Goodreads Choice Awards Book Club discussion

Lynn wrote: "So it's a bank holiday weekend here in the UK, so looking forward to a long weekend off work. Unfortunately I'm not well, so apart from a lunch date I have tomorrow (which I can't get out of) I'll ..."

Lynn you have to fill me in on what "Snooker" is.

I have a GNO (Girls Night Out) tonight which I am completely looking forward to, and I'm watching my 2 year old niece all day tomorrow. The rest of my free time will be spent reading Graceling so I can catch up with the Fire buddy read this month. :)

Karlee wrote: "Lynn wrote: "So it's a bank holiday weekend here in the UK, so looking forward to a long weekend off work. Unfortunately I'm not well, so apart from a lunch date I have tomorrow (which I can't get ..."

Have a great night out! I need to do that myself soon. Three more days until my semester ends...I can't wait!

Kristie wrote: Have a great night out! I need to do that myself soon. Three more days until my semester ends...I can't wait!

Good luck with the end of your semester! I hope you get a big GNO when you're finished. You deserve it!

Karlee - Snooker is a cue sport that is played on a table covered with a green cloth (baize), with pockets situated in each of the four corners and a further two middle pockets.

Two players compete against each other to pot the 21 coloured balls (with a cue and white cue ball): 15 red balls worth one point each, and six balls of different colours: yellow (2 points), green (3), brown (4), blue (5), pink (6) and black (7).
The first ball to be potted must be a red ball, followed by a colour. The red ball stays potted but coloured ball is replaced on it's spot. This is repeated until all the reds have been potted then the coloured balls must be potted in the order above. A player will continue on their break (to play) if they pot a ball with each shot, if they miss the opponent takes over. A maximum break is 147.

A player wins a frame (individual game) of snooker by scoring more points than the opponent. A player wins a match when a certain number of frames have been won. For the final of the World Snooker Championship it's the best out of 35 frames (first to 18) and takes a couple of days to complete.

Clear as mud? lol

Some people say snooker is boring but I find it relaxing to watch and fascinating to watch. To play at the top level you have to be extremely skilful. Actually to even play it at a basic level you need quite a bit of skill, it's extremely hard to build a break on a full size snooker table (12 × 6 ft).
It's sometimes compared to pool but pool tables are miniature in size in comparison and make potting balls so much easier.

Hope you can rest up and feel more at peace with your situation Lynn :-).
A long weekend is good...we don't have one; I think that is totally unfair ;-) lol



May your mind be comforted even if your body isn't co-operating :-)

Karlee, I do believe Snooker is like our Pool Tournaments here in the North American hemisphere. Same principle.

Have fun on your GNO ~ Woohoo!

Good luck with your studying and your final exam Kristie, and then go celebrate doing something you love to do :-).

Joanne, good luck on your run this weekend; I'll be cheering you on in my mind!

Karlee wrote: "Kristie wrote: Have a great night out! I need to do that myself soon. Three more days until my semester ends...I can't wait!

Good luck with the end of your semester! I hope you get a big GNO when you're finished. You deserve it! "

Thank you Karlee. I will. I've been putting everyone off for weeks. Can't wait to catch up!

Cathie wrote: "Good luck with your studying and your final exam Kristie, and then go celebrate doing something you love to do :-)."

Thank you Cathie. I will! The day after my exam I already have a pedicure planned with one of my daughters and a lunch date with my mom.

Lynn, I hope you will feel better after the weekend, and gain some strength to enjoy the weekend at least a little bit. BTW, I love watching snooker :)

Kristie, good luck with your exam. I keep my fingers crossed for the success and the reward seems to be promising (I mean your free time after the end of the semestre :))

Karlee, I hope you will have a great night, I miss my GNO sometimes, let me know how was it :)

Thanks Anima!

Cathie wrote: "Hi Stuart. I loved Angels and Demons. I haven't read the other two yet. If you are not sure, I'd say wait for the library and if you love it you can buy it once you know.

I did the same thing wi..."

Oh thank you... I'm too scared to buy Casual Vacancy for the same reason; I hate that let-down feeling when you're looking forward to something too much.

This weekend I have been asked to cut the ribbon at the opening ceremony of a local library. I've presented at the old building a couple of times and it was in need of a major revamp.

Apart from that, it'll be tapas and vino for all.

Casual Vacancy is a good read and takes awhile to absorb all the characters and nuances, etc. It's like a Peyton Place novel. Definitely a good one to get from your library or to pick up at a cheaper price than $40, lol. I should add it's a very serious "grown up" read.

