Things We Want Simon and Thomas to Talk About

[Lyn]

I agree that there are always new books to entice me, but every so often picking up a favorite book to re-read is warm and comforting. It's like visiting an old friend.

[Ruthiella]

I rarely re-read books due to the constraints of time and so many books, but I have found that listening to a book on audio is a great way to re-experience it. And because your hands and eyes are free to drive or do dishes, etc. there is less guilt or worry about "wasting time" re-reading.

[Elizabeth☮]

Good idea Ruth. I never thought of it that way.

[Molly]

I'm new to The Readers (and love!) so I apologize if this has been done already. Books being turned into movies and WHY they are. I heard Simon talking about The Martian and I know that movie is coming out this fall so it got me thinking. I also just finished Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith because the movie is coming out next weekend (Gary Oldman!) and started a "page vs. script" group with friends. Would love to hear you two talk about this (and then go off on many tangents!) :-) Thanks for the entertainment!!

[[deleted user]]

I would be interested knowing how you both (honestly) treat book recommendations from other readers. Do you sincerely take note of these suggestions? Or do you politely feign interest and ignore them.

[Maggie]

I would love to hear if you both gravitate to books put forth by specific publishers and if so who are your favorite publishers?
Also, have you ever read a book based on the editor?

[Sandra]

This might just be me, but I would like to hear about US vs UK editions. I really like UK covers, I think that there more colorful, and I wish I had the option to buy them here in America. You could also mention the difference in release dates for US vs UK.

[Thomas]

All good things I am dying to talk about.

[Ruthiella]

Sandra wrote: "This might just be me, but I would like to hear about US vs UK editions. I really like UK covers, I think that there more colorful, and I wish I had the option to buy them here in America. You coul..."

Hi Sandra,
You can, when it is in stock, opt for the UK cover of any book on The Book Depository (an Amazon subsidiary). I bought, for example, Tom All Alone's there because I didn't like the U.S. title or cover(ultimately, I didn't really like the book at all, but that is another story).

[Stephanie]

I know that Simon often talks about Australian books, and as an Australian, I'd love to hear him talk more about his favourite Australian novels. LOVED the Kate Grenville interview!

[Stephanie]

Sounds fantastic to me!

[Jae]

What are your thoughts on this petition getting Amazon to rethink how they know an author is connected to a reviewer and the latest controversy of deleting reviews? https://www.change.org/p/amazon-com-a...

Some authors claim reviews were deleted just because they were from the same town as the reviewer even though they don't know them personally. Others couldn't get Amazon to take down reviews that were clearly bogus.

[Ruthiella]

I was just reading Simon’s blog and he mentions “Will Eaves is my favourite author that I have never read. We all have those don’t we an author we just know we will love for some gut/supernatural/bizarre/random reason” and I thought (a) do I have any favorite author I have never read? and (b) this would be an excellent subject for The Readers Podcast. So put this on your list Thomas and Simon, if it is not there already!

Offhand, I cannot think of any favorite author I have never read. The only thing that quickly comes to mind are authors from whom I have only read one book but I am convinced they will become a favorite, so I buy used copies of their titles to stockpile when I see them. For example, have read The Blue Flower by Penelope Fitzgerald and Moon Tiger by Penelope Lively and thought both were brilliant, but I haven’t read any other books by either yet, to my shame.

