Monday, January 12, 2009

Book Circle update

Okay possums, I've got about 9 12 14 people interested in this so far. Are there any more? Any lurkers want to reveal themselves?

So, for those of you who are definitely interested I do need you to tell me some suggestions on what you would like to read this year.

Otherwise you'll be reading what I want to read. And that would not be very fair.

If you are stumped for ideas check out the following:
Featured books on your library's home page
Whitcoulls Top 100
Borders Best of 2008
Amazon's top 100

I am making a list on Google docs so if you have a gmail account I can "share" it with you. If you don't have a gmail account, I can easily send a copy and of course I will be posting it on my blog once it is complete.

Make sure I have your email addy by sending a list of book suggestions to me at pdugmore2001 at yahoo dot co dot nz. We need to have the suggestions in by the end of the week (18th Jan) so we can vote on the 12 we will read.

On my could-be-interested to definitely-interested list I have:

Me!
Emma (to join when able)
Heather
Janine
Jenny
Julie Maree
Katie
Kristen
Lynda
Mel
Mim
Sandra
Suzannah
Yvette

So the rules will be that we will all try to read the prescribed book some time during the given month. If life gets in the way and we don't manage it, that is fine. This is not Year 11 English. I will not be marking your "work" people. We don't need to have guilt trips.

We will post a review on our blogs during the last week of the month. The review might contain something like this but these are just guidelines rather than a prescribed format:
  • A brief synopsis describing the storyline and main characters, where the book is set and when it was written.
  • Did you like/dislike the book?
  • How did the book affect you, if it did at all?
  • Compare and contrast with other similar books if you wish
Potential problems

The book of the month is not in your library

See if you can interloan it from another library. (Usually the charge is about $5.00 but if it is more than that I'd say don't worry about it). Ask your friends and relations - they may have a copy on their bookshelf.
You don't finish the book
Just comment on what you've read so far and explain why you didn't finish it. Not every book will be to your taste but that is part of the experience.
The hold list is so long that you don't get the book in time for the given month
Choose another one from the list that you can get your hands on and read that instead... you'll be ahead for that month!

10 comments:

  1. Love the idea Penny but I am enjoying my uncommitted reading too much to review again at the moment LOL.. I have been thinking about putting a recommended books bit on my blog for years, considering how much i read i dont often talk about it LOL! Cant wait to see what your group comes up with!

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  2. I think I'd like to give it a go. If nothing else it'll make me step outside my usual reading choices and try something new.

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  3. I'd like to try too, Penny, given that your rules are so lax! Will email you my ideas for books to read, but I don't mind if the picks are things I might not naturally gravitate towards...

    (Word verification was "zatledip"!)

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  4. I'm going to try and keep my fingers crossed that I get it done! But no promises! I am totally open to any and all books.

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  5. like to do this but would like to start later... If I may?
    I will be doing a two week intensive education paper at the end of the month/beginning of next and won't have time to breath let alone read but I love this idea.

    I'm reading trash at the moment
    =0)

    If you want to start with a great book I've read I recommend The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.
    Don't know how many of you've read it but it's my top pick for last year.

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  6. OOOH also being a library nerd I kinda want to read this one too

    Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World

    =0)

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  7. Hi Penny

    Is it too late to join? Talk about last minute but I've only just had time to do blog catch up reading and I must have missed your original Book Circle post! We're in Raorotonga from 19-28 Jan but as soon as we get back I'll be ready to go...Will email you some ideas

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  8. i'm agreeing with Yodaobi...the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society was my top pick for 2008 as well. was utterly devastated to discover it had been posthumously published as all hopes of a sequel went up in smoke!

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  9. Add me to the list - I could probably do with someone else choosing my books for a change :)

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  10. Thanks for taking the time to discuss this, I feel strongly about it and love learning more on this topic. If possible, as you gain expertise, would you mind updating your blog with extra information? It is extremely helpful for me. english language

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