Vote for the Decemberish 2009 read

[Star_Anise]

Select which award winner you would like to read for December:) Voting will close in three days.

[Winifred]

This is the first time I really didn't have a clear favorite. I'm going to try to read all 3 in the coming year. I literally tore 3 pieces of paper, and picked one out of a hat! Plums it was, but, really hard decision!! Great choices, at least from the reviews I found.

[WarMachine]

I voted for The Slap it looks great can't wait.

[KneD]

Voted for The Slap.

Haven't seen this many votes in a while, plus it is going to be a tight one. Nice.

[markcool]

Actually, I have recently completed three books simultaneously and would prefer to go for The Slap...:-)

[WarMachine]

When can we tell when we have decided on a book? Do you post the winner and say when we start? Any reply to this would be helpful.

[thelastmelon]

When can we tell when we have decided on a book? Do you post the winner and say when we start? Any reply to this would be helpful.

The poll will end 12-16-2009 at 08:11 AM and then one of the people that has been in charge of the nominations and the poll will start a new thread where we will discuss the book that got the most votes. So, most likely - a thread will be created for the discussion sometime tomorrow. :) Did that answer your question?

[thelastmelon]

Looks like I won't be able to be part of this monthly read. The Slap hasn't been published or released in Sweden yet, unfortunately. It's not in any library or in any store. So, maybe I'll read it when it has been released and join you when I can. :)

[Star_Anise]

Looks like I won't be able to be part of this monthly read. The Slap hasn't been published or released in Sweden yet, unfortunately. It's not in any library or in any store. So, maybe I'll read it when it has been released and join you when I can. :)

That's a shame, melon. But, well, January isn't so far away...:)

[KneD]

Looks like I won't be able to be part of this monthly read. The Slap hasn't been published or released in Sweden yet, unfortunately. It's not in any library or in any store. So, maybe I'll read it when it has been released and join you when I can. :)

It seems like this problem is going to affect more of us.
The local Waterstones informed me that the first edition is currently sold out. And... a reprint is not expected until may. So I don't have a clue how to get the book. of course, there aren't to many bookstores in Amsterdam who sell this book in english where I have a change of still finding it.

So... has anyone had any luck in finding the book?

[neilgee]

I tried to get hold of it in Waterstones today but it seems the first edition is sold out everywhere. There are a couple of hardback copies available on Amazon but the price is ridiculous!

I feel responsible now because I recommended the book but it doesn't look as if we are going to be able to get hold of a copy each.

What do you want to do now, Kned? Reopen the voting between the other two books? Maybe we'd better check they are both available first;)

[margaine]

It seems to be entirely unavailable over here too . . . doesn't even show up online at Borders or Barnes & Noble. It seems that anyone wanting to read it would have to wait til the paperback version comes out in April.

The other two look to be much more readily available.

[Star_Anise]

Well, that's a bit of a bummer - so I have reopened the poll with only two options, for a revote. It will be open two days so we can decide on a new read and return to The Slap when we can:)

[Winifred]

Oh, good! None of my libraries had The Slap, and I agree, the online price is prohibitive.

Guess I'll vote again. (Edit) I voted for Land of the Green Plums, again. It's at all the libraries, but there are a lot of holds on it..

[margaine]

I seem unable to vote again - is it only me? Maybe I need to clear some of my computer's history or something or other . . .

[Winifred]

Hmm, you're right, margaine; I voted, it didn't take, but now it's telling me I've already voted - although nothing shows!

[thelastmelon]

It says I already voted, but there are no votes in the poll.
So, maybe we could just write which one we vote for and count?

I vote for: The Land of Green Plums by Herta Müller.

[neilgee]

I'll vote for The Land of Green Plums too.

[margaine]

It is possible for moderators to manually change the poll numbers to show these votes that we are posting. But I don't want to go in and do that right now in case someone else has already done that, since I'm not sure where the one vote for Land of Green Plums is from.

