Thursday, August 31, 2006

Next Book Possibilities...

Although we are in the middle of discussing The Island of Dr. Moreau still, Stefanie has tagged me to choose the next book, and I thought I would throw out a few reading suggestions for next time around for everyone to think about. Since we seem to have read mostly male authors, I thought I would suggest a few female authors. I took a peek through 500 Great Books by Women: A Reader's Guide and found many wonderful books, however many are out of print or hard to find. I highly recommend this book if you don't mind searching for some of the lesser known titles. I added a couple of authors that are more contemporary to my list, which I found in the book, as well as older classics. In no particular order:

I had thought about adding Marguerite Duras to the list, but most of her fiction appears to be out of print here (except The Lover, which is a very slender book and would be quick to read--I had thought of The Vice Counsel with The Lover being extra credit, but oh well).

Originally I was just going to choose international women authors, but was I not looking in the right place? I can't seem the find many foreign classics by women (not contemporary authors)--is not that much translated. There seem to be plenty of male authors out there in translation. Any thoughts?

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Danielle all of those sound so good. I'll throw in my vote for the Elizabeth Gaskill novel. It seems I keep hearing about her lately and would love to read something by her.

Stefanie said...

They all sound so good! I've been wanting to read Story of an African Farm for a long time. Tha would be my first choice followed by Mary Barton and All Our Yesterdays.

Mike B. said...

I would choose Indiana as my first choice, only because I've never read anything by Sand and the only way I would, is in a group like this.

SFP said...

Olive Schreiner.

Rebecca H. said...

For me: first Sand, then Gaskill, then Ginzburg.

Anonymous said...

One for Gaskill
Two for Schreiner
Two for Sand

More votes? Of course I want to read all of them!

Anonymous said...

I'm jonesing for the Sand. Is it available on Project Gutenberg, does anyone know?

JohnM said...

Some international women who come to mind: Atwood, Byatt, Nadine Gordimer, A.L. Kennedy, Margaret Drabble, Iris Murdoch, Doris Lessing, Alice Munro, or Ali Smith? If the book cannot be contemporary (I didn't realize that was a rule), how about something by Grazia Deledda, Oriana Fallaci, or Elsa Morante?

Anonymous said...

One for Gaskill
Two for Schreiner
Three for Sand

By the way Ella, if it ends up being the Sand--Indiana is online here: http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/sand/indiana/indiana.html

John--Excellent suggestions! I was thinking along the lines of 19th century literature when I posted. I am not familiar with the last three--thanks for the links! Are you going to read along with us?

Sylvia, Quillhill...who else has been reading along lately? Anyone else want to choose a favorite?

SFP said...

And we're selecting for October, right? Not this month.

Anonymous said...

I think so, Susan. We usually have two months to read, don't we?

Anonymous said...

Three for Schreiner
Three for Sand
One for Gaskill

Maybe tomorrow I will put the top two names in a hat and let fate decide, unless there is someone to cast a deciding vote. Sylvia mentioned she might not be able to read along--hopefully she can squeeze another read in...--if she can she wanted Schreiner! :)