Open Chat in The Parlor.

[Tina]

Besides The Parlor, what are your favorite book discussion sites? Groups? Yes, I am looking for a new book discussion home. To add to The Parlor. And no, if I run into you there, I promise I will pretend I don't know you. lol

I left Agatha Raisin group which had about 3,000 members. I found there were more birthday, anniversary posts than book discussion opines. Nothing wrong with former but if that's all there is, than it's not for me. I like at least 50-50 book chats/life events.

So have at it, PI's I hope we're friends enough for you to share. ;-)

[Tina]

Finished another short script and have entered it in a few competitions. We'll see how it does. Not a mystery this time but more a historical-coming of age piece. Was inspired by a gal from another social media site. Kinda like women who run with wolves type of thing. lol

[Nicole]

Tina wrote: "Finished another short script and have entered it in a few competitions. We'll see how it does. Not a mystery this time but more a historical-coming of age piece. Was inspired by a gal from another..."

Congratulations, Tina! :-)

[Nicole]

Tina wrote: "Besides The Parlor, what are your favorite book discussion sites? Groups? Yes, I am looking for a new book discussion home. To add to The Parlor. And no, if I run into you there, I promise I will p..."

I have a few Facebook groups that I belong to, but only one that I participate in the monthly reads/discussions. I really like the intimacy of our group here, I know it would be nice to have more active participants but it's quite enjoyable to me. :-)

[Mark Pghfan]

I feel bad to be cheating on you all, but I participate in the Reading the Detectives group in Goodreads. They focus on the classic, golden age detective stories mostly, which are my favorite.

As you notice, I am still pretty active here as well!

[PugMom]

I have my cozy Facebook group and a local Goodreads group where we have been reading different genres of fiction.

[Tina]

Nicole wrote: "Tina wrote: "Finished another short script and have entered it in a few competitions. We'll see how it does. Not a mystery this time but more a historical-coming of age piece. Was inspired by a gal..."

Thank you, Nicole! Good of you to say. :-)

[Tina]

Thanks, PI's. You aren't cheating, Pghfan. There are so many choices out there. We like choices. ;-) Thing is, The Parlor seems like home to us (it seems) an though I've been to a few groups, I just like the intimacy of the family vibe we have here.

I was mulling idea of suspending reads for the summer. Maybe just check in here and there to keep the place open. Then in fall/winter (as we tend to come in and curl up and read) maybe resume read and discuss say, Sept-Feb. Any thoughts on this?

[Tina]

For PI's enjoying classics (not a book to my knowledge) just the other night our local theater ran Sunset Blvd. I wanted to see it on the big screen but couldn't make their showings so I watched it at home. William Holden, Gloria Swanson, Jack Webb...doesn't get more Old Hollywood than that. Fine movie with a mystery bent. Got a great rating. See it if you haven't yet. I think you'll like it.

[Mark Pghfan]

Sunset Boulevard is one of my favorites. I've watched it many times!

[Mark Pghfan]

I can go either way on the thought of suspending reads during the summer. I think it might end up disbanding things which would be very bad. I think the idea of reading some shorter things might make it easier for us with a lot of other reading on our plates (as well as being busier in the warmer months). At the very least, we should keep in touch over the summer.

Any other thoughts on Tina's idea?

[Nicole]

I would prefer not to suspend over the summer, but maybe just limit to one book/month. :-)

[PugMom]

There are lots of shorter books that would be fun to read. Even if we just went through as man Appleton books as we could that would keep us checking in but not take up too much time. They all seem short in length if I’m not mistaken.

[Tina]

I guess we could try the shorts maybe up 'til Sept. But then read and discuss full length books for the fall/winter.

[Tina]

Mark Pghfan wrote: "Sunset Boulevard is one of my favorites. I've watched it many times!"

I've watched it a few times, Pghfan, but never on the big screen. Always on tv. Wanted to experience it on a larger scale with the theater sound and all. It is a great classic; love the ref to Schwab's drug store. That's needed for readers, books lol. In fact I think Star$ had monthly Read Ins. That would be fun. To bring back real time book and movie discussions.

[Mark Pghfan]

In addition to shorter books, we could also look at some short stories.

[Nicole]

Mark Pghfan wrote: "In addition to shorter books, we could also look at some short stories."

Good idea! If we wanted to go classic we could include some of the Agatha Christie short story collections....both Marple and Poirot. I meander through those every so often. Just a thought!