So for the time being: I vote for Olive Kitteridge

[KneD]

I feel responsible now because I recommended the book but it doesn't look as if we are going to be able to get hold of a copy each.

Don't. The publisher should. If you win a prize you make the book available. Which is not too hard to do (And I know, since that is my job nowadays :D )
I don't think any of us could expect an award winner to be out of print for a while.

I have to look into those books left to make up my mind, I'll vote tomorrow.

[Star_Anise]

Hmm, this is strange - I reset the poll but it doesn't seem to be working. So rather than creating a whole new polling thread I think we'll just go with text votes as above. Sorry for the trouble guys.

[neilgee]

It is possible for moderators to manually change the poll numbers to show these votes that we are posting. But I don't want to go in and do that right now in case someone else has already done that, since I'm not sure where the one vote for Land of Green Plums is from.



Ah, that was me. After I posted I thought I'd try out the poll anyway and for some reason I've been the only one it has allowed to vote so far:confused:


Don't. The publisher should. If you win a prize you make the book available. Which is not too hard to do (And I know, since that is my job nowadays :D )
I don't think any of us could expect an award winner to be out of print for a while.



Thanx for that. It's true that it makes no business sense at all to have no new edition out until April. In what other industry would the mechanisms of supply and demand be ignored like this?

[WarMachine]

Hm I am voting for Olive Kitteridge book.

[margaine]

Hm I am voting for Olive Kitteridge book.

WarMachine, did you actually vote in the poll, or were you (like many members) unable to vote in the poll and are instead registering your vote in your post?

For anyone else who still wants to vote, it needs to be clear who has voted where (posting in the thread, voting in the poll, or both), so that votes aren't counted twice. So, if you post about what you choose to vote for, please indicate whether or not you have been able to mark your vote in the poll. On the other hand, if you are able to vote in the poll, you needn't post about what you voted for if you don't want to.

So far, we have:
- melon: Green Plums
- neilgee: Green Plums (and voted in poll)
- margaine: Olive Kitteridge
- WarMachine: Olive Kitteridge (please let us know whether you were able to mark your vote in the poll or not)

Does anyone else want to vote?

[Winifred]

Don't forget, I voted again, too, and again for Green Plums (see 12-18, edited 12-19), so, so far, 3-2 for Green vs Olive.


WarMachine, did you actually vote in the poll, or were you (like many members) unable to vote in the poll and are instead registering your vote in your post?

For anyone else who still wants to vote, it needs to be clear who has voted where (posting in the thread, voting in the poll, or both), so that votes aren't counted twice. So, if you post about what you choose to vote for, please indicate whether or not you have been able to mark your vote in the poll. On the other hand, if you are able to vote in the poll, you needn't post about what you voted for if you don't want to.

So far, we have:
- melon: Green Plums
- neilgee: Green Plums (and voted in poll)
- margaine: Olive Kitteridge
- WarMachine: Olive Kitteridge (please let us know whether you were able to mark your vote in the poll or not)

Does anyone else want to vote?

[margaine]

Don't forget, I voted again, too, and again for Green Plums (see 12-18, edited 12-19), so, so far, 3-2 for Green vs Olive.

Thanks - I meant to ask if I'd missed any. :)

[Winifred]

As I said, I'm going to have to read all the selections. Just a good batch, altogether! Must admit, I'm beginning to wonder about The Slap , though.

[margaine]

I'm going to leave this re-vote open for two more days in case there are any stragglers. Please vote if you haven't yet and plan to.

Hmm . . . I think KneD wanted to come back and vote, but perhaps he has become too busy with the holidays and such. KneD? :)

[onesavant]

I vote for The Land of Green Plums by Herta Muller.

[KneD]

Hmm . . . I think KneD wanted to come back and vote, but perhaps he has become too busy with the holidays and such. KneD? :)

haha, thanks for remembering. No not busy with holidays (thank God no), just a bit undecisive about my vote.

But...

