabeth I, for example, proves herself just as gracious as Sir Walter Raleigh, when she saves him from drowning in the Styx, by throwing him her ruff. She obviously owed him one.

I can see a difficulty for us with this book. It obviously requires a classical background, for the reader to catch all the subtle allusions to the personal hang-ups and idiosyncrasies of guys like Socrates, Xanthippes, Nero, and yes, Homer and Shakespeare, and many more.

Bangs' chief appeal for me, at first anyways, was the attractive look his eight matched volumes in fading green and gold had about them. They're an interior decorator's dream. I'll never understand the unmistakable look of surprise on the bookseller's face when he realized he had a buyer for them. While I never again hope to get so much bang for my bucks. But now I'm taking a page from his books.

I wonder if it is a book that Evelyn Waugh could have enjoyed. I'm sure he must have enjoyed Tennyson. Trollope, I believe, was a favorite author. Wasn't it Waugh who made such a thing about what Americans did with the afterlife?

I'm thinking if you "adopt" a book, you pay to take care of it. That would be the money used to buy back and maintain the books of Wharton's library to be kept in The Mount.

What a great discussion! Houseboat on the Styx by Bangs sounds so interesting - I'm going to look for a copy for myself whether or not it wins. My personal vote goes - ten times over - to Housekeeping. I read it years ago, then saw the motion picture which kept very well to the story. I re-read it last year and enjoyed it all over again! Gilead was not nearly as good I thought. It didn't give one the same feeling of presence that Housekeeping did and that is a very important factor for me. Housekeeping just resonated like crazy. I can still see the drowned train!! As for House of Seven Gables - had to read it in high school and hated it then. No idea how I'd feel about it now but am not anxious to find out. About the Poe - I thought it was a short story!

JoanRoberts, I agree.

Jonathan, I really love "Houseboat on the Styx." This is what I discovered about it.

" There is no central theme, and the purpose of the book appears to be as a literary thought experiment to see what would happen if various famous dead people were put in the same room with each other. Each chapter is a short story featuring various souls from history and mythology."

I am sure not to know much about all these famous historical and mythological people. Ginny, I know, will not let a name go pass without explanation. I do really want to read this one.

Jonathan, you are SUCH a hoot with the puns!! Hhahaha Love that about only one book fits the "oar" ambiance@ hahaha Actually the "put your oar in," is an EF Bensonism, may as well try to be literate hahahaa.

Welcome Joan, the Bangs looks particularly good today, doesn't it? As each person says their own reasons, I sway back and forth: that's EXACTLY what we hoped for: that we look at every book on the slate!

Jonathan, Wasn't it Waugh who made such a thing about what Americans did with the afterlife?

WAS he? That might be very interesting to talk about considering the theme of Brideshead. I had heard (I know NOTHING about Waugh, absolutely NOTHING, except that I can't read his other books) that he was an atheist or struggled against Catholicism or something or other, but this book shows something else, it's quite… quite different and worthwhile and intriguing, actually. Assuming you can figure out what's being SAID?

Joan, what's your position on Brideshead or House by Tracy Kidder? How about the Cather?

And now YOU are for Housekeeping, and you do make it sound interesting, there was a MOVIE, too? Have never heard of it! Who was in it? Was it recently? Called Housekeeping??!!?/ Inquiring minds want to know!

Drowned TRAIN?? Hmmm that does sound interesting!

I agree, Hats, they all look good now and it appears that Joan was right, actually. Here's my

Poe, it's my father's old leather edition, (part of a set Jonathan, one of two actually, the other is a complete O Henry, suitably aged and worn) dated 1927. (I never knew he lived in Bethlehem PA!)

Anyway, The Fall of the House of Usher starts on the very bottom, I'd say the bottom 1/10th of page 273 and concludes on page 286, so it's barely 13 pages long. I think I'll read it tonight, as I said, I love Poe.

Joan, the Styx is available in several places online if you'd like to read it and I have a feeling 7 Gables is, too.

Hats, ho ho, we'll ALL share the looking up if we choose Styx, I'm absolutely no help with Xenephon or any Greek! Such an intriguing plot, don't you think? It's been done before, in antiquity as Jonathan references, apparently without the happy result? THAT might make an interesting point of view in the discussion too!

Jonathan how can you REMEMBER Tennyson was there? Did you look that UP? I can barely remember it but I do remember thinking how clever it was, (and they say all plot lines have been done...well...er...actually>..... hahaa)

Marni I forgot to say, will you find out what cost is involved?? I think that would be super, will they put our name in the book?!?

I'll check the Wharton info - if I can find it anything about it on the web!!! It didn't say in the paper.

I found more about the "adopt a book" Wharton project on the web. (It doesn't say anything about names in the books, though - I'll keep hunting.) Looks like the money from the "adoptions" goes to maintaining Wharton’s home and gardens, not the library.

"Edith Wharton’s estate buys her library Admirers of author encouraged to ‘adopt a book’

LENOX, Mass. - The personal library of Edith Wharton, the aristocratic novelist and confidant of Henry James, has been purchased from a British bookseller by her estate for $2.6 million.

The 2,600-volume library includes a first edition of “Alice in Wonderland” with pages worn by Wharton’s fingers as a child, and works with personal inscriptions from James and Theodore Roosevelt.

“Nothing informs us more of the extraordinary genius of this woman than these books,” said Stephanie Copeland, director of the Mount, Wharton’s estate and 48-acre gardens in Lenox. “What they will bring to Wharton scholarship is beyond value.”

A benefactor who wants to remain anonymous financed the purchase Monday from George Ramsden, a British bookseller who has cared for the collection since 1984, Copeland said.

The Mount hopes to use the acquisition as a fundraising tool by encouraging admirers to “adopt a book” for fees ranging from $1,000 to $1 million. Proceeds will help restore Wharton’s home and gardens.

The most expensive book up for adoption will be Wharton’s copy of “The Decoration of Houses,” her first published work. Others include James’ “The Golden Bowl,” with an inscription by the author that reads, “To Edith Wharton — in sympathy.”

There is also a copy of Roosevelt’s “America and the World War,” in which he wrote, “To Edith Wharton from an American-American.” Roosevelt gave Wharton the book in Paris, when she hosted a party to raise support for France during World War I.

The books will be displayed in Wharton’s original library, where the shelves are currently empty. The collection will be on public display when the Mount opens for the season in May.

Wharton, whose best-known work is “Ethan Frome,” died in France in 1937.

© 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed."

Here's the official The Mount site with info about the library. You can contact them to ask questions.

http://www.edithwharton.org/about/4.php?record=23

HO! Thank you, Marni, I think they just priced themselves way out of my range! 1,000 to a million? For that they should put SeniorNet Books in gold on the wall! hahahaa

Thank you for following thru on that, but you know how it is: one door closes, another opens. Maybe we should adopt something or somebody else.

about this project ..so I am not sure what to say . I would love to discuss Agatha Christie It has been years since I read one of her books but recall I wanted to read them all. I have years of good books read and not one was ever discussed with another reader. One good friend I met while we were living in France in trailers without phones etc and our husbands flying everywhere we did manage to read the same book( we had to take turns since the small base library offered a limited number of books and only one of each title) I have no idea which books we read or discussed..since none became part of my library ..but would love to revisit some I did read. And I am sure Agatha Christie's books would ring bells for me.. anna

I still need to look up Housekeeping.. Houseboat for me is out.. The theme is not anything I like. There are at least several books that fantasy authors have done on this theme over the years. Found that it did not suit my literal mind at all. Housekeeping sounds neat from here, but I want to look at some of it and will try Amazon. I have had new houses built, large additions put on and an entire kitchen redone. The last one cured me of ever wanting to have anything done ever again. I spent 8 weeks with no water except in the bathroom.. and no stove except for an electric hot plate. Never ever again, so possibly I had more sympathy for the couple than others might. Frustrating indeed is the building of a house, that you have one mental picture of and your architect has quite another.

Well, I'm disappointed about the Poe, as I think it would have also been an excellent tie-in with the just-finished discussion on RLS's Jekyll and Hyde and lead-in to the Poe discussion in September, only part of which Ginny mentioned in her behind the scenes discussion. This lack of transparency at SeniorNet causes problems in my opinion.

I don't think that reading one Christie will make us read them all, although it's guaranteed to make us want to. Any good author has that impact: you read one great book of theirs (and SeniorNet discussions tend to make great books) and you want to devour all of theirs. That's a nonstarter: not discussing an author because you'll want to read all of theirs.

Still, the problem remains: too many good books, not enough time to read and discuss all. I'm interested in most of the books up above except for the book on building a house, but there are a couple I have to look up.

Kleo

For heaven's sake, don't get serious about A House-Boat on the Styx. What would there be to discuss? We'd be through it in two days. Let me give you an excerpt. Charon, that ancient ferryman who, for millenia has been conveying humanity from shore to shore on that dark river that divides our two worlds - this Charon has now allowed himself to be hired on as 'Janitor' of this new craft on the river - imagine it to be a more lavish version of the charming houseboat at the top of this page.

' "How are you, Charon?" said Shakespeare, as the Janitor assisted him on board. "Anyone here tonight?"

"Yes, sir," said Charon. "Lord Bacon is up in the library, and Doctor Johnson is down in the billiard room, playing pool with Nero."

"Ha-ha!" laughed Shakespeare. "Pool, eh? Does Nero play pool?"

"Not as well as he does the fiddle, sir," said the Janitor, with a twinkle in his eye.

Shakespeare entered the house and tossed up an obolus. "Heads - Bacon; tails - pool with Nero and Johnson," he said.

The coin came down with heads up, and Shakespeare went into the pool-room, just to show the Fates that he didn't care a tuppence for their verdict as registered through the obolus. It was a peculiar custom of Shakespeare's to toss up a coin to decide questions of little consequences, and then do the thing the coin decided he should not do. It showed, in Shakespeare's estimation, his entire independence of those dull persons who supposed that in them was centered the destiny of all mankind. The Fates, however, only smiled at these little acts of rebellion, and it was common gossip in Erebus that one of the trio had told the Furies that they had observed Shakespeare's tendency to kick over the traces, and always acted accordingly. They never let the coin fall so as to decide a question the way they wanted it, so that unwittingly the great dramatist did their will after all. It was a part of their plan that upon this occasion Shakespeare should play pool with Doctor Johnson and the Emperor Nero, and hence it was that the coin bade him repair to the library and chat with Lord Bacon.'

There you have it. What is there to talk about? Aside from some speculation about the theoretical aspects of Shakespeare's 'inspiration', and the revelation that Shakespeare, too, was a plaything of he gods, what could possibly keep us going to see how it ends?

I kind of lean towards Brideshead Revisited. Waugh bared his soul with this one. And his fantasies are far more sophisticated than Bangs'. Proportionally greater, in all respects, as the the magnificent country place Brideshead in its isolated valley is greater than the Houseboat on the Styx.

Anna, welcome, welcome! We are very glad to have you here. I also, like you, have never had the chance to discuss a Christie with anyone else, it might be super, I'm certainly enjoying her in the car!

Kleo I agree with you about this one SeniorNet discussions tend to make great books That's so true!

This one tho That's a nonstarter: not discussing an author because you'll want to read all of theirs. Oh no, that's not understood well, nobody is saying they'd not vote for a Christie because then we'd have to read or discuss them all, people are saying they might just want to do that if we did. There's nothing wrong with that idea, either: why not read them all? Or that's the way I understood it, anyway.

Sorry that did not seem clear, you're right: that idea is a total non starter.

Stephanie, ouch, 8 weeks, that would make me move to Aruba or something ahhahaa. No water. That reminds me of an uncle and aunt my parents would send me to visit every summer. Here's this city kid, from Philadelphia PA, on a farm in SC with no running water (there WAS water, it was in a well, no joke with an old oaken bucket whose crank handle would take your arm off if you were not careful) and no bathrooms, just chamber pots and outhouses. I am not sure if it was good for me or not. Ahahaha But I did learn a lot about good people. And slopping hogs.

I agree with you, too, I want to look more into Housekeeping.

Jonathan, Oh I dunno…. I like of like the premise of Styx, actually. It might be fun if we don't choose it to do something LIKE it in the Book Nook. You know, people your own Boat on the Styx with your own literary characters and see how you would have them react? I love the premise. I think there might be a LOT of possibilities there.

I am half afraid TO read Brideshead again but I think it would be worth our while, this is a super group!

Oh interesting thoughts there, Jonathan, Waugh baring his soul? And "his fantasies are more sophisticated?" I like THAT!

I went to bed really early last night, about 8:30, and read the Fall of the House of Usher as I said I would, and at first the similarity TO Brideshead really jumped out at me. Of course Poe is Poe and it was magnificent and you'd really have to do a lot of looking up of stuff on that one but of course as it went on (I was startled to find myself having to DRAG my eyes up and looking up on page 83 (it only goes as noted earlier to page 86 , 13 pages, took about 20 minutes ) this little voice kept saying, "oh this is THE one, THIS IS IT!, This is THE one, " and I kept saying no it isn't. and this voice said "It is, it IS! "And by gum it WAS.

This one was the story that gave me serial nightmares when I was younger (and spawned several Horror Tales on that TV show around the time of the Twilight Zone, too). But the funniest thing was of course again it scared me to death, even knowing Poe's background, and so in order to go to sleep, I put on the silliest movie I could find, the Bollywood Bride and Prejudice which is just so awful but it's happy and colorful and musical and I'm glad I DID, because you'll laugh at me, but right in the middle of the wedding scene dance (which is right at the beginning so it had just started) came a fierce KNOCKING, BANGING a real POUNDING on the door leading to the terrace which is right off the bedroom!

I tell you what? I think I elevated up 10 feet out of that bed. I guess the Bollywood didn't do me THAT much good, hahaa can't imagine what would have happened had I been still reading the Poe, (haha if you know this story you'll know why) but it was somebody looking for his lost cow for heaven's sake.

Whew. Ahahaa IF we do do Brideshead, we might want to consider for our next quarterly turn, the Poe Fall of the House of Usher, they have a LOT in common, I think. Or do they? We could discuss that and see? The parallels? Should the September discussion not take THAT particular Poe up? We'd be up on Poe then as a group anyway, having prepared for the October discussion by the September Matthew Pearl: something to consider when we start our next ballot in the fall.

Novels and I think one would suffice I know when I just googled there were a number I have read but not all I feel sure And over 1 Billion Christie books have been sold world wide,..Funny though I devided the books into Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple I am not sure when I read them years ago I just looked for the characters instead of recognizing the author Now isnt that odd but I read these books a long time ago and I feel I didnt say Oh there is another by Agatha but Oh there is another Poirot mystery etc..

I am not sure I read Brideshead but I do know I read Evelyn Waugh Every summer until I was 16 I read 3 books a day ..every day ..it was my thing to do ..walk to the ,.;library and bring home 3 books ..And if I didnt finish them by lights out I recall very clearly holding the book outside one of my windows and reading by moonlight My mother would have had a fit had she known !

Ginny I no longer recall which spooky books I read but I know I scared myself several times. Once the family left to visit friends on a summer eve and I elected to stay home..Whichever book I was reading I became spooked It was almost twilight all the doors and windows open , none locked I finally left the house and stayed at the next door neighbors until my family came home..now you are telling me if could happen again>????AUGH

anna

annafair--good thing I didn't have to rely on moonlight--my bedroom was pointed the wrong way. I used a flashlight under the covers.

:I love this bit of Tennyson: Tho' much is taken, much abides; and tho' We are not now that strength which in the old days Moved earth and heaven; that which we are, we are; One equal-temper of heroic hearts, Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.

Re: Housekeeping – it was published in 1980 and is now considered a modern classic. Such a long span before Robinson’s next novel, Gilead! A review in the NYTImes of Housekeeping said “ So precise, so distilled, so beautiful that one doesn’t want to miss any pleasure it might yield.” Doris Lessing said “ – this is not a novel to be hurried through, for every sentence is a delight” I guess I rest my case!!!

I haven't really figured out this "post" process. I typed the Tennyson poem in lines as the poem is supposed to be, but it shows up in the post as all of a piece. Wha' happen??

Oh, the movie Housekeeping came out in 1987. I think Christine Lahti was in it.

Scary.. Silence of the lambs ( the book, refused to see the movie), caused me many many sleepless nights when it came out. Red Dragon was just as bad. That is an author if you like being scared to death.

joan roberts: To make a line go to the next line, as in poetry, you'll need to add a line break. That's done by typing <BR> at the end of the line. The next word will then go to the following line.

The other choice is to double space between lines.

jane

Side Note: Since we were discussing Agatha Christie I thought you might be interested in something I came across while researching:

"Dorothy Sayers and Agatha Christie are famous for lamenting how tired they were of their respective successful creations (Lord Peter Wimsey in the first case, Herucle Poirot in the second). Nevertheless, in the interests of capitalism, both mistresses of the mystery endured their fatigue and carried their heroes on to further triumphs. On the other hand, Dame Agatha loved her Miss Jane Marple and bitterly resented M. Poirot's claim as prima donna, with readers, of the Christie canon." ~"How to Write Mysteries"

Jane:

Thank you for the tip. Mystery piles upon mystery when I confront the computer!
Joan R

Will we be voting on just one title? I need to start whittling down my choices- it's gonna be hard.

Ginny-I too loved the Japanese movie "Shall We Dance" It's a classy movie and well worth seeing.

No one answered you about the change on the Houseboat. I think it's the books hanging out to dry. Did they fall in the water? Who threw them overboard? Or perhaps they're for sale and the Houseboat sells books? Let me know what lies behind this.

The quote from Tennyson included the words "The Mirror Cracked" which is the title of another of Agatha Christies mysteries. She was versed in the classics but kept her settings simple and her people complex. A discussion of her work would be a first for me. To discuss Ms Christie with other readers like the people here would be a unique experience.

My other choice would be Brideshead Revisited. It is a book I have wanted to read for a long time and this would give me the push to do that.

By the way ,I was being facetious with "The House at Pooh Corner". It is a Childrens book and a very charming one but I doubt that it would make a good discussion.

Judy

Wheeeew ... Judy ~
What a relief! I thought I'd have to get out my Pooh in Latin to go along with House at Pooh Corner ...
And Ginny is not fond of that ...

I also think Brideshead would be a wonderful choice; I've read it as well as other books by Waugh, and seen the PBS series, years ago.
Do we have to vote for the one we nominated? One or two choices?

Now that Latin class is winding down, I'm planning to spend more time in these groups on Books!

Excuse me, I've just found this site, don't know how I missed it, is it too late to nominate? Folly, by Laurie King, is about a 60 smothing woman who decides to rebuild the burned shell of her uncle's cabin on an un-tenanted island in the waters off Seattle. I've read this book many times, but, alas, it doesn't have "house" in the title.

Housekeeping

BY ROGER EBERT / January 22, 1988

Cast & CreditsSylvie: Christine Lahti Ruth: Sara Walker Lucille: Andrea Burchill Aunt Lily: Anne Pitoniak Aunt Nona: Barbara Reese

In a land where the people are narrow and suspicious, where do they draw the line between madness and sweetness? Between those who are unable to conform to society's norm and those who simply choose not to, because their dreamy private world is more alluring? That is one of the many questions asked, and not exactly answered, in Bill Forsyth's "Housekeeping," which is one of the strangest and best films of the year.

