The Readers discussion
Future Episodes - What would YOU like us to discuss
date
newest »
newest »
How about The Booker pri... oh wait.In all seriousness, to fly the flag I'd like to see a special on the great British writers we currently have.
I'd be interested to hear about what exactly "book blogging" is, the relationship of bloggers with the industry. Do you get paid? Do they send bloggers advance copy books based on how many people read their blogs? How many people read these blogs? When did it start? how many are there? Who reads them? Who writes them? Is it people who work in publishing or just people who love books?
good topic becky! i would be interested to know too. and are there more popular bloggers with books over others? what makes them so popular?
I know where Simon stands on e-books, but what about audio books? I'd like to hear a discussion on whether or not you two consider listening to an audio book as having "read" it, how some books seem better suited to the audio format, and reviews of narrators. I've been listening to the Jim Butcher Dresden Files series, which has been narrated by James Marsters for the first twelve books. Apparently, he had a scheduling problem with narrating the last book, and someone else read it. I absolutely refuse to listen to a different narrator after spending 12 books with one person. I love audio books because I can listen while I do housework or run. I'd like to hear other opinions.
if you haven't discussed it already (and i don't think you have), could you have a discussion on the state of book stores and libraries? the funding for our library programs in houston has been cut and consequently, the library is open less hours. and i just heard that barnes and noble is making less quarterly than expected. so what does this mean for books?
Can you explain to me why they put reviews for another book by the same author on the back of a novel? For example, I just started "What I Talk About What I Talk About Running" by Haruki Murakami. It's a non-fiction book that is sort of a memoir on his running hobby. On the back cover it says "Acclaim for Murakami's "After Dark"", another book written by Murakami, but totally unlike "What I Talk About When I Talk About Running". For one thing, "After Dark" is Fiction and "What I Talk About" is Non-Fiction. By reading the reviews for "After Dark" on the back cover, a reader could be mislead as to what the book they are holding is about. I have seen this done many times before, but this time it stuck out because Murakami's writing style of a novel is very different from him writing about himself. It's like the editor/publisher has no idea what the book is about...any opinions on this?
P.S. Simon-I don't know if you already know this or not, but I heard you speculate once if Sherlock Holmes was based on a real person, and he was! His name was Dr. Joseph Bell and he was a doctor that Conan Doyle worked with. I heard about this on a podcast episode of "Stuff You Missed In History Class", which I am now trying to find the link for you now, but I thought this might be of interest to you since you are such a Sherlock fan. I love your show and especially like your reviews because you seem to be interested in the same type of literature as I am! Props to you-thanks very much for the great podcast.
Melissa wrote: "I know where Simon stands on e-books, but what about audio books? I'd like to hear a discussion on whether or not you two consider listening to an audio book as having "read" it, how some books see..."Melissa, I love audio books too! I have to do a lot of data entry at work and it saves my brain from turning to mush. I jot down quotes I like or suggestions for new books as I listen.
Not everyone feels this way though. In my book club, several of the members disagree that this legitimate reading and can I really say that I "read" the book? On the other hand, an article in "The Horn Book" magazine for children made a good point about blind people and audio books--are you going to tell them that they didn't read the book because they only listened to it?
In my opinion, if you listened to the ideas being portrayed by the author and you put the mental effort into understanding the subject matter, you read the book. Besides, audio books are also responsible for getting me through some of the most boring passages of a novel that I otherwise would not have completed (yes, and some of them were from the book club).
As Melissa points out, audiobooks add a third element of the narrator. A great narrator really makes a difference in my enjoyment of audio books. I must admit, however, I am a bit of an audio book snob. I only listen to books that I have already read (the old fashioned way)and I don't count them as "read" on my goodreads page. I think that Dickens' novels are particularly suited to be read aloud. I would like to hear The Reader's opinions on the subject, but I suspect already that Gav will be pro and Simon con. But I would be happy to be wrong on that point.
