Just voted. I think there have only been 5 votes and it appears that one person has voted for two selections.
Babble Book Club: Upcoming selection ideas?
I saw that. I don't know how that happened. I did think you were able to on the poll. I'm letting it slide.
Thanks for voting!
Sure, you're letting it slide since one of those votes was for your suggestion.
tooooooootally. I'm drunk with power
neck in neck for In the Field by Claire Tacon and Godless but Loyal to Heaven by Richard Van Camp!
Keep voting!
Last day! Get your decisions in! Hoping to put up the new selection today!
Still holding out for a few more votes on our BBC facebook poll or in this thread. If you don't like/use facebook, drop your pick here in this thread, and if you do use facebook, drop it in the poll.
Richard Van Camp is ahead by one vote at the moment!
I will draw up the blog posts and such probably to post tomorrow because it is very hot weather where I am and I might explode (that wasn't complaining, just a fact).
Hey all,
I'm going to post the official post and all that tomorrow, but unfortunately at the moment I am unable to draw them up!
Looks like Godless but loyal to Heaven has pulled out the victory and will be our next selection to read!
Is the timing of Friday at 2pm working for people or would we like a change?
IT'S THAT TIME AGAIN!
time to start thinking up selections for our next bbc read, woot woot! Feel free to pitch oldies but goodies, newies but greaties or things you want to read.
Please keep in mind we like to hit these markers: available at libraries, local bookstores, potentially online as e-reads.
We like Canadian books and authors, but whatever piques anyone's interest is always the best!
oh, and how would everyone feel if we took a break after this next selection?
So we would have a read for July and then take a break for August until beginning of September -- one month off.
I'm mostly thinking of myself, naturally, here. I have a big move (again) and a "destination" wedding (the desintation is Ottawa, but I have to travel and cross boarders for it nonetheless).
If everyone wants to keep on rolling through against together, I'm totally fine to suck it up and set some dates!
Any thoughts for the next read?
Is anyone interested in veering off into a different direction -- perhaps reading something like "where'd you go Bernadette?" or another read that is on reading lists and such?
How about a leftie page turner?
Like the one right now on the Rabble home page?
Interview: Literary leftist thriller: Pulp fiction with a twist of solidarity and social justice
Tailings of Warren Peace by Stephen Law (Fernwood Publishing, 2013)
I'm always a fan of cross-promotion ;)
My concern with that one is accessibility -- since it's so new, and from a pretty small publisher, it's availability in libraries is low to none (some have it on order at the moment), as well as bookstores same thing. It is available from the publisher, but a higher cost plus shipping.
I don't want to put the old kibosh on a great suggestion, but it might not work for everyone.
I can see that. It will be a bit before even libraries here in NS have it.
On the other hand, I think the author is doing the Ontario book tour thing for July.
And I can find out what bookstores are carrying. At least some in Toronto, where he came from and has the Latin America solidarity network contacts. Ditto for stores in the other big cities.
Ya, it's a tough mix like another babbler stated before -- trying to read new canadian things, but trying to make sure everything is widely available.
His book does sound interesting, and I really enjoyed the interview our rabble reviewer conducted and then wrote into a narrative piece for the book lounge. A pretty cool idea to harken back to pulp fiction and give it a Canadian edge and a touch more credibility!
I did a quick search on the bookstores and libraries, starting with the "bigger" ones -- or the ones in larger cities, and figure if they don't have it the smaller cities and stores won't then (usually a good line of logic).
Do you have any other suggestions KenS?
Tailings of Warren Peace sounds like a great read, but it's still on order at the Vancouver library. I'd definitely be up for reading it when it's available, though. And I know some folks who do mining solidarity work in Latin America, so it would be neat to have one of them join a future discussion on the book in terms of how the fictional portrayal relates to the experience of actually doing that work.
My suggestion for the next read is [i]Tropic of Cancer[/i] by Henry Miller. It's a book I've wanted to read for years, but have never gotten around to it.
Geez, I don't know. I guess my preference would be a graphic novel. Like Alison Bechdel's Fun Home or It's a Good Life, if You Don't Weaken by Seth. I'm sick of all this word stuff.
