Orange July 2011

Greetings Orange Prize lovers! I have blogged about this year's Orange July festivities! Please read to learn more about our annual Orange July event.

http://mrstreme.wordpress.com/2011/06/13/orange-july-2011/

I would like to propose two ways to post your Orange July 2011 threads:

1) A personal thread about your Orange July selections and thoughts about your books (e.g. Jill's Orange July 2011)
2) Threads devoted to individual books. So, if you're reading The Lacuna, and a thread hasn't been started for this book, please consider starting one. Make sure to indicate if it's spoiler-free or not. Conversely, if a thread has been started for your book, please join in the discussion!

These are optional, of course, and I am up to other ideas!

I'll be reading Annabel, Grace Williams Says It Loud and The Memory of Love, maybe The Seas too it I get a chance, but I'm not sure where I'll be posting, probably on Darryl's one book topics.

I can't wait for July! I'll start a personal thread soonish and would be happy to start individual book threads as I read.

I discovered the Orange Prize Thread here on LT sometime in May or so - and I had an Orange May and I read

Memory of Love which was my favourite
Grace Williams Says it Loud
Annabel I'd read quite a while ago
Room.

I also read Small Island and read that in April or May .

I would like to perhaps read the this years winning book -the name of which I cannot remember, so I'll start a thread fairly soon.

I'm planning to have a very Orange July, as I'd like to read four books next month:

The Tiger's Wife by Téa Obreht (2011 Orange Prize winner)
The Swimmer by Roma Tearne (2011 Orange Prize longlist)
The London Train by Tessa Hadley (2011 Orange Prize longlist)
The Outcast by Sadie Jones (2008 Orange Prize shortlist)

Welcome everyone! And Darryl, I like the idea of a very Orange July! I will be having one too, but need to go through my list and see what I plan on reading!

There are many books I'd like to read in July, but these are my top 4 choices:

The Tiger's Wife, by Tea Obreht (I always read the winner)
Molly Fox’s Birthday, by Deirdre Madden (2009 shortlist & I have this on my shelves)
The White Family, by Maggie Gee (2002 shortlist, I have this on my shelves, & Darryl recommended it!)
The Memory of Love, by Aminatta Forna (2011 shortlist)

I'd also like to read Great House and Annabel, both from the 2011 shortlist, but I doubt I'll get to them in July.
~Laura

I'm starting Orange July a little early, because I have Grace Williams Says It Loud out from the library and it'll be due back sooner rather than later. (I'm hoping to get to some other Orange books during July!) I've dipped into it a bit, but will start it in earnest tonight.

Exactly what Wookiebender said, except my library book is The Memory of Love.

As you know, Orange July can start in June. =) Can't wait to hear your thoughts on both novels - I haven't gotten to them yet but they sound intriguing!

If you don't mind, please write your first name after your posts. I apologize, but I don't know everyone's name yet, and I am guessing I am not alone! =) ~Jill

Emma has decided to join us, but she brought her own chair.

That dog is nearly as spoiled as mine!



~Linda

#13 & 14 They are both cuties. I don't have a doggy photo (our flat is too small) but we do have a very cute (and brazen) cat



~Heather

We're hosting a Facebook question about Orange July, in case you're interested in playing along: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=question&id=217427071625101&qa_ref=q...

Emma is prepared to give out virtual doggie kisses to anyone who blogs or writes about Orange July on Facebook/Twitter. Would love to get the world out beyond the LibraryThing audience. Thanks for your help!

If you decide to post, here are some links:
Link to my blog post about Orange July: http://mrstreme.wordpress.com/2011/06/13/orange-july-2011/

Link to the Facebook Event Page for Orange July: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=196316030409816

Emma is slobbering and standing by.

* wipes slobber off my arm *
Thanks Emma. I will definitely be blogging about Orange July !

Thanks a bunch, Laura!

*slurp!*

Today, I announced which books will be up for grabs during Orange July! Here's the blog post: http://mrstreme.wordpress.com/2011/06/19/update-book-giveaways-for-orange-july/

Good selection :)

I posted a link on my facebook page :)

Thank you so much, Sally! And here's a slobbery kiss from Emma.

*slurp*

I posted on your blog, and on Facebook - later I will post a link of my facebook page! Thanks so much! ! Great selection - so kind of you!

*feels guilty* I never finished my Orange January book. *wince*

I shall have to decide whether to pick that back up and try again, or read something different.

Great giveaways Jill !

And here are some slobbery kisses for Deb *slurp*

Caty, no need to feel guilty. Maybe you should try another selection? So many to choose from!

Laura - thank you! Hopefully, there's something in there for everybody.

Just jumped on the Orange January/July group wagon . . . I'm an Orange list reader from way back and am looking forward to filling in some of the gaps and to adding new nominations/winners. High on my reading priority list for July are: The Memory of Love and Grace Says It Loud.

I'm new to the Orange Prize idea, so I'll be reading this year's winner (The Tiger's Wife) and working backwards for the month of July...we'll see how many I can read. ~Kathy

I'm reading The Swimmer and The Colour, and I have a few non-Orange commitments. After that, who knows what Orange book I'll pick up (I have 14 waiting for me, I think).

The Tiger's Wife won. Yea! I called it, I never get these things right, but I couldn't imagine a better one.

Jill, good thinking with the giveaways!

Welcome everybody! Sounds like some great reading is up ahead!

Here's something new I learned today. The term "Orange July" can have a negative connotation in Northern Ireland. An Irishwoman commented on the Facebook event:

"Well, you see, and I'm speaking as a Presbyterian here, July in Northern Ireland is a month full of Orange Order Parades, generally divisive, and potentially provocative. So an Orange July for us, while nothing new, isn't quite the civilised and admirable thing that it is for bibliophiles elsewhere! No apologies required- keep up the good work!"

This piqued my interest, so I headed over to Wikipedia, which explained that throughout the month of July, the Orange Order (a Protestant fraternal organization with strong ties to unionism and is anti-Catholic) holds parades that have a history of discord. Here's the full article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orange_Order

I hope other Irish residents are as understanding as she is about the title of our little book event! (No, I am not changing it).

As Mom always said, you learn something new every day!

