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• I'll start with Flights of Angels by Cindy Brandner. I'd also like to include #3 in the Niccolo series - Race of Scorpions by Dorothy Dunnett. Another I think might be interesting for a shorter discussion would be The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. It's got some interesting aspects to discuss, but not too detailed for a shorter discussion. A book that was on our radar in the past and I'd still like to read is These is My Words by Nancy E. Turner. It's setting (Arizona Territory) and story of a strong woman sound interesting to me (although I have not read it yet). (NT) -- Lil, 11:13:23 12/29/11 Thu
  • I like the idea of Angels, Scorpians, and Hunger Games (especially as I haven't read Hunger Games and it is coming out as a movie). I have been kind of interested in introducing more of the group to the Kushiel series, but looks like we may easily have a full plate! (NT) -- PeggyB, 18:45:46 12/29/11 Thu

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• Oh goodness, I have quite the list! 'Angels', and 'Race of Scorpions' are no brainers. Sarah Dunant's 'In the Company of the Courtesan' (by same author as 'Birth of Venus' and very good, I recall, and not too long) and Cindy and I discussed reading 'Dr. Zhivago' - of particular interest since we know some of her next book takes place in Russia. Two books I haven't read yet but am I'm interested in reading are 'The Paris Wife' by Paula McLain about Ernest Hemingway and his wife during the time they lived in Paris, and 'The Reliable Wife' by Robert Goolrick, a historical thriller. There's more, but that's a start! (NT) -- Denise, 11:41:30 12/29/11 Thu
  • BTW, there are discussion questions available for 'The Paris Wife', 'The Reliable Wife' and 'In the Company of the Courtesan' (Dr. Zhivago too) if we want to make life easier :) (NT) -- Denise, 12:45:35 12/29/11 Thu

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• I'd love to see us do 'The Orphan Tales: In the Night Garden' by Catherynne Valente. Her prose is so different and beautiful and the premise is quite wonderful, it's a modern re-telling of the 'Arabian Nights'. She's in my top five writers of all time now. I will echo Denise's suggestion of 'Dr. Zhivago' though it's a biggish novel that would require time, so maybe we need to wait on that one. (NT) -- celtgirl (), 12:56:33 12/29/11 Thu

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• Goodreads best fiction for this year was 'Divergent' by Veronica Roth. Similar to Hunger Games? Not sure, but might be worth a look. (NT) -- Denise, 19:11:22 12/29/11 Thu

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• 'Angels' and 'Orphan Tales' for sure. Am finishing up 'The Silence of Trees' and finding it absorbing and interesting. It's not long, so it might be a good one to use as a 'filler.' Will let you know more about it when I'm done. Guess, in the future, I won't be able to participate after mid-November. I should have known this before starting to take part in the last book discussion, sorry. New year's resolution is to be a more regular participant in the discussions! (NT) -- E, 12:24:02 12/30/11 Fri

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• I would personally like to start reading at least one "classic" each year. I haven't read any Jane Austen and need to remedy that. Any interest in adding an Austen book into the list for 2012? (NT) -- PeggyB, 16:32:38 12/30/11 Fri
  • I think Dr. Zhivago would be considered a classic *g*. Austen would be good too. I haven't actually read many, just familiar with her work through the many movie versions. (NT) -- Denise, 19:15:44 12/30/11 Fri
    • Zhivago might be a little daunting for some folks. Not wanting to discourage anyone, just thought it was worth mentioning. There are a number of other Russian novels out there that might be interesting. Nicholas and Alexandra, Madonnas of Leningrad come to mind. Maybe Requiem for a Lost Empire, have been interested in that one for some time but never read it. (NT) -- E, 08:34:12 01/02/12 Mon
      • I haven't read Dr. Zhivago, but I can imagine the plethora of foreign names alone would be intimidating. (NT) -- Denise, 16:25:06 01/02/12 Mon
        • It's probably not any worse than Anna Karenina, but it might be enough to put some people off. (NT) -- E, 16:35:27 01/02/12 Mon
          • Well, hopefully people won't have too much trouble with the Russian names in my books- as I used them as they would in Russia. (NT) -- celtgirl, 16:44:19 01/02/12 Mon
            • I'm sure all your characters will become part of our vocabulary, Cindy! I was referring to some/most of those older novels originally written in Russian which seem to have casts of thousands. (NT) -- E, 06:49:02 01/03/12 Tue
              • Oh, I know. I think because I took Russian Lit. in college, I don't find it too bad, but I certainly understand what you are saying. We had to address each other by our Russian names, which was hard at first, but it was a brilliant stroke on the teacher's part, because the naming in the books became much easier. I've read Zhivago, but now I have the latest translation by Pevear/Volokhonsky and it's a very lucid translation, easier than the older ones to understand and really bringing the beauty of the book up to the surface. (NT) -- celtgirl (), 07:05:41 01/03/12 Tue
                • I guess making sure we all had the same translation would complicate matters considerably! I know the copy of 'Dr Zhivago' I own is very old, and at the moment, I can't say who translated it. (NT) -- Denise, 09:41:32 01/03/12 Tue
                  • Trying to think if I've ever read anything translated, especially from Russian. I have had intentions of reading Hugo (particularly after my last trip to France), but haven't followed through. I did "recently" read the new Beowulf (Seamus Heaney). (NT) -- PeggyB, 11:33:12 01/03/12 Tue
                • I did a little reading about Dr. Zhivago, as I've never read it, and it seems the translations can be a challenge. So finding a better one would be good if we choose it. I'll be sure to note this translation on the list of choices for voting. :-) (NT) -- Lil, 14:33:59 01/03/12 Tue

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• I was just reviewing the archives and reminded of a book I recommended last year:

  Under Heaven by Canadian author Guy Gavriel Kay. It is a historical (or perhaps alternate historical) novel set in ancient China. (NT) -- PeggyB, 18:06:40 01/03/12 Tue

  • Under Heaven is meaty enough for discussion, and has a spiritual angle that I think would appeal to the group. If not this year, perhaps next. (NT) -- PeggyB, 09:17:52 01/04/12 Wed

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• When is "Angels" projected to be out? Personally, I would like to reread the previous books in anticipation. (NT) -- PeggyB, 18:40:14 01/03/12 Tue
  • I think Cindy has said March 17th will be the publication date. (NT) -- Denise, 20:21:30 01/03/12 Tue
    • That's right. Time's a wastin' (NT) -- PeggyB, 20:46:01 01/03/12 Tue

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• I'm wanting to read The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern and Divergent (recommended above). I've read Hunger Games and These is my words - both are very good and I'd be happy to re-read with a group! (NT) -- MaryC in KY, 05:40:56 01/04/12 Wed