Ya, words are for chumps.
That's a cool idea though! I've read one graphic novel in my life (Blue Pills, a random pick up in the VPL) and it would be neat to have another go.
And Tropic of Cancer is always a perennial favourite, and I'll add it to the list!
Those books are widely available too, so great!
So, I have started a new poll in the bbc facebook group; please vote if you are a part of our group, and if you don't have facebook/aren't a part of the group, please leave your vote in this thread and I'll crunch those hard numbers in my head.
The suggestions are as follows:
1. Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller
2. Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple
3. It's a Good Life, if You Don't Weaken by Seth
4. Fun Home by Alison Bechdel
If there are any other suggestions please add them in the Facebook group or let me know and I will add them. I have not carried over any previous selections this time. Also, Tailings of Warren Peace by Stephen Law will be saved for another time when it is more widely available.
Okay, and let's let the voting happen over the weekend and take a couple days break, and then try to have everything done up by Monday.
(some of those are wikipedia links because I am not fully awake yet)
I'ts A Good Life If You Don't Weaken is the only selection available in either the Vancouver or Burnaby libraries, so I voted for that in the Facebook group.
Oh, I just mentioned this in the Facebook group, but both graphic novel selections are available at the VPL. They have lots of copies of both -- with some checked out -- but some still available. They will always to intra-library loans to your branch from another. Usually only takes a couple of days.
Either way, I'm sure the Seth novel is great, and your suggestion of Tropic of Cancer is available, I'm sure, at the library too!
Tropic of Cancer might alert babble book club to the CRTC! Or at least any kind of government body charged with obscenity...aye ai ai! That said, I'd love to read it again, and it's likely available for peanuts at any used book store you'd are to mention. Hell, Left Turn, I'll give you my copy!
But, obviously I voted for my own suggestion, which is superior to the other dreck on the list. Caissa and Kaitlin, I urge you to change your vote before it's too late.
I feel like libraries should have infinity copies of those books that are "staples" and "classics" but whenever a library book is out that I want to read I try to think "at least someone is reading it" not "oh *&$%". But, as has been revealed in meetings yesterday, I'm more of a pessimist. Surprising, I know.
Glad you found it Left Turn and got the vote you wanted!
Dear Catchfire,
Let us fight to the death.
Sincerely,
KM
Actually, I'm excited for any of the picks we have currently, and won't swing the vote my way this time to get what I want.
Oh, I just mentioned this in the Facebook group, but both graphic novel selections are available at the VPL. They have lots of copies of both -- with some checked out -- but some still available. They will always to intra-library loans to your branch from another. Usually only takes a couple of days.
Either way, I'm sure the Seth novel is great, and your suggestion of Tropic of Cancer is available, I'm sure, at the library too!
Upon re-checking the availability of Fun Home, I see that it is available at vpl. Clearly I goofed when I checked it earlier. In which case I'm changing my vote.
Tropic of Cancer is indeed out. The only copies in are audiobook, and I want to read bound paper, dammit!
Thanks Kaitlin!
Remember some parts of the country have smaller library systems.
My money's on McNabb to TKO Catchfire in the second.
Ya, I checked the Halifax library as well, and they have copies of every selection (some with holds, some due back soon). I should extend that to other small locations as well because I know we have a book club member who is in the Maritimes as well, but not a major city, and has trouble with getting the books either from her library and just delivered in a timely fashion.
I have gangly arms, but the work like pendulums. Sweet, dangerous pendulums.
I have a proposition: would anyone be interested in having both graphic novels as our next read(s) and everyone could either read both ('cause they smaller) or one or the other?
So far for voting, we haven't had a ton of people, so I'm not sure what everyone's feelings would be -- our one friend who voted for 'Tropic of Cancer' would be left out a bit in their decision, but it would sate everyone else.
Thoughts?
Whoa. You're considering taking both my selections? Sounds good to me! Gives me a reason to read both. Or at least, look at the pictures...
I know I know!
Well, it seems like the graphic novels are a bit more flexible too and it could be an interesting contrast as well with styles and themes and such. I thought both looked pretty neat -- good selections (a knife in the heart praising you!)
