When Michael and I are recording a podcast, I try to picture who might be listening. But really, I have no idea. So please, introduce yourself so we can know that we're not talking to ourselves!

I have listened to all the podcasts now and must say that you, Michael and Ann, come through my ear buds as two articulate and very, very nice folks, qualities that make for great sales reps and con artists.

I am a fiction reader primarily, but I am at a stage in life where I am wary of contemporary fiction and literally fearful of wasting any of the reading time left to me. As a result my tendency is to read or reread a classic rather than try something contemporary. In those cases where I had read the book about which one or the other of you commented in the podcasts, your comments were apropos and tracked with my own reaction. Therefore, I am going to trust you two to direct me to the good stuff. Please don’t take payoffs. Please don’t let me down.

Thanks, Steve! That's a big responsibility, to not let you down, but we will do our best to try. At least know that *we* are sincere in everything we say. I appreciate your taking the time to listen, and post!

Ann

Steve!!

Thank you so much for the wonderful comments and your faith in us.... You'll notice we've yet to say we don't like a book. That's our way around things. If we don't like a book, we just won't talk about it. Since we're constantly reading, and have a huge backlog to pull from, we've got plenty of books to mention.

And, no, no payoffs. We're content to stay poor in funds, but rich in literature!

Michael

I think the first that I might try is one that you mentioned, Michael. Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones sounds very appealing to me.

Go for it. Mister Pip was one of the best books I read last year, for sure.

agreed... thanks Jon!

I just finished Mr. Pip, Michael and Jon. It is an extraordinary piece of work. I'll put up a review elsewhere.

Thank you.

so glad you liked it!

Cool. And incidentally, Steve, I'm like you in feeling that life is just too short to waste a moment of it on a lousy book. I arrived at some threshold a while ago -- maybe it was my fiftieth birthday -- past which it suddenly got very easy to close the cover on an unfinished book and move on...

My name is Rachael. This is the first time I have ever heard of Books on the Nightstand. I joined because it looks really interesting.

Welcome, Rachael! If you haven't had a chance to check out Books on the Nightstand, it's over at http://www.booksonthenightstand.com
You can read the blog and listen to the podcast there, though of course it's not mandatory to participate in this group!

And to the rest of you: OK, OK, I am on page 50 of Mister Pip, and yes, I'm loving it. Not that I ever doubted you, Michael, but it just always stayed at the bottom of my to be read stack. It's definitely a testament to the power of literature.

While we await the appearance of others. . . . . .

Yep, Jon, I have gotten downright curmudgeonly about this business of wasting time reading trash. So I am more than willing to allow somebody with taste like Michael or Ann to waste their lives wading through it for me. Actually, that is the primary role of a critic, is it not?

On a related note, I have a reading friend of whom I am very fond who is proud of the fact that she attended 87 movies in 2007. You could call her a cineaste, I think. But geez, stop to consider. She spent about a week of her life, 24/7, in a movie theater during the year. And you know that the vast, vast majority of those films were absolute dreck!

Just another of the many things I don't understand in my grumpy later years.

Like Steve, I've ventured over from the Constant Reader group after meeting Ann there and listening to your podcasts. After spending my earlier years gulping down books, I learned from my brother and others the value of reading slowly and trying to truly absorb what is there. The result is that the number of books I read each year has diminished but the quality of the experience has increased exponentially. The best thing of all may be having a great discussion when you finish.

And, of course, I love to talk about all things book related. This looks like a great place to do just that.

Barbara wrote: "The result is that the number of books I read each year has diminished but the quality of the experience has increased exponentially."

I think that is a wonderful statement. I need to remind myself to slow down sometimes. I'm fortunate to have a job that requires a lot of reading, but it also means that I will often rush through to get to the next book on the pile. Thanks for putting a value on reading slowly.

Ann

My name is Debbie. I like to think of myself as well-read, but that list of 100 books convinced me I have a long ways to go. These days I listen to audio books as often as I read paper ones. I find listening while working on a cross stitch project leaves me feeling very productive - multi-tasking is so big these days! My reading consists of a lot of sci-fi/fantasy and some of the thrillers, suspense genre. But I sometimes feel I need something a little more challenging. Finding your podcast will help point me in the right direction. The shows are presented so well, with so much good information. I can't afford to buy all the books recommended, but I think the local library will become my new second home.

Hi Debbie! Thank you for joining us and for finding our podcast!

I love to read audio books when I'm knitting (though I haven't knit a stitch since March). The only trouble is that sometimes I get lost in the book and it is reflected in my knitting (at least until I rip out the mistakes).

I'm a mystery/thriller reader at heart -- it's what I turn to for vacations and those times when I need to seriously unwind.

And really, we certainly don't expect anyone to buy or even read all of the books we talk about! We just like to offer choices. And we are big supporters of libraries -- no worries!

I look forward to getting to know you better.

Ann

Hi - I subscribed to the podcast after Ann posted about it on the A Novel Challenge Yahoo group. I've listened to the first 5 episodes so far. I really enjoy the podcast.

I read a variety of genres, but my favorite is mystery/thrillers.