The movie, set some 30 or 40 years ago in the Pacific Northwest, tells the story of two young girls who are taken on a sudden and puzzling motor trip by their mother to visit a relative. Soon after they arrive, their mother commits suicide and the girls are left to be raised by elderly relatives. A few years later, their mother's sister, their Aunt Sylvie, arrives to look after them.

Sylvie, who is played by Christine Lahti as a mixture of bemusement and wry reflection, is not an ordinary person. She likes to sit in the dusk so much that she never turns the lights on. She likes to go for long, meandering walks. She collects enormous piles of newspapers and hundreds of tin cans - carefully washing off their labels and then polishing them and arranging them in gleaming pyramids.

She is nice to everyone and generally seems cheerful, but there is an enchantment about her that some people find suspicious.

Indeed, even her two young nieces are divided. One finds her "funny," and the other loves her. Eventually the two sisters will take separate paths in life because they differ about Sylvie. At first, when they are younger, she simply represents reality to them. As they grow older and begin to attend high school, however, one of the girls wants to be "popular" and resents having a weird aunt at home, while the other girl draws herself into Sylvie's dream.

The townspeople are not evil, merely conventional and "concerned." Parties of church ladies visit to see if they can "help." The sheriff eventually gets involved. But "Housekeeping" is not a realistic movie, not one of those disease-of-the-week docudramas with a tidy solution. It is funnier, more offbeat, and too enchanting to ever qualify on those terms.

And although there are times when Sylvie seems to be indifferent to her nieces, she never seems not to love them.

Forsyth, the director, has surrounded that love with some extraordinary images, which help to create the magical feeling of the film. The action takes place in a house near a lake that is crossed by a majestic, forbidding railroad bridge. It is a local legend that one night decades ago, a passenger train slipped ever so lazily off the line and plunged down, down, into the icy waters of the frozen lake. The notion of the passengers in their warm, well-lit carriages, plunging down to their final destination, is one that Forsyth somehow turns from a tragedy into a notion of doomed beauty. And the bridge becomes important at several moments in the film, especially the last one.

The location where the film was shot (British Columbia) and the production design by Adrienne Atkinson are also evocative. It is important that the action takes place in a small, isolated community, in a place cut off from the world where whimsies can flourish and private notions can survive. At the end of the film, I was quietly astonished. I had seen a film that could perhaps be decribed as being about a madwoman, but I had seen a character who seemed closer to a mystic, or a saint.

This, of course, is a review of the movie, and it does not do justice to the book, But I still also remember the movie which I saw many years ago.

The movie sounds lovely and if the book is as good, it would be well worth discussing. I am always drawn to people who live in their own world and do not connect with most other.. No idea why

Wonderful wonderful, am on my way out of town and will respond more fully when I get in tonight, just to say so you can all be thinking:

Only ONE VOTE!

Yes one vote takes all, no 2nd place votes, no run off, just one vote. If there's a tie we'll deal with it, but ONE vote!

Welcome Mrs. Sherlock, it's too late for THIS ballot and it does need House for THIS series in the title but what an interesting BOOK! Have never heard of it!

Lots more to say to your wondeful posts but, like the white rabbit, am late.

Wonderful background, Horselover, many thanks, more anon...............

Ginny,

Have a safe trip. That's going to be hard, one vote. It's not too hard to do. I can pick one book.

I'm going to pick up the B&N edition of Poe's stories in prep for the Pearl book- but does anyone know of a good Poe biography?

Scootz

,Googling Poe brings up many articles on him. I've read the articles but not the full biography. From the articles I gleaned that the biography by Daniel Hoffman,written in 1973 is the most recommended one. However there are two or three earlier works by different authors that you might prefer.

Judy.

Judy, Thanks so much! I googled it too and seemed to just get a bunch of online 'bios". I'll have a look for the Hoffman one this weekend.

Scootz,

Check Barnes and Noble online for Poe biographies. I am not sure about the best one. It is difficult to say what is the best source for finding the truth about Poe. There was much that was fabricated about him while he was alive. My best recommendation would have to be read more than one source on Poe.

A couple of years ago my husband and I along with Ginger our SeniorNet friend visited the Poe Museum in Richmond, VA.. We were there attending a SeniorNet Gathering. I had always wanted to visit the place. So we did that. It was very interesting.

I sometimes wonder if the mystery surrounding Poe's life is one of the reasons that Poe is such a fascinating character to most people. Of course he was a wonderful writer but that does not usually fascinate the numbers of people that Poe does.

Folks, I would still like to read Brideshead Revisited

Joan Grimes

Joan grimes, Thanks for that info and I will check B&N online, as well as go there today. ( I have connections at my local B&N!

)

Honestly, I had no idea there WAS a mystery about his life so it will all be new information to me. if that's true, I imagine it will be difficult to know the real truth definitively. I haven't read him since high school, so that's 40 years ago now. Wow!

I am going out of town tomorrow and will be back on MOnday afternoon, but just in case.. I vote my single vote( sob) for the Willa Cather book.. That one was hard.

Thank you all for this wonderful discussion on the different books and (GASP!) Monday IS the DAY! We'll open the voting Monday morning, May Day, and see where the chips fall.

Scootz, yeah and things are so different now but I was pleased to see in my own case that Poe has not lost one iota of interest for me anyway.

Earlier in the week I took my list to the local B&N but was extremely disappointed to find only one and I'll talk about that one (Trollope which I very much like) in the Book Nook, but yesterday I hit paydirt in a new B&N in Greenville SC which had ALL of the contenders that I wanted to view for myself: the Cather, the Christie (which I have at home) the Robinson, and the Allende.

Now here are my OWN thoughts on each of the books I did NOT have at home, and again we're just talking what we prefer at this particular moment in time.

The Professor's Wife looks stunning. It's not a big book but it's stunning. I could not put it down, and I can see why Willa Cather is such a name in literature. It's another Brideshead Revisited, on that level. I got embarrassed at standing there reading it, so brought it home with me. That one gets read, regardless.

The Allende, quite different, also quite electric. It's amazing how different books are written in the same language, I also could not put IT down so home it came with me, but it's entirely different.

Not so with the Housekeeping. For one thing it was in hardback tho I think there IS a paperback version but the language, quite simplistic, was startling after the Cather, and the subject matter initially did not appeal to me. I couldn't get in it. It may have been that the contrast in authors was to its disadvantage: I should have started WITH the Housekeeping and then moved over to the others, but unfortunately, I was in the C's when I started. It may be that I was just not in the mood, you know how that goes, but it did not appeal yesterday, tomorrow it may be the book that changed my life.

However the reviews on the cover nearly burned a hole in my hand and I am sure WHATEVER we choose will be a wonderful read!

Stephanie, I have not been able to sit thru that movie either, and I did think I might get thru The Shining, because I have seen the actual lodge and loved the book, but about 1/200th of a minute into it when whoever was at the sink turned and that voice took over, I was gone: no fast forward, just off. Haahha In fact I have never been able to get thru the Godfather with the horse head in the bed. I know people who to this day can't take a shower with the door unlocked because of Janet Leigh's experience, what movie was that? hahahaa I never saw that one either.

A really really good spooky movie which came from a book is the one with Bette Davis and the house which regenerates itself when people in it die. Does that ring a bell with anybody? It was an excellent book. The shingles actually improve, it's ghoulish but very effective. They try to drive out and can't?

Another REALLY frightening movie to me was the remake of the Invasion of the Body Snatchers. I loved that movie and the scene at the end on the sidewalk where they ALMOST have made it through the crowd and then one of the "creatures" in human form on the sidewalk turns and points and does that particular high pitched sort of gasping shriek, I think, should be in the all time movie Hall of Fame, that thing just really riveted me. The book is good, too.

Joan G, what a neat thing to visit the museum, and we had a very nice lunch at another Poe reference you discovered on the Isle of Palms, too. That was so fun. You seem to have a nose for Poe! Did Poe (I don't know enough about Poe to ask a question except that he had a morbid fear of being buried alive) live in Virginia?

Thank you for the Tennyson, Joan Roberts, and for how to put it up, Jane. That's from Ulysses, isn't it? Love that. Who does not love Tennyson? But WHO has read him recently? WE must read Tennyson~!! In November, maybe that very one in addition to the Lady of Shallot!

Scrawler, that's interesting about Agatha Christie and her characters. We know that Arthur Conan Doyle hated Sherlock Holmes, really hated him, and killed him off only to resurrect him at his own mother's wish! I have also read in several places that Christie loathed all the portrayals of Miss Marple except Joan Hickson's which she so loved that she wrote Hickson a letter which Hickson revealed in one of those after program interviews on PBS) that she was going to write something FOR Hickson, but she died before she did.

Christie absolutely hated Margaret Rutherford's Marple and most of the others. I like Hickson's portrayal too, have any of you seen the new one? It's starring the woman who played Lucia in the Mapp and Lucia series, I am wondering if it's any good.

I think the bit that Christie wrote about trying to shop for Leisure and Travel wear when you are older and a plus size in the opening pages of Come, Tell Me How You Live, is a classic piece of writing. You can't help but love the woman, and SHE also had a bit of mystery about HER life. Interesting interesting person.

Judy, I just keep thinking about Shall We Dance? I may need to watch it again, it's truly a classic, I think. I don't want to see the Richard Gere remake.

Mippy, no we'll vote for only one and it does not have to be what we personally recommended, maybe as we have gone along here we have changed our minds or something else looks equally good. A lot depends on what interests us today.

I agree, Hats, it's hard to pick just one! But for me, none of them equal what I remember of Brideshead, but we know what memory makes of US!

Thank you Horselover for that description of the movie! Should the group vote to do a book which has a movie attached to it, we'll take one extra week at the end and dish about the movie, too, and how well it portrays the book or what the filmmaking art ads to the experience, I think several of those nominated, Brideshead, Housekeeping, In This House of Brede, My House in Umbria, and the Christie have movies attached. (Are there any more?)

This is great and just what I hoped for, great discussion. Any last thoughts before Monday's vote?

Yes, I have my vote narrowed down to two. :)I'm not telling which two.

Ginny, I see there are only about a gazillion Poe bios. This oughta be fun narrowing THAT list down. I may just do some short story reading first.

Good grief!! You mentioned Trollope. Does this mean you're reading the Trollope, too? I'd adore talking to you about it if so. I'm 500 pages in- 300 more to go and hoping to wrap it up this week. My interest hasn't waned at all and that's saying something for me with an 800 page book. I will try his Barchester series one of thse days, but not right away after this tome.

The movie with the shower scene is Psycho. Are you maybe confusing the Shining with Exorcist?? Can't recall a scene like the one you mentioned in The Shining. This was the scariest book (not movie) that I ever read. It's the only time I ever recall closing up a book and not reading at again till I wasn't alone in the house. I saw just a smidge of The Exorcist and immediately knew that wasn't for me. Way too scary!!

Did anyone ever watch the Twilight Zone growing up? or Thriller with Boris Karloff? I recall watching with my Mom growing up. Dad would be away, and we'd both have to go out together to walk the dog before bed!!! LOL

Joan Grimes Forgot to say that I'd love to visit that Poe house. I need to search it out online and see what it's all about. I've always loved museums like that.

Poe was stationed at Fortress Monroe which is what is was called when first built The only fort with a moat It is near where I live and I wish I could recall just what he did but it seems he helped with the planning etc of the fort. I have been there many times and could go back today and never be bored Custer was stationed there, Lincoln visited there< Jefferson Davis was incarcerated there and in fact my poem about it is in the archives so any studying him will find it and can dismiss or use it.

Near to the Fort was the Chamberlain Hotel where Poe gave readings of his poetry. It would seem he was a handsome gentleman and much admirded by the ladies who came to his readings.

Sadly the Military Command there is closing and what happens to the area which is so beatiful and lovely right on the Chesapeake Bay is up for discussion, It is the hope of many it will be kept as a National Park and not turned into a developement that precludes people other than the owners a chance to see its beauty. The only advantage to me is the Command is moving to within 5 miles of where I live.

And Poe's mysteries scared me when I was young and his poetry gave me a life long interest in the same.

Ginny you asked LOL anna

I thought "Poe and Fanny" by John May was an excellant novel. I tend to steer clear of biographies because they are written with a slant to them. I find I can get a clearer picture of someone from fictional stories about them and era that they come from. I usually read several books about the same person or period of time to get a clear look at how they may have lived. Biographies are good as long as you can verify the facts with other sorces.

Scrawler,

I have been wanting to read "Poe and Franny." Not hearing anyone talk about it I didn't know what to think about it. I am glad you liked it. I will put it on my next library list.

Dont know if it is still there, but Richmond, Va. had a house that Poe lived in as a child..Saw it years and years ago,, in the mid 70's, so it may be gone. At that time the War Museum was still in the southern white house.. Which I also visited. All downtown.

Doesn't Poe also have a house in Philadelphia? Maybe I'm wrong.

JoanG, after the Books getogether at Isle of Palms you posted some great pictures of the Poe Tavern. Maybe you could post a couple here?

It's going to be hard to narrow the choice to ONE title tomorrow. I'm kinda with Stephanie on The Professor's House, but would also like to read Housekeeping (I liked Gilead), maybe Brideshead Revisited, and I always like Agatha Christie. Doesn't everyone?

JoanG, after the Books getogether at Isle of Palms you posted some great pictures of the Poe Tavern. Maybe you could post a couple here

I second that request!

It's turning out there are more books I am interested in both reading and discussing than I would care for there to be. I would like fewer choices in the future (whether I'm partially to blame for there being so many or not). I'm not really certain I can pick just one from Cather or Waugh or Christie. I'm rather into the early to mid-twentieth century right now and they all have good points for reading. Cather's a guaranteed great read, great discussion, but Waugh's got some serious points on his behalf that could top Cather, and there's something about that Dame that is too compelling.

Anyone who strongly wants to read one of these above any other book on the list should feel free to sway my vote in their direction.

Kleo

Anyone who strongly wants to read one of these above any other book on the list should feel free to sway my vote in their direction.

Oh no you don't, kleo. You're gonna hafta pick one just like everyone else! Far be it from us to sway you- never, not at all, no way, unh uh.

Annafair- Poe's poems have immense horrer.It is less obvious than in the stories but more insidious and long lasting. In gets into your mind and even into your bones. Remember in the Raven:

Prophet!,said I, thing of evil!-prophetstill- if bird or devil-

Whether Tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore,

Desolate yet all undaunted, on this desert land enchanted-

On this home by Horror haunted-.............

And in Annabell Lee: And so, all the nighttide,I lie down by the side

Of my darling,my darling, my life and my bride

In her sepulchre,there by the sea

In her tomb there by the sea.

Chilling!

Judy

Poe's poems have the tendency to crawl subcutaneously, making you at first wonder if they're really there, those thoughts created, and by the time you realize they're really there....

"Less obvious but more insidious" sounds about right, but the best part of Poe's short stories aren't necessarily the obvious horror, but the rather that Poe is addressing the essence of human beings in his stories, not just one incident.

I'm still not sure I really can, Scootz. Pick one, that is.

Kleo

About Poe's stories- did anyone see the films with Vincent Price in them on Poe stories? I recall Ligeia and Masque of the Red Death- really weird!

I know it'll be hard, kleo but you can do it!! LOL

Wasn't Vincent Price in "The Fall of the House of Usher", too?

I was in my early teens when I first started to read his poems and since I was the only girl in a family of five boys I had a lot of alone time. His poems were great for reading by myself out loud and I found them very appealing to that young girl .There was rhythm and anguish and we know that teens appreciate the first and cherish the last. I read them so much I can still quote from memory some of the words from Annabel Lee ( which appealed because my name was Anna) and The Bells and my seventh grade teacher gave us extra credit if we could recite a poem And his stories were also the type that teenagers loved..creepy and scary....I was always glad home was full of people ..made me brave! anna

Ginny,

I am going to strive very hard to make my vote count. What does that mean??? Anyway, we always say it during a presidential election or some political election. In other words, I am taking this moment very seriously. Ooooooh, I really want the best winner to win. I feel like my mind is a compass. My brain is pointing in four different directions. Ginny, I am also having fun.

I remember seeing "The House of Ushers" as a young girl. We went to the Esquire Theatre on Olney Ave. When I left that movie, I felt too scared to go upstairs to my bedroom. My friends had the same reaction. We got more than paid for that day. I can still see that woman in a coffin, alive, trying to get out. I hope this is not a spoiler.

I have read "Tell tale Heart." That's not as spooky. Of course, I have read it more than once. Maybe rereading a Poe story helps to scatter the demons of fear.

The Cask of Amonadillo scared the daylights out of me too. I think these are the only ones I have been brave enough to read.

hahaah What a super discussion, I've loved every minute of it, and now as Hats says, it's time to make YOUR vote count! If you don't cast it, it will not count, so don't miss your chance.

YES, it's Election Day. Jane will announce the winner on May 4, Thursday morning and we can all get the book in lots of time for our starting date, May 15.

Should the book we select have a movie version, we'll discuss THAT, too, in the 5th week.

So without further ado....heeeere's the Ballot!

Vote for one and let the best man (or in this case the best book for our first read) win!

Did my "boat vote" or "house vote" or whatever- it's done!

annafair- Those poems we had to learn by memory really tend to stay with us, don't they?

I was interested in your saying you read them aloud. I always read poetry aloud or else I can't understand it or get the rhythm down. recently read Edna St. Vincent Millay's bio (SAVAGE BEAUTY) and reading her poetry aloud really helped me understand it. Now there's some poetry!

marni- I didn't see the Usher one, but bet Price was in it, too. Seems there was a whole series. Guess I need to look for those too before we do the book. I'm gonna be bu-sy!! LOL

Scootz,

How did you like "Savage Beauty?" I love Edna St. Vincent Millay's poetry. Have you been over to Anna's Poetry Corner? Last month we enjoyed Mary Oliver's poetry. This month Gwen Brooks is the poet.

Hi Anna!

Hats, I was crazy over SAVAGE BEAUTY. I even ordered video of Edna and her family at Steeplechase, their estate. Now that was wild! looking at actual footage of her and her family after reading the book. She had quite a life.

No, I haven't been to the Poetry Corner. I need to branch out here at SN though. I'd like to get involved in some other boards that are not reading -related, tho. Is there a good cooking board here? I have looked at the boards at other times and found many that aren't very active. As you can tell, I like an active, happenin' board!! LOL otherwise, what's the point?

Scootz,

There is a cooking board. Once you make a comment everybody will join in. I will have to read "Savage Beauty." I am glad you enjoyed it.

I just voted. It was very helpful having the Header with the "posts" to review each book before voting. Thanks!!

-------------------------

Hats: "The Tell-Tale Heart" was one of my very favorite Poe stories, too! So creepy! There was another one I really liked and I can't think of the name of it. It was about someone who was being tortured during the Inquisition. There was a huge pen.....Oh, I have it - "The Pit and the Pendulum." Did you read that one? I'm going to have to find that.

Well, I thought long and hard about it and just cast but vote, but I'm pretty sure I want to change my mind. How can I do that?

Kleo

You can click on it again, it will recognize you and show you your former vote and you can change it. You have until May 3, late in the day here on the East Coast.

Hi Marni,

I haven't read "The Pit and Pendulum. Thanks for recommending a story title. I like the title. When I read it, I will make sure it's in the daytime.

Hats- Day or Night -If you read Poe-Prepare for a fright!