Maybe we can remove the stigma from the term by putting it to another use.

My Irish-Catholic husband reminds me every year that we were married on July 12, the official Orange Day. It was purely because some family members could make it that day, but I'll never live it down.

Oh my. I'm glad you made us all aware of that, Jill!

Yes, I like Linda's suggestion - putting the term to a more positive use! =)

For me, Orange always makes me think of the Netherlands - it is their 'national colour' because the royal family is the House of Orange (Oranje). On the Queen's birthday 30th April, a national holiday, there is Orange everywhere:
.

This is related to the Orange associations in Northern Ireland - the Dutch William of Orange became King William III of England and Ireland in the late 17th century, and it is after him that the protestant Orange Order is named.

Love the animals sharing Orange July with us.
Linda, I truly think that your lil doggie is the most famous here on L.T. She is gorgeous and much tidier with her mooches that Jill's pooch. They are all precious.
belva

Growing up in the 1980s, I was well aware of the Irish Protestant Orange movement, and I must admit I was a little wary of the title "Orange" when I first came across it (in Orange Prize, and Orange January/July).

But I must admit, I'd forgotten about all of that over the past few years! So, yes! It can be done! Let's get the term "Orange" put to a much nicer use!

So where did the title "Orange" Prize come from, then ? (Yes, I could Google it, but then where would the conversation be?)

It derives from the name of the sponsor, Orange. They're a telecommunications company (internet and mobile phones). I seem to remember that at one stage it was called the "Orange Broadband Prize".

Before I became aware of the Orange prize, of course I knew about the color being "anti-Patrick", but its biggest association in my life was with the Orangemen of Syracuse University because we had a local basketball star go on to Syracuse and almost make it to the big time.



Then, a couple years after that phenomenon, my daughter went to the University of Tennessee to pursue her PhD, and there was ORANGE all over the place!

Here´s what I´m choosing from for Orange July reading:

Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
A Spell of Winter by Helen Dunmore
A Crime in the Neighborhood by Suzanne Berne
The Outcast bu Sadie Jones
When I lived in Modern Times by Linda Grant

Wow, who knew such interesting connotations for "Orange"? As a Floridian, I think of the citrus fruit. And orange juice. Yum.

And wonderful selections, Ann-Marie! I loved The Outcast!

~Jill

I loved The Outcast too! And Half of a Yellow Sun.

Narrowing down my Orange plans, I hope to read:

The Invisible Bridge by Julie Orringer
The London Train by Tessa Hadley
Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
A Spell of Winter by Helen Dunmore
The White Family by Maggie Gee
The Outcast by Sadie Jones

Well, Anne, it bears repeating: I loved The Outcast! Powerful book.

Haven't read The London Train, A Spell of Winter or The White Family yet, so I will be curious to know what you think! Happy Orange July! ~Jill

Earlier this week I requested two of my July reads from the library, and today one is ready for pickup: The Memory of Love -- woo hoo! The second book, The Tiger's Wife, has a longer waiting list. If it takes too long I'll buy it :)

Yep, I have to admit that "Orange July" makes my mind jump to Northern Ireland and the Orange Parade (as well as my mobile phone). That said, it then moves on to lovely, lovely books!

Unusually for me, I've already read quite a few (well, for me) of the longlist:

Room - Emma Donoghue (which I have to say, I expected to win)
A Visit From the Goon Squad - Jennifer Egan
Grace Williams Says it Loud - Emma Henderson
The Seas - Samantha Hunt

Of that list, I thought that Room was hands down the most enthralling read. So. For July, when I've got hold of copies, I plan to read:

The Tiger's Wife - Tea Obreht (obviously)
Annabel - Kathleen Winter
and, if I get to it, The Swimmer - Roma Tearne

...I've also had The White Family on my TBR pile beside my bed for over a year now, so I may finally get to that too, having loved The Blue and also enjoyed The Flood.

I hope to read The OUtcast in July. Started it a couple of years ago and got distracted and never went back. Everyone speaks so highly of it, it is about time I returned to it and tried again.

My (feral) cat, Lord Bravery, wants to show off her "orange" fur!



Still deciding which book to read... (me, not the cat!)

Thoughts on any of these?
The Septembers of Shiraz
The Translator
Gut Symmetries
Brick Lane
Gilead

What delightful markings your kitty has. Has she domesticated at all? She certainly LOOKS cuddly.

> 52

She's so funny. She lets me touch her if I'm holding food. She's one of three feral cats I feed, and the most approachable. If I'm not holding food, she runs away if I try to touch her.

If I forget to feed her, she taps at my back window with her front paw. So...is that a feral cat or not? I think she's wild and has just tamed me!

Too bad she's feral as she'd have made a delightful house cat (...although my own days for housecats are over).

She is absolutely beautiful Squeak! And indeed does fit into our Orange months.

For those who have opted to read Half of a Yellow Sun as one of your Orange July picks, you are in for a wonderful treat. I loved this book.

I am half-way through my first one for the month. I chose to read first: Great House and am finding it fascinating. I just began it last evening. My only complaint is that each portion is ending more quickly than I would like for it to. But isn't that the way with all books that we like? They end too quickly.
Happy July all,
belva

Ooh! I have an orange kitty too. Here's Pumpkin, and I'm going to add him to my thread as well:

I have an orange cat too! This is Olie.

Oh, Pumpkin and Ollie are gorgeous! I'm currently ginger cat free (we've got one tortoiseshell, one grey tabby, and one tabby, all girls: Porchie, Sweet Pea, and Pippi). But ginger is my favourite colour for cats. :)

(Sh! Don't tell the girls I said that!)

No ginger pets I'm afraid, but my black (and now slightly greying) greyhound Ty is always happy to lounge around looking elegant and slightly bored (when not sleeping) in his favourite armchair while I'm reading.

Awww! Hello Ty!

Don't tell Emma that I touched another dog. She gets so jealous! =)

Genny, I love Ty! Is he a rescue?

#61 Yes, I adopted him from the 'North East Greyhound and Lurcher Rescue' organisation - though it is not clear if he was ever a racer: he was latterly with a family who became homeless themselves and gave him to a shelter, and he was only about 3 or 4 when I got him, so he was a bit young to be retiring from racing then.

