Future Book Club Nominees!

[thomasgaffney]

Here is what I have for "official" votes so far (voted in red by Zoners):

Jahbulon = Easy Riders Raging Bulls
tapehead = Easy Riders Raging Bulls
The Todd = Oryx and Crake
darkjedijaina = Sharp Objects
Maui = Sharp Objects
Ribbons = Sharp Objects
DaleTremont = Easy Riders Raging Bulls
Dee E. Goppstober = White Teeth

Easy Riders Raging Bulls = 3 vote(s)
Oryx and Crake = 1 vote(s)
Sharp Objects = 3 vote(s)
White Teeth = 1 vote(s)

[darkjedijaina]

guess gaffers is gonna do a coin toss to see which book we read

[thomasgaffney]

Still waiting to hear back from Lyra.....

[thomasgaffney]

For any late-comers, the nominees are:

Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

Easy Riders, Raging Bulls by Peter Biskind

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood

White Teeth by Zadie Smith

[thebabypanda]

sharp objects


final answer

[thomasgaffney]

UPDATED!

Here is what I have for "official" votes so far (voted in red by Zoners):

Jahbulon = Easy Riders Raging Bulls
tapehead = Easy Riders Raging Bulls
The Todd = Oryx and Crake
darkjedijaina = Sharp Objects
Maui = Sharp Objects
Ribbons = Sharp Objects
DaleTremont = Easy Riders Raging Bulls
Dee E. Goppstober = White Teeth
thebabypanda = Sharp Objects

Easy Riders Raging Bulls = 3 vote(s)
Oryx and Crake = 1 vote(s)
Sharp Objects = 4 vote(s)
White Teeth = 1 vote(s)

EDIT - 30 minutes left for votes.

[Vegeta]

Out of those five, The Lovely Bones sounds the most interesting.

[thomasgaffney]

Out of those five, The Lovely Bones sounds the most interesting.

Great book. Is that a vote?

[stereosforgeeks]

Easy Riders Raging Bulls

[thomasgaffney]

UPDATED! AGAIN!

Here is what I have for "official" votes so far (voted in red by Zoners):

Jahbulon = Easy Riders Raging Bulls
tapehead = Easy Riders Raging Bulls
The Todd = Oryx and Crake
darkjedijaina = Sharp Objects
Maui = Sharp Objects
Ribbons = Sharp Objects
DaleTremont = Easy Riders Raging Bulls
Dee E. Goppstober = White Teeth
thebabypanda = Sharp Objects
stereosforgeeks = Easy Riders Raging Bulls
Vegeta = The Lovely Bones

Easy Riders Raging Bulls = 4 vote(s)
Oryx and Crake = 1 vote(s)
Sharp Objects = 4 vote(s)
White Teeth = 1 vote(s)
The Lovely Bones = 1 vote(s)

EDIT - 17 minutes left for votes.

[Vegeta]

Out of those five, The Lovely Bones sounds the most interesting.

Great book. Is that a vote?

Yes, and since I've started payiong attention to the book club thread I've been a rebel.

In October, I read the "In Cold Blood" instead of "The Crying of lot... whatever".

In November, I went ahead and read "No Country for Old Men" instead of that odd train wreck book.

So no matter the result of the vote, I will likely read "The Lovely Bones"...

[thomasgaffney]

Your vote has been counted, Veg. I'd rather have people reading and participating (even if they have to start their own Lovely Bones thread) than ignoring the Book Forum just because they want to read something other than the majority.

I really liked Lovely Bones. The end is a little weak compared to the rest of the book (IMHO), but still enjoyable!

[Vegeta]

That's cool and understandable.

It's just that Sharp Objects and Easy Riders Raging Bulls don't really interest me. Especially Easy Rider... just reading a non-fiction account of how idiotic and self destructive some of our great filmmakers were in their youth seems, meh. Especially 500+ pages of it.

[darkjedijaina]

Sharp Objects is a really quick book to read, that's why I thought it'd be a great candidate for a BoTM since December is kind of full with things anyway.

