The Readers discussion
Episode Discussions
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Things We Want Simon and Thomas to Talk About
These are all fantastic ideas!Annie wrote: "Per their suggestion in the most recent episode, let's give the guys some things to talk about in the future:
1. Thoughts about the Nobel Prize for Literature going to an [author:Patrick Modiano|1..."
I have young children who read all of the time. Perhaps discuss books that you would consider a necessity to a child's library. Not necessarily children's books, but books that they can read up to adulthood. Are there classics you would consider necessary? New books that feel timeless and necessary to include?
Here's another one: Should author's seek out reader who write one-star reviews on Goodreads?
Melissa W wrote: "Here's another one: Should author's seek out reader who write one-star reviews on Goodreads?"Oooh, good one. I always love hearing about bad author behavior.
What about how you influence others to read? I know you both blog and have the podcast, but on a more personal level, how have you encouraged those around you to read?
Every time it gets real quiet on this site, I always imagine everyone one off reading intently. It is a nice image. Here are some topic ideas for you guys, since Simon asked.
1. Maybe you could talk about The Night Guest? I mean, a few of us read it with the idea that you might….Thomas has brought it up a couple of times on the podcast. Come on, just talk about it already. Who cares if you don’t remember every detail. After all, it has been months since we’ve read it as well.
2. Chat about “unlikable” characters. I doubt that either of you require characters to be sympathetic to you in order to enjoy a book. Can you think of any characters that you have loved and why you loved them despite their inherent unlikablity? For example Notes on a Scandal. I loved that book and found the narrator fascinating, but no one in it is very nice. Or in another direction, the Mapp & Lucia series. If you saw either Lucia or Miss Mapp on the street, you would run in the other direction. But I love reading about them and their petty intrigues.
3. How do you feel about the retellings or extensions of classic stories? Like Susan Hill’s prequel to Rebecca or Jean Rhys’ prequel to Jane Eyre. Normally I steer away from that sort of thing. I did like The Wide Saragasso Sea. I am not sure if I really understood it, but it is at least so very different from Charlotte Bronte, that it didn’t bother me. But I didn’t like Tom All Alone’s with the incorporation of characters from Bleak House. I found it distracting.
4. Discuss some of the books that wouldn’t let you go. You know, the kind that live in your head for a while after you have read them. Or the kind of book that so enraptures you that you are a little surprised when you look up from the page to find that you are still in the real world after all. This might happen to children more than adults, but I know it happens to me still.
5. Growing up and out of books. Are there any books, favorites from the pass that you are afraid to go back to? Maybe Thomas will have to take this one, since Simon is barely out of his teens :). I have noticed, however (at 49) that there are books that I read a mere 10 years ago that might not appeal to me now.
6. Talk about books to movies and vice-versa. I know Simon had a fabulous discussion with Rob & Kate re: Gone Girl, which I really enjoyed. I am not expecting either of you to go into that type of detail. But how about TV shows or movies that encouraged you to read the book? Or vice versa. Or adaptations that you feel are particularly true to the book version?
7.Thomas recently blogged about what a (pleasant) surprise The Sparrow was, since he is not a big sci-fi reader. Can either of you think of other books that you didn’t expect to like but really did after all.
Anyway, food for thought. Love your podcast, regardless of what you talk about!
Great suggestions Ruth! I am really hoping for a podcast soon. I count on it to get me through my long waits to pick up my daughter. And I second The Night Guest discussion! I even recorded thoughts and sent them along.
I won't say that Simon is the one dragging his feet on The Night Guest. But he is.
In relation to the Nobel Prize, I wonder if it would be interesting for Thomas and Simon to look through the list of winners, pick out the ones they've read and give us their thoughts on them.
Like the idea of talking about prequels and sequels, how about discussing the merits of authors writing new versions of classics as we've seen this year with Val McDermid who did a take on Northanger Abbey for the Jane Austen project http://theaustenproject.com.
why don't author read there own books for audio
Thomas's comment about Simon wearing white gloves while he read his books had me wondering about reading habits. Do you eat or drink while reading? A favorite beverage? A favorite food? Are you too worried about spilling on the pages?Do either of you annotate your books? I enjoy looking at the marginalia that I find in used books, although I refuse to buy a used book with highlighter marks.
