All About Books discussion

spoko wrote: "How about starting like the 24th of this month? I have one other person reading with me, who wants to start before the end of the month, but hopefully this is late enough to accommodate most of us?"

That works for me spoko. Should I set up a thread for the buddy read? Or if you want to do it yourself, that's good too.

spoko wrote: "How about starting like the 24th of this month? I have one other person reading with me, who wants to start before the end of the month, but hopefully this is late enough to accommodate most of us?"

That also works for me too!

I went ahead & started the thread for it, here. See you all there soon!

spoko wrote: "I went ahead & started the thread for it, here. See you all there soon!"

Great!

I have never heard of a read-along before. How do they work?

Elizabeth wrote: "I have never heard of a read-along before. How do they work?"

Hi Elizabeth - readalongs or buddy reads are just a reading of a book by several members who want to read it and comment on their experience even though it has not won a poll and been chosen as a read for the whole group.

Basically, if there's something you want to read that has lost a group read poll or that you don't think the whole group is necessarily interested in, you ask here if anyone else wants to read it at the same time and discuss it. If someone else also wants to read it, you agree on when to start.

Then either one of the people who want to read it or one of the moderators will create a thread for discussion of the book. As you read, you post comments and converse about it in that thread.

Very similar to a group read but for a smaller number of people. Anyone can join any planned readalongs that they see posted. The more the merrier! It creates more interesting discussions!

Greg wrote: “Elizabeth wrote: “I have never heard of a read-along before. How do they work?”

Hi Elizabeth—readalongs or buddy reads are just a reading of a book by several members who want to read it and com...”

It’s basically the same as what’s called a Buddy Read in a lot of other groups.

Thanks for clarifying!

Anyone interested in a readalong of either The Yellow House by Sarah Broom (a 100-year New Orleans family memoir/history) or The Magician by Colm Tóibín (a fictionalized biography of Thomas Mann)? Hoping to start fairly soon, but can certainly flex a bit.

spoko wrote: "Anyone interested in a readalong of either The Yellow House by Sarah Broom (a 100-year New Orleans family memoir/history) or The Magician by Colm Tóibín (a fictional..."

Both look interesting spoko, but I'd be particularly interested in The Magician! I haven't read anything by Colm Tóibín yet, though many of my friends have liked his work.

But work has been a little crazy lately so it might be a few weeks before I could start. :)

Greg wrote: "spoko wrote: "Anyone interested in a readalong of either The Yellow House by Sarah Broom (a 100-year New Orleans family memoir/history) or The Magician by Colm Tóibí..."

Greg—Sounds fine to me. What start date do you think would work for you?

Have read The Magician by Colm Tóibín recently and enjoyed it very much, but would be interested in a read-along of The Master by Colm Tóibín.

spoko wrote: "Greg wrote: "spoko wrote: "Anyone interested in a readalong of either The Yellow House by Sarah Broom (a 100-year New Orleans family memoir/history) or The Magician ..."

I could start in the middle of the month if that works.

But do you have any interest in the other one by Tóibín that Nancy would be interested in too?

Greg wrote: "spoko wrote: "Greg wrote: "spoko wrote: "Anyone interested in a readalong of either The Yellow House by Sarah Broom (a 100-year New Orleans family memoir/history) or [book:The Magic..."

At the moment, I don't, since I'm reading The Magician specifically for a challenge on another site. But if there's more interest in that one, I'm fine going ahead with this one on my own.

spoko wrote: "Greg wrote: "spoko wrote: "Greg wrote: "spoko wrote: "Anyone interested in a readalong of either The Yellow House by Sarah Broom (a 100-year New Orleans family memoir/history) or [b..."

I'm in no hurry. We can read The Master as soon as everyone is ready.

I'm planning on reading "The House By The Cerulean Sea". It's been super popular for some time, but I'm only getting round to it now. Lmk if anyone wants to do a read along!

Damini wrote: "I'm planning on reading "The House By The Cerulean Sea". It's been super popular for some time, but I'm only getting round to it now. Lmk if anyone wants to do a read along!"

Read it a couple of months ago; found it extreamly interesting, on several different points of view.
I'll look at your comments

Anyone interested in reading Cromwell Trilogy by Hilary Mantel? Or to start with just Wolf Hall?

Absolutely! I have Wolf Hall right on top of the TBR pile and would be interested in continuing with the other two books of the series. You say when.

That ‘s great Nancy, I can start anytime. Let’s wait till Monday, maybe some more members are interested. Or we can start from April, whichever is convenient for you.

OK. Let's say April. That way I can try to finish all the books I'm reading now. We'll keep in touch.

I'm currently reading Wolf Hall, but it has been stalled awhile. Maybe this will get me going again...

Nidhi wrote: "Anyone interested in reading Cromwell Trilogy by Hilary Mantel? Or to start with just Wolf Hall?"

Hi there, I would love to join this readalong. Are you starting 1st of April?

Kristen wrote: "Nidhi wrote: "Anyone interested in reading Cromwell Trilogy by Hilary Mantel? Or to start with just Wolf Hall?"

Hi there, I would love to join this readalong. Are you starting 1st of April?"

Yes, Kristin. So far, it will be you, Nidhi and me. Hope others will join in.

