What Is One Book You Have Read This Year That You Had No Intention Of Reading? (6/19/23)

[Marc]

Is there a book you read this year that you hadn't planned on reading when the year started? (A book you didn't already own, hadn't specifically planned to read, and weren't waiting for its release and/or your acquiring of it in some fashion.) What book was it? How did you end up reading it?

[Alwynne]

It was the one I just finished Four Seasons in Japan the publishers contacted me and offered me an ARC, I assume because my profile features so many books linked to Japan? Apart from that tends to be books lent or given by friends but can't instantly recall the last one of those I read.

[Bill]

(There are two copies of this thread, odd.)

I'm not sure I understand all the criteria. I do notice items on my friends' activity feeds, add them to my to-read list, and get to some of them shortly etc. But a more unusual situation is Ina Park's entertaining Strange Bedfellows: Adventures in the Science, History, and Surprising Secrets of STDs. A friend (who works with Park) recommended it, and I quickly scored a copy from the library.

[Alwynne]

I assumed Marc was thinking of happenstance? So a book you came across in a charity shop or a Little Free Book Library or a gift or some other unexpected encounter with a book that wasn't on your radar before it turned up.

[Alwynne]

Stacia I really like the Yeoyu series too, I've read/have some still to read, also find them really pleasing as objects/in terms of design.

[Marc]

No strict criteria on this one. Could be a "find" or a recommendation you acted on right away or whatever.

Thanks for catching the two copies of this thread (GR timed out on my several times while I was creating the topic and it looks like I created two threads, so I locked the other one and will delete it after the comments are moved to this thread.)

There's probably quite a few I wasn't planning on reading, but Keeping Two stands out because I came across it while browsing at the library, wasn't already on my radar in any way, and it was largely the cover that drew me in (and the publisher sealed the deal). Ended up being a great find. (I'm more likely to take a gamble on graphic novels since the time investment is not as hight and it feels like the opportunity to find a gem is greater than semi-randomly trying novels).

[Stacia]

Some of the Strangers Press chapbooks. I am currently working my way through the Korean set. They were purchased on a whim after you mentioned Strangers Press, Marc. I am very much enjoying them and like that there are sets grouped by geographic location. So thank you.

[Whitney]

There are at least 15 to 20 books I only read because they were either chosen as group reads, or I searched them out because they fit a criteria for a reading challenge. The biggest surprise read this year was a book published by a friend that I had no idea was coming out until she announced its release.

I finally scored a coveted subscription to the Night Worms Book Club, so I'm now receiving two surprise reads a month.

[Marc]

Stacia wrote: "Some of the Strangers Press chapbooks. I am currently working my way through the Korean set. They were purchased on a whim after you mentioned Strangers Press, Marc. I am very much enjoying them an..."
I got my wife the Lithuanian set! (Trying to decide if it’s in poor taste to read them before she does.)

[RJ - Slayer of Trolls]

The books I've read this year so far that were unplanned were all a result of various book club group reads, and they were generally books I already had in my possession.

[Greg]

Between a quarter to a half of the books I've read this year I had not heard of before; like Whitney, there have been several. I read them because they were chosen in group reads. Most classics I have either read or at least heard of, but groups like this one introduce me to some newer fiction that I know nothing about. I love that! I had never heard of Hari Kunzru before White Tears was chosen for example.

It's one of my favorite things about Goodreads actually. I'm in a couple groups that often feature newer quality fiction, and I'm in a sci-fi/fantasy group as well that I join reads for sometimes. Goodreads is my main way of discovering new books nowadays since all the independent bookstores in my area and the communities that surrounded them have long since fallen apart.

[Franky]

I happened to catch John Ford's The Searchers on TCM and then saw it in the public library so decided to read it recently.

[Ginny]

Fun question. Upon hearing about Glenda Jackson's death, I went looking for one of her movies to watch. I found "The Return of the Soldier", starring Glenda Jackson and Julie Christie, with Alan Bates, and based on a the novel by Rebecca West. The Return of the Soldier I found the novel on Gutenberg, and downloaded it on my kindle. Definitely not 21st century, though. The movie was very good, and so far the book is much better. A 21st century review of the novel: https://www.theguardian.com/books/boo...

[Greg]

Ginny wrote: "Fun question. Upon hearing about Glenda Jackson's death, I went looking for one of her movies to watch. I found "The Return of the Soldier", starring Glenda Jackson and Julie Christie, with Alan Ba..."

Loved that book Ginny!

[Alwynne]

Ginny wrote: "Fun question. Upon hearing about Glenda Jackson's death, I went looking for one of her movies to watch. I found "The Return of the Soldier", starring Glenda Jackson and Julie Christie, with Alan Ba..."

If you can find it then her more recent BBC drama "Elizabeth is Missing" is worth catching.

[Tea73]

I have not seen the movie version of Elizabeth Is Missing, but I thought the book was wonderful.

[Lark]

I have a question that pops up when someone asks to be my gr friend, which is 'which author haven't I heard of, and should be reading?' and let me say this is a delightful way to start reading books you haven't planned to read! Honestly I think I'm fairly well informed but now I have an endlessly growing list of authors I really haven't heard of before, and the latest, greatest unplanned book this led me to read is Things I Didn't Throw Out by Marcin Wicha. This is an incredible book. I recommend it highly.

[Ginny]

Tea73 wrote: "I have not seen the movie version of Elizabeth Is Missing, but I thought the book was wonderful."

And it is 21st century. I will check out both. Thanks.