What about an ebook v. print book Death Match? :-)
We have done one on book blogging Becky, it was episode nine. If that's not enough info I am sure we could do another one. Maybe about me and Gavin more as bloggers, though we don't wanna talk too much about ourselves, more the books we love! Well, I'm partway thru the latest episode where you're talking about yourselves, so am hoping you also talk about blogging. . . if not, I did listen to episode 9 and would like to know more. Am enjoying the one on the two of you so far. Wonder also if when you interview authors on the blog, you might consider doing a short introduction to them and their work beforehand.
am really enjoying the blog. . . I am taking a year off from working and am being a stay at home mom to two little ones while my husband does a sabbatical at a university in Switzerland. I worked as a doctor in the US, always fulltime, so it's a real treat to have a lot of time off to read books and listen to book podcasts while walking in the Swiss mountains. I feel like I'm doing my own version of Simon's "reading like it's the end of the world". I'm reading like it's my one year until I retire where I can read a lot and whatever I want, so I try to pick really good books. Simon got me into Margaret Atwood and I'm on my second book now, Blind Assassin and my husband is reading Year of the Flood. I loved Oryx and Crake, my first Atwood. We get all of our books from two small local libraries with small English sections, so it also depends on what they have.
what about an episode on the state of reading in general. as a teacher, i see less and less of my students reading on a regular basis. do you think this is true for the general public? now of course we are all readers, so it might be difficult to determine. but i would say among my friends, i am a rarity. most of them do not read on a regular basis. even within my english department i am a rarity. sadly, most of my colleagues do not read on a regular basis either.
Not sure if you've already recorded the podcast on Victorian literature, I wonder what you (and any English teachers out there) think about the notes at the end of Victorian classics. I had two very different experiences with these recently. The first was reading "Our Mutual Friend" from a 1971 edition with notes and intro by Steven Gill, an Oxford "fellow". There were hardly any notes and the ones there were weren't very helpful and sort of expected that you already had a solid grounding in A) French language, B)Greek history and mythology C)Roman history and Mythology and D) English history. 16 pages of notes in all for an 891 page book. Now I just started Daniel Deronda by George Eliot, 1996 edition with notes by Carole Jones, a "freelance writer and researcher". These are 30 pages long for a 671 page book and assume NO knowledge of French, English literature, Greek/Roman history/mythology, or really much of anything at all. . . the notes help a lot and I like having them. But I am torn b/c I wonder, has myself and everyone else gotten so much dumber between 1971 and 1996? Is it pathetic or is it progress? Is writing something about footnotes in classics the ultimate in geek? My husband thinks so. . .
Becky wrote: I wonder, has myself and everyone else gotten so much dumber between 1971 and 1996? "hmm, since I seem to be struggling with basic grammar, I guess I have answered my own question.
i'd like to hear your thoughts on various european writers. not just british or swedish, but what of the other countries? i think i might be missing out on some good reading.
simon, daaahling . . . i’d love to get the opinion of “the readers” (not only you and dear gav, but also the loyal constiutency) on the ever-so-important topic of desert-island books, but would also like to change it up a bit and ask about authors. we’ve all been subjected to the question of which few books we would bring along to a desert island, although i’m not sure how we would know in advance we were headed to a desert island. . . but i digress. . . this question surfaces regularly as its answers are ever-changing and reflective of our tastes on any particular day. thus it is always interesting. but here’s a slight twist – if we knew we were headed for a desert island and could take only one AUTHOR, who would it be? would your fav. author change if you could include dead ones (of course they would be alive on the island)? here are the rules: we know we are headed for an island for one year and the major obstacle to be hurdled is boredom (not survival or self-sufficiency). thanks for indulging me! love, love, love the show.
I think The Readers needs a special episode on International Literature & Translations. Maybe even have guest bloggers on who specialize (I'm thinking of RobAroundBooks and WinstonsDad)in that area and make it a round table discussion?My other suggestion is I'd love an all Mitford podcast - discussing the fiction, non-fiction, historical context, etc. - but am concerned Gavin might rebel?
Since fall is coming maybe The Readers could do an episode on atmospheric reads for different seasons- or more specifically fall reads. I think this has come up several times in episodes, but I always like talking about ghost/spooky books.
I second Tara's and Elizabeth's suggestion regarding books in translation.I also think it would also be interesting to hear about sequels/prequels not written by the original author. Like the Wide Sargasso Sea/Jane Eyre or Mrs. DeWinter/Rebecca...when are they sucessful, when are they not? I have "Jack Mags" by Peter Carey and "Tom All-Alones" by Lynn Shepherd on my shelves; both are based on Dickens novels/charachters. I haven't read them yet, but I am hoping they will be good and stand on their own, but also augment and not detract from their source material.
Ruthiella wrote: "I second Tara's and Elizabeth's suggestion regarding books in translation.I also think it would also be interesting to hear about sequels/prequels not written by the original author. Like the Wid..."