Hi Suzi (is that right? guessing from your username). Welcome, and thanks!

Any chance you're a Lee Child fan? I think he's my favorite thriller author right now.

Thanks for joining!

Ann

Welcome Debbie, Suzi and Barbara!

I LOVE that we're reaching readers of all different genres and formats... I keep trying to get my wife to listen to audios while she knits, but no luck so far!

Thanks for the feedback and keep it coming!

Michael

Ann - yes I really like Lee Child. I only discovered his books a year or so ago, so I've only read the first 4. I'm planning on reading Echo Burning soon. The Hubster is a fan of the series too. Jack Reacher is a great character. He and Nelson DeMille's John Corey should team up.

I also really like Jack Kerley's Carson Ryder, David Rosenfelt's Andy Carpenter


Michael: I listen to audiobooks whenever I'm in the car by myself - I tend to listen to lighter stuff so it works well in small 10-15 minute increments while driving to work or errands. I get books on cd from the library and download them to my ipod.

Suzi, I know more than a few women who have a "crush" on Jack Reacher. I think that's a future blog post... "literary crushes".

I wonder, do men get crushes on fictional characters? Hmmm....

Hi!

I'm a fan of the podcast and the blog so I'm really excited to see you guys here on Goodreads. I just read my first graphic novel (Tamara Drewe) after hearing your graphic novel podcast and I am a convert. And I just took Mister Pip out of my local library so I'm looking forward to discovering Lloyd Jones as well.

Jennifer

My husband and I both have listened to Lee Child's and Douglas Preston's series about FBI Agent Pendergast. Those are real-edge-of-your-seat books. We've also listened to Deep Storm by Lee Child. I download books from audible.com and then was copying them to CD's to listen to in the car. Living in Southern California, we spend a lot of time commuting and have plenty of time to listen. Then my hubby got an Ipod from one of our kids. Those things are great!! It has 150+ books loaded on it and there's room for almost that many more. That kind of library at your fingertips is a heady feeling. And it takes up so much less space than CDs.

Hi Jennifer,
Welcome!! Thanks so much for telling us about your graphic novel conversion! (I can see Michael now, rubbing his hands together thinking, "ah ha, I got another one!".

Let us know what you think about Mr. Pip when you're done ...

Thanks,
Ann

Debbie,
I liked Deep Storm, too, despite myself. I really didn't think I would, and only read it because we were hosting a dinner for the author (Lincoln Child, who often gets confused with Lee Child, but no matter). I spoke to a number of people at the dinner who felt the same way -- read it beause they had to and then really enjoyed it.

I should check out the Douglas Preston/Lincoln Child series that they write together. I bet it would be a great audio.

I belong to Audible, too, but I don't listen to the audios fast enough, and have a ton of credits piled up. I've been on a podcast kick for the last year, and audiobooks have suffered.

Yes, men do sustain literary crushes, Ann. Mine is strange in a way. Years ago I got sweet on Lady Brett Ashley in The Sun Also Rises. This is strange because Hemingway has taken so much critical grief about his allegedly weakly portrayed female characters. But for some reason her half of the dialogue with Jake Barnes allowed me to fill in the blanks about her to the extent that I went head over heels. (Reading the good stuff is a participatory sport, you know. Not passive like movies or TV.)

I can't think of a crush on a character, but when The Secret History came out, I was a little hung up on Donna Tartt!

and yes, the evil, maniacal laugh comes out whenever I convert another reader to graphic novels!

Ooh, Steve, thank you so very much for sharing that! I confess that I don't remember more than the sketchiest details about The Sun Also Rises, but I'll trust you that Lady Brett Ashley has the goods. You may just have inspired me to re-read it...

She's not going to do it for you, Ann.

Hey!

Thanks for having me!

I just joined GOODREADS today -- and I've already come across this group of GOODREADERS!

It's funny. I write; and I used to believe that I was writing in the hopes of finding that one reader who would actually get what I was trying to convey. Now, I liken my laptop to an Ouija board with an attached adapter cord. Some of the text that hits my screen requires that I plausibly deny any personal involvement in the conception of. LOLOL

I look forward to hearing your podcasts. Don't worry. You don't have to burden yourself with reading any of my books. Just allowing me to participate in your group is a privilege for me.

Best Regards,

LP

Hi Lincoln!

Thanks for finding us ... and on your first day on Good Reads, too. Wow!

I love your 'Ouija Board' analogy -- it makes so much sense to me. I've hard many authors say, "I had no idea my character was going to do that" ...

And now I must ask ... is Lincoln Park your real name? My mother grew up in Lincoln Park, MI and I always thought that would make for a great detective's name in a mystery novel.

Ann

LOL.... Only my hairdresser knows....

Hi all!

I joined GoodReads a week or so ago and was looking around at the groups without much luck or interest.
Then I found BOTN and listened to to your latest pod-cast.

After discovering that Ann feels like I do about McEwan and pretty much the same as I do about Faulkner, I got a little more enthused!
Other favorite living authors include Sarah Dunant and Cormac McCarthy.