[Dawn]

One subject that just came up of importance in the literary world to be talked about and we should question WHY ? The Pulitzer Prize Awards were awarded April 18th . Over 10, 000 entries or something like that and I had barely heard of the winners in the Fiction , Nonfiction , or Poetry categories ??? Ummm???? Oh ! I must not leave out the Biography, autobiography, and memoir category either. The journalism categories are presumably less likely that I may have read , although I do read The New Yorker and several newspapers online when I find something of interest . I do read quite a very wide range of every genre . I constantly search for trends in reading just as though I am a woman seeking new shoes to go with the latest fashion styles . Is that not crazy ? I am constantly on the search for the next book while I am reading three or four . Whichever book I am in the mood for when I have time to read is the book I choose. Some I devour in two sittings . I am a book hog ! Really ! I still manage to have an active life too. I care for my two loving parents. Cook, clean , I am a freelance writer , and promoter for many charities and artists . I also love my new hobby of photography . So , why I am obsessed with reading like there will be no tomorrow I have not a clue .
Back to the topic - the Pulizer Awards ! Who started all of this , what do they receive , who chooses, is it the highest held book award or is the National Book Award or the Nobel ??? We could all Google up lovely things and talk about all of the books that have won we agree are worthy or not worthy ! It always makes for juicy talk when everyone starts to discuss their favorite books !
What do y'all think ? Dawn

[Melissa]

I just listened to the latest episode of Books on the Nightstand. Will you two be discussing their announcement?

[Daniel]

Call me crazy, but I'd be happy for you just to talk about the books you are reading. I found the talk about authors you love that you have never read really frustrating. Most of the other book related podcasts are all by industry insiders and spend way too much time doing unpaid promotion for books that I won't be able to buy for another 6 months. It's super annoying. Imagine a movie or TV podcast that spoke exclusively about things they've watched that you can't. I don't mind a lead time of a week or two, but 6 months is just wasting my time.

I listen to the Readers because you're both readers. Tell us about what you're reading. Also, Simon, because you're based in the UK, you offer a perspective that none of the other book podcasts have. I'd love to get your review of UK based book stories. There are a ton of book articles published every week in the Guardian, Indy, Telegraph. Lots of book-related stories out there.

Of course, if you're ever looking to add a fresh voice with a completely different perspective... you should have your people talk to my people and we can set something up. Cheers.

[Elizabeth☮]

I have something that may work as a topic. When I was in college, a professor of mine once told us, "We have to read bestsellers so that we can remind ourselves of what makes literature good." I think of this often as I navigate reading choices and ponder what exactly he meant. I think I know what he was implying, but I think it can be an interesting discussion (for all its implications).

[Dawn]

YEAH !!! DITTO ! I very much agree with Daniel above that spoke about one hour and 32 minutes ago ! I agree totally 100% with every word he has written . I especially agree with the specific idea that there are cultural preferences in literature between those of us who live in different countries . I know there must be a different preference in my area. I am a Southerner in Oxford, Mississippi , home to Nobel prize winning author William Faulkner which is not at all a bragging issue . Oh! No doubt the man was a genius with no formal education he turned out the most emotionally charged and complicated works for his time and continues to shock those who read him now . I just think that is because of the rich material he was surrounded by in the Southern environment . Perfect settings, characters with unique qualities everywhere you open your eyes, and conflicts , well conflicts too many to count and endings are rarely ever solved happily , but there is always something entertaining or laughable about the happenings in the South . Why, just listen to the sound of our voices ? But, God loves us all ! The Earth is beautiful here . The days are mostly hot and long . The nights are filled with noisy insects and dark midnight blue skies with a mess of stars thrown up at random !
So , share your culture and beauty with us , Simon . I have always ached to visit . My Mama was in England with my grandparents during the war . She was allowed to go off the Air Force Base to a boarding school through the week . She was in with all of the other true Brits as Mama said and she felt awkward and scared with her Southern accent and different customs. She had to work her way in and she said she cried a bit but she did not show her tears. She said it was cold but it was very exciting and lovely in the countryside. I wanted to take her for a visit about this time in her life to see places she might remember or just to share with me the thrill of the Country she grew to love so much . Unfortunately , my Mama has become blind early due to macular degeneration . So , I will not be taking my Mama back to visit England. I probably will not get to go because time has just past me. Unless I win the lottery ! You never know ! So please look at Daniel's ideas and let's hear a podcast on the reads of both of you ! I so love your show ! Simon must know ! I think I wrote pages on a book review he wrote the other day . Yes, Simon that book you read is doing well in the States too. I am to read it next ! Have a great day !
Dawn

[Christine]

1. I don't know if you were planning to discuss this year's BOTNS book bingo, but even if you do not plan to participate this year, you could offer suggestions for the different categories. Also, are there any books that you read and loved last year for Bingo that you would not have read otherwise?

