The Lies of Locke Lamora (Gentleman Bastards #1)

[imyril]

Book 4 (The Thorn of Emberlain) comes out on 21st July (in theory, all being well, pending announcements from Mr Lynch and Gollancz, etc). This gives us time to (re)read Books 1-3 - depending on how many pages/week everyone feels is reasonable and when we start :)

Lies is 500 pages. Seas and Republic are about 600 pages each.

To stick at 100/pages (roughly), we'll want 17 weeks to read all three before Thorn is released - or to step up the pace slightly. I suggest we rocket through Lies in 4 weeks, following the structure of the book (as there's no easy way to break up Seas or Republic around book structure - but there are convenient chapter breaks to give us ca. 100 pages/week).

Our schedule:
Wk1 / 7th April: Prologue and Book 1, hosted by There's Always Room for One More
Wk2 / 14th April: Book 2, Ch4-6, hosted by There's Always Room for One More
Wk3 / 21st April: Book 2 Ch7-8 and Book 3, hosted by Wendy at The Bibliosanctum
Wk 4 / 28th April: Book 4 and Epilogue, hosted by Over the Effing Rainbow

[post edited to reflect final schedule]

[Lisa]

I think the 4-week schedule starting in March(?) would work best for me, since this will coincide with both the next October Daye read along and my proposed Split Worlds read alongs, assuming those go well enough to see us through all 3 books...

As for which day, I vote Thursday, since Sundays/Mondays are days I already use for posts (some of them for other Read Alongs!).

[imyril]

Hurray, Thursday it is. If we do the 4-week schedule, we can make our first date the 7th April - we'll wrap up Lies in April, and still have time to cover Seas and Republic by mid-July. So:

7th April Prologue & Book 1 - Ambition / Ch 1-3 (139 pages)
14th April Book 2 - Complication / Ch 4-6 (110 pages)
20th April Book 2 - Complications / Ch 7-8 & Book 3 - Revelation / Ch 9-11 (108 pages)
27th April Book 4 - Desperate Improvisation & Epilogue (141 pages)

[Lisa]

I'm happy to sign up for hosting duties also. ;-)

[Susan]

Andrea over at The Little Red Reviewer has lead read alongs for the first 3 books which I participated in. I love these books so depending on how things sit for me in April I may or may not do the read along again or may just pop in and read peoples' thoughts on the books and leave comments.

Perhaps we can couple with Andrea at LRR for a read along for Book 4? I would be surprised if she isn't planning anything and she's great to work with. Either way, I am most definitely looking forward to Book 4 when it comes out.

Susan

[Lisa]

Good idea! I remember doing a read along for Republic of Thieves with her. I'd be up for collaborating. :)

[imyril]

Ooh that's a good idea!

[Lisa]

Imyril wrote: "Hurray, Thursday it is. If we do the 4-week schedule, we can make our first date the 7th April - we'll wrap up Lies in April, and still have time to cover Seas and Republic by mid-July. So:

7th Ap..."

Could we edit the original post to add this there? I have learned that it's the easiest way to keep folks from taking note of the wrong version of the schedule... *Cough* ;-)

[imyril]

Absolutely :) I'm learning as I go on this read-along organisation business, so all hints welcome!

[imyril]

...and done :)

[Susan]

Very much looking forward to this. I will be rereading along, not sure if I will do posts or just visit everyone and comment. Shared this on my blog.

[Alexandra]

How fun :D I'll have to see what my TBR list looks like a little closer to the start date! (I do want to point out, though, that the July 21st date is *NOT* official -- Lynch and Gollancz have made no announcements about the release of THORN, so... I think Goodreads might be being a little optimistic here ;) Take it with a grain of salt.)

Also, you guys might want to let people in the GB fan chatroom know about the read-along, I'm sure there's lots who would be delighted to participate. http://camorr.ancilla.ca

[imyril]

Absolutely - it may all change! ...but any excuse to re-read, right?

We can always adapt the schedule to space the books out after Lies (as I'm assuming we won't need to accelerate ;)

(have edited the intro post to reflect your very good point)

[Andrea]

I'm in! (and ya'll should be proud of me, I dug out my GR username/password JUST FOR THIS)

like Alexandra said
"the July 21st date is *NOT* official -- Lynch and Gollancz have made no announcements about the release of THORN"

having been burned before, i am not overly optimistic, especially since there haven't been any official announcements. BUT, I'm all for a read-along! Ya'll know how obsessed I am with these books! :D

[Huda]

I have been wanting to read this for quite some time now. This is the perfect excuse to finally get round to it. Can't wait!! ;)

[Tiara]

I'll join in for this one. It'll help to get yet another book off my backlog. :D

[imyril]

Yay! If anyone would like in on hosting duties, let me know :)

[Lisa]

I believe I can take a week as host. (Any one, I'm not bothered.) :D

[Wendy]

Belatedly signing up for this :) If hosts are still needed, I can volunteer for the third week at Bibliosanctum.com.

[imyril]

Hooray! Will update :) I will cross promote with a reminder and blog roll on my blog tomorrow.

[imyril]

For those who like banners, I've cobbled one together - feel free to borrow (or make your own :)

[Lisa]

Imyril wrote: "For those who like banners, I've cobbled one together - feel free to borrow (or make your own :)"

Nice! I lack banner-making skills, so I shall borrow this one. :D

[Wendy]

Love it!

[Sarah]

Imyril wrote: "For those who like banners, I've cobbled one together - feel free to borrow (or make your own :)"

Ohhh, thanks for the banner!

[imyril]

Happy April! I'm a little over excited, so (spoiler-free) questions for this week nice and early:

1) We get a lot of detail about the city, from architecture and geography to social structure and the Secret Peace – not to mention the food! What do you make of Camorr?

