Random Chatter Showing 501-550 of 6,503

[Margret, Caladan Brood Face]

Here's what I've been doing to get to the front of the library line on digital titles (on Overdrive)

-1-2 weeks before release date- do a search in the overdrive app (example The Legion of Flame).

-if your library is set up for pre-reservations you can either reserve before release date

-or if they haven't purchased it yet, scroll down, it will show titles that you can recommend. Recommend the title, and you will be placed first on the reservation list for the title and use the auto checkout feature.

I've done it for both Our Dark Duet and the Legion of Flame. I knew they'd purchase the former because it's a popular author, and that was my way of skipping the line.

[Niki Hawkes, I made it past GOTM... barely]

Ooh! Thanks for that tip! I didn't know you could recommend and then reserve something on OD.

[Margret, Caladan Brood Face]

I'd done it before for certain titles that were already released but not purchased by the library, but just in the last week realized that I could recommend a title that they'll buy anyways and it'll make me be the first one!

[Niki Hawkes, I made it past GOTM... barely]

I was prepared to go hogwild, but it appears they'll only let me recommend two at a time lol. What I'm trying to do is figure out how to recommend a title in audio when they already have the ebook. If they have the ebook already, then it doesn't give you that recommend option. Have you come across this? And if they decline my recommend, does it drop off to make room for another?

I'm excited about this if you couldn't tell.

[Scott , Karsa Orlong]

I recommend books all the time. I can do three per week. It shouldn't matter if they have the ebook when recommending the audio. What I have to do is scroll down below all the ones they have and it queries more books which are part of the over drive available but not at your library. I recommended the second Monsters of Verity book for audio as an example long before either the ebook or audio were released.

[Margret, Caladan Brood Face]

I think mine only lets me have 3 or 4 recommendations at a time, but after they buy a title I go back and delete my recommendation (not sure why it keeps it). I think it's under your account page with the holds etc

[Niki Hawkes, I made it past GOTM... barely]

Scott wrote: "I recommend books all the time. I can do three per week. It shouldn't matter if they have the ebook when recommending the audio. What I have to do is scroll down below all the ones they have and it..."

Huh, I can't seem to get a query of any sort if they already have an ebook. I wonder what I'm doing differently.

[Niki Hawkes, I made it past GOTM... barely]

Niki Hawkes wrote: "Scott wrote: "I recommend books all the time. I can do three per week. It shouldn't matter if they have the ebook when recommending the audio. What I have to do is scroll down below all the ones th..."

I don't think that feature is enabled for my library - I found a help section on it and it doesn't match what I'm seeing. Oh well.

[Niki Hawkes, I made it past GOTM... barely]

Niki Hawkes wrote: "Niki Hawkes wrote: "Scott wrote: "I recommend books all the time. I can do three per week. It shouldn't matter if they have the ebook when recommending the audio. What I have to do is scroll down b..."

nvm... I figured out my issue. lol
Thanks Margret and Scott! :)

[Chris]

This seems like as good a place as any to do this, so here it goes:

I would like to thank each and every active member of this reading group (mods and normal alike) for helping me find the joy in reading again! I've read more books in the last six months than I have in the last six years. My discovery of goodreads was completely accidental, and I didn't even know that reading groups existed let alone online groups. Part of the reason I stopped reading is because I'd purchased some real stinkers or I was only reading a couple of authors and it got old real quick. Everyday over breakfast I check my notifications from the group and I get to read your thoughts on your latest reading conquests, or tidbits about your lives, or congratulate your progress on new challenges or series completed. Maybe one day when I'm 76 I can claim to have read as much as Scott or Niki lol! Because of these updates and the reading challenges, I've discovered new authors and series that I don't think I ever would have, and it's exciting! I've also met people here that I can call friends and enjoy talking to on a regular basis. But the coolest part is that this group is on a global scale, so I'm making friends world wide! Cool people make a cool group, and in my opinion we're all popcicles! So from my wife (who recently joined us), my two sons and myself, thank you for playing a large role in our household happiness level! Keep those pages turning and those great reviews a coming! Happy reading everyone!