[PugMom]

I don’t think I’ve read any of Christie’s short stories!!

[Nicole]

They’re fun to read, NicoleG. Since they’re so short, I really find myself paying attention because I try to find all the clues as she writes them! :-)

[PugMom]

That might be a great solution to our summer reading quandary !

[Tina]

Short stories would work nicely...esp. Christies. ;-) LOL

[Tina]

I think Clapham Cook was a short made to one of the earlier film adaptations in the canon.

[Mark Pghfan]

I am totally on board with Christie short stories.

[Nicole]

Tina, Clapham Cook was the very FIRST Suchet Christie story! :-)

[Tina]

Nicole wrote: "Tina, Clapham Cook was the very FIRST Suchet Christie story! :-)"

Yes! I loved it! The interaction 'tween the hired help (forget her name now) and Poirot was priceless.

[Tina]

Is it a short Christie or book #2 in Appleton series for June?

[Mark Pghfan]

I'll be fine with either one, but perhaps #2 Appleton might be nice for some continuity in the adventures.

[PugMom]

I agree. Appleton 2 for June then a short Christie in July sounds good.

[Nicole]

I agree, too! Appleton in June, short stories July and August! :-)

[Tina]

I'll get my copy. Anyone available to host #2 book? Do tell. :-) Thanks, PI's.

[Nicole]

I’m happy to host, how do we want to do it, do we want to split it in two again and do the first half of the book the first half of the month and the second half the second half of the month? Let me know, I’m open to suggestions! :-)

[Mark Pghfan]

I got the second book on Kindle yesterday. 99 Cents! It seems there are 17 or so of these!

May I suggest that we have two threads open for the book, one without spoilers (for those who've not finished) and one with them? That way, I won't forget what I've read before the second half starts.

Just a suggestion...

[Nicole]

Mark Pghfan wrote: "I got the second book on Kindle yesterday. 99 Cents! It seems there are 17 or so of these!

May I suggest that we have two threads open for the book, one without spoilers (for those who've not fini..."

That works for me, Mark. I'll start both threads June 1, and will try and hold off on reading until then! ;-)

[Tina]

Any way you wish to run it, Nicole. Thanks for the offer to host.

[Nicole]

Tina wrote: "Any way you wish to run it, Nicole. Thanks for the offer to host."

Tina wrote: "Any way you wish to run it, Nicole. Thanks for the offer to host."

My pleasure!

[Nicole]

Does anyone else find it funny that we're all referring to the book as Appleton 2 when it's actually The Bennett Case? ;-)

[PugMom]

Well, it was easier to call it that than actually look up book 2 and find the real title. It's even funnier that we all understood what book was being talked about LOL

[Nicole]

NicoleG wrote: "Well, it was easier to call it that than actually look up book 2 and find the real title. It's even funnier that we all understood what book was being talked about LOL"

EXACTLY, Nicole! We're creating our own book language. Pretty soon we'll all be finishing each others' sentences... ;-)

[Mark Pghfan]

If you noticed, the name of each of the novellas starts with the next letter of the alphabet. First, Appleton, then Bennett, then on through the ABC's.

[PugMom]

I didn’t notice that. I guess there will be 26 books!

[Nicole]

NicoleG wrote: "I didn’t notice that. I guess there will be 26 books!"

Mark Pghfan wrote: "If you noticed, the name of each of the novellas starts with the next letter of the alphabet. First, Appleton, then Bennett, then on through the ABC's."

Oh, I hadn't noticed that either, lol!

[Tina]

Works for me, PI's.

[Tina]

Appleton #2 for June? Looking forward to it. See you there. ;-)

[Mark Pghfan]

Yep! Started it last night.

[Tina]

Purr-fect!

[PugMom]

I have to finish up a few books for reviews and then I’ll start it!!

[Nicole]

Hey PIs, I just updated my account settings so that people from strange countries I've never even heard of will stop sending me friend requests. Please let me know if you guys/gals can still see me/my reviews. Thanks! :-)

[Mark Pghfan]

I see this post, Nicole!

[Nicole]

Mark Pghfan wrote: "I see this post, Nicole!"

Yay! Thanks, Mark!

[Tina]

Mark Pghfan wrote: "I see this post, Nicole!"

So do I Nicole. And I know what you mean. Someone was able to "Friend" me and I don't know anything about the member. I'd rather see who's who and Friend when I want to. Gotta find the setting to change that.