Book Club: Poll for April's Suggestions

[abbey]

I've gone over all the suggestions and narrowed it down to these books based on length, potential for discussion, and the overall interest shown by people in the suggestions thread. I also looked at how they did in last month's poll (if they were in it).

Voting: Please only vote for a maximum of 3 books. You're not obligated to vote for 3 books, it's just the maximum.

If your book didn't get in the poll, don't complain to me. Read it on your own and post an individual thread about it. Just because you want to read it doesn't necessarily make it suitable for the book club, and just because it wasn't chosen doesn't mean you can't read it.

Here are the links to the posts suggesting each book (includes genre, length, synopsis, and review):

Anthem by Ayn Rand (http://forums.explosm.net/showpost.php?p=373981&postcount=3)

The Bus Driver Who Wanted to be God & Other Stories by Etgar Keret (http://forums.explosm.net/showpost.php?p=434256&postcount=4)

Running With Scissors: A Memoir by Augusten Burroughs. (http://forums.explosm.net/showpost.php?p=434378&postcount=9)

Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay (http://forums.explosm.net/showpost.php?p=434608&postcount=13)

I am the Messenger by Markus Zusak
(Suggestion) (http://forums.explosm.net/showpost.php?p=434610&postcount=14) (Review) (http://forums.explosm.net/showpost.php?p=436433&postcount=17)

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly: A Memoir of Life in Death by Jean-Dominique Bauby (http://forums.explosm.net/showpost.php?p=437519&postcount=23)

The Alchemist by Paolo Coelho (http://forums.explosm.net/showpost.php?p=445185&postcount=34)

Of Love and Other Demons by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (http://forums.explosm.net/showpost.php?p=447083&postcount=36)

[INTUNEevolution]

Let's just read Anthem and be done with it.

[timbot]

I almost voted for Anthem again. But, the more I thought about it, the more I thought it would just be a waste of a month. I know people are busy and don't want to read a huge book, but Anthem is a really quick read. Take your day off and read it, and start a thread and whoever wants can join. Devoting a whole month of the book club's time seems a waste to me.
I decided to go with Of Love and Other Demons because I really enjoy the author, and don't tell anyone, but I'm a sap for anything that deals with love and romance...well, deals with them intelligently. Not that junk Nicholas Sparks does.
I also voted for The Alchemist, and I Am the Messenger because it sounded a little different from what I usually read.

[INTUNEevolution]

Every fibre in my body wants to savagely beat down the people that put the same book up twice, though.

The suggestion thread this month was really lame, just everybody posting movie-books and pretending they were well-read.

Wow, I'm really a superior asshole today :P

[Matt]

Every fibre in my body wants to savagely beat down the people that put the same book up twice, though.

Just because they weren't chosen last month doesn't mean they aren't good books. Both Anthem and Bus Driver were in the top three choices last month, so once again they showed up in this month's poll.

[DannyD]

The suggestion thread this month was really lame, just everybody posting movie-books and pretending they were well-read.

Wow, I'm really a superior asshole today :P

Wow, did you ever think that movies are made after good books, and that most people who read read the book way before the movie came out?

The Driving Bell and The Butterfly is amazing and deeply poetic, and Running With Scissors was awesome and hilarious. I haven't seen either movie and why didn't you suggest something?

[Hypnotic]

Bus Driver, Dexter, and Messenger were my picks. See, Anthem isn't inevitable.

[green rubber bands]

Why is everyone so fond of Ayn Rand? Objectivism is a shitty philosophy and she gets her point across by using examples that range from dubious and unremarkable to down-right ridiculous. Anthem's plot is a watered-down and emotionally bland version of Orwell's 1984, but trendier.

I voted for The Bus Driver, The Alchemist, and Of Love, just to let you know.

[Matt]

I'm personally not entirely looking forward to reading Ayn Rand, but she's such a popular author that I might as well get familiar with her to not be left in the dark anymore.

I voted for Bus Driver and Dexter.

Running with Scissors looks like it's in an early lead, which is sad because I have absolutely no intention of reading it. :fmita:

[History]

I'm surprised that Running with Scissors is ahead so far. I voted for that, Dexter and Messenger, but I also would really like to read The Busdriver. I haven't thought about it too much yet as I am still actually reading Slaughterhouse for March. I didn't count on having so little free time.

[timbot]

Why is everyone so fond of Ayn Rand? Objectivism is a shitty philosophy and she gets her point across by using examples that range from dubious and unremarkable to down-right ridiculous. Anthem's plot is a watered-down and emotionally bland version of Orwell's 1984, but trendier.

I voted for The Bus Driver, The Alchemist, and Of Love, just to let you know.

I don't know if I should bash you for shitting on Ayn Rand or praise you for voting for Of Love. Is Ayn Rand really "trendy"? Certainly 1984 is more popular than Anthem. I was also surprised by Matt saying she was so popular. Not that I think she's unknown, but he makes her sound almost ubiquitous. Perhaps I just don't hang around enough people who read.
Also, like Matt, I doubt I'd read Running With Scissors even if it is picked.