[Margret, Caladan Brood Face]

Cheers Chris, we are so very happy to have you (and your wife) here! This gives me all sorts of motivation to pull my socks up and read more than Scott this year. We can't let him get smug

[Scott , Karsa Orlong]

Chris glad you've rediscovered your love. Really for me it's been the last 18 months and through GR and the friendships that I've rediscovered my love of reading. Part of it as well has been screwing my neck up. Prior to that I had spent 7 years doing hardcore triathlon and cycling. Before that I had spent 7 years playing a ton of poker tournaments and I got into that because I had to quit skydiving after 8 years of intense training because of having kids. I've always had some interest that I've put everything I could into.

When it comes to activities I've always had an addictive personality. From sports as a kid and even learning games like cribbage and playing until I was blue in the face there has always been a main interest and a few side ones.

Margret.............I'm throwing down the gauntlet........you're not catching me this year. :)

[Seán]

Glad to hear you've picked back up reading and are enjoying yourself with it Chris! There's nothing worse than getting bogged down with some sub-par books and having that stall you out on reading the good stuff. I've always been a pretty avid reader myself, but I've enjoyed it even more since joining GR and specifically this group. Having people to get recommendations off and discuss common books with just adds a new layer to to reading and makes the whole experience even more rewarding than it already is. And from a writing perspective, my reviews on here are basically the only productive writing I do anymore, so I use them to keep me engaged and somewhat active in terms of that - another good reason to be here!

I'm trying to get my wife to sign up and get active on here as well! We read a lot of the same stuff and I always love hearing her thoughts on books we've both read. It seems like there are plenty of folks in here with a full family of readers, which is great to see!

So yeah, glad you're enjoying things Chris, and I can certainly echo your sentiments from my own perspective :)

[Margret, Caladan Brood Face]

And here my hubby will basically just read the tool catalogues that come in the mail :)

[Chris]

The biggest effect that this group has had on me occurred during the group read of The Dragonbone Chair. If I had bought that book and read it myself I would have given up around page 200 and would have missed out on experiencing a great novel! The only reason I pushed on is because some people in the group mentioned that it is known to be one of the slowest starts ever and that the rest of the series is one of the best stories ever written, and it's now one of my favorite books. I'm watching less tv, walking more since it leads to reading in the park (usually), and I'm having fun!

And Scott I'm a lot like you in the sense that my personal compete level is so high, it kills me to let my 7 year old beat me in games. Doesn't matter if it's battleship, fish or soccer lol. I played a lot of sports growing up (mostly hockey, rugby, tennis, wrestling, some cross country running) and through personal pride I had to push my limits and always give my best because I hated losing and it just didn't feel right if I gave less.

In high school, I had a very hard time first year, 32% was my highest grade. I dropped out, went on home schooling, got A's. Went back into school, did a grade 10 half day equivalency program, went back into regular classes (which I was told years later that it had never been done before, and I was the first student to ever graduate along that path), discovered that I loved working with metal. I told my high school counselor this and asked what I could do as a career and he told me that it was a waste of time because computers are the future and the trades were dead. Now that I know what a millwright makes versus a computer tech, I'd like to punch him! He also said in that same sitting that I was a waste of his time and if I didn't want to listen to him then I'd be nothing but a failure in life.

I guess I got my compete level in this part of my life because I refused to believe him. Since then I've been to college twice with a 3.8 gpa last time. I don't have a career yet because I studied Police Foundations, but they won't hire you with glasses anymore and I can't afford eye laser surgery so I keep looking but it's slim pickings lately. That, and there's the whole wide and two kids thing. I just finished my gun course to get my PAL and Restricted condition, so I'm thinking armored car soon, but we'll see! Anyways, that's the "Cole's Notes" version of my life lol.

[Chris]

Seán wrote: "Glad to hear you've picked back up reading and are enjoying yourself with it Chris! There's nothing worse than getting bogged down with some sub-par books and having that stall you out on reading t..."

I'm loving reading again, and as a result my 7 year old is asking me to read him books as well. So, I'm rediscovering books like White Fang, Jacob Two-Two Meets the Hooded Fang, The BFG, The Ice Dragon just to name a few. And because of this he's learning that a book is always better than the movie! So I'm super happy, and ya'll have your part in that, so thanks again!

