CharlesBoyd looking for a new challenge.

When KarenMarie and I did our original challenge, my motive was to have someone read a book I consider an amazingly good novel, The Rapture of Canaan by Sheri Reynolds.

That is my motive for another challenge, only this time the book I consider it almost a mission to get people to read is Dandelion Wine by Ray Bradbury. It's not fantasy or sci-fi like most of his stories and novels, but it feels fantastic, almost magical. It is about a 12 year old boy one summer in a small town. It reads almost like poetry. Not interested in reading novels about a young boy? Try my challenge. If you die without reading Dandelion Wine, you've missed something wonderful. My opinion, anyway.

What don't I like to read? I doubt I'd like any vampire stuff. I doubt I'd like a novel that's all and only about a romance, though I can enjoy romance as part of a larger story. I'm not big about novels about animals, I don't read a lot of the classics, though I often enjoy them when I do. I'm not very interested in novels that are really pushing a political or social point of view disguised as a story.

If you have a novel you feel passionate about and think I'm a big dummy because I'd probably expect not to enjoy it, make me suffer! Challenge me!

Hey, Charles! I just discovered your group. I think it's a great idea! I have a real aversion to reading anything by Ray Bradbury. I can't remember why, but I have this general feeling that he was one of those authors who's just so in love with his own words. (For example, though I read some, I was never fond of Wallace Stegner for that reason.) And when you said it reads like poetry, I shuddered! I am a sucker for books written in first person about childhoods so maybe I'd really like Danelion Wine, though I know I've started it and stopped - something I seldom do - so that's not likely.

I really like books that have a strong political or social point of view, so I could probably challenge you in that area. What do you say? :-) I'm very honest and pretty critical if I don't like something, so I won't pretend to like your book if I don't, but if we do a challenge together, I will read it.

Oh, one more thing. I told everyone on my 50-book thread that I was only going to read from their Best of 2009 lists for the rest of the year, so you have to go over and post your top ten books to keep me kosher! ;-)

Hi bonniebooks.

I'm short of time today, but I'll definately get back to you soon. Dandelion Wine is third person. How old were you when you attempted it? How old are you now? A goodly gap of time could make a difference on how a person reacts to any novel.

Do I list my top 10 of 2009 in this thread? Or elsewhere?

Looking forward to a challenge.

It's been 20+ years at least since I took a serious crack at it. You can post your top ten at: bonniebook's Best of Your Best, 2009

OK, I got your Top Ten, Charles. I'm going to go look at my favorites now to see what I want to challenge you with. "I'll be back!" **she says in her best California Governor's voice**

Charles, have you read A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry? It's a book that I'm proud to proffer!

bonnie: Hadn't heard of it, but will give it a shot. I did read a couple of reviews by LTers. I guess it's pretty long. Dandelion Wine is pretty short. Maybe you should read two books by Bradbury! :-)

Not too long ago I read A House for Mr. Biswas by V.S. Naipaul Have you read anything by him?

Maybe you should read two books by Bradbury! :-)

Ha! Ha! I don't think so! I have read a book by Naipaul, but can't think of what the title was. Hmmm. I could go look for another book that's shorter than A Fine Balance. On the other hand, I have about ten books in front of me that I really want to read, so maybe I'll take you up on a challenge in 2010 as a New Year's Resolution.

Oops! I somehow missed your first sentence that you would read A Fine Balance. I'm game if you are--just not willing to read 2 books by Bradbury, sorry.

I was just kidding about you reading 2 books by Bradbury. I put A Fine Balance on hold at the library and should have it in a couple of days. So I'm game too.

If you have "ten books in front of me that I really want to read," then I'm fine with maybe doing a challenge after the first of the year. Either way, let me know.

You're on! :-) Though now I think I'm going to have to go dig it out of the boxes in the basement (which hold books I was going to give away--good thing you caught me!)

okay.

Funny thing. I got an e-mail from the library saying that A Fine Balance is ready for me to pick up. Then, the next day my wife and I were at Bookman's (used books, cd's, videos, etc.) and on a display table A Fine Balance was waiting for me at a good price. Guess it's kismet!

Have you started Dandelion Wine?

I just read a few pages past the introduction. I'll probably read it this weekend. I like to be able to really immerse myself in a story and think I can do that better when I don't have to stop and get ready to teach. Oops! My son is coming home this weekend, come to think of it, so may not start it until late Sunday. Have you started A Fine Balance? Am I supposed to be reading it again with you?