I'm a former Pan Am International Flight Attendant, a published free-lance writer, amateur poet, avid reader and self-confessed logophile.... living in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.

Susanne

Susanne, I checked out your other books, and yes, I think we're twins! At least when it comes to reading -- my poetry skills are nonexistent.

Thanks so much for finding us and joining.

I also like Sarah Dunant and Cormac McCarthy, though I confess that I've only read The Road and No Country for Old Men. Still, The Road is one of my top 10 books of all time.

Take a look at Valerie Martin -- her book Property is wonderful, and I also really love her newest book, called Trespass. Many shades of McEwan in Trespass.

I look forward to getting to know you better.

Ann

Hello All,

I've just joined goodreads this week. I'll start by saying that I'm very good friends with Ann in real life. I'm going to embarass her by saying that she is a very intelligent, kind and fun person. She has persuaded me to try many different hobbies over the years, but we've always shared an eerily similar taste in books. I was extremely excited when she started the blog and podcast because Ann is not the type of person who talks books constantly. In fact, most of the time I have to ask what I should read next, go figure.

I'm a wife, mom of two, and an only child living in MA. I work part time, but this will probably change in the fall when my youngest starts school full time. Hopefully, I will get back into teaching in some capacity. If I had to choose I would say my favorite genre is historical fiction, although I'll try anything once. For example, after reading the post about the 100 classics, I bought a copy of Animal Farm. At the same time I'm reading a Lee Child book and The Tenderness of Wolves. I'm really looking forward to spending time here.

Christine

Thanks Ann....

I'll give her (Valerie Martin) a go when I dig out a little from under my TBR pile. I checked out a few of her reviews on Amazon and I think I'd really enjoy her!

I've spent much time in Italy and noticed that she lived there for awhile and incorporates that setting in a couple of her novels. Buonissimo!

I was recently introduced to Edwidge Danticat and am currently reading THE DEW BREAKER. You may want to check her out if you haven't heard of her. She writes some seriously beautiful fiction.

Susanne

Susanne, I've only read Edwidge's newest book (Brother, I'm Dying) which is heartbreaking and wonderfully-written. The Dew Breaker is definitely on my list of book I want to read

Thanks!
Ann

Read Danticat's Breath, Eyes, Memory long ago on the Oprah book club reco and loved it. I have another here somewhere unread or forgotten in the book fog which sets in from time to time and several others on the to-read list.

Dottie, I forgot that Breath, Eyes, Memory was an Oprah book. Hmmm, now which one?

Of course, there are enough books in front of Danticat on the tbr list that I guess i have some time to decide!

Hi

I'm really enjoying your podcasts. I can't for the life of me remember where I heard about them, somewhere in the blogsphere.

I bought Mister Pip after you recommended it and loved it. What a fantastic read.

Mexican High is now on my list after this weeks podcast. I lived in Mexico City for three years so it sounds like something I'll enjoy.

Looking forward to hearing about more great books.

Alix

Hi Alix,
Thanks for stopping by!! The fact that you don't know where you heard about us is a good thing -- it means that we are "out there" in multiple places!!

I'd *love* to know what you think about Mexican High when you read it .. please come back and let us know.

Looking forward to getting to know you!

Ann

HI Alix-

Any friend of Mister Pip is a friend of mine... welcome!

Michael

Hi,
I figured I should introduce myself, as I somehow forgot it so far.
I'm Kathrin, 24, from Germany, and I joined this beautiful group a few days ago.
Originally, I heard about Books on the Nightstand by Ann herself at ANovelChallenge. (Thank you so much for that!) Now I'm slowly trying to catch up. My favorite episodes so far are the one about graphic novels, the one about summer reading and the one with the 2,002 book recommendations.
And, of course, I added a few of the books you mentioned to my book shopping list for the next time :)
I can't wait to hear more about the books you're reading!
Kathrin

OK, Kathrin, here's your official welcome :)
Thanks for the introduction, and for letting us know about your favorite episodes -- something I always wonder about. We are putting together a 'best of' CD for people we meet in person who don't know what podcasts are, so your opinion is a great thing to have.

Hello everyone. My name is Adriana and I am new to the group. I live in sunny South Florida but am a midwesterner at heart. I am booklover as the rest of you are, and joined good reads to meet other people who shared my passion for books. I look forward to participating in this group. Learning of new books to add to my TBR pile and to make new friends.

Hi Adriana -- welcome! My family is from Michigan and I lived for a short while in Missouri, so I do have a bit of the midwest in me as well. Good to meet you!

Ann, I have a vague feeling that we may have talked about this already, but, if so, I've forgotten the answer. Where is your family from in Michigan? I've lived in southeast Michigan for a very long time though I spent my childhood in Indiana. I currently live in Ypsilanti.

Barb, my mom grew up in Lincoln Park (suburb of Detroit) and now my grandmother is in Oscoda (up north) and I have aunts in Monroe and Milford. We're going to visit in 2 weeks. I don't know any other parts of Michigan very well, but used to spend every summer in Oscoda with my grandparents.

Ah, I know Lincoln Park, Milford and Monroe fairly well. I've never been to Oscoda though I know of it.