[Margret, Caladan Brood Face]

I love hearing life stories. Everyone has something really interesting about them :)

[Margret, Caladan Brood Face]

I don't have the patience for homeschooling but some people are just amazing at it. I'd probably do it if my kids were having issues though so nothing is ever off the table

[Niki Hawkes, I made it past GOTM... barely]

Chris, seeing you express your newfound joy for reading makes me soooo happy! I know what this GR community has done for me, so it's always a thrill to see what it does for others. I keep trying to get my mom on here because she's my ultimate BR partner, and I know she'd have a lot of fun, but she's a self-proclaimed "tech-tard" lol. Anyway, thanks for your infectious enthusiasm, and I look forward to meeting your wife too (who has yet to be named...)!

[Chris]

Niki Hawkes wrote: "Chris, seeing you express your newfound joy for reading makes me soooo happy! I know what this GR community has done for me, so it's always a thrill to see what it does for others. I keep trying to..."

Oops, it's Anne-Marie, and you can tell her that I'm a tech tard as well, I pretty much just use my tablet for everything!

[Niki Hawkes, I made it past GOTM... barely]

Hi Anne-Marie (pretty name!).

I'm going to work on her haha. She keeps telling me I should get our book club up and running again, and I'm like... I did, kind of (via Scott), on FBR. Lol

[Angela, I'm Silverfox lost]

Margret wrote: "And here my hubby will basically just read the tool catalogues that come in the mail :)"

Hahaha Margret this is my husband. Or car magazines. He spends so many hours just looking at cars for sale online as well.

[Angela, I'm Silverfox lost]

Thanks Chris for telling us how much you are enjoying the group and reading. You're in the right place as we're all passionate readers too! I have to say you are so right. It is a lot of fun reading with others and reading their thoughts on a book. I have just as much fun buddy reading with one person vs if it's a large buddy read.

[Chris]

NIKI, I went to the library and it took all of my willpower to not get books 2 & 3 because I'm waiting for you! 😧

Yeah Angela, I agree that I'm in the right place, I quit the other group that i was in and haven't thought of going anywhere else. So you've got me for the long haul, and I'm a social butterfly, which should work out well!

[Niki Hawkes, I made it past GOTM... barely]

Ah!!! Okay I'll see what I can do. ::throws reading plans to the wind::

[Chris]

Niki Hawkes wrote: "Ah!!! Okay I'll see what I can do. ::throws reading plans to the wind::"

No you don't have to go to that extent! I'm reading Sea of Shadows right now, with The Eye of the World planned for July 1st, Storm Front planned for July 10th, and a buddy read with "Queen" doing Assassin's Apprentice sometime around the 15th or so. So whenever you're ready, just let me know. I can pick them up from the library for 3 weeks, so I'll just get them when you're ready to mark them off ;-)

[Niki Hawkes, I made it past GOTM... barely]

Okay, phew! Haha. How about we pick a date for the second one and I'll be ready by then? Eh?

[Anne-Marie]

Niki Hawkes wrote: "Hi Anne-Marie (pretty name!). "

Hi back Niki! 😊 and thank you for the compliment. I shall tell my mom you approve... 😉

As y'all can tell, Chris is the "social butterfly" of the relationship, I'm more of the "lone soldier on the battlefield" I read all the comments, but rarely reply. (At least for now)
Chris will make sure i check in one in a while, and he's showing me the ways of the site. So i should chat more in the coming weeks. I've yet to join you guys on a read yet though, baby steps.

AM

[Niki Hawkes, I made it past GOTM... barely]

Nice to meet you! And don't worry - lurking can be fun too haha. I think it was a good 4 months before I joined my first buddy read. :)

[Anne-Marie]

Niki Hawkes wrote: "Nice to meet you! And don't worry - lurking can be fun too haha. I think it was a good 4 months before I joined my first buddy read. :)"

Oh good to hear. I suppose Chris and I can do that together, read a book out loud to each other and review as we go. Though maybe that'd be cheatting... lol

[Niki Hawkes, I made it past GOTM... barely]

I don't think that's cheating, I think it's brilliant! The ultimate buddy read haha. I should talk my husband into something like that...

