Book Loving Kiwis discussion
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Melissa wrote: "fun news for those who like sports [this has nothing to do with anything] but June 11th Team Canada is playing Team NZ in women's soccer :)"
I was living in Toronto last year when the World Cup was playing. Brilliant fun and mega amounts of Poutine consumed especially on a long weekend trip to Montreal when the French played.
I was living in Toronto last year when the World Cup was playing. Brilliant fun and mega amounts of Poutine consumed especially on a long weekend trip to Montreal when the French played.
S.K.Fischer wrote: "What a relief to read/hear some voices. Apart from the Hangman Team I was beginning to think i was on my own in the group...."I'm always here SK, if you get lonely flick me a message :)
Ella's Gran wrote: "Think I'm up for a new computer..."What would you buy Ella's Gran? I am thinking Microsoft Surface or maybe a Lenovo as you can detach them from the keyboards and use them like Tablets. I'd hate to think I am jinxing my laptop here, but I wouldn't mind something newer and lighter on my lap ;)
Mod
I don't think your dump comment would have scared people off! Our dump has a shop as well, but the op shop I volunteer at is much cheaper - 5 for a $1! There is me & a books expert checking to make sure books that are worth something go on Trademe or for a higher price though. :)
S.K.Fischer wrote: "Melissa wrote: "fun news for those who like sports [this has nothing to do with anything] but June 11th Team Canada is playing Team NZ in women's soccer :)"
I was living in Toronto last year when..."
It isn't a Montreal party until poutine is thrown into it hehe.
I was living in Toronto last year when..."
It isn't a Montreal party until poutine is thrown into it hehe.
Canada best selection of raw oysters in the world. Come on NZ. Every time I go home can never get fresh Bluff oysters.
Mod
saw this today on the news and thought it was a neat article http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/margaret-...
Melissa wrote: "saw this today on the news and thought it was a neat article http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/margaret-..."It's pretty cool Melissa, just wish the capsule was only 10 or 20 years so that we could also read them..
Ace wrote: "Melissa wrote: "saw this today on the news and thought it was a neat article http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/margaret-..."
It's p..."
sigh ... this is the problem lol
It's p..."
sigh ... this is the problem lol
Melissa wrote: "Ace wrote: "Melissa wrote: "saw this today on the news and thought it was a neat article http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/margaret-......"
Loved the interview with MA. What a wonderful idea and I plan to pass the information down to my grandchildren so that they can tell their children to read the books. A great legacy of literature.
Loved the interview with MA. What a wonderful idea and I plan to pass the information down to my grandchildren so that they can tell their children to read the books. A great legacy of literature.
S.K.Fischer wrote: "Melissa wrote: "Ace wrote: "Melissa wrote: "saw this today on the news and thought it was a neat article http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/margaret-......"
My thoughts exactly - I only wish that I could be around to see all the literary gems they collect in the 100 years.
My thoughts exactly - I only wish that I could be around to see all the literary gems they collect in the 100 years.
And how many of those writers are not even born yet? What a splendid project.
Not to mention the readers who are not yet even a twinkle. I'm quite envious and feeling a bit cheated. I'll never know ...
Ace wrote: "Ella's Gran wrote: "Think I'm up for a new computer..."What would you buy Ella's Gran? I am thinking Microsoft Surface or maybe a Lenovo as you can detach them from the keyboards and use them lik..."
Fortunately I've not had to make that choice Ace. The damage wasn't as bad as anticipated, just a RAM problem which was able to be fixed with new RAM and a registry clean. So, all back on line now - whew!
Ella's Gran wrote: "Fortunately I've not had to make that choice Ace. The damage wasn't as bad as anticipated, just a RAM problem which was able to be fixed with new RAM and a registry clean. So, all back on line now - whew! "That's a relief. Mine is still going strong too, apart from battery life, but for some reason I haven't been able to jinx it like normal. Usually my appliances are listening and breakdown at the slightest praise!
Had my email password hacked today. Reminder to change password on regular basis. So annoying.
Happy dance! A "next book in the series" that I've been unable to find anywhere convenient/reasonably priced has just popped up on Bookmooch. Yay!!
Mod
Oh, I feel for you! I love the idea of scrabble but I suck pretty badly at it (as my many games of "words with friends" would prove) Would it help you to know you would beat me?
