Coordinating reading books in groups

[Michael]

Ooh, I like your sorting links, MK!

[Edwin]

MK wrote: "Ayup. There's ELEVEN of them :p."

Michael wrote: "Here are the discussion threads for this group's previous reading (what's with all the subtopics?!?)"

Wow. Thanks, I think.

[Paolo]

I got started with Left Hand the other day and I´m liking it a lot so far.

How is this side read thing going to work? Are we going to use a new discussion thread or are we supposed to just add random thoughts to all these different 5-year old threads?

[Edwin]

I finished The Left Hand of Darkness last week but have been too busy to post any comments. It is a great book that I thoroughly enjoyed. There are a bunch of new comments mostly in the first impression thread here.

[Michael]

I slowed my pace for a minute, but I'm almost finished with The Left Hand of Darkness, and enjoying it. It's a lot quieter book than many other from our recent discussions, I thought. Still, plenty to discuss, and I plan to make some posts probably tomorrow or Thursday. I think I will be focusing on "First Impressions", "Sex and Gender", and "An Instant Classic" threads (the last sounds the most like a "final thoughts" thread to me).

[Valerie]

Where are others leaving their comments for our little group? I finished it. I just don't have time to post on each thread.

[Paolo]

I agree Valerie, it would be nice if there had been a thread for this group read.

[Michael]

When we originally starting doing these reads, there was some discussion (here) and we decided (here) to reuse the old threads for these re-reads. Part of the reason was that folks could always go to one place to see comments on the book, and that previous commenters to the threads could participate in this round if they wanted to. That said, whoever came up with 11 threads for this book was going overboard, IMHO!

A number of us have already posted in the First Impression thread:

"Left Hand..." discussion -- The obligatory First Impressions topic - No spoilers.

I propose posting in the "Instant Classic/Dull, Dull, Dull" thread for your final comments:

"Left Hand..." discussion -- "An Instant Classic" or "Dull, Dull, Dull?" - Appears to have Spoilers

I personally will add some thoughts to "Sex and Gender" because this is such an interesting topic to me, and dovetails with our group's recent reading of Ancillary Justice:

"Left Hand..." discussion -- Sex and Gender - Spoilers

[Paolo]

Thanks for clearing that up, Michael.

[Michael]

No problem, looking forward to your comments!

[Valerie]

Thanks, Michael. I think I will also post on both.

[MK]

Valerie wrote: "Where are others leaving their comments for our little group? I finished it. I just don't have time to post on each thread."

I couldn't do it. I was going to try to fit it in, and I know everyone said that The Hainish books can be read in any order, but I just couldn't do it :p. I'm sending mine back to the library, and trying RoCannon's World, first. Well, after it's returned, that is. Someone else has it checked out.

[MK]

Is (6) Embassytown by China Miéville - (405pp) - June?

Still the June extra book (sched)?

[Hillary]

Embassytown is still on my TBR, so I'm game to read it this month. I've got The Sparrow on my plate currently, so I probably won't get to the Mieville until after the 15th.

[Edwin]

MK wrote: "Is (6) Embassytown by China Miéville - (405pp) - June?

Still the June extra book (sched)?"

I would love to read this, but I am trying to catch up, whatever that means, this summer. I am going to bow out on this one.

[MK]

Hillary wrote: "Embassytown is still on my TBR, so I'm game to read it this month. I've got The Sparrow on my plate currently, so I probably won't get to the Mieville until after the 15th."

Edwin wrote: "Still the June extra book (sched)?"

I would love to read this, but I am trying to catch up, whatever that means, t..."


haha, Edwin, I know exactly what you mean. I also need to 'catch up', so I sympathize! Enjoy :)

Hillary, I hadn't planned on this one, but I ended up skipping Left Hand of Darkness last month (which I had thought I might join), and this month's fantasy group read (The Dragon's Path) is a 550+pp first in a series, which many reviewers say end in an unfinished story (ie you need to continue on in the series), so I'm thinking of skipping that brick :D.

My library has Embassytown, I'll try to read it with you after the 15th if you're still interested :)

[Hillary]

Cool, MK.

[Valerie]

Edwin, I am with you, also unsure what "catching up" means, but planning to do it this month.

[MK]

Started Embassytown by China Miéville. Thing is friggin hard to understand!!!! (I'm hoping that's just for 'at first', and it becomes comprehensible as you ... immerse (pun intended ;-) ) ... yourself in it.

