Would you like to read with me?

[Jemidar]

I haven't read them either, but don't intend to so won't be joining the buddy read. YA dystopian fiction just isn't my thing no matter how good it is!

[[deleted user]]

Dawn (& Ron) wrote: "I felt that push, LOL. Does that mean we are the last ones here who have not read this book or series yet?"

I haven't read them, either. I'm just not big into violence, no matter the story line.

[Dawn (& Ron)]

I've never read dystopian, YA or otherwise and have had no interest in doing so. It is only because of the positive reaction of people I didn't expect to read it, never mind like it.

I didn't know there was a lot of violence, I thought with it being YA that it wouldn't be an issue. I hope it's not gratuitous, I don't care for that. What have you heard?

[Jemidar]

Most of the dystopian stuff I've read was either for school or uni. It really isn't my genre of choice.

[[deleted user]]

Dawn (& Ron) wrote: "I've never read dystopian, YA or otherwise and have had no interest in doing so. It is only because of the positive reaction of people I didn't expect to read it, never mind like it.

I didn't kno..."

The premise of the story, the Hunger Games. The kids have to fight to the death every year/season (?) in order to gain food or some other advantage for their clan/group. (That's a rather pathetic summation.) Take a look at some of the reviews. You really can't assume that YA books are free of sex and/or violence. A lot of them are just the opposite.

[[deleted user]]

Jemidar wrote: "Most of the dystopian stuff I've read was either for school or uni. It really isn't my genre of choice."

It depends on the story for me. I love Fahrenheit 451, but I don't want to read 1984.

[Jemidar]

I read 1984 as well as Animal Farm :-(.

[[deleted user]]

I read Animal Farm in high school. I don't remember enjoying it all that much.

[Jemidar]

I didn't like it at all!

[Dawn (& Ron)]

I read Animal Farm or 1984, or maybe both, sorry they are lost in my memory banks, but I really disliked one of them. Maybe it was Animal Farm since I remember something about animals. So I have read Dystopian and I guess it isn't my thing either, but one of this years goals is stretching my boundaries. I have some friends who want me to read Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale and even gave me a copy of the book but I still haven't read it.

I have been surprised by some of the content in YA, especially the examples of relationships. I don't want to read reviews if I might be reading a book sometime in the near future. I knew it was a dangerous 'game' for life but not much else.

It will be interesting to see what Hayes has to say about all this.

[Jemidar]

I find that dystopian is usually depressing :-(.

[Marialyce]

Someone once told me that YA books deal with adult themes, but have young protagonists. From the ones I have read, that seems to hold true.

I read all of the ones mentioned above and except for Animal Farm liked each and every one. When I taught, we read and loved The Giver in my sixth grade lit classes. My granddaughter, age nine, is dying to read The Hunger Games which her parents have read. They have decided not to allow her to yet because of content. ....and yes, Hunger Games deal with adolescents in a combat for life. I don't think I am giving away anything here that you probably didn't know if from nothing ele but the movie trailers.

The Hunger Games trilogy is exciting, addictive, and I thought well written. Some people believe that as long as we get kids to read, that books such as this are fine. I don't know if you have read Harry Potter but those books also got darker as each one continued. I honestly thought the Hunger Games were better written.

I guess a lot has to do with hype. Look at what is going on with those Fifty Shades books. I have to admit I am curious.

[[deleted user]]

Had/have a busy few days, sorry... just stopping by quickly.

Jemidar wrote: "I find that dystopian is usually depressing :-(."

Jeannette wrote: "I haven't read them, either. I'm just not big into violence, no ma..."

Those are the two reasons why I'm resisting... but as Dawn mentioned, several people I know said they liked it and I was very surprised, both that they had read the book and that they liked it. So, I'll try.

I loved Handmaid's Tale. It's not pleasant, or easy, but is so incredibly moving.

[Kim]

I don't read a lot of dystopian literature, as it is almost by definition depressing. However, well-written novels of that genre are meant to be a reflection of aspects of our current society and they provide a lot of food for thought. 1984 and The Handmaid's Tale are two of my favourite novels ever. I find both of them incredibly powerful and moving.

I don't put The Hunger Games trilogy in the same category as either of those novels and they are obviously not books which will appeal to everyone. A couple of years ago, I would not have dreamed of reading them. (How GR has changed me!) However, apart from being (for the most part) page-turners, they are well-written and thought-provoking. The novels aren't perfect in literary terms and they are not easy or pleasant in terms of the subject matter, but I'm still glad that I read them. (Or at least, that I listened to them).