[Margret, Caladan Brood Face]

Hello Ann-Marie, glad to have you even if it's just to keep your hubby in line :)

[Anne-Marie]

Margret wrote: "Hello Ann-Marie, glad to have you even if it's just to keep your hubby in line :)"

Right! Somebody had to. 😉

[Anne-Marie]

Niki Hawkes wrote: "I don't think that's cheating, I think it's brilliant! The ultimate buddy read haha. I should talk my husband into something like that..."

Yep! Save on books too, only need one copy. 😊

[Margret, Caladan Brood Face]

Today completes my 30 days of an Instagram challenge with BookRiot. I made these Harry Potter leggings for day #30. Doing the challenge has inspired me a lot for our 31 Days challenge, but naturally because we are FBR we do things better, right people!!!??

https://instagram.com/p/BV9xyDelbNU/

[Jenna, I'd be free if not for Temper & Edgewalker]

Margret wrote: "Today completes my 30 days of an Instagram challenge with BookRiot. I made these Harry Potter leggings for day #30. Doing the challenge has inspired me a lot for our 31 Days challenge, but naturall..."

Your HP leggings are fantastic.

[Margret, Caladan Brood Face]

Thank you Jenna! Hope your vacay is going awesome! I'm sure it's well needed!

[Chris]

Happy Canada Day to my fellow Canadians! Let's show them Americans how to party, so they can show us up in about 3 days! lol

[Simi]

Happy Birthday to Canada! I remember visiting there a few years ago. ^-^ It was fun, even though I was with strangers. Haha ^^;

[John]

Hello, Chris and Anne-Marie! I really enjoyed your wonderful comments above. Goodreads has gotten me back into reading more during the past year, but especially this group. I was in 6 other groups, but since the moderators started this one, I have not participated in the other ones. This one just seems more personable, and you are not tied down to the one or two selections of the month like the other groups. These moderators are truly awesome - I have no idea what time commitment they are making for this, but the results make this a perfect group for me. And Happy Birthday to Canada from down here in North Carolina, too.

Changing subjects. As I get older, I complain more, so here goes:
Where does Goodreads get the page count for the books from? I am reading Eye of the World right now, and my hardback has 649 pages (without the Glossary), not 814 or whatever. Other times I have the Nook version of something, and its page count is not close to the Goodreads number, either. OK, I feel better now. Time to go eat breakfast and get my 10% off senior discount at Bojangles.

[Margret, Caladan Brood Face]

You often have to sift through all of the different editions to select the one with the matching page count. Then it will be accurate

[Chris]

Sometimes, it helps to look with the isbn number to match your edition.

[Niki Hawkes, I made it past GOTM... barely]

You can also scan the barcode in if you're using the app and it will usually match it right away.

[Scott , Karsa Orlong]

Just use the version with the prettiest cover or the highest page count. :)

[Angela, I'm Silverfox lost]

Margret wrote: "You often have to sift through all of the different editions to select the one with the matching page count. Then it will be accurate"

I do this too Margret. Haha though I like Scott's idea.

[Margret, Caladan Brood Face]

I'm hoping all of our American friends have a lovely holiday today :) cheers and be safe

[Chris]

Happy 241st Birthday to my Americam friends to the south of me! I hope you have a joyful and safe holiday with lots of sunshine and BBQs or quiet time and a good book! Whichever you prefer...Either way, CHEERS!

[Tammie]

Margret wrote: "I'm hoping all of our American friends have a lovely holiday today :) cheers and be safe"

Chris wrote: "Happy 241st Birthday to my Americam friends to the south of me! I hope you have a joyful and safe holiday with lots of sunshine and BBQs or quiet time and a good book! Whichever you prefer...Either..."

Thank you both!

[C.P.]

Thanks, Margret and Chris!

[Chris]

John wrote: "Hello, Chris and Anne-Marie! I really enjoyed your wonderful comments above. Goodreads has gotten me back into reading more during the past year, but especially this group. I was in 6 other groups,..."

Thanks John, and I personally feel that the people that I chat with in this group were instant friends. This is the first reading group that I've ever been a part of and I can't see myself going anywhere anytime soon. I'm reading more than I ever have and that can only be a good thing.