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Nominations are now open for the June Open Pick. They will stay open until April 23rd and the poll will go up the 24th. Discussion will start on June 1st.

If you are nominating, please begin your post by stating "I nominate [name w. hyperlink to book]".

The usual rules: 21st Century work of literature, one nomination per person. Do not nominate a book or vote for it in the poll if you are not absolutely, 100%, no crossing your fingers behind your back, planning to read it and discuss it if it wins.

All right, have at it!

I nominate Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff.



I will even volunteer to moderate if it wins. My long-standing f2f book group read this for April (we have had our discussion). I would be fascinated by where a discussion of this thing might go on this board with its group of readers. F&F has been a high-flyer in terms of literary prize nominations. The reviews are mixed. Obama apparently ranked it highly; would ask for suppositions on "why" if we do discuss it.

I have a few ideas for nominations but will probably wait until the July round. Thanks for creating the thread Whitney.

I've wanted to read Lily's nomination since it first came out so I'm not going to nominate anything else this round.

I would like to nominate Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders. It seems to be available in UK but if not let me know and I will change my nomination.

Dianne wrote: "I would like to nominate Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders. It seems to be available in UK but if not let me know and I will change my nomination."
It is available (so far only as a hardback)

Kindle version also available in U.K. for £5-6 less! That's for those who don't hate Kindles and/or Amazon.

Ok I'll keep the nomination then thanks!

Since I have already read (and didn't particularly like) both of the nominated books, I'd like to nominate Imagine Me Gone by Adam Haslett, which was a finalist for both the Pulitzer and National Book Award - and was my favorite book from last year. Also available in an inexpensive paperback in both US and UK! :-) ... and I've been wanting to re-read - it's THAT good!

Good call, Doug. I liked that one!

These are all great nominations, but I might have to vote for Imagine Me Gone because I already have a copy

I'm with Doug and Neil on Imagine Me Gone: a deeply memorable and heartfelt novel. And like Doug, I would welcome the opportunity to reread it.

Doug wrote: "Since I have already read (and didn't particularly like) both of the nominated books, I'd like to nominate Imagine Me Gone by Adam Haslett, which was a finalist for ..."

Sounds like you have nominated a winner, Doug, whether for June or later! Personally, would enjoy learning your "didn't particularly like" views about either of the other nominations. Do you have reviews posted? (I don't know how to find reviews by specific members -- is there an easy method one should be able to use?)

If you're friends with a member, Lily, their reviews will pop up toward the top of the list when you click on the book. Otherwise, your best bet is to go to their bookshelves and search within there (on the website version of GR, you get a search box just above their bookshelf listings... then, you can choose "View" or "View (with text)" to the far right of the book you're interested in). Not the easiest thing to do. (To save you some time: Doug's review of Fates & Furies and Doug's review of Lincoln in the Bardo.)

The first two nominations were already on my TBR list (have a copy of the first and plan to buy the Saunders at the indie bookstore at the beach next week), and the third just got added.

I nominate War Music: An Account of Homer's Iliad, by Christopher Logue, first published in 2015. I keep hearing great things about it and can imagine a very interesting discussion with this group if we selected it. Here's an excerpt from the GR blurb:

"Logue’s account of Homer’s Iliad is a radical reimagining and reconfiguration of Homer’s tale of warfare, human folly, and the power of the gods in language and verse that is emphatically modern and “possessed of a very terrible beauty� (Slate). Illness prevented him from bringing his version of the Iliad to completion, but enough survives in notebooks and letters to assemble a compilation that includes the previously published volumes War Music, Kings, The Husbands, All Day Permanent Red, and Cold Calls, along with previously unpublished material, in one final illuminating volume arranged by his friend and fellow poet Christopher Reid. The result, War Music, comes as near as possible to representing the poet’s complete vision and confirms what his admirers have long known: that “Logue’s Homer is likely to endure as one of the great long poems of the twentieth century� (The Times Literary Supplement). "

Marc wrote: "If you're friends with a member, Lily, their reviews will pop up toward the top of the list when you click on the book. Otherwise, your best bet is to go to their bookshelves and search within ther..."

Effusive thanx and praise to Marc for explaining how to find reviews and helpfully providing the links to mine! I wouldn't have been able to do so.

