Coordinating reading books in groups

[Maggie]

dang- thought we agreed Zoo City in December--I cant get to it until then....

[Maggie]

David wrote: "Michael wrote: "I'm reading both of those and can do either order, but I won't be starting until this weekend. David, Kgwhitehurst, you b..."

I'm got both of them out. I'm a couple chapters into ..."

I am doing Alif first, just because it's the regular group read, but then will jump into Doomsday

[Michael]

Maggie wrote: "dang- thought we agreed Zoo City in December--I cant get to it until then...."

It's "just" Hank, Valerie, and Jonathan who started early. You, Sarah, and Kgwhitehurst I think are still planning December, and I imagine the earlier group would add more comments then...

[Michael]

Maggie wrote: "I am doing Alif first, just because it's the regular group read, but then will jump into Doomsday "

Sounds good. That's what I did, though I have another book I'm on now before I get to Doomsday Book...

[Sarah]

Maggie wrote: "dang- thought we agreed Zoo City in December--I cant get to it until then...."

Yes, I'm still in for Zoo City in December. I would love to reread Doomsday Book with you guys but it is actually a pretty dense read. I think I'll save that one for next year.

So I currently have The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress written down for Nov and Zoo City in Dec.

[Hank, Hankenstein's Modster]

I will also jump back in with comments in December, I had just popped to the head of the hold list at the library so I joined the early group. Thanks Michael for coordinating all of this!

[Michael]

Hank wrote: "I will also jump back in with comments in December, I had just popped to the head of the hold list at the library so I joined the early group. Thanks Michael for coordinating all of this!"

No problem!

Sarah, I'm in for The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress in November as well. I've updated the schedule at the top of this page again, if anyone missed it...

[Maggie]

cool :)
Im also in for Moon

[Valerie]

I am about 3/4 done with The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress.

[Michael]

Valerie wrote: "I am about 3/4 done with The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress."

Uh oh, I better get mine reserved at the library!

[Valerie]

I have to say, I was really hesitant about this one.

I have discovered that I find some of the older scifi too dry for my tastes. However, I am greatly enjoying this one. I am glad that I got over myself to give it a go.

[Michael]

:)

[Valerie]

Since I finally made it through my library holds, I decided to go back and hit the September read Across the Nightingale Floor. Was anyone else planning to read that one?

[Sarah]

I read Nightingale back in September. I'm willing to discuss it with you if nobody else is reading it. I just finished Doomsday Book and I need to start Moon.

[Valerie]

How was Doomsday? It is not available through any of my libraries and I am trying to keep my book budget down (I may have already way overspent this year).

[Michael]

I thought Doomsday was fantastic. Only one of my libraries carries her books, but I guess I should feel lucky that it's not zero - sorry you can't find it, Valerie!

[Sarah]

I loved Doomsday even more this time around. She writes some really fantastic characters.

Valerie, you could try interlibrary loans. They take time since the library has to track it down, but at least you could read without adding to budget strains.

[Valerie]

I may just request that the library acquire it. They are good about eventually obtaining reader requests, it just sometimes takes a while. I try to limit it to things that I know I will like.

Thanks for the thoughts on this one!

[Valerie]

Sarah, I just finished Nightingale and posted on the final discussion.

[Michael]

I got my copy of The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress today. I'll start it Monday. I see people have been posting to the First Impressions thread. Here are the threads for each part of the book:

The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
First Impressions (no spoilers)
Discussion with Spoilers for Book One: That Dinkum Thinkum
Discussion with Spoilers for Book Two: A Rabble in Arms
Discussion with Spoilers for Book Three: TANSTAAFL!

[Sarah]

I'm hoping to start Wed or Thurs.

[Sarah]

Is anybody ready to start Zoo City? I'm hoping to start next week but I can wait until after Christmas if that's what everyone prefers. It's a reread for me but it was such an enjoyable and interesting book!

Are we doing this same thing next year?

[Michael]

Sarah wrote: "Is anybody ready to start Zoo City? I'm hoping to start next week but I can wait until after Christmas if that's what everyone prefers. It's a reread for me but it was such an enjoyable and inter..."

My queue is full for December so I won't have time for Zoo City, but I'll update the links/list if you all start reading it.

I can coordinate again next year if that works for people. The title of this thread is generic enough I am thinking we can just keep using it, unless anyone thinks that would be confusing for some reason...

[Maggie]

I started Zoo City earlier this week--so far it is a fast and enjoyable read...

[Sarah]

I'll be starting Mon or Tues. I think this one is fun.

This thread works for me. It might get really long!

[Sarah]

Did Perdido Street Station get done last year? I would really really really love to do that in Jan. It's a long, cold, dark month (for those of us in the northern hemisphere ;) ) and I'd like to tackle a long book.

[Maggie]

I would be up for Mieville's The City & the City!

also I for sure want to read:
The Algebraist
A Night in the Lonesome October
The Strange Affair of Spring Heeled Jack
A Scanner Darkly
The Dispossessed

adding a couple more:
Fahrenheit 451
Watchmen
The Road
Blackout
The Day of the Triffids
The Snow Queen
Zodiac
The City & the City
The Anubis Gates

[Sarah]

Unless I have a strong opinion, I'll probably not suggest particular books. I have tons of reading time on my hands and I can do what I prefer at other times. I do want to read all of the groups books at some point so I'll be reading whatever you guys read as well. I want to read some Mieville for sure and I'm definitely going to do Perdido in Jan.

