Right then, I've taken your advice and decided to give the book group a break in August, so after we've talked about The Good Soldier this coming Saturday (30th. July), we can relax a bit and have an unhurried and what looks to be a rather less perplexing read(!) for our September title. B.R. Wombat suggested Ursula Le Guin's 1968 classic of fantasy literature A Wizard of Earthsea, 
"The island of Gont is a land famous for wizards. Of these, some say the greatest - and surely the greatest voyager - is the man called Sparrowhawk. As a reckless, awkward boy, he discovered the great power that was in him - with terrifying consequences. Tempted by pride to try spells beyond his means, Sparrowhawk lets loose an evil shadow-beast in his land. Only he can destroy it, and the quest leads him to the farthest corner of Earthsea."
Likened to Tolkien's Middle Earth and Lewis's Narnia, the award-winning Earthsea novels depict an imaginary world which draws the reader in. I'm particularly interested in the fact that, apparently, "Le Guin challenges her readers to think about the power of language, how in the act of naming the world around us we actually create that world"; I'll look out for that aspect.
I hope that even if you're not in the habit of reading this type of book you'll be willing to give it a try. I should think it will be available in shops and libraries everywhere (as far as I can see there isn't an e-book edition, though), and for those who want to go the whole hog, there is the omnibus The Earthsea Quartet
Let's set the discussion date for Saturday, 24th. September, and do please all join in - the more, the merrier!
Thanks you for your faith in BR Wombat - a sentiment shared by me. I'm looking forward to this book & its companions and it is certainly going to be 'a world away' from The Good Soldier!
Enjoy the break in August. There are more than enough reviews here to keep even the most hungry bookworm busy until September 2012, let alone 2011.
Anyway I need time for my other passion - online virtual sailing!
Posted by: Sandy | 27 July 2011 at 11:16 PM
Ah, I will enjoy that August break. This one looks like quite a departure from our normal fare. I'm game to give it a go, though. Amazingly enough, my library actually has two copies of it! (That is just nearly unheard of. :) ) Happy reading!
Posted by: Susan in TX | 28 July 2011 at 12:01 AM
You're in for a treat. Have a great time, and enjoy August.
Posted by: rj | 28 July 2011 at 04:37 AM
Sorry, this is absolutely not for me! I hope other people enjoy it.
BTW, for anyone who's been trying to access Live Journal: it's been down since Monday morning. Under attack, apparently.
Posted by: Barbara | 28 July 2011 at 09:01 AM
Delighted to hear you're taking a break. Enjoy August, read what you want to read, knit maybe and, hopefully sit in Scottish sunshine and relax.
I think I'm with Barbara on this one - sorry!
Posted by: Claire | 28 July 2011 at 10:12 AM
Thank you very much for going with my suggestion. I feel very honoured. I'm sorry Barbara doesn't like the sound of it. I hope others will. Thanks, Sandy, for your enthusiasm for the great Le Guin!
Posted by: B R Wombat | 28 July 2011 at 10:13 AM
Looks like a fantastic book
Posted by: carolinareads | 28 July 2011 at 10:38 AM
Ooh a book I've got - somewhere! I read this a long time ago and loved it so much that I pressed it on my four children as they got to what I thought was the right age!
Posted by: LizF | 28 July 2011 at 12:34 PM
A book I have already read! Will re-read with new and perhaps more critical eyes. No need to borrow (or purchase) as we own it already.
Posted by: Dark Puss | 28 July 2011 at 01:20 PM
Ursula Le Guin is an author whose name I often come across, but I've never read her. Now's my chance. My copy is already ordered. My planned August read is the massive Omnibus of the His Dark Materials trilogy by another author I've never sampled.
Posted by: Julie Fredericksen | 28 July 2011 at 03:58 PM
I love love love this book and might even summon up the courage to join in the discussion for once! Incidentally, for people wanting to go the whole hog, there are now six books in the series rather tha four.
Posted by: Rosie H | 28 July 2011 at 04:06 PM
Oh, you are in for a treat, Julie! His Dark Materials is wonderful.
Posted by: Cornflower | 28 July 2011 at 04:07 PM
Thanks, Rosie, and do join us!
Posted by: Cornflower | 28 July 2011 at 04:42 PM
It's in the library, so I'll give it a try. Although I do tend to scurry the other way at first sight of a dragon.
Promise there's no orcs?
Posted by: m | 28 July 2011 at 06:50 PM
Now, if I had it on the Kindle I could do a quick orc search for you!
Posted by: Cornflower | 28 July 2011 at 07:48 PM
No orcs ...
Posted by: Dark Puss | 29 July 2011 at 11:00 AM
I hope I can find my ancient battered copy so that I can join in. I re-read it a few years ago, so I must have found it then...lovely book, and so much more than just another fantasy novel.
Posted by: GeraniumCat | 30 July 2011 at 06:39 PM