Marc wrote: "If you're friends with a member, Lily, their reviews will pop up toward the top of the list when you click on the book. Otherwise, your best bet is to go to their bookshelves and search within ther..."

Thanx Marc! Won't get to them tonight, but will be back.

I nominate That They May Face The Rising Sun

John McGahern is regarded as one of the most important authors of the 20th century, and this novel is his only work published in the 21st century.

Not as dark as his previous works, it gives a wonderful insight into the intricacies of Irish country-life, the humor and characters that go with it. However, though not as dark, the other side of the quaint rural life is always bubbling under the surface such as family-feuds, religion and in some cases; the brutality that goes with it.

John McGahern's Collected Stories is in the bookcase next to my bed, I've wanted to read one of his novels, and That They May Face the Rising Sun was especially well reviewed. So I would happily endorse ³§±ðá²Ô's suggestion. It's available from the Book Depository (I just ordered it), but out of print in the U.S. (unless published with a different title) and my local library network, usually very good, doesn't own it.

Thanks Dan. Amongst Women is in my own opinion the most powerful of McGahern's works. It was made into a mini-series about 10 years ago.

Kinda sucks that it's out of print in the US (pub. 2001 so understandable) and it's understandable if people don't go for it, moreover, rural Irish life may not be everyone's cup of tea!

It's readily available used at a reasonable price in the US, so people will just have to plan ahead a little more if it wins.

Incidentally, McGahern received a hat tip in Colum McCann's just published (in the U.S.) "Letters to a Young Writer."

Am I too late to nominate Exit West? I see the poll isn't up yet. I think this would get some great discussion.

Exit West is now the third novel nominated that I enthusiastically support, along with Imagine Me Gone and That They May Face the Rising Sun. Terrific suggestions!

Yes, you got in under the wire because I was working late yesterday :-) Nominations are closed and the poll is open. /poll/show/1...

We do have books nominated that are only available in hardcover, and one that is only available used in some locations. Please consider these factors when casting your vote. Some great nominations here, happy voting!

Ane a reminder that we have upcoming reads of Signs Preceding the End of the World (starting May 1st) and The Gustav Sonata starting May 15th.

Early days, but it is rather disappointing to see the poll being led by two books that are so new. I know I am fighting a losing battle on this but there is no way I can participate in discussions of books which are only available as hardbacks.

Ok, I voted for a paperback. And now we have a three way tie. :-)

Hugh wrote: "Early days, but it is rather disappointing to see the poll being led by two books that are so new. I know I am fighting a losing battle on this but there is no way I can participate in discussions ..."

ah, I didn't realize that hardback meant that you would not be able to participate Hugh. My apologies! I will change my vote :)

Hi Dianne! I never noticed you were in this group. :-)

Hi Julie! I've been scarce lately ;) I should be able to join for June :)

Thanks Dianne

Dianne wrote: "Hi Julie! I've been scarce lately ;) I should be able to join fur June :)"

I'm not here much either, but one of the books in the poll was already on my to-read list so I voted!

I wonder if we could have guidelines for the group about nominating books that are not yet out in paperback. I've been lucky to get group read books from my library in print and in audio, but understand Hugh's (possibly others'?) frustration of not being able to participate when books are only available in hardback. I'd be glad to nominate books that are widely available and out in paperback if we had a guideline. Otherwise, I don't think about it and just nominate books that are on my radar. What do others think?

I agree Suzy. I feel like we have had this discussion before but I forget what the conclusion was.

It harks back to a topic that has been discussed here before. If the picks are from books only just published, they are normally only available in hardback. The related topic is how we know these will be the "future classics" that are the aim of this group. If we looked for books that had been around for long enough to demonstrate their potential, they would likely be available in paperback or easily from the library.

I'll now retire to a safe distance!

The discussion was inconclusive - I think the consensus was not to change the rules. In any case there are sometimes occasions when books are published in the UK before the USA, and we have plenty of members elsewhere too, so I don't think any of us should have a veto - just the right to comment...

I wonder if the poll could somehow include availability information, prominently displayed? Or at very least could it be listed in the nominating topic? Of course, that's more work for someone...

Peter wrote: "I wonder if the poll could somehow include availability information, prominently displayed? Or at very least could it be listed in the nominating topic? Of course, that's more work for someone..."

