Reading 1001 discussion

June Authors: Barthelme to Böll

I am back to Minnesota. Voting will go through the 23rd and winners announced on the 24th.

How are books chosen? One book is by popular vote and one will be selected by randomizer. Book under 600 pages and not a previous BOTM in past two years are included. Everyone gets a free vote but you can use participation points up to 5 total votes including your freebie. Please feel free to try and persuade people to vote on books you really want to read.

Send a PM to the Reading 1001 shelf personality or to me of your choice(s) and don't forget to vote!

Excluded books: 2666, previous read, 1128 pgs

Donald Barthelme US author, Pennsylvania. 1931 to 1989
1. Amateurs, 184 pages, 1976.
2. The Dead Father, 177 pages, 1975
3. Come Back, Dr. Caligari, 1964, 184 pages

Vladimir Bartol Slovenia, 1903 to 1967
4. Alamut, 1938, 510 pages

Giorgio Bassani Italy, 1916, 2000
5. The Garden of the Finzi-Continis 1962, 246 pages

Georges Bataille France, 1897 to 1962
6. Story of the Eye 1928, 103 pages
7. L'Abbé C 1950, 158 pages
8. Blue of Noon 1935, 162 pages

Emilia Pardo Bazán Spain, 1851 to 1921
9. The House of Ulloa 1886, 288 pages

Jurek Becker Poland, 1937 to 1997
10. Jakob the Liar 1969, 256 pages

Samuel Beckett Ireland 1906 to 1989
11. Worstward Ho 47 pgs, 1983
12. Mercier and Camier, 1970, 128 pages
13. How It Is 1961, 111 pages
14. Molloy, 1951, 241 (book 1 in trilogy)
15. Malone Dies 1951, 127 pages, (book 2)
16. The Unnamable 1953, 186 pages (book 3)
17. Watt, 1953, 256 pgs.
18. Murphy, 1938, 288 pages

William Beckford England, 1760 to 1844
19. Vathek 1786, 170 pages

Harriet Beecher Stowe US, Connecticut, 1811 to 1896.
20. Uncle Tom's Cabin, 1851, 438 pages

Brendan Behan Ireland, 1923 to 1964.
21. Borstal Boy., 1958, 386 pages

Aphra Behn UK, 1640 to 1689
22. Oroonoko 1688, 144 pages

Saul Bellow Born Quebec, Canada; moved to
Chicago 1915 to 2005.
23. Dangling Man 191 pages, 1944
24. The Victim, 1947, 272 pgs
25. The Adventures of Augie March, 1953, 586 pages
26. Seize the Day, 1956, 114 pages
27. Henderson the Rain King, 1959, 341 pages
28. Herzog, 1974, 371 pages
29. Humboldt's Gift, 1975, 487 pages

Arnold Bennett UK, 1867 to 1931
30. The Old Wives' Tale, 1908, 565 pages

John Berger England 1926 to 2017
31. G. 1972, 336 pages

Georges Bernanos France, 1888 to 1948
32. Under Satan's Sun, 1926, 257 pgs

Thomas Bernhard
33. Correction, 1975, 253 pages
34. Yes 1978, 135 pgs
35. Concrete 1982, 156 pgs
36. Wittgenstein's Nephew, 1982, 101 pgs
37. Old Masters: A Comedy 1985, 156 pgs
38. Extinction 1986, 335 pgs

Maurice Blanchot France, 1907 to 2003
39. Death Sentence 1948, 81 pgs

Roberto Bolaño, Chili, 1953 to 2003
40. The Savage Detectives, 1998, 577 pages

Heinrich Böll Germany, 1917 to 1985
41. The Safety Net, 1979, 313 pages
42. The Lost Honor of Katharina Blum, 1974, 140 pages
43. Group Portrait with Lady, 1971, 416 pages
44. Billiards at Half-Past Nine, 1959, 288 pages

That's are June list, how many have you read, what's your preference?

I have read 35 of the 44. My remaining books will probably not be very popular (thank you Beckett and Bernhard!), but they are:

Molloy
Mercier and Camier
The Unnamable
G
The Savage Detectives
Extinction
Under Satan's Sun
Group Portrait with Lady
Billiards at Half-Past Nine

I have read 20 of these and there are 6 currently sitting on my TBR shelf:

Amateurs (Barthelme)
Come Back, Dr Cagliari (Barthelme)
Watt (Beckett)
Mercier & Camier (Beckett)
The House of Ulloa (Bazan)
The Victim (Bellow)

All of them are short, which could be a bonus (in fact, a lot in that list are short). Not a fan of Bellow, but I still have 5 of his to read, so I might (reluctantly) back him if there is support. There is nothing wrong with Beckett or Bernhard ;)

I haven't read any of them, however I do own several of them.
These are the two I am interested in reading:

Harriet Beecher Stowe US, Connecticut, 1811 to 1896.
20. Uncle Tom's Cabin, 1851, 438 pages

Aphra Behn UK, 1640 to 1689
22. Oroonoko 1688, 144 pages

I’ve read all but 4. How is it I still have so many B authors on my shelf?

I would like to read Uncle Tom's Cabin too. The overlap between Diane and Patrick's lists is Mercier & Camier and I could go with that also.