I too read Savage Beauty. Not because I am a great fan of her poetry, but for the simple question:"What kind of person would write that kind of poetry?" Poetesses seem to lead extroadinary lives. Edna St.Vincent Millay was no exception.

Well, can't put it off any longer,have to vote-so here goes.

Judy

Does anybody read Dorothy Parker anymore?

Yep. I am. I'm reading Marion Meade's Dorothy Parker: What Fresh Hell Is This. I dug it up after watching the movie some time ago. The Algonquin round table crowd. DP's charming/bitter lyrics just blow me away.

If I had a shiny gun,
I could have a world of fun
Speeding bullets through the brains
Of the folks who give me pains;

Or had I some poison gas,
I could make the moments pass
Bumping off a number of
People whom I do not love.

But I have no lethal weapon -
Thus does Fate our pleasure step on!
So they still are quick and well
Who should be, by rights, in hell.

Dorothy Parker and the roundtable are old favorites of mine. Loved her writing.. The short story.."The Big Blonde" is a wonderful small segment of life. She did seem to live a very very unhappy life though. At least she seemed to have thought so.

I've always fantasized about being a fly on the wall at the roundtable.

Shot Thru the Heart. We read that book, hahahaa.

Was she the one who was so bitter? In our current day and time that really takes you aback, but when she wrote it, it was not common for people to simply shoot up post offices or schools, or people they did not care for. She might make an interesting study, she and her Round Table at the Algonquin. I had a friend who insisted on staying at the Algonquin once, it's old and creaky in the elevators but a nice wood panelled lounge (full of pretentious people when I was there) where apparently the literati met, were they all as jaded and bitter as she was? The elevator operator greets you by name, that's a nice touch, he must have quite a mind, when you think about it.

Or is she bitter?

The House vote is going splendidly, two horses have pulled ahead and are running neck n neck. At midnight Eastern time Wednesday night who ever sticks his neck our furthest will win! Stay tuned for Jane's announcement of da WINNAH Thursday morning.

(WE can't lose no matter what is chosen).

Super start for our new series, I am going to really enjoy this!

Jonathan, I worry about you sometimes. Lovely poem, especially for warm, spring day.

Yikes! Is right!

Well I guess that is an appropiate remark for that poem of DP's but I have always liked her poetry . She struck me as very independent lady at a time when women werent. She is sassy and holding her own among the gentlemen and I always said HURRAH for her. Growing up with five brothers and the only girl I found I had to be sassy and independent ..AND it works well, as we grew to adulthood I found they respected my opinions and we always have and still have with the remaining two a very good relationship . They learned NEVER to talk down to me! anna

Oh, I should like to ride the seas,
A roaring buccaneer;
A cutlass hanging at my knees,
A dirk behind my ear.
And when my captive's chains would clank
I'd howl with glee and drink,
And then fling out the quivering plank
And watch the beggars sink.

I'd like to straddle gory decks,
And dig in laden sands,
And know the feel of throbbing necks
Between my knotted hands.
Oh, I should like to strut and curse
Among my blackguard crew....

But she was, alas, thank God, never given the chance, so she sorrowfully concludes

But I am writing little verse,
As little ladies do.

Mrs Parker never did want a house of her own, did she?

Oh, that one's a riot!

Gosh, that reminds me of the Rafael Sabatini novels like Captain Blood and The Seahawk. I really got into those last year when I got Captain Blood for a present. They are really fun! And Scaramouche!

Anyone ever read any of them?

You know Jonathan for the mood you're in, DP would say:

Candy is dandy

But liquor is quicker.

Judy

Yes, Ginny, I can guess what the front-runners are, the small assortment (it's even expanded by one) that I'm gnawing over. Whatever is picked will be fine by me, I'm along for the ride.

Kleo

Hi

There is only one book that qualified for the title book with House in the title and that is "Bleak House" by Charles Dickens It is a book that one can go back to time and time again. Full of interesting characters, with a twist in the end. What more could you ask for!!! Nancy

I read TALE OF TWO CITIES in high school. Don't recall much besides the ending but I know I enjoyed it. Had a great English teacher that year, too.

After 40 years plus, last year I read GREAT EXPECTATIONS and enjoyed it immensely. Then, on to DAVID COPPERFIELD which I slogged through to the middle and stopped.

I've heard such great things about BLEAK HOUSE, and I have it, but it's going to be a while before I do Dickens again. I'm looking forward to it, though.

I would think any one our age has been exposed to Dickens I have several of his books David Copperfield being one..And Oliver Twist another and I have read each several times over the years but each time I found Dickens a man of MANY words ...His detailed descriptions always drove me wild..I dont know which book it was in but I know his minute description of a vest on one of the characters always made me want to say I DONT CARE ABOUT ALL THOSE GRAVY SPOTS AND OTHER FOOD DROPPED AND STAINED that vest. If we do a Dickens I will try again but like Scootz I most likely will SLOG through and stop.....now I am waiting WHAT BOOK WILL IT BE? anna

I also love Bleak House. It's in my favorite three of Dickens.
However, I'm not trying to influence anyone's vote, just posting and chatting ...

Annafair,

So glad to hear that I'm not the only one that gets impatient with oh-so-wordy authors. A friend of mine at B&N tells me that many of these writers were paid by the page/chapter/installment so there you are! At least they have an excuse. However, present day writers who do this I just won't read any more. Case in point- Elizabeth George is a mystery writer I used to like. But her books have become so dang long (and unnecessarily so in my view) that I won't read her any more. Ditto to P.D. James and Martha Grimes. Less is more, oftentimes, and I just don't have patience with it.

Now, otoh, the Trollope I'm reading is 800 pages- but things are happening all the time and there's little description. Mostly, the characters' dialogue moves the plot along. Now that's my kinda writer!

BTW- BLEAK HOUSE isn't even nominated here so we can all breathe easy for now. But that said, I do want to read it since I hear that DC is one that many people don't like, so I'm in good company.

Clock's tickin'- which book will it be???

Welcome, NancyMc!! Any book with the word House in the title or which title itself has the NAME of a house (we're loose here hahaha) is eligible. We are so glad to have you!

Bleak House is 900 pages or so and the only Guideline we have is that the book be able to be discussed comfortably in a month, we don't think we can read that thing much less discuss it in a month but the Great Books folks nearly voted it in last time, they had something like 3 tied ballots, so I expect it's high on their list for the next read ! Welcome! I love Dickens, too!

Anna I agree I loved David Copperfield, and I personally love all of Dickens's seques.

Lovely conversations here, two of the front runners have been running neck and neck and this morning one suddenly pulled away, and is leading by 3 votes. What will the tally be at midnight tonight? We'll find out in the morning, winner takes all.

What fun this discussion is, what lovely new points raised.

Scootz I am glad to see somebody else talk about Elizabeth George, isn't she the one with the Professor of Egyptology or something? I don't know WHAT it is (if that's the right one ) but I simply canNOT read her, precious, twee, just too too. Have I got the right author?

I dunno, I'm not in the mood for Dorothy Parker, there is so much cynicism and jadedness in the world already, who needs more? But what would her supporters say?

??

I wonder how much the events of 9/11 have influenced our reading tastes, that's an idle wonder.

Anyway, Nancy, pull up a chair, Bleak House is not on this ballot, but we're glad to have you anyway!

"Mostly, the characters' dialogue moves the plot along." Scootz

Oh, I can't stand long books that are full of dialogue and require dialogue to move the plot along. My least favorite type of book ever. It's a good thing there are so many writers out there.

Kleo

Mostly, the characters' dialogue moves the plot along." Scootz

Oh, I can't stand long books that are full of dialogue and require dialogue to move the plot along. My least favorite type of book ever. It's a good thing there are so many writers out there.

LOL-

kleo, I'm not at all surprised. You and I are very different, I find, in reading tastes- and otherwise. But you know, Trollope is very much like Eliot so I wouldn't write him off (no pun intended) entirely. We both liked MIDDLEMARCH but as to everything else, I don't find our tastes jive at all. (Not that there's anything wrong with that!! LOL)

Aaarrrrgh ... forgot Bleak House wasn't a nomination here...
But, right, Ginny, maybe it will be in Great Books, after DQ finishes his long, long quest !
Please ignore my confusion ...
I guess with Latin class over, my mind has gone into hibernation

Ginny... Elizabeth Peters is the doctorate of Egyptian things.. She writes a funny funny series about Amelia Peabody.. I love it, but it takes all kinds. Elizabeth George writes very very complicated mysteries. I love them and the last one, she killed off my very favorite character, alas. She is good , though

Well, After Tale of Two Cities, I can't read Dickens at all. Trollope is so full of sly humor I gobble it up. Must read The Warden, it is a sort of prequel to Barchester Towers. Wasn't there talk of Neville Shute? Would love to discuss his books, all of them. I also love Kipling's tales. Can read them over and over.

If you folks want a good chuckle read Charles Dickens first book he wrote: "The Pickwick Papers." Dickens satires everything under the sun. Here's an excerpt:

"The high spirited work of a young Dickens, "The Pickwick Papers" is the remarkable first novel that made its author famous and has remained one of the best-known books in the world. In it the inimitable Samuel Pickwick, his well-fed body and unsinkable good spirits clad in tights and gaiters, sallies forth through the noisy streets of London and into the colorful country inns of sparkling encounters with love and misadventure. From the wit of cockney bootback Sam Weller to the unforgettable Fat Boy and rascals like the amorous Mr. Jingle and the Unscrupulous lawyers Dodson and Fogg, "The Pickwick Papers" reels with joyous fantasy, infectious good humor, and a touch of the macabre - a classic work that G. K. Chesterton called "the great example of everything that made Dickens gret...[a] supreme masterpiece." Published 1836.

This is the one to read after one has finished Bleak House.

And that puts me in mind of the close vote, seemingly, in choosing the House we want to discuss. Exit polls seem to indicate two front runners going neck and neck, one of which I feel confident must be A House-Boat On The Styx. To cut a long story short, I'm asking all who have voted for the Styx to recast their votes in favor of their second choice.

When I proposed the Bangs book I wasn't conscious of the fact that I might be proposing another book later in the year for which the Styx story might, in a subsequent discussion, be the perfect antidote to the melancholy theme of the other. You might as well know that you might get the opportunity to read and discuss Philip Roth's newest book, EVERYMAN, the premise of which is that there is absolutely no house in the hereafter, for anyone. No point in deceiving oneself into believing that a mansion of any kind awaits one on other side of the river. Not that Roth expects us all to agree with that, or even that he himself believes it. Judging by what he has said in other books, I'm of the opinion that he talks to his mother in heaven every day.

Be that as it may. If it should come off, and we do discuss his EVERYMAN, A House-Boat On The Styx will make certain that the last laugh will be Bangs's, just as Pickwick was Dickens's first.

Still time to change your minds. So many beautiful Houses to choose from. Can anyone tell me which book has lots of dialogue?

OMG,

Jonathan, if I am reading your post correctly, you are a hoot!! I don't know you all that well, so I'm not sure but I seemed to sense a lot of "tongue in cheek" there. Bravo!

Where is everyone? Which horse won? Will we all go down the River Styx or are we joining Pooh Eyeore and Christopher Ribin. Or maybe meet the vicar, unless he's dead.

Well, as you can see, the wi-fi is working here, but guess I'll remove it before going to get my continental breakfast.

Hope the answer will be here before I have to c=heck out. There's another 400 miles to go.

Hi pedln!

You and I seem to be the only two up early on deck with the seagulls, waiting to see which direction we're going next. I'll take another walk 'round the deck and circle back to see if our cap'n wakes up and clues us all in. I wanna buy the new book this morning after my eye doc appointment, so I'm anxious, too. I take it you're on a road trip? Travel safely!

The WINNER is....
The Professor's House by Willa Cather

All riiiiiiight!!

Can't say I'm surprised (again), was betting between BRIDESHEAD and this one. Ok, great...a chance to reintroduce myself to Cather. I can definitely handle that.

HEY there Pedln from the Road with WiFI! I want you to explain that to me when you get back!

Thank you Jane, and we have a WINNER, then, in The Professor's House by Willa Cather and we'll see you all bright and early on May 15, we'll hustle up a heading and get up a Proposed and see if enough people will join us for a go!

Thank you ALL, what fun this has been and thank you Jane for the vote!

I got up wondering tho PH had led the pack here (but a very satisfying number of votes, I feel we have had a super election). Thank you all!

Oh all rught! Yay. I voted for it, but was sure that either Brideshead or Housekeeping would win.

I know my library has acopy, but will look for a used one at the many used book stores in Cville.

Wanna add another house book to the list -- it all started with Bill and his movies. He liked Spellbound - the Alfred Hitchcock film with Ingrid and "Greogry. It's based on a bok called "The House of Dr. Edwardes" by Francis Breeding.

Now to check out, with a light and happy heart.

Hurray for Cather. Now to quick find a copy.. Amazon had better come through for me.

When will we be taking nominations for the next book? I need to get my own copy, library books don't work well, I have to take them back, can't mark them up, etc. I hope I can stick with this one. My earlier attempts during my retirement and its subsequent move to Oregon were so stressful that I couldn't be consistent in my reading and posting. I've got my routine better under control now.

I'm sure it will turn out to be a great read and a great discusssion. I'm pleased to get an opportunity to get acquainted with Willa Cather. See you all on the 15th.

Jonathan,

Do you mean to say that you've never read Cather? Well, I hadn't either till last year but I adored O! PIONEERS. I am so pleased that you're going to be here, too. I love humor wherever I can find it.

Addendum- last year I saw the PBS show about Cather called The Road Is All". You all might want to check your local listings. I was just looking online for it and this article seems to say it's going to be on next week!!!! again. I don't have a TV Guide for the 10th so don't know but maybe we need to watch for this? You can also order the dvd of th show if you're so inclined. Here's that info:

http://www.pbs.org/previews/american_masters_cather/

Oh goody! Thanks for the link.

Oh double goody, I've never read Cather either, don't know ONE thing about her, thank you so much!

Can't help but learn a lot HERE! (Since I'm starting at Zero!)_ hahahaa I must see that program, let's all peel our eyes for programming on the 10th, thank you Scootz!

Mrs. Sherlock, the House Books are quarterly, so it will be a while before we nominate the next one, I am thinking it will be in the fall, I hope you can join in!

Cather is a new author for me too. See you all on the housboat with The Professors House. Hope the boat is big enough for us all.

Ginny-you never answered me about he books hanging out to dry . Was that what Pat West added to the boat?

judy

The Professor's House is open as a proposed, come on in, state your intention to join us, and say what you'd like.

This is my first Cather, I'm very excited. Come on down!

I'm sorry, yes Pat added the books hung out to dry (not sure why they are wet, should we be worrying?) I loved your thought is there enough room on the Houseboat! hahaha YOU row, I'll sit up and watch for icebergs! hahaha

Icebergs! Ginny, bring your binoculars and I'll bring my camera.

Ice burgs.. Oh how disappointed I was with my first one. I was expecting something as large as our boat and it just was not true. We were on a small boat.. Possibly 200 people, but even then the ice burgs were way way down and sort of puny. But Binoculars.. that way you can see the darndest things in the boats.

I would kill to see an iceberg! Maybe we need to schedule our next in person Books Gathering on a boat and see one! Books on a Boat?

Our figurative "Houseboat" is now getting ready to pull up the gangplank and leave its first discussion, The Professor's House, which was a wonderful experience. As this series reads quarterly, as you think of or hear of a book with "House" in the title or the name of a house (see heading) please bring it here for consideration and final vote in our next discussion which will be in September, plenty of time to be thinking about it: we'll kick Fall off with a bang!

I have enjoyed particularly discussing the various titles submitted as to why you think they might make a good discussion. Often times a book like Cather's The Professor's House, which leaves so much hanging and hinted at but not revealed, makes for a fabulous discussion, and so it was. Many thanks to all who participated!

If you missed The Professor's House, please make a mental note to get on board for the next one in our series with House in the Title!

Well it's quarterly, (we're getting up quite a nice rotation of series) so I'm thinking September, we'll aim for September for our next read.

Ginny,

That's a good idea. I like quarterly. Gives us time to digest the last book.

Reflecting on TPH, again, I was wondering why Cather had written it. From that thought arose the thought of why any novel is written, i.e., did the author need a purge of emotions/situations? Was the novel a sort of fantasy of the author's? (Not talkig Fantasy here.) Its a question I intend to ask myself as I read each new "serious" book in the future. Cather's book is still an enigma to me.

Aha back to houses.. I liked Antonia and others of Cathers more than the Professor. He sort of irritated me.. Very self centered indeed. September. I shall do some looking at Houses again.

I suspect that Cather wrote The Professor's House because she was going through a similar situation in her own life. I think someone said that she had just broken up from a long term relationship. This alone could get one thinking about one's life. In the case of a writer it would probably generate a story. My stories usually come about when two ideas collide. Could Cather's religious ideals have collided with the "modern" 1920s concept of marriage and family?

Hi Ginny, are we still adding books to the "Houseboat" discussion? If so, I would like to add this one.

"Finding Martha's Vineyard-African Americans at Home on An Island" by Jill Nelson.

Martha's Vineyard

Great, thanks, Hats, we'll add it to the Master List, we had anticipated a quarterly read but what with so many excitements and pleasures provided this fall coming up (as EF Benson would say)we may have to stagger it even more. I have one, too, The House vby Teresa Waugh, I love theme reading on Houses!

I'd like to think of some really clever way to do this next one in the series, really really clever. Unfortunately that seems to be failing me. ahahaha Nails and boards, building a house board by board, sort of a living metaphor or something?

Ginny, I know you will come up with some special idea. You never disappoint.

Bless your heart! Right back at 'cha!

Since our first book was fiction from an American author.. could our second be perhaps another country or a non fiction?? We could compare then.

What about different types of houses?

1.Tree house

2.Beach house

3.House boat

4.Castle

5.Catacombs

How many types of houses are there?

Or what about houses in different countries? I think this is what Stephanie said.

Interesting that you mention treehouses. Today's Salem StatesmanJournal reviews a book by Peter Lewis abd T. B. R. Walsh titled Treehouse Chronicles: One Man's Dream of Life Aloft. He..."conceived :the two-story treehouse as an antidote for what he calls 'adult onset adolescence'".

I would like to nominate Folly, the name of an island and its house by Laurie R. King. It is the tale (fiction) of a 60-something woman who retreats to the island and the ruins of the cabin to rebuild both it and her shattered psyche. By herself she labors on this island in the San Juan Islands of Washington State, tearing down the old, burned remnants and creating a new cabin in the woods. My heart just soared as she labored on. Somehow I need to experience vicariously people my age taking on new paths and struggles.

Wow. I love Lauri King and Folly sounds great. I will read it no matter what, but it would be fun to discuss. Years ago, I think it was Janice Holt Giles, who wrote a book about she and her husband buying and redoing a place high in the mountains of the south. Anyone remember it. I know I loved it.

Mrs S - thanks for the mention of Folly- going to have the lib interloan it for me.

~Marj

Great, thank you Stephanie, we'll put that one on the Master List, too, love all the creative ideas here and suggestions!

We're going to be doing a nominating and voting process in January for our next Houseboat read.

I am going to nominate, and we have a commitment, should it win, to discuss, Brideshead Revisited, now out in a 25th Anniversary edition of the splendid BBC 11 part series starring Jeremy Irons and...was it John Gielgud? Or was it Lawrence Olivier??