2) What are your first impressions of the Gentleman Bastards? They are liars and conmen (and proud of it) – but do you think our thieves have hearts of gold?

3) Do you find the split timelines a useful device for filling in background without a lot of exposition? Which timeline are you enjoying the most?

4) Has anything taken you by surprise so far?

I think we've got some first time readers with us, so please be conscious of spoilers.

Discussions posts due on Thursday or thereabouts - let us know when they're up (I'll cross post to X+1 for the readers who aren't on Goodreads).

[imyril]

Happy Thursday! My answers for the week are here. I'm... loving being back in Camorr. Yes, it's a cruel city in many many ways, but the architecture and the food are pretty stunning and the wicked sense of humour is a delight.

[Wendy]

Tiara and I have responded here: http://bibliosanctum.com/2016/04/07/w...

[Saphana]

Hi all,

I'll join you occasionally to read/comment on other people's thoughts. I read about this group on tumblr, and -since I run a fanblog (sortof) for GB, SA and KKC- have been promoting this readalong. So, more or less only lurking.

[imyril]

Hooray! The more the merrier :)

[imyril]

Hooray! The more the merrier :)

[Sarah]

My response here - https://theillustratedpage.wordpress....

[Elizabeth]

My week's discussion is here https://booksarealibis.wordpress.com/...

[Lisa]

Whoops - forgot to add mine yesterday! Here it is: http://overtheeffingrainbow.co.uk/201...

[imyril]

The plot soup is starting to thicken, with some sharp and sour notes coming to the fore. I hope you're still enjoying the flavours. This week's questions:

1) Last week we saw the Capa in theatrical mode taking young Locke's oath on his enchanted shark's tooth. This week we see the former scholar carving up the surviving Full Crowns and swearing vengeance on the Grey King. What do you think of his responses to the Grey King's assaults?

2) We get our first glimpse of magic this week. What do you make of the Bondsmagi (and especially of the Falconer and Vestris)?

3) The Gentleman Bastards make plans for a hasty exit, but resist the urge to drop everything and go, because reasons. Seemingly entirely reasonable reasons. Do you think our boys are right to stay?

4) We've now seen a lot more Eldren architecture, including the spectacular rooftop 'rose garden' Don Maranzalla trains his students in. Do you think the Elderglass is a creation of magic, science or something else entirely?

[Sarah]

Were we supposed to read all of part 2? Or only a certain section of it?

[imyril]

Only part of it this week (to the end of Ch6).

Not that reading ahead is a problem; the questions just won't go all the way this week :)

[Sarah]

I'll be sure to limit my answers to the first six chapters then. :)

[Wendy]

Here are our answers (they will post tomorrow morning) http://wp.me/p4HcVc-4d3

[imyril]

My thoughts this week: https://onemore.org/2016/04/14/come-t...

[Lisa]

Here are my answers for Part 2: http://overtheeffingrainbow.co.uk/201...

[imyril]

Ok, we're half way through Lies, so I thought I'd ask now (because I'm away next weekend, so I won't be organised otherwise!)

- who wants to continue with Red Seas under Red Skies (Gentleman Bastards #2)?

- plunge straight on (so first discussion would be May 5th), or have a week's break (and start May 12th)?

(or indeed any other considerations - just shout :)

[Susan]

Sorry that I am behind in this read along. it's a reread for me and I am almost done with Section 1, so I will be posting soon(ish).

I'm all for doing Red Seas Under Red Skies, and whatever schedule works for all of you. Tho I will probably fall behind again due to illness and medical appointments. But, I will catch up.

[Wendy]

Questions for part 3 behind the spoiler cut:

(view spoiler)[
1. Camorr is clearly a man's world. One of the three female characters who could hold any sway was cruelly fridged, while another remains notably absent. Will Sabetha will swing in to save or seize the day? What are your thoughts on Donã Vorchenza's role?

2. Apprenticeships, fighting, farming--the Gentlemen Bastards have undergone some significant training (save for physiking!) and testing. What do you think of Chains' teaching methods. Do you think he adequately prepared them for their future in Camorr?

3. Pour out a forty for those lost. Share your thoughts on the passing of the Bastards and Barsavis.

4. Everything in this book has been a series of long cons. Do you think taking the Capa's throne is the end game for the Grey King? Or is there still more in store?
(hide spoiler)]

[Susan]

Here's my Week 1: https://dabofdarkness.com/2016/04/17/...

[imyril]

>42 no apologies, it's just lovely to see you jumping in :)

Okay, proposed schedule for Red Seas under Red Skies is as follows:

5th May Ch1-2 (96 pages)
12th May Ch3-4 (90 pages)
19th May Ch5-6 (92 pages)
26th May Ch7-10 (120 pages)
2nd Jun Ch11-13 (122 pages)
9th Jun Book3 & Epilogue (104 pages)

As ever, happy to take feedback - if you'd rather have a week off and/or a 5 week schedule with longer weeks up front, speak now.

[Sarah]

I'd be happier with a 5 week schedule with longer weeks, but I'm fine any which way.

[Lisa]

If a five week schedule is equally workable, I'd go for that, but I'm not particularly bothered by six. And starting on the 5th works for me. ;-)

[Tiara]

I'm possibly in to read the second book. My reading schedule will be a bit busier for the upcoming months with some blogging/reading commitments I've already made. But we'll see how I work it in. :-)

[Susan]

Here my Week 2: https://dabofdarkness.com/2016/04/19/...

[imyril]

Okay, 5-week schedule for Red Seas under Red Skies looks like this:

5th May Chapters 1-3 132 pages
12th May Chapters 4-6 146 pages
19th May Chapters 7-10 120 pages
2nd Jun Chapters 11-13 122 pages
9th Jun Book 3 & Epilogue 104 pages