mrspenny needs a nudge

Here is one of my Mount BTRs which needs a nudge. I hope to post a picture of the mountain as soon as I master the technique:

The Crowded Bed Mary Cavanagh
Emilio's Carnival Italo Svevo
The Reluctant Fundamentalist Mohsin Hamid
The Early History of Rome Titus Livy
Rugged Angel Vince Kelly
Tess of the d'Urbervilles Thomas Hardy
Children of the New World Assia Djebar
The Ladies' Paradise Emile Zola
Cullum E Arnot Robertson
Pleasures and Days Marcel Proust
Redemption Falls Joseph O'Connor
A House in the Shadows Maria Messina
The Old Wives' Tale Arnold Bennett
People of the Book Geraldine Brooks

Tess of the d'Urbervilles nudged by an ardent Hardy fan.

Yes, Tess of the d'Urbervilles.

Oh, yes, Tess of the d'Urbervilles is a must-read.

I haven't read any of the others, although several are in my stacks. I tried an excerpt from People of the Book and was not inspired to read further.

I enjoyed The Old Wives' Tale by Arnold Bennett.

Another nudge for Tess of the d'Urbervilles here.

I read and was disappointed in the People of the Book. I had such high hopes for it, too... I'm currently reading Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin and I think I'd recommend it instead of the other one.

And another nudge for Tess of the d'Urbervilles.

Sadly People of the Book didn't live up to my expetations either.

The only one on your list I have read is Tess of the d'Urbervilles so I'm going to nudge that one.

I haven't read The Reluctant Fundamentalist but based on reviews here on LT it's on my TBR list, so I will nudge that one.

A nudge for Tess of the d'Urbervilles...definitely a must-read!

Tess of the d'Urbervilles!

I would go for something lighter and not so depressing, that is The Ladies' Paradise and, after that, Emilio's Carnival.

I'll add to the chorus and nudge Tess of the d'Urbervilles because it's the only one that I have read. In saying that it was quite good to read.

Of these I've only read The Reluctant Fundamentalist which was really only average and I wouldn't bother nudging it. Something else on your list is likely to be better!

Perhaps Emilio's Carnival, certainly Italo Svevo's The Confessions of Zeno was very good, although I've not read the former I'm going to nudge it nonetheless.

Bravo Kevin! With Italo Svevo you can never go wrong.

*sheepish* I just hated Tess of the d'Urbervilles. I was so irate I may have tossed it across the room, but I appear to be outnumbered.

Welcome to Book Nudgers, Delightful Ms P (varielle!). I had to read Hardy and Dickens when I was at school and being forced to read stuff tends to put you off it for life. I find them both hard going now. So ta-ta to Tess too from me!

Have fun nudging and post your own tbr stack so we can nudge at it. (Incidently I'm an INPT so I'll take up the offer of hiding behind that palm tree.)

The Early History of Rome by Livy because I read some of it at school in Latin, and even then it was fascinating. (Have just added it to my Bookmooch wishlist!)

I haven't read Tess. It was a generally loathed text for 7th Form (year 12) English, which I didn't take, and that's put me off for 20 years...

While I have enjoyed "Tess" several times, I'm going to nudge Children of the New World, written when Djebar was just 26! It's one day in one town during the Algerian War. It's bleak but no more than Tess;-) Djebar should get a Nobel for all she has done and tried to do (imo, of course).

The only one I've read is the Reluctant Fundamentalist which I really enjoyed. I've recommended it to a few people though and they had problems with it (more the POV than anything). But it's a very quick read, so you could read it in a day or two and move on to something else.

Tess has been in my TBR for years and I look forward to reading it, but a good friend of mine utterly loathed it, and I respect her taste, so I've been reluctant to pick it up.

If this was my own TBR list, I'd be reading Children of the New World as soon as I possibly could, because of how much I enjoyed the Assia Djebar that I read recently.
Of those that I've read, I'd nudge Tess or The Reluctant Fundamentalist, depending on whether you're in the mood for a short, well-written, thought-provoking read (Hamid) or a long, well-written, thought-provoking story that will pick you up and won't let you go for days (if not weeks!)

varielle & Nickelini: For saying mean things about Tess of the d'Urbervilles, go straight to the naughty corner.

Thank you everybody for the nudges - Tess received the most nudges so I am off to start reading it now -

Hey, Amanda, I didn't say mean things about Tess--I've never read it and plan to one day. All I said is that one of my good friends didn't like it. I will not go to the naughty corner (stomping foot and sticking out tongue).

I don't think you can go wrong with Tess of the d'Urbervilles. But I am nearly finished with People of the Book and cannot express enough my enthusiasm for it! Perhaps my most enjoyable read this year....

Tess of the d'Urbervilles is excellent. Prepare to shed some tears.

A belated nudge for Tess of the d'Urbervilles here ... I hope you are enjoying it!

Sorry it's a bit late but just stopped in to thank all of the recommendations and especially the the nudge for Tess of the d'Urbervilles. It was an excellent book and has made me determined to read more of Thomas Hardy in 2009. Thank you all very much and Happy New Year.

Go for Far from the Madding Crowd next, mrspenny! After time, it has surpassed Jude the Obscure as my favorite Hardy novel.

Thanks for the recommendations Cariola - I have put it them on the evergrowing BTR.

Tess of the d'Ubervilles and The Ladies' Paradise are both very good.