Do you get books for Christmas, or are your families too frightened to buy you something that you already have? What books are you giving as gifts this year? What top recommendations do you have for us looking for Christmas gifts?
How have your reading interests changed over the years? What do you still love? What have you grown out of? What new interests have you discovered?
I am also looking forward to the Night Guest episode!
Night guest! Night guest! Night guest!
I was wondering if either of you have any thoughts on the current YA craze amongst adults? I was searching for book blogs written in my city and all I could find were adult women reading, almost exclusively, YA novels. I don't know that this craze exists in Britain, but I notice it everywhere in Canada. Why do you think so many people gravitate to this type of book? Is it mostly people who were not readers before and find them easier to read? Are the stories more entertaining? Personally, I don't see the appeal, but there must be something to it if so many people are reading them. Thanks :)
@Shiela: I wonder if this is really that much of a trend in the big scheme of things. I think it is possibly more a reflection of the type and age of person who is inclined to blog and their reading tastes. It is slightly more difficult to find bloggers who aren’t blogging about the Mortal Instruments Series, or the Selection Trilogy, or the Hunger Games Trilogy, or the Lunar Chronicles, etc. (they all seem to be trilogies or longer). But they are out there, Simon, Thomas and Gavin being cases in point. I am not super keen on Young Adult literature either. I've read a few popular titles (The Fault in our Stars, The Book Thief, We Were Liars,...) and while I like some of it well enough, I don't love it.
I understand the criticism of adults that read YA, but I also feel like many YA books present issues of complexity that illicit discussion. Any book that leads to another is worth reading. Many YA books may naturally lead to books with meatier substance or that are multi-layered. As a teacher, I could say to a student reading The Hunger Games, "But have you read 1984?" And off we go!
I guess I should have clarified a little (but I was trying not to write the longest post ever!) I actually don't have a real problem with YA Fiction either - I have definitely read and enjoyed some myself - including The Book Thief (I cried)and The Hunger Games. And I certainly don't have any issues with young adults reading YA stuff. Its meant for them, and can be incredibly poignant. Its mostly those adult readers who will only read YA Fiction. And maybe, like you say Ruthiella, its not a craze at all, and just the type of bloggers I was able to find. That's actually kind of what I was wondering. I have been hearing an awful lot about it lately, and was wondering if I was the only one!
Sheila wrote: "I guess I should have clarified a little (but I was trying not to write the longest post ever!) I actually don't have a real problem with YA Fiction either - I have definitely read and enjoyed some..."Sheila, you should check out Thomas' blog roll on his website. He follows a few bloggers that are maybe not located in Ontario, but they are in Canada. I know for sure that http://geraniumcatsbookshelf.blogspot... and http://kevinfromcanada.wordpress.com/ are Canadian bloggers. Then again, maybe you already follow them?
Elizabeth wrote: "I understand the criticism of adults that read YA, but I also feel like many YA books present issues of complexity that illicit discussion on a number of issues. Any book that leads to another is w..."I am a teacher, too. Although this concept of YA leading to deeper reading seems reasonable, I wonder if you have actually found it to work. I am constantly introducing my students to more literary works through a connection with YA, but I have yet to see them really take to the more challenging works. They complain about the "big words" or the "slow plot," and go back to the latest sparkly vampire/dystopia/girl-with-bow-and-arrow book that is written on a fourth or fifth grade level.
Don't get me wrong - I would rather my students read anything rather than watch T.V. or scroll through the internet. I just wonder if anyone has done a study of the effects of reading YA on later reading habits.
I am thoroughly puzzled at adults who read YA exclusively. I read the latest popular YA titles to keep up with what my students are reading, but I spend most of my reading time reading books for grown-ups, since that is what I am.
I am no longer looking for my identity and place in the world as are the teenage protagonists of YA fiction. My children are in college, and I am looking at the last half of my life and contemplating the ramifications of the decisions that I have made that have brought me to this point in my life. I am over the troubles of teens.
Good people of Goodreads: The Night Guest discussion has been recorded!
Finally! :) I will put my pitchfork down now. Looking forward to listening to it!
Hooray!Thomas wrote: "Good people of Goodreads: The Night Guest discussion has been recorded!"
Thanks Thomas and Simon for discussing Night Guest! I can't wait to hear the podcast.
