That is, we wish they'd ask. But we'll answer before the question is asked.
The SWNID Fiction Club counts as members all conscious beings who have read and found interesting any book listed as a selection for the club.
Oh, and here's the other question that isn't being asked: How does a book become a SWNID Fiction Club selection?
Books are selected because (a) SWNID read them; (b) he found them memorable and recommends that others read them. Our tastes run to what is sometimes termed classic fiction, if it is older, or literary fiction, if it is more recent. Those who can link titles to authors will discern a couple of SWNIDish favorites.
Expect other titles to be added as we say to ourself, "Oh yes, that's another one."
One title is an exception. God: Stories is a recent short-fiction anthology that we have recently discovered and decided to read soon. Gentle readers who have experienced this book are invited to tell us what they think.
Yet another unasked question: How does the club work? Club members, even wannabes who are considering reading one of these books, are free to comment at any time--via any SWNIDish post, relevant or not--on their thoughts regarding any book that is a Club Selection. We pledge to respond to such comments more frequently than we do to some others.
We urge gentle readers not to inquire why one of their favorites is not on the list. There are only three possible answers: (a) SWNID has never read it; (b) SWNID didn't find it as memorable; (c) on reflection, SWNID agrees that it should be included. Because the first two options are about 99% more likely than the third, there's not much use in asking.
WARNING: Some of these books have explicit sexual content, including some with the most challenging and profoundly religious themes. N.B. that we do not endorse such, but as realistic fiction necessarily depicts human behavior in all its sinfulness, worthwhile authors sometimes do that kind of thing. To be a club member, one must be willing to exercise personal judgment and responsibility about what one chooses to read according to honest self-assessment of one's ability to process such narratives.
12 comments:
I've read several books on your list, and found many of them enjoyable. I actually wrote a terrible research paper on John Updike in High School, and found much of his writing enjoyable, specifically his narrative on the various struggles of Rabbit. "Rabbit Run" always struck me as "Catcher in the Rye" for a different age group.
I would have to say that "Silence" was by far one of the best works of fiction I read while at CCU. One should not pass by the opportunity of reading this thought provoking work by Shusaku Endo.
Where is the list?
some ones to consider:
Edgar Rice Burroughs' Tarzan (all titles)
Till We Have Faces (CS Lewis)
Robert Jordan's The Wheel Of Time series
- Justin D.
Dude, the list is on the left column of the blog!
I'm glad to see that the reading list mentions several works that I too believe to be significant. In fact, my graduate dissertation will heavily draw from the Lewis/Tolkein/Rowling tradition (as well as other fantasies including the magnificent George MacDonald) as it examines the theological significance of magic in literature.
I'm also working on a paper that follows Silence and its reimagination of the Japanese socio-religious practice of the embodiment of belief.
I'm not sure if I saw any Vonnegut on the list, however. Surely this is a mistake!
Also, A Canticle for Liebowitz would seem to me to be right up SWNID's alley. If he hasn't read this apocalyptic (both in genre and significance) piece of literature, it is highly reccomended.
In perusing your list, it's interesting to see how many are from the same author. Still, there's no denying that Mr. Cliff (his first name escapes me...) did a bang up on them.
We'll throw in Slaughterhouse Five from fellow Indianapolisarian Vonnegut on the next revision. Also Catch-22 as the other great example of World War II fiction and grim reminder that even the "noblest" of wars fought by the "greatest" of generations is still, per SWNIDish dogma, at least heck.
Yes, we are totally partial to Updike, Dostoyevski, Dickens, DeVries, Cather, Endo. Note also that a lot of these books have clergymen as main characters. We try to remain self-aware and self-critical by reading serious fiction that depicts or distorts people in our professional field.
Can we expect a SWNID "Movie Club" before the end of summer or is that asking too much?
It's expecting too little, Gentle Hensel. We wish to encourage the lost pasttime of reading good novels. We don't think that folks need encouragement to watch movies.
I would like to congratulate you for mantaining Moby Dick on your favorite list. A great teacher of allegory, one of Melville's finest works fully explores one of life's major themes: man v. nature. How often does mankind in its arrogance fine ways to think we are more powerful than nature, even God?
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