I agree Cathie, it's a good read but not worth the full hardback price.

Sorry I can't help with the Dan Brown question Stuart, I've never read any his books.

Vey cool Stuart! What a wonderful experience and great honour it is to have been chosen to cut the ribbon. You must have some serious involvement with the library in order for them to hand you the scissors :-)

Enjoy the partaaay, then let us know all the details :-)

Stuart wrote: "Can I ask for your thoughts on Dan Brown's forthcoming book?

I enjoyed , I loved (hated the movie), thought his other two ..."

I read all three books mentioned by you, and I was also very much disappointed with the Symbol. After this experience and the feeling that Brown struggles to suprise the read without much success anymore, I would wait and take the copy from a library, thus I agree with Cathie on that. Later, you can always buy it if you really get into it.

Lynn wrote: "Karlee - Snooker is a cue sport that is played on a table covered with a green cloth (baize), with pockets situated in each of the four corners and a further two middle pockets.

Two players compe..."


Thanks for the description Lynn! Sounds a bit like a variation of what we call Pool. Enjoy watching the Championship! :)

As I said, it is sometimes compared to Pool but it's not really the same. Yes they are both cue sports but that's about it.

Thanks Lynn, great description but sorry Karlee 'A variation of Pool'??? Snooker has been around for 150 years and 'Pool' is a cheap, and much younger reflection.

But that's american arrogance, from the country that has the World Series that features erm... 1 country.

It's like saying baseball is a variation of what we call Rounders.

Sorry (Stuart dismounts his high horse)

Stuart wrote: "Snooker has been around for 150 years and 'Pool' is a cheap, and much younger reflection ....... But that's american arrogance, from the country that has the World Series that features erm... 1 country."

LOL Stuart, I have to agree with you regarding the pool / snooker comparison (hence why I've said a couple of times now you can't compare).

However I have to say something about the World Series .... isn't it called that because it was originally sponsored by New York World newspaper?

I don't know Karlee well, but from the behaviour I've noticed in this group so far I wouldn't call her arrogant ..... in fact I don't even know if she's American. She has been nothing but lovely.

I think it's just someone who doesn't know what Snooker is and trying to compare it to something they do know.

I don't consider it arrogance. I think people, in general, will try to compare to what they know in order to get a sense of something. Although, maybe I just think that way because I'm American.

Stuart - It sounds like you have a lovely weekend planned. Congrats on the opening. That's quite an honor.

Oh and, if it were me, I'd probably wait for the library book, then purchase it later, if you enjoy it. (as others have already said)

Uhmmm, Stuart, The World Series (baseball) also includes Canada, which is NOT the United States. Our Toronto (my home town) Blue Jays won the World Series back to back in 92 & 93. (Now I'll get off my high horse, lol)

Cathie wrote: "Karlee, I do believe Snooker is like our Pool Tournaments here in the North American hemisphere. Same principle.

Have fun on your GNO ~ Woohoo!

Good luck with your studying and your final exam K..."

Thanks Cathie!! In twenty four hours it will be almost over!!

I picked up my race kit today, in it I have my T-shirt, chips, gum, sunscreen, granola bar, fruit bar, 7 coupons for free egg substitute, a can of tuna(?!) and 51 (yes 51) coupons for free packs of 6 bread rolls from a local bakery (Cobs)...that's 306 bread rolls!!!

lol Joanne! Interesting race kit. Hope you're hungry for carbs!

Kristie wrote: "lol Joanne! Interesting race kit. Hope you're hungry for carbs!"

Well I love carbs, but that would be an awful lot of Weight Watchers points!! I may donate some/most of them to the girls school for their spring fun fair, I'm sure they must be doing some kind of barbeque!

Joanne wrote: "Kristie wrote: "lol Joanne! Interesting race kit. Hope you're hungry for carbs!"

Well I love carbs, but that would be an awful lot of Weight Watchers points!! I may donate some/most of them to the..."

That's a great idea!

Thanks Lynn, great description but sorry Karlee 'A variation of Pool'??? Snooker has been around for 150 years and 'Pool' is a cheap, and much younger reflection.

But that's american arrogance, from the country that has the World Series that features erm... 1 country.

It's like saying baseball is a variation of what we call Rounders.

Sorry (Stuart dismounts his high horse)


Lynn wrote: I think it's just someone who doesn't know what Snooker is and trying to compare it to something they do know.