Got my book set up for July. I've decided on Great House by Nicole Krauss. This is a book that teelgee sent me in November, but it sure comes in handy now!

10 Things You Need To Know About Orange July 2011

Happy Orange July! I have posted the first book giveaway! If you want to play (even if you don't want to enter into the giveaway), please leave your comments on the blog (not here). Thanks and have a great month!

> 65

I'm playing...although I still remain a sceptic about the Orange prizes. ;-)

I am thinking Orange these days and am enjoying the Orange mania here. I don't have an orange-colored pet, but one of the first houses we owned had orange shag carpeting in it. Yes, it was the 1970's. I kind of liked it. ;-)

> 66, Madeline, I am glad you're playing along anyway! What's a party without you?!?!?

> 67, Donna: Long live the Orange shag carpet. My first car has orange interior. I hated it back then.

Day 2 Orange July Giveaway announced!

In the spirit of Orange July - check out my Pin Board for orange on Pinterest :)

@ # 59:
gennyt;
Is it true what they say about the greyhound? That they are awesome apartment and city dwellers and pets for working people as they are totally not hyper and will just lounge all day awaiting your return home? I would love to have one if they are that mellow. Would have to keep Abby, the Labby, as we love her so.....but HYPER. Labs live to have fun. Not a bad way to live I say, but not very good for a therapy pet although I can read my moods (anxiety, depression) just by watching her and how she gets.
hugs,
belva

70> Wendy, I love your Orange Pin Board! In fact, I loved all of your Pin Boards! I hadn't heard of Pinterest - what an AWESOME concept. Of course, I requested an invite through the site.

Posting this is a couple of places to make sure everyone sees it:

Regarding the book giveaways, there is no limit to how many times you can win a book. During January, I had one participant win three times! So, if you're not entering the giveaways because you already won or are holding out for a more desired book, then don't! You can still enter and have fun!

Hope this helps! =) Thanks everyone for playing! ~Jill

>72 mrstreme: Oh Jill, Pinterest is a totally addictive site...I have spent hours over there!!! Glad you like my boards :) I keep thinking of new ones to add. On a practical note, it is also a great way to save ideas for house remodeling, decorating, crafts, etc...And I also use it for inspiration for quilting ideas and travel wishes :)

#71 Hi Belva, yes it is indeed true about greyhounds, contrary to what people expect from such fast runners, that they are happy to spend most of their day sleeping, and need very little exercise (typically a short sharp burst rather than long rambling walks). Hence their nickname of "40 mile an hour couch potatoes. My Ty is very placid and totally not hyper. He is friendly towards people without leaping up at them, and loves company so follows me from room to room when I am in the house. Ideally they should still not be left alone for too long as they are sociable animals. In fact, I really ought to get a second one, to be company for Ty when I have to go out (I work from home so for much of the time it's not a problem).

Another advantage is that, because they are placid rather than frenetic like many dogs, non-dog-lovers seem to get on ok with them. Several friends who are not keen on dogs have been rather taken with Ty (I don't think they were just being polite!) and have said that they wished all dogs were like him.

#70 A wonderful collection of orange images, Wendy - and thanks for introducing me to Pinterest, too...

Hi, just come across this group, a few of my Wishlist books are Orange books, so would like to join in too.

I've read ROOM but I'm eagerly waiting for the copy of A Tiger's Wife to come into the library, lot more I'd like to read but got to get my hands on them first.

Loving all of the pet pics, I'll add my own I have a ginger (orange) cat called Bertie



#75, my sister has a rescue greyhound and she is very placid too, like you said, Cora spends most of the time asleep and out on a jog with my sister, Cora struggles to keep up with our steady jogging.

Just checking out the Orange lists and noticed that I've read a few Orange longlist books already!
The Secret Life of Bees, The Lovely Bones, Brick Lane, and The Time Traveller's Wife.

Welcome Kerry!

This week end I finished 2 Orange books. Annabel, which I gave 4 stars, would have been a 5 star book if Kathleen Winter hadn't kind of derailed the novel with what I think was a physical impossibility. Aside from that, it's an insightful psychological story about differences, differences between people, between environments, between the sexes, between those with vision and those without. I'd recommend it to anyone.

I also finished The Seas which was quite disappointing. Again there was a good study of a frozen landscape - this time Alaska, I think, instead of Newfoundland. There's also a fine study of the environmental and personal consequences of war, the shelling of a 4000 year old ziggurat was perfect. Loneliness, separation and alcoholism was discussed but the style is annoyingly pseudo schizophrenic. She could have done much better.

Now I finally get to start on The Memory of Love

>76 kerryth:, Welcome Kerry! Your cat is gorgeous!

>78 Citizenjoyce:, Joyce, sorry, that The Seas didn't work out for you, but on to other books, right? =)

OtherJoyce - great to hear you enjoyed Annabel--I think you read the conversation about the book on Belletrista ( http://www.belletrista.com/2011/Issue11%20/features_7.php ) and you're talking about the same impossibility that Darryl discussed there --?

Thanks for the heads up on The Seas--I just love, love, love that cover, so I was tempted with that one. Maybe sometime when I've read everything in my TBR and I can get it from the library.

Thanks for pointing out the discussion of Annabel, I'll read it. As for The Seas, you may find it an interesting read, but no need to dive through the pile to get to it.

I just read the Bellatrista article about Annabel, very interesting. I don't have the same reservations Darryl did except about the self fertilization. Probably this is because I read a true story about David Reimer, As Nature Made Him. When David was a baby his penis was accidentally burned off in a freak cauterization circumcision accident. His parents took him to a psychologist at Johns Hopkins University, John Money, who, in his extreme narcissism pretty much ruined this boy's life and the lives of many sexually ambiguous people to follow. He decided that since it was, at that time, impossible to make a functioning penis, the boy could easily be raised as a girl. No matter how many times in how many ways David showed throughout his childhood that he thought of himself as a boy, Money kept enforcing to his parents the need to keep his secret and force him to be stereotypically female. His word pretty much became law in the treatment of babies with ambiguous genitalia. I saw this attitude at work in the medical treatment of Annabel. In fact, I wonder if Kathleen Winter did too. So, it was the self fertilization that I thought was too jarring to accept, but I do see it as a sort of symbolism rather than an accurate portrayal of possibilities. I very much liked the ending of the book, but like you, wish Jacinta hadn't just been dropped. I like to think she found an artistic career with her crocheting.