Threads:

First Impressions, Embassytown - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Final Thoughts, Embassytown - https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Michael]

(Reposting the schedule since I've been out of the loop for two months)

Here's the latest schedule proposal for the 12 "hot books" in this thread:

(reader count), title, (page count), month (read second half of month):

(9) Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency* - (306pp) - January 27
(6) Wool Omnibus (Silo, #1)* - (539pp) - February 15
(5) Foundation - (296pp) - ???
(5) Oryx and Crake* - (374pp) - April 1
(6) Perdido Street Station - (867pp) - ???
(6) The Left Hand of Darkness* - (304pp) - May 15
(8) Embassytown - (405pp) - June 19
(5) The Color of Magic - (250pp) - July 22
(4) Mistborn: The Final Empire* - (647pp) - August?
(6) Leviathan Wakes - (561pp) - September?
(4) Doomsday Book* - (578pp) - October?
(8) The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress* - (302pp) - November?

*means I'm reading it

Night Watch and Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? also seem "hot" with 5 readers each, someone may want to propose times to read those...

[Hank, Hankenstein's Modster]

I am in the middle of Perdido Street Station and just recently read The Color of Magic and Mistborn: The Final Empire. I would love to join the discussion of all three when/if they happen.

[Valerie]

My library hold just came in for The Color of Magic.

I am ready for the Mistborn discussion. I jammed through all three books in the last couple of months. Loved them.

[Phrynne]

I envy everyone who is reading The Color of Magic for the first time. The early Discworld books were so good.

[Hillary]

I'm still game for Mistborn in August. It's been a while since I settled into a trilogy.

[Michael]

Hillary wrote: "I'm still game for Mistborn in August. It's been a while since I settled into a trilogy."

Sounds like we have a few folks going to read/just read. I'll be busy beginning of month and probably won't start reading until August 15; when were you thinking, Hillary?

Valerie, maybe you can start the Color of Magic discussion when you start? I won't get to it this time around. The other people I had on my list reading it this year were Bill, Darwin, Gumps, and Richard, but that was 6 months ago (although I see it is on Richard's recent to-read challenge list post.

The The Color of Magic discussions that I found (2008 directory) are as follows:

The Color of Magic - Initial reactions

then random topics, none of them seem to be a "final thoughts" thread, maybe we could add one...

The Color of Magic - Is Rincewind a Hero?
The Color of Magic - Favorite characters
The Color of Magic - Style of humor
The Color of Magic - Visualizing Discworld
The Color of Magic - Done? The story continues...(no plot spoilers)
The Color of Magic - The rest of the Discworld series

[Valerie]

I will do my best! Anyone with me on The Color of Magic or will I be talking to myself? :)

[Hillary]

Second half of August for the Mistborn discussion sounds good to me. It's not particularly short, and I think I will try to read Gun, With Occasional Music first. (& I'm still planning on trying to squeeze in Lathe of Heaven before the end of this month.)

[Hank, Hankenstein's Modster]

Valerie wrote: "I will do my best! Anyone with me on The Color of Magic or will I be talking to myself? :)"

I'm with you! Although it might not be a tangible upgrade to talking to yourself :)

[Michael]

Mistborn: The Final Empire readers: my library just stopped carrying Mistborn. WTF? I'll have to ask them about it since it was there just two weeks ago and now it says "0 copies". Meanwhile, my backup library has it but they are checked out. Good news is I am first on the waitlist, bad news is they let people check out for 4 weeks so it could be anywhere between 1 and 4 weeks until I start. Just wanted to keep you all updated!

[Hillary]

Hope a copy comes through for you soon! I haven't started yet (probably will around the end of next week). I wonder if "0 copies" means "someone liked this book so much s/he stole it" or "someone left our last copy of this book at a vacation spot far, far away".

[Phrynne]

My library only has it in large print. I guess someone at some time asked them to buy it that way! At least I could read it without my glasses:)

[Michael]

Hillary wrote: "Hope a copy comes through for you soon! I haven't started yet (probably will around the end of next week). I wonder if "0 copies" means "someone liked this book so much s/he stole it" or "someone l..."

LOL. Sometimes I see something like "being traced" on books, which I think means they are searching for it; once I see that for a few months, I'm like, "I think you can stop looking now...". Not this one, though.

[Michael]

Phrynne wrote: "My library only has it in large print. I guess someone at some time asked them to buy it that way! At least I could read it without my glasses:)"

I ordered a large print book accidentally recently. It's a little disorienting although with all my Nook font sizes my brain is more ready for these types of surprises!

[Valerie]

No Misborn??? Crazy! I got mine from the library a while back and blew through the whole series. Can't wait to discuss!

I liked it so much that I started Sanderson's The Way of Kings yesterday.

[W.]

Valerie wrote: "No Misborn??? Crazy! I got mine from the library a while back and blew through the whole series. Can't wait to discuss!

