Candidates for Next Month's Read Showing 751-800 of 3,043

[K.Z.]

I think is a real envelope pusher. Superb book, very "meaty." (Did I just write that? *g*) There's a lot of food for discussion here.

[Reggie]

OOO... running late.... but I would love to read Erastes' book in a group. It looks too high impact to read on my own, much better in a group. I'll have to look into this...

[Jordan]

Thinking back on it, Junction X reminds me of the movie American Beauty, where the father is attracted to his daughter's best friend, and how his closeted neighbor tries to come out to him in the hopes that he'll love him back.

[K.Z.]

Jordan wrote: "Thinking back on it, Junction X reminds me of the movie American Beauty, where the father is attracted to his daughter's best friend, and how his closeted neighbor tries to come out to him in the h..."

I hadn't thought of that, Jordan, but there are some similarities. Junction X is more intense, though. (At least it was for me.)

[Jordan]

Well, intense is good. I only watched the movie because of the subtext that was in it. The book on subext recommended watching the movie. It was just weird, in my opinion. A well acted movie, but not my type at all. But, I did put Junction X on my wishlist awhile back. It seems like there's less going on, but that less is oftentimes MORE, and thus the intenseness. lol, does that even make sense? In my head it does, at least.

[Josh]

Anne wrote: "I do agree, but for my own selfish reasons I would have liked the best of both worlds, my Kindle so I can read all the stories I can't find at home in the stores, and the stores to browse in and enjoy when it suits me. :)
..."

What I think -- sincerely hope -- will happen is that bookstores will become more...boutique in their approach, less like warehouses of books with a three month shelf-life and more niche and/or genre-specific, certainly more customer service oriented in the way that so many indie bookstores have always been.

I know we're not alone in our love for bookstores as their own unique and special place, loved for themselves as much as the books they supply.

[Josh]

Pender wrote: "Josh wrote: "I'm kind of leaning toward reading something maybe a little different, a little more literary than past months. Just to break it up."

Sounds good to me. I'd love to tackle something a..."



It got a starred review in Publisher's Weekly, Lambda Literary raved about it, and the author is not involved in the m/m community so I'm interested in this mainstream approach -- both from a writing and reading standpoint.

[Susan]

Josh wrote: "This is what I want to read -- it's had brilliant reviews pretty much everywhere but the author is outside of the m/m community, although I read in a PW article that she did read a lot of fan ficti..."

I read the blurb for this book and I know I will read it even if it's not next month's choice. Thanks for the heads up, Josh.

[Jordan]

A more mainstream approach definitely makes it more interesting to see how the M/M is handled. Now you've hooked me even more than you did before.

Is it time for a vote?

[Pender]

Josh wrote: "Pender wrote: "Josh wrote: "I'm kind of leaning toward reading something maybe a little different, a little more literary than past months. Just to break it up."

Sounds good to me. I'd love to tac..."

The blurb sounds good and it's got so many incredible reviews. I like the idea of reading something from outside the m/m niche.

[Antonella]

Jordan wrote: "Is it time for a vote?"

I've ordered it, so I already voted with my credit card ;-).

[Tamela]

All I can say is that all the books suggested sound great. I'll probably pick them all up, so maybe we just need to assign them a month and read them all :)

[Anne]

Are we supposed to vote on the different suggestions? If that is the case, I vote for Don't Let Me Go. I downloaded samples from Amazon of the ones mentioned here (I love that I can do that!) and it really caught my interest. The others did as well, but they didn't seduce me as much as this one did. But I like Tamela's suggestion too, there are still 11 months left in 2012, I am sure we can read the others at a later time :)

I am certainly going to read "Don't let me go" regardless of what is decided here, but it is always more fun to read toghether and discuss.

[Reggie]

Just bought Don't Let Me Go for my Kindle account. I won't get to it for awhile so if someone wants to borrow it just "friend" me and let me know your email!

[Josh]

I think I'm being tyrannical this month -- mostly because I'm desperately trying to revive my interest in writing -- and just decree that is February's read.

Forgive me. And then in March we can get back to debating and choosing stuff fun for everyone?