[thomasgaffney]

No more votes?

Okay, I got a 2006 South Dakota quarter with Mt. Rushmore on the back. And flipping.....

[thomasgaffney]

FINAL TALLY!

Jahbulon = Easy Riders Raging Bulls
tapehead = Easy Riders Raging Bulls
The Todd = Oryx and Crake
darkjedijaina = Sharp Objects
Maui = Sharp Objects
Ribbons = Sharp Objects
DaleTremont = Easy Riders Raging Bulls
Dee E. Goppstober = White Teeth
thebabypanda = Sharp Objects
stereosforgeeks = Easy Riders Raging Bulls
Vegeta = The Lovely Bones
2006 South Dakota Quarter = Sharp Objects

Easy Riders Raging Bulls = 4 vote(s)
Oryx and Crake = 1 vote(s)
Sharp Objects = 5 vote(s)
White Teeth = 1 vote(s)
The Lovely Bones = 1 vote(s)

[DaleTremont]

That's cool and understandable.

It's just that Sharp Objects and Easy Riders Raging Bulls don't really interest me. Especially Easy Rider... just reading a non-fiction account of how idiotic and self destructive some of our great filmmakers were in their youth seems, meh. Especially 500+ pages of it.

Vegeta, it's about the origins of modern movies, which came out of the 70s. People like Dennis Hopper (fugly gnome that he is) might have been both idiotic and self-destructive, but they were self-destructive idiots who changed the landscape of cinema. They moved away from the increasingly defunct and outmoded studio system and created films I would argue have become the bedrock of most style and substance you see today. They changed the rules- Bonnie and Clyde, Godfather, Mean Streets- and then along came the behemoth that was Star Wars, and let's admit it- we might not even be here posting if that hadn't created the whole geek movement that AICN essentially revolves around today (or maybe helped create as well, I don't know.)
Don't ignore your history!!! And like I said before, it goes by so quick. I think I read it in a week, easy.

[Vegeta]

After rereading the description, I will give Sharp Objects a shot andp ick it up today... along with The Lovely Bones.

[Vegeta]

That's cool and understandable.

It's just that Sharp Objects and Easy Riders Raging Bulls don't really interest me. Especially Easy Rider... just reading a non-fiction account of how idiotic and self destructive some of our great filmmakers were in their youth seems, meh. Especially 500+ pages of it.

Vegeta, it's about the origins of modern movies, which came out of the 70s. People like Dennis Hopper (fugly gnome that he is) might have been both idiotic and self-destructive, but they were self-destructive idiots who changed the landscape of cinema. They moved away from the increasingly defunct and outmoded studio system and created films I would argue have become the bedrock of most style and substance you see today. They changed the rules- Bonnie and Clyde, Godfather, Mean Streets- and then along came the behemoth that was Star Wars, and let's admit it- we might not even be here posting if that hadn't created the whole geek movement that AICN essentially revolves around today (or maybe helped create as well, I don't know.)
Don't ignore your history!!! And like I said before, it goes by so quick. I think I read it in a week, easy.

Sorry, just not a big non-fiction person. Thanks for the plea though.

[Maui]

Ok - I am going the Nader route.

I'm voting for White Teeth. I've been wanting to re-read this for so long- and I own it- which increases the chances I will actually read it before the end of December.

It's such a great book - one that can definitely be re-read. Have you read her other book 'On Beauty'?

[Dee E. Goppstober]

Ok - I am going the Nader route.

I'm voting for White Teeth. I've been wanting to re-read this for so long- and I own it- which increases the chances I will actually read it before the end of December.

It's such a great book - one that can definitely be re-read. Have you read her other book 'On Beauty'?

Yeah, I have read both 'On Beauty' and 'Autograph Man' -and liked them both, but not as much as White Teeth. Her imagination and down-to-earth characters are the same in the other two- but only White Teeth has this absolutely crazy and hilarious mix of cultures, faiths and events-and suspense all the way through, IMO.

