Comments on: welcome to the poshdeluxe book club

By: Benjamin

Benjamin — Sun, 25 May 2008 17:03:03 +0000

the best book i’ve read recently that no one has heard of is Independent People by Halldor Laxness. Laxness was an Icelandic author (like, the only Icelandic author) who won the Nobel Prize in the 50′s or 60′s. the book is a family epic that takes place around WWI; the family itself, a downtrodden group of Icelandic sheep farmers. the book has long descriptions of sheep and minute descriptions of blizzards, and as boring as that sounds, it is just the opposite. i think that is a masterpiece and everyone should read it. be warned that it is long, though. 500 pages .

By: MSW

MSW — Thu, 22 May 2008 21:43:34 +0000

And you definitely should check out Succubus Blues (I mentioned yesterday). I’d say it’s way too racy for YA, but then I remember some of the romance novels I read as a YA, and it’s probably not too bad.

By: MSW

MSW — Thu, 22 May 2008 21:41:43 +0000

Kinda trashy but really fun (and oddly thought-provoking) beach read: The Summerhouse by Jude Deveraux. I really read too much non-fiction for my own good, so when I take a break from it, I REALLY take a break.

Anyway, the book is about these three women who get together to celebrate their 40th birthdays, and they’ve all pretty much been screwed over by life. They then get a chance to change their lives, but in an unexpected way. Not to reveal too much, but The story got me to thinking about what change I would make in my own life if I could do it over again. It was compelling in a mostly fluffy but with a bit of food for thought thrown in. I think one of the things that appealed to me the most when I read it was that one of the characters is an author, and I was really intrigued by her creative/writing process and I wondered how Ms. Deveraux drew on her own life and experience for that character. I guess I’m a geeky writer-type that way.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Thu, 22 May 2008 18:41:55 +0000

I. Am. SO. Excited. Did you know I have never been apart of a real book club??

As far as YA novels, I only read the cheesy stuff (but some of it was good for me when I was young), but unfortunately because I was not very observant when I was younger, I don’t remember the titles.

There was “The Summer I shrunk my Grandmother” (I think that’s what it was called), and the one about a homeless kid who could run really fast and untie the most difficult knots.

But I think I will wait before actually recommending anything (unless you haven’t read Tom Robbins, I just discovered him this past year [hangs head in shame]) and read some of the other recommendations first.

YAY!

By: Sarah

Sarah — Thu, 22 May 2008 17:41:25 +0000

yes yes! start recommending books!! everyone!!

By: Celina

Celina — Thu, 22 May 2008 16:31:37 +0000

I’m totally recommending Absurdistan to my husband who loves all things Russian, and maybe I’ll read it when he’s done. I’ve never joined a book club, but this one sounds better than those other ones and especially Oprah’s book club (even though I have read some of her recommended books and liked them). Chick-fil-A nuggets sound really good right now too.

By: josh

josh — Thu, 22 May 2008 15:01:26 +0000

With apologies to Olivia, who recommended this book to me, I’m going to recommend Absurdistan by Gary Shteyngart. It’s a hilarious social satire about…well, Russian culture, the attitudes of the wealthy towards the poor, former soviet republics, American liberal arts education, and the role of globalized American oil/infrastructure/defense corporations in the political events of the third world. And the principal character is the hefty, sensitive, hip-hop loving son of a Russian mafia kingpin whose nickname is Snack Daddy.

It gets 9.5 out of 10 chic fil a chicken nuggets. (That’s right, I rate things on a nugget scale)

By: Meredith

Meredith — Thu, 22 May 2008 13:54:05 +0000

I am totally in! But confused! B/c I thought we were supposed to start recommending books right now, in the comments. But no one did that? I don’t want to mess up on my first day in book club! But I have my recommendation all ready when the time comes.

Sarah and I are already in a book club, reading the same books at the same time and squee-mailing about them! And our refreshments are always completely boss.

By: erin

erin — Thu, 22 May 2008 13:07:11 +0000

wait, wait, so you’re saying this book club is NOT offering refreshments?

By: olivia

olivia — Thu, 22 May 2008 09:37:02 +0000

I want to play! I love book clubs and am already in several.

But are we supposed to be recommending books now, or is that later? I will have to think of the Perfect One.