Collins was inspired to write the trilogy after channel-surfing and seeing, in succession, a reality television contest and footage of the Iraq war. The narrative is also inspired by the Greek myth of Theseus and the story of Spartacus. The violence in the novel is integral to the plot and far from glorified. It's much the same as reading about a war: novels about war generally contains battle scenes. There are no sex scenes.

[[deleted user]]

I haven't read 1984, but I did see the movie, and it left an impression on me, definitely. I think I was too young to read Animal Farm. What do most kids in high school think about politics and allegory? I don't remember being all that excited about it -- talking pigs.

I guess I'm just not interested in the Hunger Games story, even though the great reviews (like Kim's) keep tempting me. I am considering reading Brave New World, and, The Machine Stops, a dystopian short novella by E.M. Forster.

[[deleted user]]

Marialyce wrote: "I don't know if you have read Harry Potter but those books also got darker as each one continued. I honestly thought the Hunger Games were better written."

I did think the Harry Potter books were too dark in places for the target age group (Dolores Umbridge was a bit too sadistic for my tastes). As a whole, I loved the Harry Potter stories, but I didn't think they were very well written, either. They were too long, and implausible in many places.

[Dawn (& Ron)]

I also have not read any Harry Potter books, although we have the first few. I also have not seen but a couple commercials and no trailers for Hunger Games since I don't watch much regular television and haven't been able to go to the movies due to dizziness issues (think about how much a camera moves, I come out barely able to stand straight), so I guess I may know less about the storyline than anyone here.

When the first book came out, I glanced over some summaries and learned about the selection and the life altering game and the Dystopian angle but it really didn't grab my attention. Only with people like Kim and their responses did I become intrigued.

Now, that Fifty Shades book, I just don't see me reading that one with all the BDSM like or unusual sex scenes. A GR teacher friend, found many scenes disturbing yet she was surprised that she still found it engrossing. She counseled that younger readers should stay away and that it is not a comfortable read. She got attacked by other readers, those who love and hate it for being "Twilight fanfic" and for her saying it was an introduction to the BDSM lifestyle. What a conversation that has been!

[[deleted user]]

I think the first HP book is worth reading, Dawn. I adored it. I read all the rest, and enjoyed them, but the first is the most charming, IMHO.

[MichelleCH]

Jemidar wrote: "I find that dystopian is usually depressing :-(."
Funny, never thought of that until you mentioned it, but you are absolutely right i.e.
The Road, The Giver etc. seems so obvious now. Nevertheless, I still really enjoy this genre. I suppose it is comforting to read about what could potentially be the absolute worst world, than to live it, if that makes sense.

[MichelleCH]

Dawn (& Ron) wrote: I'm just not big into violence, " I dislike violence of any kind as well. Whether in a movie or book. My feeling is that with the news every day already so depressing, the last thing I want to do with my free time is see, hear or read even more violent stuff. A lot of dystopian literature, in my opinion, can bring forward really deep characters. If there is violence, I skim.

[Dawn (& Ron)]

I don't mind violence that is necessary to the narrative, like in a war novel, you expect a certain level. Someone else said the violence is within the bounds of the story and like you I can skim if it gets too much.

It's funny I hate to watch the news everyday, too. I just hate getting inundated with all that ugliness. I do like that NBC Nightly News has made an effort to end each broadcast with an uplifting story about the good of humanity, called Making a Difference. And I always appreciate when any news program started with a shuttle launch (sadly no more), or Gaby Gifford (sp) (the congress woman shot in Texas) visiting the people who helped save her. I always think that means it was a good news day.

[MichelleCH]

I should restate that, yes if it is central to the story I can read through. However some things are just too much for me such as harm to children or animals, and probably some others I am not thinking about.

I like good news days!

[Dawn (& Ron)]

We are nearing June and the big A Tale of Two Cities group buddy read. I don't recall nor do I see a specific date for the start. Are we looking at this Friday June 1st, sometime this weekend, or later in the month? If it is this week, I will go ahead and start the buddy read thread.

To re-verify, here are the people listed for this buddy read - Catie, Hayes, Geevee, Kim, Marialyce, Laura, MichelleCH, Jemidar, Margaret, Jeannette, (myself) Dawn and Sylvia. If anyone wants to join, don't worry it is not too late, just let me or Jeannette know.