Mod
& it was freezing at the hall!
Sorry, guys, will be back reviewing and chatting after August. Court case's moved to August. Neighbour getting even more vicious, vindictive and violent.Missing all the book chat. Have only time to read old favourites for comfort! Have fun and fill me in on all the good books when I can breath again.
Good to hear from you PD.R. Been wondering how things are going. Stay strong.
Good to hear from you PD.R. Been wondering how things are going. Stay strong.
Sending you happy thoughts and wishing you well PDR
Has anyone heard from Kath O' Sullivan? She is a gem and I would like to know she is ok.
On Friday I had a meeting with The Women's Bookshop in Ponsonby, to see whether they would stock my book. They said yes. Now just have to wait till the books land in NZ. But what a high! So grateful to them for taking a chance on a new author.
Kirsten wrote: "On Friday I had a meeting with The Women's Bookshop in Ponsonby, to see whether they would stock my book. They said yes. Now just have to wait till the books land in NZ. But what a high! So gratefu..."
Congrats :)
Congrats :)
Mod
They are a wonderful bookshop & congratulations Kirsten!
Mod
Hey Kirsten,
I’m about to start reading 15 Postcards. Looking forward to it. Just finished a Beta read for a NZ Historical Fiction which was wonderful. I really think Kiwis can be proud of their creative imaginations and skills.
I’m about to start reading 15 Postcards. Looking forward to it. Just finished a Beta read for a NZ Historical Fiction which was wonderful. I really think Kiwis can be proud of their creative imaginations and skills.
Kirsten that is a coup. Congratulations! I've got Fifteen Postcards on my kindle and plan reading it very soon. S.K. what is the NZ historical fiction you've been reading?
Bernie Joyce writing about 1860s/ 70s in Dunedin under pdr tutelage. One to look out for in the future.
I've just started a chapter in my next book which is set in 1860s Dunedin, so I will definitely be looking out for it! Thanks
And thanks everyone for the congratulations. I'm still a little in shock to be honest!
This is a discussion that begun on the Moderator Announcements thread today. I have moved it here to alert more of our members to it, and to encourage active participation from a wider range of members - hopefully.Please feel free wade in with your thoughts on this matter. It is very important to our group.
Lesley
S.K.Fischer
4 hours, 53 min ago
So much excitement, vim and vigour has gone out of this group or is it just me? I try to post regularly and there are one or two others who do the same but otherwise the reading here is a little dead. Winter in NZ? So far this is the only group on GR I belong to and I would like to support but may be there are more active reading groups elsewhere with NZ readers and writers. Am I the only one to feel this way?
by S.K.Fischer
Please contradict me or at least point me towards a more active Kiwi group. As I stated I'm completely behind BLK and I definitely support the moderators.
Ella's Gran
3 hours, 56 min ago
Mod
I have been noticing the same thing S.K. - very slow on the activities of late. Rather disappointing that even some of the past regulars seem to have abandoned us.
Has anyone any ideas as to why?
Are the reading activities/books chosen not suiting?
Any suggestions as to what you would like to participate in?
S.K.Fischer
3 hours, 48 min ago
I'm so happy to read your response. I feel so many of you are friends even though I live so far away. I really wish to discuss NZ books and the latest NZ authors. I find it frustrating that there is so little comment coming out of NZ especially as there is such a wealth of ideas and new reading material.
***Carol*** (last edited 2 hours, 16 min ago)
3 hours, 10 min ago
It is a bit slow & I think that we re-edit our posts in the challenges so they don't show up as new doesn't help. Can't see how that can be changed without making keeping track of the challenges a nightmare for the person running them.
& I would like (if it suits Sharlene) to extend the June/July Challenge till August.
I think some of the lack of activity may be due to the wider picture of what has been happening at GoodReads. Even the GR feedback group has gone quiet as people give up.(I've actually temporarily left it as I felt belonging to it was spoiling my GR experience!)
For me personally I'm going to have to stop committing to so much. I'm going to be away part of July, September & pretty much all of November. I don't want reading to become an obligation.
But sorry - you are stuck with me! I'm not going anywhere!
S.K.Fischer
3 hours, 1 min ago
Carol if it wasn't for you and a few others ...
