JREF Book Club: now reading American Gods by Neil Gaiman

Undesired Walrus · 24th November 2009, 11:23 AM

Why not a JREF book club? We suggest a book every 2 weeks or so, read it, discuss it.

Sound good?

Pure_Argent · 24th November 2009, 11:56 AM

I detect a discrepancy in choice of reading material in these forums... a book club would be fun some weeks and ultimate torture the rest.

LibraryLady · 24th November 2009, 12:16 PM

Every two weeks?

I would think once a month like most book clubs would be sufficient?

Undesired Walrus · 24th November 2009, 12:54 PM

Every month then. We could all reach a consensus on the book so it wasn't thrilling for some, crashing for others.

Pure_Argent · 24th November 2009, 12:56 PM

Meh, sure. I'll give it a shot if the rest of you want to.

Undesired Walrus · 24th November 2009, 02:04 PM

Suggestions on the first book?

Pure_Argent · 24th November 2009, 02:12 PM

Well, how about... uh... Dhalgren by Samuel R. Delany? I currently just started reading it, and I'm about twenty pages in. It's pretty interesting, and it's a pretty unique writing style.

Undesired Walrus · 24th November 2009, 03:05 PM

It's sci-fi isn't it? Heard it is remarkably difficult to understand. But sure, I'll try and find a cheap copy.

Here:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-lis...condition=used

Undesired Walrus · 24th November 2009, 03:07 PM

Who else will partake in this adventure?

HawaiiBigSis · 24th November 2009, 03:14 PM

I would love to, but I'm traveling right now, and don't know if I can find a copy... I'll look, and if I do, I will, but if I can't, well I'll be in for next time!

Pure_Argent · 24th November 2009, 03:19 PM

Originally Posted by Undesired Walrus

It's sci-fi isn't it?

Yep. Big sci-fi fan here.

Quote:

Heard it is remarkably difficult to understand.

Meh. It's a unique writing style, but not really too hard to understand. It's purposefully... fuzzy, I guess you could say, because the entire point of the book (what I've read so far, anyway, and it isn't much) is that the character is extremely confused and lost.

Undesired Walrus · 24th November 2009, 03:34 PM

There's explicit sex isn't there (Or have I heard completely wrongly?)?

Ok, I've ordered a copy. Should take 3-5 days to get here.

Pure_Argent · 24th November 2009, 04:04 PM

Originally Posted by Undesired Walrus

There's explicit sex isn't there (Or have I heard completely wrongly?)?

Ok, I've ordered a copy. Should take 3-5 days to get here.

Not so far. The opening scene is sex, yes, but it's kind of purposefully vague, like the rest of the book. There are some descriptions of breasts.

Undesired Walrus · 24th November 2009, 04:25 PM

Ok, so it's Pure Agent and I so far. Who else?

Professor Yaffle · 24th November 2009, 04:30 PM

I have a bit of a reading backlog at the moment, but I might well join in later on with a different book.

Pure_Argent · 24th November 2009, 06:24 PM

Originally Posted by Undesired Walrus

Ok, so it's Pure Agent and I so far. Who else?

Who's this Pure Agent fella? I'm Pure_Argent.

Pure_Argent · 25th November 2009, 10:15 AM

Okay. Read some more of Dhalgren last night. Yes, there is explicit sex. Homosexual explicit sex, if it makes any difference.

Professor Yaffle · 25th November 2009, 10:29 AM

That wouldn't bother me - except for the fact that there are so many writers who can't write when it comes to sex.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2004...es.badsexaward

Sunray Breaker · 25th November 2009, 11:04 AM

I'd love to, but I just started Shermer's "Why People Believe Wierd Things" and I've never been good at juggling books...

bickerer · 25th November 2009, 12:17 PM

Hey, I'm IN, I just found a used copy on a shelf right here in the store. I'm not a huge sci-fi reader so it may take a bit to get through, is there a time limit?? Or do we all just meet back here in a month?

Pure_Argent · 25th November 2009, 12:46 PM

Originally Posted by bickerer

Hey, I'm IN, I just found a used copy on a shelf right here in the store. I'm not a huge sci-fi reader so it may take a bit to get through, is there a time limit?? Or do we all just meet back here in a month?

I guess just one month, or sometime around there. Everyone should post to let the others know when they've finished, though, so that if we all get finished before the deadline we aren't just waiting around pointlessly.

riptowtan · 25th November 2009, 12:52 PM

I'm in too. I just reserved it through my library's website. I'll probably start next week since I have to finish up "I Robot" and "Denialism".