>82 Citizenjoyce: - Joyce, did you know there's a thread devoted to Annabel? Thought you might be interested in copying your comments there too.

http://www.librarything.com/talktopic.php?topic=116214

I'm loving The Memory of Love. I'm about halfway through and am finding it hard to put down. I'll add thoughts to the book thread once I've finished.

Thank you, Mstreme, going there now.

>75 gennyt: Glad to point you toward Pinterest - it is a fun site!

>84 lauralkeet: OH, so glad you are loving The Memory of Love which is also in my stacks :)

I am 1/3rd of the way through The Tiger's Wife - am disappointed that I haven't had much reading time this weekend :( BUT, so far I am so enjoying this novel. I love Obreht's writing...and I also like the stories within the story. This is going to be a memorable read, I think.

It's time for another book giveaway! Come to my blog for the details!

I just finished Annabel (and am about to click over to the Belletrista discussion, which I was aware of but had been avoiding until I read the book). My next Orange read will be The Outcast.

>84 lauralkeet: I loved The Memory of Love!

Well, the 6th of July already. I have been busily reading away on my Orange listed books. Thus far, I am on task with what I wanted to read and only one disappointment too. I think that is pretty good out of 5 books. (I did begin a couple of days early)
So far I have read:
Great House - 5 stars
The Lacuna - 4 stars
Annabel - 4 stars
The Boy Next Door - 4 stars
The White Woman on the Green Bicycle - 3 1/2 stars
Now I am taking a fluff break and reading Miles to Go by Richard Paul Evans. This is a continuation of his The Walk, which I loved, but is not nearly as good.
Next up on my Orange listed books: Black Water Rising to be followed by A Spell of Winter, which I believe was the first Orange Prize Winner.
belva

>89 rainpebble: Wow you are doing GREAT!!! Wish I could read that fast!!

@ 90:
writestuff; wait until you are old and could care less about laundry, windows, etc and you will read that much too. LOL!~!

What? Another Orange July giveaway? Why yes - it's true! Check out the details!

>91 rainpebble: LOL - something to look forward to (I'm more than 1/2 way there!)

I have finished my second Orange book of the month, The Swimmer by Roma Tearne, which made this year's longlist, reviewed it on my thread, and created a thread for it. It's easily my least favorite of the five books from the 2011 longlist that I've read so far, although I loved her previous novel Brixton Beach.

BTW, am I the only guy in this group (and will I now be kicked out after making that announcement)??? Anyone have any ideas how we can increase male participation (other than threats from Jill and Laura)?

Decided to join this challenge, after I finished my last book and found that it was on the list - Sorry by Gail Jones. And then seen that I actually own a very long, long list of Orange Prize books. The next one up is The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives by Lola Shoneyin which is really enjoyable so far.

Black Water Rising is a page turner. just sayin'

Just picked up my copy of The Tiger's Wife from the Library and also managed to purchased 2 ex-library books for only 30p that are older Orange books 26a by Diana Evans Orange Award for new writers 2005 and Away from you by Melanie Finn that was shortlisted??? longlisted?? in 2005. (sticker on book says shortlisted but can not find it on any shortlist for 2005, but it appears on the longlist!!!) so will make a start on the first and add the other 2 to my ever increasing TBR stack!!

Darryl, I would love more male participants and open to any and all ideas.

I finished The Memory of Love over my lunch break today. WOW. 5 stars. Review later, and not just because I have to work. I'm still processing.

>94 kidzdoc:: threats? moi? But yes Darryl, I think you are the only guy. There must be others out there who appreciate Orange nominated literature!

Someone posted in one of the groups that he'd done a survey of some of the members' pages and decided that if a male had more than __% (I can't remember the number - 20, 30?) ratio female to male authors, he was probably gay. Are men reluctant to read books authored by women? If a man wants to read a book about doctors in Africa would he be likely to pick up The Memory of Love or something authored by a man? Just the title The Memory of Love, very "girly". It takes a man comfortable with himself to even consider such a novel. So, yea for you kidzdoc, and here's wishing more would join your number.

>100 Citizenjoyce:: hear hear!

I gotta tell you, if I didn't respect Laura's opinion so highly, The Memory of Love, by the title alone, would get X'd off my list for sounding too girly. But then I think my hunky boyfriend reading Women in Love in college way back when... Never judge a book by its title, I guess.

Oh, before you ask....I married him, and I've still got him. And his last read was titled A Romance on Three Legs written by a woman. Sadly, I can't get him to "do" Library Thing. He thinks he can't keep up with us "serious" readers, as he calls us.

I searched my LT library (http://www.librarything.com/profile/kidzdoc/stats/gender), and it's almost exactly a 75:25 male:female split. However, I'm certain that an analysis of the books I've purchased since joining LT would indicate that I'm purchasing a higher percentage of books written by women than that. Earlier this year I determined that 36% of the books I read in 2010 were authored by women, and I would guess that ~1/3 of the books I buy are by women.

I'm a straight guy, for what it's worth. :-)

I would think that the most likely guys on LT would be the other ones who actively contribute to Belletrista, including TadAD from the 75 Books crew, and timjones, polutropos and depressaholic, who mainly hang out at Club Read or elsewhere. However, there are several other male LTers who read a fair amount of literature written by women, from what I can tell. Jill & Laura have done their part in making the 75ers and Club Readers aware of this group. I wonder if it would be helpful for us (particularly me, as the only guy) to indicate in my reviews on my 75 Books and Club Read threads that the book I'm reading was nominated for the Orange Prize.

BTW, look for a new issue of Belletrista in the next 24 hours; I've written three reviews for the upcoming issue, which focuses on African literature.

My next Orange book will be Hearts and Minds by Amanda Craig, which was longlisted for the 2010 prize.