S.K.Fischer
2 hours, 3 min ago
Are you implying that GR has had its day and time to move on? What is the alternative?
Ella's Gran
1 hour, 6 min ago
Mod
***Carol*** wrote: "It is a bit slow & I think that we re-edit our posts in the challenges so they don't show up as new doesn't help. Can't see how that can be changed without making keeping track of the challenges a ...
I think some of the lack of activity may be due to the wider picture of what has been happening at GoodReads. Even the GR feedback group has gone quiet as people give up.(I've actually temporarily left it as I felt belonging to it was spoiling my GR experience!)"
Would you care to elaborate on this Carol - what is the wider picture and how do you see the Feedback group has been affecting your experience? It's not something I've picked up on so am interested to know.
Ace (last edited 57 minutes ago)
58 minutes ago
I'm a member of some very active groups including Aussie Readers who also read NZ authors on occcasion. I think GR is going very strong to be honest and it really depends on member participation.
Do you have a facebook page? Maybe we could start a 'how many likes for this NZ book/author" promotion on Facebook and inject some activity into the group?
***Carol***
2 minutes ago
Ella's Gran wrote: "***Carol*** wrote: "It is a bit slow & I think that we re-edit our posts in the challenges so they don't show up as new doesn't help. Can't see how that can be changed without making keeping track ..."
Well if you are sure... I've only been really active since April last year. Some of this is before I joined but,I think things like the deleting of reviews, controversies with various writers, not introducing things that readers have been asking for for years, things left buggy, the getting rid of being able to fan an author are hurting them. The really serious issue that hasn't been addressed IMO is the blocking feature. I'm happy with the block the way it is,(other than I still got emails saying people I had blocked were commenting in a thread I was posting in) but I've seen at least 2 woman say they are being stalked. For them the only thing that is going to work is a block that makes them totally not exist as far as their stalker is concerned. GR seems reluctant/unable to do that.
The only improvement I've seen that is an improvement is if a Giveaway is on your to-read list that you should get notified. Win-win for everyone!
& it does sound like rereads will happen. But when?
Ace's idea of a FB page is a good one, but I personally wouldn't use it. I want to keep FB & GR totally separate.
***Carol***
16 minutes ago
Ha! I should mention. I'm not quarrelsome! I've been on messageboards for years & the whole time I only blocked on the various boards about 4 people. & I usually took them off block after a while (or they were trolls who eventually got banned) I've blocked 4 just since being on GR (all connected to Feedback)
I've only just joined, but have tried to be engaging, but without being shouty about my book, as everything I read scared me off about mentioning it! I won't do reading challenges as sometimes I read a lot, and sometimes I don't, but I like recommending books or engaging about books & bookstores.
Mod
Hey Kirsten! Being pleased about securing sales in one of NZ's few remaining independent bookshops is not the same as abusing a reviewer who has read your book & given it one star. My sister & her partner are SPAs - I know how very hard it is to get a toe hold in the market.
& I haven't left feedback for good - just taking a break. But I'm enjoying GR again now that I don't post there.
I agree that just updating our "keeping score" post is not a good way of keeping discussion going in threads like the book pool or read the rainbow. Perhaps the protocol there needs to change? e.g. add any comments about books just completed for the challenge in a new post, rather than just in the keeping score post. It does seem a bit odd that we don't have any discussion of the books in the book pool at all while we are reading them. Another thing that may be useful is the resurrection of either the currently reading or the just finished thread. I'm not sure that we need both, as I feel it dilutes the activity.
I understand what Carol is talking about regarding the wider picture of what is happening at GR. This is why I no longer review or rate books here - if it weren't for BLK and the "challenge yourself" group I would probably have given up the site completely. Since the Amazon buyout the unresolved issues seem to have proliferated at about the same rate as unwanted and annoying new "features".
/rant
Darkpool (protesting GR censorship) wrote: "I agree that just updating our "keeping score" post is not a good way of keeping discussion going in threads like the book pool or read the rainbow. Perhaps the protocol there needs to change? e.g...."Keeping score this way is successfully employed in other groups and doesn't appear to discourage discussion (or the building of TBR shelves). The alternative to keeping score this way is for the participant to re-post when updating. That's good too because it keeps the updates and totals on the current page.
