GF Book Club - Book 2

[Guido]

Right, i've gone through my 'to be read' pile of about 100 frickin books and tried to pick out a shorter novel this time to help more people to get involved with the discussion and/or finish it within the month. I've settled on Sylvia Plath's 'The Bell Jar', which looks ace.

 

Under £4 on Amazon and only 234 pages long, meaning those of us reading other stuff should be better able to fit this in. Discussion starting weekend of 23rd/24th October if that's good for everyone.

 

Someone inside the matrix sticky this for us please.

[RedinSweden]

Also, if you are buying it from amazon, use the forum link so the site gets some cash.

 

As for the book, this is absolutely nothing like a book i would choose, so it will be interesting to see what its like.

[Guido]

Yeh, thought it might be a bit different for a few people, but i chose it anyway as it's supposedly very accessible and engaging, despite any 'high-brow' notions people may have about it.

[Woo]

Definitely reading this one. I've still got Transition sat there at home, and will read that, too, just haven't had the time.

[RedinSweden]

Yeh, thought it might be a bit different for a few people, but i chose it anyway as it's supposedly very accessible and engaging, despite any 'high-brow' notions people may have about it.

 

Cool. I am really looking forward to it. i hope to be able to get it at lunch time, as i work round the corner from a massive bookshop.

[L19red]

Read it about 20 years ago and its still on the shelf so it has survived numerous clear outs. Very good choice.

 

If you dont know anything about the author it will be worth at least reading her wiki profile as well because a discussion of The Bell Jar really needs that context.

[Guido]

Read it about 20 years ago and its still on the shelf so it has survived numerous clear outs. Very good choice.

 

If you dont know anything about the author it will be worth at least reading her wiki profile as well because a discussion of The Bell Jar really needs that context.

 

Good call. Especially true in this case as it's her only novel and is semi-autobiographical. Would always recommend at least a brief look at biography/context with any author though. Even a 5-minute read of Wiki adds so much more to any text.

[rubble-rouser]

In-Diddly-din. Never read it. I think I always thought it was a collection of poetry.

[RedinSweden]

Book located and purchased. Will get started immediately. Cut it a bit fine with the last one.

[Guido]

I'll get cracking this week too. Just joined the literature network website forum (and their book club), so have Blood Meridian to read in October on top of this, The Master and Margarita and finishing off Fathers and Sons and Swann's Way. My eyes!

[Paul]

Can I now nominate Guido as the GF's resident literary/high brow dude? This shit's my job but I'm nowhere near his league.

[Anubis]

Definitely reading this one. I've still got Transition sat there at home, and will read that, too, just haven't had the time.

 

Transition is ace. I highly recommend it.

[Guido]

Can I now nominate Guido as the GF's resident literary/high brow dude? This shit's my job but I'm nowhere near his league.

 

Nah. The likes of Camus and Kafka got me into reading novels when i was about 17 and as such mean quite a lot to me, but the Gormenghast trilogy affected me more than their entire works combined.

[L19red]

Can I now nominate Guido as the GF's resident literary/high brow dude? This shit's my job but I'm nowhere near his league.

 

anyone that is eagerly looking forward to reading Swann's Way is just showing off.

[piscinin]

I'm in.

 

It'd be great if we could rope Dirk and someone with breasts in, so we can do the book full justice.

[RedinSweden]

Nah. The likes of Camus and Kafka got me into reading novels when i was about 17 and as such mean quite a lot to me, but the Gormenghast trilogy affected me more than their entire works combined.

 

Am I the only one picturing Camus and Kafka round at Guido's house telling him to put down his gameboy and read a book.

[Karl_b]

The missus has this on the bookshelf and I have plenty of time on my hands at the minute so I may opt in for this one.

[RedinSweden]

The missus has this on the bookshelf and I have plenty of time on my hands at the minute so I may opt in for this one.

 

Do it! I am already halfway through.

[BatChainPuller]

I'm in.

 

It'd be great if we could rope Dirk and someone with breasts in, so we can do the book full justice.

 

Just what I was thinking. Ordered and really looking forward to it. Something I had meant to read for years but never got around to - a bit of avoidance probably. Dirk's input would be good.

[Guest James D]

No bother, got two of them for some reason.

[Bubble]

Found a copy of this book yesterday when I was looking for something else. I'd forgotten I even had it, but I'm taking it as a sign that I should be in for this one. That's if it's okay with Teacher - I wasn't on the original Book Club list.

[Guido]

Nice one Bubs.

[razor]

Has everyone finished Transition?

 

It took me ages to get a copy, then when I was about 100 pages into it I had to start again as I was confused.

 

I have nearly finished it now. I haven't opened the Book 1 thread in case of spoilers. I'm really enjoying it.

 

I will read The Bell Jar as soon as I have finished. And nothing by Ted Hughes ever...

[Juniper]

Book's been orderd. Looks a good read that, looking forward to it.

 

Have a seven hour journey in a couple weekends, planning on starting and finishing it then.

[Stu Monty]

I remember one of our selected texts for my English A-Level being Six women poets and being the only bloke in the class.

 

*Class read a poem*

 

Teacher: "SO, what do you think that means Stuart?"

 

Troubling times.