Team Writer's Block is proud to call their Canadian Lit selection to the podium, The Handmaid's Tale, another classic from Margaret Atwood.
I read this book shortly after the movie (starring Natasha Richardson, Robert Duvalle, Aidan Quinn & Fay Dunaway) came out in 1990. It fascinated me, with its themes of equality, freedom, feminism and religion - all turned on their head and set in a future not too difficult to imagine occurring, which is even more true now.
From Wikipedia: The Handmaid's Tale takes place in the Republic of Gilead, a country formed within the borders of what was originally the United States of America after nuclear, biological, and chemical pollution rendered a large portion of the population sterile and a staged terrorist attack killed the President and Congress. After the attack, a revolution occurred which deposed the United States government and abolished the US Constitution. New theocratic governments, including the Republic of Gilead, were formed under the rule of a military dictatorship.
The story is told from the point of view of Offred who, as a fertile woman, has been enslaved as a "Handmaid", and explores the society of Gilead through her attempts to escape to Canada, her indoctrination at the Rachel and Leah Re-Education Center, and her life as a handmaid. The story's narrative is disjointed and out of order and ends abruptly, which is revealed at the end to be caused by the fact that the tale was narrated onto a series of unnumbered audio tapes.
Atwood discusses religion & The Handmaid's Tale:
The Trailer for the movie....possibly a little NSFW...
Has garypowers missed his last two picks? Perhaps to speed things up we should skip over people who haven't drafted their last pick (instead of waiting 12 hours).
Also Ronald Pagan is in the sin bin. Trout, you have any idea if he is going to send in his picks via PM to you?
The Carnies select with their 3rd round pick, in Non Fiction - Philosophy/Religion:
The God Delusion
by Richard Dawkins
My sister bought this for me for Christmas two years ago, and I breezed through it faster than any other non fiction book I've ever read. I found it tremendously reaffirming and uplifting, in the following ways:
-It has given me plenty of ammo to carefully articulate my feelings about organized religion and the existence of a God in the face of those who do not share my beliefs
-It made me feel not only "OK" about labeling myself an atheist, but proud of that label
-It helped me to fully understand that morality and inherent good in people has nothing at all to do with one's spiritual/religious beliefs
Since I picked up an extra pick in this category via trade, I can't let The God Delusion go without nabbing it here, as it's been an influential book for me during the previous two years much as it has been for millions around the world.
Has garypowers missed his last two picks? Perhaps to speed things up we should skip over people who haven't drafted their last pick (instead of waiting 12 hours).
Also Ronald Pagan is in the sin bin. Trout, you have any idea if he is going to send in his picks via PM to you?
I think there were a few people placed in the sin bin after the abortion and politics threads. Once in the sin bin, they can't PM me. I think we will keep them on permanent AK, but hold their place open until their suspensions are over.
If gary can somehow send me his next few picks, I can post for him.
Location: In a land without pants, or war, or want. But mostly we care about the pants.
Exp:
Quote:
Originally Posted by octothorp
Dammit!! I seriously love these books and had really thought they'd drop at least another round or two. Peake's prose is remarkable; you can open the book to any page and find some of the most complex and poetic writing anywhere. Every winter I pull these out and read at least a portion of these books.
Haha! I'm in yer brain stealin' yer picks!
__________________
Better educated sadness than oblivious joy.
I think there were a few people placed in the sin bin after the abortion and politics threads. Once in the sin bin, they can't PM me. I think we will keep them on permanent AK, but hold their place open until their suspensions are over.
If gary can somehow send me his next few picks, I can post for him.
Oh I didn't realize you couldn't send PM's if you were sin binned. Sounds good.
I will have to be quick here, two small children requiring attention.
I choose Guy Gavriel Kay's Sarantine Mosaic for my choice in Fantasy.
It was very hard for me to pick just one of his in this category, but this one will have to do.
It is based or better inspired by 6th century Byzantium. It is a work of historical fiction then, however he throws in elements of the fantastic.
I first read this book (it is in two parts, was too large I think) while on an art history tour of Italy. What a perfect companion when standing before great works of art in the day, then relaxing later inside the world he creates.
It is the story of an Italian mosaic artist and his travels from north central Italy to Byzantium/Sarantium. Of course it is not Italy or Byzantium in the book, but only an obtuse reader would miss it. Much like his other books are clearly based on medieval Italy (Tigana) France (A Song For Arbonne) Spain (The Lions Of Al Rassan), and Britain (The Last Light Of The Sun).
I would gladly have picked any of these for my choice.
So glad I didn't opt to participate in this draft.
I am so under-read it's pathetic. That hasn't always been the case. It is amazing how life changes.
I do have a couple of favorites I will be watching for.
__________________ I am in love with Montana. For other states I have admiration, respect, recognition, even some affection, but with Montana it is love." - John Steinbeck
I will have to be quick here, two small children requiring attention.
I choose Guy Gavriel Kay's Sarantine Mosaic for my choice in Fantasy.
It was very hard for me to pick just one of his in this category, but this one will have to do.
It is based or better inspired by 6th century Byzantium. It is a work of historical fiction then, however he throws in elements of the fantastic.
I first read this book (it is in two parts, was too large I think) while on an art history tour of Italy. What a perfect companion when standing before great works of art in the day, then relaxing later inside the world he creates.
It is the story of an Italian mosaic artist and his travels from north central Italy to Byzantium/Sarantium. Of course it is not Italy or Byzantium in the book, but only an obtuse reader would miss it. Much like his other books are clearly based on medieval Italy (Tigana) France (A Song For Arbonne) Spain (The Lions Of Al Rassan), and Britain (The Last Light Of The Sun).
I would gladly have picked any of these for my choice.
__________________
"The problem with any ideology is that it gives the answer before you look at the evidence."
—Bill Clinton
"The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance--it is the illusion of knowledge."
—Daniel J. Boorstin, historian, former Librarian of Congress
"But the Senator, while insisting he was not intoxicated, could not explain his nudity"
—WKRP in Cincinatti
I feel like this draft is gonna embarrass me, given everyone is picking rather intelligent reads and I am... not picking intelligent reads. I read a lot but tend to read more for entertainment value than educational value.
Enjoying it either way though, giving me some ideas for some further reading.
I feel like this draft is gonna embarrass me, given everyone is picking rather intelligent reads and I am... not picking intelligent reads. I read a lot but tend to read more for entertainment value than educational value.
Enjoying it either way though, giving me some ideas for some further reading.
If it makes you feel any better, the current thinking in literary studies is that conventional distinctions between "high" and "low" cultural products is basically a meaningless artifact of cultural elitism, and not based on any sort of abstract standard against which literature can be measured. Which is a fancy way of saying--read what you like--it's good because you like it.
On the other hand, I still refuse to read Marley and Me...
If it makes you feel any better, the current thinking in literary studies is that conventional distinctions between "high" and "low" cultural products is basically a meaningless artifact of cultural elitism, and not based on any sort of abstract standard against which literature can be measured. Which is a fancy way of saying--read what you like--it's good because you like it.
On the other hand, I still refuse to read Marley and Me...
Yeah, I am still going to read what I want and pick what I want, I just think it's funny people are picking thoughtful intelligent books and I am picking Marley and Me... which I now know is good, because I like it.
The Pen is mightier than the sword (Henceforth known as "The Mighty Pen") are pleased to select representing Euro-Lit:
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
by
Mark Haddon
This was a fantastic read. It is both extremely funny and incredibly sad at the same time. I guarantee that it should move even the hardest heart. A superb debut novel by Haddon.