The currently reading and just finished threads are still there for anyone to use - they've not gone anywhere, but it's up to people to use them. I have to confess I tend to use the just finished more than currently reading. Perhaps we do need just the one.
Anyone else with thoughts on these two matters raised?
As for the matters of GR practices, they have pretty much been done to death and it is obvious there will be no changes made by GR. I tend to treat GR as somewhere to 'meet' with people who enjoy reading, discussing books and book related matters, rather than reviewing - had enough of that at school. I like to rate what I've read so I remember how I felt about that author's work in the future.
There's been several comments about reading and discussing NZ authors and books, yet when we had BOTM around NZ books, and still have our NZ author members book selections, there was/is very little discussion. Anyone got any thoughts on why this is? Just as an aside, I notice there were very few NZ books in the book pool this time.
At least S.K. raising this has provoked some discussion here! :) So carry on.
Mod
I find I don't generally join in monthly group reads, I'm not sure why, they just don't fit in as well to my other challenges and personal goals (e.g. reading through my tbr pile and home bookshelf).
I think we can't get too down on the group though, I have another group for Wellingtonians that is far more neglected with only about three regulars who post...I've almost given up on that one.
Well to bump up the energy levels, I've just finished reading 'Dear Beneficiary'. It had a fair amount more adult material than I was expecting, but oddly I really enjoyed it! A story about an older woman whose husband has died & she gets conned by one of those Nigerian email scans. So you can see how I wasn't anticipating rampant sex! But I really enjoyed her escapades!
Mod
When I remember I tend to use those just for NZ books. I write reviews & don't want to bore people & repeat myself!
With the individual NZ books. My local library charges a $2 rental for new books - & new can mean nearly 2 years old! Since I have about 100 books at home waiting to be read (over & above what I have listed on GR) I just can't justify spending that.
With the individual challenges - I have to be sure I'm the right reader for the book. I don't want to give a NZ book a low score if it's a good book but its not a genre I enjoy.
Also have ticked Dear Beneficiary. Sounds delightful.
Thank you for this discussion everyone. Through your comments I've realised that I have not been joining in the finished and currently reading discussions. I hope to do so from now on.
I understand Carol's point about not wanting to give a NZ book a low star just because it's in a genre she doesn't like. Tricky because I really wish to support all Kiwi authors but I know what a pointless struggle it is to read a book I don't like. Luckily I have eclectic tastes.
Thank you for this discussion everyone. Through your comments I've realised that I have not been joining in the finished and currently reading discussions. I hope to do so from now on.
I understand Carol's point about not wanting to give a NZ book a low star just because it's in a genre she doesn't like. Tricky because I really wish to support all Kiwi authors but I know what a pointless struggle it is to read a book I don't like. Luckily I have eclectic tastes.
I have been terribly negligent of this group lately. I have had my nose in my books and my blog as of recently.
Mod
Ha! I think reading is always an acceptable excuse!
Kirsten wrote: "Well to bump up the energy levels, I've just finished reading 'Dear Beneficiary'. It had a fair amount more adult material than I was expecting, but oddly I really enjoyed it! A story about an olde..."I too have 'ticked' it but am surprised to find none of my libraries hold this book. Even though it's not long released I would have thought it may have been ordered or in process, but NO. I'm now about to recommend they purchase a copy!
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Book Loving Kiwis
Books mentioned in this topic
Six Minutes In May (other topics)Night and Day (other topics)
The Penguin History of New Zealand (other topics)
The Jacqueline Wilson Collection: "The Story of Tracy Beaker", and "The Bed and Breakfast Star" (other topics)
Fifteen Postcards (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Rumer Godden (other topics)Georgette Heyer (other topics)
Tamora Pierce (other topics)
Alix Bosco (other topics)
Olive Schreiner (other topics)
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Hubby says I scared everyone off with my comment about finding good books at the dump. ( It has a recycling shop with many books for free e.g. found Strunk and White 'Elements of Style' in free pile and gigantic Thesaurus for $2, left it at home as too heavy and bulky, wish I had it here everyday- PDR would agree).
It all started with some weird glitches on GR ( thanks Carol for the reassurance that it wasn't my doing) then our group went quite and I began to feel alone, very alone. Yippee, happy again! How will we all cope when/if our computers go on the blink? (Dystopia non-fiction?).