Landslide
Well-Known Member
Ups, sorry I didn't know.
I was going to suggest Blindness by José Saramago but I just saw it has been discussed previously.
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June 2008 - Book Group Suggestions
- Thread starter Stewart
- Start date
Ups, sorry I didn't know.
I was going to suggest Blindness by José Saramago but I just saw it has been discussed previously.
Libra
Active Member
I have another suggestion to add, because I am wayyy behind on The First Circle how about when we are reading a big book we discuss by chapter?at least try to keep close to the same part.
Robert
Active Member
That's a very good idea, Libra. It might generate more discussion.
Libra
Active Member
yea thanks, they come to me when I am sleeping.
with the The First Circle I am jotting down notes every chapter, now I am just trying to finish it. I am still on chapter 26, and I feel most posts have covered everything and I don't have much to add.
Robert
Active Member
yea thanks, they come to me when I am sleeping.
with the The First Circle I am jotting down notes every chapter, now I am just trying to finish it. I am still on chapter 26, and I feel most posts have covered everything and I don't have much to add.
I'm sure you'll find something to discuss. There are a lot of things going on at different levels.
Peder
Well-Known Member
There seems to be a ground swell for Uncle Tom's Cabin.
From what I see over at Borders, where three different imprints of Uncle Tom's Cabin are on the shelf, it might be a different kind of book than we imagine -- at least different than the little I imagined. Three things in particular stand out to me, based on my looking at the three different Intros and at Wikipedia. It is told from the point of the view of the slave characters with Stowe's uncompromising views often directly interpolated as well, which leads to rather uncomplimentary characterizations of whites; it seems to be the source for many of the derogatory and racist characterizations of blacks (and whites) that still exist today; and it is heavily Christian in message. I assume we all already knew that it was an ardent one-sided work of Abolitionist literature prior to the Civil War. For lit-critters, however, it has a style all its own (as described in one of the Introductions) and was the best selling American novel of the nineteenth century. How it reads is not something I can say, but it would seem to offer quite a bit to grapple with in a discussion.
From what I see over at Borders, where three different imprints of Uncle Tom's Cabin are on the shelf, it might be a different kind of book than we imagine -- at least different than the little I imagined. Three things in particular stand out to me, based on my looking at the three different Intros and at Wikipedia. It is told from the point of the view of the slave characters with Stowe's uncompromising views often directly interpolated as well, which leads to rather uncomplimentary characterizations of whites; it seems to be the source for many of the derogatory and racist characterizations of blacks (and whites) that still exist today; and it is heavily Christian in message. I assume we all already knew that it was an ardent one-sided work of Abolitionist literature prior to the Civil War. For lit-critters, however, it has a style all its own (as described in one of the Introductions) and was the best selling American novel of the nineteenth century. How it reads is not something I can say, but it would seem to offer quite a bit to grapple with in a discussion.
silverseason
New Member
One thing that affected popular concepts of the book was the traveling road show of Uncle Tom's Cabin which was not authorized by Stowe and which emphasized the most dramatic parts of the book. Stowe's own experience of the South and slavery was very limited - as her critics did not hesitate to point out - and she wrote out of strong Christian-Abolitionist convictions. She also did not hesitate to make use of coincidences and cardboard characters.
Peder
Well-Known Member
Yes, very much so, from what I read, as well as the scenes added by the so-called "Tom shows." The famous scene, for example, of Eliza excaping across the ice floes, chased by wolves (in Ohio!), is apparently not in the book.
saliotthomas
New Member
To be perfectly honest,from what Peder say's and it might be an apriori but i'm less than luckwarm for Uncle Tom.If it is to choose a female writer,i find Virginia Wolf far more interesting and the ideas her books(orlando
?) would generate less of the heavy duty section.
?) would generate less of the heavy duty section.
Maus
New Member
I see some are against the idea of reading "Uncle Tom's Cabin" and I understand that. I do have a suggestion however.
There are some books that might fall along the same themes of Stowe's "Uncle Tom's Cabin," interesting to read if not simply because they are not as well known in modern circles. Tourgée wrote "A Fool's Errand, by One of the Fools" and "Bricks Without Straw" in the late 19th century and might be available as free publications from Project Gutenberg or some other source.
I find the phonetic method of writing to be very difficult to read. But if you can get past that the books give good insight into the period. Example: "Dat's what folks used ter say 'bout him, ennyhow."
If it is the subject matter of Stowe's book that turns you off, then these would not be an alternative for you.
-Maus
There are some books that might fall along the same themes of Stowe's "Uncle Tom's Cabin," interesting to read if not simply because they are not as well known in modern circles. Tourgée wrote "A Fool's Errand, by One of the Fools" and "Bricks Without Straw" in the late 19th century and might be available as free publications from Project Gutenberg or some other source.
I find the phonetic method of writing to be very difficult to read. But if you can get past that the books give good insight into the period. Example: "Dat's what folks used ter say 'bout him, ennyhow."
If it is the subject matter of Stowe's book that turns you off, then these would not be an alternative for you.
-Maus
abecedarian
Well-Known Member
I could go for Doctor Glas...
saliotthomas
New Member
Sound good but would it be easy to get?
Stephen King is not a bad idea,why not get a genre fiction for after and a female writer all in one.Like Rice or Highsmith for the lighter note.Stranger on the train is very good.
Stephen King is not a bad idea,why not get a genre fiction for after and a female writer all in one.Like Rice or Highsmith for the lighter note.Stranger on the train is very good.
Libra
Active Member
AbeBooks: Search Results - Doctor Glas
Try here, I love this place because you can order books from the closest country to you. check it out.
silverseason
New Member
Doctor Glas
Amazon used books (U.S.) has it and I also found a copy in eBay Stores.
Amazon used books (U.S.) has it and I also found a copy in eBay Stores.