I liked it so much that I started Sanderson's [book:The Way of Kings|7235..."

Mistborn is good. I loved the magic system he came up with!

[W.]

I think the Way of Kings has the potential to be better. More epic setup, conflicted characters. However, I found the flashbacks a little draggy at times...Let me know what you think!

[Valerie]

I just finished The Way of Kings. I have to say that I spent at least half the book thinking it might just be too epic, but willing to push on since I know I enjoy Sanderson.

SO glad that I pushed on. I was breathless by the time that I finished. I would have liked a little stronger conclusion to the first book, but wow. Just wow.

I have the second book on hold through the library.

I will say that the Mistborn series has a little quicker payoff. The books jump way more quickly into the meat of the story. But, you are correct, W. There does seem to be more epic potential at this point with WOK.

[Michael]

I'm listed as 1st in line for Mistborn: The Final Empire at both of my libraries so I am sure my journey is imminent!

[Michael]

Michael wrote: "I'm listed as 1st in line for Mistborn: The Final Empire at both of my libraries so I am sure my journey is imminent!"

Just came in from my digital library this morning and I downloaded it immediately. 27 pages down, 538 to go!

[Valerie]

Hurrah!

[Michael]

Okay, here are the Mistborn threads for anyone reading/read and ready to post...

"Mistborn" First Impressions *no spoilers*
"Mistborn" Final Thoughts **Post here when DONE**

Some extras if anyone is interested:
"Mistborn" Character Discussion **SPOILERS**
Mistborn Casting Call
"Mistborn" Magic System **SPOILERS**
"Mistborn" The Skaa **SPOILERS POSSIBLE**

[Edwin]

OK, I was planning to read this month's fantasy choice Promise of Blood, but I was SO torn about wanting to read Mistborn: The Final Empire that I downloaded the whole dang trilogy Mistborn Trilogy Boxed Set to my Kindle yesterday. Accidentally, of course.

So, it appears that I am forced by my own internal conflicted-ness to join you guys on this group read. Against my will.

[Michael]

:)

[Sarah]

I would live to join some of these, particularly Wool. MK, I hope you're still on here. Where are you reading Doctor Zhivago? I want to read that book.

[Michael]

Sarah wrote: "I would live to join some of these, particularly Wool. MK, I hope you're still on here. Where are you reading Doctor Zhivago? I want to read that book."

We re-read Wool back in February but feel free to post on the threads, I'm sure some of us who read it would respond.

Now that you mention it, it's been a while since I've seen MK around here! But Zhivago sounds like it would be in her "classics" group...

[Sarah]

Is anybody planning on doing buddy reads on these? I have 18 more group books to read to complete my challenge. Yes, I know I'm insane, but what's the point of a change if you don't... well, challenge yourself? :)

[Michael]

Sarah wrote: "Is anybody planning on doing buddy reads on these? I have 18 more group books to read to complete my challenge. Yes, I know I'm insane, but what's the point of a change if you don't... well, challe..."

Which ones are you interested in? Just post an idea here and maybe someone(s) will read it with you! That's how I put together the multiple buddy reads I've been involved with this year.

(I'll post the latest schedule on the next page, since this is message 200...)

[Michael]

Here's the latest schedule proposal for the 12 "hot books" in this thread (posting this up top on this page so it is easy to find):

(reader count), title, (page count), month (read second half of month):

(9) Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency* - (306pp) - January 27
(6) Wool Omnibus (Silo, #1)* - (539pp) - February 15
(5) Foundation - (296pp) - March??
(5) Oryx and Crake* - (374pp) - April 1
(6) Perdido Street Station - (867pp) - April??
(6) The Left Hand of Darkness* - (304pp) - May 15
(8) Embassytown - (405pp) - June 19
(5) The Color of Magic - (250pp) - July 22
(4) Mistborn: The Final Empire* - (647pp) August 18
(6) Leviathan Wakes - (561pp) - September?
(2?) Across the Nightingale Floor - (305pp) - September?
(4) Doomsday Book* - (578pp) - October?
(8) The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress* - (302pp) - November?
(5?) Zoo City - (416pp) - December?

*means I'm reading it

Night Watch and Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? also seem "hot" with 5 readers each, someone may want to propose times to read those...

[Maggie]

I want to read along with the next ones on Michaels list:

Leviathan Wakes
Doomsday Book
The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress

I also plan to read Stranger in a Strange Land in November, and want to add Across the Nightingale Floor and Zoo City into the mix somewhere!

[Michael]

I think it's time for everyone to get crackin! According to The Challenge, the group is only 33% toward the group goal!!