[DARSEE]

I am new to this, but i love to read and have little time for a monthly book club. you know, like for reals. I am in high school but i am sure i can keep up with this "advanced reading level" people were originally talking about. i mean, i can read the fifth harry potter in about a week and that is the british version! (it has smaller print ;)) I voted for Running With Scissors, Dexter, and The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. i am excited to see the turnout!

[Matt]

Is Ayn Rand really "trendy"? Certainly 1984 is more popular than Anthem. I was also surprised by Matt saying she was so popular. Not that I think she's unknown, but he makes her sound almost ubiquitous. Perhaps I just don't hang around enough people who read.

She's a decently well known author. 1984 is more popular than Anthem, but 1984 is incredibly popular. George Orwell is a really well known author. As for being trendy, this may just be a perception thing, but it really does seem like everybody who wants to look cool for reading books or being philosophical mentions Ayn Rand.

[abbey]

I hadn't heard of her before taking philosophy last semester. My teacher recommended Atlas Shrugged to me. I read the first 80 pages and loved them, so I looked into her other books.

[History]

She's a decently well known author. 1984 is more popular than Anthem, but 1984 is incredibly popular. George Orwell is a really well known author. As for being trendy, this may just be a perception thing, but it really does seem like everybody who wants to look cool for reading books or being philosophical mentions Ayn Rand.

I recently read a book for my Urban History course called Suburban Warriors that deals with the conservative backlash to the liberal New Deal Consensus. The author (Lisa McGirr) lists Ayn Rand as having an influence on the conservatives with her ideas of objectivism. Now, I can't offer a lot of insight into this as I haven't read Ayn Rand, but I wanted to say that she does have influence on fields other than just philosphy and literature.

[INTUNEevolution]

Ayn Rand unfortunately isn't connected with objectivism to the normal person. She is recognized as having that big-ass book. That's a tragedy to me :(

And I did suggest a book, at the very end, it was the best book I've ever read. It changed my life like 1984 almost did. Or like The Metamorphosis almost did. I advertise Jesse Ball where ever I go, the guy is awesome.

[DannyD]

I think that 1984 is written more clearly and it has better developed concepts with less guess work. Anthem tends to drag a bit because it is so short and you only have about 60 pages to work with.

[timbot]

How can a book drag because it's so short? Personally, I thought 1984 dragged a bit. But, I do actually think 1984 is better than Anthem.
I do know Ayn Rand has had some influence in philosophy and economics and politics. Alan Greenspan is a fan of hers. Libertarianism comes from Objectivism. But, when I think of trendy things/people, Greenspan and Libertarianism don't usually jump into my mind. But, like Matt said, what's trendy depends on who you're hanging out with. Maybe she's making a resurgence...I wouldn't mind that.
Still, for the book club, I'd rather not read Anthem. Go The Alchemist!!

[NVM]

I voted for Anthem and Dexter.
I'm happy with any of the leading books though.

[DannyD]

How can a book drag because it's so short? Personally, I thought 1984 dragged a bit. But, I do actually think 1984 is better than Anthem.
I do know Ayn Rand has had some influence in philosophy and economics and politics. Alan Greenspan is a fan of hers. Libertarianism comes from Objectivism. But, when I think of trendy things/people, Greenspan and Libertarianism don't usually jump into my mind. But, like Matt said, what's trendy depends on who you're hanging out with. Maybe she's making a resurgence...I wouldn't mind that.
Still, for the book club, I'd rather not read Anthem. Go The Alchemist!!

lol I don't think I was thinking very clearly when I wrote that. I don't know honestly what I was trying to say >.<

USER WAS PUT IN TIMEOUT FOR THIS POST. (http://forums.explosm.net/bankamp/)
Reason: lol >.<

[INTUNEevolution]

I've already read Running with Scissors. There's nothing to discuss! There's only so many points you can make about an autobiography. It's just a gay kid with a crazy mom that lives with crazy people.


Ok, that sounds cool, but really it isn't so much.

[Ghoulz]

The Alchemist changed me.
There was something about that book that was so crazy and believable at the same time.
It got my vote.

[tunacake]

I voted for Bus Driver, Dexter, and Anthem.
Truthfully, i only picked Anthem because it's already in my house somewhere and I'm a cheap bastard. I must say i like this list better than last month's, and I'm starting to wish i picked the Alchemist over Anthem.

[abbey]

It is decided! Go get Running With Scissors. Discussion starts April 1st.

[Matt]

Fuck. Yet again, Anthem and Bus Driver right behind. Next month! Just wait!

[timbot]

May I once again suggest that Anthem just be left for people to read on their own? Seriously, it's a really quick read, even if you're busy. Read it by the end of the week, start a discussion about it, and then start on Running With Scissors. Or we can just vote on it month after month....

[Matt]

If people want to read it for the book club, it's a totally valid choice. I'd read it for the book club, but would be uninterested otherwise.