The Great Choosing

These are some of the books we’re going to choose from on October 12.

Preston has submitted all four of his nominations:

1. A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving. It’s quite well known, so maybe a description isn’t necessary. Owen is a small, awkward child whose story is told from the perspective of a childhood friend who is now a man. Owen has some remarkable events occur in his life and is convinced he is an instrument of God. The story explores fate, circumstances, and faith.

2. Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency by Douglas Adams. His Python-esque humor is unmatched, and it’s a great detective story. Its cover says it’s a “thumping good detective-ghost-horror-whodunnit-time travel-romantic-musical-comedy-epic.” Enough said.

3. Some Experiences of an Irish R.M. by Somerville and Ross. I have always wanted to read this and have heard good things about it. Here’s a quote from a book review on Amazon:

“Somerville and Ross were a pair of ladies from the West Cork Gentry who lived in the pretty village of Castletownsend on the south coast of Ireland. They were ideally positioned to write this collection of stories which contrasts the positions of the Anglo-Irish Gentry with the Native Irish Commoners. The interactions are always exciting, frequently devious and guaranteed to give you a good laugh.”

4. Moby-Dick by Herman Melville. One of the great American classics…

Stephanie has submitted all four of her nominations:

1. Daniel Deronda by George Eliot. Eliot’s Middlemarch is one of my all-time favorite books, and I have long wanted to read something else by her. She is a brilliant observer of human nature and an excellent writer. Daniel Deronda was her last novel. From what I understand, its subject matter includes the Zionist movement.

2. What Is the What by Dave Eggers. The story of a Sudanese refugee’s experiences.

3. The Cloister Walk by Kathleen Norris. The monastic life described by a thoughtful contemporary writer.

4. The Botany of Desire by Michael Pollan. Apples, tulips, potatoes, and cannabis finally got their turn in the spotlight when this book was released in 2001. It’s supposed to be pretty fascinating.