I thought you all might be curious to know how I promote Orange July:
1) Posts on several LT groups (Club Read, 75 Book Challenge, Girlybooks and The Prizes)
2) Posts on my blogs, which then gets linked to from various other bloggers (mostly women)
3) I purchased Facebook ads this year (I didn't spend much) and targeted men and women. Of the fans on the Facebook page, only 4.3% are male.
4) I cross-promoted the event on various other reading-related Facebook pages, such as the Orange Prize Page and Friday Reads.

While I think it's only natural that a prize about women writers would garner more interest from women, I think there's a wonderful opportunity for more guys to be involved. There are a few other men who are participating, according to my blog and FB comments, but it's scant. Darryl, any help you can provide to help spread the word would be greatly appreciated. Maybe it starts with a few more, and then it will grow.

@ # 103:
kidzdoc;
re: Hearts and Minds by Amanda Craig
When I saw this on your post I had to go to the book page and check it out. It looks like a fascinating read and I will be very interested to hear/see your take on it. I have a feeling that it is a really good one.
belva

I've finally managed to read Bel Canto . . . after having it on my list for Orange January and not getting around to it then. What a wonderful read! 4 1/2 stars from me. I have one or two non Orange books needing to be read (shock!) but hope to also then read Purple Hibiscus before the end of the month.

>103 kidzdoc: and 105: I read Hearts and Minds last year. It's one I would recommend but I did have a few reservations about it. Definitely a lot to discuss there and I can't wait to hear to your thoughts on it, Darryl.

>106 crimson-tide: - Glad you loved Bel Canto! =)

Giveaway! A big sloppy dog and Winston Churchill. Mr. Chartwell is up for grabs today on my blog. Even if you don't like the book, please consider answering the question. I think it may get your wheels turning!

I finished Hearts and Minds last night, and reviewed it on my Orange January/July thread today.

Where was it we were talking about Case Histories, the Jackson Brodie series in general, and the recent BBC production? I hope it was in this group. This morning read a New York Times article about an upcoming PBS Masterpiece Mystery series, and they also mentioned that Masterpiece will be airing the Brodie series on 3 Sundays beginning October 16. The BBC series was 6 one-hour episodes and Masterpiece is typically 1.5 hours so I'm trying to figure out how they're going to do this. Anyway, now I need to read the third Brodie mystery ASAP !!

Awesome! I hope the actor is good as Jackson. It was somewhere in Orange county that this was talked about, because I read it recently.

#110, 111 I hope the actor is good as Jackson

I thought he did an excellent job. The actor is Jason Isaacs, most famous to some for his role as Lucius Malfoy in the Harry Potter films, but looking very different here without his long white hair! Here's an interview with him about his role as Jackson.

#110-112
Thanks for the "heads up". I've got Oct 16 marked on my calendar.

>112 gennyt:: It's a good thing he ditches the white hair because I'd have a hard time seeing him as a good guy if he looked too Lucius-like !

Monday's giveaway - A Visit from the Goon Squad! Come by my blog to enter!

#112 "most famous to some for his role as Lucius Malfoy in the Harry Potter films" - No way! I've now got pictures of Isaacs open in a separate window as his normal self and as Malfoy and I still can't quite believe it.

#114 - I know - but thankfully as Brodie he looks nothing like Lucius; in fact, like Heather...
#116 ... I had difficulty too believing it was the same person despite what IMDB was saying! I knew that I knew his face, but it didn't convey any of that Malfoy malevolence.

Happy Wednesday! Another giveaway on my blog!

Yea!~! I won A Visit from the Goon Squad! Thank you Orange July, Jill and Company!~! :-)

Thanx for the info on Masterpiece Mystery. I too, have it marked on my calendar. Can't wait.

Congratulations, Belva. Enjoy.

Happy Friday! Room is up for grabs on my blog! Come by and enter!

Saturday's giveaway is for State of Wonder! Come by my blog to enter!

I'm currently reading The White Family and it's well-written, but it deals with racism and it's pretty intense. Maggie Gee gets inside the characters' heads and we see how they think about non-white people and their inner dialogue often makes me cringe or even feel a bit sick. I'm simultaneously compelled and repelled.

Lindsacl, I'm sharing your feelings of revulsion and compulsion for an entirely different book, Grace Williams Says it Loud by Emma Henderson. I would like to think the depiction of sadistic doctors and uncaring nurses was completely impossible, but, alas, I know it's not. While difficult to read, this is a wonderful book.

>123 lauralkeet:, 124 I loved those books!

Interestingly enough, most of my 6 Orange July books have dealt with racism. I find it rather strange. Does it have anything to do with the Prize itself?

>124 Citizenjoyce:: interesting, because I've been eying Grace to read someday. I definitely don't think I could read the two back-to-back!

>126 rainpebble: Nope, although three of the seven Orange Books I've read this year did discuss racism prominently (A Gate at the Stairs, The Swimmer, and Hearts and Minds).

BTW, I started On Beauty by Zadie Smith, the 2006 Orange Prize winner, last night. My goal for the year was to read 11 Orange books, so I'm ahead of schedule, and I suspect that I'll read 12 or 13 books or more before the year is out.

I had to stop reading Grace Williams Says it Loud for just a few minutes. Aargh! Did anyone see Marathon Man in 1976? Bravo lists the dental torture scene as the 65th scariest movie scene ever. I'm still cringing about that one, now this horrible, horrible doctor. This is a very good book but it takes a mighty strong stomach to get through it. I'm beginning to think it should have been the Orange winner this year.

Back from a weekend away and back to Wolf Hall. No matter how I tried, it was just too large to fit in my suitcase. Ah well, I had my Kindle with me, so I finally got to finish State of the Onion.

I finished The White Family today. It was very good but I docked it 1/2-star because the ending tied up some loose ends that, imo, didn't need tying. I hope to write a review tomorrow. Then my next Orange read will be Molly Fox's Birthday.

I finished and reviewed Grace Williams Says it Loud and gave it 5 stars. I was happy to see that the US has finally decided to distribute it so it's available at both B&N and Amazon.

Now I've started The Outcast by Sadie Jones.

Happy Tuesday! Have another book giveaway on my blog today!

Me again! It's another giveaway at The Magic Lasso!

WOOT WOOT!~!