I can access Mercier and Camier through Hoopla, so I would be happy to vote for that.

I've read 13 of them. I would be okay (happy doesn't fit) to read Malloy as I own the trilogy and it is sitting here on my shelf for many years. I also own Group Portrait with Lady. So those 2 would be my preference. I can access Mercier and Camier too.

I have only read five of these. My name is from Group Portrait with Lady, so I have read that one. Of the other books mentioned I have read Uncle Tom's Cabin and Oroonoko.

I have no real preference beyond that the only one I own is Herzog.

There's 15 here I haven't read. Of the ones already mentioned I'd be down for:

-G
-The Savage Detectives
-Under Satan's Sun
-Group Portrait with Lady
-Billiards at Half-Past Nine
-The House of Ulloa
-Watt
-Herzog

Have already read Mercier and Camier, but I could get behind Group Portrait with a lady or Herzog, really any of the above.

Tracy wrote: "I’ve read all but 4. How is it I still have so many B authors on my shelf?"

Which 4 do you have remaining?

L’Abbe C, Extinction, Correction, and Group Portrait With Lady.

Kristel wrote: "June Authors: Barthelme to Böll

I am back to Minnesota. Voting will go through the 23rd and winners announced on the 24th.

How are books chosen? One book is by popular vote and one will be selec..."

I've read 19 of these which leaves plenty to choose from that I haven't read! Hope one of those is chosen so I can read with the group again!

I'd be up for:
Amateurs (Barthelme)
Come Back, Dr Cagliari (Barthelme)
Watt (Beckett)
The House of Ulloa (Bazan)
The Victim (Bellow)

Books excluded from the randomiser

Humboldt's Gift

Well given the amount of times it came up I'm going to vote for group Portrait with a Lady

I have only read 12 of these, but don't own any of the others, so I shall just go with the flow, again!

I don't seem to be a fan of the "B" authors, have only read four of these- a couple of which are little-read: Group Portrait with Lady and the Savage Detectives.
Alamut, Molloy, Extinction or Adventures of Augie March would be my preferences. Since Diane and Tracy haven't yet read Extinction, maybe I will vote for it.

I've only read 4 of these.

Of the unread one's I have Uncle Tom's Cabin on my shelf.

the ones that I have access to digitally through the library are:
All of the Beckett works
Vethek
All of the Bellow works (though I've already read Herzog)

Voting is done.
Our Randomizer chose 37. Old Masters: A Comedy 1985, 156 pgs
Popular vote: 10 votes (2 voters) Group Portrait with Lady

Other books receiving votes
Mercier and Camier 8 votes
Uncle Tom's Cabin 1
Oroonoko 1
Extinction 4

What will you be reading in June? Also any volunteers for hosting either of these books?

I've read Old Masters, but will be reading Group Portait with Lady.

I've read Group Portrait.
I would read Old Masters if I could get it from libraries, but they don't have it except for the university one that's currently closed to me. Cheapest copy I can find is about $8 and I don't want to buy any more til I read some of the others I have, (unless they're really cheap). I could get other listed Bernhard novels from libraries, like Extinction, Correction, Wittgenstein's Nephew.

I'm reading Une Vie and started The Hours yesterday, so will join you for those discussions soon.

I can't source Group Portrait with Lady here in Australia, and I have already read Old Masters. Another skipped BOTM month for me, I will focus on the annual read and my TBR pick instead.

If anyone has read both BOTMs, I would love to participate in a Mercier and Camier buddy read. I can get both BOTM books from the local college library so I will probably do that also.

@Kristel: has the TBR number for May been drawn? I can't seem to see it anywhere.

It's been a few years since I read Group Portrait, but I don't think I have it on hand, so I won't be reading it again. I'll try to get hold of Old Masters. It looks fun. The library re-opens in May, but if they can't provide it's five quid on Kindle.

Patrick wrote: "@Kristel: has the TBR number for May been drawn? I can't seem to see it anywhere."

"Kristel wrote: "The winners for May:
The Randomizer chose The Hours (Michael Cunningham)
And popular vote chose Une Vie" (Guy de Maupassant)
Both are on the shorter side.

You would find it under the headings "Discussion"> "General"> "Vote May 2021 BOTM".

George P. wrote: "Patrick wrote: "@Kristel: has the TBR number for May been drawn? I can't seem to see it anywhere."

"Kristel wrote: "The winners for May:
The Randomizer chose The Hours (Michael Cunningham)
And pop..."

I wrote TBR, not BOTM. I knew very well about the BOTM since I voted for one of them.

Patrick wrote: "@Kristel: has the TBR number for May been drawn? I can't seem to see it anywhere."

I think it is normally drawn a day or two after the BotM is announced. Since we're not supposed to start reading until the new month, we don't need much warning. But, yeah, I'm always curious to know the new number!

Patrick wrote: "George P. wrote: "Patrick wrote: "@Kristel: has the TBR number for May been drawn? I can't seem to see it anywhere."

"Kristel wrote: "The winners for May:
The Randomizer chose The Hours (Michael C..."
Sorry, I am late in getting the TBR #posted, it is 5.

So June is another German speaking month. But I love Boll and hope I can find both books.

No luck with Audible or Kindle so far.