At any rate that was a fabulous movie and very like the book but the book is even better, in some respects, and IF it wins (and it was runner up last time) I hope that you will join us.

The book is NOT long, but is VERY complicated and profound while telling a whale of a story, and you can enjoy it any way you take it. Just the thing for sitting in front of the fire on a cold winter's night!

In January we'll begin our nomination process, we have had so many good ones nominated in the past, and we'll enjoy discussing the particulars, pro and con of each one. I thought The Professor's House was just a splendid choice and read, and enjoyed it very much, tho I had never heard of it before: the joy of a themed book club!

Hi Ginny,

I am ready for a ride on the Houseboat. I can't wait to see which book will go to bed with me on those cold, dark nights after the holidays.

That experience was profound. Such sustained interest and so many provacative insights have spoiled me for more banal discussions. Hope we can achieve that level again and again.

I might end up looking on from afar. My mind doesn't handle "VERY complicated and profound" books.I am afraid of getting lost. The same goes for "Snow." It might leave snowdust in my face. This is from "frightened hats."

Of course I know Ginny and Jonathan are perfect guides along with all the other posters. The winning selection will give a lot of fun and new thoughts to think about. I am looking forward to the Houseboat ride and the "Snow" discussion too.

Why Jackie, what a beautiful thing to say, thank you. Something to aim for in all discussions. I agree that all of the insights brought to the table in The Professor's House were marvelous. I myself had no idea what the book was about, so I enjoyed every single take on it.

The best book for not knowing what the book is about is The Seven Sisters by Margaret Drabble, there's a book. I hated it the first time we read it here, just hated it. I was still in "I must know what the book MEANS and this one is not clear!! I hate it and I hate the author jerking me around" mode.

I just came back from Cumae in March, thinking I would understand it better after I had been there and rereading the book AGAIN. Wrong! Not only did I not understand it BETTER, I really have to question if she has ever been there herself, her descriptions don't seem to match anything I saw. And I spent half a day there.

The end of her book is up for grabs, nobody knows what she is saying, and nobody can be right. I think I would like to read that one again in concert with the Lady of Shalott, we have now rescheduled Lady for February, a short month where we can happily sit by the fire and discuss that bouncy little poem with a hidden kick.

Like Brideshead and Seven Sisters, the Lady has an undertone, but of what? Of what? There IS a mystery connected with it. That's for us to each decide ourselves: Reader's Choice, the two works are parallel and speak to women everywhere: Seven Sisters speaks to women of a "certain age," and the choices they can make.

Or not make. And I'm not sure the Lady doesn't, either. Are any of us walled off from others? Are any of us still looking for the Knight in White Armor?

And the consequences. I felt "jerked around" by Drabble in the first one, I don't now, bring her on, this sailor is climbing back on the deck.

HO! Man overboard! Or not overboard!>?! hahahaha Hats, you are priceless. Wouldn't you rather spend your time reading something worth it, which you enjoy and really identify with, but which possibly nobody really knows what's being said and enjoying the different takes of each reader as we discuss it, (including your own self, who, if I may say so, always has the most startling and on the mark insights)?

I read Brideshead years ago, what is he SAYING? What does he mean, I see it one way you may see it another, it speaks to each of us differently. I remember thinking clearly I do wish I had somebody to talk to about this thing~! But there's NO book which does it like Seven Sisters, what on earth does she mean by that ending?

??

The joy of a real book discussion, we read, we enjoy, and we get the benefit of a million different perspectives, because we're ALL coming from a different place, literally and figuratively. Something to sink our teeth into!

Ginny, yes, I do love books that aren't straightforward. I don't know what I meant in my last post. Sometimes I write posts and tumble over my tongue. It's a fear that I won't contribute well in a discussion. I am looking forward to all these discussions. More of the cobwebs in my brain will fall away.

Ginny, where is Cumae?

It's in Italy, up the coast a little bit from Naples, on the Bay of Naples. There's a big cave. It's thought of as Greek. It was the earliest and for a long time the most distant Greek settlement in Italy, founded about 750 BC.

It was home to the famous Cumean Sybil, an oracle many sought to tell them the future. Lots of problems with oracles, tho, and this woman in particular, as she had asked once upon a time for eternal life, but failed to specify in what form that might take (just like Pirates of the Carribean I, actually) and so she withered up and hung there in a cage and most of the time the only thing she'd say is I want to die.

The "cave" is still there.

Wow! That's fascinating! What a great trip!

By the way, I also enjoyed "The Professor's House" very, very much. I can still run parts of the discussion through my head.

HATS may be right about getting lost in the snow. There is a lot of it. Pamuk doesn't stint with the white stuff. It's marvellous what he does with it. He's just the greatest storyteller. But what is he trying to say? That makes it interesting to read the remarks that are being made about SNOW in the posts. There have been quite a few, and I sense some hesitation about getting involved with this writer. More is the pity. I like to think that it will be remembered as the jolly snowball discussion.

I don't suppose the nice folks in Chattanooga get to see much snow. Feeling snowflakes on ones face is exhilarating. For sure it will make you blink if you stare into the falling snow.

Jonathan, you are so right. Snow does have its difficulties: driving, scraping the car. When it snows, some people experience cabin fever. Snow also holds a sense of wonder. Snow can make us chidren again. All of a sudden the world becomes a different place, silent and still. Snow leaves us in awe because every single snowflake is a different design. That's a miracle.

What is Orphan Pamuk trying to tell us about "Snow?" Is it a metaphor? If so, for what is it a metaphor? My book is beside me. I can not decide whether to journey alone inside the book. At times, I open it. Then, I close it quickly. I don't want to become lost with snow blowing in my eyes. I might fall down in piles of snow. Who would find me?

Any suggestions? Should I travel alone and start the book? Should I wait until January for you and the others to come along? I am very excited.

Jonathan, you are right. In Chattanooga, I hope for snow. We had the blizzard of 1993. Nothing big since that year. I do remember all of the wonderful snowy days as I grew up in Philadelphia. I bet Ginny can remember those days too. Ginny and I definitely know about snow, not Pamuk's snow but the snow of the north.

Hats: I'm going to be readin g Snow; it is on reserve and my name hasn't come up. I'll also read Brideshead. I'm intrigied by Ginny's comments. Reading Drabble sounds like punishment; I'll pass.

Did anyone see "60 Minutes" tonight? There was an interview with a Congressman from Snowflake, AZ. Snowflake wasn't named after snow, though. The 2 founders of the town were Mormans, one a man whose last name was Snow and the other a man whose last name was Flake! It's true! I got such a chuckle out of that!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snowflake,_Arizona

Mrs. Sherlock, In a discussion you make me dig out my thinking cap. Your posts keep me thinking. I am glad you are going to be in both discussions. Please reconsider Margaret Drabble. Ginny, makes all books chosen worth the time. I bet by the end you might love M. Drabble. I have never read one book by her. I love getting acquainted with authors I don't know especially those authors who stir up our opinions.

Marni, that is so interesting. Now, that is just too hilarious. As the young people would say, "that's cool dude."

Mr. Snow and Mr. Flake should have been put in the Guiness book or Ribley's Believe It or Not museum. That is really something. That's something to talk about(hats laughing).

Hats: I really admire your courage in forging ahead into unknown territory, fiction-wise. I've been trying to follow your lead by not judging before I read. So, Drabble it is. Keep it up, dear Hats. I'll follow.

And I in return will follow you Mrs. Sherlock. I am so happy you have chosen to read Margaret Drabble. We will have fun.

That's the time and spirit! And who knows, one of you may see something I missed, and it may be perfectly clear to YOU and therefore you'll inform us!

Are you reading and discussing a particular book at a particular time, or is each one just reading any "house" book? When you say Willa Cather was the winner, what happened then? I haven't read thru all the postings, obviously, so please indulge me, Ginny.

I haven't had much time for reading the last six months, but hope to improve on that after the new year.

When you vote again in Jan, will you be reading that book together as a group?......jean

Oh I'm so glad to find this post and questions because I could not refind them after I saw them briefly and was going nuts! Love your tagline there about parachutes!

I'm lost as to the process.

Are you reading and discussing a particular book at a particular time, or is each one just reading any "house" book?

We are going to nominate, vote on, and then read a book in a certain month, but it has to be a book for this group, with either House in the title or the name of a house in the title, as this is a Themed Reading Focus

When you say Willa Cather was the winner, what happened then?

We discussed her book The Professor's House for a month and it was a total winner and surprise.

I haven't read thru all the postings, obviously, so please indulge me, Ginny.

What better way to indulge yourself than with a good book or discussion of same? hahaa

I haven't had much time for reading the last six months, but hope to improve on that after the new year.

When you vote again in Jan, will you be reading that book together as a group?......jean

I hope you can soon have the leisure to read again!!

Yes we'll read whatever wins in March. We'll vote on it in January about the end of January because we'll take the entire month of January to discuss the contenders, and DISCUSS IS the word, and then read it in March once people have had time to get it, etc.

I hope you can join in to all the deliberations and discussion before hand and the vote, and THEN the discussion itself, no matter what wins!

Back home from the coach for 10 days and then off again to visit children in the coach for Thanksgiving. Brideshead.. Hmm. I read that way way back, so will have to reread it. Sounds OK..I was surprised in the last discussion to discover that I love Willa Cather, but did not like This one.. Sad..

Stephanie, glad you are back home for awhile.

Ginny: are we to read Brideshead & Seven Sisters? or just one of them. I have Brideshead somewhere in an old foxed Penguin copy with (as I recall), small small print - hopefully I won't be able to find it and will be forced to seek a new one.

Is Jonathan doing Snow at the same time?

And what was it you were saying (somewhere) about the Aeneid? I have the Dryden translation which I've not opened for years and another which I can't find by ? Gilbert Murray perhaps? - My son may have appropriated that one.

While fossicking among my shelves for Virgil I spied my Georgics - the Day-Lewis version which I remember as being much more accessible than others I had tried. SN has much to answer for ...it gets me digging around my shelves in areas long neglected - but seemingly , not forgotten. How grateful I am to have found you.

Ginny, Sorry to plague you unnecessarily -I've just seen your post which explains all. From the recent posts, I thought the decision had already been made...looking forward to the pre-vote during January - the pre-discussion in February - and finally March to read and discuss.

I'm also somewhat relieved as my schedule is pretty hectic from here on for a few months.

GUM!! THERE you are, welcome! Yes we'll vote in January for a march read, it may be Brideshead it may not, yesterday in the mail came my new set of the 25th Anniversary DVD's of Brideshead with lots of outtakes and interviews and background stuff, I can't WAIT, we can lend out those, too, if we should decide on it or people can try them for free on Netflix!

Or their local library.

Yes! Then in February we'll read The Lady followed by SEven Sisters in April and hopefully (I hope I myself am not messing these up! hahaha) in May we MAY (we MAY in MAY) hahaah begin the Aeneid, or we may not, we'll see how the interest is. Loved that fossicking! hahaaha

This is beautiful: SN has much to answer for ...it gets me digging around my shelves in areas long neglected - but seemingly , not forgotten. How grateful I am to have found you.

I tell you what, we're grateful to have found YOU!

YAY for all of us!

Ginny, may we read "Brideshead Revisited?" Mrs. Sherlock gives a wonderful report about the book.

We'll certainly add it to the slate for voting in January!

I saw her great report and I share her enthusiasm, I have the same volume she does, wonderful thing, but right now I'm sailing off with the filmmaker's art.

Where can I find Mrs. Sherlock's post about Brideshead? I think I've checked all the Nooks and crannies where it might have appeared.

Ginny, when you begin to have misgivings about a book journey, I get excited. We can't allow ourselves to be intimidated by all the literary criticism...

Let's just go for the human story in that grand old place.

Irons and Andrewes could have changed roles for all I care, but don't even think of anyone else playing Julie. I fell in love with her. And her story...

Jonathan...the only post that comes up when I search for MrsSherlock and Brideshead is:

MrsSherlock, "---Houseboat" #268, 5 Nov 2006 7:16 pm

Jonathan: I was in the Books into Movies discussion; Ginny had been waxing ecstatically over the DVD and I piped up with my appreciation of the book. Wrong place, but I forgot where I was.

I should have known to look in Books into Movies.

Thanks, Jane. I remember reading MrsSherlock's Nov 5 post in Houseboat, but Hats' post seemed to suggest more than just the mention of Brideshead in that post.

It certainly looks like BH has turned into a classic. I had often heard or seen it mentioned, but only read it a year or so ago. Of course, prior to coming to SN, I very seldom read any fiction. I'm hooked. And you can imagine what fun I'm having, mostly laughing at what these writers dream up.

But SNOW. Now that's one serious book. But it feels very comfortable holding it.

Ginny, Just in case "Brideshead Revisited" by Evelyn Waugh is chosen for our next boat book, I have gotten the book. I have looked in the book. After the prologue, Book I begins. To begin Book I there is a sentence or quote. The quote or sentence is in Latin, I think. I would love to have this one phrase translated. Thank you.

Hats, you can't go wrong reading it, here's a bit on Et In Arcadia Ego, several different background theories, (always a red flag!), depending on the source you use. It's supposedly from Vergil's Aeneid, but it's somewhat difficult to pin down the actual Book or lines, *see below for Arcadia in Vergil attributed to the Eclogues!* .

The first line in the book (and the movie) is: Et in Arcadia Ego, here's one application:

"ET IN ARCADIA EGO "

or "The Arcadian shepherds", by Nicolas Poussin, in which as you can see one person points to the engraving on the stone as Et in Arcadia Ego.

Here's a wonderful explanation of what that all means, from Classical Arcadia, Arcadian Ideal and the meaning of the "Et in Arcadia Ego"

Arcadia: A region of ancient Greece in the central Peloponnesus. Its inhabitants, somewhat isolated from the rest of the world, proverbially lived a simple, pastoral life. Any region offering rural simplicity and contentment. The term Arcadia is used to refer to an imaginary and paradisal place…

Parallel to the literary vogue of pastoral there existed in this period a rich pictorial tradition, paintings and prints representing shepherds and shepherdesses in a bucolic or idyllic setting of forests and hills. In the seventeenth century, the French painter Nicolas Poussin (1594-1665) used this pictorial tradition to paint one of his most famous canvasses, known as "The Arcadian shepherds" or as "ET IN ARCADIA EGO" (1647). This painting represents four Arcadians, in a meditative and melancholy mood, symmetrically arranged on either side of a tomb. One of the shepherds kneels on the ground and reads the inscription on the tomb: ET IN ARCADIA EGO, which can be translated either as "And I [= death] too (am) in Arcadia" or as "I [= the person in the tomb] also used to live in Arcadia." The second shepherd seems to discuss the inscription with a lovely girl standing near him. The third shepherd stands pensively aside.

From Poussin's painting, Arcadia now takes on the tinges of a melancholic contemplation about death itself, about the fact that our happiness in this world is very transitory and evanescent. Even when we feel that we have discovered a place where peace and gentle joy reign, we must remember that it will end, and that all will vanish.

There's more here Arcadia and what the narrator means by it, whether halcyion or forboding, I guess would be something for the reader to figure out. I bet somewhere there is a reader's guide to Brideshead!!! I'd love to see one, if we do decide to read it we really must have somebody with a background in Catholicism with us, or people willing to look up what might be meant by some of the character's actions, it's really ironic, quite a bit of it. There is a LOT to discuss!

Thank you for the painting by Poussin and all the other information. You've got me going now. I might just read a chapter, a sneak preview. I have read a little of Jonathan and your posts in the Book and Movie section. I am really interested in learning about the Catholic background too.

Isn't that fascinating? There is a painting named ET IN ARCADIA EGO. I love this part from your above paragraphs.

"From Poussin's painting, Arcadia now takes on the tinges of a melancholic contemplation about death itself, about the fact that our happiness in this world is very transitory and evanescent. Even when we feel that we have discovered a place where peace and gentle joy reign, we must remember that it will end, and that all will vanish."

That paragraph alone is so rich. Are you sure one month would allow us enough time to gather all of the meaningful material in this one book? I have my fingers crossed for "Brideshead Revisited" to come out as the winning horse.

Good heavens, in looking up Et in Arcadia Ego I found all sorts of stuff, one authoritative LOOKING site from the Priory of Sion, golly, and another huge thing in Wikipedia (truthiness in action) which tells all sorts of bizarre connections with this phrase, the DaVinci Code and the fact that this painting above is coming to the Louvre Exhibit at the Atlanta High Museum, Hats, the very one you gave a link to, in January of 2007!!!!

I had no idea of the DaVinci Code connection!!!!!!! Stranger and stranger, read it on Wikipedia and take it with your tub, not grain, of salt handy, just go there and type in Et In Arcadia Ego!

no I have a feeling one month will not do it, it will take me alone one month to read Book IV of the Eclogues, we'll all need all our wits and our Internet Search Engines about us if we do decide to try it!

Wow! then, there are all sorts of connections. Isn't that amazing? Ginny, do you plan on telling a little bit about Poussin? After all, his painting is named Et in ARCADIA EGO.

Ooooooh, this is too yummy!!

Ginny, do you think that the book has too many references that would need research as opposed to the dramitization? It seems that I know so little about the classical context in the Oxford portion and the Catholicism in the whole that I am retaining maybe one-half of the text while the rest simply evaporates. This is a daunting exercise for me.

I would rather read the book than the play. Much of the beautiful prose would get lost if we read a dramatization. I am sure many posters here know a great deal about Catholicism. Many of those people, I would think, are in Robby's discussion. Then, there are others who know about Catholicism too. If I take part, I don't want any part of the discussion shortened for our ease or to save time.

Look what Ginny did with "The Remains of the Day." Also, the Gandhi discussion was very full and in depth.

Hats, you are SUCH a bright light, thank you for that nice support. Jackie I am afraid She Who Never Knows Where She IS has once again answered you in the wrong discussion hahahaah in the Books Into Movies, sorry but you found it. I am not thinking the Classical allusions will be beyond us and if we do read it and we don't have a Catholic with us I am sure we can find a priest or organization on the internet only too happy to explain, we'll all learn something, I already have!

IF we select it, it's not an easy book, we'll have to see how the voting goes, but what we're doing here IS the point, we're discussing ONE of the contenders. That's the old time fun way of nominating and discussing a book, look at the Professor's House, a book I would never have chosen nor read had it been for SN, and loved the entire thing.

I finished the movie Brideshead again and there are a lot of things I did not understand, not about references but about characters, so there's a lot to discuss in it from a personal standpoint too. BUT I just read of another new house book something about chickens and starting over, so I want to go find that one too.

Talk about timing, there's a new P D James book, The Lighthouse.

Ginny, oh Ginny, would it have been "The Egg and I" by Betty McDonald.. I dont consider it a house book, but I loved each and every thing she ever wrote and that is by far the most famous of them.. She died too young and did not write enough.. Darn.

Ginny, I can't believe it! How very exciting! We are never out of step.

STephanie, no but I like her too.

Hats!

It's called Still Life With Chickens: Starting Over in a House by the Sea by Catherine Goldhammer It's new, and I want to look at it before nominating it..it looks very good, supposedly is about a woman who has to rebuild a life after a divorce, and who moves with her 12 year old daughter into a small dilapidated cottage, having promised the child she could have chickens because the child of course doesn't want to move. It's about "the true story of the sometimes positive benefits of unwelcome change." I think it looks good, whether or not it's going to be a good candidate is another thing.

