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It's time to nominate for the April Open Pick! Nominations will be open for a week before the poll goes up. April is also a Wild Card month, and nominations for that will open in 2 weeks.

And don't forget our fantastic current and upcoming reads. On now are Diving Belles and The Blazing World. Starting in March Loquela and Slade House.

If you are new to the group, please check out the "How Things Work" in the Welcome folder: /topic/show/...

I have just finished reading a book that I think would suit this group, so I'd like to nominate The End of Days by Jenny Erpenbeck

Since it just came out in trade paperback, I'd like to nominate Glow by Ned Beauman. We did his The Teleportation Accident a few years back, and it was a fun discussion.

I have been attracted to The Buried Giant for awhile. A few people in this group have already read it, and I am convnced that even though it is billed as a fantasy, it really isn't and instead is about very real struggles and questions with which we humans grapple. So The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro is my nomination for April.

I am finding The Memory of Love by Aminatta Forna to be such an exceptionally fine novel that I am going to nominate it again. Even if you don't vote it a group selection, I hardily recommend reading it, if you haven't already.

Maureen wrote: "I have been attracted to The Buried Giant for awhile. A few people in this group have already read it, and I am convnced that even though it is billed as a fantasy, it really isn't ..."

The Buried Giant is very much fantasy, but wouldn't get disqualified under the 'genre' rules. Ishiguro is a 21st Century mainstay.

Whitney wrote: "Maureen wrote: "I have been attracted to The Buried Giant for awhile. A few people in this group have already read it, and I am convnced that even though it is billed as a fantasy, ..."
Yes he is, Whitney. Thanks for your comment.

Lily wrote: "I am finding The Memory of Love by Aminatta Forna to be such an exceptionally fine novel that I am going to nominate it again. Even if you don't vote it a group select..." I agree - she is a very fine writer! Looks like a very strong shortlist already.

The Prophets of Eternal Fjord by Kim Leine. It is a big one, but it has won several international awards

Zulfiya wrote: "The Prophets of Eternal Fjord by Kim Leine. It is a big one, but it has won several international awards"

Another really good sounding book from the description. With my Danish heritage, especially appealing. Don't know if I could stand up under it, however, being in the throes of finishing Forna and also Rohinton Mistry's A Fine Balance. I'll be looking for something lighter in tone. There appear to be several books worthy of multiple nominations on this list, given we can only select one for April.

If I am allowed to, I would like to withdraw my nomination - that one can wait, there are several other excellent options here and I feel it should be somebody else's turn this time!

Well, Hugh can withdraw his nomination but I'll renominate it, as I want to read The End of Days by Jenny Erpenbeck!

A reader wants what a reader wants :p

Linda wrote: "Well, Hugh can withdraw his nomination but I'll renominate it, as I want to read The End of Days by Jenny Erpenbeck!" OK, we'll leave it on the list then, which will make for a tricky decision when it comes to the vote...

Hugh wrote: "Linda wrote: "Well, Hugh can withdraw his nomination but I'll renominate it, as I want to read The End of Days by Jenny Erpenbeck!" OK, we'll leave it on the list thethen, which will make for a tricky decision when it comes to the vote..."

Sorry Hugh! But at least you won't feel obligated to vote for it because you nominated it!

Linda wrote: "Hugh wrote: "Linda wrote: "Well, Hugh can withdraw his nomination but I'll renominate it, as I want to read The End of Days by Jenny Erpenbeck!" OK, we'll leave it on..." No problem - it is certainly an interesting book

I believe if I looked closely at my own history, I've nominated a book and not voted for it. I may even have nominated it with that caveat, i.e., the group should be aware of this book, but I would not be participating in its discussion if chosen. Thoughtful nominations help bring good titles to our attention.

If you read "how things works" in the welcome thread, to which people are directed at the beginning of this and other nomination threads, you will find this statement:

"The rule is that if you nominate or vote for a book and it wins, you will read the book and join in the discussion."

This is a rule, not a suggestion. Anyone ignoring it may find themselves banned from nominating and/or voting, or possibly from the group entirely.

Isn't The End of Days similar to Life After Life? Or did I misunderstand the synopsis?

Portia wrote: "Isn't The End of Days similar to Life After Life? Or did I misunderstand the synopsis?"
I have not read Life After Life (yet), but although I understand they use a similar device (and I believe they were being written at the same time), I suspect that the two books make very different uses of it, and for me that was not what made the book so powerful.

If it wins, I will be more than happy to participate or lead the discussion - my reasons for offering to withdraw it were more complicated and relate to at least two of the other books on the shortlist that I would also have liked to support - I suspect we'll end up with another round of tactical voting once it becomes clear which of them have a chance.

Hugh, there is absolutely no problem withdrawing your nomination, and no problem with Linda renominating it, in case you were worried. It does look like there will be another round of strategic vote changing on this one!

