THE INHERITANCE OF LOSS: Discussion January 2012

[Melissa_W Moderator]

Welcome back for the new year!  We will reboot "Literature by Women" with Kiran Desai's 2006 Man Booker and National Book Critics Circle winner, The Inheritance of Loss (Kiran is a bit unique in that her mother, Anita Desai, has been shortlisted for the Booker three times; Kiran's domestic partner is Nobel Prize-winning author Orhan Pamuk).

Discussion Schedule:

Week 1, January 2 - January 8:  Chapters 1 - 15

Week 2, January 9 - January 15:  Chapters 16 - 30

Week 3, January 16 - January 22:  Chapters 31 - 45

Week 4, January 23 - January 29:  Chapters 46 - 53 and the Novel as a Whole

(I know it seems like a lot of chapters each week but they're all pretty short)

For those who are new to the group, the Week 4 thread is a spoiler-friendly thread for those who aren't going to break up their reading or have finished the book, etc.  Since some like to pace themselves the book is divided into "weeks" for discussion and you can post on appropriate chapters in those weeks (just be warned that you might encounter spoilers if you look through posts ahead of reading).

The Inheritance of Loss is a new book so there aren't many separate editions beyond paperback, hardcover, audio (CD or MP3), and nook.

[Fozzie]

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Melissa_W wrote:

Kiran's domestic partner is Nobel Prize-winning author Orhan Pamuk

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 Wow!  Fun fact!  I have read two of his books and have two more here awaiting me.

[Melissa_W Moderator]

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Fozzie wrote:

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Melissa_W wrote:

Kiran's domestic partner is Nobel Prize-winning author Orhan Pamuk

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 Wow!  Fun fact!  I have read two of his books and have two more here awaiting me.

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I own Snow but haven't read it, yet (I have a goal to read at least one book by every Lit Nobel laureate).

[chadadanielleKR]

Hi,

I'm just back on board but  I just found out  that I lent my book and can't have it back soon.. But fortunately my little local french library has two copies one in  French and one in  English, so as soon as I can get hold of it, I will post comments on a book that I really liked, tuesday, I presume.

[Melissa_W Moderator]

No problem, D

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chadadanielleKR wrote:

Hi,

I'm just back on board but  I just found out  that I lent my book and can't have it back soon.. But fortunately my little local french library has two copies one in  French and one in  English, so as soon as I can get hold of it, I will post comments on a book that I really liked, tuesday, I presume.

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[Melissa_W Moderator]

I'm thinking about starting the next book, The Tiger's Wife, on February 6.  That would give us another week of The Inheritance of Loss (or a break, if you like).  I'm a bit behind and will catch up this weekend (bad moderator ).  Thoughts?

Also along the lines of thoughts, please start thinking about books to read for March and April!

[Fozzie]

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Melissa_W wrote:

I'm thinking about starting the next book, The Tiger's Wife, on February 6.  That would give us another week of The Inheritance of Loss (or a break, if you like).  I'm a bit behind and will catch up this weekend (bad moderator ).  Thoughts?

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Fine with me.  I am just starting The Tiger's Wife tonight.

[Peppermill]

I plan on making The Tiger's Wife my first "real" ebook purchase -- my first downloads have been either no charge classics or very low cost ones.  I may do it yet today, but certainly this week.  I have a real backload in reading.

I am still hoping Danielle will give us more of her thoughts on Inheritance of Loss.  I am glad for the listening/read, but am afraid I have been short on discussing it.  Not sure why.  My thanks to you, Laura, for your comments.  I suspect this is one of those books who will haunt my future encounters with current issues and news stories perhaps more than it impacted me as a read.  But maybe also I have just been trying to read too many things concurrently.

A suggestion I will make for a future read is Jennifer Egan's

A Visit from the Goon Squad  

I believe it won the Pulitzer for fiction in 2011.  I have read most of it -- jumped over part of it and need to go back and pick that part up.  It is one of those books on which I would enjoy the impressions of other people.  I'm not sure how I "feel" about the book, but I did enjoy it.  The humor and satire are spot on in many places.  I wonder what others would consider its "messages" to be.

Just did some checking -- yes, 2011 Pulitzer, also 2010 National Book Critics Circle Award.  (Which The Inheritance of Loss won in 2006.)

It looks like the Pulitzer is announced in April.  If those reading here like to pick up current prize winners, we might consider the 2012 fiction winner for May, if it turns out to be written by a woman.

[Fozzie]

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Peppermill wrote:

A suggestion I will make for a future read is Jennifer Egan's

A Visit from the Goon Squad  

I believe it won the Pulitzer for fiction in 2011.  I have read most of it -- jumped over part of it and need to go back and pick that part up.  It is one of those books on which I would enjoy the impressions of other people.  I'm not sure how I "feel" about the book, but I did enjoy it.  The humor and satire are spot on in many places.  I wonder what others would consider its "messages" to be.

Just did some checking -- yes, 2011 Pulitzer, also 2010 National Book Critics Circle Award.  (Which The Inheritance of Loss won in 2006.)

It looks like the Pulitzer is announced in April.  If those reading here like to pick up current prize winners, we might consider the 2012 fiction winner for May, if it turns out to be written by a woman.

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I would like to read A Visit From the Goon Squad.

I have finished The Tiger's Wife.  

[Peppermill]

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Fozzie wrote:

I would like to read A Visit From the Goon Squad.

I have finished The Tiger's Wife.  

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Sounds like TTW is a fast, perhaps engrossing read?

[Melissa_W Moderator]

A Visit to the Goon Squad has been on my TBR since Egan won the Pulitzer so I would like to read it, too.  So for March, then?

I think the new Pulitzer winner would also depend on availability - they always go into short supply after the announcement so we might want to wait a few months (it may also come out in paperback, too, by then).  It may be a woman this year because Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward won the NBA for fiction in October.

I'll get threads for TTW up today!

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Peppermill wrote:

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Fozzie wrote:

I would like to read A Visit From the Goon Squad.

I have finished The Tiger's Wife.  

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Sounds like TTW is a fast, perhaps engrossing read?

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[Fozzie]

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Peppermill wrote:

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Fozzie wrote:

I have finished The Tiger's Wife.  

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Sounds like TTW is a fast, perhaps engrossing read?

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Pepper, I posted a "review" about the book on the fiction board.  I'll repost it here:

I loved the originality of this book.  It alternately tells a story set today with two folklore-ish stories set in the past.  I thought it was great how all three stories tied together.  What was not so great was the lack of ease with which the reader is able to piece together the big picture.  It was a book that required a careful reading and some time to “process” after finishing it, but it was well worth it.

Engrossing, yes, but don't go too fast.  

[Fozzie]

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Melissa_W wrote:

A Visit to the Goon Squad has been on my TBR since Egan won the Pulitzer so I would like to read it, too.  So for March, then?

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Yes, I second that we read it for March.  All those in favor? ...

[Melissa_W Moderator]

So Fozzie and I are up for this (and proabably Pepper, too, since she suggested it).  Any one else have opinions?  Speak now or forever hold your peace

[Peppermill]

Pepper says "yes", too.

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Melissa_W wrote:

So Fozzie and I are up for this (and proabably Pepper, too, since she suggested it).  Any one else have opinions?  Speak now or forever hold your peace

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