Undesired Walrus · 25th November 2009, 01:54 PM

Great. Look forward to getting my copy. Thanks to all those joining in.

båtsman · 25th November 2009, 03:02 PM

Sounds like a great idea, I'll join the next round.

bickerer · 25th November 2009, 04:51 PM

Great.....I'm only on page 23 and I'm already confused as hell.........

Pure_Argent · 25th November 2009, 05:43 PM

Originally Posted by bickerer

Great.....I'm only on page 23 and I'm already confused as hell.........

What's confusing you?

fls · 25th November 2009, 05:59 PM

I'm in. I'm 1st in the queue at my public library, so I should have it in a day or two.

Linda

Pure_Argent · 25th November 2009, 06:01 PM

Whee! Lots of people!

Status update: currently on page 76. Out of... 794.

O_o

linusrichard · 25th November 2009, 09:48 PM

Sure, I'll bite.

Howie Felterbush · 25th November 2009, 09:52 PM

Sign me up. I'll hit the bookshop this weekend.

Undesired Walrus · 26th November 2009, 06:36 AM

Ace.

Sticky too.

paiute · 26th November 2009, 06:56 AM

Originally Posted by Undesired Walrus

Why not a JREF book club? We suggest a book every 2 weeks or so, read it, discuss it.

Sound good?

A Novel and Efficient Synthesis of Cadaverine, by S. A. Scoggins.
Graduate school, organic chemistry, ghosts, high explosives, particle physics, visions of the past, Massachusetts politics, black helicopters. Now available on Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/y9kckp5

I know for a fact that S. A. is an long-time JREFer, but not under that name.

Undesired Walrus · 26th November 2009, 03:27 PM

I suggest we have a vote next time. We could have two rounds with the first suggesting many book suggestions, and then the second with the 5 most popular heading it off.

So 5 people already for the first book. Good start.

Undesired Walrus · 27th November 2009, 08:18 AM

Got the book today. 20 pages in. First chapter very beautiful, but I didn't have much an idea what the hell was going on with that cave and chain. I understand more in the next two.

Howie Felterbush · 29th November 2009, 05:30 PM

Got my copy this morning. Not bad so far.

Worm · 1st December 2009, 05:43 AM

Choosing the book is always going to be tricky. I'm not convinced that voting works - it tends to dilute the choices to 'easy' books

The best iteration I have seen is for people to make suggestions to an 'organiser', who then picks what seems like a good choice - regardless of 'popularity'

Far from ideal of course, and it relys on someone having time to organise it, but this format did lead to me reading Kafka's 'The Trial' which was absolutely great, and would probably never have seen the light of day on a popular vote.

I see Book Groups as a way of getting me to read things that I wouldn't normally read, or would never hear of.

All IMO of course

SimonD · 1st December 2009, 07:20 AM

Would love to, but I've got two other books to finish first (been traveling a lot for work recently and forgot my first book on my second lot of travels)

<subscribes to thread>

HawaiiBigSis · 2nd December 2009, 09:25 PM

My vote for the next book is Neil Gaiman's "American Gods", since a copy just found me.

Howie Felterbush · 2nd December 2009, 10:44 PM

OK, due to a bout of "Hamthrax" I've had some reading time. I'm a couple hundred pages into this book, and it's OK. I was surprised to see a copyright date of 1975.

Professor Yaffle · 3rd December 2009, 12:59 AM

Originally Posted by HawaiiBigSis

My vote for the next book is Neil Gaiman's "American Gods", since a copy just found me.

Ooh, yes please. I've been planning to reread it for a while, and anyone who hasn't read any Gaiman is really missing out.

24th November 2009, 11:23 AM	#1
Undesired Walrus Philosopher Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 7,139	JREF Book Club: now reading American Gods by Neil Gaiman Why not a JREF book club? We suggest a book every 2 weeks or so, read it, discuss it. Sound good?
	__________________ Man's material discoveries have outpaced his moral progress. - Clement Attlee, Prime Minister of Britain, 1945

24th November 2009, 11:56 AM	#2
Pure_Argent Certified Castlevania Fanboy Join Date: May 2009 Location: The Clock Tower Boss Room Posts: 3,819	I detect a discrepancy in choice of reading material in these forums... a book club would be fun some weeks and ultimate torture the rest.
	__________________ "What is a man? Just a miserable little pile of secrets!" - Dracula, Castlevania "The truth may be out there, but lies are inside your head." - Terry Pratchett, Hogfather

24th November 2009, 12:16 PM	#3
LibraryLady Hunter of the SnarK Moderator Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: University of Southern North Dakota at Hoople Posts: 9,198	Every two weeks? I would think once a month like most book clubs would be sufficient?
	__________________ SHARE for Haiti Post your good news here! "I shall sit here," he said, "on and off, for days and days."

