NYRB Classics discussion

We've skipped the monthly group read for the first four months of the year, but let's get it back on track.

In an effort to mix things up (and because the poll wasn't really working to get us books people were interested in reading), we're going to nominate a few books here and then have one member choose the book he or she would like the group to read.

This month, because he was the member who said we should start this up again, Gary will be choosing the book.

I don't have any other rules at this time, though perhaps we should require books be seconded to be nominations so that more than one person puts it on the list. If problems arise we should try to tweak this as seems best.

Right now, let's nominate! Please keep in mind the books that have already been part of the group read.

A few topical/timely suggestions (though not personal nominations: so, if you like these, please nominate and then someone else please second -- my listing them here is not meant to be my personal choice):

Two NYRB Classics made this years Best Translated Book Award longlist: Qui Miaojin's Last Words from Montmartre and Tove Jansson's story collection The Woman Who Borrowed Memories . We've already done Last Words from Montmartre, but I wanted to throw out the Jansson as a suggestion. Also, by May two new Kingsley Amis books will be out: Take a Girl Like You and Ending Up . Simon Leys' The Death of Napoleon comes out May 5.

My personal nomination, should someone else second it, is Elizabeth Taylor's A Game of Hide and Seek .

Ending Up actually sounds quite good but then I thought that about The Old Devils which I'm reading at the moment - it's a chore to read, so I'm not sure about any more Amis.

I've read The Death of Napoleon and really enjoyed it, it's an alternative history which are always fun.

I'll second the Elizabeth Taylor book as I keep meaning to read something by her.

I'd like to nominate Confusion by Stefan Zweig as I'm hoping to read a few Zweig books this year. I've finished his book on Casanova,Casanova: A Study in Self-Portraiture and I've got a short story collection lined up as well.

I second the nomination of A Game of Hide and Seek. I just bought it and would love to discuss it here.

I'll second Confusion. I have read it and I think Zweig is wonderful -- I'd love to take part in a conversation about anything related to him.

So . . . we need a couple more nominations! I think we have only A Game of Hide and Seek and Confusion on the docket. Gary, you can nominate too; we'll keep you in check by seconding it to make it official :-) .

I'd go for the Elizabeth Taylor or Zweig. I just read the Jansson!

Cynthia wrote: "I'd go for the Elizabeth Taylor or Zweig. I just read the Jansson!"

I read A Game of Hide and Seek last year and really enjoyed it! (Not a member of this group, but just chipping in.)

I just started reading Angel by Elizabeth Taylor. I've wanted to read her for awhile, and i would not mind reading two of her books in a row. I was also going to back A Game of Hide and Seek.

But Trevor has kindly invited me to nominate a title. I have also wanted to read Elizabeth Hardwick for awhile.
So my nominee will be SleeplessNights.

http://www.nybooks.com/books/imprints...

I will second Sleepless Nights, as it's also one I've been meaning to read for a while.

At this point we have:

A Game of Hide and Seek
Confusion
Sleepless Nights

If anyone else has a title for Gary to explore, let us know. Otherwise, I think Gary should choose soon so we can procure the title.

Our book for May is - A Game of Hide and Seek by Elizabeth Taylor.

I look forward to GHS for the May read, so glad it was chosen.

Excellent! I can't wait to jump in! I'm actually reading Taylor's A Wreath of Roses now, and it's terrific. This is also nicely timed to get us excited for her A View of the Harbour when it comes out at the beginning of June from NYRB Classics. Sadly, NYRB Classics confirmed to me yesterday that they have no more Taylors licensed.

Thanks for choosing, Gary! I will prep the thread and link to it here.

Okay, here is the thread. It's open now, but might be good to wait a bit to start since May's still a few weeks away.

Great, I am very excited!! Thanks so much.

My pleasure, I've just started Angel. Nice to have the weekend to get into it.
I was going to get View of the Harbour, then I noticed it hadn't come out yet. It looks like a good summer read, the cover is perfect.

Ok. Thanks everyone. I haven't read anything by Taylor so this read should be interesting.

Terrific. I already own it. :) I wouldn't mind reading the others someday.

I've read a couple of titles from this author and they were both excellent. I think the author's fame suffers a bit from having the same name as the other more famous ET.

Guy wrote: "I've read a couple of titles from this author and they were both excellent. I think the author's fame suffers a bit from having the same name as the other more famous ET."

Never heard of her! :-)

Guy wrote: "I think the author's fame suffers a bit from having the same name as the other more famous ET. "

I looked for and found a bio of her. The title is: The Other Elizabeth Taylor, wrtten by Nicola Beauman.

An appropriate title..

Jonathan wrote: "Guy wrote: "I've read a couple of titles from this author and they were both excellent. I think the author's fame suffers a bit from having the same name as the other more famous ET."

Never heard ..."

I saw her once a few years ago. She'd been shopping.