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Episode ??: What would you like to hear on The Readers?
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Taking Reading for Granted?
I would be curious to know how you both feel about whether readers take reading for granted. Many people, of course, either can not, or choose not to read. My mother, who is in her 70s, has developed serious eye trouble, and it looks unlikely she will ever be able to read a physical book ever again. She struggles to keep reading with her Kindle, but she finds this experience to be difficult and unsatisfying. How would you cope if you were unable to read anymore? Or would you just make a seamless transition to audiobooks?
I would be curious to know how you both feel about whether readers take reading for granted. Many people, of course, either can not, or choose not to read. My mother, who is in her 70s, has developed serious eye trouble, and it looks unlikely she will ever be able to read a physical book ever again. She struggles to keep reading with her Kindle, but she finds this experience to be difficult and unsatisfying. How would you cope if you were unable to read anymore? Or would you just make a seamless transition to audiobooks?
Uncle, very interesting you should suggest this. It is very close to a topic that we are going to talk about when we do a recording tomorrow. Your question will weave in nicely.
I'd love your thoughts on what makes a good book review. So many times I read a review and I can't tell whether the reviewer liked the book, and I can't deduce whether I would like it. It's almost as if the reviewer is deliberately not drawing a conclusion. I always think it's fun to hear about a few of your most beloved books. I know it's a topic that's been covered, but I still love to hear that conversation.
I would like to hear your thoughts on lending books to other people. Do you expect to have the book returned? Do you only lend a book you know will get read? Do you set a time limit? Have you asked for a book to be returned when it was obvious the person wasn't going to read it? I used to have strict rules about my books, but now I give them to my reader friends, exchange them with friends here in good reads and donate them to my library. I keep very few of the books I buy now.
Another topic that intrigues me: How does a book become a phenomenon before it's even published? Is the buzz generated by the publisher? Witness the Goldfinch, Fifty Shades, etc. It seems that some books are talked about everywhere for months before they are available for sale, while other equally good or better books are allowed to quietly disappear without a ripple. What controls who gets the publicity and who doesn't?
I think an interesting topic might be language used in books. What I mean is I recently read a book set in the United States by a Scottish author. And she would use words that were specific to the British vernacular. My question is do you think it's important for a writer to stick to language of the geographic region, time period, etc. to make the setting more believable?
I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on broadening your reading horizons. We typically tend to find a subject, time period or genre that we love and never stray too far from it our whole reading career. Do you think it is important to push yourself into other genres or subject matter once and a while? Do you ever put those pressures on yourselves or make goals for yourselves based on that? For example, reading more classics or more translated works? Sometimes I feel like I have this hypothetical checklist that I have to accomplish. I have never read any graphic novels and now that they are becoming so popular I have this strong need to read one just to say I have. Is this something that we tend to do in order to prove somehow that we are in fact a Reader?
Along these lines, what's the best way to go about finding the really great books that don't get a lot of buzz and fly under the radar? I'm already anxious about all the hyped books I won't get to, so why add even more, but I suspect there are a lot of really great books that for whatever reason don't get the attention they deserve and it seems like there isn't a great (i.e. easy) way to find them. I guess that's what book blogs are for, but a lot of those lean toward the mainstream as well. Holly wrote: "Another topic that intrigues me: How does a book become a phenomenon before it's even published? Is the buzz generated by the publisher? Witness the Goldfinch, Fifty Shades, etc.
It seems that..."
Elizabeth wrote: "I think an interesting topic might be language used in books. What I mean is I recently read a book set in the United States by a Scottish author. And she would use words that were specific to th..."I think that maintaining British English in the U.S. publication of a book (and vice versa) is so important and often it gets edited out, which drives me nuts. Readers aren't stupid. I read Enid Blyton as a child and loved the "exotic" words in her books (and understood them from context) like knapsack, wellingtons, and tins.
That's true. My nine year old daughter will ask me what words mean now that she is reading Harry Potter. Words like the loo and crumpet.
How about the role of pets in your reading life? I know that Thomas has a dog, and that Simon has cats. Every evening, one of my cats will sit on the back of the couch and meow until I sit down with my stack of papers to grade and my books. He then curls up on my lap for a nap, occasionally waking up to bat at the paper, or to rub his face on my e-reader. It seems most of my reading has purring as a soundtrack. I can't bear books with the death of dog or cat. This is very strange, because I read mysteries and thrillers with bodies stacking up everywhere, but the death of a puppy just makes me throw the book across the room. By the way - thank you, Simon, for introducing me to Agatha Raisin.