24th November 2009, 12:54 PM	#4
Undesired Walrus Philosopher Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 7,139	Every month then. We could all reach a consensus on the book so it wasn't thrilling for some, crashing for others.
	__________________ Man's material discoveries have outpaced his moral progress. - Clement Attlee, Prime Minister of Britain, 1945

24th November 2009, 12:56 PM	#5
Pure_Argent Certified Castlevania Fanboy Join Date: May 2009 Location: The Clock Tower Boss Room Posts: 3,819	Meh, sure. I'll give it a shot if the rest of you want to.
	__________________ "What is a man? Just a miserable little pile of secrets!" - Dracula, Castlevania "The truth may be out there, but lies are inside your head." - Terry Pratchett, Hogfather

24th November 2009, 02:04 PM	#6
Undesired Walrus Philosopher Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 7,139	Suggestions on the first book?
	__________________ Man's material discoveries have outpaced his moral progress. - Clement Attlee, Prime Minister of Britain, 1945

24th November 2009, 02:12 PM	#7
Pure_Argent Certified Castlevania Fanboy Join Date: May 2009 Location: The Clock Tower Boss Room Posts: 3,819	Well, how about... uh... Dhalgren by Samuel R. Delany? I currently just started reading it, and I'm about twenty pages in. It's pretty interesting, and it's a pretty unique writing style.
	__________________ "What is a man? Just a miserable little pile of secrets!" - Dracula, Castlevania "The truth may be out there, but lies are inside your head." - Terry Pratchett, Hogfather

24th November 2009, 03:05 PM	#8
Undesired Walrus Philosopher Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 7,139	It's sci-fi isn't it? Heard it is remarkably difficult to understand. But sure, I'll try and find a cheap copy. Here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/offer-lis...condition=used
	__________________ Man's material discoveries have outpaced his moral progress. - Clement Attlee, Prime Minister of Britain, 1945

24th November 2009, 03:07 PM	#9
Undesired Walrus Philosopher Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 7,139	Who else will partake in this adventure?
	__________________ Man's material discoveries have outpaced his moral progress. - Clement Attlee, Prime Minister of Britain, 1945

24th November 2009, 03:14 PM	#10
HawaiiBigSis Cognitively Dissonant Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Under the rainbow Posts: 2,994	I would love to, but I'm traveling right now, and don't know if I can find a copy... I'll look, and if I do, I will, but if I can't, well I'll be in for next time!
	__________________ The easy confidence with which I know another man's religion is folly teaches me to suspect that my own is also. - Mark Twain

24th November 2009, 03:19 PM	#11
Pure_Argent Certified Castlevania Fanboy Join Date: May 2009 Location: The Clock Tower Boss Room Posts: 3,819	Originally Posted by Undesired Walrus It's sci-fi isn't it? Yep. Big sci-fi fan here. Quote: Heard it is remarkably difficult to understand. Meh. It's a unique writing style, but not really too hard to understand. It's purposefully... fuzzy, I guess you could say, because the entire point of the book (what I've read so far, anyway, and it isn't much) is that the character is extremely confused and lost.
	__________________ "What is a man? Just a miserable little pile of secrets!" - Dracula, Castlevania "The truth may be out there, but lies are inside your head." - Terry Pratchett, Hogfather

24th November 2009, 03:34 PM	#12
Undesired Walrus Philosopher Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 7,139	There's explicit sex isn't there (Or have I heard completely wrongly?)? Ok, I've ordered a copy. Should take 3-5 days to get here.
	__________________ Man's material discoveries have outpaced his moral progress. - Clement Attlee, Prime Minister of Britain, 1945

24th November 2009, 04:04 PM	#13
Pure_Argent Certified Castlevania Fanboy Join Date: May 2009 Location: The Clock Tower Boss Room Posts: 3,819	Originally Posted by Undesired Walrus There's explicit sex isn't there (Or have I heard completely wrongly?)? Ok, I've ordered a copy. Should take 3-5 days to get here. Not so far. The opening scene is sex, yes, but it's kind of purposefully vague, like the rest of the book. There are some descriptions of breasts.
	__________________ "What is a man? Just a miserable little pile of secrets!" - Dracula, Castlevania "The truth may be out there, but lies are inside your head." - Terry Pratchett, Hogfather

