24.Jul.2010 In Which Other People Talked About Books
This month of First Tuesday Book Club features One Day by David Nichols. Now the premise of this book intrigued me very much:
“After graduation from university, Emma, with her youthful aspirations and good humour, shares a night of passion with the shallow and vain Dexter. In a series of annual updates spanning 20 years, we return to the two friends every June 15. We follow their lives as they travel their own paths, intersecting and deviating along the way. As the years tick by, it becomes clear that they are happier, better people when they are together than when they are apart.”
Really, I was hoping this could be the second The Time Traveler’s Wife. But alas, (most of) the panel hated it. I highly trust Marieke and Jason, since they’re always honest and spot-on. Jennifer likes too many books including the not-so-liked ones, so I take her opinions with a grain of salt. Possibly as the main host she can’t butcher a book too much. Or she just has a bubbly personality that doesn’t allow her to be mean to any book.
Marieke started her opinion by saying “I hated it so much. I thought it was a smug, unfunny, unlikeable book about two smug, unfunny, unlikeable people.” (I love her) In the whole show Marieke, Jason, and Wendy (guest) just went on and on about how they hated the book, it’s so funny. Rob (also guest), as the only person apart from Jennifer, who liked the book, actually started talking to the audience instead of the panel (like he’s meant to)! Appealing to the audience to convince them to read the book!
I laughed so much during this segment. Must be one of the funniest episode of First Tuesday. You can watch it online here (12:21).
The second segment features Portnoy’s Complaint by Philip Roth, Marieke’s pick. I am now absolutely convinced that I need to read this book.
“First published in 1969, Philip Roth’s novel is the story of Alexander Portnoy, a young Jewish American who, on regular visits to his therapist’s, pours forth a rambling biography of his early childhood and teenage years. His tale is one of a strict upbringing, a raging libido, sexual guilt, compulsive masturbation and an overbearing mother. Unhappy with his parents and his sex life, Alexander’s confession becomes a comic attempt to cure himself of his one overbearing ailment, his Portnoy’s Complaint.”
You’re not convinced? Well watch the episode online (7:34)! They unanimously loved the book. Marieke this time started with “I just could kiss every page.” Very convincing Marieke. Then the rest of the panel just raved on and on about it.
Must. Read.
Have you read Portnoy’s Complaint or other Philip Roth‘s books? Which one would you recommend?
Are you planning to read any of the two books? Did I or they change your plan?
First Tuesday Book Club is Australian’s ABC monthly book club. You can subscribe to their video podcast on the website to get the full episodes (instead of two cut segments on the website).
mee 
ddjb 
