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too much of a good thing. and then, not enough.
Before I report on my word count (and let me say first, it's not what I hoped for), a request.
I was asked to come up with a list of historical novels that would lend themselves to being discussed by a bookclub. All women, all very smart and discerning. So I sat down and thought and thought and put titles on the list and took them off. My criteria: a novel that worked for me personally (it's my list, okay?), a variety of settings and subjects, voices/approaches, and my sense that there's a lot to talk about. And now I have fourteen titles, where I'm only supposed to have ten. I'm sure that I'll think of another ten that should be on the list, but really what I have to do right now is take off four.
So, what do you think of this list? What should go, and why? Personal preferences are perfectly fine, but please do tell me what it is that makes you turn away from a particular title -- whether you've read it or not.
The list is in alphabetic order, so I don't give away my own leanings.
- A Soldier of the Great War - Helprin (Italy, WWI)
- Aztec - Jennings (Mexico, Invasion/Conquest)
- Cuba Libre - Leonard (Cuba, Spanish-American war)
- Hearts and Bones - Lawrence (Maine, 1789)
- Julian - Vidal (Rome, 4th century)
- Lonesome Dove - McMurtry (the west, late 1800s)
- Niccolo Rising - Dunnett (Bruges, 15th century)
- Sacred Hunger - Unsworth (the Middle Passage, 17th century)
- The Dress Lodger - Holman (Victorian London)
- The English Patient - Ondaatje (northern Africa, Italy, WWII)
- The French Lieutenant's Woman - Fowles (Victorian England)
- The Physician - Gordon (London, Europe, Persia, 11th century)
- Thread of Grace - Russell (northern Italy, WWII)
- White Doves at Morning - Burke (Louisiana, Civil War)
I know what you're going to say. No Asia. I can't come up with anything I like enough to put on this list, but I'm sure I'm forgetting many titles. And if you're wondering why Byatt's Possession isn't on the list, I think it may just be too much for a bookclub to bite off.
Okay, so I'm still short 2,000 words this week -- but I've got until tomorrow evening. Never mind that I have to make crab cakes from scratch for twelve good, dear friends, all of whom will descend on us tomorrow evening at six. Never mind the weeding, the ironing, the quilt I'm desperately trying to piece, the fact that the girlchld has to be driven hither and yon, and the puppy boys who need my attention. 2,000 words, by tomorrow evening.
June 11, 2005 10:08 AM
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Comments
Ohhhh, you listed A Sacred Hunger! I love that book. Whatever you do, don't take that off. It offers so much food for thought.
I also loved Lonesome Dove. What a ripping good yarn it is, among other things.
Personally, I'd take off The English Patient, but only because I disliked the self-conscious, rather florid writing style. (And I speak as someone who enjoyed Moby Dick, so it's not as if florid, non-linear books scare me.) The story itself was pretty fascinating. It certainly took some liberties with history, but in an interesting way that had me looking up who the real English Patient was.
Any way I can get you to sub this with Pat Barker's Regeneration?
I know, I know, you need to trim, not to have the peanut gallery offer up more suggestions.
Posted by: Candy at June 11, 2005 12:33 PM
Candy -- Will you hate me if I say that Regeneration didn't really work for me? I mean, it's beautifully written and all, but it just didn't stick with me long term (the way Sacred Hunger did, for instance).
There are some titles on the list that would be easier for me to cut than others. I'll wait to see if anybody else has an opinion before I name them.
Posted by: sara at June 11, 2005 01:09 PM
We read Here Be Dragons by Sharon Penman for a book club. Not everyone was happy with it at first, but it definitely provided great discussion, and nearly everyone liked it at the end.
Posted by: Marg at June 11, 2005 06:12 PM
What, you didn't ABSOLUTELY LOVE Regeneration?
*whips out shotgun and molotov cocktails*
Nahhhh, I don't expect everyone to love all the books I do. At least you didn't hate it because it contained gay characters, or because Pat Barker, a mere woman, dared to write about WWI.
Posted by: Candy at June 11, 2005 06:33 PM
Yay I can comment! Now, what was I gonna comment?
Oh yeah - I recommend losing English Patient. (Some of the most pretentious prose ever, imo, and characters that I couldn't possibly care less about. And I LOVE his poetry - I just think he can't tell a story worth a damn.) Also - Lonesome Dove. I found it boring. But hey - maybe that's just me.
Keep Fowles at all costs, and I recommend wedging in Here Be Dragons (love Penman's Welsh trilogy) if you can find a place for it - it's such an easy but meaty read, appeals to a broad audience.
And thanks for reminding me I wanna read Aztec!
Posted by: Beth at June 11, 2005 08:03 PM
Well, see? Even in this small place and just a few people, The English Patient engenders real conversation.
Because Beth, sorry, but I loved it. For the language and the imagery, and for a lot of other things. Which we could talk about (or debate, maybe is the better word) if we were in a bookgroup, and we had this book on the list.
Marg- I tried to read Here by Dragons at some point, and couldn't get too far with it. I put that down to my mood entirely. I'll try it again.
And Candy: I write about gay characters, and about WWI (Homestead, under my Other Name). So really, that would be very bad of me to dislike anybody on that basis.
Posted by: sara at June 11, 2005 08:53 PM
I am so glad you included The Physician.
A friend gave me this book as a birthday gift when I was working in Germnay, so I first read it in German, then many years later in English.
Since then I have read other Noah Gordon books, but none have had the impact or enjoyment for me as The Physician.
Sorry, I know we are supposed to help you decide which books to leave off the list, but had to comment please leave The Physician on!
Posted by: Alison at June 13, 2005 05:53 PM