Ginny, I love the title. We can never read enough about "change" in our lives.

I second Hats.. Change in our lives is what growing older seems to be about.

I scanned B&N's book titles for "House"; there were over 4,000 but that included many titles which were repeated. Dickens' Bleak House in various versions extended over three pages. When I hit 1,000 I quit. Minette Walters' Ice House would be very different. Laurie R. King's Folly is about change when a 60+ woman sets out to rebuild the cabin called Folly, built by her uncle, on an island in the San Juans, Washington. The cabin had burned 30 years before. She was fighting depression and decided that she needed the solitude and intense hand labor of rebuilding the cabin while living along on the island.

I have read Folly and actually think it would make an excellent book to read and discuss.. Lauri King has some interesting things to say about grief and phobias..

Stephanie, I love that book too. I enjoyed it, very interesting. I also would love to read "In the House of Brede."

I'm nearly finished with Brideshead. Reading a NYTimes review from 1945 I decided to read more, namely his satires: Deline and Fall; Vile Bodies. Makes me think that can we discuss a book and really understand it without putting it into the context of the author's other works? Or should each book succeed only on its own merits? Brideshead is not an easy read; the story flows smoothly though it flashes back and forth. But the emotions I'm feeling are disturbing. I think we should discuss it, if not here then on its own.

I hope we can discuss "Brideshead" here with one another.

I like three of the suggested titles--judging from the list above and adding one from Hats:

Brideshead Revisited
The House of Seven Gables
In This House of Brede

Edit: Never mind. I see they are all on the list above as previous contenders or whatever.

Deems, I like the same three. I would rather read The House of Seven Gables than Folly Island. I have already read Folly Island. I have always thought The House of Seven Gables a hard book to read. I need to read it with a group. So, my three are the same three Maryal picked.

Hats--Now all we have to do is figure out which of the three to vote for!

Or whatever else we nominate! Hey, Deems!!! I am glad to see you!

I"m still inclined towards Brideshead despite its obvious difficulties. The '7 Gables' and 'Brede' don't interest me as much...

Deems, oh no!! that thought makes my head swim. While writing, my head stopped swimming. I made my choice. Like Gumtree, my first choice is still Brideshead Revisited. When Ginny showed that artwork explaining the meaning Arcadia, I knew Brideshead would make a grand discussion. Is Brideshead the estate? Is Brideshead a village? What an odd name Brideshead. The name "Brideshead" makes me put a hand to my throat. I am ready to start this one tomorrow. Well, I am sure my first choice is Brideshead Revisited. Why is Brideshead revisited? What happened on the first visit?

Ah, Hats. You go straight to the heart of the matter. Read it and find out is all I can say. Read it and wonder.

Mrs. Sherlock, you certainly have my curiosity bulb lighted up.

My vote would be for either "Brideshead Revisited" or "The House of Green Gables." I also agree that if we don't read "Brideshead Revisited" here that we should consider it for another discussion.

Hi Hats--Brideshead is the name of the family mansion. No doubt it also has significant symbolic meaning too.

And I don't think he ever explains it, does he Mrs. Sherlock? That is the symbolism of the name OR calling Bridey Bridey?

Deems if we do Brideshead we are definitely going to have need of you in there. IN FACT looking at the Hawthorne I'd say we need you there, too then, but when do we not need you and quo vadis this holiday?

Of course, Brideshead is a magnificent place, but I believe the name has no special significance. The castle was named after a spring or watercourse in the neighborhood. Or some such.

If that's true Jonathan, then I'm glad we had THIS discussion, as I never knew that~!!! I need to start the book anyway, it's MEATY!

I was confused when a person was referenced who seemed to be named Brideshead until I remembered that the oldest child has the Name and the other children are Miss Mary or Master James, etc.

BTW, has Wharton's House of Mirth been discussed on SN?

Joe Coomer has written the story about the building of his house near Azle, Texas (he is a writer, and he and his wife have an antique store in Azle). Coomer, his (long suffering) wife, various family members and friends did all the work, to sometimes startling or scary and mostly humorous results. The house can be seen from quite a distance when all lit up at night. Good read, even if you never discuss it.

Yes, in March of 2001...here's a link, Jackie...

SarahT, "House of Mirth ~ Edith Wharton ~ 3/01 ~ Prized Fiction" #1, 18 Feb 2001 5:46 pm

Thanks. Think I'll read it.

I am reading lots of unfamiliar words in "Brideshead Revisited." For example, there is pullulating. I love to learn new vocabulary. I need to get a pencil and paper.

I know we haven't voted for Brideshead. I just plan to read it anyway, whether it's chosen or not chosen.

what is the story Joe Coomer wrote?

I don't know that I understand your question. Joe Coomer has written many books, both non fiction and fiction. The book I mentioned of his that pertained to this discussion site--books with "House" in the title--was "A House By A Pond". The book covers the time Coomer and his wife spent building their home outside Azle, Texas. Some friends and family members helped, off and on. With three stories, the house is not small, and the copper clad turret built into one side makes the house a stunning sight when lit up at night. Coomer is an excellent writer, and his natural humor makes you feel good when reading his books. Funny thing about the pond part. It never did hold water no matter what they tried, so the title should be a house by a large hole.

Starting on Monday we'll begin taking serious nominations and discussing the merits, pro and con of each one in earnest and we'll probably archive the present board, I'll ask Jane if she'll do that, and make a page of them for us to go along with the Books With House in the Title we already have. We'll want a slimmer slate to vote on, on February 1, I think.

Ginny, I am so excited. I thought January would never come. Are we adding new title or just concentrating the titles listed above and slimming the list? You answered my question. My brain isn't fully awake.

Well a bright good morning to you all and we'll now begin to assemble and discuss our nominationg for a March read, we'll discuss all month and then vote January 31-February 4 for our next Houseboat read: (a series which reads books in a series with either House in the title or something very similar, such as my first nomination:

Brideshead Revisited (I'm seconding former nominations here) by Evelyn (pronounced EVE lyn Waugh), a masterpiece with a lot of questions raised that we can all discuss. The writing is wonderful, the themes are quite important, but essentially it's about...well what IS it about? That's what we'll decide. "Brideshead" is the name of the large country house the book centers around, and the life of the people who live in it and one man who becomes attached to the people there.

It's quite awe inspiring but what it's really SAYING and what it MEANS will be for us to decipher. Kind of like our first read The Professor's House, still am not sure what it said but I sure loved discussing it with you all.

The Floor is Now Open for your own Nomination, I hope you can do a better job promoting your own choice than I just did. hahahaaa

Ginny, as always you have done a splendid job. I will think on the theme House and see if I can come up with something interesting.

Oh good, I thought this was dead here, sort of a Due to Lack of Interest Tomorrow Will be Cancelled sort of thing, and was actually contemplating moving the discussion to the summer when I have more time. ahahhaah Good to see you!!

I think that people are still coming from the holidays. I gave my granddaughter an mp3 player and am still tangling with the stupid thing. Downloaded from the web to the computer, the computer says the player has the music in it, but darned if it will play it.. Sigh.. I hate tech stuff..

I have the same problenm when I try to download books from the library!

I'm here in spirit, but my vote would be for "Brideshead Revisted" so I really don't have a book to recommend.

I'm here, also, but would love to move this discussion to the summer, after Latin class is over for the year.

Stephanie: I spent many hours after Christmas playing with my new iPod. I downloaded a newer version of iTunes and it also simultaneously updated Quicktime. Then I couldn't get any music to play in either iTunes or in Media Player. I was so frustrated. I finally downloaded a newer version of Media Player to see if it would overlay anything screwed up by the other downloads. Still no music playing. Finally I discovered that Volume had been automatically muted. I just had to uncheck the Mute button. What a pain.

Welcome Mrs. Sherlock, Mippy, Scrawler, Hats, and Stephanie (thank you) and Marni! haha Marni, you sound like me and the volume control, can't the computer be maddening!

I am glad to see you all here in the new year!

Hats, the slate above is now empty and I think the suggestions I've gotten here and in email about moving the actual DISCUSSION to after the Latin classes are over are good ones. The Latin classes are over the first week of May.

This is January. We can discuss the candidates fully, have time to view or not view any pertinent videos, vote in April and then consider a June or July read if that suits you all?

Our Books typically has very little going on in the summer and we might be just the Pick Me Up needed here for the hot summer months when the livin' is easy.

In addition I am keeping my new grandbaby 4 days a week starting Monday and still have our Latin classes here which I am SO proud of AND in person at Furman, and also I do have the Rembrandt with a lovely stalwart group now in its last 100 pages, the Lady of Shalott coming in February so it appears a rather full slate chez Anderson, I'd like to really enjoy whatever we choose here.

If we voted on April Fool's Day we'd also have a lot of time to read the book whatever it is ahead of time, another luxury I have not had for some time.

In the first place it appears Brideshead is certainly in the running and SHOULD it be chosen, as Mrs. Sherlock said some time ago, it may take more than a month. In that case we'd want to do it justice.

Let's do that? Let's discuss here for a month or two, (which is the way we did it in the "old days" in the books, our slate above is woefully empty and then let's vote April Fool's Day and then read it together in June?

I vote yes?

That sounds excellent, Ginny, and would allow those of us who couldn't participate in a March read to do so come spring/early summer.

I hope that's what will work for the others, too.

jane

Summer is fine with me. I got my catalogue recently for DVDs and they had the "Brideshead Revisited 25th Anniversary Edition" in it. "The Washington Post proclaimed it "the best series ever seen on American television." Adapted from the novel by Evelyn Waugh, winner of 17 international awards, it hasn't lost any of its power to seduce and enchant. The 25th Anniversary edition includes all 11 episodes and the 2006 documentary "Revisiting Brideshead" featuring retrospective interviews with stars. Jeremy Irons and Anthony Andrews, director Charles Sturrridge, and many more." (approx. 11 hours on 4 DVDs)

It's a little pricey at $59.99 but perhaps you can locate it either at the library or online. The phone number to order is: (1-888-870-8047)

April Fool's Day - it's perfect!

Scrawler, our Barnes and Noble has it at $59.99 also, but also get any other DVD set (same or lesser price) free. This 25th anniverary version is also captioned, the episodes, not the documentaries. I was tempted, but need more info. Sale is on through January.

Listen, I have it. I've watched it, I paid 39 for it at overstock.com, and I will be DELIGHTED to send it to anybody who will then promise to pass it on, to the next person or mail it back media rate. There are 5 (I think) maybe 4 DVD's in it and lots of great background info and you'll love it. If you'd like for me to send it, holler, we've got enough time for all of us to see it and more, it appears, assuming we are talking summer and assuming you have a DVD player). It's also on Netflix I think.

It's worth watching but after you've watched it you want to share it.

Ginny, I didn't know that Overstock had DVDs!

I didn't either, Marcie mentioned it somewhere and Here it is, for $38.84 and two bucks and change shipping. I love these people.

If it does not open to the actual 4 disk Bridehead Revisited DVD, just type in Brideshead Revisited DVD on the Overstock.com site and enjoy!

I forgot to mention here that we HAVE already started up a Round Robin chain of Brideshead Revisited, the 4 DVD's in slip box and they have already gone out to the first person. IF you'd like to be on the list, just email me and when she's through (and there's a lot more than the 4 movie bits, there's huge super background stuff) she can send it on at her leisure Media Rate, just let me know.

is well worth the effort, postage, and time. I borrowed the set from my public library - no cost - and could look at them for a week.

Aren't they glorious, Pat? Does the library version have the background stuff and interviews?

Oh yes, it was the set made from the original Masterpiece Theatre.

Isn't that something? I couldn't decide whether to see the background stuff first or see the movie and opted for half and half. It really takes you out of whatever you're in, just the thing for the long winter nights.

Thing that blew me away was it was Waugh's own rooms at college they filmed them in.

Welcome All! Wow, I was so excited about our Bookmarks article and the wonderful readers we are getting as a result, that I forgot we have had to make several changes in the heading above (which as a result, inexplicably seemed to promise something each month for every person haahhaha) so that's now fixed and we can concentrate on the true schedule ahead.

Starting March 1, we'll begin to take nominations and discuss them (one of my favorite parts). On April Fool's Day we'll begin the vote, giving people enough time to secure the book, and on May Day we'll start with a bang. Or maybe a maypole dance, who knows, but welcome, ALL!!

As you can see Brideshead Revisited currently stands alone on our ballot but now is the time to start looking for some challengers and to be polishing up your own favorites to nominate and discuss, because March 1 is only a week away!!!

We're also still passing around the Brideshead Revisited 25th Anniversary DVDs if anybody would like to see them, whether or not we actually end up reading the book, so sign in if you'd like to enjoy them, as you can see in the Books into Movies, they are something ELSE.

Great background info too.

Welcome!

Hi Ginny :Great to have you up and talking to us again - have missed you lately. I'm looking forward to the next 'Houseboat' selection as I enjoyed the last one so much and hope to be here on March 1 when we start off again....

Huge congratulations on the Bookmark article - will try to get it here - that's a long shot, but I'll try. Borders just might have it.

Thanks, Gum!!! Wouldn't it be something if you, all the way in Australia, could read about us there!

I hope that happens, Borders does sell it, here in the States, anyway.

hahaha on talking to you again, the Latin classes here on SeniorNet have me totally swamped, literally 12 hour days, in addition to my two face to face Latin classes at Furman University's FULIR program (Furman University Learning in Retirement) on Wednesdays and on the days I'm not there, I'm lucky enough to be keeping my new grandbaby the other 4 days of the week!!

So I'm, you might say, sort of busy, but it's a wonderful busy, and I'm still reading, and it may be that I have to be a Summer Books...what's the word Summer...Warrior (like weekend warrior). But we in the Books are well covered by our 30 Discussion Leaders, there's always something going on here for readers!

But HOPE is on the horizon, we're going to get the Latin classes here on a different sort of schedule, thanks to our wonderful Classics Volunteers, and that will help immensely, so I'll be freeer next September, and there are a LOT of months in the summer starting in May- August. I am really looking forward to a bunch of great exciting reads, but even more than that, to discussing them with our great groups.

I have missed you all, too, tho I have been in Rembrandt's Eyes for a couple of years. hahahaa or eons depending, but that's about to end, the Read a Page a Day Book Club has run two years continually, and a stalwart and fine crew they are, too.

DIDN'T we have just a wonderful discussion in our last outing, tho!!??!! I often think of it, actually, as I still don't know what it meant, and that, to me, is the very best discussion. Everybody had the BEST input and I still am not sure what was meant. Love it!

I do wish we could discuss The Seven Sisters, maybe I can squeeze it in with the Lady of Shallot late this spring, because (or is it shalott, which one is the onion?) hahahaa but anyway we read it a long time ago, I hated it, just hated it and I recently reread it and even WENT to Cumae and that opened up all kinds of new doors and my eyes as to what she's really DOING in that thing, and again I have no idea what Drabble is saying or what the character is saying and I'd like to try it again in the great company of our readers.

That one and the Shallot (sp) are about women ageing with a different twist, you might say a VENGEANCE, but what on earth are they both about? I'd like to explore that when I'm free in the summer time.

Welcome, All!

Oh Ginny, am glad you like being tied with a grandbaby. Have to confess that I have always filled in in emergencies and love to take them for visits, I have steadfastly refused to be a caretaker every week. I guess that being tied to a full time job for a long time made me leary of anything that ties me in retirement. I will be able to participate to a certain extent on the book discussion, but we will be leaving in the coach around the 15th of May for our long summer trip.. Going to explore upper Michigan, Wisconsin, etc. Can hardly wait. I know so very little about that part of the country. That is the nicest thing about a motorhome.. Getting to visit and settle into the communities and all of the things involved.. Such fun.

Ginny - lovely for you to have the grandbaby so often - I gathered that at times you are otherwise occupied with Latin, teaching etc.as well as the other wonderful work you do here on Seniornet. My life is fairly hectic sometimes but I think our major blessings are the passions we have. 24 hours is never enough...

I've not read the Drabble, Seven Sisters but you managed to interest me in looking it out....like I said, 24 hours.....

Stephanie!! May 15? We'll want to hear all and hopefully you'll be so hooked you can look in from time to time on the road, I know you have before!

Gum, you are so kind, thank you!

Yes Drabble, jeepers, how I hated that book, if you read it, you'll have to tell us when we discuss it the answer to the BIG question, in fact there are several BIG questions, and more importantly WHY you think so. Drove me nuts. The third reading after Cumae I saw an entirely different book, it's amazing.

The third reading left me totally in the dark, I saw a lot of things I did not see initially and they confused me more! hahaah But it's that kind of book that can be spoiled by revealing the ending so mum's the word.

Mum will also be the word when we finish it, we'll be gap jawed in astonishment.

I really think it would be a powerful read.

Drabble has never been a favorite of mine. Just too too something or another. Yes, Ginny when I find wifi, I definitely check my email and then senior net.. Am addicted to both. But counting on wifi that actually works gets interesting.

Stephanie, that was the first Drabble I had read and the last, I tried to read her latest one and could not. I don't know why I had such an adverse reaction to this one and went on and on about the golden Christmas tree, which I thought was symbolic but apparently was a red herring, or was it? I think, I really think that it would make a super book for a discussion, apparently you either love it or hate it and I defy anybody to say with certainty what it's about at the end.

I wonder if she would be interested in answering some questions on it? Can't hurt to try. I am sure that the reaction to it has been....electric. I mean, is it obvious to everybody but moi?

Ginny, I can't wait to read Drabble. I have Seven Sisters ready and waiting. I think the discussion is going to be very exciting.

Hats: My Drabble is waiting, also. The book that our Ginny can't understand sounds daunting and I must admit to being curious. 7 Sisters should make an interesting discussion. It gets boring if everyone has the same opinions/feelings about a book, but there is little chance of that here in SN, right?

Mrs. Sherlock, I like a little punch to the discussions too. It's fun. It's true. When we all agree, it's boring and a bit unbelievable.

Super, looks to me like a quorum already! hahahaaa now when shall we do it? Let me consult yon calendar, we can always push the Lady back into her tower another month OR should we do her first?

First up is this Houseboad read, that would be in May. Then we have June, shall we have the Lady or the Tiger (er...) well Drabble is sort of a tiger, I guarantee you we won't agree! Shall we have her first or last?

To quote Jack Benny, I'm thinking...

This is becoming more and more exciting.

I got a magnificent video for Christmas. Called Windsor.. Done by the BBC and is a whole year at Windsor Castle. All real and fascinating. What detail.. and The Queen keeps such good track of her castle as does her husband.. Now that is a HOUSE.. in capitol letters.

Some HOUSE - but I wouldn't want to be the one to do the vacuuming and dusting!!!! And what about cleaning the silver - HELP!

What is the saying? " I don't do windows!"

Mrs Sherlock Windows! The thought was imprinted on my psyche at a very young age by my grandmother who urged me not to worry about windows because (and I quote) 'they have such nice young men who come and do them beautifully' We should all listen to our grandmothers.

Love it.. But I really dont mind windows. Its ironing that is useless to me, but since I love freshly pressed stuff. I still iron.

I hate dusting. It's soooooo boring.

and the only time anybody notices any of those things is when you don't do 'em.

RATS!

Ginny & Jane --- CONGRATULATIONS ON BOOKMARKS ARTICLE --- Have just read it through the link JoanP put up on Great Books. I think it's super - you captured exactly what I think is the essence of the discussions here. Gold Stars for both of you!