Yes, and since I've started payiong attention to the book club thread I've been a rebel.

In October, I read the "In Cold Blood" instead of "The Crying of lot... whatever".

In November, I went ahead and read "No Country for Old Men" instead of that odd train wreck book.

It's just that Sharp Objects and Easy Riders Raging Bulls don't really interest me. Especially Easy Rider... just reading a non-fiction account of how idiotic and self destructive some of our great filmmakers were in their youth seems, meh. Especially 500+ pages of it.

I'm sorry - that's not being a rebel- that's just slagging off books that you know nothing about because you haven't read them yet. No one is forcing you to read them- but why post in the book club thread if you are just going to have a negative opinion? Read them- and then have an opinion- or just have an opinion on the things you have read.

That's what I think anyway. And - Lovely Bones is a good read- so I have nothing against discussing it here as well -whether it's BoTM or not.

[thomasgaffney]

This thread will now be open for FUTURE book of the month nominations! So if you're out at the local bookstore and see something that looks interesting, don't forget to jot down the title and post it later!

Like previously, all nominations will have to seconded to make it to the voting round!

Good reading!

[Lord Voldemoo]

This thread will now be open for FUTURE book of the month nominations! So if you're out at the local bookstore and see something that looks interesting, don't forget to jot down the title and post it later!

Like previously, all nominations will have to seconded to make it to the voting round!

Good reading!

By the way, I can't remember, is non-fiction eligible??

I know it'd probably never get picked, but I could at least nominate some stuff I like, heheheh.

[thomasgaffney]

This thread will now be open for FUTURE book of the month nominations! So if you're out at the local bookstore and see something that looks interesting, don't forget to jot down the title and post it later!

Like previously, all nominations will have to seconded to make it to the voting round!

Good reading!

By the way, I can't remember, is non-fiction eligible??

I know it'd probably never get picked, but I could at least nominate some stuff I like, heheheh.

It's not written in stone yet (I'm still letting people vote to see if they want themes, but so far it seems like they do), but I was going to have January be NonFiction Month.

So go right ahead and suggest some books, cow.

[darkjedijaina]

i think he said we were gonna go for a non-fiction theme in january. what was that one book you saw the other day that you said you were gonna pick up? the one on the war in sicily and italy? i thought that would be neat to read, as i was stationed there and saw a lot of the fields where battles were held.

[Lord Voldemoo]

i think he said we were gonna go for a non-fiction theme in january. what was that one book you saw the other day that you said you were gonna pick up? the one on the war in sicily and italy? i thought that would be neat to read, as i was stationed there and saw a lot of the fields where battles were held.

The Day of Battle

Thanks Gaffers, now I have a whole host of books to add to my "to-read" list that I'll never actually get around to reading...

One in particular that I know I actually will pick up:

THE DAY OF BATTLE: The War in Sicily and Italy, 1943-1944. Volume Two of the Liberation Trilogy. By Rick Atkinson. (Holt, $35.) A celebration of the American experience in these campaigns.

His last WWII book, An Army at Dawn, was excellent.

Holy shit!!! When did this come out? I was actually just at Powell's the other day looking to see if volume two was ever released.

And I agree Moo, An Army at Dawn was a fantastic read.

I was suprised to see that David Halberstam's The Coldest Winter wasn't on there... I bought it the other day on good word of mouth.

Looks like it came out Oct 2, I'd missed it until now too.

Amazon Link

I'm going to pick this one up asap.

[darkjedijaina]

Yeah, that's it. Sounds like a good nomination for non-fiction.

[minstrel]

Maybe, if we're going to do non-fiction, we should start a bit closer to the core interest of the Zone. How 'bout Roger Ebert's "I Hated, Hated, Hated This Movie"? It's just a book of negative reviews. Easy to read and fun and we get to argue over whether we hated those movies as much as Roger did.

