NYRB Classics discussion

Once again, rather than wait until the end of the month to choose a book, I thought I'd start this thread right away, not because I hope we choose a book right now but because I hope we discuss what books we'd like to read in general.

So take a moment to peruse the NYRB Classics collection and let us know which intrigue you most, which you've been meaning to read the longest, or anything. Besides using this as a way to discuss what book to read next, I am hoping we use it to discuss the books in general and lead each other to a deeper relationship with these wonderful books!

For reference, I'm going to place here the titles we talk about below. I don't mind if there are dozens as I hope this becomes a fun place to talk about the books in general as well as choose a book to focus on.

-The Towers of Trebizond
-Proud Beggars

I think it's reasonable to keep both of those in the running as they were the ones most talked about last month.

I'd still love to hear what books folks are reading or looking forward to reading, so keep sharing! I'd love to get this monthly "choosing a book" to become a general discussion as well -- if that's possible :-) .

I thought 'Judith Hearne' was exceptional. I vaguely remember seeing the film but can't remember too much about it apart from the breakfast table scene.

I have 'The Feast of Lupercal' that I keep meaning to read.

I thought Judith Hearne was excellent too, and I have not read The Mangan Inheritance. I have read a few other books by Moore and I've liked them all.

As for Farrell's trilogy, I have read both Siege of Krishnapur (one of my first NYRB Classics!) and Troubles. I thought they were both pretty great, with perhaps a slight preference for Troubles. I remember starting it and wondering, because of its length, if I'd manage to keep with it, but I did, reading it rather quickly in fact. All that but I still haven't read Singapore Grip! I'm a bit nervous to start it for fear I won't finish it, because it's so long...I never learn!

I haven't read Black Robe. John Self at The Asylum, has been going through Brian Moore's books for some time, and you can read his thoughts on all he's reviewed here.

Also, there's this fun site, The Moore the Merrier, run by Lizzy Siddal, where several contributors have put together posts on Brian Moore. You can read them here, though it looks like the site has not been active for some time (years).

Yes I have. Wasn't crazy about it.

It was a few years ago so I don't remember specifics except a certain distasteful flippancy towards killing. So content not style.

So I've been thinking about what Trevor mentioned last month - the effect of seasons on reading choices. I'm not sure how much sense affect what i choose to read at a given time, but I can say I've been reading some pretty heavy stuff lately - lots to do with death and dying.

Not necessarily about death and dying, but still heavy, is the recently released A Memoir of the Warsaw Uprising. I don't know too much about this particular book or the actual uprising, but I've been drawn to this book. I'm hoping to pick it up soon and would love to consider it for a December read.

Aside from that, I've also been thinking about The Land Breakers. Something about being in the wild, dealing with harsh elements, the need for fire - all drives me to want to get cozy with a book. I could really enjoy reading about the exploits of Wrights trying to make their way, while cozying up to a fire on a cold December day.

Other than those, I've recommended The Pilgrim Hawk: A Love Story and We Think the World of You a few times and still want to read them. They are both relatively short, particularly the former, which might be helpful in December.

I'm new here and it's been so interesting to follow this discussion. I have these two lined up to read in the coming weeks, in case anyone else would find them of interest:-

Transit

The Goshawk

Haven't read them before, though, so can't recommend as yet!

I'll throw out one more suggestion that's been sitting on my to-read-pile: During the Reign of the Queen of Persia. It's a tale of women, told from the collective perspective of four cousins. The book was described as "a Norman Rockwell painting gone bad" and seems like it will have a melancholic feel that I just love.