The problem with that is that group members literally live all over the world and get their books from different sources, so what's available, and in what format, varies widely ... what's readily available in the US might not be available in the UK ... or Milan ... or Estonia, etc. Best just to research what is and isn't available where YOU happen to be ... and vote accordingly. :-)

I agree, if you don't like the book don't vote for it.

If you don't want to buy a hardcover, don't vote for it, and if it wins, don't buy it and read something else that month

Just my two cents. Having this conversation every month --after a poll commences is a bit .... tiresome. I'm not criticizing anyone but perhaps we can agree either to debate it in a thread devoted to that topic or otherwise let it go for a month or so ... just a thought.

Peter wrote: "I wonder if the poll could somehow include availability information, prominently displayed? Or at very least could it be listed in the nominating topic? Of course, that's more work for someone..."

At the very top of the poll, there are these words: "Please note that some of the nominations are available only in hardcover or only available used in some places and take this into account when casting your vote."

³§±ðá²Ô wrote: "I agree, if you don't like the book don't vote for it.

If you don't want to buy a hardcover, don't vote for it, and if it wins, don't buy it and read something else that month"
In general I agree, but the more people can participate in a discussion, the more interesting it is, particularly for the moderator, and if there is an availability problem, I feel that we should at least explain why we are not participating (and in one of the current cases I didn't see the nomination until the poll was up and running). Sorry if that bores some of you (and thanks for the clarification Whitney)...

I find that I can usually get a book from my library because this group runs the polls out far enough. Perhaps we could help the folks who have a problem getting newer books by polling out even further Maybe run the nominations and polls for July and August now?

We already moved the polls out to give people a month instead of 2 weeks. It's probably not in the cards to move it much further.

Instead of placing a lot of restrictions on what can and can't be nominated, we've let the polls sort it out. And, by all means, people should chime in to let others know they have an availability problem.

So far, this method has worked. I don't believe we've had many winners that were only available in hardcover or unavailable in major markets. If anyone has a few examples of where that's happened, let me know. But otherwise we're looking for solutions to non-existent problems.

I have been comparing the open-pick bookshelf with the UK paperback release dates and since I joined the group in 2015 these ones were all discussed before the UK paperbacks were available:
2017: Swing Time, The Big Green Tent
2016: The Portable Veblen, Slade House, The Secret Chord
2015: A Little Life (there were also at least 4 more earlier that year).
By my reckoning, this is about a quarter of the total, and I suspect the figures for failed nominations would be even higher...

Legit. I think the mods need to put their little heads together and decide on some possible new rules.

Hugh wrote: "I have been comparing the open-pick bookshelf with the UK paperback release dates and since I joined the group in 2015 these ones were all discussed before the UK paperbacks were available:
2017: S..."

Hugh, I didn't intend to irritate you with my earlier post. You may not recall that I agree with your position that availability, generally, should be a consideration.

I'm not a big fan of tons of rules, but one thing that has bothered me is that, if our group is, as described, not about reading the same books that are well-covered by other groups focused on the newest literary fiction, then why are we nominating and voting for books so new they are still in hardcover only? This month, Bardo and Exit West, fine books to be sure, are nominated. I love Mohsin Hamid's work so much that I pre-ordered Exit West and look forward to discussing it with another GR group in June. Bardo has been a selection for multiple GR groups in 2017. This group describes itself as one where we let the dust settle, as it were. There seems to be a disconnect between how we describe ourselves and nominated works available only in hardbound and published within the previous six months, at minimum.

Having said that, my suggestion was merely that we create a thread for this topic rather than revisit it monthly in nomination threads. If that's controversial or offensive, I withdraw my request.

Since I'm already munching on crow from my inaccurate statement about how often hardcover only books have won, I'll just say I think you both made good points. We have too many winners that have less availability to people in Europe etc., and it's also not that productive to bring it up in every nomination thread rather than confronting it head-on.

I've said something over in the moderator group. How about we drop it here, at least for now, then bring it back in a dedicated thread for more input and discussion?

Thanks Carol and Whitney

Whitney wrote: "Since I'm already munching on crow from my inaccurate statement about how often hardcover only books have won, I'll just say I think you both made good points. We have too many winners that have le..."

Excellent plan!