[Michael]

Sarah wrote: "Did Perdido Street Station get done last year? I would really really really love to do that in Jan. It's a long, cold, dark month (for those of us in the northern hemisphere ;) ) and I'd like to ta..."

Interesting, maybe no one got to it? I'm very tempted, I'm just not sure that my January will be free enough. I'll keep it in mind.

[Sarah]

Maggie, I'm finally starting Zoo City.

[Michael]

I thought I would poke people who are watching this thread to make sure everyone knows we are starting to talk about the 2015 challenge and group reads for next year's challenge books. If you are interested in getting in on the discussion, make sure to check out the thread here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Sarah]

Thanks, Michael. I was kind of scratching my head because that conversation belongs on both threads!

[Michael]

And we are all getting ahead of the "actual" thread for the 2015 Challenge, that Kim said he would post later. (Although maybe the "Getting Started" has morphed into the 2015 Challenge thread now...)

In any case, once we start deciding about group challenge reads for 2015, I will make sure they are posted to this thread!

[Sarah]

For those who are reading The Handmaid's Tale with us in January - make sure you read the 'Historical Notes' at the end. It's actually a part of the story and it made a pretty big difference for me.

[Richard]

Michael wrote: "And we are all getting ahead of the "actual" thread for the 2015 Challenge, that Kim said he would post later. (Although maybe the "Getting Started" has morphed into the 2015 Challenge thread now...."

Michael, is the group within going to read a set list of books in 2015? I know the discussion as I am following looks like:

January -- The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood.
February -- Fuzzy Nation by John Scalzi
March -- Ready Player One by Ernest Cline and The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury

Is March going to be a double read month for us? Also, I will concentrate on the discussion of Fuzzy Nation since I and reviewed it in 2014, if that's okay?

Also, my lists in work can be found in post 24 of the Getting Ready for 2015 discussion. I will be happy to amend my list to jibe with the group within when we have the list set up or do it as we go...

[Michael]

Richard wrote: "March -- Ready Player One by Ernest Cline and The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury

Is March going to be a double read month for us? Also, I will concentrate on the discussion of Fuzzy Nation since I [read] and reviewed it in 2014, if that's okay?"

Anyone who has read the books already is welcome to the discussions! In fact, we use the old discussion threads so that people who read and discussed them years ago can participate if they want to.

We set up the first three months based on current interest, and March had two factions, so we planned two books. Originally, they were going to be totally separate, since the people interested in reading Ready Player One weren't interested in The Martian Chronicles, and vice versa, but then Edwin said he would read both so I suppose for anyone interested in both of them who has the free time, it would be a double read month... (It could just be a double discussion month, as in my case, where I will be finished with Ready Player One before March, and plan to read The Martian Chronicles during March...)

[Richard]

Michael wrote: "Richard wrote: "March -- Ready Player One by Ernest Cline and The Martian Chronicles by Ray Bradbury

Is March going to be a double read month for us? Also, I will concentrate on the discussion of ..."

Thanks, Michael, exactly what I wanted to know. Looking forward to reading with you all in 2015!

[Edwin]

Richard wrote: "Looking forward to reading with you all in 2015!"

Excellent. And in case you didn't catch it over on the other thread, we plan to start these side reads on the 15th of the month to give folks time with the monthly selections. Welcome aboard.

[Edwin]

It looks like we also need to add Neuromancer to our group read list sometime this year: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Sarah]

That would be great :) It looks really interesting.

[B.H.]

I've been told it's really a good read, and this would compel me to read it!

[Michael]

Barbara wrote: "I've been told it's really a good read, and this would compel me to read it!"

It's definitely in the top 13 of my current tally (seven are tied for second place), so it seems like a likely candidate for this year's reads...

[Edwin]

I just started The Handmaid's Tale. Awfully darned good so far. Just sayin'.

[B.H.]

Agree wholeheartedly!

[Sarah]

I really loved that book. I can't wait to reread, although I'm waiting until next week.

[Michael]

Sarah wrote: "I really loved that book. I can't wait to reread, although I'm waiting until next week."

I'm in the queue at my library, hopefully next week, too!

[Alexandra]

Edwin wrote: "I just started The Handmaid's Tale. Awfully darned good so far. Just sayin'."

It's brilliant, though I prefer not to read it again, since it's somewhat depressing.

[Maggie]

Alex wrote: "Edwin wrote: "I just started The Handmaid's Tale. Awfully darned good so far. Just sayin'."

It's brilliant, though I prefer not to read it again, since it's somewhat depressing."

that is my feeling too Alex-loves it but don't want to go through that again

[Sarah]

I waited a few years for the reread. Rather than depressed I was pretty much emotionally destroyed after reading it. But it was such a good book that I'm looking forward to it. I'm also wondering if it will have such an intense impact this time.

[Teresia]

This book got me hooked on Margaret Atwood. Her books are all a little dark but great. Next try Oryx and Crake