I vote for Olive Kitteridge

[margaine]

It looks like the final tally is:

Green Plums: 4
Olive Kitteridge: 3

I do hope everything has been counted properly after all of the confusion, but in the end, it's all about sharing and discussing a book together more than anything else. :)

[neilgee]

Well it couldn't have been closer without being tied.

It's a shame The Slap debacle has put us all behind schedule. I'll set about acquiring a copy of Green Plums soon.

EDIT: Infact I've ordered Green Plums online [couldn't face the shops] which'll take 3 to 5 working days so I'll expect to have my copy by early January.

[Phantom Paragrapher]

It'll be an interesting experience for me as I havent read either of those books before , or to be honest - heard of them

[neilgee]

Well isn't that half the fun, Phantom, or it can be.

I've had an e-mail saying my copy is on its way but I still expect it'll be New Year before it arrives.

[Phantom Paragrapher]

it certainly is , always very exciting to discover new books , who knows where they may lead you. Filled out and sent away an Interloan form today so the book should be arriving v.soon for moi , am looking forward to it.

[KneD]

Hmm. Can't find a copy to easy either. Could order it but...

I don't want to spend money on it, hardly have the time to read it, not really looking forward to reading it. I know I should because I voted and all. But since I voted for the other two (:)) titles, I think I have an escape here?

I'll look through last years' book clubs and make sure I have participated in those threads. Is that a deal?

[margaine]

Hmm. Can't find a copy to easy either. Could order it but...

I don't want to spend money on it, hardly have the time to read it, not really looking forward to reading it. I know I should because I voted and all. But since I voted for the other two (:)) titles, I think I have an escape here?

I'll look through last years' book clubs and make sure I have participated in those threads. Is that a deal?

It sounds like you have enough guilt to make up for the fact that you aren't planning to read. ;)

[Winifred]

Hmm, I posted here yesterday, but my post has vanished. Let's try again:
I've placed a hold on a copy at the library - none of the libraries I belong to has any copies in-house. It must be popular!

And, thanks to margaine for holding steady through all the mixup!!

[margaine]

Hmm, I posted here yesterday, but my post has vanished. Let's try again:
I've placed a hold on a copy at the library - none of the libraries I belong to has any copies in-house. It must be popular!

And, thanks to margaine for holding steady through all the mixup!!

I was puzzled as well, because I responded to your comment and wondered where it went. But fear not! You actually posted earlier in the discussion thread, not the voting thread. ;)

[Winifred]

I was puzzled as well, because I responded to your comment and wondered where it went. But fear not! You actually posted earlier in the discussion thread, not the voting thread. ;)

Aha! Guess I'm more put out by the voting malfunction than I thought! :)

[neilgee]

I feel a little uppity suggesting this since I only arrived last month but I thought that it might be an idea to skip the December book of the month and call Green Plums the January book of the month since it doesn't look like any of us will actually have access to a copy til then anyway. Maybe? Just a suggestion.

Phantom, I'm glad you agree and it certainly worked for me with the last book of the month which I thoroughly enjoyed.

There was an offer on [I]Green Plums on Amazon for £5 with free postage so I thought I'd go for it [I was going to address this to KneD but I don't want to make him feel more guilty than he already does lol] since it would cost me at least two thirds of that just to get the bus to town and back to visit a worthwhile bookshop and because like Winifred says if there is any kind of a buzz surrounding a book in the library then people place reservations upon it and you can be waiting more than a month for a copy to become available.

[thelastmelon]

I thought that it might be an idea to skip the December book of the month and call Green Plums the January book of the month since it doesn't look like any of us will actually have access to a copy til then anyway. Maybe? Just a suggestion.


There is already a thread started for the discussion of the chosen book. The thread is called: Dec-Jan Book Club Read: The Land of Green Plums, so a little bit of each month. :)

[neilgee]

There is already a thread started for the discussion of the chosen book. The thread is called: Dec-Jan Book Club Read: The Land of Green Plums, so a little bit of each month. :)

Ha, ha. A fitting response to my cheek, I suppose:)

I will start using the proper thread when the book arrives.