Setting up books for March so we’ve got time to pick them up.
It’s @Cathryn_Conroy’s turn to select five books for us to choose from.
Here are five possibilities for March reading. I have previously read–a long time ago!–the first two, but I want to read them again, so I included them here. Four fiction, one non-fiction. I read recently that Lonesome Dove is enjoying new interest.
All are included in 1,000 Books to Read Before You Die.
The French Lieutenant’s Woman, by John Fowles
Their Eyes Were Watching God, by Zora Neale Hurston
The House of Spirits, by Isabel Allende
Lonesome Dove, by Larry McMurtry
And one non-fiction selection:
Liar’s Poker: Rising Through the Wreckage on Wall Street, by Michael Lewis
I’ve read French Lieutenant’s Woman and Lonesome Dove (plus that one’s really long!). The others work for me.
I have read House of Spirits, Lonesome Dove, and Their Eyes Were Watching God. They were all excellent reads and well worth reading! If you guys want to read any of these three, please go ahead. I might pick up The French Lts Woman and/or do a re-read.
I’ve read Lonesome Dove and The French Lieutenant’s Woman of which I remember absolutely nothing. I’m up for any of them except maybe Lonesome Dove.
I should have mentioned in my previous note to you, Kim, that I do not have the 1000 Books to Read list. I can tag along if that’s ok.
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Totally fine, @NanK! Glad to see you voted on the February book. You just won’t be able to suggest any books, since you don’t know what’s on the list. (Unless you want to run some by me & I can tell you if they are.)
I guess it’s going to have to be Liar’s Poker, then. It seems like the others have been too widely read amongst us. At first I was unsure, but then I read what Mustich had to say about it:
“Liar’s Poker is the deliciously comic story of how an art history major from Princeton parlayed a master’s degree from the London School of Economics - and an advantageous seating arrangement at a dinner for the Queen Mother - into a position as a bond trader on Wall Street in the high-flying 1980s. It offers an irreverent inside look at the world of investment banking as it flourished before the crash…”
It’s relatively short (250-300 pp, depending on edition) seems to be readily available, and is getting decent Goodreads reviews. Plus we did say we wanted to work our way through 1000 Books.
- Yes, let’s proceed with Liar’s Poker for March.
- No, let’s look at another set for March. (Sorry, Cathryn!)
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I’ve attached a pdf of the 1000 Books to Read Before You Die List. It’s in alphabetical order by author although a few listings don’t include the author.
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Wow! Thanks so much, @Lana_Maskus!
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Thank you, Lana! Quite some list. Where to begin??? 
Liar’s Poker it is, right? I’m late to the “game”, but thanks to Lana, I downloaded the list.
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Haha, yeah, @NanK, it’s pretty overwhelming. But that’s why I was looking for help in finding a place to start! I figured that if I had company it would be enough of a nudge to get me rolling.
And I also appreciate being pushed to read books I probably wouldn’t otherwise. I’m certain I’d never have looked at Liar’s Poker on my own, and it’s unlikely I would have made time for the other two we’ve selected.
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Here’s an absolutely late to the party question - WHEN do we start discussing the book in the specified month? A Visit from the Goon Squad should arrive to my tablet soon. ** First of the month? Mid? Whenever within the month? 
I realize the Side Read club is a work in progress. I’m flexible. Thanks for suggesting this grand experiment!
Good question! I’ve been debating that m’self, and I’m torn. What do you folks think? Since I’m a firm believer in democracy, here’s yet another poll:
When do we start discussing the book?
- A person can add comments whenever they choose
- Any time after the 1st of the month in which the book is assigned (so discussing February’s book on or after 2/1)
- Any time after the 15 of the month in which the book is assigned (so discussing February’s book on or after 2/15)
- First day of the next month (so discussing February’s book on or after March 1)
- Don’t really care
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I guess I have a leaning toward holding off until at least the 1st of the month (as in, let’s not start discussing February’s book until at least February 1) - but whether we wait until 2/15 or 3/1… no preference. Personally, I need to wait until later in the month to read these, so I won’t be chiming in until close to the end of the month.
… and sorry for all the chatter. It’ll die back once we’ve got the logistics ironed out.
I voted but am okay if we start commenting midmonth of the chosen month. January book mid-January, etc.
I voted for the 15th but am agreeable to the first of the next month, too.
Thanks, Gabi! I guess we’ll set up the discussions for the first of the following month. I’ll close the topics for comment & reopen them on the 1st. So:
A Visit from the Goon Squad: Start reading any time, discussion starting February 1.
Portrait of a Lady: Read in February, discuss starting March 1.
Liar’s Poker: Read in March, discuss starting April 1.
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