Let's start discussing Three Day Road by Joseph Boyden on the 15th. This one's not so long. Maybe you all can fit it in while you're reading War & Peace.

I can't find this book in the libraries near me, which seems odd to me. Has it been hard for others to find?

I bought it from Amazon.

Rashida:

I had no trouble getting it from my library.

Just got a notice this morning that it's waiting for me at my library.

Not to rub it in but I bought a brand new hardcover from half.com for 75 cents plus shipping.

I am glad to hear of so many getting ready to read it. It was my nomination and I was wondering that with War and Peace being such a “big” book on many accounts that the interest on Three Day Road might had been small.

I also need to break the news to everyone that my husband and I just decided on a family trip – we are planning to drive to the Yukon - and I will probably be away from the computer from around July 8th until July 18th or 19th. I will set up a new threat with some info before I leave, but I will not be part of the initial discussion when it starts on July 15th. I am sorry for this, but I am sure you all can fend for yourselves until opinionated me comes back.

Capitu, have a great trip. I'm glad you nominated this book and that it made it to the list. I had been wanting to read something by this author since hearing him on NPR once. I'm still waiting on my copy of War and Peace, so that hasn't been a hindrance at all.

Kenneth- Lucky you! I had to pay $7 for the one used copy I found in a local store. I was happy though, because it was the 5th store I'd been to without finding it new or used. Neither of the 2 libraries I looked in had it either.

For those of you who don't know of it, www.half.com is a good place to get affordable books.

I am almost finished with this book, and I love it. Plus it is only 350 pages!

This looks like one I'll like so I'm planning on reading it, íf Native Son doesn't take too much of my time and íf my birthday presents aren't much more interesting than Boyden.

Good news. I was able to interlibrary request it. I hope it gets here in time to read and discuss with the group.

That is good news. Isn't interlibrary loan great?

I had wanted to read this, but I checked 2 libraries, no success. So I am out for this one. Rats.

Mary Ellen

I am saddened to hear that one cannot find Boyden’s book in libraries in the USA. It is a book that has done well in the Canadian market (this is my impression – but I seem to see it well displayed in bookstores here, and I do know quite a few people in Canada that have read it). I think it shows how hard it is for a Canadian author to gain recognition among an American audience...

At the same time, I am glad to hear that Jane liked it and of the people that are giving it a try. Last year I nominated a book I did not read until the discussion, and I was so disappointed when I didn’t like it, this time I nominated a book I really liked, and now I feel exposed, really afraid of everyone’s reaction to it.

Orange County library system has 4 copies, one of which is in my living room right now.

Capitu, I know what you mean, but please don't worry. When a book I love was finally selected (I think on the third try) I started to feel responsible for people's reactions. And not everybody liked the book nearly as much as I did. But what criticisms were made were fair (often matters of taste) and were certainly personally kind.

It's waiting for me at the library, but when I went today on my lunch breatk, I was so intent on getting some of the great mysteries suggested here that I forgot all about it until this moment! Looks like another trip to the library tomorrow.

Capitu:

I don't think you should worry so much about your nominated choice and people's reaction to it - I view the books on our list as an opportunity to read and discover books and discuss them with others - I never factor in who nominated it, whether I like it or not. And some of the better discussions have often been books that I didn't love.

I do have the Boyden book from the library but I need to get moving on it soon - I am loving W&P, but am still reading it very slowly (just over 100 pgs, which as you know means more than 1100 to go). I am in a little bit of a quandry about how to allot my reading time the next week or so.

For the folks who have read Boyden, would you say it is a fast read?

Capitu, I have seen the Boyden in a bookstore. Just not able to buy it right now. One of the libraries I checked had it in the catalogue, but listed as "missing." So some borrower liked it... too much!

Mary Ellen

I just started it today. I'm loving it so far. It's not as fast a read as a mystery, but considering the past few books we've read, it's fast by comparison. I hope to read about fifty pages of it a day--that way I'll finish it in time. And if I have reading time left over after those 50, I'll read W&P. I have no expectation of finishing that one by the first.

Sherry:

As always, your counsel and advice is right on the money and just what I needed!

Thanks,
Al

Glad to help, Al. Thanks.

Our local library here (Natick, MA) had the book in stock and available when I checked it out this past weekend. I just started it yesterday - drew me right in. I could see this moving quickly.

I am sorry for jumping to conclusions. I too got behind with my re-reading it. W&P got to be an addiction. But I am planning to take Three Day Road along in our family trip. We are driving over 2400 miles there and back, and there are 4 of us drivers, so I am sure I will have it finished by the time I am back.

I don’t remember it being too slow of a book. But I do know it has some horrific passages about the warfare in the trenches in Europe, and those seem to always slow me down.

Also, thanks to those trying to reassure me. I do trust Constant Readers to be kind to fellow book enthusiasts.

On my copy of THREE DAY ROAD, it says it was "A Today Show Book Club Pick", so it must have been popular for a time!

Jane

Finished it this afternoon.

Gave in & ordered a used copy through Barnes & Noble...

Mary Ellen