I zipped through Molly Fox's Birthday fairly quickly ... finished today and will write a review tomorrow. I'm going to take a short Orange Break and slip in a light mystery before reading Great House. I need a break from the Orange intensity. Plus, I'm leaving on vacation Saturday and have been saving Great House for the trip b/c it's on my Kindle.

Orange intensity, that's putting it perfectly. I'll finish The Outcast tonight or tomorrow, then I too feel the need for a little break. I think I'll try Alone in the Kitchen with an Eggplant, some artery unclogging foods to heal myself from all the artery clogging stress of one group of evil people after another.

I'm very behind in my Orange reading! Not helping that I can't find The Tiger's Wife anywhere! I'm sure I left it on top of the bedroom bookshelves, but it looks like the pixies took it. Sigh.

Just wanted to chime in with excited squeaks over the BBC doing Jackson Brodie AND the casting of Jason Isaacs as Mr Brodie himself. He's been a fave of mine for some years.

Great House is awesome Laura!~! I hope you really like it.
Enjoy your holiday and come back all refreshed.
blessings on you,
belva

Just stopping in to say hi and that I'm starring this thread. Currently reading Annabel for CitizenJoyce's July TIOLI challenge. I'm really enjoying it, and will be paying closer attention to Orange Prize books for future reading.
~Ellen

Well I'm not sure what happened this month but I never got my thread going and this is my first visit to this thread. I'll do better come January, I promise. Anywho, I just reviewed Sadie Jones Orange Prize shortlisted novel, The Outcast. Excellent.

Last week I read The Memory of Love which is in the running for my Book of the Year. It was on this year's shortlist and I reviewed it on the book's page.

140> Welcome, Ellen! Glad you found us! ~Jill

141> That's what happens when you retire, Miss Bonnie. =)

:)

Laura;
I am glad that I am not the only one who finds the Oranges to be very intense. Not enough to drive me back to Anne of Green Gables but enough that I did have to take a break into something lighter. I chose Richard Paul Evans' Miles to Go which is the 2nd in a series of three (I don't believe the 3rd one is out yet) of a man who loses his wife to illness, his business, and while caring for her loses his home and everything else he owns. He decides to walk from Seattle (his home) to the furthest point he can think of which is the Florida Keys. Just a very nice light read and a perfect break from the shoulder/neck strain of the Oranges I have chosen this July.
And I believe that it was in The White Woman on the Green Bicycle where I found actual 'Orange Parades'. I thought it interesting after some of the 'Orange' conversations we had earlier on the relation of the color to political grievances in Ireland, I believe. (not quite sure of the country) The book didn't go into it but did make mention of it.
belva

I don't think it's particular to the Orange Prize to have fairly emotionally intense books. I actually find them more uplifting overall than the Man Booker Prize, which can be a complete downer.

I used to champion the Pulitzer as a prize that went to readable books that didn't want to make me slash my wrists, and then The Road won. Harrumph.

Oh no wookie, that is not good news to me as The Road is on my list for my 11/11/11 challenge in my Pulitzer Prize category. That bad, eh? Ah well, my challenge; I guess I can replace it with another. That is a downer all of it's own.
:-(

Belva, it was a brilliant book, but, yeah, a complete and total downer. You may experience it differently, but it's one that I'm not personally recommending to anyone.

You certainly have a point, Wookie. The Orange books are intense and a little overpowering, but The Road, to me was gratuitous in it's repulsion. I also would never recommend it to anyone. The Orange books in their discussion of evil do talk about a person's ability to survive along with some motivation behind the perpetrators of evil. They say something worth saying, as hard as it is to hear (read) it.

I loved The Road and thought it was a message about hope. I will try to dig up my review.

In the meantime, it's a Friday giveaway on my blog! Today's question is about boys!

My review of The Road from July 2007:

I expected a depressing story as I cautiously started Cormac McCarthy’s The Road. I have read several reviews of this book and knew it was a father-son story set in a post-apocalyptic United States, and that they would have to defend themselves against hunger, the weather and roaming bands of cannibals. How could this story be uplifting? How could this story be anything by dismal, foreboding and (again) depressing?

I forgot. It’s Cormac McCarthy. A man so inspired by the love for his own son that he penned this enormous tribute to the love between parents and their children. His brevity, language and imagery all left me far from depressed. Instead, I was filled with hope as I turned each page.

Admittedly, I had to get used to the style of this book. There’s no punctuation (not even an apostrophe in contractions), no quotation marks or attributions for dialogue, and many of the sentences lacked the traditional subject and predicate parts. Like how the norms of our society dissipated in this story, so did the grammar rules. After several pages, I agreed with McCarthy’s style. Who needs commas and “said” and even people’s names when you’re dealing with near-fatal circumstances and a constant state of fear? You don’t need any of it. You just need hope.

And hope was aplenty between this father and son. Their spirit kept them alive just as much as their foraging skills. Even when you’re freezing or scrounging seeds, love brings you hope, and hope can keep you alive.

The Road is a book I will never forget. In my opinion, it’s one of the most important books I will ever read. I encourage all of us to take a day or two and read this inspiring tale of how, against all odds, love and hope always prevail.

Thanks for bringing your review of The Road over here, Jill. I haven't read it yet, but I always find McCarthy rewarding. He's certainly not easy to read, but I've never regretted the time spent with one of his books.

Jill, thanks for posting that review of The Road. I read it last year and found it intense but, like you, not at all depressing, unlike many people. It seemed to be talking about what is left when you strip everything away (even grammar/language conventions as you mention), and the answer, resting in the relationship between father and son and in the refusal of the son to give up on humanity, seemed to be something positive despite all expectations.

Great review, Jill! I have had this on my "ambivalent TBR" list.

>150 mrstreme:: I entirely agree about The Road, Jill. I thought it was an astoundingly good book, and 'uplifting' was the exact word I also used when describing it. I would certainly recommend it to almost anyone.

Thanks, everyone, for your wonderful compliments! =)

After that wonderful review Jill, and the following comments The Road is going back on my reading list for the 11/11/11/ challenge. I will most likely be reading it in September or October. It sounds stark but uplifting. Thank you.

Belva, it's a short book - probably take you a day to read it!

A great review of The Road. I can appreciate it while disagreeing completely.