[Lord Voldemoo]

Maybe, if we're going to do non-fiction, we should start a bit closer to the core interest of the Zone. How 'bout Roger Ebert's "I Hated, Hated, Hated This Movie"? It's just a book of negative reviews. Easy to read and fun and we get to argue over whether we hated those movies as much as Roger did.

not a bad idea. I wasn't really gonna push for the WWII book because I know that's of limited interest to many (most normal) people.

There was another nonfiction book I was thinking of the other day that would be good...i can't remember what the hell it was now....it'll come back to me...

[Maui]

I think we should read a book about cows, in honour of Moo!

[darkjedijaina]

or we could do one of bruce's books. he has a non-fiction - if chins could kill....

[Lord Voldemoo]

I think we should read a book about cows, in honour of Moo!

SECONDED!

[Lord Voldemoo]

There was another nonfiction book I was thinking of the other day that would be good...i can't remember what the hell it was now....it'll come back to me...

I still can't think of what it was...but since it was so close this month if we want to do non-fiction in January Easy Riders, Raging Bulls would be a great choice. I've never read it but I would love to.

[Maui]

There was another nonfiction book I was thinking of the other day that would be good...i can't remember what the hell it was now....it'll come back to me...

I still can't think of what it was...but since it was so close this month if we want to do non-fiction in January Easy Riders, Raging Bulls would be a great choice. I've never read it but I would love to.

Yeah I thought that looked kinda cool. I'd be up for reading that as well.

[Seppuku]

I'm down like a freshly-tipped cow for Easy Riders, Raging Bulls in January! I'm actually interested in movies, creativity and talent gone awry, unlike a certain Dragon Ball Z fan and Book Mod

[thomasgaffney]

Well, that's a second, third, fourth, etc for Easy Riders, Raging Bulls in January.....

[thomasgaffney]

Is that a second for The Day of Battle from DJJ?

[darkjedijaina]

I'm not sure yet. I want to read it, but as Moo said, maybe not everyone wants to read it. And that's okay.

[tapehead]

Maybe, if we're going to do non-fiction, we should start a bit closer to the core interest of the Zone. How 'bout Roger Ebert's "I Hated, Hated, Hated This Movie"? It's just a book of negative reviews. Easy to read and fun and we get to argue over whether we hated those movies as much as Roger did.

Not a bad choice - 'Easy Riders, Raging Bulls' is all about Film Directors like Lucas, Spielberg, Scorcese and Coppola (among others) in the Seventies, though. Definite connection to the 'core interest of the Zone' there, too.

[Seppuku]

Maybe, if we're going to do non-fiction, we should start a bit closer to the core interest of the Zone. How 'bout Roger Ebert's "I Hated, Hated, Hated This Movie"? It's just a book of negative reviews. Easy to read and fun and we get to argue over whether we hated those movies as much as Roger did.

Not a bad choice - 'Easy Riders, Raging Bulls' is all about Film Directors in the Seventies, though. Definite connection to the 'core interest of the Zone' there, too.

Yeah, but did Harry ever co-host a TV show with Peter Biskind?


(I have a confession to make: I really hate Roger Ebert. I have no idea how such a milquetoast mehman could get so popular. Give me Barry Norman any day of the week. Still, I guess you got to give Ebert his props for co-writing Beneath the Valley of the Dolls.)

Also, just to throw the idea out there, is anyone more interested in reading Down & Dirty Pictures: Miramax, Sundance & The Rise of Independent Film by Biskind than Raging Bulls?

[Maui]

I don't know, to start off the 'tone' of the book is negative.

Then - we read it - MORE negative on Ebert's negative.

I just see a whole lot of negatives here folks. Nothing to neutralize it. 8)

[tapehead]

He did have a hand in writing 'Beyond the Valley of the Dolls' and 'Beneath the Valley of the Ultra-Vixens', and for the most part he's a good critic - little 'moralistic' at times for my taste.

edit: looking at IMDB, he wrote 'UP!' too, maybe Meyer's craziest and most violent movie (with the most Nazi fantasizing too) at least from the ones I've seen.