[Dev]

I'm all for anything that restores your enthusiasm for writing. Besides, it looks like a good read.

[Cheryl]

I think I'll be reading most of the suggestions also!

[Emanuela ~plastic duck~]

Josh wrote: "I think I'm being tyrannical this month -- mostly because I'm desperately trying to revive my interest in writing -- and just decree that is February's read."

Channelling your inner Jake? :)

[Antonella]

I've got Don't Let Me Go today!

[Antonella]

... and started to read it, and to jump forward. And now I'm beating myself up over this.

[Jordan]

lol, as always, I've got two more books I *have* to read before I can get to this one, though I did get it for my Kindle last week. I can't wait, but a library book that needs to be read for a meeting next week is in the way, and another book I just want to get off my coffee table is too. But I can't wait to read both of those as well. lol. Too many books, I say! And yet... no one should ever stop writing! lol.

[Johanna]

I'll definitely join you all to read Don't Let Me Go. I totally missed the January Book of the Month discussion - being in Basawar and all... ;)

[Anne]

Reading Don't Let Me Go now. This is the kind of book that has my gut in knots. I look forward to the discussions later!

[Jordan]

I started to read it a bit last week on the bus, and it was a good beginning. That's to be my next read, and I can't wait!

[Sarah]

I've read the sample for Don't Let Me Go and it does look good, but I have a ridiculous backlog of books to read so might have to hold off getting that one for a little while :)

[Antonella]

I've started to read it properly. For sure the book has passed the ''so-good-you-miss-the-bus-stop'' test ;-).

I'm taking the bus instead of my bike because it's snowing.

[Anne]

Antonella wrote: "I've started to read it properly. For sure the book has passed the ''so-good-you-miss-the-bus-stop'' test ;-).

."

High praise indeed :)

[Johanna]

Antonella wrote: "I've started to read it properly. For sure the book has passed the ''so-good-you-miss-the-bus-stop'' test ;-)."

LOL! Sounds promising indeed. ;)

[Jordan]

Antonella wrote: "I've started to read it properly. For sure the book has passed the ''so-good-you-miss-the-bus-stop'' test ;-).

I'm taking the bus instead of my bike because it's snowing."

lol, I'm always worried about that happening when I'm in the middle of a good book. Several times I've nearly missed the stop... oh wait... that night I started chapter one, I was on the bus, and nearly had a heart attack when we got to my stop. I wasn't prepared to get off, and didn't know how/when to book mark my page. So, yeah, I'm with you on that one. lol, once off the bus, I was thinking about how much easier and faster it is to shove a paper book mark into a real paper book in a hurry.

I'm reading another book right now, and I'm over halfway through it, but it's faltering, and I can't wait to finish it so I can get on with DLMG. There's a reason I'm not a fan of het romance, and I'm remembering that now as I read this book.

[John]

Josh wrote: "I know we're not alone in our love for bookstores as their own unique and special place, loved for themselves as much as the books they supply. ..."

I really think forums like this are performing the function of specialty bookshops now. It's sad that I know of only one gay bookstore where I could walk in not knowing what I want to read and leave with an armload of books life couldn't be lived without. Alas, it's six time zones east of here. So every month I lurk around here and end up reading things that I wouldn't have selected on my own, but ended up loving. I always end up reading the BotM, and sometimes some of the others. If I'm feeling really brave, I can even join in a discussion, just like at the old Glad Day.

[Josh]

John wrote: "Josh wrote: "I know we're not alone in our love for bookstores as their own unique and special place, loved for themselves as much as the books they supply. ..."

I really think forums like this ar..."

You're right about the increasing value of discussion groups and social media. I was reading an Author's Guild article quoting a B&N study that indicated something like only 1 out of every three customers who walked out of the store with a book had actually entered with the intention of buying. That browse factor accounts for a lot of book sales.