I agree with you genny. . . for me McCarthy's use of language effectively conjures up realistic characters and settings. I also agree that while his work is not always easy to read, it is memorable. I liked The Road and have recommended it, but always with a warning as to the nature of the story.

I read Grace Williams Says it Loud back in May -and I thought it was a wonderful, if eye opening read. If you look I have written a review about it. Probably on the main page. I think it was either 4 or 4 1/2 star read for me.
@145 - totally understand.. ;)

Ok, I've had my break, now time to get back to Orange nominees with The Tenderness of Wolves.

#158> Snap. :)

Just finished Purple Hibiscus. What a stunning first novel. Well crafted and such wonderful writing; mature and evocative and sensitive.

Now I'm tossing up between The Tenderness of Wolves, Fugitive Pieces and Oryx and Crake.

It's giveaway time! Come by my blog and enter to win a copy of Coventry. Happy Monday!

I'm reading The Tenderness of Wolves now, and I have to say, I think it's the best of the books I've read for Orange this month. About 100 times better than Oryx and Crake, in my opinion. Some, in fact most, Atwoods I just love, but Oryx didn't cut it for me.

Joyce, I feel the same way. I'm an Atwood fan, but I never understood the appeal of Oryx and Crake. I never finished it, though..... Have not ventured into The Tenderness of Wolves yet.

Oooh, I just bought The Tenderness of Wolves! I hadn't realised (or rather, had completely forgotten) that it was an Orange book. I've just been eyeing it off in the shops for the longest time, and then a second hand copy appeared and waved its hand in my direction until I bought it. (Pushy book!)

Read that pushy book, you'll be glad you did.

Nope, The Tiger's Wife is up next! That is, if I ever finish this 880 page German eco-sci-fi-thriller. I'm beginning to think I'll still be reading it in a year's time. (Note, it is a good book. I'm just totally distracted by the shiny iPad this week. Oooh look! Another cool app! Shiny!)

I'm just totally distracted by the shiny iPad this week. Oooh look! Another cool app! Shiny!

Sooo funny and something I would be distracted with as well! Enjoy your iPad!

OK, The Tenderness of Wolves it is. Thanks for your comments.

Helen, I hope you like it as much as I do.

If Santa ever brought me an iPad, I would be glad to be equally distracted.

I've started my final book for Orange July: Great House, which I'm reading on my kindle.

OH you will love this one Laura..........I think. I know I did. It was a 5 star read for me. I wish I could read it again for the first time. I hope you enjoy.

I finished The Tenderness of Wolves, a great book. Now I'm going to read a complete fluff vampire queen Mary Janice Davidson because it's due at the library in 3 days, then I'll do my last Orange for the month, Amy and Isabelle.

Ick, never, never again another MaryJanice Davidson, now I'm starting Amy and Isabelle which someone told me she likes better than Strout's Olive Kitteridge. High praise, I hope I agree.

No............How can that be? Olive Kitteridge was one of my top ten last year!

#177> Yes, from Orange to Queen Betsy is from the sublime to the ridiculous. :)

Although I did rather enjoy the first two Queen Betsy novels, on a very (VERY) fluffy brainless level.

Yes, from Orange to Queen Betsy is from the sublime to the ridiculous.
Exactly. I too enjoyed the first few. Fluff, sex and shoes can be fun, but she's gone completely adolescent. My oranges are calling.

Amy and Isabelle is a compelling read. I think you'll find it to be very worthwhile!

I think I gave up on Queen Betsy #4, there was just no plot or anything by that stage. Shame, the first two were such delightful silly fun!

Oh, and I'm just starting my FIRST Orange read - The Tiger's Wife - this July! Better late than never...

Who's ready to play?! Another giveaway on my blog! Happy Friday!

I'm still a bit new to the Orange-reading frenzy, but I did read Olive Kitteridge when it was first out. I enjoyed it and found the characters compelling, but at the time I didn't understand the high level of praise it received. The fact that some of the scenes and characters have stayed with me all this time says something for the subtle power of her writing.

EBT, I think subtle is the exact word for Strout. My sister and I saw an art film once and when it was over we looked at each other with question marks in our eyes. "Well, it was subtle." I said. Meaning, it probably said something, but I don't know what. In Strout's case, her characters say something on the surface, then something under that, then it just keeps going deeper. So far it looks like Isabelle is going to be just as enticing as Olive was.

I loved Amy and Isabelle but have had trouble getting into Olive Kitteridge (tried twice now). I have a copy and am saving it for a rainy day because I know that I will probably enjoy it if I am in the right frame of mind.

I see so many similarities between Amy and Isabelle and Olive Kitteridge, the mother who loves her child but has a very difficult time mothering, the shame over personal failings - Olive when she finds she has ice cream on her dress, Isabelle when she sees that her daughter does not respect her knowledge; and both of them showing the world perfectly through their characters' eyes. I would think if you liked one you'd like the other.

The FINAL Orange July giveaway! Come by and tell everyone about your Orange July experience and enter to win The Summer Without Men by Siri Hustvedt.

I finished my Orange read a couple of days ago, The Tiger's Wife was a wonderful book.

Yeah!! avatiakh - me too! - I've just finished The Tiger's Wife too - loved the book as well.

Well, Orange July was a bust for me. I started out the month with The Road Home and high hopes to read a few more... but I ran out of month! I am happily immersed in The Memory of Love but, alas, won't finish it until later this week. I'm going to do my due diligence by reading all the different threads here and making a list of OP books I want to read for January in hopes that I will make a better showing.

Sorry, Donna, that you weren't able to read more - that's what's nice about Orange January! =)

Thanks for hosting Jill! This has been great fun. :D

Thank you for this time!

My pleasure everyone! =) Already brewing up great things for January!

I finished Great House yesterday -- just in time! I ended up enjoying it quite a bit. Halfway through I wasn't so sure, so I broke my own rule and read some reviews as well as the comments on the book thread in this group. It made all the difference, giving me some perspective and inspiration to press on.

I will post a review on my thread later this week. I read two books while on vacation (one Virago, one Orange) & still need to write both reviews.

Well, I didn't get very far into Wolf Hall at all, but at least I started an Orange book in July. I will continue to read it (read: make time to read it despite a host of other books that also need to be read), because I do love it.

