Introductions

[Nigeyb]

Brenda's here. Hurrah

[Susan]

Welcome, Brenda. I'm from rainy London and you are very welcome to the group - I am currently loving The Painted Veil which I first read many years ago.

[Brenda]

Nigeyb wrote: Brenda's here. Hurrah

That's really lovely. Thank you!

[Brenda]

Thank you Susan and Jan! I'm glad to hear The Painted Veil is such a well liked book. I'm looking forward to the discussion.

There are a few other books going on this month that look interesting, that I might give a go as well.

[Tania]

Welcome Brenda.

I also loved The Painted Veil and I'm looking forward to rereading it.

[Brenda]

Lynaia wrote: Brenda, since you’re in the Detroit area, do you get over to John King Books much? We used to make a trip about once a year but of course that didn’t happen in 2020. I could spend days and a fortune in that place!

I have been, yes, and used to go quite often - but not in some years. I've been to the smaller store in Royal Oak more recently, but again not in some time. I was going to try my local library used sale last month, but we went into tighter restrictions and it closed.

[Brenda]

Hi Tania!! :))) Long time no see. ; )

I love when you find a new group that looks promising, and they're are already some lovely people that you know are already members.

[Tania]

😃

Some great books coming up here too.

[Michael]

Hi and welcome Brenda, I'm from a very frosty North West of England.
And Susan, having just finished The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath, my book friend Ally recommended The Painted Veil, but have few books to finish off first. Isn't that always the way.

[Judy]

Welcome, Brenda, glad you have joined. I haven't started The Painted Veil yet, but am looking forward to it.

[Brenda]

Hi Judy, thank you!

Michael, thank you! Yes, the book pile is always there lurking and slowly simmering I think. :)))

[Brenda]

Tania wrote: Some great books coming up here too.

I just noticed the December read is High Rising. 😂😂 perhaps I’ll change that other nomination. 🤣

[Tammie]

Hi all my name is tammie i from usa and i loved to read DYSTOPIA
CRIME and THRILLER and Young Adult and Mystery and Fantasy
thanks for letting me join.

[Ben]

Hi. I've been enjoying participating for the past few months and I'm overdue in this thread.

I mostly read fiction, history and philosophy, although my interests in psychology, current affairs, music and religion sometimes find their way into the books I read. I also spend too much time on the daily broadsheets and publications like the New Yorker and NYRB.

I worked as a lawyer for over 35 years but I retired 4 years ago. My time for reading books was terribly limited while I worked, and reindulging in this since retirement has been great. Theatre hiking and travel are fun too, but Covid.

I grew up in America, but moved to the U.K. nearly 25 years ago and I love it here, although I do wish we were still part of the EU. I hope we don't lose Scotland too.

[Nigeyb]

Welcome Ben. I really enjoy your contributions

[Alwynne]

Hi Ben although we've sort-of met. I agree about the EU, and have similar concerns about Scotland.

[Judy]

Welcome, Ben, I've also been enjoying your contributions. Glad you joined us.

[Roman Clodia]

Great to have you with us Ben, and nice to know a little about you now :)

[Bronwyn]

Welcome Ben! I’ve been quiet lately so don’t know you yet, but it’s always nice to have new people. :)

[Susan]

Welcome Ben. Hello Bronwyn :)

[Jonathan]

Hi Ben,
Good to learn a bit more about you. Your Anglo American and literature trilogy makes me think of Bill Bryson!

[Ben]

Thanks for all the greetings. This is a terrific group.

I wish I could be as funny as Bryson. His books on growing up in 1960's Iowa and hiking the Appalachian trail made me laugh, as I have a full acquaintance with that era and some familiarity with Iowa (2 years) and the woods, although I'm more of an urban creature and make sure to keep away from bears.

[Ang]

22 years in Iowa for me, Ben. Bill Bryson definitely makes me laugh.

[Stephen]

Hello. I'm Stephen and I'm from Scotland.
I rediscovered my love of reading for pleasure around 5 years ago. This past year I have read more translated fiction than ever before, thanks to a couple of online bookclub I joined during the first Lockdown.
I recently finished In Memory of Memory and at the online book club meeting to discuss that book, W G Sebald was mentioned. Another GR friend mentioned a forthcoming buddy read of Austerlitz in June. I hope to be able to join in.
I look forward to meeting new Goodreads friends.

