BABBLING BOOKS

Tigerlily · Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2006 8:55 pm Post subject: Book Choice Game

Here's something to think about before Never Let Me Go discussions begin. It's from The Reading Group Toolbox Handbook.

Choose three books (books you haven't read), one for a treat, one you'd find a challenge and one you wouldn't touch with a bargepole. Compare what you've chosen and why.

Hmmm need to give this one some thought!

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Reading: Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow by Peter Hoeg
Reading Challenge 2009: 8
2008: 4
2007: 10

miranda · Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2006 5:43 pm Post subject:

What a great question!

I am not sure what you mean by a treat though?

If you haven't read the book how would you know? Is it just one you've been meaning to read for ages or one you are pretty sure you would love? I can choose one for the other two categories fairly easily!
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Currently reading: The Human Stain by Philip Roth
'Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.'

Tigerlily · Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2006 6:07 pm Post subject:

Ok I'm giving this a go. I'm taking 'treat' to mean a book you can't wait to indulge in (with wine at the ready!):

Treat: Under The Skin by Michel Faber

Challenge: Ulysses or Finnegan's Wake by James Joyce

Bargepole, wouldn't touch with: Angel by Katie Price

Received Under The Skin this week from a swapper and can't wait to read it. Have read Crimson Petal & The White by Faber and that was definitely a book to relish with a glass of wine too!

I love relishing 'challenge' books too - they're books to savour.
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Reading: Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow by Peter Hoeg
Reading Challenge 2009: 8
2008: 4
2007: 10

sparkymarky · Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2006 11:08 pm Post subject:

under the skin is a phemonemal book-let me know how you get on....it really turns your worldly perpesctive on its head and is VERY cleverly written-one of the best sci-fi orientated books without being very sci-fi that i have read since spares by michael marshall
smith

miranda · Posted: Sat Aug 26, 2006 10:46 am Post subject:

Ok here goes;

Treat - Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood. I loved Handmaid's Tale and I love historical fiction so I think this one will be a treat.

Challenge - Moby Dick by Herman Melville. A classic I've always wanted to read, but not got round to it (yet!)

Bargepole - Kerry Katona's autobiography.

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Currently reading: The Human Stain by Philip Roth
'Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.'

miranda · Posted: Sat Aug 26, 2006 10:49 am Post subject:

PS I read Ulysses for my English Degree and it was a challenge, but well worth it. Especially if you read it alongside the Homer classic!

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Currently reading: The Human Stain by Philip Roth
'Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.'

Saucy · Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2006 5:30 pm Post subject:

Ok here goes for me:

Treat - The Abortionists Daughter - had this for a couple of months but hve been saving it to take on my honeymoon as it has such good reveiws from everyone (also saving The Island by Victoria Hislop)

Challenge - Mein Kampf by Adolf Hitler - not sure why I want to read this but I hve had it about ten yars and still only managed about one fifth of it.

Bargepole - Autobiography/biography by any reality tv "Star".
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Tigerlily · Posted: Tue Aug 29, 2006 11:01 pm Post subject:

Hehe notice any patterns forming in the 'bargepole' section anyone?

But more importantly, Saucy when are you getting married? Where are you going on Honeymoon? How exciting!!

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Reading: Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow by Peter Hoeg
Reading Challenge 2009: 8
2008: 4
2007: 10

Saucy · Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2006 4:42 pm Post subject:

Tigerlily · Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2006 5:17 pm Post subject:

Ooh enjoy The Maldives Saucy...and congrats! Love the invites, they're fantastic. Did you design them?
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Reading: Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow by Peter Hoeg
Reading Challenge 2009: 8
2008: 4
2007: 10

lovely treez · Posted: Thu Aug 31, 2006 12:24 pm Post subject:

Love the invites Saucy - you look very glam!!
On a completely different subject -

Treat -The Dante Club - Matthew Pearl - this is one I've wanted for ages and eventually got in a swap. It's quite dense, as in lots of literary references and not an easy read so if I ever had a moment to myself I would allow this to be my companion.

Challenge - A quick look at my TBR pile reveals no really challenging works of literature but I'd like to complete Edward Rutherfurd's London which I had out from the library. Three weeks was not enough - too long a tome to cover in one go. If I did manage to read it, I would be able to make more sense of all the historical fiction I've got into recently. (makes note to self, must read more challenging books!)

Bargepole - as mentioned above - the Z list celeb or zeleb autobiographies and some of those confessional tales of abuse. For some reason, before having children, I was able to consume any amount of these books e.g. A Child Called It etc but I can't go near them now - nothing to do with the quality of writing or style but the content.

Mazzystar · Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2007 1:30 pm Post subject:

I know this post started many moons ago but I thought I'd add my 2-pence worth.

Treat: 'We Need to Talk About Kevin'. I've heard so many postive reviews about this through RISI (I think there was difficulty getting hold of a copy off RISI at the time because of the mad rush and lots of good words said about it) and also I missed the month where my book group were going to read and discuss this book when I lived in Nottingham (I was planning my wedding). Have seen it's been discussed on BB too, so am very much looking forward to this one.

Challenge: 'Crime and Punishment'. I can't remember a time that this wasn't on my bookshelf. I bought it as a statement to my good friend 'Dave', who read it and loved it, to say 'I WILL READ THIS VERY SOON'. This was 10 years ago and he was doing a PHD at the time and said it was his favourite ever book. I know he found it tough going and that I will too.

Barge Poll: I think it would have to be 'Digital Fortress' or anything by Dan Brown. It's been on my RISI list forever which reassures me it is not worth reading. It was given to me by my Mother-in-law who I'm sure was just having a clear out and thought she'd give me all her junk. Nuff said.

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My Swap List
Currently reading: Other people's children - Joanna Trollope
Challenge books read: 5

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