[Seppuku]

He did have a hand in writing 'Beyond the Valley of the Dolls' and 'Beneath the Valley of the Ultra-Vixens', and for the most part he's a good critic - little 'moralistic' at times for my taste.

edit: looking at IMDB, he wrote 'UP!' too, maybe Meyer's craziest and most violent movie (with the most Nazi fantasizing too) at least from the ones I've seen.

It's weird that his WHOLE CV reads like some Best Of Exploitation list and yet he'll write reviews slamming movies like Betty Blue for being too lurid.

(Edit: Here's that review).

[tapehead]

He did have a hand in writing 'Beyond the Valley of the Dolls' and 'Beneath the Valley of the Ultra-Vixens', and for the most part he's a good critic - little 'moralistic' at times for my taste.

edit: looking at IMDB, he wrote 'UP!' too, maybe Meyer's craziest and most violent movie (with the most Nazi fantasizing too) at least from the ones I've seen.

It's weird that his WHOLE CV reads like some Best Of Exploitation list and yet he'll write reviews slamming movies like Betty Blue for being too lurid.

He's a Goddamn Hypocrite, I tells ya!

[DaleTremont]

Maybe, if we're going to do non-fiction, we should start a bit closer to the core interest of the Zone. How 'bout Roger Ebert's "I Hated, Hated, Hated This Movie"? It's just a book of negative reviews. Easy to read and fun and we get to argue over whether we hated those movies as much as Roger did.

Not a bad choice - 'Easy Riders, Raging Bulls' is all about Film Directors in the Seventies, though. Definite connection to the 'core interest of the Zone' there, too.

Yeah, but did Grande Rojo ever co-host a TV show with Peter Biskind?


(I have a confession to make: I really hate Roger Ebert. I have no idea how such a milquetoast mehman could get so popular. Give me Barry Norman any day of the week. Still, I guess you got to give Ebert his props for co-writing Beneath the Valley of the Dolls.)

Also, just to throw the idea out there, is anyone more interested in reading Down & Dirty Pictures: Miramax, Sundance & The Rise of Independent Film by Biskind than Raging Bulls?

ohh yes i read that one too. it was good, but not as good as easy riders. i think there wasn't enough distance from the period for the perspective to be quite as meaningful. but there still is a LOT of dirt. you will hate the everloving shit out of the weinstein brothers after you read it.
i'd say "down and dirty pictures" is actually a little more depressing than easy riders- more about corporate exploitation masquerading as "independent film", leaves you feeling a bit nauseated when you realize the state of these turds that produce/distribute. but there is much of the QT in there (and Biskind loves him!)
oh and one more thing- you have to be prepared for the looks when you go around bookstores asking if they have something called "down and dirty pictures" in stock

[Seppuku]

you will hate the everloving shit out of the weinstein brothers after you read it.

No change there then. Some day those guys are gonna visit Hong Kong and find out how chop suey got its name.


It sounds like maybe I'd be better off covering DADP after ERRB anyway (I know how much you love acronyms!), like a sequel.

[Maui]

Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky

We should add this to one of our polls in 2008.

[Seppuku]

WHTTA?

[Maui]

Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky

Beginning in Paris on the eve of the Nazi occupation in 1940. Suite Française tells the remarkable story of men and women thrown together in circumstances beyond their control. As Parisians flee the city, human folly surfaces in every imaginable way: a wealthy mother searches for sweets in a town without food; a couple is terrified at the thought of losing their jobs, even as their world begins to fall apart. Moving on to a provincial village now occupied by German soldiers, the locals must learn to coexist with the enemy—in their town, their homes, even in their hearts.

When Irène Némirovsky began working on Suite Française, she was already a highly successful writer living in Paris. But she was also a Jew, and in 1942 she was arrested and deported to Auschwitz, where she died. For sixty-four years, this novel remained hidden and unknown.

[thomasgaffney]

Suite Francaise by Irene Nemirovsky

We should add this to one of our polls in 2008.

Seconded. We'll find a place for it on some poll.