Infinite Summer

[doubtful guest]

yeah, sure, I'll read it again. money where my mouth is and all that...
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Te Occidere Possunt Sed Te Edere Non Possunt Nefas Est

[JeffKamin]

Shelly, Mary and Stacey are in from Facebook, too...
How about this? I promise to throw the Infinite Jest book club discussion party at the end of summer at my place for those who read it/finish it/play along with this contest as long as we have at least 20 people doing it? We're close already. What say you? The last summer firepit backyard chat at ours.

[Beth]

And here I was already willing to join in just for the satisfaction and literary camaraderie--and now a party, too?

Carter, I would most likely be in for this type of longer-term side project with other daunting titles in the future. Goodness knows I'd never finish War and Peace without some sort of accountability and moral support. But I'll probably want a break in between, so let's see how this one goes first.

[Jen]

I'm in!

[Dan]

Let's keep this going until I've read all the books I've been putting off since forever. UnderFall and then Gravity's Winter anyone?

[Beth]

Ooh! Ooh! Gravity's Winter! I like this idea. Pynchon has been haunting me for years now.

Dan, I'm not sure if you were serious... but I bet we could all think of a bunch of books that would seem much more manageable if we weren't flying solo. Let's see how this whole Infinite Summer thing goes. If it works well and we haven't all burned ourselves out, I would be completely happy helping to organize a little B&B off-shoot that would give people the chance to tackle some of the most commonly procrastinated selections from their "to read" lists.

[morgan]

Carter, I'm not sure about War and Peace, but I'd probably do that for Don Quixote.

[Carter]

[elihoughton]

All of the other books mentioned I would probably be up for. But let's see how this one goes first. And would probably need some breathing room between books.

Beth, if you haven't read it already, I would recommend beginning with The Crying of Lot 49. Much shorter and more accessible than Gravity's Rainbow.

[JeffKamin]

Of these listed already possbily Don Quixote for me. It is considered one of the greatest ever by those that consider such things. Other big boys on my shelf taunting me:
Sacred Games by Vikram Chandra
The Magus by John Fowles (as per Beth)

[JeffKamin]

http://infinitesummer.org/

Check the updates. I'd like our group of 20+ to follow along with their site and discussion, but to use our Forum here for our group chat. And yes, anyone who completes this extra credit will be invited over to my place (or other venue if I can swing it) for the final discussion. It'll be like running a marathon of the mind.

[Beth]

I started a list of the doorstops currently taking up permanent residence in our "to read" columns. Just in case.

Eli: I do own a copy of The Crying of Lot 49, and I know that's supposed to be the one to read first. I just haven't done it yet.

[Dan]

Beth, I was very serious about it. It's time I clear some books off my shelf of shame. Finish IJ in September, read Crying of Lot 49 in October-November, start Gravity's Rainbow in December? I can host the party/ any meetings we want to have.

I will also go home and make a list of what I have on the shelf of shame.

What do you have?

[superlibby]

Totally and completely in.

[Cassie]

I'll give it a shot.

Another one to consider for future undertakings is The Count of Monte Cristo. Nobody combines sociopolitical commentary, intertwining fates, and swashbuckling adventure better than Alexandre Dumas.