This isn't related to the Finest Things Club per se, but it is awesome nonetheless: Tournament of Books. As you will see, this website, the Morning News (also recommended), has created a NCAA-ish bracket situation, except with books! They have guest judges who read two books, pick a winner, and send a book on to the next round. Arbitrary book competitions are the best. I have heard of only 7 of these books and read none, but I'm still excited for the battle.
Speaking of not reading books, am I the only one who has finished Under the Jaguar Sun? I'll be posting about it soon, but I have a sinking feeling that no one else has read it (including the FTC's own creator! You are outed, Stephanie!). February is going to be over soon! Good thing it's a Leap Year; you have one more day!
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Friday, February 1, 2008
FIRST SIX PICKS!-- WITH UPDATE (2)
Ladies and gentlemen,
The first six fateful books have been chosen for our first six fateful months -- by a higher power. (My computer, if you were wondering, running this randomizer program I got off the Internet: http://random-name-picker.qarchive.org/)
They are as follows:
1. Under the Jaguar Sun
2. The Satanic Verses
3. Slaughterhouse-Five
4. In Cold BloodVETO (T): NOW:Persepolis
5. Wuthering HeightsVETO (K): NOW: Jitterbug Perfume
6. Decline and Fall
If you would like to use your veto on any one of these works, please do so now in the comments. If you veto a book, it is off the list (so you better mean it), and another will be randomly selected to fill its spot -- and that selection,too, can be vetoed. We veto/pick until everyone has used their vetoes or doesn't want to. You have 24 hours to speak up.
The first six fateful books have been chosen for our first six fateful months -- by a higher power. (My computer, if you were wondering, running this randomizer program I got off the Internet: http://random-name-picker.qarchive.org/)
They are as follows:
1. Under the Jaguar Sun
2. The Satanic Verses
3. Slaughterhouse-Five
4. In Cold BloodVETO (T): NOW:Persepolis
5. Wuthering HeightsVETO (K): NOW: Jitterbug Perfume
6. Decline and Fall
If you would like to use your veto on any one of these works, please do so now in the comments. If you veto a book, it is off the list (so you better mean it), and another will be randomly selected to fill its spot -- and that selection,too, can be vetoed. We veto/pick until everyone has used their vetoes or doesn't want to. You have 24 hours to speak up.
My Book Choices--finally!
My sincerest apology for delaying our exciting book choosing shindig. I have never blogged before so everything associated with club is new and exciting!
A Clockwork Orange By Anthony Burgess
A Passage to India By E.M. Forster
One Hundred Years of Solitude By Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Hello, all. This is also my very first blog post ever -- I'm making it short and sweet. Here are my picks:
Imperium, by Ryszard Kapuscinksi
I am not picking this only because the author is Polish. It comes highly recommended by a (Polish) friend of mine.
Disgrace, by J.M. Coetzee
I've been wanting to read this one for a while.
Under the Jaguar Sun, Italo Calvino
Very short and fantastically trippy stories.
Imperium, by Ryszard Kapuscinksi
I am not picking this only because the author is Polish. It comes highly recommended by a (Polish) friend of mine.
Disgrace, by J.M. Coetzee
I've been wanting to read this one for a while.
Under the Jaguar Sun, Italo Calvino
Very short and fantastically trippy stories.
Okay, so this took A LOT of deliberation, my friends, and after much careful thought, during which I actually eliminated my all-time favorite, To Kill a Mockingbird (it was like killing a little part of myself, I tell you!), I came up with the following list:
Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut
Moby Dick by Herman Melville
The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
And, by the way, the idea for each of these books came from the fact that they were referenced in three of my favorite '80s/'90s teen movies. A big gold star to anyone who identifies which ones.
Oh, and I'm about four hours late getting my list together, but I assure you, this was a grueling process for me.
Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt VonnegutMoby Dick by Herman MelvilleThe Bell Jar by Sylvia PlathAnd, by the way, the idea for each of these books came from the fact that they were referenced in three of my favorite '80s/'90s teen movies. A big gold star to anyone who identifies which ones.
Oh, and I'm about four hours late getting my list together, but I assure you, this was a grueling process for me.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Oh my goodness, this membership invitation is so unexpected!
I'd like to thank the Academy, my manager and hairstylist, my amazing production team, my Pilates instructor, Mom and Dad for always being there for me, and LeVar Burton for instilling in me a love of reading. And, of course, my lord and savior Jesus Christ, pictured above. Oh no wait, that's Adam. Same loincloth, though.
In all seriousness, folks, I haven't even picked my books yet, but I thought a post was necessary just to communicate to you all how excited I am to be in this club.
God, I'm such a joiner.
I'd like to thank the Academy, my manager and hairstylist, my amazing production team, my Pilates instructor, Mom and Dad for always being there for me, and LeVar Burton for instilling in me a love of reading. And, of course, my lord and savior Jesus Christ, pictured above. Oh no wait, that's Adam. Same loincloth, though.
In all seriousness, folks, I haven't even picked my books yet, but I thought a post was necessary just to communicate to you all how excited I am to be in this club.
God, I'm such a joiner.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Books! That I picked!
Hello FTC!
These may be a bit random.
Wuthering Heights, 1847, Emily Bronte
I almost hate to choose this because I bet everyone has terrible memories of their respective 11th grade English classes. (If too many of you have read it in class, let me know in the comments so I can pick something else.) I didn't read this in high school; I read it later, for fun. I didn't find it fun, though, because I was unprepared for how savage and pathologically vengeful it is.
Kafka on the shore, 2002, Haruki Murakami
This author has been on my to-read list for awhile.
Miss Lonelyhearts, 1933, Nathanael West
I have to admit that I discovered this book on one of those lists, the sort that are titled "342.7 of the very best books ever written in this universe or any other that you must read before you die." I have a good feeling about it.
These may be a bit random.
Wuthering Heights, 1847, Emily Bronte
I almost hate to choose this because I bet everyone has terrible memories of their respective 11th grade English classes. (If too many of you have read it in class, let me know in the comments so I can pick something else.) I didn't read this in high school; I read it later, for fun. I didn't find it fun, though, because I was unprepared for how savage and pathologically vengeful it is.
Kafka on the shore, 2002, Haruki Murakami
This author has been on my to-read list for awhile.
Miss Lonelyhearts, 1933, Nathanael West
I have to admit that I discovered this book on one of those lists, the sort that are titled "342.7 of the very best books ever written in this universe or any other that you must read before you die." I have a good feeling about it.
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