[Roman Clodia]

Welcome, Stephen! We are indeed reading Austerlitz in June, starting mid-month. It would be great to have you join us - and hopefully some of our other upcoming reads will be attractive too, check out our Upcoming Reads thread.

I have In Memory of Memory to read soon, too.

[Susan]

Hi Stephen - welcome to the group :)

[Judy]

Welcome, Stephen. Good that you have joined us.

[Nigeyb]

Welcome Stephen

[Bronwyn]

Welcome, Stephen!

[Stephen]

Thanks for all the lovely words of welcome

[Rise]

Hi, I'm Rise from the Philippines. GR member since 2009. I enjoy reading books in translation and prefer novels over story collections. For a time I favored Latin American novels, then Japanese, then local (Philippine) lit. Now I'd like to read more of good writing, classic or otherwise. However, my reading time is very limited nowadays. I don't mind reading plotless and slow-paced stories or stories with nothing much happening. I also don't mind if I can't relate to the characters I'm reading or if they are unlikeable, flawed, or flat characters. I find I no longer enjoy reading stories told in a linear manner. I get a better sense of whether I would like a book or not by reading one-star reviews of it in Amazon and GR. It's very likely that what some readers hate about certain aspects of a book are what I'm looking for.

[Nigeyb]

Welcome Rise.


What an intriguing introduction.

We certainly read and discuss some books which probably meet your criteria.

[Susan]

Hi Rise. Yes, very intriguing indeed and a reminder that what some people dislike really ticks other reading boxes.

[Bronwyn]

Welcome, Rise.

[Rise]

Thanks for the welcome! Guess I just graduated from semi-lurker to participant.

[Susan]

No need to lurk - it's all very friendly here :)

[Roman Clodia]

Yes, welcome Rise. I agree that 1- and 2-star reviews can be more illuminating than the favourable ones sometimes.

[Judy]

Welcome, Rise. Intriguing to hear of the kinds of books you are enjoying.

[Wayne]

Hi, I am Wayne from South Africa. This group was recommended to me by a friend from another group (Thanks Carolien).

I read mostly anything but shy away from Mills and Boons type of love stories, but if nothing else is at hand, I will give it a go. Just finished A Morbid Taste for Bones, and Currently reading Eco, Kundera, Anthony Trollope, Hunter S. Thompson Sara Paretsky, Chinua Achebe, Georges Simenon, James Church, George Bernard Shaw and Isaac Asimov. And lots more on the To-Read shelf.

I had a quick glance at the group files , and I am sure I will join in with some of the group reads sooner rather than later,

So thanks for accepting me and looking forward to my time here.

[Nigeyb]

Welcome Wayne

[Roman Clodia]

Welcome Wayne - that's certainly an eclectic reading list! I'm sure you'll find group reads to interest you here so do dive in :)

[Wayne]

Thank you Nigyeb and Roman Clodia.

[Susan]

Hi Wayne. Welcome to the group. The sister group that Judy and I run, "Reading the Detectives," are currently running buddy reads of the Cadfael novels, so feel free to have a look there too, if you are interested.

[Wayne]

Susan wrote: "Hi Wayne. Welcome to the group. The sister group that Judy and I run, "Reading the Detectives," are currently running buddy reads of the Cadfael novels, so feel free to have a look there too, if yo..."

Hi Susan, thanks. Will definitely have a look. I am reading the Cadfael series in order, and have just finished the first one. I am exploring other detective/investigator series, a kind of "sleuthing around the world" reading trip, so your group sounds like it's made to order. See you there.

[Judy]

Welcome, Wayne, glad you have joined, and look forward to seeing you at our other group too. :)

[Ben]

Welcome Wayne. This is a terrific group, with a great selection of Group and Buddy reads and intelligent and inclusive commenters. You’ll enjoy it, and we’re glad to have you.

[Wayne]

Thanks Judy and Ben

[Bronwyn]

Welcome, Wayne!

[Lynaia]

Welcome to the group Wayne!

[Nidhi]

Hi all, I am Nidhi, I have been member of this group for sometime but could not introduce myself formally. I am a classic literature lover who wants to go along with modern times also, i think we need to know classics just to grasp what modern thinkers are writing like Joyce in Ulysses lol.

I will be reading A fine balance and am currently reading In Cold Blood. I am a slow reader but as crime fiction is not my favourite genre , i have become a snail.