Reading the Chunksters discussion

Good morning Chunksters! We have had a few good theme nominations and since we got about four nominations, I figured I would use them all over the course of the rest of the year.

For March/April (which can be extended another month if the two books nominated are extra large) we will start with The Pen VS The Sword theme. And we already have two great books nominated. So think on this theme and let the nominations begin. I'd like to have the nominations in by next Saturday so I can set up the poll, and have their books ready to go by March 1.

NOMINATIONS:
The Club Dumas VS The Three Musketeers

I second The Club Dumas/Three Musketeers. I've always wanted to read those!

Sounds great!

Three Musketeers

I think it was in the Boxall's group, but I remember someone saying it was better to read The Three Musketeers prior to The Club Dumas, but I don't know if it matters?

Alana wrote: "I think it was in the Boxall's group, but I remember someone saying it was better to read The Three Musketeers prior to The Club Dumas, but I don't know if it matters?"

Yes, definitely read Three Musketeers first!

Are we supposed to be nominating other things for this category? I'm a little confused by the process.

I do have other ideas for Pen vs Sword if we want choices. Like Vanity Fair vs The Pilgrim's Progress.

Or The Red and the Black vs Queen Margot, or Marguerite de Valois

Or Half of a Yellow Sun vs The Poisonwood Bible

Unless we're all just happy with Dumas.

Feel free to make as many nominations as you want. We will put them all for a vote this weekend. I try not to limit nominations as you never know what can encourage others in a good read later on.

Second Half of a Yellow Sun vs Poisonwood Bible

Suggest:
The Thirteenth Tale vs Jane Eyre

Half of a Yellow Sun vs Poisonwood Bible -- what a great coupling!

Lisa wrote: "Suggest:
The Thirteenth Tale vs Jane Eyre"

I already seconded Musketeers vs. Dumas and I stand by that, but this is a good combo, too! I've read both and they would be a great comparison!

In honor of Umberto Eco's recent death, I wanted to nominate a book of his to read in the upcoming months. How about:

Foucault's Pendulum vs. Ivanhoe

Kaycie wrote: "In honor of Umberto Eco's recent death, I wanted to nominate a book of his to read in the upcoming months. How about:

Foucault's Pendulum vs. Ivanhoe"

His The Name of the Rose is also excellent, and perfect for this theme (it kind of deals with both themes in one book), although it has some lengthy theology and philosophy sections that could be very tedious to many readers.

Alana wrote: "although it has some lengthy theology and philosophy sections that could be very tedious to many readers. ."

they certainly were to me when I read it. But that was years ago, when it first came out and I was a lot younger!

I think it was more interesting to me when I read it because it happened to coincide with a History of Christianity class I was taking that was talking about the popes and antipopes and all the divisions of the time, so a lot of it was familiar to me and made the story more interesting and intriguing.

I had a much easier time with The Name of the Rose than I did with Foucault's Pendulum, which I struggled with for a while and then just quit. I really enjoyed The Name of the Rose, but don't remember much of it, so I found another copy of it and have been thinking of a re-read.

We could do The Name of the Rose VS The Iliad, and tour the Mediterranean.

So many ideas that sound so cool! How does one pick?

Alana wrote: "His The Name of the Rose is also excellent, and perfect for this theme (it kind of deals with both themes in one book), although it has some lengthy theology and philosophy sections that could be very tedious to many readers. "

I have already read The Name of the Rose, so wanted to try a new Eco.

I like to nominate books I haven't read, so obviously I haven't read Foucault's pendelum, but it seemed from the description that it dealt with vanity publishers mocking the conspiracies of the Knights Templar and writing their own conspiracies which seemed to fit very well with "the pen", and Ivanhoe is a quite "swordsy" novel set in the time of the crusades, to I thought it could be an interesting mash-up.

And Lisa - for many of these nominations, I think we can "reuse" for some of the other topics or do some side-reads! I am interested in many as well, because for most of the pairs I have read one book but not the other and will be interested in seeing the comparisons.