I want to join, too. Wolf Hall is on my to re-read pile and I have never continued with the series.

Hi. Would anyone like to join Eileen and me when we read Paris On Air by Oliver Gee. We plan to start at the beginning of the month.

Question. Do we set up our own readalong threads, or do we request them. I am new here. I will be participating through the end of 2023.

Cynda wrote: "Question. Do we set up our own readalong threads, or do we request them. I am new here. I will be participating through the end of 2023."

You can set it up by yourself easily enough. Try it

Thanks Laura :-)

Well done Cynda!

The Keepers of the House by Shirley Ann Grau.

Hi friends, i am planning to read this book in mid January or February, i will be reading Lessons in Chemistry our book of the month too , so schedule will be flexible. Anyone interested in this read?

Hi Nidhi. I can read in February. I am doing a nonfiftion civil rights study this year and would like to read some complementary fiction. Count me in definitely for February.

If I find it I may be interested, February as well

In case this helps. . . . The ebook is available on Scribd, and the audiobook is available on Hoopla.

Found it! When do we want to start?
Mid february?

Mid February is good.

Mid February suits me as well.

Nidhi wrote: "Mid February suits me as well."

Good then!
Set up a new discussion with the book and possible dates of beginning and ending; maybe someone else will join us

Nidhi wrote: "The Keepers of the House by Shirley Ann Grau.

Hi friends, i am planning to read this book in mid January or February, i will be reading [book:Lessons in Chemistry|5806..."

I am happy to join in, I have the book on my kindle. I can also start in mid February as I'm taking some time off work due to home renovations.

Alannah wrote: "Nidhi wrote: "The Keepers of the House by Shirley Ann Grau.

Hi friends, i am planning to read this book in mid January or February, i will be reading [book:Lessons in ..."

Great Alannah!!!
After St Valentine day then! (A Saint born in Terni, a little town not far from Perugia, where I live!)

I try to read a long classic each year, and this year's is The Count of Monte Cristo. I'm about a third of the way through via audiobook/ebook. If you're eye reading I figure you'd end up passing me at some point. At any rate, if anyone's interested, let me know.

Hello everyone! I'll be reading Mythos by Stephen Fry this month. If anyone cares to join on the readalong, I'd be more than happy to discuss the book. I'm also planning on reading the next titles throughout the year (I don't have an specific date yet), so if you also want to read them and discuss them, just hit me up:
Dead poets society by N.H. Kleinbaum, If we were villans by M.L. Rio, Men without women by Haruki Murakami, Circe by Madeline Miller,Piranesi by Susanna Clarke and The stranger by Albert Camus, among others.
:))

Tom wrote: "I try to read a long classic each year, and this year's is The Count of Monte Cristo. I'm about a third of the way through via audiobook/ebook. If you're eye reading I figure you'd end ..."

I won't reread but have read this several times (and once via audiobook). How's it going? Is your audiobook narrated by John Lee?

Leslie wrote: "Tom wrote: "I try to read a long classic each year, and this year's is The Count of Monte Cristo. I'm about a third of the way through via audiobook/ebook. If you're eye reading I figur..."

It has gone. Unfortunately, I was only able to muster 3 stars in support of the effort. (view spoiler)[The dramatic arc seemed like a bridge: high points at the ends (at the beginning til Edmond escapes the Chateau D'If, and then when he arrives in Paris). The middle seemed rather in need of a good editor - I didn't really need the History of Italian Bandits back story for a character (Luigi Vampa) who subsequently only nominally appears. I think diversions like that created enough ill will in me to consider the Paris bit sort of rushed in comparison. (hide spoiler)]

My audiobook was Bill Homewood's excellent narration on Naxos.

I know what you mean though it didn't bother me in this book. But Victor Hugo had that same flaw and it really bugged me in Les Miserables! I think that both writers were paid by the word (but maybe I have imagined that)!

Jordi wrote: "Hello everyone! I'll be reading Mythos by Stephen Fry this month. If anyone cares to join on the readalong, I'd be more than happy to discuss the book. I'm also planning on reading the next titles ..."

Hi Jordi, sorry about the lag in responding. Several of these sound good - I would be interested in joining in on Mythos: The Greek Myths Retold, Men Without Women, or Piranesi. All three of those have been on my mental to-read list for a while.

I don't think I can start immediately though. If you can wait on one of these until toward the end of the month, I'd be happy to join you and we could create a readalong thread for others to join if they wanted.

Hi everyone. I am planning to read My Work by Olga Ravn in February. I will be glad if someone joins me.

Nidhi wrote: "Hi everyone. I am planning to read My Work by Olga Ravn in February. I will be glad if someone joins me."

The Employees: A Workplace Novel of the 22nd Century was a very weird but also wonderful book! I am intrigued to read that author again, but I don't think I can fit it in February.

Yes Greg, I saw your reading plan for February. I myself have a full schedule but sometimes I take books whimsically , i may read it or may not. ( here buddy reads are very motivating)

Nidhi wrote: "Yes Greg, I saw your reading plan for February. I myself have a full schedule but sometimes I take books whimsically , i may read it or may not. ( here buddy reads are very motivating)"

That book does look really good though! Could we read it starting in the middle of the month? I can make room to join you then.