24th November 2009, 04:25 PM	#14
Undesired Walrus Philosopher Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 7,139	Ok, so it's Pure Agent and I so far. Who else?
	__________________ Man's material discoveries have outpaced his moral progress. - Clement Attlee, Prime Minister of Britain, 1945

24th November 2009, 04:30 PM	#15
Professor Yaffle Butterbeans and Breadcrumbs Moderator Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Emily's shop Posts: 7,132	I have a bit of a reading backlog at the moment, but I might well join in later on with a different book.
	__________________ I think you'll find it's a little bit more complicated than that.

24th November 2009, 06:24 PM	#16
Pure_Argent Certified Castlevania Fanboy Join Date: May 2009 Location: The Clock Tower Boss Room Posts: 3,819	Originally Posted by Undesired Walrus Ok, so it's Pure Agent and I so far. Who else? Who's this Pure Agent fella? I'm Pure_Argent.
	__________________ "What is a man? Just a miserable little pile of secrets!" - Dracula, Castlevania "The truth may be out there, but lies are inside your head." - Terry Pratchett, Hogfather

25th November 2009, 10:15 AM	#17
Pure_Argent Certified Castlevania Fanboy Join Date: May 2009 Location: The Clock Tower Boss Room Posts: 3,819	Okay. Read some more of Dhalgren last night. Yes, there is explicit sex. Homosexual explicit sex, if it makes any difference.
	__________________ "What is a man? Just a miserable little pile of secrets!" - Dracula, Castlevania "The truth may be out there, but lies are inside your head." - Terry Pratchett, Hogfather

25th November 2009, 10:29 AM	#18
Professor Yaffle Butterbeans and Breadcrumbs Moderator Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Emily's shop Posts: 7,132	That wouldn't bother me - except for the fact that there are so many writers who can't write when it comes to sex. http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2004...es.badsexaward
	__________________ I think you'll find it's a little bit more complicated than that.

25th November 2009, 11:04 AM	#19
Sunray Breaker Critical Thinker Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Denver Posts: 448	I'd love to, but I just started Shermer's "Why People Believe Wierd Things" and I've never been good at juggling books...
	__________________ "There are times, however, and this is one of them, when even being right feels wrong. What do you say, for instance, about a generation that has been taught that rain is poison and sex is death?" - HST If you really believe that death leads to eternal bliss, then why are you wearing a seatbelt? - Doug Stanhope

25th November 2009, 12:17 PM	#20
bickerer Critical Thinker Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 311	Hey, I'm IN, I just found a used copy on a shelf right here in the store. I'm not a huge sci-fi reader so it may take a bit to get through, is there a time limit?? Or do we all just meet back here in a month?
bickerer Critical Thinker Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 311

25th November 2009, 12:46 PM	#21
Pure_Argent Certified Castlevania Fanboy Join Date: May 2009 Location: The Clock Tower Boss Room Posts: 3,819	Originally Posted by bickerer Hey, I'm IN, I just found a used copy on a shelf right here in the store. I'm not a huge sci-fi reader so it may take a bit to get through, is there a time limit?? Or do we all just meet back here in a month? I guess just one month, or sometime around there. Everyone should post to let the others know when they've finished, though, so that if we all get finished before the deadline we aren't just waiting around pointlessly.
	__________________ "What is a man? Just a miserable little pile of secrets!" - Dracula, Castlevania "The truth may be out there, but lies are inside your head." - Terry Pratchett, Hogfather

25th November 2009, 12:52 PM	#22
riptowtan Scholar Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 62	I'm in too. I just reserved it through my library's website. I'll probably start next week since I have to finish up "I Robot" and "Denialism".
riptowtan Scholar Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 62

25th November 2009, 01:54 PM	#23
Undesired Walrus Philosopher Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 7,139	Great. Look forward to getting my copy. Thanks to all those joining in.
	__________________ Man's material discoveries have outpaced his moral progress. - Clement Attlee, Prime Minister of Britain, 1945

25th November 2009, 03:02 PM	#24
båtsman New Blood Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Sweden Posts: 19	Sounds like a great idea, I'll join the next round.

