Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion

I'm going to start reading the much anticipated new novel, The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling on October 12th. Anyone is welcome to join me!

It's a date. I have a big work event wrapping up on the 12th and J.K. Rowling will be the perfect way to de-compress.

i have it reserved at the library, but probably won't get it in time...maybe if there are enough in that situation - we can host a re-do later on

I am hoping to get it by then and if I do I will join you too.

I have reserved it too...#238 in line so I would be up for a later read probably in November

I was looking for an excuse to read it... Thanks!

Was looking at that book today at Walmart humm might check at library to see if they have it n join if I can get by the 12th . Thanks

I'm in!! :)

I'm going to try to purchase it when I get back to town. Would love to join in if I can get it.

I will purchase and join in :)

I had a copy of this already but after reading all the negative reviews online, I am a little hesistant on whether to read it in October or not. Since there is a buddy read here, I shall give it a try. :)

I will probably read it before october 12, as I am suppose to write a review article about it but I am looking forward to discussing it with you all!

Just bought the book. Would love to do a buddy read .

Count me in please... I Love JK Rowling.. cant wait to read it.. Thanks :)

i have to wonder how many of the negative reviews were from people who thought they were getting an adult version of HP and were surprised...someone in one of my other groups picked it up to read - knowing it wasn't HP, saying it wasn't her thing, and then not being surprised when it wasn't and giving it 2 stars...to me, that is a bit funky...but hey

I am an all-time Rowling-writing admirer. Cant wait to see what the most anticipated book from The Queen of Fantasy has for its readers this!! Will get the book and start reading sooner.

-A S

It sounds interesting ... I might join if I can get my hands on a copy.

This is going to be great! I'm so glad they you all are going to join me. It will be nice to chat about the ramblings in our head as we read this book.

I saw J.K. Rowling in a T.V. interview a couple of days ago, so I know that this book is totally different from Harry Potter. So I'm going to read this book prepared to judge it as a stand alone.

I might take you up on this one. I think J. K. Rowling is amazing so it'll be interesting how she'll handle what I'd call an NC-17 rated book.

I will try and see if I can get it today. If I do, then, I will read J.K's new book with you.

I'm going to try to see if I can do this. I have the book on hold at my library but I don't know how long it will take. I'll keep checking back. Thanks!

I own it on my Nook, I would love to have a buddy to read it with and discuss it.

Ruth Noemi wrote: "I will try and see if I can get it today. If I do, then, I will read J.K's new book with you."

Thanks, Ruth Neomi, and I'll try to get it from the library when and if I can. But I fear that a lot of people may be ahead of me. A LOT OF PEOPLE.

I have it reserved at the library, but I know I won't be able to get it in time. :(

Count me in. It's burning a hole in my coffee table just waiting to get started lol

Just 5 more days!

Edward wrote: " Ruth Noemi wrote: "I will try and see if I can get it today. If I do, then, I will read J.K's new book with you."

Thanks, Ruth Noemi, and I'll try to get it from the library when and if I can. Bu..."

I didn't get it last Thursday because I didn't ask. I will try and ask tomorrow and see if my library has it. Don't worry, I bet a lot of people are ahead of me, too.

There is a rather large list at my library for the book. You might check other formats, though. I got a playaway right off the shelf and get it for four weeks b/c no one was on the list. There's also Large Print and Book on CD, which might have a shorter list.

got the book on my nook, since preordered it a few weeks ago, ready to start digging in. I plan to have it done with the next two weeks.

I am in looking forwarded to reading it and discussing

Okay, tomorrow is the day. I'm starting mine with my morning coffee. =) I hope everyone was able to get their hands on a copy.

I like the flow of this so far. The beginning has my attention. It so strange reading curse words in her book!

I am going to be starting mine in about a month because I am reviewing books and reading others on the side.

Downloaded today , hoping to get a start on I sunday

Hi folks anyone else having a hard time getting into this book?

I started today and only got about 30 pages into it. I think one of the problems is that it is not from an area that I have a social reference. The families in suburban Ohio don't really care about the prestige of sharing gossip. I live in a small town of twenty thousand inside city limits(goes to nearly forty thousand if you include the surrounding two townships - or about a five mile radius). We have about one murder per year. That might get people talking for a day or two. Maybe. We live as a suburb of the 16th largest city in the US with a population of just over 2 million. Any local news is instantly eclipsed by something bigger and scarier.

That being said, a small town in England where everybody talks about someone collapsing in a parking lot is just not a setting I can relate to. Maybe I'll get into it more as it goes along.

I think am having a similar issue, I live in a suburb outside of N.Y.C. One tragic news item is pretty much eclipsed by the next. I am only 20 pages in and just feeling like it is dragging I keep waiting for something to happen but it just keeps moving from character to character talking about this poor mans death.

I'm on page 41 and I think it is interesting, but a bit slow. I have found that most books that have a lot of characters, such as this book, have a slow beginning due to all of the introductions. So I'm reserving my judgements for later, but hoping for the pace to pick up. I don't mind taking my time to read it.

I still love her writing style and descriptions. I have never been to England, but with her details, my imagination is off and running!

I agree with you Photojim about the social reference. I have never lived in a small town like that and I can't imagine living in a place where gossip is a major part of life. In another sense I can relate on a smaller scale, because I have worked in offices that thrived on the gossip.

I am glad to read that I am not the only one reading this slowly!

I am not one to give up on a book so I will push through and I am trying very hard not to judge and you are right books with a large amount of character intro's tend to move slower . I am hopeful that this book will be as engaging as her previous books.

Well I finally broke through the initial lay out of charachters and their stories and they are starting to pull together and move along, and getting sucked in, wanting more about Info about Krystal, and the Wall Family .

I've got it to read, just not sure when I'll get to it.

Well, I did start on Friday as planned. As of today I am only on page 15! I keep getting distracted by other books. I am hoping to get to a point over the next couple of days where it will pick up. Sounds like that point may be somewhere beyond page 41? I shall remain optimistic.

I'm listening to it. Not sure what page, but chapter 6. I'm already confused by all the characters, doesn't help that I'm terrible with names. I'm really enjoying the narration and the setting.

I found by the time I hit somewhere n the are of page 60 she started concentrating on one or two charaters at a time giving more info and more interaction , and there relationship to Barry or Barry's family . So he book is becoming more of an intrest to meand I am less distracted .

I'm on page 97 now and the book is more engaging. It is not an uplifting story at this point. Interesting, but so far a melancholy story.

just got the audio book from the library - I was on both lists and was surprised that one came in. I'll see if I can listen soon

Cool! We all seem to be taking our time with it, so you might be able to catch up!

Linda, are you still reading? If so, what do you think now?

Started listening on my way to work today and agree that there are way too many characters to properly wrap my head around! Unfortunately track 14 started skipping, and it appears to continue that way right though track 15 (gave up then because it was rather frustrating! Brand new discs too) Not sure if I will be able to get another copy soon or not.

Hey Lacy,finished just a few minutes ago. What a turnaround once I got past all the character intro's I became absolutely engrossed and sucked in to the lives if these characters and developing story lines. Really wound up liking the book.

How far have you gotten? What are your thoughts?