I learned something new today. While visiting this chit chat thread I saw Lynn post about a sport I had never heard of called Snooker. Being curious, I asked if she would explain the sport to me.

Lynn was very gracious and gave a wonderful explanation and, while I have never had any contact with the sport, I tried to visualize it in my head. The most similar thing we have here in America (yes, I am American) is the game of pool. Another cue sport, played on a cloth covered table, with different colored balls. Yes, I realized it wasn't the same sport, but I was attempting to understand it better.

I spent the next 20 minutes of my lunch break to google snooker and learn more about it, the rules, the object, the history. I returned to this thread a few hours later with my new-found knowledge only to discover that in the meantime I've been labeled as arrogant.

Imagine my surprise.

For the sake of argument, let me provide the dictionary definition of arrogance:

Arrogance: offensive display of superiority or self-importance; overbearing pride.

Now, I've been called a lot of names in my lifetime, but arrogant has never been one of them.

Arrogance would have been had I insisted that the American version of pool is superior to Snooker. Arrogance would have been had I not even bothered to ask, thinking such a game beneath my time or interest.

I did neither.

The cultures of the world are vast and varying and no one person can be expected to know every facet or every nuance of each one. To me, expecting someone outside of your culture to implicitly understand something within your own is the very height of arrogance.

I asked a question and was ridiculed for it. When people are ridiculed, they stop asking questions. When they stop asking questions, knowledge ceases to be passed. When knowledge ceases to be passed, that is when ignorance takes hold. By ridiculing those asking questions, you are perpetuating the cycle you so seem to hate.

I wonder if I had been Brazilian, or German, or Kenyan if you would have labeled me arrogant as quickly as you did when you thought I was American. Snooker is not a sport played commonly in their countries either and they might have responded in a similar nature, to compare to something they already know. Perhaps we should be discussing prejudice here instead of arrogance.

I am American, and I don't feel as if I should have to apologize for it in any way. I love my country. I am very curious, highly educated, and well traveled, having studied and lived abroad in two separate countries. I am not arrogant and I meant no offense by my question, I was just trying to understand something of which I had no prior knowledge.

I hope Stuart that you and I can be goodreads friends. This is a wonderful group, put together by wonderful people and inhabited by wonderful members (as you can tell by the ones who quickly came to my defense). This is the first time I've come across such an attacking post on this board.

Everyone is welcome to their opinions here, but I hope in the future, unless you see something blatantly and unabashedly arrogant and offensive in nature, that you will put your high horse out to pasture when you visit.

Not an arrogant comment, just a friendly opinion.

Sincerely,
Karlee

My vacations are almost over!!! I leave tomorrow. :(((((
I've been in San Diego for 10 days now and I love it. I was so relaxed and happy that I had no time to read, can you believe it? (because I can't) And I barely logged on GR... I'll be back very soon, I land In Paris on Sunday night.

Stuart I understand where you are coming from, believing americans are arrogant is a common prejudice in Europe. However, remember it's a prejudice. As such it's mostly untrue. And believe me when I say that where I am, they are not arrogant at all, quite the opposite actually. I would even dare to say that French people are way more arrogant ;) ;) ;)

@Karlee: I agree with you, you should always ask questions when you don't know something, it's how we get educated... :D I was in San Diego's Zoo and I asked my bf what was that carnivorous plant "over there". He looked at me like I was insane and asked: "are you kidding????"
Me: nooo (unsure)
Him: It's a f**king banana tree!!!!!

That was the dumbest moment of my life (and the funniest) but believe me, I would recognize a banana tree anywhere! ;)

Vanessa wrote: Stuart I understand where you are coming from, believing americans are arrogant is a common prejudice in Europe. However, remember it's a prejudice. As such it's mostly untrue. And believe me when I say that where I am, they are not arrogant at all, quite the opposite actually. I would even dare to say that French people are way more arrogant ;) ;) ;)

@Karlee: I agree with you, you should always ask questions when you don't know something, it's how we get educated... :D I was in San Diego's Zoo and I asked my bf what was that carnivorous plant "over there". He looked at me like I was insane and asked: "are you kidding????"
Me: nooo (unsure)
Him: It's a f**king banana tree!!!!!

That was the dumbest moment of my life (and the funniest) but believe me, I would recognize a banana tree anywhere! ;)

Vanessa you are so very right. Arrogant and ignorant people exist in every country. It's unfair to lump the entire sum of one culture into the bad behavior of a certain group of people.

