All About Books discussion

Johanna wrote: "I have a question for those of you who have already read Ulysses: is it important, or necessary, to read the Odyssey first?"

Johana, I hadn't read it before, but have read it since. In my opinion it's not necessary, because the links are more general than specific. . Having said that, it was quite an easy read, so if you can fit it in, it wouldn't harm. When we had our last Readalong of this Petra was really good about setting up each section including explaining the Iinks to the Odyssey. I'm sure we'll do something similar this time.

Gill ,
I may try to read the Odessey this time around . I know you use a kindle and so do I. I wondered which version you read .

Angela M wrote: "Gill ,
I may try to read the Odessey this time around . I know you use a kindle and so do I. I wondered which version you read ."
It was the translation by Richard Lattimore, Angela. It had very good reviews, and I was pleased with it. I've also got the Iliad translated by him to read sometime.

Gill , thanks . I'll get that one when I'm ready to read it .

Gill - excellent! I think I'll rely on Petra or someone else providing the context for the Odyssey.
Gill wrote: "Johanna wrote: "I have a question for those of you who have already read Ulysses: is it important, or necessary, to read the Odyssey first?"

Johana, I hadn't read it before, but have read it since..."

Ooh, do you think that we can spend the next 6 months talking about the read we are going to do of Ulysses?!

Gill wrote: "Ooh, do you think that we can spend the next 6 months talking about the read we are going to do of Ulysses?!"

Well , maybe not everyday -lol !

I would love to read Ulysses starting in January. Have been meaning to for ages.

Nancy wrote: "I would love to read Ulysses starting in January. Have been meaning to for ages."

Great to have you with us, Nancy

We've moved on to the existing readalong thread for Ulysses to chat about the January 2016 readalong of it, that way it will keep all the discussion in one place.

@Petra, Angela and Pink and Jenny, in the interests of 'tidying up' Leslie's Upcoming Readalongs thread, I'm deleting my comments about Ulysses from there.

Gill , I've done the same and deleted mine as well .

Angela M wrote: "Gill , I've done the same and deleted mine as well ."

Cheers! I kinda hoped you would, but didn't want to be telling you what to do!

Gill , I wouldn't have minded :)

I can do the same, but I know that Leslie deletes posts from the Upcoming readalongs thread anyway, to keep things tidy and date relevant.

Gill, I did the same. My comments looked rather weird and not connected after all the deletions. LOL!

Not long till January!

Gill wrote: "Not long till January!"

Wonder how much discussion we can keep up over the next six months...I'm thinking quite a lot!

Cathie wrote: "Okay. Hope you can renew - I'm not even sure 3 weeks will be enough! This will be fun!"

Cathie, I've checked the library waiting list, and there are five people waiting for this book now. So I'm not going to be able to renew it, which means I'm not going to be able to read it in July or the next few months after all. So sorry about that, I was looking forward to reading it with you. I'll be interested to hear how you find it!

Gill, will you reading it now or returning it?

Thanks for letting me know - I plan to read this mid-July.

Cathie wrote: "Gill, will you reading it now or returning it?

Thanks for letting me know - I plan to read this mid-July."

I think I'll return it Cathie. I only have it for another 10 days, and I haven't started it yet.

Gotcha.

Gill wrote: "OK, who's up for a Readalong of Ulysses?, starting in January 2016, to be completed by Bloomsday, June 16th. Angela and I are having withdrawal symptoms from the last Readalong of thi..."

I have had this on my to read list since it was first published!(jk)I would love to join you,and then perhaps a tour in Dublin on Bloomsday.

Wouldn't that be great!

John, we'd all join you for that tour. :D

John wrote: "Gill wrote: "OK, who's up for a Readalong of Ulysses?, starting in January 2016, to be completed by Bloomsday, June 16th. Angela and I are having withdrawal symptoms from the last Rea..."

Glad you can join us, John. Maybe the trip to Dublin can be part of the next readalong of Ulysses after this one?

Thanks Gill.I should start my writing career now,although I'll probably wait for the perfect moment to begin.I used to enjoy a comic strip called Mr.Boffo.In one strip he was talking to his girlfriend

Mr.Boffo:"If I had a pen I could be a writer.
Girlfriend:"I have a pen!"
Mr.Boffo:"I mean a good pen."

Or did you want to do another read along of Ulysses?

John wrote: "Or did you want to do another read along of Ulysses?"

Yes....one where we end up in Dublin on Bloomsday. LOL! That would really be wonderful.

John wrote: "Or did you want to do another read along of Ulysses?"

Yes, it might have been my regional use of 'next' I meant maybe we could all go to Dublin, not for the 2016 readalong but for the next readalong of Ulysses after that. I've a feeling there will be another one!

Gill, that sounds like you've already got plans for Ulysses 2017, I think you're right there will be another one, perhaps it will be a yearly occurrence for the group! Dublin 2017 sounds a fun idea too :)

I've just set up the thread for the Carol Shields readalong. Everyone is welcome to join in!

Sandy, are we still on for reading The Moonstone in August?

Pink wrote: "Sandy, are we still on for reading The Moonstone in August?"

One of my favourite book!
I've reread it a couple of years ago along with Petra, and we had a lovely long discussion about it!

Sandy, that's fine, there's no commitment, just let me know either way :)

Sandy wrote: "Pink, I'm hoping so. I have been feeling pretty terrible for a few days. If it persists, I may have to put my reading ambitions on hold. I'll see what the next week brings and let you know."

:( Hope that whatever it is, it starts to get better and that you feel better soon Sandy!

Oops, yes and I hope you feel better soon Sandy!

Greg wrote: ":( Hope that whatever it is, it starts to get better and that you feel better soon Sandy! "

I hope the same Sandy

With Petra we were thinking of reading Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather starting the second week of August. Is anyone else interested?
Here's the link to the discussion:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Sandy, how about we put it on hold until later in the year? I'm in no hurry to read it, but think it might be nice to discuss. I hope that your health issues get resolved and everything is okay.

I started The Moonstone while on vacation 8 days ago in anticipation of the group read.

I could put it on hold (29% done) and finish The Works of Edgar Allan Poe, Vol 1 just to get it out of the way (30% left), and work on Don Quixote (45% through with 2 months left on the read-along).

Myst, sorry I forgot you planned on joining us for this readalong. Perhaps you should go ahead as you've already started and I'm not sure when Sandy and I will get to it yet. If you do decide to wait I can schedule it for September if you'd like?

I've got 4 new releases from last month and this month to read, along with DQ and The Island of Dr. Moreau (diff group) so it's not like I have nothing else to occupy me.

I'm actually about to head to the library to acquire 1 new release and IoDM.

It's been on my tbr pile since last july when I didn't join in a group read, so another month or 2 won't hurt.

Ok that's great then Myst and exactly how I feel about reading it.

Does anyone want to join in a readalong ofAt Swim-Two-Birds, say in September?

Gill wrote: "Does anyone want to join in a readalong ofAt Swim-Two-Birds, say in September?"

I would like to read along.It's been on my to read list for years.

John wrote: "Gill wrote: "Does anyone want to join in a readalong ofAt Swim-Two-Birds, say in September?"

I would like to read along.It's been on my to read list for years."

That's good, John. What time in September suits you best?

Gill wrote: "Does anyone want to join in a readalong ofAt Swim-Two-Birds, say in September?"

I would like to read this as well. Any time in September is fine with me!

I'll join in, Gill. September sounds good.

Ok, let's go for the beginning of September then.