Buddy Read Requests

[Dan]

Great. Just realized Alan Moore is the comic book Alan Moore. Looking forward to the read.

[Pamela]

Hi everyone

Would anyone be interested in a buddy read of Middlemarch by George Eliot? I've missed the boat on reading it with other groups, and really want to get to it this year.

I'm thinking of starting mid-September, and would be more than happy to come up with a schedule and lead the discussions.

I'd really like to read and discuss this with others rather than alone, so please shout if you would be interested and if looks feasible I'll liaise with Moderators to get threads in place etc.

[Ami]

Pamela wrote: "Hi everyone

Would anyone be interested in a buddy read of Middlemarch by George Eliot? I've missed the boat on reading it with other groups, and really want to get to it..."

Count me in, Pamela! I’ve been wanting to read this one for a while.

[Pamela]

Lorna wrote: "What you can do is a informal buddy read. We can make a subject under buddy reads for Middlemarch. And you can post comments and progress as a thread. I think the advantage to that is you dont have..."

Yes please Lorna, that sounds great. I think I will post my planned schedule in the thread anyway, but if only Ami and I are reading, we will then have the option to progress more informally as you suggest.

[Katie]

Pamela wrote: "Lorna wrote: "What you can do is a informal buddy read. We can make a subject under buddy reads for Middlemarch. And you can post comments and progress as a thread. I think the advantage to that is..."

I would be interested... how do I read with and discuss?

[Peg]

I am also interested in reading Middlemarch together.

[Pamela]

That's great Katie and Peg, look forward to reading with you.

Katie, when Lorna has set us up the thread I will post a provisional schedule, and add thoughts/comments in line with the schedule. However, as Lorna says, there is no obligation to stick to the schedule, you can read at your own pace and post your thoughts and progress as you go along, and hopefully we will get a lively discussion going!

[Katie]

Pamela wrote: "That's great Katie and Peg, look forward to reading with you.

Katie, when Lorna has set us up the thread I will post a provisional schedule, and add thoughts/comments in line with the schedule. Ho..."

GREAT!

[Ami]

Pamela wrote: "That's great Katie and Peg, look forward to reading with you.

Katie, when Lorna has set us up the thread I will post a provisional schedule, and add thoughts/comments in line with the schedule. Ho..."

This is a large book, and what looks to be a handful of participants...multiple threads, right?

[Pamela]

Ami wrote: "This is a large book, and what looks to be a handful of participants...multiple threads, right?"

I agree Ami, now there are more of us then multiple threads would probably be better. We could combine two books in a thread, if a warning is posted when the second book starts.

I was thinking
Schedule and Initial Thoughts
Books One and Two
Books Three and Four
Books Five and Six
Books Seven and Eight
Finale and Overall Thoughts

Lorna, is this OK with you? Do you need to set up these threads or is this something I can do? It would be good to get started with posting the provisional schedule ready for a mid-Sept start.

[Harry]

Does anyone want to tackle Tom Jones with me? I want to read it in November.

[Pamela]

Lorna wrote: "Go ahead and set up a Middlemarch folder in the buddyreads group. This way schedule and initial thoughts can be discussed before you start."

Thanks, Lorna, that's great. I'll do that.

[Ellen]

Harry wrote: "Does anyone want to tackle Tom Jones with me? I want to read it in November."

I'm up for Tom Jones in November. I've never read it and I *should* have my TBR pile at least somewhat cleared by then.

[Harry]

I'm up for Tom Jones in November. I've never read it and I *should* have my TBR pile at least somewhat c..."

Great! I am doing Middlemarch and it looks like that is scheduled to end about November 10th so we can start then or we can even start on November 1st and I'll just read Middlemarch a little quicker.
Maybe we will get a few more people on. I'll try and work out a reading schedule.

[Ellen]

Great! I've already read Middlemarch and highly recommend it.

[Nidhi]

Is anyone interested in reading Proust's In search of lost time?

[Mekki]

Nidhi wrote: "Is anyone interested in reading Proust's In search of lost time?"

HI Nidhi,

Since I have the first book currently incomplete, I might be interested. what do you have in mind?

[Nidhi]

Hi Mekki

I want to read them because they are considered classics written by Proust. Would like to finish all 4 by December this year (or may be Feb next year like 1 book in 1 month). But i have no idea of their intensity what do you think about them as you have read little bit? Are they easy read? ( I don't think they are all fun...more like study i suppose)

[Mekki]

Nidhi wrote: "Hi Mekki

I want to read them because they are considered classics written by Proust. Would like to finish all 4 by December this year (or may be Feb next year like 1 book in 1 month). But i have n..."

HI Nidhi

I looked up the reading schedule from some other groups that have read the books and they seem to have a 2 months per book schedule.

I can't really judge how difficult the novels are since I just read a small portion of the first one. I found this which may help: https://medium.com/@allanrayjasa/on-r...

[Nidhi]

Hi Mekki
I searched about the books , there are total 3000 pages and description of books is based on stream of consciousness mode with no regulations of space and time, not easy read. Think about it.

Mekki , have you read Joyce’ Ulysses?

[Nidhi]

Hi Mekki

Regarding reading In Search Of Lost Time, I found a group devoted to this series, according to them it’s a life long process to read and re read the books. And it’s natural not to understand some passages.... I will start with volume 1 and let’s see if I can ever reach the end😁 .

[Mekki]

hi. nidhi

I haven't read Ulysses yet. I pretty sure that's a tough one also.

[Jazzy]

Oh I love Proust! He doesn't half waffle, but that's okay, if you put the book down for a while and thought you missed something, never mind! He'll mention it a few more times :)

I could pick up reading it again. I had a jolly romp through Marcel Proust's a la Recherche Du Temps Perdu a year or so ago. I've got all the ebooks.

Did you see the Monty Python sketch on the All-England Summarise Proust Competition? It's bloody hilarious!
https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5v...

[Hugh]

I like the idea of reading Proust here, but I am not ready to start yet...

[Nidhi]

Ha ha that’s what I was thinking about Ulysses and Proust till now but my time to make excuses is up 😄

[Nidhi]

As we are currently reading a classic book, i think we could read a contemporary book as buddy read, beginning from 1 Nov.

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

Anyone interested?

[Cat]

Nidhi wrote: "Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

Anyone interested?"

Yes please!

I'd also be up for A Suitable Boy, which was suggested in the most recent bunch of nominations as a Contemporary. What are your thoughts on David Copperfield (I've yet to read this classic!), Nidhi?

[Nidhi]

David Copperfield is semi autobiographical work by Dickens, it's good. You don't have to read it in order to read Demon Copperhead, both books are different in depth. One of my groups did a comparative reading of both books simultaneously.

My favourite by Dickens is A Tale of Two Cities.

A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth is a family saga set in India of 1960s. It's a simple book with simple characters, though memorable .

You can nominate it for next read when nominations thread is set up.

[Cat]

Nidhi wrote: "One of my groups did a comparative reading of both books simultaneously..."

Wow, this sounds fascinating! How did you (plural) find this as an experience?

[Nidhi]

I couldn't participate because I have read David Copperfield already two times, but could detect some structural similarities between the two books. I attended the discussion though. Then because of some urgency, couldn't finish Demon Copperhead.

[Cat]

Nidhi, I can't wait for this Buddy Read!

[Nidhi]

Ok.
Hugh, I and Cat want to read Demon Copperhead as a buddy read in November, could you please set up a thread for the discussion. Thank you.