And I'll keep January clear of plans so I can devote it entirely to Orange books! (Yes, I say that now, but by the time January rolls around....)

Thanks Jill for hosting what has turned out to be the two months I look forward to the most. Love the Oranges!!

I only managed three Orange reads in July but really had fun and enjoyed seeing what everyone else was reading! Thanks for hosting Jill and I look forward to seeing everyone for more Orange reading in January!

I had 7 Orange books for July interspersed with some lighter reading for relief.

Annabel - Kathleen Winter - 4
The Seas - Samantha Hunt - 3
The Memory of Love - Aminatta Forna - 4
Grace Williams Says it Loud - Emma Henderson - 5
The Outcast - Sadie Jones - 4
The Tenderness of Wolves - Stef Penney - 4
Amy and Isabelle - Elizabeth Strout - 4.5

What a great month, thanks Mrstreme for hosting; what a quality month it's been.

Off my list of "I want to read" the following are the books that I did read in Orange July. (and I hate to stop)

1. Great House by Nicole Krauss (5 stars)
2. The Lacuna by Barbara Kingsolver (4 1/2 stars)
3. Annabel by Kathleen Winter (4 stars)
4. The Boy Next Door by Irene Sabatini (4 stars)
5. The White Woman on the Green Bicycle by Monique Roffey (4 stars)
6. Black Water Rising by Attica Locke (I think of To Kill a Mockingbird every time I hear this author's name.) (3 1/2 stars)
7. A Spell of Winter by Helen Dunmore (5 stars+)
8. One by One in the Darkness by Deirdre Madden (5 stars)
9. The Memory of Love by Aminatta Forna (5 stars+)
10. The Invention of EVERYTHING ELSE by Samantha Hunt (4 1/2 stars)
11. The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters (4 1/2 stars)
12. The Seas by Samantha Hunt (4 1/2 stars)
13. The Wilderness by Samantha Harvey (3 stars)
14. Gilgamesh by Joan London (4 stars)
15. Molly Fox's Birthday by Deirdre Madden
(5 stars)

My favorite Orange of this July was A Spell of Winter by Helen Dunmore. Ironic as I believe it won the very first Orange Prize in what? 1996?

I so enjoyed this Orange month and I hate that it had to come to a close. I am already looking forward to Orange January but now I am off to ALL VIRAGO/ALL AUGUST. Those lovely green spines are drawing me.

Thank you very much Jill. You are a one-of-a-kinder and a true ROCKSTAR!~!~!

hugs all round,
belva

Well, I'm still going on Orange July, as I'm still reading The Tiger's Wife. And I have an Orange library book hanging around the house too, so it looks like August will still be Orange for me. :)

Thanks for hosting, Jill! It's been fun!

I'm still going too. RL got in the way last week. Still reading The Tenderness of Wolves and thoroughly enjoying it.

Thanks from me too, Jill. :-)

Another thank you to Jill from me and I am awed by the number of Orange books some of you managed to fit in to July.

I managed two which was a lot fewer than my overambitious plans at the start of July! The Night Watch and Great House were both very good in different ways.

I'm also going to be continuing with my Orange reading because I still have library books to read as well as a lot in my TBR pile. August plans include The Invisible Bridge, The Memory of Love and Bel Canto.

I'm going to finish Paradise, which I started with what I thought was plenty of July left, but I haven't had good blocks of reading time in the last week, and it doesn't reward piecemeal engagement.

I challenge all of you to join me and read at least one Orange book a month for the remainder of the year. My Orange book for the month of August will be Jamrach's Menagerie, the only book longlisted for this year's Orange and Booker Prizes. Who's with me?

Me! =) Not sure which book - but I will get back to you!

Count me in kidzdoc. My Orange book for August will be The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver. All the month of July people were after me to read this so now I will. I will just pop it in amongst my Virago greens. (unless I can find a Booker listed Virago book)
Thank you Darryl. This will be a good challenge.
belva

Oh, oh me, me....I didn't get to Burnt Shadows last month and this is perfect. Thanks Darryl.

I'll try it, Darryl. I have several more Oranges on my shelf.

#206 Well I've got three planned so hopefully I will manage at least one of those this month (coming close to giving up on The Invisible Bridge though).

Great idea Darryl! I have a few I wanted to read this year but didn't get to in Jan or July. Now can I fit them in during the remaining months? I have some others lined up for August but maybe starting in September.

I'm in . . . I still have Half of a Yellow Sun checked out and I'm reading Old Filth for a RL book group for August.

I was planning to carry on reading them anyway, as I can't contain myself to just January and July, so I'm in! I think it will be Gilead in August.

>206 kidzdoc: kidzdoc - Darryl, you do realize that any incremental increase in Orange reading has the potential for a corresponding decremental in Booker reading? I am talking, of course, only about my own reading schedule, as I am a participant in both groups (among others). I propose, from my end, to try to reach a balance between the two by proposing alternating Orange and Booker readings, one per month. I am pretty sure I can manage that and still work on my rather demanding 11 in 11 Challenge. Any extras are pure gravy.

Let the fun begin!

>206 kidzdoc: Darryl, I love that idea and accept the challenge. I have two Oranges on my list of possible August reads--Fingersmith and The Long Song, so I will make a point of getting to one of them. If I get Jamrach's Menagerie from the library in time, I will join in reading that.

Orange July wrap-up:
In July I read Annabel by Kathleen Winter, The Outcast by Sadie Jones, Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Adichie, and Swamplandia! by Karen Russell. Of these, I think I liked Half of a Yellow Sun the most, although I really enjoyed them all.

Alas, no Orange books for me due to other commitments, but it's been fun to follow all these threads anyway.

I love the idea, but am already over committed! But I will be reading Jamrach's Menagerie sooner rather than later, as it's also on the Booker longlist and I've got the library's copy....

I'm in! I'm still not that far into The Tenderness of Wolves so will have to 'cheat' a little and call that my August Orange book. From then on I have so many to choose from I'm sure I could manage one a month in the reading scedule.

For those of us who have accepted Darryl's monthly Orange challenge, I have started a new thread called August Orange Books. Here, you can tell us what Orange book you've read for August - and any thoughts, reviews and general discussion. See you there!