Melissa wrote: "Elizabeth wrote: "I understand the criticism of adults that read YA, but I also feel like many YA books present issues of complexity that illicit discussion on a number of issues. Any book that le..."I think some of my students did take my suggestions in earnest Melissa. It's not easy to get kids to read in the first place, so I took into account the type of reader I was dealing with before suggesting certain books.
I have a nine year old daughter, so I still read many books that are YA and children's literature also. There are many authors that I truly enjoy in this genre, so I imagine I will read any book these authors publish even if it falls into these categories.
That said, I don't exclusively read YA. I do often find myself saying, "If I were a teenager, I think I could love this book" about certain titles.
Thanks for the thoughtful discussion.
oh! thanks for the heads up Thomas! I had picked The Night Guest up recently in the hopes I would get to read it before you did an episode on it! now I know I have a deadline :-)
Melissa, I agree completely. as an adult I am interested in adult themes. Again, I think there is some very good and very important YA fiction out there, but it seems that if an adult is only, and constantly, reading YA fiction, and usually it's the stuff with no substance, isn't that almost like a regression? this ended up being more of a discussion than I was intending :-) thanks ladies!
Thomas wrote: "Good people of Goodreads: The Night Guest discussion has been recorded!"So glad to read and I can't wait to hear what you both have to say about it. Although I read it over the summer, it has stayed with me more than some of my other books read this year.
Sheila wrote: "I was wondering if either of you have any thoughts on the current YA craze amongst adults? I was searching for book blogs written in my city and all I could find were adult women reading, almost ex..."I read anything, literary fiction to young adult, and love it all. I read YA when I need a "bridge" from a book hangover to my next book. I also read YA during the school months, because I am in grad school and have little to no time for my passion of reading. YA helps with that, the stories are entertaining, but not too deep, and usually are quick reads.
I know that Simon and Gav have talked about book culling in the past, I'm not sure if Simon and Thomas have talked about it since then, but I am always interested in how people maintain their collections. Their book buying, sorting and culling habits. How do you decide which books to buy new, which books are you ok with buying used or borrowing from the library? Is there a particular criteria that a book needs to fulfill in order for you to buy it? Any rules that you set for yourself when judging books to get rid of? The other day I saw a book vlogger that claimed one book in particular was so bad that it was the only book she wouldn't mind burning if she had to and yet I was surprised to find it still had a home on her shelf.I am always curious about this subject because it seems as book lovers these are questions and decisions that we are constantly asking and making for ourselves on a daily basis... unless we are one of the lucky few that have unlimited space and resources for our ever growing libraries. And it is often a struggle to make up one's mind. I love to hear about what works for others and compare it to what works for me.
We've heard our fearless duo talk about books they love. How about sharing insights on books that you really hated. Not just disliked or didn't care for much, but books that evoked a very strong reaction. What turned you off them? Were they so bad you wonder how they ever came to be published?
Melissa wrote: "Elizabeth wrote: "I understand the criticism of adults that read YA, but I also feel like many YA books present issues of complexity that illicit discussion on a number of issues. Any book that le..."I am annoyed that it seems that a book where the main character is a teenager - must be YA. I disagree! I personally don't think The Book Thief has a more YA feeling than many adults books (and was frankly suprised to find it in the YA section!), and I've enjoyed Joseph Delaney's spook series The Spook's Apprentice and Marcus Sedgwick's The Book of Dead Days for their originality, atmosphere and language. Same as Neil Gaiman's Coraline, these books are in my opinion all quite dark and have literary qualities and complexities, that surpass the majority of popular fiction for adults (in my Humble opinion ;-D )
But I guess that brings us back to the *establishing definite genres is difficult* discussion? :-)
hope it's not too late to chime in with another topic i'd like to hear more about. for me, it is those reads that are a kick in the stomach. the ones that leave you feeling like you've been run over by a bus. i love them, although i can't read two of these back to back - i need something light in between. for example, i'm thinking "the road", "a meal in winter", "sophie's choice", "brokeback mountain" (yes, i know that one is a short story), "upright piano player", "bastard out of carolina" and "the things they carried". why is it that some of us love books that make us feel like our intestines were ripped out and stomped on?? are we completely loony? i'd love to hear from other goodreads folks as well as simon and thomas (and gav if he'd like to chime in). how do you feel about "kick in the stomach" reads? and can you recommend others? thanks all! pam
I think this is a great topic Pam. I find myself drawn to books like this too. And I definitely can't read two of them back to back.