And the banana tree is one hilarious story. I certainly have had many moments like that, but it doesn't stop me from asking! I will certainly forever remember Snooker now!

I'm glad you enjoyed San Diego. Have a safe trip back to Paris!

I keep wanting to say something about America but then keep erasing what I wrote. All I know is I am not proud of a lot of political decisions and recent wars and environmental degradation and corporate greed and distribution of wealth and healthcare and education in my country.

@Karlee, I'm with you on everything that you wrote in your post, I'm from Poland, but much interested in both the UK and the USA, and also aware of the fact that any kind of stereotype is dangerous and unfair to majority of people. Please, don't stop asking questions :)

I also hope that in our group we all may count on friendly atmosphere and treat each other without personal judgment and generalisations.

Karlee wrote: "I will certainly forever remember Snooker now! "

Hurrah, my objective to spread the word of snooker is working ;o)

Karlee, Don't ever stop asking questions! I'm from the UK and know Snooker, but having lived in Canada for a while I have to say the structure of the game was fuzzy! When you asked what it is my first thought was “it's similar to pool, but different". After Lynn's crystal clear (for me at least!) description, and subsequent comments I stick with the similar but different thought but will expand it with “Snooker is like the Granddad of cue sports while Pool is the hip young Grandson."

Joanne, ::like:: :)

Anima...happy belated birthday!!!! I hope you had a good one :)

Aww, thank you very much Joanne!!, I had a very nice time with my family. :) I tend to celebrate in a quieter way nowadays, than I used to, but all the same, it was really pleasant time :)

Joanne wrote: "“Snooker is like the Granddad of cue sports while Pool is the hip young Grandson." "

LOL, nice Joanne!

When is your run (is it a marathon you're doing?), today or tomorrow?

Aw didn't realise I'd missed your birthday Anima .... Happy (belated) Birthday :)

Thank you, Lynn :) I like to have the celebrations extended ;)

And Joanne, all the best during your run, I'm waiting impatiently for your account :)

It's tonight at 6:30, so 7.5 hours to go!! Today is turning into the longest day ever!!

I pressed send too quickly, it's a 10k, I plan to work up to the marathon in the next year or so!

Go Joanne Go!

Anima (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)]

Good luck Joanne!

Cathie, thank you a lot, it was hilarious :)

☺ Anima

Lynn wrote: "Karlee wrote: "I will certainly forever remember Snooker now! "

Hurrah, my objective to spread the word of snooker is working ;o)"

Lol! Yes it is Lynn! :)

Sarah wrote: "I keep wanting to say something about America but then keep erasing what I wrote. All I know is I am not proud of a lot of political decisions and recent wars and environmental degradation and corp..."

Sarah, I don't think any one person is ever completely happy with their government or the decisions their country makes. I know I'm not. But your country is like your family in that you love them, even if you don't really like them sometimes. At least that's how I think of it. :)

Joanne wrote: Karlee, Don't ever stop asking questions! I'm from the UK and know Snooker, but having lived in Canada for a while I have to say the structure of the game was fuzzy! When you asked what it is my first thought was “it's similar to pool, but different". After Lynn's crystal clear (for me at least!) description, and subsequent comments I stick with the similar but different thought but will expand it with “Snooker is like the Granddad of cue sports while Pool is the hip young Grandson." "

Thank you Joanne! And I like your comparison of Snooker and Pool! Good luck on your race!

Anima wrote: "@Karlee, I'm with you on everything that you wrote in your post, I'm from Poland, but much interested in both the UK and the USA, and also aware of the fact that any kind of stereotype is dangerous and unfair to majority of people. Please, don't stop asking questions :)

I also hope that in our group we all may count on friendly atmosphere and treat each other without personal judgment and generalisations. "

I agree 100% Anima! Stereotyping is very unfair and dangerous. One of the reasons I love our goodreads group is because we are so diverse, with members from all over the world! I think we can count on this group being very friendly and treating one another with respect. :)

And Happy Belated Birthday!

Karlee wrote: "Sarah wrote: "I keep wanting to say something about America but then keep erasing what I wrote. All I know is I am not proud of a lot of political decisions and recent wars and environmental degrad..."

Karlee - I completely agree with this. I love the family comparison. We don't need to agree with everything the government does, but also the political policies and the people of the country are different. You can't judge an individual by what their government does. I think that's a whole separate issue.

@Karlee, thank you :)

And I secondhand your opinion and find your parallel of the country and family very apt. :)

@Kristie, I totally agree with you on that :)