Whitney wrote: ""The rule is that if you nominate or vote for a book and it wins, you will read the book and join in the discussion."

This is a rule, not a suggestion. Anyone ignoring it may find themselves banned from nominating and/or voting, or possibly from the group entirely."

Whitney -- I did write carelessly. However, I think we should also recognize that the "rule" does not say that if you nominate a book, you must vote for it. Rather it says if you nominate and it wins you must participate in the discussion. And that is certainly a fair rule.

PS -- I suspect in the waning days of a voting cycle, over the years, a number of members have abandoned a losing nomination to help determine the winner.

In my half year as a member of this group, I have already voted against my own nomination twice, most recently when I voted for Siri Hustvedt instead of Marlon James, but James won that time! I'm not promising to do it again.

Totally fine not to vote for your nomination (or to change your vote), you just need to read & participate if either your nomination wins or your final vote wins. We're warm and fuzzy up front, but not above ID theft, credit report manipulation, and/or posting compromising pictures of you on the interwebs if you break this lovely virtual contract we've established. Happy Thursday!

Indeed, no problem with changing a vote multiple times (actually a good idea towards the end of the polling period) or not voting for your nomination, as long as you still intend to join the discussion if it wins. This statement is the problem:

"I may even have nominated it with that caveat, i.e., the group should be aware of this book, but I would not be participating in its discussion if chosen. ..."

No one should be nominating books they don't have any intention of reading and discussing with the group. There are other threads (or you can create a thread) if you just want to point out a book you think others may be interested in. This ain't the place for that.

I've decided not to nominate a book unless I've read it. The Secret Chord was the second book I nominated cold and I don't like not being able to defend my choice. But that's just for me.

Actually, some groups expect the nominator to be the moderator.

hello :-) I have bought a couple of great books recently and would like to seize the opportunity to nominate one -

Your Heart Is A Muscle The Size Of A Fist
by Sunil Yapa

Story:
1999. Victor, homeless after a family tragedy, finds himself pounding the streets of Seattle with little meaning or purpose. He is the estranged son of the police chief of the city, and today his father is in charge of one of the largest protests in the history of Western democracy.

- 320 pages
- available worldwide
- happy to lead the discussion if it makes it

Hugh wrote: "I have just finished reading a book that I think would suit this group, so I'd like to nominate The End of Days by Jenny Erpenbeck"

I second that!

Caecilia wrote: "hello :-) I have bought a couple of great books recently and would like to seize the opportunity to nominate one -

Your Heart Is A Muscle The Size Of A Fist
by Sunil Yapa

Story:
1999. Victor, hom..."

sounds fascinating

Poll going up tonight, last call for nominations!

Okay, nominations are closed and the poll is up. There is a wealth of choices for us to pick from. Will we be exploring drug fueled paranoia? The value and dangers of forgetting? The possibilities of lives unlived? Clashing cultures in 18th Century Greenland? Reflections on the brutal civil war in Sierra Leone? A look at the WTO protests in Seattle?

Poll can be found here or from the homepage.

Disclaimer: I have only read one of the books on the list, so forgive me if my summaries don't do them justice. (Although I was at the WTO protests in Seattle, so I'm sorta counting that one as well.)

Whitney wrote: "Okay, nominations are closed and the poll is up. There is a wealth of choices for us to pick from. Will we be exploring drug fueled paranoia? The value and dangers of forgetting? The possibilities ..."

Thank you for letting us know :-)
I have cast my vote.

Linda wrote: "Caecilia wrote: "hello :-) I have bought a couple of great books recently and would like to seize the opportunity to nominate one -

Your Heart Is A Muscle The Size Of A Fist
by Sunil Yapa

Story:
..."

Linda ~ thank you :-)
Yes, it has made me curious, too.

If The End of Days wins the vote, I'd like to offer Linda first refusal on moderating the discussion - I'd still be happy to do it but I think it should be somebody else's turn

Linda shall be given right of first refusal, should End of Days be the winner. So far it's leading the field fairly handily.

This is a good opportunity to point out that tomorrow is the last day to vote, or change your vote to give your second choice a boost.

And End of Days maintains its lead to the end! Linda, would you care to moderate for us?

Also, the moderator pick for April is Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf.

Whitney wrote: "And End of Days maintains its lead to the end! Linda, would you care to moderate for us?"

Whitney wrote: "And End of Days maintains its lead to the end! Linda, would you care to moderate for us?"

I'd like to lateral to Hugh, if he's willing, since he's not moderating in March and I'm doing Slade House!

Linda wrote: "Whitney wrote: "And End of Days maintains its lead to the end! Linda, would you care to moderate for us?"

Whitney wrote: "And End of Days maintains its lead to the end! Linda, would you care to mo..." OK, I'd be happy to do that then

I love it when this stuff takes care of itself! Thanks, Hugh.