Saturday, November 14, 2009

Time to choose again!

It's my turn to choose a book for the Slaves of Golconda readng group. As I was thinking about what to put on the list of choices, I remembered reading about a course called "Transatlantic Women Modernists" that Fernham is teaching and finding myself jotting down a bunch of books to add to my TBR list. So I thought perhaps others would find the list interesting too. My choices are drawn from that syllabus or this list.

So please vote on which book you would like to read by Friday, November 20th, and I'll tally the results. I thought it might make sense to delay our discussion until the end of January, instead of the end of December, so the discussion will begin on Sunday, January 31st.

  1. Nella Larson's Passing. From Amazon: "The tale is simple on the surface--a few adventures in Chicago and New York's high life, with lots of real people and race-mixing events described ... But underneath, it seethes with rage, guilt, sex, and complex deceptions. Irene fears losing her black husband to Clare, who seems increasingly predatory. Or is this all in Irene's mind? And is everyone wearing a mask? Larsen's book is a scary hall of mirrors, a murder mystery that can't resolve itself. It sticks with you."
  2. Stevie Smith's Novel on Yellow Paper. From Wikipedia: "Stevie Smith's first novel is structured as the random typings of a bored secretary, Pompey. She plays word games, retells stories from classical and popular culture, remembers events from her childhood, gossips about her friends and describes her family, particularly her beloved Aunt."
  3. Jessie Fauset's There is Confusion. From Amazon: "Jessie Redmon Fauset's first novel shows a prescient awareness of the black middle class's quest for social equality in the early twentieth century and of the limited vocational choices confronting both black and white American women in that era. Set in Philadelphia some 60 years ago, There Is Confusion traces the lives of Joanna Mitchell and Peter Bye, whose families must come to terms with an inheritance of prejudice and discrimination as they struggle for legitimacy and respect."
  4. Sylvia Townsend Warner's Summer Will Show. Here's the beginning of Amazon's description: "Sophia Willoughby, a young Englishwoman from an aristocratic family and a person of strong opinions and even stronger will, has packed her cheating husband off to Paris. He can have his tawdry mistress. She intends to devote herself to the serious business of raising her two children in proper Tory fashion. Then tragedy strikes: the children die, and Sophia, in despair, finds her way to Paris, arriving just in time for the revolution of 1848."

I hope something here strikes your interest! Everyone is welcome to join us. Leave your email in the comments if you would like to join the group.

14 comments:

Frances said...

Passing sounds intriguing to me. Never heard of it before now either. Love a new and unexpected read. Dorothy, these are some fab choices!

Stefanie said...

Wow Dorothy, what a great list to choose from. I've never heard of any of them and they all sound so interesting!

First choice is Novel on Yellow Paper

Second choice is There is Confusion

Rebecca H. said...

Glad you like them! You can thank Fernham; Passing is the only book here I didn't get solely from her list.

Danielle said...

What great choices! The Nella Larsen is the only one I'm at all familiar with (and I own), but as I'm likely to read that one on my own anyway, I think I'm going to vote for Stevie Smith (though the Sylvia Townsend Warner sounds good, too).

Amanda Roper said...

My choice is Summer will Show; I love Sylvia Townsend Warner!

J.C. Montgomery said...

I've missed the last few readings and really want to get back into it.

I also vote for Summer Will Show.

Sarah said...

My first choice would be Novel on Yellow Paper, my second Summer Will Show.

Eileen said...

They all sound great, but Passing sounds especially intriguing.

Iliana said...

What great selections. I'd never heard of any of these but they all sound so intriguing. I think my first choice is Passing and second would be Novel on Yellow Paper.

Thank you for such a great list, Dorothy!

litlove said...

I'm definitely up for the Stevie Smith - I've wanted to read her for ages! Great category, Dorothy, nice and unusual but a selection of books we would all enjoy.

Jodie said...

Great list I think 'There is Confusion' sounds great, plus what a great title.

Grad said...

I vote for Novel On Yellow Paper (even though There Is Confusion describes my life these days). Great list, Dorothy. And I have to apologize to Danielle and you. I just plain forgot to look at my personal e-mails for so long I'm ashamed to say. Thanks for picking up my dropped ball, both of you.

Juliette said...

I vote for Novel on Yellow Paper first and Passing, second. However they all sound like great reads. Never heard of any except the Stevie Smith! I've wanted to read her....

Birdy said...

Wow what a wonderful book club! Really liked the whole concept and organization and loved reading your reviews :) BTW I have had my eyes on Summer Will Show for quite some time and I feel the story is extraordinary :)