Jeesh! I had to come back to fix a sentence--kept leaving out words. If I have any more mistakes, don't tell me! ;-)

No. We don't have to reread the book we picked out for the other. Though I've read D.W. several times and will probably read it again many times over the years. Will be starting A Fine Balance tomorrow.

A Fine Ballance is more accessable than I expected. About 70 pages into it.

Hi, Charles! I read Dandelion Wine today. I had forgotten that you said it read like poetry and so I was going to tell you that! It's poetry, philosophy of life, old folks' tales, scary stories, and childhood memories all rolled into one. Bradbury writes a lot of beautiful sentences that you could stop and admire, but he does fall into the category of writers who (imo) are overly in love with their ability to sew words together. He was just a little too flouncy for me.

I liked Dandelion Wine better than I thought I would, but would never have gone past the first chapter if I hadn't taken on your challenge. Bradbury is just too fantastical, flowery and sentimental. The sophisticated thinking and comments of the children didn't ring true for me either. So much of the time, it sounded like Bradbury's voice waxing poetical about his childhood experiences--or that of an idealized boy. Really, all his characters were idealized and stereotypical.

Nevertheless, Bradbury does talk about some real truths in life that do make you think--and smile! And he did stimulate memories of my own childhood summers spent running around barefoot, roaming miles away from home with my friends, and exploring our own dangerous ravines. We even had our older friends that we would go sit and visit with too. Finally, even though his stories were very sentimental, it was enjoyable to be back in the 1920's with him. Thanks for the challenge. Hope you enjoy A Fine Balance.

I'm about 90 pages into A Fine Balance. It is more compelling than I expected. I don't have to push myself to read it like I did A House for Mr. Biswas by V.S. Naipaul. Years ago I read Nectar in a Sieve by Kamala Markandaya, a tale of life in an Indian villiage (India Indian, not American Indian) Have you read anything by her?

Ray Bradbury has often said he has to write thousands of words to come up with a few that are good, so I don't believe "he does fall into the category of writers who (imo) are overly in love with their ability to sew words together." In any case, I'm glad you liked parts of it, that he gave you "some real truths in life that do make you think--" and sparked some pleasant childhood memories for you.

I'll keep you posted on my further thoughts on A Fine Balance as I wend my way through it.

Ray Bradbury has often said he has to write thousands of words to come up with a few that are good

That doesn't surprise me. Each sentence seems very carefully and lovingly crafted. But isn't that just what I'm saying?

Maybe I misunderstood, but I thought you were saying he thinks too highly of himself, like he's above everyone. His comment about having to write thousands of words to come up with a few that are good seems to me to be the words of a humble man.

Hi Bonnie:

I realized yesterday that I finished A Fine Balance a week or more ago, but never posted final thoughts about it on this thread.

I wrote a LT review, posted it and here it is as well for you to read and make any comments you might care to make.

A FINE BALANCE by Rohinton Mistry is a sprawling novel set in India in 1975. The lives of four main characters are played out against the turbulence of the Indira Ghandi regime.

I'm not interested in novels that are really pushing a political or social point of view disguised as a story. Mistry doesn’t fall into this trap. He tells a story of poor people and makes us feel compassion for a widow, a university student, and two tailors who end up thrown together in a small apartment with little in the way of utilities or amenities in an unidentified city.

Each character is given plenty of space in this 603 page novel to have his/her story told. Somewhere midway through the novel their lives come together. There are many nice, moving moments, but ultimately this story is even more depressing than Carson McCuller’s THE HEART IS A LONELY HUNTER. Despite that, I enjoyed most of it and felt a compulsion to keep reading it as often as I could until I finished.

This is not a novel to read if you are at a down point in your life. Definitely don’t read it if you’re feeling suicidal and have a loaded handgun in the nightstand by your bed.

Mistry gives a good look at a way of life many of us have never experienced, a way of life no one should have to experience. This is an important novel. Read it when you can deal with a really depressing story.

Nice review, Charles! I wish I had had time to read it with you. I really like the idea of this group. If I do another challenge with someone, I'm going to read the book I recommend, so that we can have more of a discussion. It is sad and very disturbing to find out how some people have to live their whole lives, but it's important to know. And it does make you grateful!

Good doing this challenge with you. I'm likely open to another whenever you (or anyone reading this thread) are ready.