25th November 2009, 04:51 PM	#25
bickerer Critical Thinker Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 311	Great.....I'm only on page 23 and I'm already confused as hell.........
bickerer Critical Thinker Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 311

25th November 2009, 05:43 PM	#26
Pure_Argent Certified Castlevania Fanboy Join Date: May 2009 Location: The Clock Tower Boss Room Posts: 3,819	Originally Posted by bickerer Great.....I'm only on page 23 and I'm already confused as hell......... What's confusing you?
	__________________ "What is a man? Just a miserable little pile of secrets!" - Dracula, Castlevania "The truth may be out there, but lies are inside your head." - Terry Pratchett, Hogfather

25th November 2009, 05:59 PM	#27
fls Philosopher Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 7,048	I'm in. I'm 1st in the queue at my public library, so I should have it in a day or two. Linda
fls Philosopher Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 7,048	__________________ God - a capricious creative or controlling force said to be the subject of a religion. Evidence is anything that tends to make a proposition more or less true.-Loss Leader sCAM will now be referred to as DIM - Demonstrably Ineffective Medicine www.stopsylvia.com

25th November 2009, 06:01 PM	#28
Pure_Argent Certified Castlevania Fanboy Join Date: May 2009 Location: The Clock Tower Boss Room Posts: 3,819	Whee! Lots of people! Status update: currently on page 76. Out of... 794. O_o
	__________________ "What is a man? Just a miserable little pile of secrets!" - Dracula, Castlevania "The truth may be out there, but lies are inside your head." - Terry Pratchett, Hogfather

25th November 2009, 09:48 PM	#29
linusrichard Master Poster Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Lansing, Mich. Posts: 2,355	Sure, I'll bite.
	__________________ "We are talking about an old ladies genitals after all." - ponderingturtle

25th November 2009, 09:52 PM	#30
Howie Felterbush Critical Thinker Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 457	Sign me up. I'll hit the bookshop this weekend.
	__________________ "More to the point, it is claimed that only stormtroopers can be that accurate, yet they're clearly demonstrated as being unable to hit a barn door while enclosed in a building constructed entirely out of barn doors, using special barn-door-seeking ammunition."-Cuddles

26th November 2009, 06:36 AM	#31
Undesired Walrus Philosopher Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 7,139	Ace. Sticky too.
	__________________ Man's material discoveries have outpaced his moral progress. - Clement Attlee, Prime Minister of Britain, 1945

26th November 2009, 06:56 AM	#32
paiute Thinker Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Smack in the middle of a de Broglie wavelength. Posts: 239	Suggestions: the new novel from S. A. Scoggin Originally Posted by Undesired Walrus Why not a JREF book club? We suggest a book every 2 weeks or so, read it, discuss it. Sound good? A Novel and Efficient Synthesis of Cadaverine, by S. A. Scoggins. Graduate school, organic chemistry, ghosts, high explosives, particle physics, visions of the past, Massachusetts politics, black helicopters. Now available on Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/y9kckp5 I know for a fact that S. A. is an long-time JREFer, but not under that name.
	__________________ A Novel and Efficient Synthesis of Cadaverine Organic chemistry, vengeful ghosts, and high explosives. What could possibly go wrong? http://tinyurl.com/y86mj8s

26th November 2009, 03:27 PM	#33
Undesired Walrus Philosopher Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 7,139	I suggest we have a vote next time. We could have two rounds with the first suggesting many book suggestions, and then the second with the 5 most popular heading it off. So 5 people already for the first book. Good start.
	__________________ Man's material discoveries have outpaced his moral progress. - Clement Attlee, Prime Minister of Britain, 1945 Last edited by Undesired Walrus; 26th November 2009 at 03:29 PM.

27th November 2009, 08:18 AM	#34
Undesired Walrus Philosopher Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 7,139	Got the book today. 20 pages in. First chapter very beautiful, but I didn't have much an idea what the hell was going on with that cave and chain. I understand more in the next two.
	__________________ Man's material discoveries have outpaced his moral progress. - Clement Attlee, Prime Minister of Britain, 1945 Last edited by Undesired Walrus; 27th November 2009 at 08:19 AM.

29th November 2009, 05:30 PM	#35
Howie Felterbush Critical Thinker Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 457	Got my copy this morning. Not bad so far.
	__________________ "More to the point, it is claimed that only stormtroopers can be that accurate, yet they're clearly demonstrated as being unable to hit a barn door while enclosed in a building constructed entirely out of barn doors, using special barn-door-seeking ammunition."-Cuddles