Too many books, too little time...

That is the truth. Nominations will close tonight. I will set up the poll tomorrow.

The poll is set up.

jennbunny wrote: "The poll is set up."

It didn't get marked as featured, so you have to scroll down the list of polls to #5 to find it. Fortunately many have, but some might not have.

Thanks for letting me know. I will see if I can correct that.

Voting ends tonight! It's a close race.

The new poll is up for the tie breaker!

jennbunny wrote: "The new poll is up for the tie breaker!"

Is it my understanding that we're allowed to vote even if we only intend to read one of the selections? Obviously if we don't intend to read either we shouldn't vote. But do we have to plan to read both to vote?

Everyman wrote: "Is it my understanding that we're allowed to vote even if we only intend to read one of the selections? Obviously if we don't intend to read either we shouldn't vote. But do we have to plan to read both to vote? ..."

I was wondering about that also.

Whether you read one or both please feel free to vote. My only suggestion is if you plan to never read either book, please don't vote.

Hey chunksters! I've had a slight personal emergency. The votes are in and we have winners! I will be able to get my act together this weekend and figure out the reading schedules and set up the threads. I do not own either book so I will request them from the library or go but them. Feel free to start reading now or wait for the set up.

Have a great week!

For those who don't have a copy of the Iliad, unless your library or bookstore only has one copy, you'll have to decide what translation to get.

I have read parts or all of a number of translations over the years (starting almost fifty-five years ago); these are my personal reflections, for what they're worth.

I am a strong appreciator of the Lattimore translation. I think, and I'm not alone, that it's the closest to both the language and the spirit of Homer. I also like the Fitzgerald, though I think his Odyssey is stronger than his Iliad. The Fagles translation is also quite popular; it's a more colloquial translation, which some people like but I personally don't think has quite the gravitas that I like to see in classical translations. I can't recommend the Lombardo; it is very colloquial, to the point that for me it loses all sense of a classical work. I got a copy of the fairly recent (2008) translation by Herbert Jordan. I haven't read it yet, though I have dipped into it here and there and so far found it quite acceptable. I may choose at least to start with it for this reading to see how I like it, or may re-read Lattimore again because he's so good.

There's a quite acceptable on-line version by Ian Johnston, a classics professor who has put a number of his translations online (his Iliad is now also available in book form). You can find it here:
https://records.viu.ca/~johnstoi/home...

There are literally dozens of translations available, so it can be hard to choose, though most major bookstores will probably only carry one or two (Lattimore and Fagles most likely; college bookstores tend more toward Lattimore, though Fagles is gaining ground as college students tend to find it easier reading).

FWIW, here's one list of Iliad translations:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English...

And finally, there's this fascinating review of four translations of the Iliad. Well worth reading!
http://www.newyorker.com/books/page-t...

Thank you for all of the wonderful information Everyman! You have been so very helpful with these reads.

E.man, I was hoping that you would comment on translations. Thank you. I enjoyed the audio Fitzgerald Odyssey. Think I will try this route for the Iliad too.

Please tell me more about this theme. Are y'all pairing books that compliment eachother?

Yes that is the idea. Kind of comparing two books in the theme that is chosen.

Everyman wrote: "For those who don't have a copy of the Iliad, unless your library or bookstore only has one copy, you'll have to decide what translation to get.

I have read parts or all of a number of translatio..."


I saw another of your posts on The Iliad sometime in the last couple days, Everyman, and started browsing around for translations. I'm fiercely interested in renewing my not-so-great grasp on Western Civ History, because I'd like to read Dante's Divine Comedy, but need to refresh my (not since high school) history lessons. And, having just read a book about Achilles, I'd LOVE to read the Iliad!

I just have a couple books to finish first. And my life is crazy at the moment, so I'm hesitant about joining a group read, but I may try to jump in next week.

Whether I can, or I can't, I'm grateful for your posts, and hope to at the very least, follow them silently. So, in advance, thanks for all your contributions! (In case you don't hear from me again ;-). )