The Great American Read discussion
note: This topic has been closed to new comments.
Old Posts 2018
>
Get to Know You! 2018
date
newest »
newest »
message 151:
by
Hajar
(new)
Aug 05, 2018 07:28PM
Hey! i'm not American. My name is Hajar. I'm 20. I'm from Kuwait. And I enjoy reading a lot, obviously :p and i'm really glad to enjoy this group and get the chance to know you all.
reply
|
flag
Hajar wrote: "Hey! i'm not American. My name is Hajar. I'm 20. I'm from Kuwait. And I enjoy reading a lot, obviously :p and i'm really glad to enjoy this group and get the chance to know you all."Welcome! Lol, don't think citizenship is required! :D
Mod
Charley Girl wrote: "Hi, I'm Charley. I've been a member of goodreads for about 6 years. I am in a few other groups but I liked a lot of the books on this list so I thought I'd join and see how it goes.
I've rad both ..."
Welcome Charley and Hajar!
Feel free to add comments about the books you already read. We set up topics for most of the books on the list. Look near the bottom of the page for the books we haven't read yet.
There are several open "Best of" polls (for opinions, not to vote on a group read). I'll add more every week or two.
I just put up a new nomination for September too.
Hi everyone! My name is Marielle and I live in Utrecht, the Netherlands.
I love to read (but hey, I think everyone on GR does :-))
I joined GR a couple of years ago, to make a list of the books I own and the books I haven't read yet. I find myself finding lots of good suggestions on this site and it's great for looking for the order in which to read books by the same author.
I love lists, so when I heard about the GAR , I had to check it out.
I did both quizzes:
Of the whole list I have read 44, of the top 40 I have read 28
So my TBR pile has grown even bigger!!!
I would love more friends on GR, so feel free to sent a friendinvite!
Does anyone add a seperate shelve for this group?
Enjoy your day!
Marielle
Mod
My name is Marielle and I live in Utrecht, the Netherlands.
I love to read (but hey, I think everyone on GR does :-))
I joined GR a couple of years ago, to make a list of the books..."
Hi Marielle. 44 is great! Yes, I have the whole list in MyBooks, plus some breakdowns based on genres (though I may have missed some). The GAR shelves start with the number 0 to keep them at the top of the lists.
Unfortunately, we can't just copy a list from someone else's shelf. You'll need to click on each one and tag it with your own gar shelf. If someone knows a better way (perhaps using excel) please let me know!
Take a look at the Current Read folder, the Lonesome Dove folder and the Buddy Reads-War and Peace folder, for our current reads. Add comments, and pick the one that appeals to you most. You can read comments to help you decide, but avoid the spoiler threads if you haven't already read the book. Happy reading!
Hi, I'm Jennifer. I'm glad to join both the GAR group and Goodreads. I'm a Spanish lit professor, so this past year has been the first year I've been back into English-language literature since high school. Looking forward to good discussions and recommendations in this group.
I’m atlanta , I’m a barista and a barista trainer and a divorced mom of a teenager. Grew up in sf , now live in the north bay. I’ve read 11 books on the list since May 22 and am currently reading/listening to dune, fellowship of the ring, wuthering heights, outlander and Jurassic Park. I intend to read as many books on the list as I can before oct 23.
Mod
Hi Jennifer, I'm glad you could join us. We have a lot of discussions going on, so jump right in! You and LInda can compare notes on Spanish lit, and the rest of us can suggest English lit.
Mod
Hi again Atlanta. You're doing great!
Hello and welcome. Look forward to having your participation!
Yikes! I've just discovered The Great American Read and have a lot of catching up to do! I've always been a reader, and in fact canceled my TV service, partly so that I have more time to devote to reading. Which is why I didn't see this PBS special until a friend told me about it yesterday. I'm now watching it via Roku.I've read many of these books, and several are on my TBR shelf. In fact just this week I bought Americanah. I need to get busy
Judy - do you have the PBS app? If so, make sure you sign up for Passport. Only $5 (at a minimum) a month, and you have access to a large selection of programming.
Kirsten wrote: "Judy - do you have the PBS app? If so, make sure you sign up for Passport. "No, though I'm trying to decide if it's worth donating to my local station to get it. I'm not really interested in watching TV. In fact I use Roku mostly to stream my classical music station (KUSC).
I love the mysteries and dramas on PBS so it's worth it for me. I love having a ROKU for so many things. One, for watching YouTube in comfort.
Mod
Welcome Judy! You aren't too late to the party! In fact, we're reading Americanah as one of our group reads this month.
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
Mod
Dear all,My name is Judith, 25 years old.
I'm excited to read the books on the list, many of which I've been wanting to read for years :) I hope that having a reading challenge will help me read more (again). As an academic I read and write every day, but often the books I want to read for pleasure fall under the table...