[[deleted user]]

Tuesday June 1st looks good, although I'll probably get off to a slow start, as that is a long holiday weekend here.

How do we want to set it up... a different thread for groups of chapters? or just talk as we go along, marking spoilers?

[Geevee]

I've never done a group buddy read before. Are there any set rules or is it progressing at one's own pace and dipping into the threads to discuss as you read through the book?

[[deleted user]]

My copy is divided into three books:

I: Chapters 1 thru 6
II: Chapters 1 thru 24 (or 7 thru 30?)
III: Chapters 1 thru 15 (or 31 thru 45)

Do you want to set up 4 threads then, Dawn, one for each "book" with spoilers and one for the entire volume, General, no spoilers??

[[deleted user]]

Geevee wrote: "I've never done a group buddy read before. Are there any set rules or is it progressing at one's own pace and dipping into the threads to discuss as you read through the book?"

It's typically the latter, Geevee. If we divide it into 3 "books" with spoilers allowed, you just comment at whatever point you are at -- it's all pretty fluid. For other reads, I've asked that people be sure to stick to discussing up to the point of the thread, and not beyond (e.g. do not discuss the ending under Book 1, or the General discussion threads).

[[deleted user]]

Dawn (& Ron) wrote: "Catie, Hayes, Geevee, Kim, Marialyce, Laura, MichelleCH, Jemidar, Margaret, Jeannette and (myself) Dawn."

AND Sylvia. :)

[Jemidar]

Hayes wrote: "Tuesday June 1st looks good, although I'll probably get off to a slow start, as that is a long holiday weekend here.


Isn't Friday June 1st?

[[deleted user]]

Indeed it is! I was looking at May not June.

[[deleted user]]

I can't decide if I want to start this week, or wait until I'm on the plane. I think I could read most of it on the flight, but I don't know if I want to wait.

Does the 3-book scheme sound good to you, Hayes? A few less chapters than CoMC!

[[deleted user]]

That looks good, J.

[Jemidar]

Jeannette wrote: "My copy is divided into three books:

I: Chapters 1 thru 6
II: Chapters 1 thru 24
III: Chapters 1 thru 15"

That's how mine is divided up too.

[Dawn (& Ron)]

Whew, I was so confused on that too! I couldn't figure out how Tuesday would be June 1st when it was Friday for us. Glad that is straightened out ;~)

Are we still going for this Friday then or would waiting until after the next weekend work best? I will set up the four threads once we get the time sewed up, don't want to put it up to early and confuse people. I want to find my hardcover copy to see how that is set up but will be reading the Kindle version.

Jeannette, I've added Sylvia to my list. BTW, do you have the Kindle copy, is that the one you refer to in your post?

Geevee, I'm still fairly new to these buddy reads too and you can ask Jeannette to see how nervous I was to start that first one. The only thing I would add to Jeannette's answer is if you will be discussing something that you feel may spoil another reader's enjoyment than use the spoiler tags (view spoiler)[ (hide spoiler)] to surround and hide anything sensitive.

[[deleted user]]

I tend to prefer to allow spoilers within the thread, and people just need to wait to comment on a particular section after they have read it through.

I can't speak for everyone, but it gets tedious discussing things with spoiler tags. So, if you warn about spoilers in the thread title, and the opening post, then I don't think spoiler tags are necessary. (Excepting, of course, commenting on a later section in an earlier section, which shouldn't be done.)

Anybody else have thoughts on this?

(I have a paper back copy at the moment)

[Dawn (& Ron)]

Jeannette, I meant in the overall book thread and for something particularly sensitive that you may not be sure others have discovered yet. For those times when you just want to get something out while you are thinking about it and may not be able to wait for others to get to that section. Once they do, you can always go back and remove the spoiler tags. I was just thinking for a first time buddy read, Geevee may want to err on the side of caution.

[Dawn (& Ron)]

Jeannette, when do you leave again? I've got to mail you that book. Will it be harder for you to participate while on your trip to Germany?

It looks like we are still deciding on a start date so I will hold off on setting up the threads. Unless things change it will be the three book sections and one overall book thread. Hopefully some more from the buddy read will join in throughout the day with their opinions.

[[deleted user]]

I would say just go ahead and put it up now, if you want. It will remind everyone it is there, and everyone can join in when they feel like it. I typically mark the General Thread as "no spoilers" to discourage discussion of particulars outside of the proper threads. Thread management can get unwieldy, otherwise. But, using spoiler tags is always good advice.