2. Speaking of bingo, I really enjoyed the Bookshelf bingo episode. You could do a smaller version (one or two books each) for one of your segments.

3. I also really liked episode 101, is there anything else that should be banished to room 101? Anything that can be let out of room 101? And is there anything that is the opposite of room 101 ( is a book tingle the opposite of room 101) ?

[Dawn]

Glad you liked the Brit idea , Simon , but we can surely add an American flavor from Thomas's point of view for us Stateside ! We could listen to the two of you compare or contrast bestseller lists in both countries but narrow it down to you and Thomas's faves ! That would be the best and is what I meant in all fairness . I just did not make myself clear . Sorry to Thomas ! I never forget him , ever !
Dawn

[Janet]

As I am planning to retire soon and hope to spend some time in the UK, I would love to hear about literary places to visit from bookstores to author's ancestral homes to festivals and everything in between. Maybe Thomas would be happy for you to do that episode with Rob ;-)

[pam]

Some quick suggestions -

I do love a read along. Any chance of starting something up again? Maybe take the bailey's short list or some such other list? I don't care if it's new stuff or old. Or maybe go back and forth between the two? One book a month might not be too much to handle. I've enjoyed reading along with your other podcast and even participated in "classically challenged". Which was challenging.

It's political season here in the states. Have either of you lovely lads read any good books with a political bent (fiction or non)?

I'm off to London next month. What are your favourite books that take place in or feature London?

Love the podcast. I've been a listener from day one. Please keep it up!

[pam]

I AM FAMOUS!! Woo hoo!!

[Robin]

Have you guys done an episode on translated works? Sorry if this is a repeat. I've only become a listener in recent weeks (you've made me a podcast enthusiast!) Trying to catch up on some older episodes but it only goes so far.....

I spent my high school years in the Netherlands and so read Harry Mulisch's 'The Assault" in Dutch (De Aanslag) but will be reading 'Discovery of Heaven' in English.

I'm wondering how much (or if at all) a book loses something in translation? Is it better to not read something that has been translated or is enough of the story saved to make it a worthy opportunity to discover a new culture. I've been trying to buy more foreign authors to diversify my bookshelves a bit.

I recently read the Three Body Problem which I loved! And while I could tell that there were aspects that probably didn't translate as well (with regards to either humour, play on words, names etc.) I still loved the book.

Just wondering what others thought.....

[Melissa]

I loved the Bookshelf Bingo episode! One of those episodes every so often would be marvelous.

I would love to hear whether or not you two intend to play along with Ann and Michael's Summer Book Bingo.

I went to London with my family for my 25th wedding anniversary, and I loved exploring the bookshops, the different cover designs, etc. I would love more talk about the differences between US bookish things and UK bookish things.

I also have several books that I purchased in London that I have not read yet. I am saving them. I don't know why. I guess because once I have read them, I won't be able to look forward to reading them anymore. Perhaps I should hurry up and read them, so I will have to return to the UK to buy some more! I have heard Simon refer to this as his "saving it for a rainy day" problem. Does Thomas do this as well? How do we overcome this? Should we?

We know how Simon feels about talking animals in books, but what about pets in books? I can read the most gruesome murder mystery, but if someone's cat dies, I am a wreck. On the BBC Kermode and Mayo film review, they were naming films that featured a pet in a prominent role, but whose name did not appear in the title of the film. I began to wonder about books that did the same.

If someone were to tell you that reading is boring, and ask for the title of a book that would get him or her to read, what would you recommend?