I majored in English literature and philology and in urban studies, which is where I am writing my thesis/PhD right now. I'm from Germany based at Heidelberg University, but my research project is in New Orleans, so I travel back and forth.
Looking forward to many great reads and interesting discussions :)
Judith wrote: "Dear all,My name is Judith, 25 years old.
I'm excited to read the books on the list, many of which I've been wanting to read for years :) I hope that having a reading challenge will help me read ..."
Welcome to my world, Judith! haha
Ooooh, New Orleans.......lucky! But not so much when it's hot and sticky in the summer (I have bad hair). Welcome to the group!
Linda Abhors the New GR Design wrote: "Judith wrote: "Dear all,My name is Judith, 25 years old.
I'm excited to read the books on the list, many of which I've been wanting to read for years :) I hope that having a reading challenge wil..."
Haha, I have bad hair too :) But I love NOLA nonetheless
Judith wrote: "Linda Abhors the New GR Design wrote: "Judith wrote: "Dear all,My name is Judith, 25 years old.
I'm excited to read the books on the list, many of which I've been wanting to read for years :) I h..."
I wish I'd been able to spend more time there. Took a few days as a belated birthday trip with my niece (my birthday not hers, and other friends had to back out). Right before St Paddy's, so everyone was especially wound up. I had to visit dentist right off the plane (emergency, crown prep) on Wed afternoon, and it rained on Friday most of the day, and we came back Saturday or Sunday. But still, worth it, for the most part. Would love to see more.
J. wrote: "Judy wrote: "Yikes! I've just discovered The Great American Read ...In fact, we're reading Americanah as one of our group reads this month."Yes, I was happy to see that, as I had bought it already. Love it when that happens! I've just finished Two Years Before the Mast (not a GAR contender) and will be starting Americanah today.
Mod
My name is Judith, 25 years old.
I'm excited to read the books on the list, many of which I've been wanting to read f..."
The first time I went to NOLA for a conference, we visited the French Quarter the first night. A few minutes into our walk, a woman lifted her dress over her head exposing her entire naked body. We caught a glimpse of our surprised faces reflected in a window. My friend said, God we look like two school teachers from the midwest. I had to remind her that's pretty much what we were! (That was a great trip. I was a finalist for the best paper award.)
I went twice, the last one just before that devastating hurricane. How does it look now?
NancyJ wrote: "Linda Abhors the New GR Design wrote: "Judith wrote: "Linda Abhors the New GR Design wrote: "Judith wrote: "Dear all,My name is Judith, 25 years old.
I'm excited to read the books on the list, ma..."
I went after, just a couple of years ago.....The downtown looked okay. Our hotel was under construction (you can never see that online). Design was great, but the air made me sick. My niece said it looked "Murder-y", haha. It was right near Mother's restaurant, though, so after I got out of the dentist, not having eaten all day, we had a great dinner......let's just say that if there's a special hell for people who eat chicken, we're both going! :)
Mod
My name is Judith, 25 years old.
I'm excited to read the books on the list, ma..."
I was there several years after Katrina and there were still parts being reconstructed. Especially if you leave the city. Although the tourist parts seems to have been rebuilt quite quickly. I had been to south mississippi several times after the hurricane, the last time being that trip, and there was still a lot of reconstruction going on.
As for my first NOLA experience, my friends and I left Northwest PA after work one afternoon and drove all night and most of the next day. Having been up for over 24 hours, i declared that before we do anything, including sleep, we had to go to Bourbon Street. Not my best idea, but it turned out alright. Plus we had a day to recover before the ALA Conference started.
J. wrote: "NancyJ wrote: "Linda Abhors the New GR Design wrote: "Judith wrote: "Linda Abhors the New GR Design wrote: "Judith wrote: "Dear all,My name is Judith, 25 years old.
I'm excited to read the books ..."
omg, your eyes have to be wide open on Bourbon Street, to make sure you can see well enough to step around the puddles of...........???
Yes, in three days we didn't have enough time to step outside of the city centre. We were going to bike the mansion district, originally, a larger group was going, and that was one of the activities that I thought most or all 4 or 5 of us would do without kvetching. But then the rain....:(
Hello, nice to meet you all. I'm Jannicke (or Nicki if you prefer), I'm 34 year old catmom from Sweden. I prefer to read and watch horror, sci-fi and urban fantasy, and have a special love for the classics. I found the GAR just a few days ago, and by the name I thought it would be the greatest books from America. So I was surprised to see so many non-american writers on the list. Since I've read so few books on the list (and because I love reading lists in general) I have decided to try to read all of them, starting with Frankenstein this october, and see how long it will take me. I'm dyslexic and a slow reader so most will probably be audiobooks, especially the longer ones. I hope to join in group reads as much as I can and will do re-reads, those I previously DNFed (50 shades), and those I'd prefer to never pick up (Twilight) but I will just read the first novel in a series, at least at first.