[Kim]

There's a bookstore in London (Daunt Books in Hampstead) that organizes most of its books, fiction and non-fiction, according to the country it's about or is set in. I've discovered some terrific novels that way. Wouldn't it be great if brick and mortar bookstores could arrange their fiction at whim other than alphabetical by author or by genre? Like, mysteries/crime/detective novels set in a particular city or state or country? Or historical novels centered around artists? Of course that's impossible to do on a large scale with paper books. But wouldn't it be great to be able to go into a bookstore where you could look for fiction that way, either downloading onto your device right there or buying a paper book to be delivered later if they don't have it in stock? What if the store had ereaders to let you use if you didn't have your own along, onto which you could download samples of books you were interested in and then read them in their café? The point is, I would like to be able to go INTO a place to browse and not just sit alone at my computer and interact with screen names. It just seems to me that there's a middle way between everything digital and paper in a building.

[Anne]

Kim wrote: "There's a bookstore in London (Daunt Books in Hampstead) that organizes most of its books, fiction and non-fiction, according to the country it's about or is set in. I've discovered some terrific n..."

I like that idea, the best of two worlds, the digital and the old-fashoned brick and mortar (and paper!) bookstores. And various and different ways of arranging the books so you could find those treasures you otherwise would miss. One of my dreams is to own and work in a place like that :)It would have to be set in an alternative universe though, it wouldn't be able to survive in Oslo with a concept like that. Unless I got some rich person behind it who would sponsor me and let me do as I liked and only throw all the money I needed at me and my lovely little store. Dream on - and back to work! :)

[Sarah]

When visiting my parents we sometimes go to Hay On Wye as they live nearby (town with possibly more secondhand bookshops than anywhere else in the UK). Browsing through those is an experience, although by about the 6th or 7th I've usually hit my limit! Maybe half of them put the authors alphabetically by genre; the others seem fairly random, and most of them are small - any and every available space is full of books. Good place to find books that are out of print or more obscure. Never looked for anything m/m there though.

[Anne]

Sarah wrote: "When visiting my parents we sometimes go to Hay On Wye as they live nearby (town with possibly more secondhand bookshops than anywhere else in the UK). Browsing through those is an experience, alth..."

In Norway we have several small towns that have designated themselves as "booktowns", which means they have converted a lot of empty stores into used bookstores, thus creating new life in communities that are otherwise rather dead, doing a brisk tourist trade in summer. I can spend many hours in one of these, but even I end up having had enough sometimes. But there are certainly treasures to be found. I am not so sure I will find any m/m there though, either, there are very little if any to be found in Norwegian at all. And English ones in print aren't sold here either.

In London my favorite street is Charing Cross Road with bookshops on each side of the street. My favorite is Murder One, who has Mystery and Romance on the first floor and Sci-fi and Fantasy in the basement. I haven't been in London in a few years so don't know it it still exist. Hopefully it does.

Maybe I should go to Hay On Wye one time, cute name for the place too :)

[Dev]

Okay, now I have to do a tour of the UK and Norway bookshops. I'll put it on my oh so long bucket list.

Ah to be in Portland in Powells Books right now....

I'd love to visit your store Anne, be sure to let us know when those rich people start throwing money at you and you can get it off the ground.

[Anne]

Dev wrote: "Okay, now I have to do a tour of the UK and Norway bookshops. I'll put it on my oh so long bucket list.

Ah to be in Portland in Powells Books right now....

I'd love to visit your store Anne, be s..."

You will all be the first to know :)

[Josh]

Kim wrote: "The point is, I would like to be able to go INTO a place to browse and not just sit alone at my computer and interact with screen names. It just seems to me that there's a middle way between everything digital and paper in a building.
..."

Maybe there is. Maybe we just can't conceive of what it is yet.

[Jordan]

Gosh, the last few times I was in a real book store I bought DVDs. They just don't have the books I want to own (namely M/M). Yeah, one store did carry a few M/M books, but it was a Borders going out of business. And I went into other Borders stores and they didn't have a Gay and Lesbian Studies section, as it had been called. Really sad. I don't know why more stores don't have them.

But see, that's where Amazon fills the gap. And other online stores. It just means I don't have to go out of my way to get somewhere to buy a book I want.

Even so, I do love bookstores, especially the little independent ones. The smell of all those books is intoxicating. And not finding something I'd read, helps me not spend more money than I own. lol.

[Jordan]

That's awesome Lou... about the used bookstore with weirdos who know books. Sounds like a great setting for a novel. Eh?

