Talking About Books

This is essentially a book club, focused on the sort of things we would talk about on the forum. Any member can propose a book you wish to talk about in this thread, and then once it is agreed upon we will be given a two week period to read the book and then come back and discuss it.

Let the reading commence!

I'm sorry, but I'll be proposing a few books before we begin which I think need to be read.

First book: The Republic by Plato. Anyone who wants to participate in this endeavor needs have read this and be ready to start discussing it. As to when, I think it can be done by this weekend, sooner than two weeks. Thoughts?

I'm game! Conveniently enough, you picked the only book solely with Plato that we own.

This is great! Unfortunately, I cannot join you in your endeavors as you tackle the tedious work by Plato. However, I will join you afterwards once my bio class is out!

I don't think I have a copy... I may be able to get one, but in the mean time I would like to propose for the future both Ender's Game and Speaker for the Dead by Orson Scott Card. I read each of these in only four days, so i don't think it would be that hard for you all.

i have none of them so i'll just read what you guys write XD ugh you just reminded me that i still have a lot to read before summer ends...curse my ambition

For future reads I vote Candide by Voltaire or Animal Farm by George Orwell. Both are about 100 pages so they'll be quick reads.

Candide! and then we can watch the operetta!

And avalon, I would gladly lend you my copy of ender's game.

I have some good books in mind to start out with, but Candide and Animal Farm are both good. We need to also consider their value and importance to here on the forum. Sure, we can read for fun, but we want to pick things to help us grow, right?

Candide would be very applicable, I think, as it is about living life to it's best. And I just want someone to read Animal Farm with me.


And now I must go find a copy of The Republic.

Considering how many middle and high schools have animal farm as required reading, I don't think it will be a problem.

I think a good topic to discover and debate about is obsessive love. We could read The Sorrows of Young Werther and talk about his love for Lotte; we'd explain whether his love is obsessive or not. Just an idea for future books.

I don't think a book group (which is what this is, Im sure) is so much about debate as it is discussion, right?

Why wouldn't we debate? We could! think of the possibilities! Debates on MacBeth's role in his own demise, the applicability of the biblical tales to the modern life, debates War and Peace, Moby Dick! Just think of it! this could be a whole new section we're talking about. No need to limit when there is no need, right? And Arch, I thibk your book is a good idea.

I'd suggest reading The Handmaid's Tale. It's a feminist dystopian novel set in the near future. I read it in 12th grade for my AP English Lit class and it was a great book.

Okay. That's it.

I'm making a list of this shit.

The Girl Who Owned a City by O. T. Nelson is also really good, but I read that when I was in like 5th grade.... Even so, I think it has a lot of themes current with what we are talking about on this site.

goku that sounds really interesting! How many pages was it?

I think I've heard of the handmaid's tale before. Should be good.

It's not too long, 295 pages.

goku518 wrote:I'd suggest reading The Handmaid's Tale. It's a feminist dystopian novel set in the near future. I read it in 12th grade for my AP English Lit class and it was a great book.

I love dystopia! That definitely sounds like something I would read, who is the author?

Margaret Atwood

A novel both entertaining and enlightening: Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi... I think that's how you spell it.


A few more incredible graphic novels with deep philosophical undertones: Maus by Art Spiegelman (a story about a second generation holocaust survivor and his father, through the lens of Cat/Mouse artwork.)

Another by Art Spiegelman, a super large cardboard comic novely thing called In the Shadow of No Towers, referring to the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Watchmen by Alan Moore. The book was much more interesting and reflective than the movie (which I still thought was a good movie).

Of course V for Vendetta, which has become somewhat of a comic book cliche, although I still love it all the same. The movie is... decent also.

Other more comic booky reads are good also, like Batman: Arkham Asylum.

I own all of these by the way if anyone would like to borrow.

Also, anyone looking for some great Atheist literature.

The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins
The Greatest Show on Earth... also by the Dawkins
God is not Great by Christopher Hitchens
And a less Atheist more science book A Brief History of Time by Stephen Hawking.