I enjoyed Thomas's description of the qualities a good bookstore should have. What about a good library? Where is your favorite place to read? In the winter, I am on my couch with a pile of blankets, a cup of tea, and my cats. In the summer, I am outside on my deck.

Do you do seasonal reading? Are there genres that you prefer to read at certain times of the year?

What do you love and what do you dislike about book clubs? What would make the perfect book club?

Classics versus new releases - do you try to balance out old and new titles? Should you?

What compels you to move a title up on your TBR pile? Sometimes a book on my pile will suddenly be mentioned in conversation, or on a podcast and I will think - it's time!

Actually, anytime you two just talk about what you are currently reading, and what you are looking forward to reading is delightful. I listen to your podcast while I run, and there are times I don't even notice that I have covered another couple of miles. Thank you!

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Have I asked this before? I ask this of everyone. How in the world do you keep up with quality independent publishers, and which are your favorites?

[Cindy]

Wow, all of Melissa's suggestions seconded!

[Julie]

Would love it if Simon and Thomas would talk about booktube!

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Simon wrote: "Jenny, I like this one very much. Will see what we can do with that."

Huzzah!

[Holly]

Why is it so hard to find a funny book -- one that makes me laugh? Maybe I'm reading the wrong ones, but books advertised as funny rarely make me laugh. Is it the nature of the medium? Is it me? There are movies that are unanimously acclaimed as funny, but not so much books. I wonder why that is.

[Holly]

Also, it's fun to hear more about what you're reading and how you like it.

Simon -- have you ever interviewed an author whose book you ended up not liking? Or do you only interview those whose books you enjoyed?

Finally, one of my favorite episodes of The Readers was the one where you selected the best books for each of the geographic sections of your respective countries. I don't know if you could do another episode like that, but it would sure be worth repeating if you ever need to run a best-of episode.

[Di]

Hi Simon
Have you ever done an episode about book covers? There's the old adage, 'Never Judge a Book by its Cover' and all that.
Do some book covers 'oversell' a book? Which covers don't do a book justice?

This was top of mind for me for two reasons - an author friend of mine was describing the problems she had negotiating a cover she liked for her book, and I read a blog post from a book cover designer where they said 'I don't bother reading the book - just the blurb to get a feel for it'.

[Sandra]

We should have a "The Readers Summer Reading Challenge" where Simon and Thomas give us listeners a list of books to read over the summer.
I used to love summer reading lists when I was in school!

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Sandra wrote: "We should have a "The Readers Summer Reading Challenge" where Simon and Thomas give us listeners a list of books to read over the summer.
I used to love summer reading lists when I was in school!"
Heck yeah!

[Thomas]

I just want everyone to know that Simon and I are loving all of this feedback. So many good, fun suggestions.

[Holly]

What about the topic of editors? Isn't a great editor a critical factor in making a great book? Why don't we factor in the editor of a book like we consider the director of a movie? How does a reader even know who edited a particular book?

[Dawn]

Hey Thomas ~ so great to hear a bit from you on all of these great ideas ! We have been missing your voice ! We all love this podcast and you can tell by this response , I hope ! By the way , how do you feel about some of the suggestions so far ? We need your feedback too !
Dawn

[Richard]

I'd be interested to hear a discussion about finding time to read. Simon and Thomas both seem to lead very busy lives, and yet they still find time to read a lot of books (not to mention time for blogging and recording The Readers and doing other book related things). I get most of my reading done when I'm travelling to and from work on the tram, which takes up an hour or so each day. (I love having that time to myself, just me and a book.) Apart from that, I read at night when I go to bed but some nights I nod off fairly quickly. I wouldn't have thought my life was particularly busy, but I just wish I could find more time for reading. So, Simon and Thomas, when do you get your reading done? I'm interested to know how others in the group find time to read, too.

[Cindy]

Would love to hear this chat too, Richard!