Thanks, Gumtree. I'm glad you enjoyed the article and that you feel it's an accurate portrait of the Books portion here at SeniorNet.

Ginny and I worked hard to try and include all the various components of Books and present it in a way that was both appealing and yet honest. We feared it would be cut/edited, but they printed it as we wrote it.

We've all read descriptions of places on the internet and when we get there find it's all "hype." Neither Ginny nor I wanted that to happen with this article. It's neat to see several people who've come to Books and are already participating because of the article, and it's not even in the bookstores yet.

jane

Senior net and books.. This double joy has enhanced my life since the day I joined. I do love it and am addicted to getting in and seeing what everyone is doing each day. About two years ago, something weird happened to my computer and I could not get into Senior Net.. It kept throwing me into a loop and not letting me out. I was frantic, but finally managed to get some attention through the main entry and they managed to get me back with them. Then I realized that without my daily fix, I get very very cross.So I do love this place.

Golly what beautiful sentiments, Stephanie!! And I agree, Mrs, Sherlock, I am sorry that ...is something wrong with the Subscriptions button, I did not see them at all, sorry! I love that.

But can you believe today is March 1? March to me seems like something so far off and here it IS!

And today we'll begin manning the oars to get up a ballot for our vote on April Fool's Day for our next read May 1, I like the dates here! Hahah

MAY DAY!

OR M'aidez!!

And do help us. We've put off our little Houseboat so long you may fear dry rot has intruded, but that is NOT the case and we're definitely going forward, on May 1, so let's discuss what you'd like to see and read.

I nominated Brideshead way back there because I just saw the 25th Anniversary DVD's and remembered it fondly. It's a HECK of a book, one of those books you pick up and it gives you an electric shock: like look at me, now, I'm not an ordinary bunch of words.

It's a tough nut, tho, it's about Catholicism which I know very little about, it's considered a masterpiece, maybe even a Great Book, and touches on a lot of issues. We may want something a little lighter for spring.

Last time we read The Professor's House which I thought would be an easy walk in the park, boy did that one slap me back!

And so now we are looking for any book YOU'D like to discuss on May Day for one month (I'm not sure we can DO Brideshead in one month and the one month IS a requirement of this group), which either has the word HOUSE in the title or the NAME of a house in the title and the floor is now open.

There is a partial list in the link in the heading of books previously nominated, do any of them strike your fancy? Would anybody like to consider the House of Seven Gables, which I personally just thought when I finally came to it as an oldster was the MOST fabulous book I ever read, I am not sure I would think so now: tastes change, people change. How about Wuthering Heights? What's your pleasure, the floor is now open for nominations and whatever's up there will be voted on April Fool's Day, one way or the other, let's get up a Talking Slate and get this boat moving again!

Everybody is welcome! What sort of read will you be in the mood for in May?

I'd like to propose "Bleak House" by Charles Dickens.

"Bleak House is the ninth novel by Charles Dickens, published in 20 monthly parts between March 1852 and September 1853. The plot concerns a long-running legal dispute (Jarndyce and Jarndyce) which has far-reaching consequences for all involved. Dickens' assault on the flaws of the British judiciary system is based in part on his own experiences as a law clerk..."

"...Dickens drew upon many real people and places but was not constrained by realities. The character Mrs. Jellyby, always involved in good causes but with a chaotic family, is based upon Caroline Chrisholm. Many people saw the character of Harold Skimpole as a portrait of Leigh Hunt but this was always denied by Dickens...The novel also includes one of the first detectives to appear in English fiction, Mr. Bucket. This character is probably based on Inspector Charles Frederick Field of the recently formed Detective Department at Scotland Yard. Dickens wrote several journalistic pieces about the Inspector and the work of the detectives in "Household Words."

"Bleak House is unique among Dickens novels for several reasons. In "Bleak House" Dickens experimented with the device of dual narrators: an unidentified narrator and the orphan Ester Summerson take turns to tell the story..."

"Using spontaneous human combustion to dispose of Krook in the story was controversial. The nineteenth century was part of the age of reason, people during the nineteenth century considered scientific and medical endeavor highly admirable..."

"Ironically, Bleak House (the house not the novel) is not, in fact bleak. The house is owned by one of Dickens' good characters, John Jarndyce and, in general, it represents a place of refuge from the other-often depressing - locales described in the story."

"Some literature critics, including George Gissing and G.K. Chesterton, consider "Bleak House" to be the best novel that Charles Dickens wrote." ~ Wikipedia

I personally feel that there are many interesting aspects in this book that would certainly lead to a lively discussion.

Thank you Scrawler, up it goes, do you think we can do justice to it in one month? I know Deems loves that thing. We'll get them all up (I love Charles Dickens, too!) and then we'll discuss! Thank you!

I have been wanting to do Dickens forever. I just re read Oliver Twist and enjoyed it once more. I have to admit my life has been so hectic this summer that I have not been able to put my all into book discussions but autumn is almost here and there will be cold and wet days when there is nothing to be done than hit the keyboard. I would love to do Bleak House. I recently watched a British documentary where the travels of Dickens in the US was described in detail over the period of some weeks. It was very interesting.

Carolyn

Welcome, Carolyn, was that his notes on travelling thru America, I've heard that was very interesting!! Can we do Bleak House in a month?

I love Oliver Twist too and would you believe I had never read it until I saw the musical Oliver? And absolutely loved the book! Dickens is always great. I think I likek his David Copperfield the best of any?

Of course the Christmas Carol is a masterpiece, I love the way he writes. It's Fall there in New Zealand?

Oh boy, a vote between Bleak HOuse and Brideshead would be a toughie. Two great books, and the films that have been made of them are no slouches either.

Ginny Just love your comment about Brideshead It's a HECK of a book, one of those books you pick up and it gives you an electric shock: like look at me, now I'm not an ordinary bunch of words LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT

Brideshead and Bleak House - they're both BIG Books - will the month be enough time... could we get an extension

Kiwilady One of my study groups here is about to embark on a 10 week foray into Dickens' David Copperfield with sample readings from some of his other works. I think you would just love it. They plan to read the book in weekly segments (much as we do here) and then come together and discuss, write short papers etc. The group will be lead by a local Dickens' scholar. Sadly I can't participate as it conflicts with another committment. Too little time!

Bleak House. I read Charles Dickens so many years ago. Might be fun to reread..Although as I remember the man never used one word when he could use 10.. But then he got paid by the word..

Love it love it love it myself! Great discussion here.

Yes unfortunately the ONE MONTH must stand because in JUNE we embark on the Seven Sisters and we can't (or I can't) do justice to both, either of the books here in the heading OR Seven Sisters is going to take all we've got!

BUT we have an entire month to pre read either book here, that's a plus?

??

What other HOUSE books would you like to see nominated today!?!?

This is not a nomination (although Dickens did stay at Governor William H. Seward in the Governor's mansion when he came to America.) Anyway the following excerpt is from the flyleaf of the book:

"When Charles Dickens set out for America in 1842, he was the most famous man of his day to make the journey, and embarked on his travels with an intense curiosity about the revolutionary new civilization that had captured the English imagination. His frank and often humorous descriptions cover everything from his comically wretched sea voyage to his sheer astonishment at the magnificence of the Niagara Falls, while he also visited hospitals, prisons and law courts and found them exemplary. But Dickens's opinion of America as a land ruled by money, partly built on slavery, with a corrupt press and unsavory manners, provoked a hostile reaction on both sides of the Atlantic. "American Notes" is an illuminating account of a great writer's revelatory encounter with the New World."

An example of his writing:

'Heaven save the ladies, how they dress! We have seen more colours in these ten minutes, than we should have seen elsewhere, in as many days.'

"Martin Chuzzlewit," which included a fictionalized account of his American travels, first published over the period of 1843-44.

Thank you Scrawler, I had heard that it stirred up a hornet's nest here and in the UK when it was published, have always wanted to read it and did NOT realize Martin Chuzzlewit was based on it! I appreciate your bringing that here!

I finally got to the Dickens House in London on my last trip there and got some great photos but all I can say is the man had the legs of a mountain goat IF he went up and down those stairs nightly!

Dickens went on a boat trip on the Erie Canal when he visited. I suppose that's how he got to Niagara Falls.

I downloaded the free audio book Dickens' The Pickwick Papers to my iPod from an online book site. It was the first audio book I ever loaded onto my new iPod. I had tried reading it when I was young and was bored by it, but now I'm finding it very amusing. (Thank God, maybe I've matured a bit over the years!) I read in the paper that it's supposed to be his greatest book. I don't know.

Ipod! I don't know anything about ipods, will the book you downloaded stay forever or is there a shelf life of them? Where did you download it? I've never downloaded one, how long does it take? Come to think of it, I haven't read the Pickwick Papers either, maybe we need a Dickens Group Read!

Is Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett considered a house theme? It is about the building a Gothic Cathedral. I think, in another discussion, Alf mentioned she had read it.

Pillars of the Earth

Pillars of the Earth

I really have a nomination this time. It's a small book. The stories in the book, I think, are interconnected. I really would need help reading this one. It's Blackbird House by Alice Hoffman. It's about the size of Willa Cather's book, I think.

Blackbird House

Blackbird House by Alice Hoffman

hooo, Alice Hoffman! Double HOO interconnected short stories!! Triple HOO!! Never heard of it, thank you!

oo It looks just the thing!

Up it goes!

Now did you want Pillars of the Earth nominated? It's not strictly a House book or do the rest of you say it is? I'm open to whatever, super nomination, Hats!

Ginny, I would just die if we could read Blackbird House together as a group. I am willing to forget all about Ken Follett's book.

We can't have you falling over! hahahaa

OK Blackbird House it is, thank you. I am a huge fan of short stories and have not read any interconnected ones in ages! Good choice!

I have also put links to the Norton Critical Edition of Bleak House in the heading because if we're going to read Bleak House we will need it or some of us will need it anyway and the Everyman's Library for Brideshead, again anybody can use any edition they'd like, the more the merrier, as they will all add to the experience.

AND there are still some empty oarlocks in the heading waiting to be filled, how many do you think we should stop at?

At the end of the Second World War, Matthew Wallingham returns home, blinded and uncertain about his future. Worse yet, his father is ill, and his mother is obviously unhappy, while his younger brother, who has made a success of running the farm on the family's estate in the war years, is resentful of Matthew's desire to help him. The only person Matthew feels he can talk to is his grandmother, but the rest of the family regards her as a holy terror.

Matthew soon realizes that his future plans are not going to work, and he starts to look for a new career. He finds himself depending more and more on Liz, his nurse who becomes the focus of all his thoughts and his hopes for a future. But Liz has a shadow hanging over her, a shadow that will bring a terrifying violence into the Wallingham family's life.

I read this book a few years ago for a face to face book group and we had a lively discussion.

Phaedra55!! Welcome, welcome! Love the name!! Oh A House Divided, I absolutely LOVE Pearl Buck and up it goes, thank you so much!

But wait, is this part of The Good Earth trilogy or do you mean the Catherine Cookson book? We've never read any Pearl Buck here. OR Catherine Cookson for that matter!

Either would be fabulous, both can be nominated! Thank you for introducing that excellent candidate to our ballot and welcome to our group!!!!

Ginny: I found the audio Pickwick Papers by Dickens in Project Gutenberg here:

http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/9730

Count me in, if it turns out to be Blackbird House. I can get excited about anything that has to do with Cape Cod.

Alice Hoffman.. Blackbird House. Now that sounds great. Like Ginny, I dont read that many short stories and interconnected sounds good. I think it is Bobby Ann Mason who does a lot of short story work in the south and connectes them through a woman, sometimes girl..

Oh for heaven's sake, Marni, who KNEW? I knew about Project Gutenberg because we often quote from their texts but I did not know and have not been there for a while, about their ipod audios, good for you!

Welcome Jonathan!! I don't think you can go wrong with any of the current ballot!

I agree Stephanie, I'm a big fan of the short story and it's been ages since I read any interconnected ones! Sounds like a treat!

What else do we need on our ballot? I'm going to put up House Divided by Catherine Cookson and A House Divided by Pearl Buck, why ever not??

What other nominations should we consider??!!?? The floor is open!

Whoop! Look at this one, have you heard of this one?

I was sitting here waiting for the emergency electrician and making a list of books noted in the glorious glossy and gorgeous Bookmarks Magazine and I had actually written this one down before it hit me: HOUSE?

HOUSE?

The House of Paper by Carlos Maria Dominguez.

A novella readable in an hour it's about bibliomania in its extreme sense. The nameless narrator tried to return a cement-encrusted volume he's received in the mail to its sender since the intended recipient was killed.

He learns the man's tale, which is about the slow decent into madness as a result of an inordinate love of books!

WHAT?

I have got to have that one, will pick it up Wednesday and let you know how it is, meanwhile let's put it up, too, it may not be discussable and if so we can take it off, but I have never heard such a premise and I love short novels, too.

Click on that link and LOOK at those Amazon reader reviews, here's part of one, they're all good:

"To build up a library is to create a life.",

This short literary novel explores themes which academicians have discussed for generations--the relationship between reality and language, the belief that creating a library is akin to creating a life, the idea that books can take on a life of their own, and the obsessive collection of books and reverence for them. Creating an allegory of the literary world and its complications, Dominguez tells what appears to be a simple story--part mystery, part satire, and part quest.

Wow, never heard of it, have you?

No! it sounds like a good one. I am going to put it on my list.

I like the theme of "The House of Paper" by Dominguez, but I'd be worried about reading it surrounded by my many books. I can almost feel them glaring at me now!

"Pickwick Papers" was a delight to read. But allow me to give you an excerpt from the "Athenaeum," March 26, 1836:

"On the 31st of March will be published, to be continued Monthly, price One Shilling, the First Number of The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club; containing a faithful record of the perambulations, perils, travels, adventures, and sporting transactions of the corresponding members. Edited by "Boz." And each Monthly Part embellished with Four Illustrations by Seymour." ~ Advertisement

Note: Boz was young Charles Dickens and this was his first novel.

House of Paper caught my eye, too. I would really like to read it. Unfortunately my library doesn't have it. Habing just finished my first Alice Hoffman novel, Angel Landing, I am less than impressed. Is this one typical of her writing? If so, she's not the author for me, alas.

I have read several of the Alice Hoffman stuff. She varies a good deal in content. Some are sort of sweet, but others have a strange offbeat flavor. I read a review of Blackbird House and it sounded interesting. Funny. I have not thought of Catherine Cookson in years. She sort of invented a genre of girl in peril,,overcomes and becomes enormously rich or famous.. I loved Pearl Buck and again have not thought of her in soooo long.

I love Catherine Cookson. I was sorry to hear about her death, I think, a few years ago now.

I was reading Bookmarks Magazine this morning again (what else? hahaha) and the article on Herman Hesse and trying to remember if I had read anything by him (or have WE here?) when my eye espied House of Meetings by Martin Amis about the horrific Norlag, the "stalinist labor camp where he was imprisoned for nearly a decade."

I don't know anything about that period and Stalin but I have heard it's beyond understanding. This would be a serious book but it might add to our knowledge of that time, unless of course you already know all there is to know about Stalin's purges. Of his own people. Still I think it merits a nod, we hear a lot about Martin Amis lately and I'm not sure what I've read of his, either.

The critical press of this book, the reviews are vry interesting. This MAY be too dark for us but it deserves a mention!

What other HOUSE books have you found?!?

Leeway Cottage by Beth Gutcheon

Thank you Hats, that looks great, up it goes!!

We've got 8 (are we missing one?), I think that's super, any others you all would like to recommend? I like the way they're all over the map, too, subject wise!

Oh, dear. I went into this nomination process convinced that there would be nothing else attracting me except for Brideshead. Now there are five, count 'em, 5 books on the list I would happily read if any one wins. Which brings me to a question: What if a book I don't want to read wins? Do I grit my teeth and stick it out or do I just fade away and wait til next time?

Oh good question, Mrs. Sherlock and an important one!!! I'm glad you brought that up. When we vote for 8 books, only one can win. This time. The Professor's Wife was not my own choice last time. I had never heard of it and did not particularly want to read it. Boy was I brought up with a jerk!

So our voting groups are somewhat morally enjoined to all turn out and discuss the one which won this time, so that when their own nomination or fave comes up, everybody will equably read that one too.

NOR, and this is VERY important, should the group member just disappear if he finds for instance that the book is not to his liking. A real book discussion does just that: it discusses the BOOK to the bitter end. Luckily here we can say if we dislike the book, the writing, the author, anything or nothing, but that will not change our excellent discussion of the book: pure book club reading at its best!

I think every one of those contenders would make an excellent discussion, from the looks of them.

I guess I agree with Ginny. I turned out to hate The Professors House,but stuck it out to read..twice as it turned out. Still hated it.. Joined at least part of the discussion however. Its a slog sometimes.. but sometimes I have ended up liking a book that I did not think I would. Hats..The title and author are both unfamiliar.. A clue perhaps..

Stephanie, I am so sorry. I haven't a clue to give you. All I have is the synopsis. I thought it sounded interesting. I have read one book by Beth Gutcheon. The title is More Than You Know. I like the settings of her books. Wherever she takes you, you feel as though you are really there. You can always stick with Blackbird House or Brideshead Revisited.

I like Leeway Cottage because it's Historical Fiction. It takes place during World War II. There is also a musician involved in the story, I think he's a pianist. I like to read about the passions of other people. The last part of the synopsis makes the story seem interesting too, I think.

"Laurus likes to claim that in heaven you get to see the movie of your life, with all the blanks filled in. In their old age Sydney fears what he might see and why he wants to know; their children fear he'll die and there won't be any movie."

Sydney's fears are interesting. I find the fears of the children really mysterious. Is that the right word?

"their children fear he'll die and there won't be any movie."

Now, that's frightening, I think. Not sure what adjective to use.

I would like to nominate "Housekeeping" by Marilynne Robinson. I read it quite a long time ago and it's one of my favorite books of all time. It would be fun to re-read with everyone.

The NYTimes Book Review called it one of the most original and striking novels of its time. Elsewhere, a reviewer said "- a close, careful fondness for people" and "- an often comic novel that has become a certifiable classic".

Another quote " The language is so precise, so distilled and so beautiful one does not want to miss any pleasures it may yield"

Yay, "Housekeeping" Go! go! go!

Welcome, Joan R! hahaha LOVE IT! A cheering section, we'll have a wonderful time discussing these once we get our ballot up and finished! Thank you for that nomination, I love that kind of book, being oververbose myself, what a joy to hear about it!

I have heard of the author, of course, haven't we read her Gilead here in our Books, but I have not read any of hers, super nomination! Up it goes!

Jeepers, "The language is so precise, so distilled and so beautiful..." wow!

Thank you, now we have 9 fabulous possibilities, who wants to make it 10??

I think I will spend some time on Amazon today looking up the several that I am not sure about..

Back again. Went to Amazon and to my surprise.. I think I would really really like Housekeeping. The reviews sound fascinating.. Surprise Surprise.. The title is sort of blah, but the book sounds interesting

Hello everyone! The long disappeared one has reappeared. And just in time to say, Yes, Ginny, we read Gilead a couple years ago. Robinson is a wonderful writer and Housekeeping is worthy of being on the list.

Bleak House--Just my opinion, but I think it's too long by about double, for a one month read. Unless, of course, everyone is willing to spend half a day, every day, reading. I do love it, however.