I have heard of the celebrity of Bob the cat over in the U.K. I haven't read the book, but I put it on my TBR. True pet stories seem to have become very popular lately. Do either of you enjoy them? Has Simon been to a book signing by Bob the cat? I would enjoy updates on Simon's cats and Thomas's dog.
Melissa,What a great topic! My dogs chew my books up all of the time. I've had to purchase over $100 worth of library books. I put them in a place I think the books are out of the way, but they still manage to get them!
Although it's very likely that you couldn't talk about this for fear of losing listeners, but nevertheless, I'd be interested in hearing about books/authors you can't abide and that make your nostrils flare when they're mentioned. If not, books you regretted to abandon.
Sam wrote: "Although it's very likely that you couldn't talk about this for fear of losing listeners, but nevertheless, I'd be interested in hearing about books/authors you can't abide and that make your nostr..."Sam, That is totally a topic I would like to talk about.
Possible topic: Children's Literature: Is it ever too late for adults to read classic children's literature?
Uncle wrote: "Possible topic: Children's Literature: Is it ever too late for adults to read classic children's literature?"If Thomas ever reads the Little House on the Prairie or the Anne of Green Gables series as he noted in Episode 97, that might tie in nicely.
@Uncle and @Sue, your dreams are coming true this week. On Tuesday's episode we will be talking about books that are under the radar and reading children's books as adults. Incendiary things are said...though not necessarily on those topics.
Looking forward to this week's episode!
I wondered about lgbt fiction - I have read some lgbt books & have watched quite a few lgbt films through lovefilm, but I've never read a book which focused on being transsexual, but I think thst this would be an interesting theme. Have you read much of the T in lgbt & if so what would you recommend?
Maybe this has already been mentioned but what about a short ditty on book blogs, specifically your favorite blogs, what you want from a blog, blah blah blah. Because, if there's one thing I love (other than books) it's writing about writing!
Sarah wrote: "I wondered about lgbt fiction - I have read some lgbt books & have watched quite a few lgbt films through lovefilm, but I've never read a book which focused on being transsexual, but I think thst t..."Hi Sarah, I've read two really good novels in recent years that deal with transgender issues that I can recommend to you (apparently our "book compatibility" is 80% so chances are... you like what I like and vice versa:-) :
In One Person by John Irving and
Annabel by Kathleen Winter
Perhaps that's a starting point for you. Enjoy!
Kats
Hi Kats,Thanks so much for the recommendations! I'll check both of those books out. I didn't know there were compatibility ratings on here, how do you find them? I cant view your profile to see your books.
thanks x
Hi Sarah, I'll send you a friendship request which should allow you to look at our "compatibility". The button is "compare books", and it will list all the books we have in common on our virtual gr book shelves and come up with a %age based on our ratings.My profile is set to private which is probably why it didn't work, but it's a fun feature.
Kats
Thanks- I've been comparing with everyone now, it is fun!
Isn't it?! If I come across a well written review, I check the "compatibility" between its author and me, and if it's at least 70% I start following their reviews. Looking forward to reading yours, Sarah! :-)
Possible Topic: Reading and the seaons
How does the passing of the seasons effect your reading? Do you prefer to read books in the same season in which they are set? Do you save certain books for certain times of the year? Or do the seasons factor in your reading at all?
I notice how some indulge in their "guilty pleasure" reading during the summer, but return to more serious fare in the fall. In my own reading, I tend to save anything ghostly or supernatural for October. And for some weird reason I love reading murder mysteries over Christmas, though I suspect this may have to do with how much time I have to spend with my family.
How does the passing of the seasons effect your reading? Do you prefer to read books in the same season in which they are set? Do you save certain books for certain times of the year? Or do the seasons factor in your reading at all?
I notice how some indulge in their "guilty pleasure" reading during the summer, but return to more serious fare in the fall. In my own reading, I tend to save anything ghostly or supernatural for October. And for some weird reason I love reading murder mysteries over Christmas, though I suspect this may have to do with how much time I have to spend with my family.
I was interested that recently Simon compared I'm the King of the Castle to Lord of the Flies. I have not read ITKOTC, but am several notches less likely to read it as a result of hearing the comparison with LOTF. That may be unfair to Susan Hill, and may reflect a problem I have with William Golding (I resented LOTF and simply loathed Pincher Martin: have never brought myself to try any more of his books. In both cases I can explain why, but that's another issue...)What I wanted to suggest as a result of this is a kind-of topic suggestion, something like... Authors you unfairly don't read? Authors you've been put off by one or two books? Or because someone said "If you liked A you'll love B" and you HATE A? And perhaps - what to do about it?
The Readers
Books mentioned in this topic
In One Person (other topics)Annabel (other topics)
So what do you think? Any burning issues you have always wanted discussed?