[[deleted user]]

We leave on June 16, so you have time to mail it this week, for sure, with media mail. Later than this week, and it will get her just fine with Priority Mail.

I'll participate from Germany, no problem. Sylvia and I will be on at the same time; Hayes, too!

[Jemidar]

I'm probably going to be a little late to the party because there's a book I want to read before starting ToTC. It shouldn't matter though as everyone will be reading at their own speed so it shouldn't be too hard to catch up.

[[deleted user]]

It took us quite a while to get through a group buddy-read of Count of Monte Cristo. Like I said, these things are pretty fluid.... :)

[Dawn (& Ron)]

We are still trying to find my hardcover copy but I have checked my Kindle version and book III has chapters 11 - 15 separated out. This could be a formatting issue but I just want to verify that everyone's copy matches up the same so the threads are correct. Anyone else have a e-book or Kindle version and show this separation between chapters 10 and 11?

Just realized that's a lot of chapters, which can sometimes make for a faster read. As Jeannette can attest to, I am the slow, bringing up the rear, one in these buddy reads.

[Jemidar]

Jeannette wrote: "It took us quite a while to get through a group buddy-read of Count of Monte Cristo. Like I said, these things are pretty fluid.... :)"

That's what I figured :-).

[[deleted user]]

You and Dawn can be the rearguard! I hope it's a fast and interesting read.

[Margaret]

I'm in a small book club with my friends on facebook (6 members). What we do is whoever has something to say about our current read first posts the first thread. The only rule is that in the title of your post you have to specify where you are: eg. "I just finished chapter 5" and then comment on whatever you want to discuss after you post that. That way only those who have finished up to that chapter will read the comments and maybe have some thoughts/opinions to share back. It works for our group, you just have to remember not to comment on anything after whatever chapter is in your title, since more are likely to read the comments as they finish.

Another suggestion is we could have ATo2C "checkpoints". It seems to me that part one, being just 6 chapters will be an easy 1st checkpoint. But part 2, perhaps we could have a midpoint for it? Say, part 2 chapter 12 checkpoint and then a finished part 2 checkpoint? And then perhaps (or not) divide part 3 so that either chapter 7 or 8 can be the next to last checkpoint to the end?

[[deleted user]]

Those are great suggestions, but it takes up a lot of folders in the thread. When we did Count of Monte Cristo, it was broken down into lots of smaller chunks, but I think the group moderators weren't too happy that we showed up on the homepage so much.

No problem giving a progress report in the individual book thread, though. Like, "Hey! I just finished chapter 5, and I'm busting.... Anybody with me yet??"

[Dawn (& Ron)]

While we are still discussing how we will do things for the 2 Cities read, I have gone ahead and set up just the book discussion thread here http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/9... in the buddy read section of the TBR challenge group. The other threads haven't been set up yet although I have them tentatively set up to follow the books break down.

Let me know if there is something I forgot or changes to be made.

Margaret, I like the idea of mentioning how far along you are, by chapter will probably be easier than the page since e-books might not have page numbers, so that makes a lot of sense. We will need to specify which book section we are in as well as the chapter to avoid confusion.

The three book section threads, or if we divide them will act as the checkpoints, and let people know not to discuss matters that go beyond that specified section. Don't forget the use of spoiler tags to hide things you aren't sure others have read about or not.

[[deleted user]]

Jeannette wrote: "You and Dawn can be the rearguard! I hope it's a fast and interesting read."

I too am a slowpoke, don't forget!

[Catie]

Dawn (& Ron) wrote: "We are still trying to find my hardcover copy but I have checked my Kindle version and book III has chapters 11 - 15 separated out. "

Hi Dawn, I'm not quite sure I follow you - do you mean there's some kind of extra break between parts 10 & 11 other than the normal chapter break?
I don't have that but my kindle copy is part of a complete works so may be different anyway.

Looking forward to my first buddy read!

[[deleted user]]

Hayes wrote: "Jeannette wrote: "You and Dawn can be the rearguard! I hope it's a fast and interesting read."

I too am a slowpoke, don't forget!"

At least this one is short!

I will start on Friday, because I am thinking about reading
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall on the plane. It should be free on the kindle.

If I finish To2C early, I'll still jump into the discussion when the 3 of you catch up!