End Rant. There are some fine books on the list. Some others I'm sure are interesting too but I haven't heard of them.

Maryal

THERE she issssssssss! Misssssss America!!! Er... DEEMS on Spring Break, we sure have missed you@

I agree with you on the time issue in Bleak House and Bleak House which I know you really love, might need to be up for the Great Books area because we really do need something in this group which can be thoroughly discussed in a month.

Welcome back!!

I agree on anything that Dickens wrote.. Too long for a month.. WE need short or short stories,etc. Its a shame we cannot provide a click to a review of each book.. Amazons are so neat, but I am not a tech person and have no idea how to do anything like that.

Well in the heading now I do have clicks to each title and then you can scroll down and read the reviews? I hope that's what I did, who knows? hahahah I admit to taking a shortcut, click on one and see if you can't see reviews?!?

Ginny: It works! HOORAY for Ginny!

are the nominations closed? If not the new Martin Ames book would be a great addition to the list House of Meetings

No the nominations are not closed and House of Meetings is already number 7 in the heading, Barbara, great minds run together! Thank you! Doesn't it look super~!?!

We'll probably take nominations for another week, spend two weeks discussing them and then vote April Fool's Day, I like that!! They all look good, we just must finish in one month for this particular group there are lots of other groups which could take a year or more to do any of them, if necessary.

Thanks ginny,, should have know your efficiency would be in place. I love clickables.

Well I'm glad it works because I did take a shortcut! hahahaa

Whoops missed it - and here I thought I was reveiwing the entire list - ah so - a senior moment?

Ginny, thank you for making the list so easy to use. I like The House of Paper. The author is from Uruquay. I have never read a book by a Uruquayan author. We might learn about the country too. Isn't the cover of the book odd, interesting?

The first sentence catches my eye too.

First Sentence: "One day in the spring of 1998, Bluma Lennon bought a secondhand copy of Emily Dickinson's poems in a bookshop in Soho, and as she reached the second poem on the first street corner, she was knocked down by a car."

I am glad you picked this one Ginny.

There are some books on the list that will take more than one month to discuss. I'm glad this point was raised because it will alter how I vote.

Mrs. Sherlock, you are right. We need a short book. I can't remember which are long and which are short. I know Blackbird House is short.

It is part of the good earth series but it is a stand alone novel. I have not read the book by Cookson I may check that out.

Oh good, thank you. Yes it is a wonderful book, I concur and we have never read even one Pearl Buck here in our Books. I love Pearl Buck, wonderful writer. Wonderful person for that matter. Very interesting life.

Very good slate above and on the 15th we'll begin discussing the pros and cons of each! Any more nominations?

Yes and the time frame stuff is very important, too, you all are right on that score, we'll need something we can complete discussing without killing selves in one month.

There is no way, for instance, we could discsus James Fennimore Cooper in one month (or one year? hahahaa)

I do not know why you give him such a hard time - he was the stuff of Adventure for my summer reading after the 6th grade - exciting stuff compared to old Nancy Drew... There are books written about how his stories influenced our society, our expectations of justice.

Who? Old James? Natty Bumpo? Ah well de gustibus, he seems to crop up all over our boards lately. I noted him in the pre discussion of The Red and the Black too.

Now Henry James I don't have the slightest problem with!

No James Fenimore Cooper. Just never liked them at all and not that hot on Henry James actually.. Short books.. thats is the answer. I did remember from the first time, that I had nominated "In the House of Brede" A wonderful book by one of the Goddens.. About nuns and contemplative ones at that. There is a truly horrible secret at the core of the book. I have reread it several times trying to decide if I could have forgiven.

Oh mercy, James Fennimore Cooper! hahah I have In This House of Brede and would you believe have never read it? I better move it back to the top of the Read Me! stack!

Ok we have 9 excellent nominations in the heading and now even tho all 9 will be on the ballot which will appear April 1, we will need to discuss and winnow out now in the remaining 9 days 9 in 9, hahahaa, those in the heading for whatever reason we think are not doable or talk up what we think we would like to read.

I must admit to being taken with the premise of House of Paper, Blackbird House and House of Meetings which I just saw on the best seller shelves at B&N.

They are all great books. I don't think we can finish or do justice to Bleak House in a month, so for me, I have 8 left.

I loved the last in the trilogy of Pearl Buck but if we're going to read a trilogy I think we need the first one first (tho this one CAN as noted stand alone and I do love Pearl Buck) so I'm going to eliminate that one too from my own list.

That makes 7.

This is just my own personal reasoning, out loud, which is what I invite you all to do, so we can discuss in this last week what seems to strike our fancy.

Brideshead Revisited is a masterpiece. Some have worried that we can't do it in a month but it's short, and I think we can, so it's still on my list.

I'm not particularly in the mood, (this is me personally) for Cahterine Cookson for some reason tho I may be tomorrow, so I think I'd rather read one of these others first, and maybe hers later on.

I have to go to the library AND B&N today and so I'm planning to look up as many of these as I can find to see if I like their style.

When we first started the Books back in 1996, that's what we did, we went to bookstores, talked to booksellers and read a few pages to help us decide.

Amazon has taken some of that to heart and has made some books a LOOK INSIDE experience and you can see if you like the style of the author. I'm going to try to find out this afternoon, if I can.

So I'm going to read a page or two of these:

Blackbird House by Alice Hoffman

The House of Paper by Carlos Maria Dominguez

House of Meetings by Martin Amis

\Leeway Cottage by Beth Gutcheon

Houskeeping: a Novel by Marilynne Robinson

I have to say for me at this point it's between two for me: Brideshead and the House of Paper. Of the latter, I just love that premise and it SOUNDS like The Shadow of the Wind, which I just absolutely loved. I know some people hated it, which made for a super discussion.

We need something WORTH our time discussing that we really enjoy reading but I'm going to see how I like some of the others, too. I may be totally set off course by some of the others this afternoon, what better way to spend a day?

I'm really torn between those two: where are your own thoughs straying this morning? let's TALK!! They're all good, but sometimes you feel like a nut and sometimes you don't.

Which of the 9 are you leaning toward this morning?

?

I am still leaning toward Housekeeping. But like you, I think I want to read a few pages..

My library has no books by Dominguez, not one. Today Alice Hoffman's premise is calling to me, Jackie, Jackie. But I'm also interested in Housekeeping. Would Brideshead qualify as a Great Book? I suspect that we would want to spend more than one month on it, even though it is short.

I like

1. Brideshead Revisited-- With a group as support, I wouldn't get lost and miss one of the important issues in this classic.

2. Blackbird House--We haven't read short stories together for a long time. Alice Hoffman give you a lot to think about after the book is closed.

3. The House of Paper--I love to read books about books plus a mystery makes it twice as good.

4. Leeway Cottage--I love Historical Fiction. I like to read and think about what I would have done in certain eras of history.

It's hard to make a decision. All the books look yummy.

Yes, don't they? I also had a bit of a problem yesterday in that I ended up short of time (and with the list at home in the chair!!!) in the library so will promise self a lovely day tomorrow at B&N!

I agree with Hats in that even tho Brideshead probably does qualify as a Great Book, we've read quite a few Great Books, in fact a LOT of "Great Books" out of our own SN Great Books Group in the past (but we ran over a month, so Mrs. Sherlock's caveat is well noted), and we've done a heck of a job with them, due to our readership. What makes a Great Book "great" is its timeless appeal, they should not be put on a pedestal and feared: they are for everybody.

We really don't want to run over a month this time, so take that into consideration when you vote.

I think we can do it in a month and do justice to it, too, as it IS very short, and it probably would make for a very exciting discussion.

The Nominations are now closed, the ballot is set and Jane has it ready, but which will it be.

I think my top three are... hmmmm...

House of Paper

Brideshead Revisited and

Blackbird House, I love short stories.

I already have Brideshead and I'm not going to even read one line because you can't put it down if you do and I don't want to get hooked till I see if we're going to read it.

I'll find the other two tomorrow if I have to go to Greenville which has several good bookstores, then I'll know!

This ballot has only one vote, there are no second choices, which is the way I like it: winner take all!

No matter what we pick we'll love the discussion, we can't lose, all the nominees are super looking!

Let's do this. Let's see if we can FIND online a sentence or two from one of the books we personally support and bring it here. I'll run get one from Brideshead and then tomorrow if nobody has found on one of those "Look inside" Amazon things a line, I'll see if I can find it in the bookstores, we need to see the style also if we can of the writers.

Let's see how many we can find.

Great idea! We have until tomorrow at some point??? I need a bit of time. Life happens.

Yes, let's do it over the weekend, we've got till April 1!

Ok here are the opening lines of Brideshead Revisited to give us some idea of the writing style of the author. How long DO you read a new book before giving it up? At any rate I'm going to concentrate on my three top choices of the nominees,, and it will be Wednesday before I can go out again, so I'll put these in as I can find them:

This is the Everyman's Library, with a Prologue and a Preface and 28 pages of Introduction but I'm going to skip to the first page of Book One:

Book One

ET IN ARCADIA EGO

"I have been here before, " I said; I had been there before; first with Sebastian more than twenty years ago on a cloudless day in June, when the ditches were creamy with meadowsweet and the air heavy with all the scents of summer; it was a day of peculiar splendor, and though I had been there so often, in so many moods, it was to that first visit that my heart returned on this, my latest.

That day, too, I had come not knowing my destination. It was Eights Week. Oxford--submerged now and obliterated, irrecoverable as Lyonnesse, so quickly have the waters come flooding in--Oxford, in those days, was still a city of aquatint. In her spacious and quiet streets men walked and spoke as they had done in Newman's day; her autumnal mists, her grey springtime, and the rare glory of her summer days--such as that day--when the chestnut was in flower and the bells rang out high and clear over her gables and cupolas, exhaled the soft airs of centuries of youth. It was this cloistral hush which gave our laughter its resonance, and carried it still, joyously, over the intervening clamour...

Word in 2007 advises that those sentences are too long and I should consider revising. Hahahaa that's a nice picture of the halcyon days of any of our fond memories of youth, where everything is brushed with gold, isn't it?

That's Door Number 1 of 9.

I'm narrowing my list to

1. Brideshead Revisited

2. Housekeeping

Two great choices, Deems, it's going to be hard to decide, and we can only pick one: what makes you choose the Robinson? I must find these books, am looking foward to Wednesday and my outing. I just found my carefully made list right here in the pile on my desk, fat lot of good that did me Thursday. hahaaha

I've gotten to where it helps to make a list but when you forget it then what can you say? hahahaa

My goodness Ginny, how the quote brings the book back into my mind - I can even hear Jeremy Iron's voice as I read -but you do make me wonder about WORD's view of a healthy dose of Proust!

I'm almost sure Brideshead will get my vote - you convinced me right at the beginning although I resisted even peeking into the book itself and haven't looked at the DVD as yet.

The only other possibility I see is the House of Paper - mainly because the bibliomania aspect suits my mood at present.

ME TOO! Me too me too me too, I can hear Jeremy Irons tho as you read on (and who could resist?) it fades, isn't that interesting?

And isn't it interesting that WORD dislikes the sentences? I wonder what that says about our modern language and ADD? InfoBytes, etc.

If we choose that one, those of you who see the DVD can say whether the characters influence you the same way? Or you can say so if we don't choose it. hahaha

me too on the House of Paper, but we need to see some of the text before deciding, either way it's a fabulous slate. I remember the first time I put down the Pearl Buck series and thought, this is just the greatest thing I ever read.

And we've never read Buck here. The first woman Nobel Prize winner, never read her: that seems a pity. I am not thinking we've read Ferber either and she sure has some of the best books going, she's not all Hollywood Musicals, I think she got a Nobel? At any rate, not sure on that one, her So Big is unreal. OR so I thought when I first read it, it's about sibling rivalry and a mother favoring one son over the other. We've never read Lewis either: Babbitt, Arrowsmith (I'm afraid to re-read Arrowsmith which I once thought was the greatest book I ever read), Main Street (I'd like to take that one up again with Our Town, some day). I once hated Our Town with a passion, now that I'm getting on as they say I'd like to revisit it.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. Maybe we need an Oldies Revisited Book Group.

I think that Pearl would really be a long committment since I would want to read or reread the trilogy. I admired her greatly when I was younger. She started the original interasian adoptions..She lived in Pennsylvania as she grew older.

I do not like to start in the middle of a trilogy. I love Pearl Buck's writing very much. If we had time to do volumes one, two, three, I would immediately pick Pearl Buck.

I'm waiting to read more about the following from those who nominated:
Blackbird House or Leeway Cottage; those both look like excellent choices.

If no one else has time to post anything in a few days, I'll search B&N and Amazon for some more quotes.
Clicking on the header does give a lot of information.

IMO, Brideshead Revisted is too dense to discuss in just one month (I read it last summer) and it could slide over to a Great Books choice, if enough readers think that would work.

Sorry to wait so late. I will give the opening lines of both Leeway Cottage by Beth Gutcheon and Blackbird House by Alice Hoffman.

"It was said that boys should go on their first sea voyage at the age of ten, but surely this notion was never put forth by anyone's mother. If the bay were to be raised one degree in temperature for every woman who had lost the man or child she loved at sea, the water would have boiled, throwing off steam even in the dead of winter, poaching the bluefish and herrings as they swam."

Alice Hoffman's writing is so imaginative. The examples she uses to describe a mother's pain, one where the ocean plays a major part makes my heart shrink a couple of inches. I feel the pain. I hurt for the mothers who see husbands and fathers and sons go to sea. How could the sea, so beautiful one moment become something so treacherous the next moment? With Alice Hoffman's few lines I am left with questions, not answers. I want to know how these people survive. Maybe their way of surviving heartache will give me another method or methods to use in my life because love often takes more than it gives.

"The funeral is over. The ashes, in matching urns, are on the mantelpiece. There is no way to know whose last will or testament is in force, so they have decided to close the house as always, and leave it for the winter. Next summer, when the flood tides of memories and mourning currently swamping them have receded, they will be better able to cope.

They have decided that each of them will take home one thing from Leeway for the winter, for comfort. They are going through the house somberly, saying their goodbyes in their different ways, each looking for one object that will keep the dead alive and close a little longer."

"Matching urns" hits my eyes first. There is a double amount, if I may put it that way, of emotional pain for this family to deal with at the same time. There is also a confusion about the will. I ask myself is my "house" in order for the unexpected day or night that comes into every life? Am I still afraid to look at the inevitable?

Then, there are the inanimate objects that mean so much, the belongings like the pin shaped like a frog, the glass jar filled with buttons or just an address book where you can still find a loved ones handwriting. Where is it? What is it? Do I still have it? If it is lost, can I find it again? That object, no matter how silly, tiny, squeaky, will take a part of the sadness away. That cookie jar or whatever will become my security blanket for just awhile.

__________________________________________________________________

These are just my thoughts about the opening lines of the books. My thoughts could very well differ from the thoughts of other posters. You can make your personal decision by reading the opening lines of the book.

The books are neither morbid or sad. Both books are about love and life. The issues we face everyday.

Wow wow wow, Hats, thank you SO much, this is great, and it's clear we have some incredible choices, definitely looks like a WIN/ WIN situation for all of us no matter what we choose!

THANK you!

My PBS schedule lists Bleak House for the last two Sundays in April.

My two cents having written more than one sentence myself that Word's grammar program suggested I might "think about revising."

Grrrrr.

The grammar program isn't very sophisticated though it's better than it was five years ago. Because language is such a tricky thing, it is very difficult to write a halfway decent grammar program that will work under all circumstances. The current one misses real errors such as subject verb disagreement in my students' papers IF the subject and the verb are separated by other words. Same reason that my students make the mistake; the program apparently loses track of the subject.

One of the guidelines in Word's program is that modern sentences are shorter than, say, the sentences in Charles Dickens' novels. So. . . if you copy some sentences from Dickens, you're guaranteed to get a lot of those green squiggly lines that suggest revision. Waugh's sentences are a little too complicated for Word's tastes.

Grrrr.

Why Robinson, Ginny? She's a wonderful writer and Housekeeping is excellent. I've only read the first couple chapters, but I know a number of people who have taught the novel.

The book choices sure do sound interesting.

Been trying to Find Housekeeping in used form, but am probably having to go and buy it new. I do want to read it no matter what..

Housekeeping is on its way to my library from one of the branches. Should have it by Friday.

Welcome, Annie3, they sure do. I went to B&N yesterday and found Housekeeping and will type about a page in here later today. I also read the Amis book and I think I need to pass on that one this time, it's....hard to describe but I don't think it's in the same league (I nominated it) as the others or maybe, Babe, I am not in the mood for slang. Whatever, it's off my list and Housekeeping is going to need more than a line or two.

Can't find House of Paper and like everything else that you can't have, I'm now dying to see it. Am going tomorrow to B&N in Greenville where I hope to find it.

I made the huge mistake of picking up Shantaram, read half a page and was totally hooked, by the author, the premise and I understand the recent movie was a bomb but the book is DEFINITELY not. If I can tear self away from it I'll post to it in the Book Nook.

More coming!

Ginny - Shantaram is a chunk to chew, but it really caught my interest. I could not wait to find out what happened to the various characters of which there are a few to keep track of. The author sounds like an interesting person.

Homer has an independent bookstore which I dearly love and support. It is a good thing there is not a "big" bookstore in town as I would be bankrupt and plowing my way through stacks of books within my house. I cannot resist books. I guess the addiction could be a whole lot worse.

Kathy

Brideshead has been at the top of my list since forever, but I'm pushing myself to look at some of the others. House of Paper sounds intriging as it is a book about books. (I liked Shadow of the Wind) But I'm not a fan of magical realism -- will have to look at that a bit more. Harcourt's excerpt

Hats, thanks for the notes on Leeway Cottage and Blackbird House. Those are two others to investigate.

Re:Bleak HOuse -- I bought the three dvd set. It's on loan right now to another SeniorNetter, but if anyone would like to borrow it when she is finished, just email me. It's really excellent.

I have Brideshead in hand.. Found Blackbird House at my paperback swap and that is on the way.. Still looking for Housekeeping. I really think the Dickins should be out.. OHHHH my Bookmarks came.. I had subscribed and was waiting sort of patiently for it.. I was not yet at the books at the beach, so am not in the lovely picture, but the article is a knock out.. Its all marked up in the review section with things I want to read.. Sigh.. Now to figure out how not to sleep to get through my stacks and stacks of books.

STEPHANIE, that's right! You were not there! So glad your Bookmarks came!

Thank you for that link, Pedln, I'm going to read it carefully, canNOT find the book anywhere but am going to try today again. I hope to type in the first page of Housekeeping.

I really don't think we can do the Dickens in a month, and we do want to conclude in one month as that's the goal of this discussion and we need to have our wits about us, those of us tackling the Seven Sisters, that thing is just going to be SO fun!

I just heard we're to have thunderstorms here tonight so I'll put in Housekeeping before I leave today.

Kathy! So good to see you here! I think Shantaram might qualify also (would it?) as a Read Around the World choice. It's a sprawling wonder. I have two days off in the week, today and tomorrow and I am going to delve into it and hope I can come out, I am fascinated by it.

I'll let everybody know in the Book Nook about that and the Cusk!

Meanwhile, thank you ALL for your thoughts and your links and we'll lack only the Robinson I think of the top contenders? I like this in that we have a better idea before going in of what's going on in the book.