[Gail]

Yes, I am also interested in Richard's topic of when and where do you read?
Audiobooks on my phone have made all the difference for me. I listen at the gym, out in the garden, doing housework...all kinds of activities that I used to have to get out of the way before I could sit down and read. My husband has named my phone Precious.

[Melissa]

Do you ever want to go back to a review and revise it? Perhaps you gave a book a so-so review or rating on Goodreads, and now you realize that the book really stuck with you, so you want to give it a bump up in the ratings.
I have been thinking about this because on another thread someone mentioned a book as a possible read along suggestion, and I thought, "Oh, no! I despised that book!" When I went back to look it up in My Books, I found that I had given it 3 stars, which isn't bad. I really want to go back and change it to one or two stars, but I don't know if I should.

[Jenny (Reading Envy)]

Melissa wrote: "Do you ever want to go back to a review and revise it? Perhaps you gave a book a so-so review or rating on Goodreads, and now you realize that the book really stuck with you, so you want to give it..."
Absolutely. Perspective tells us a lot. That said, I really should do something about my Twilight review. Heh.

[Kate]

I have change reviews after thinking about them. I have increased stars and decreased them

[Sandra]

Thanks for listening to my suggestion for a summer reading challenge! Yes, I will admit that I was the kid that enjoyed the summer reading list that the school gave out.

I will try to read at least two out of the five books that Simon and Thomas suggested.

[pam]

Another topic - chapters. I am reading a book right now with NO chapters and it is making me cross. Shall we discuss? Do you like big chapters, short chapters or aren't you bothered? Does it vary by genre?

[Holly]

That was a great suggestion, Sandra -- there's not a book on that list I don't want to read.

[Melissa]

Oh, my goodness! I just listened to the newest episode, and The Readers used one of my questions! I am so excited!

I am also glad that Simon is not actually in the hospital just yet. I hope everything goes well for you, Simon.

Just to clarify for Thomas - I am an English teacher, so I read and have read many, many classics. Listening to Books on the Nightstand and The Readers has inspired me to try more new things. I have enjoyed many of the new titles, but sometimes I wish I had waited a few years to get past the hype. I have read books that people just gush about, and I have no clue why the book is so popular.

I have seen so many new books that put a new twist on a classic, and I wonder if people who have not read the classic get as much out of the book. Would you enjoy Jane Steel more if you had read Jane Eyre? Would you enjoy Vinegar Girl more if you had read Taming of the Shrew?

My question also came from the challenge of wanting to read more books than I have time to read. I want to read and reread all the classics, and I want to read all of the pretty new shiny things that keep coming out! So my question really fit well with Richard's question of how to find more time to read. Good job!

[Nickelini]

"I have enjoyed many of the new titles, but sometimes I wish I had waited a few years to get past the hype. "

Me too. Some famous wise person once said to never read a book until a year after publication, and I naturally tend toward that (no idea who the famous wise person actually was).

[Elizabeth☮]

As a teacher, I am encouraged to utilize technology in the classroom. And since I am in my early forties, I don't always feel technology is necessary (because it's not al easy to use). Do you think that schools are jumping the gun by eliminating books (in some cases) and by requiring kids to read most of their lessons online? Do you feel that e-readers are just as effective as real books? Do we know enough about how we retain information to embrace technology so readily?

[Karen]

Simon, you mentioned in a recent episode that you want to read more short stories but as Thomas pointed out you say that every year (LOL). I'm not sure what the issue is - one of mine is that I get to the end of the story and think 'is that it?' - surely there is more. I feel shortchanged somehow as if I've only just got to know these characters and now they've disappeared. My question for you two is whether there is a 'good way' to read short stories - what i mean by that is whether there is a way to read short stories that could make them more appealing. I was asking this question on my blog the other week and had plenty of comments back so it made me think there is a discussion topic here.

Keep up the good work - i know i don't comment much but I do listen.....

karen @ bookertalk.com