Jannicke wrote: "Hello, nice to meet you all. I'm Jannicke (or Nicki if you prefer), I'm 34 year old catmom from Sweden. I prefer to read and watch horror, sci-fi and urban fantasy, and have a special love for the ..."Welcome, Jannicke!
Bless for you being brave enough to try those DNFs again. I wouldn't have the time, but admire anyone with the pluck to dedicate those hours!
Hope you've noticed that we have an October discussion going on with Frankenstein, and that you can join us! (and for the others, yes, I'm using "us" loosely, since work commitments have put me behind on chiming in on GAR discussions).
Mod
Welcome Jannicke! There are a lot of great books to read first, so don't worry. I was pleased that the list includes many Authors from outside the U.S. We are a land of immigrants after all. (Despite what you might hear from some of our leaders.)
We're discussing Frankenstein now, but you might also want to look at Past Group Reads. You can read comments and add to the discussions. New posts show up in red, so if we spot it, we will respond. One of my favorites was A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.
In November we will read the winner of The Great American Read, which will be announced Oct 23. It might be To Kill A Mockingbird, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, or who knows?
Jannicke wrote: "Hello, nice to meet you all. I'm Jannicke (or Nicki if you prefer), I'm 34 year old catmom from Sweden. I prefer to read and watch horror, sci-fi and urban fantasy, and have a special love for the ..."We were also surprised, at first, and then we realized that "American Read" meant the American public reading, not limiting authors by nationality (the Great British Read a couple of years ago did the same thing).
Yes it does make sense once you stop and think about it. And it's a great idea! I looked for the British read and found that a few other countries had done something similar as well. Very interesting to see what different countries voted for, and I have decided to print the list for at least the British one to check off the ones I read for the American read, and then continue with the British read afterwards. I will have something to read for years it feels like!
Jannicke wrote: "Yes it does make sense once you stop and think about it. And it's a great idea! I looked for the British read and found that a few other countries had done something similar as well. Very interesti..."No kidding! The British list had TWO hundred books on it!
Hi - I'm an Aussie who is a transplanted American, having arrived in Australia 50 years ago. Now I'm able to read to my heart's content, and I thought I'd check the GAR list and your group. I'm a member of many groups, and I have to say, you lot look like an interesting bunch! : )
Aw, jeez, thanks! :P Welcome to the group!
Linda Abhors the New GR Design wrote: "Aw, jeez, thanks! :P Welcome to the group!"
: )
Mod
We're *something*. That's for sure!
Hey everyone!My name is Luciano, and I'm from Argentina. I haven't been reading so much lately (although I used to), and I've been looking for a group that might "force" me into some rhythm. I love your selection, so I'm excited to start reading and discussing with you!
See you around!
Mod
My name is Luciano, and I'm from Argentina. I haven't been reading so much lately (although I used to), and I've been looking for a group that might "force" me into some rhythm. I lo..."
Great. Welcome! It's not too late to read To Kill a Mockingbird with us. It's not too long, it's a great book, and we'll keep the folder and discussion open for more discussion.
Hello - I am Matthew from Greenwood, Indiana. I found out about this group from your moderator, NancyJ, as she is a member of my group Reading List Completists. In that group, any book list is fair game and I have had Nancy add the PBS list to our collection.Feel free to check us out if you need more inspiration!
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
Mod
Thanks Matthew! There is some overlap with some of the other lists and the Great American Read list.
Hello everyone! I am late to the party, having found this list in OCTOBER--where the heck was I this summer?? Anyway, I have currently read 55 books out of the 100; and my reading goal for 2019 is to finish the list. I just finished Anne of Green Gables (I know. It's embarrassing that I hadn't read it before, but there it is) and have The Martian and Call of the Wild up next. Glad to find everyone!
Mod
Right now we're reading Little Women and Heart of Darkness. Join the discussion if you've already finished them!
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group...
We're also reading Pillars of Earth as our big read this quarter.
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group...
We leave our threads open so you can add your thoughts to anything you've already read!
Marla wrote: "Hello everyone! I am late to the party, having found this list in OCTOBER--where the heck was I this summer?? Anyway, I have currently read 55 books out of the 100; and my reading goal for 2019 is ..."Not at all! I hadn't read them until I did the whole series, last summer....and I'm, um, over 29 :P
Mod
I didn't discover Anne of Green Gables (and the other books in the series) until I was well over 29😉 I didn't read most kid's books until I was an adult.
This topic has been frozen by the moderator. No new comments can be posted.
The Great American Read
Books mentioned in this topic
Only Time Will Tell (other topics)A Prayer for Owen Meany (other topics)
Twilight (other topics)
Twilight (other topics)
Twilight (other topics)
More...