Getting down to the wire, let me go type Housekeeping after I get some papers graded before the storm hits.

Everybody is talking about Shantaram. Those are good words I hear and read too. Ginny and Kathy, what's Shantaram about? Well, I've got an appointment. I will come back soon.

What's Shantaram is about? hahaha Golly, THAT'S the 64 dollar question!!

Just reading the bio of the author on the back reads like science fiction, I'll know more tomorrow, if I can drag myself back in the real world. I may hate it! I'll say more in the morning.

Ok here is the first page of Mariylnne Robinson's Housekeeping. The Picador paperback edition has a super photo of a train track leading off into nowhere, very evocative.

As a child I loved to stand in front of the subway and watch the tracks as it became the El but anyway here it is:

My name is Ruth. I grew up with my younger sister, Lucille, under the care of my grandmother, Mrs. Sylvia Foster, and when she died, of her sisters-in-law, Misses Lily and Nona Fisher. Through all these generations of elders we lived in one house, my grandmother's house, built for her by her husband, Edmund Foster, an employee of the railroad, who escaped this world years before I entered it. It was he who put us Middle West, in a house dug out of the ground, with windows just at earth level and just at eye level, so that from without, the house was a mere mound, no more a human stronghold than a grave, and from within, the perfect horizontality of the world in that place foreshortened the view so severely that the horizon seemed to circumscribe the sod house and nothing ore. So my grandfather began to read what he could find of......(2nd page) travel literature, journals of expeditions to the mountains of Africa, to the Alps, the Andes, the Himalayas, the Rockies.

Ginny: Sounds very interesting (spoken with an Arte Johnson accent!).

I find Housekeeping interesting because Ruth, if I am comprehending correctly, grows up in a household of women. Edmund Foster had died, leaving the sod house as a shelter for the women.

Pedln, thank you for the Harcourt excerpt link. I love the excerpt. What a good book.

I have changed my mind for the twenty-first time. I would love, love to read House of Paper. I am reading the excerpt. I would find it hard to put down this book, a book about books. Isn't the author an international author too? Ginny, did you find this book? I think you were going to Greensville?

Oh wow, we are all over this thing arent we. Housekeeping is a definite read for me.. no matter what we decided. Wild..

OH MY GOSH~!! Thank you Pedln!!!! I'm totally hooked.

Hats, I did go to Greenville and bought too much for the baby at B&N but nary a whiff of House of Paper, I'm going to let my fingers do the walking today, and will report back this evening if I've been able to find it because after reading Pedln's excerpt, I must have it.

Is this something or it is something? I mean I found myself after reading that, wanting to talk about the ISSUES, don't you?

Gotta have it, and of course only one can win, but personally we may want to read them all. And that does not mean we can't read another down the road together, too, and maybe we need to have these Houseboat selections more often, at the present they are intended as quarterly but we could step that up a bit.

I like this "reading group" as it's for fun and you can relax and enjoy, just as you would in person, but we always learn quite a lot because of the participants and what they bring to the table: it's a feast of the mind.

And don't leave us in June, I must hear everybody's take on the Seven Sisters. We really are in for quite a treat this spring.

Well we vote Monday, and I'm leaning precariously every day in a different direction, which will it be?

I like the idea of reading them all...

Maybe we should? And our only burden will be to vote on which one next? I like that?

What about Pearl Buck? Would we read the whole trilogy???

May be that's a silly question.

Why not? There are no better books! Has everybody here read all three?

I have read The Good Earth. I haven't read the other two book. I didn't know Pearl Buck had written a trilogy.

Yes that first one The Good Earth, continues the story of the family and the family fortunes, it's fabulous.

NO local bookseller has House of Paper, I must order it.

Oh, I've just caught up. The Pearl Buck trilogy. I'd sign up for it in an instant. I've only read The Good Earth which I had to read in high school. It was one of my favorite books that then. I'd certainly read it again plus the other two.

Super! It sounds to me like a ringing Resolution to read them all, and we can decide the order, perhaps we won't want to read the Amis book or maybe we will! I like this!

Yes it's high time we read Pearl Buck, the first woman to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature, let's do it!

Well we've already got our first April Fool, we vote SUNDAY!! The day after tomorrow!!!

I thought Monday was April 1, wow.

April fool.. makes it 19 years ago that I quit smoking.. Hooray for me.. Dont even miss it.. But oh boy at the beginning, that was really the hardest thing I had done.. wow.

Stephanie: Congratulations. Look how much money you have saved, to buy books! Funny, when I smoked I thought everyone else did too but when I quit it was amazing to see how few smokers there were. And this was more than 40 years ago. Made my (then) husband furious that I could quit and he couldn't. He smoked his whole life. How many ex-smokers do we have here, I wonder. Seems to be an age thing, most of the smokers I see are seniors.

I quit four years ago. I still enjoy the smell of someone smoking but I will never go back to it...knock on wood. I'm anxious to see which book will be chosen, it will be fun to read along with the rest. They all look so good it will be hard to choose. I read the Pearl Buck books a long time ago with my Mom but I've forgotten most of them now.

For me, it's been 24 years.

It's interesting that Jackie sees older people smoking, and I see young ones...esp. when we travel to the South. I was surprised to have a doctor in south Texas I'd gone to for an upper respiratory thing ask me first off if I smoked. Then I realized how many young people I saw in that area who smoked. Far more common there than here in the upper midwest.Iowa just added $1.00 a pack additional cig tax so smoking here has gotten VERY expensive.

I'm looking forward to the vote starting tomorrow to see which of the wonderful nominations will be the May choice for a discussion.

jane

Aha, a vote tomorrow, but oh my I must confess that I still do not know which one to vote for.

Library came through and gave me Housekeeping and Blackbird House! If we're reading them all, why vote? we can start at the beginning and just go through to the end.

Oh let's vote!! Because sometimes you feel like a nut and sometimes you don't, and this way we'll be reading what we have chosen!

We're to have terrible thunderstorms here starting at 2-4 am and going all day.

I'm not going to make it till 2 am so I'm going to post the ballot now and ask Jane to put it in the heading and in the Book Nook tomorrow if I don't appear, if she will and I'll write her too, but here it is, it's Jane's own fine handiwork: (just click on any of the colorful words!)

Heeere's the Ballot! Vote for One, voting closes April 8!

You mean I have to make a decision? Curses, foiled again.

Thank you, Jane. I love the pretty colors. I am ready to vote, I think. Ginny, I hope it's alright to post this article. May be you have posted it earlier. I might have missed it. These books are voted as the top 100 novels or books. Brideshead Revisited is listed first. I am not trying to influence votes. If I shouldn't have posted the link, at this time, please tell me.

100 Novels (Times magazine)

Works for me, post anything you'd like, how interesting, you might want (I'm just on) if you have not to post that in the Book Nook.

Thank you Jane, the voting is off with a roar!! WHAT book will win this time??

Remember any book we choose must be able to be read in ONE MONTH only!

I think we could read Brideshead Revisited in one month. Am I wrong?

Which Ginny.. Is she wrong or yes we could read it in one month. I did my duty and voted..

I think so too. Oh, I am repeating myself. Excuse.

I think we can read Brideshead in one month but I have to be honest and say Bleak House MAY be out of our 30 day range, you'd want to do justice to it and I'm not sure it's possible in 30 days, it's quite long and better suited for the Great Books delving over several months, I think.

I mean we took a year with the Odyssey and seems like about that long for the Iliad. The Odyssey was the first Great Books read on SeniorNet and the Iliad was not done in the Great Books. We took several months on The Ancient Mariner but it was also not done under GB.

A month, however, posting 30 days on one book is quite a long time and should be sufficient for most of the others, I think?

THIS group can't run several months and so we really need something we can finish in a month.

I missed the Odyssey and the Illiad. I regret missing both discussions. I intend, one day, to go over the books in the Archives.

Hats, I'm with you. I missed both the Odyssey and the Illiad, and now that I'm taking Latin I know I want to read them someday.

It's a good thing we have a week to make up our minds. Now, which would be a great one to carry to New York for ten days?

Pedln, I think everybody has taken Latin accept me. I would love to be in a class with you. I bet you are enjoying Latin. For some reason, whereever I turn to read whether out the house or in I find something written about Latin. I had no realization that Latin was so important. Now I do know the significance of Latin.

Hats: Beginning Latin will be offered again in the Fall with registration beginning this summer. You can check here

http://www.seniornet.org/php/default.php?PageID=7361

to see when an announcement is posted and I can send you an email about registration when it opens, if you'd like?

Pedln, thank you. I would love for you to send an email as a reminder. I will look forward to it. Thank you.

Hats: I do the registration for the Latin classes and conduct the "orientation," so glad to add you to the waiting list email to be notified when registration opens.

jane

Hate: I'm going to try Latin for the third time. first time was a bust because of work issues; the hospital was due for accreditation and we were in crisis mode to make sure that all documentation was current. Second time, a lump was found in my breast. well, that was enough of a shock BUT my best friend has just died from breast cancer. Needless to say, Latin went by the wayside. This time, nothing is going to stop me. So, we can do Latin together. Want to set up a study group? We can meet at my house

Mrs. Sherlock, I didn't know about your health issues. I didn't know you were taking Latin either. The idea of a study group is great. The study group can meet at my apartment too. We will have lots of fun. I just don't want to make any promises. I want to take one step at a time. Like a baby, first steps are a bit frightening.

Pedln, is going to email a reminder about spring registration. When I take that step, I will feel my wobbly steps getting stronger. I do want to learn Latin.

Hoo, a very healthy vote this morning and a THREE WAY TIE! This is going to be interesting!

Every vote counts, and voting ends at midnight April 8, Eastern Time.

Hats & Mrs. Sherlock: I'm taking Latin here and I just love it. There is a place for students to study together already set up - the Student Lounge! Cool, isn't that?! You can get together outside of class and discuss whatever you want.

Who does not love Latin, what a joy our classes are.

Our own Jane is the Registrar and a very fine one she is, too, so she'll as she noted above, be glad to put anybody on a waiting list for the Fall!

A three way tie at the moment!!!

This is like watching a horse race, now one has pulled ahead of the pack, and is inching out ahead! We have 4 more days in which you can cast your thoughtful vote, we're going to read them all anyway (or those we can discuss in a month) but this will just pick the first one in order, vote today!

Which horse is in the lead, Ginny? Can you give a tiny hint?

I've finished Blackbird House and am Housekeeping.

No better not! Don't want to tip the scales in any way! hahahaa Just trying to add excitement here but the three way tie is over. This morning, but we have 4 more days!

How did you like it, Mrs. Sherlock?

I would like to know whether Mrs. Sherlock liked "Housekeeping." Which book came out to be your first choice?

Hats: Haven't finished Housekeeping yet but I like it so far. Blackbird House was an interesting premise but I don't like Alice Hoffman's characters very much. Housekeeping's characters are very likable. Brideshead's characters are mysterious; I never knew what they would get up to next. I'm not a Dickens fan so haven't read Bleak House but I will watch it on PBS' Masterpiece Theater the last two Sundays of April. The others are on my library reserve list except the House of Paper. Is this author boycotted because of his political views? I wonder how we could find out.

I have both Blackbird House and Brideshead, but still want Housekeeping. I love what I have read about it.

Finally read Beach House; I missed it when the group read it earlier. Great read; I want to move there and marry Brett and live in Primrose House and be a Turtle Lady.

She has a new sequel out to that one, too, Mrs. Sherlock, she's just written us about it and is on tour with it right now!

She also has a new chidren's book out about turtles and the turtle rescue they do on the Isle of Palms, the photographer is her friend Barbara Bergwerf, the State Aquarium photographer whom we also met at the Isle of Palms.

Well this morning one front runner from our 9 candidates in our horse race (horses, houses, nothing like mixed metaphors haahaha) is pounding down the home stretch, having left the others somewhat behind, but we've got 3 more days and anything can happen. A very healthy vote, indeed, we can feel good about whatever is selected.

The vote continues very healthy, a lovely vote and tomorrow at midnight Eastern Time the vote will conclude and we'll announce a winner here Monday morning!

Hah. I am here, it is 9:05 and where are the results. Sleepy head..

Stephanie..Where are you? It's only 7:50 am here in the midwest???

We are out in the coach in 'Tybee Island Georgia. Cold.. about 50 and sunny.. and my clock ( notoriously not accurate) says 8:55am..We are off in a while to find more coffee ( my husband travels on where the coffee places are) and explore the island, which has both a river and the ocean..and lots and lots of crabs, which rank as one of my all time favorite foods.

Oh pass the crab cake sandwiches, Tybee is a super island but give me a Daufuskee Crab Sandwich any day: one of my favorite things on earth.

This morning we DO have a winner! There was a very healthy vote of 33 votes cast and Brideshead Revisited is the clear winner this time (it's like the Oscars, we're going to read all of them anyway...all that can be completed in one month.....) and so I guess you'd say this morning the Oscar "goes to" Bridehead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh!

I am secretly quite pleased although I have never read the book I have started it and am well into it. It's the kind of book you stop once it gets past the introduction and savor. We'll need ALL hands on deck and a lot of people ready with background material and dictionaries to tackle this one, we really ARE going to need your help, but what a MAY DAY we'll have! Can't think of anything I'd rather escape with, or any group better to discuss it with.

As always we'll take it in sections to DISCUSS, but you might want to read it first in the coming 3 weeks on your own, either way, it's going to be a treat!

I have the lovely Everyman's Library version, with marker, etc., it's going to be a pleasure and don't sit back, we'll need YOU for this one, so please plan to spend May with us under the trees reading Brideshead Revisited: if only for a little while we can revisit Arcadia, ourselves.

Well, Hoorah!! Count me in, I'll definitely be there on May 1. That will mean three books going to New York, but not the laptop -- can't manage that along with everything else on public transportation from LaGuardia to the lower East Side. But there'll be lots of reading time as we spend four days in a cabin on Fire Island.

Now, forget the bread, just pass the crabcakes.

Ginny, do we get to know what Brideshead beat out? At one point it was a close race.

It's 10.03 pm on Monday here - Been waiting all day....

Am very happy about the vote for Brideshead. Such a good book

As for crabs YUM - here, among others, we have the Blue Manna Crab - succulent and sweet - I'll look for some tomorrow.

Please count me in.
I must say that I have mixed feelings about the book, which I read perhaps 2 years ago. I liked
the DVDs better than the book, incidently. Mixed fellings are ok, right?

p.s. I won't be joining the May discussion until May 7th, as we'll be on the road for our annual migration from
Florida to Cape Cod (MA), just like the birds.

Count me in, too. I'm reading so many books at the same time right now that my head may start to swim. But I should be somewhat freed up by May. I will have to catch up, but I will.

I'll be there, reading it again will help me understand it better. Some of it is quite clear but other parts I struggled with. I'll check the DVDs out of the library.

Yes, where did the others rank? I would like to know too.

Oh wonderful, this is so exciting!!!

I am so glad you all will be joining us and all opinions, pro, con and mixed are more than welcome! YAY! Watch the 25th Anniversary DVD's or don't watch them: your choice! If you do you will be influenced as to the characters, I warn you that. Maybe we could add on another small discussion comparing the film and the book or talking about how well the film portrayed the book at the end of this discussion like we did with Remains of the Day. The BOOK is different in some strange places, I am just now seeing little things. I really look forward to exploring it with you!!! You'll need to bring everything you can get your hands on too, we'll wade thru it together!

As to the order, Brideshead was first with 36.4% of the vote, Housekeeping was second with 21.2% of the vote, Bleak House was third with 12.1% of the vote and the Hoffman and the House of Paper both had 9.1 percent of the vote among the top vote getters. For a long time it was a three way tie between Brideshead, Housekeeping and Bleak House but then for some reason Brideshead began to pull ahead and some of the others began to pick up and it really was fun to watch.

Where is Hats?!?

I am really excited about reading Brideshead, just can't wait! Since we already have a quorum we can skip the pre discussion and move right into the Coming Attractions. I'll get a heading up asap. I will probably use (and probably get arrested) some shots from the movie unless you all would prefer we not.

YAHOO!! I really am excited about this one, because I KNOW it's a good book but so were they all, now YOU, our readers will make it a discussion to remember!

Post the pictures by all means. Do you have the 1945 edition, Ginny? I found one online so ordered it. I'm reserving the DVDs at the library, not sure I want to own them. I'm excited, too. This book ensnared me from the beginning. Where is Hats?

Where is Waldo? I am here. I didn't feel well yesterday, fine today. Now, I have to do my cheerleader dance. I hope you can see me.

Rah, Rah, Rah, Jump, Jump, Breathe, Split, Turn and Shake, Hurrrrrrrrrrrah for Brideshead Revisited!!!!

I am exhausted!!

Stephanie, have fun on your trip.

Hats: Don't you think the pyramid is excessive, especially standing on your hands? I swear I could see your underpants!

Row, row, row your boat,
Gently down the stream.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
Life is but a dream.

But a dream, but a dream...

Mrs. Sherlock, no one can tell whether we are in tune or out of tune. Thank goodness!!

Wow. the crabs on Tybee are made of solid gold for sure. The prices are seriously outrageous. Count me in for an off and on reading. We will be leaving on the 15th of May for our long six week journey in the motor coach. Going north and visiting, Kentucky, Indian, Michigan, Wisconsin and down down down, Maybe Missouri.. Hard to be exact since we tend to duck and turn in various spots. Have a lovely lovely Wisconsin list from another senior netter.. I read Brideshead years ago and hated it, but will retry to read again.

THERE is HATS! Hoorah! And Stephanie going to her own Arcadia!

You HATED it? Good! The more the merrier, we'll all seque into an Arcadia, an Arcadia in aqua tint, I can't wait. I have no idea what he means by that aqua tint stuff, can't wait. I hope we get 100 different interpretations and that Hats feels better!

Ok good good Mrs. Sherlock it would seem you have the original edition. My Everyman says "The edition reprinted here contains Waugh's revisions, made in 1959, and his preface to the revised edition."

I am noticing he seems a little irritated about the edition changes, so we'll compare. I'd say get the 1959 and up and those of you who have his original, we'll compare. If the author himself made changes, we'll want to note what they are and why, what fun, who KNEW? OR if you can get both of them, help us compare!

The actual date of publication of my Brideshead text is 1993. Oh boy already we have a bit of a mystery!!

I was delighted to pick this book up today and tell it IT'S our choice!!

Love it, hate it or not understand it, it's OURS on May Day, everybody please do plan to bring your own interpretations and take on what's being said.

I was reading yesterday about Castle Howard, where the film Brideshead Revisited was shot. They have made an exhibit there of the filming but what struck me is that Castle Howard is still in family hands. I recommend going to the original site and reading about what they are doing to keep that...by anybody's standards... mammoth pile in the family, in the face of the death duties and horrendous taxes that have caused so many huge old mansions to fall from the families.

One of the places in the filming had been in the same family 600 years, was it Tatton ? I'll have to look that back up, but the National Trust has it now. I do think that's one of the issues in the book. We have such a view of these huge places, but for most of us our view is tinted in aqua tint, too, isn't it? Seems so romantic, but how would you like to be Bridey and inherit something you have no hope of keeping? I am quite interested in the attitude of Lord Marchmain but I'll hold till we get there.

This is going to be just super! So much to discuss, we'll run out of time before we run out of ideas! Everybody sign in, I'll have the new discussion up this Monday!