If no others chime in, I might draw up the official papers for tomorrow on these books...
Boo!!
Give it a try! Wasn't our beginning mandate to expose members to new genres and writers? Hmm...
May I ask why it does not interest you?
I'm going to read MetaMaus. I own a fair number of graphic novels and just don't want to acquire any others at this time.
cool beans. They should be at the halifax library, but I also may have made up that you live in Halifax :)
I live in Saint John, N.B, a 4 + hour drive from Halifax.
Caissa, when will you Haligonians understand that such subtle geographic distinctions don't matter to us Westerners?
Okay, Catchfire, 1. I am not a Westerner. I never will be. (I'm ignorant despite this fact) 2. I tend to imagine facts for people and then assume they're true, a la Caissa lives in Halifax.
AND! I just look up Saint John Public Library listings and they have both graphic novels in! C'mon on! The one is only available in York branch, but since they are part of the same system it can be sent over to a better branch for you.
No excuses! Join!
and, i will put up the blog post tomorrow, but my eyes are melting from the computer screen, and I'm just really hot from the heat, and a bit tired.
Them's fighting words Catchfire! Especially from a man who is dodging a rematch with the Goddess of Chess.
The York branch, Kaitlin is in Fredericton ( a suburb of Halifax only 5+ hours away).
Sorry! Why would they list that as part of the New Brunswick public library? What? Either way, they should bring stuff in on inter-library loan, if you are interested in reading these selections.
The last time I was in NB, I was six, so I'm a little foggy :)
It is part of the NB Library system. Fredericton is an hour up the river. I was just making a joke re. its distance from Halifax.
The Library is closed on Saturdays in the summer so my access to it is limited. I'll see what I can do.
Saint John is usually foggy.
I just spent a good amount of time drawing up a graphic with the map of NB and a star with your name in it on St John and then couldn't figure out (many) other things to actually follow it through to completion.
It's there for you.
By no means should you feel pressure to read these if you don't want to, but, you know what they say, always give in to peer pressure.
It's spelled "Saint John" by the way.
I'll see if I can get access to the books. Alternatively, having everyone read their own choice of graphic novel might give a wide range of the genre.
It's spelled "Saint John" by the way.
And no matter what don't ever use an "s" with John. If you do the locals might just treat you like they treat herring.
It's spelled "Saint John" by the way.
And no matter what don't ever use an "s" with John. If you do the locals might just treat you like they treat herring.
I'm giving up.
I take pride that I did not use the 's' and failed on all other counts.
I barfed during our road trip through the maritimes, didn't get to walk through the Anne of Green Gables haunted forest, and now this incident goes on the list of "disappointments and troubles I have had about the Maritimes"
Feel free to come visit any time and improve your Maritime experience.
I saw a Puffin once, somewhere... Grand Manan?, and it was amazing. Or maybe I didn't. Either way, I have a shirt from Grand Manan with puffins on it and that memory will stay dear.
Also, I finally got my act together and officially announced our new bbc selection.
Why can't the three of us just get along and grab a beer at the Ceeps in London, ON where we all feel more comfortable.
I seen loads of Puffins in Scotland. Cute bird, sure.
Oh, London. You will always mend the riffs of everyone while subsequently starting new, more terrible, ones with others.
I tell ya, my six year old self had a small stroke upon seeing them. My shirt was also puffy where the puffins were. Amazing feat of clothing design.
The ceeps works for me. Spent many an evening quaffing beer there when I was at Western.
Hey all our final discussion for this graphic novel selection is coming up next week, so now is a good time for the next selection to be chosen!
Any suggestions out there?
We can always pick from some previous lists as well.
Please remember to make sure your selection is available in libraries, independent bookstores and preferably smaller cities too -- unfortunately, this tends to rule out some of the very obscure or super new selections, but everything else is up for grabs!
We've read translated books, Canadian independent fiction, policitical non-fiction, graphic novels and anthropological studies, so anything you are interested in is fair grounds to pitch.
I will put all suggestions in a poll on our facebook group for votes and votes can also be cast on this thread!