Thanks Elizabeth! As I think about this more, I generally only read one or two real kicks in the stomach per year. But that is enough. They stay with me long after I've put down the copy. And since I don't usually read blurbs, they sometimes sneak up on me.
I think Simon will like this topic so I am not going to chime in with any comments or I won't have anything to say on the episode.
The Sparrow was like that for me. I read it two years ago and it sill rips me up, just thinking about it.
Suggestion for podcast topic--thoughts about self-publishing (before it was PC, vanity publishing)now Indie publishing.Does it cloud the landscape of good reads or enhance it?
On self published books, given ebooks are usually cheap it is easier to take a chance on new author IMO. and to stop reading book is not up to standards.
@pamI love books that rip my heart out.
I think most people have been brought to tears by The Book Thief but the worst/best for me was A Monster Calls. I cried with almost every page and was a wet rag by the end but I still felt uplifted.
thank you Esther and Ruthiella - I'm adding "a monster calls" and "the sparrow" to my stack! I've already read "book thief" :-) why oh why do we love the torture so much? I promise I'm not a depressed sadist. maybe it's because I have a happy life with (thankfully) very little drama so I seek it out in books? perhaps Thomas and Simon can provide some insight/psychoanalysis.
On the topic of self-publishing - I thought this was such a boon (and maybe it really is) to books but I find that there's so much it's difficult to wade through. Publishers serve a "gatekeeper" type role in sorting all this out and bring forward the best (maybe?) of what there is to be published. Maybe? Agree/disagree? I'd love another opinion about that as I find it hard to identify the "gems" amongst the self-published stuff.
I would love to hear Thomas and Simon talk about their TBR piles/lists. What happens when the list starts to get out of control? If you add one thing, do you have to take off another? Is there a period of time after which, if you haven't read a book, you feel you'll never read it and have to take it off the list?
What do you do after you've read one of those books that rips your heart out? Take a break from reading? Marathon a season or two of Doctor Who? Read something light and silly? I am grateful to Simon for introducing me to the beloved Agatha Raisin. M.C. Beaton's books are the best for recovery after reading something devastating. They are short, sassy reads that mend my heart.
I'm new to the podcast and group but have been binge listening for the last couple weeks - love the company on my commute! I was super excited to hear you mention The a Sparrow. For many years I've called that and the follow up (Children of God) my favorite book - I lump them both together because part of what I loved so much was the way the second book changed some perceptions from the first. I haven't read them in many years but am excited/nervous to read them again soon. What if I don't love them as much? Really looking forward to hearing you discuss it more when you've both read - and hoping maybe you will talk about both books too. I really feel like the second adds a lot.
In light of the announcement of a fourth Lisbeth Salander book, what do you guys think of other writers finishing books by recently deceased authors? Should characters and stories go into that good night, too?
Thomas touched on the subject of rereading a couple of times in the most recent episode, which was timely for me as I had thought about suggesting rereading as a future topic for discussion. There are a lot of books on my shelves that I would like to reread, but how do I find the time to reread old books when there are so many new books that I want to read? Sometimes, I'm so overwhelmed by the number of new books to choose from that I have great difficulty deciding what to read next (which is a nice problem to have). In the past year, I have managed to reread two or three novels, but there are a many others (mostly classics) that I would like to read again.Do others find the time to reread?
I scarcely ever reread. I agree, there are so many new books out it's hard to see how one could.
I have only re-read books recently. And I read two books that I read twenty years ago (one I recalled, one I had no memory of at all). I think there are way too many books out there to get to for re-reading.
The Readers
Books mentioned in this topic
The Book Thief (other topics)A Monster Calls (other topics)
The Spook's Apprentice (other topics)
The Book of Dead Days (other topics)
Coraline (other topics)
1. Thoughts about the Nobel Prize for Literature going to an Patrick Modianoauthor very few of us have heard of. Again. Should the Nobel committee change their criteria? What would your criteria for the Literature Prize be?
2. Books and relationships. Do you try to share your reading life with your husband/significant other? Tried it in the past? Is it a reasonable expectation to try and share your joy of reading?
3. Thoughts about the Future Library: http://www.katiepaterson.org/futurelibrary. Are you annoyed that you can't read these books? Intrigued by the project?
Apologies if you've discussed any of these before. I'm kind of new here.