Buddy Read nominations - suggest one here!

[Jen]

Would anyone else like to read My Lesbian Experience With Loneliness by Kabi Nagata with me for January in Japan 2024?

It's a graphic novel memoir so can be added to your 2024 Nonfiction year-long reading challenge.

Also!- it is conveniently available free online at OpenLibrary.org if anyone uses this:
https://openlibrary.org/works/OL19728...
I'd love to have a real copy and support the work as it's a graphic novel, but I will be using this resource for now.

[Carol]

Jen wrote: "Would anyone else like to read My Lesbian Experience With Loneliness by Kabi Nagata with me for January in Japan 2024?

It's a graphic novel memoir so can be added..."

I’ll join you for this read, Jen.

[Crazytourists_books]

I think I'll join you, Jen and Carol. It looks really good

[Hannah]

I'm in ☺️

[Hannah]

Are we going to read this for January in Japan or is that too soon?

[Jen]

Hannah wrote: "Are we going to read this for January in Japan or is that too soon?"

That was my intention. Happy to see the interest in making this a buddy read!

[Carol]

Jen wrote: "Hannah wrote: "Are we going to read this for January in Japan or is that too soon?"

That was my intention. Happy to see the interest in making this a buddy read!"

I picked my copy up from the library yesterday. Yay!

[Hannah]

I've got mine too

[Sonia]

Very short notice, but have decided to group some books together from my TBR pile and read them for US Black History Month. Will be reading This Mournable Body by Tsitsi Dangarembga and Kibogo by Scholastique Mukasonga. I wondered whether anyone else had planned on reading these and fancied doing a buddy read.

[Jen]

@Sonia, hi, I’d highly recommend reading the first two parts of Dangarembga’s trilogy first if you haven’t already. I read through them one by one last summer and loved it.

[Sonia]

Jen wrote: "@Sonia, hi, I’d highly recommend reading the first two parts of Dangarembga’s trilogy first if you haven’t already. I read through them one by one last summer and loved it."

I have read the first, but am skipping The Book of Not. I know its premise and a fellow reader who has read the trilogy has said that it is skippable. I am sure that reading it would enhance the story, but I have the final book, and I don't want it to linger on my TBR pile for more years. This Mournable Body was shortlisted for The Booker Prize, and am expecting it to be readable on its own.

[Kate]

Hi Sonia, I have not read the first book, but I have TMB and have been wanting to read it for a long time. I will buddy read with you in Feb if you want. What dates work for you?

[Kate]

On my end, it looks like Nervous Conditions is relatively short (just over 200 pages) so if we aimed to start say second week of Feb I would have enough time to finish before moving on to TMB and we would both have read books 1 and 3

[Jen]

Ah cool. I’ll be curious how y’all find it.

[Sonia]

Second half of Feb would be good for me. If that would leave you, Kate, enough time to read Nervous Conditions. It is not too long since I read NC, and still have my copy if you want to discuss anything. There are single book reviews of The Book of Not on YouTube, and you may want to watch one to bridge the gap between the books, as it does add layers to Tambu's personal conflicts and her sense of identity.

How do we go about setting up a buddy read?
Are you able to do this for us @Carol? Thank you

[Kate]

I can definitely finish NC by Feb. 15.

[Carol]

Sonia wrote: "Second half of Feb would be good for me. If that would leave you, Kate, enough time to read Nervous Conditions. It is not too long since I read NC, and still have my copy if you want to discuss any..."

Sure, Sonia. I’ll open up a thread tomorrow.

[Sonia]

Carol wrote: "Sonia wrote: "Second half of Feb would be good for me. If that would leave you, Kate, enough time to read Nervous Conditions. It is not too long since I read NC, and still have my copy if you want ..."

Thank you ♥

[Carol]

Sonia wrote: "Carol wrote: "Sonia wrote: "Second half of Feb would be good for me. If that would leave you, Kate, enough time to read Nervous Conditions. It is not too long since I read NC, and still have my cop..."

you're very welcome, Sonia. Access the discussion thread here https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Nidhi]

Hello everyone, I am planning to read Outline trilogy by Rachel Cusk from October to December. I will be happy if someone joins me.

My intention is to read her latest book Parade after these as i have read nothing by her save Second Place which was an ok read.

[Jen]

An idea for yall-

I'm planning to read Taiwan Travelogue by Yáng Shuāng-zǐ around mid-January for an in-person book club. Anyone here wanna buddy read as well? It's originally published in 2020 but it looks like this year it won National Book Award for translated literature.

[Lindsey]

Jen wrote: "An idea for yall-

I'm planning to read Taiwan Travelogue by Yáng Shuāng-zǐ around mid-January for an in-person book club. Anyone here wanna buddy read as well? I..."

I have this on my TBR, but unfortunately my library hold says I'm still 12 weeks out. I'll be interested to see what you think.

[Jen]

Hey Lindsay, tja… understood. I have the same issue… I got on the waitlist hoping for a skip-the-line offer for the ebook which happens sometimes but otherwise I’ll bite the bullet and purchase it…

[G]

Jen wrote: "An idea for yall-

I'm planning to read Taiwan Travelogue by Yáng Shuāng-zǐ around mid-January for an in-person book club. Anyone here wanna buddy read as well? I..."

I'm reading it now and will happily join in the discussion if there's a buddy read

[Carol]

I’m excited about Taiwan Travelogue and have been on my library’s wait list for a month or so. Five copies, 11 on the waitlist. I might get it by mid-January, but that timing might also be aspirational. Shall I open a buddy read thread and think positive?

[Lindsey]

Carol wrote: "I’m excited about Taiwan Travelogue and have been on my library’s wait list for a month or so. Five copies, 11 on the waitlist. I might get it by mid-January, but that timing might also be aspirati..."

5 copies, wow! I'm in Atlanta, and somehow our library circuit only has one circulating. I may end up buying it if there's a group reading along.

[Carol]

Is anyone interested in a buddy read of this year's Womens' Prize winner, The Safekeep by debut novelist, Yael van der Wouden? I've got no particular timeframe in mind other than before Sept 1, but I'm quite intrigued by the back and forth in The Mookse and the Gripes and elsewhere on this site and @Instagram.

[Carol]

Is anyone interested in a buddy read of Susan Choi's Flashlight? I'm probably looking at mid-September, but there's no deadline.

[Lindsey]

Carol wrote: "Is anyone interested in a buddy read of Susan Choi's Flashlight? I'm probably looking at mid-September, but there's no deadline."

Carol, I have it on hold through my library. But I'm #45 in line with 11 copies, so I'm guessing it'll be at least 4-6 weeks.

If I'm able to get a copy by early/Mid Sept, I'll let you know!

[Carol]

Lindsey wrote: "Carol wrote: "Is anyone interested in a buddy read of Susan Choi's Flashlight? I'm probably looking at mid-September, but there's no deadline."

Carol, I have it on ..."

I'm #50 with 19 copies, so if we keep in touch when our copies are in, I suspect the timing will line up nicely. whenever it is, it is, from my perspective. Thanks!