Ruthiella -
That's a good one! For example I love Sherlock Holmes pastiches and feel they're usually successful. But, at the other end of the spectrum, I tried to read the novel H. The Story of Heathcliff's Journey Back to Wuthering Heights and it was dreadful. I wonder if for those types of books to work the character has to already have a broad history/biography for the new author to mine?
Another example that comes to mind is Finn - about Huck Finn's father and which I've heard is excellent.
Sorry to keep popping in here with suggestions, but you did ask! :-)Would it be possible to have an episode dedicated to Gavin geeking out on sci-fi/fantasy novels? My husband is a huge fan of the genre but - and if you find this weird I'm not offended, because I don't understand it myself - I buy all his books. He reads ALOT, but never wants to go to the bookshop or even browse online. So I'm left to choose the books I think he might like. I do OK, but it's getting more difficult because other than the occasional chick-oriented steampunk, I don't read fantasy or sci-fi at all. Any reccomendations of newer authors (since they all seem to write in series just one could keep him in books for years!) or specific books would be awesome.
Tara wrote: "Sorry to keep popping in here with suggestions, but you did ask! :-)Would it be possible to have an episode dedicated to Gavin geeking out on sci-fi/fantasy novels? My husband is a huge fan of t..."
I think that is a great suggestion. Has your husband read the Robert Jordan Wheel of Time series? I think it is like 14 books and counting. I haven't read any of them, but my sister has read and liked a few. Did you give him the Last Werewolf to read?
I've come a bit late to the party, but I would like a bit of a discussion about non-fiction as well as all the wonderful fiction you have been reading. I know that you both tend not to read non-fiction but I'd like to know what puts you off as a general rule and what non-fiction you have enjoyed in the past.Emma. :)
Tara wrote: "Sorry to keep popping in here with suggestions, but you did ask! :-)Would it be possible to have an episode dedicated to Gavin geeking out on sci-fi/fantasy novels? My husband is a huge fan of t..."
Ender's Game is classic, as well as any Ray Bradbury. I guess those would both qualify as Sci-Fi though, not fantasy.
Hello! New listener and commenter from Maryland in the US! I was listening to one of the more recent episodes and in the midst of talking about literary-ness and quality of literature, one of you mentioned that you like the occasional cosy mystery. As do I. I am particularly fond of Martha Grimes, but it brought to mind something seemingly unrelated:
Many novels attempt to be somewhat timeless. But when a writer is advancing a series through time, and technology changes so drastically, does it make the books seem horribly dated? Has anyone read a book written in the 80s or 90s and been made uncomfortable by the mentions of technology? For instance, when Richard Jury was conceived and put to paper, there were no cell phones. Of course he most recently was solving mysteries in 2010. Can new readers of the series go back to book one and still feel comfortable?
Anyways, technology in 20th century literature and its impact on literary quality I guess is the thesis statement. :) Love the podcast!
Kim
Kim wrote: "Hello! New listener and commenter from Maryland in the US! I was listening to one of the more recent episodes and in the midst of talking about literary-ness and quality of literature, one of you..."I love that idea for a topic! I've read several mysteries written in the 80s and 90s (most recently, the first in Patricia Cornwell and Kathy Reichs' respective series), and in both, mobile phones would have made huge differences to the plot. I don't think that sort of thing made them feel dated, though. I guess I approach them as I would a historical novel. Very recent history, but still.
There are some authors I know of who've recently got back their older books' rights and have decided to self-publish them electronically. I was horrified to hear several of them say that they'd gone back and revised them by updating the technology (sticking in mobile phones and references to the internet, I'm guessing). That would do my head in. I always know when a book was published before I start it, and having a mobile phone pop up in a 1980s book would puzzle me.
Oh, and another angle to this: a few months I read a mystery by Tami Hoag that was written in 2010 but set in the mid-1980s. It was the worst of both worlds: her cops kept saying things like how they couldn't find out this particular thing because DNA wasn't available to them yet, even though they expected it would become more common soon and everything would be much easier. Very self-conscious.
simon,will you create a thread here for books with numbers in the title? what number are we trying to reach? i have ten so far.
The Readers
Books mentioned in this topic
H: The Story of Heathcliff's Journey Back to Wuthering Heights (other topics)Finn (other topics)
Or an episode that has books with European cities as the setting.
Also, an introduction to European authors. I am limited to only knowing British writers and some scandanavian, but what about other countries that have gems to offer?