The Passage by Justin Cronin

[Addy]

Eleven and I will be starting The Passage soon. If anyone wants to join feel free to let me know so I can add you.

[Zulfiya]

I would like to. I tried to read it in November, but got mired in my paperwork. The beginning of January should be less stressful. Thank you!

[Addy]

Cool! So its Addy, Eleven, and Zulfiya. So glad you can join! I think we can start around the 5th of January. Does that sound good?

[Zulfiya]

It does. Thank you.

[Andy]

I'm in! This has been sitting on my desk for awhile.

[Andy]

Gotta finish a few other books first, but they are short and both halfway done.

[Adam]

I just got this HC so I think I would like to read along.

[Addy]

Awesome! Great! Glad you can join us Andy and Adam:) I'm excited for this to start. I read the sample and I was glued to it! Looks like we have a good group.

[Andy]

Three As and a Z.

[Zulfiya]

The beginning and the end:-)

[Adam]

I just looked and shuddered as I realized I am about to embark on yet another epic read. Over 800 pages! This is beginning to be the norm for me. I hope it's a good one.

[Addy]

I know. That's why I passed up the HC. Couldn't imagine lugging that around with me, although in hindsight, I should have just bought it cause it was so cheap!

[Adam]

I have the ebook, too. I thought I did. Whew! My doctor said I can't lift over 10 pounds for now, so that worked out.

[Kaisersoze]

I have this in paperback and have been eying it off dubiously. A buddy read will help me to start tackling it. Okay if I join in?

[Adam]

Hell yeah!

[Addy]

Hope your feeling better Adam:)

[Adam]

Thanks, Addy. I will live, probably.

[Kaisersoze]

Thanks Adam!

[Adam]

You're welcome anytime Kaiser!

[Kasia]

Aww I just finished reading it, super fun, very very hard not to start the next one right away but I promised someone to read Dune, so .. sands it is

Enjoy guys :)

[Andy]

So funny. Its been quiet on this thread because I'm sure were all in the same situation, finishing up old reads before cracking this behemoth.
(also the holiday season)

Am I right?

[Zulfiya]

You are! My hands are full both with reading and holiday!

[Adam]

You are right, Andy. I nearly forgot that I jumped in on this one. Here I was struggling to decide what I want to read next. :)

[Andy]

Good call, Zulfiya!

I am about to fill one hand with a book and the other with the first pint of the evening. Unfortunately, my hardcover copy of The Passage is a two-hander, so I think I'll dig into something smaller.

[Maxine Marsh]

Addy, I started this one this year and put it down about 20% of the way through. I'd love to get it off my list, so I'll join in the buddy read too!

[Addy]

Great! So its Addy, Andy, Adam, Eleven, Zulfiya, and Maxine? I hope I didn't miss anyone. I'll double check.

[Addy]

Oh and Kaisersoze!

I've actually been reading a page or two. Can't help it! Figure we can use spoilers since some ppl might be in different parts of the book, and just read at your own pace:) Is this ok or does anyone have a better idea? This is a huge book after all.

[Angie]

I'll join this, if that's OK, one more book can't hurt, and this is so good, I'm looking forward to rereading it.

[Andy]

I don't have a problem with free-for-all pacing, though I tend to do better with keeping up when there short term benchmarks.

[Angie]

I don't mind how we read, I always tend to read ahead then stop for a day to flip to another book anyway.

[Addy]

Alright Angie! I think that makes 7 of us.

I also do better with benchmarks, but we'll see how this goes. Right now from what I've read I can't seem to stop, so that's a good sign.

[Zulfiya]

Do you all think a schedule will help? From my personal experience, it usually helps to stay motivated and organized. Besides, we can have separate thread per each section, and if someone is playing catch-up, it is nice not to spoil or see any spoilers.

We can even take turns to moderate. It might even take more than on month because the book is not a novella.

Just a thought...

[Addy]

I like that idea. I think it would be good to stay a little organized.

[Angie]

Addy, are you starting now, because I could start tonight!.

[Zulfiya]

I plan to celebrate tonight, guys. I will be behind:-)

[Zulfiya]

I might work on a schedule if we all agree on a start date:-)

[Addy]

The 5th is the start date, but you can start early if you want:)

[Angie]

I'll resist untill then, maybe. Its sat on my shelf now saying 'read me'. Its hard not to:)

[Kaisersoze]

Thanks for remembering me, Addy! ;-)

No problem for me to start on or around the 5th.

[Addy]

Anytime:) Hey, are you skiing in that picture?

[Addy]

Just brings me back to when I used to live in Maine. Only time I would go skiing cause of all the snow.

[Addy]

I'd be interested in your suggested schedule Zulfiya. Whenever you have time, of course. Our start date is the 5th.

[11811 (Eleven)]

Whoa! 42 posts already and I just got here. I plan to start reading in the next day or two. I'm still recovering from last night and hope most of you are too. Happy new year!

[Addy]

There you are Eleven! Was wonderin where you were...lol.

[11811 (Eleven)]

Thanks for starting the thread Addy. However everyone wants to handle progress, spoilers, etc it is all good with me. It is kind of a monster of a book and I'm overdue for an epic read.

[Addy]

No problem. I kinda started myself and I'm lovin it! I think you're right. Its gonna be epic!

[Zulfiya]

This is the prelim schedule for the Passage

January 05 - Chapters 1-7
January 12 - Chapters 8-17
January 19 - Chapters 18-25
January 26 - Chapters 26-42
February 02 - Chapters 43-57
February 09 - Chapters 58-End

It would be great if moderators allowed us to have individual threads per week. Then we will avoid spoilers that often happen inadvertently. And for those who will have to catch up, it might also help.

[Angie]

I've never read on a schedule like this, so it will be interesting to see it work.

[Adam]

11! Good to see you. I have read epics aplenty lately. I agreed to this one before I knew what a beast it is. Oh, and I haven't done a group read with the chapters scheduled out ahead either. I will still go at my own pace so it doesn't feel like an assignment. It seems to help a lot of folks, though.

[Addy]

Great! Schedule looks great for those who want to use it. Thank you Zulfiya!