There's a used bookstore where I used to live that's uber fantastic. They have just about everything you could ever want. That, and you get store credit when you sell them your books back. When I was a teen, I used to go and buy stacks of books for under a dollar. It was awesome. And yeah, even though I'm not one to ask for help, when I did, those people knew what they were doing.

Currently, I know of one B&N employee (possibly two) who do know about books. But I can only say that because the one I've been friends with since preschool. lol. And the other... she's in library school at the moment, so though I don't know her well, I'm hoping she does know about books.

Anyway, speaking about books... I just got a few piles of brand new books to check in and get out to patrons so I want to go see what we got in! woot!

[Johanna]

Aaaaah... I immediately had all these wonderful, serene images popping up in front of me about all these different bookstores you guys are describing! Heaven! Just like you all, I can spend hours in stores like those. :)

In Finnish bookstores there aren't any m/m books to be found on the shelves, so obviously ebooks are working for me big time because of that. But I'm going to be in Los Angeles - San Francisco area for a couple of weeks next summer and this is actually one of the things I'm really looking forward to: bookstores. So, before my vacation I'm counting on you guys living around there to give me some good advice which bookstores I MUST visit! ;)

[Mtsnow13]

Josh wrote: "Kim wrote: "The point is, I would like to be able to go INTO a place to browse and not just sit alone at my computer and interact with screen names. It just seems to me that there's a middle way be..."

I'm trying to talk some friends into opening their own bookstore.. They were VERY knowledgeable, and were really good at recommendations becasue they knew what I liked... but when Borders closed down locally, well,they lost their jobs, and there is no Barnes and Noble nearby.. I have to agree there is nothing like getting lost in the aisles of books, and looking at the covers, and nearby authors when you know of one you do like.. I miss them, and Amazon is not a replacement, for me at least, even though I get alot of free reads from them.. I find myself buying from Barnes and Noble online as well as fictionwise (and I bought a Nook Color) just to hopefully keep them in business longer.. kinda sad, eh?

[Anne]

Johanna wrote: "Aaaaah... I immediately had all these wonderful, serene images popping up in front of me about all these different bookstores you guys are describing! Heaven! Just like you all, I can spend hours i..."

Of course the "Natives" must tell you about all the stores they know about, but the one time I was in San Fransisco I visited the City Lights book store. Only later did I learn that it is famous. I hope it still exists. If it does, you should check it out.

[Johanna]

Anne wrote: "Johanna wrote: "Aaaaah... I immediately had all these wonderful, serene images popping up in front of me about all these different bookstores you guys are describing! Heaven! Just like you all, I c..."

Thanks, Anne! I'll definitely keep that in mind - and the Murder One in London that you mentioned earlier! :)

[Mtsnow13]

All this talk of bookstores has me thinking about this book.. . And I notice there was a recent sequel put out for it, as well. I actually enjoyed the first one quite well.

[Jordan]

Mtsnow13 wrote: "All this talk of bookstores has me thinking about this book.. . And I notice there was a recent sequel put out for it, as well. I actually enjoyed the first ..."

Oooohhh, a sequel? I loved that book. Sure, I had a few minor issues with it, of which I've forgotten all of them, but I still go back and reread sections of it. It was a nice, uplifting read (at the end). I'd recommend it to interested parties.

And now I shall check out the sequel.

[Jordan]

So, I think it's time we start talking about next month's read? That's coming up next week! Eep!

I'm still going to suggest Two Hearts Two Spirits just because I can't think of anything else, and I still really want to read this novel.

[Antonella]

Lou wrote: "I have wanted to suggest Boystown: Three Nick Nowak Mysteries for some time. It's not strictly m/m, though."

I've just bought it, because we talked about it here, but apparently I had missed the ''not strictly m/m'' bit. Care to elaborate?

[Josh]

Lou wrote: "I have wanted to suggest Boystown: Three Nick Nowak Mysteries for some time. It's not strictly m/m, though."

I'm about to read these. Looking forward to them.

[Antonella]

Thank you for clarifying. I still have to understand properly all the differences, but at least you didn't mean it is m/f ;-)