It’s been awhile since my last book post, and I’ve been reading pretty often. I churn through things so quickly I don’t always have time to absorb them, and it makes me want discussion & absorption. Which made me have an idea — let’s start a summer blog book club!
How it works!
1. I’ll start. I’ll pick a book, today! If you’re interested, pick it up and finish it in within 2 weeks.
2. The 1st seven bloggers who want to be hosts & who comment here to tell me you’re interested will be blog hosts for the summer. (One person every 2 weeks.)
3. Anyone can follow along — infinite book club! Way better than packing into a tiny parlour, right? 2 weeks from today, I’ll start a book discussion on the book I’ve chosen in this blog. Everyone’s who’s read can join the discussion in comments.
4. The next host will choose a book – preferably something reasonably new and literary. In 2 weeks, we’ll head over to their blog, where they will start a discussion, and so on, and so forth, until the end of summer.
Sound fun?? I’m going to start with a book I’ve wanted to read for awhile:
Wide Eyed (Little House on the Bowery) by Trinie Dalton
So! Let me know if you’re interested and want to be a host! I think we can get 7 people willing to start a book discussion in their blogs, right?
In other bookness, I’ve also been plowing through non-fiction, for some reason. These are recent reads that are worth picking up:
The Age of Wonder: How the Romantic Generation Discovered the Beauty and Terror of Science
The Secret History of the Mongol Queens: How the Daughters of Genghis Khan Rescued His Empire
Chrysalis: Maria Sibylla Merian and the Secrets of Metamorphosis
roxi
4 months ago
this looks great! i wish i cld participate but i have to read a book every day this summer for my exams; no reading for fun. but thanks for pointing out the trinie dalton book – it sounds amazing!
Angeliska
4 months ago
So. Weird. Psychic witch twin!!!
This afternoon my thought was this:
“Must buy that Trinie Dalton book I’ve been wanting to read..”
but instead I bought books by Bill Plotkin and Henning Mankell.
What the heck? I will gladly join the summer book club!
verhext
4 months ago
Do you want to be a host? You can do the next one!!
Miranda
4 months ago
Book club? Count me in! I’ve been reading so much lately and finally feel like I can be a member of a book club.
Drucilla Pettibone
4 months ago
I’d love to join – this is exactly what I’ve been needing is some good summer reading and discussion! Also delurking here to say hallo!
Stella Polaris
4 months ago
I’m not sure I’ll be able to participate (I read for a living so I have trouble finding time to read for me only) but I’ll try. Anyway, I will pick the book you’ve chosen!
verhext
4 months ago
You read for a living?! What do you do? Sounds like my dream job.
Stella Polaris
4 months ago
Hehe yes it’s a childhood dream come true
I read English and Dutch young adult novels to see if they’d be interesting for the French publishing house I work for to translate. It’s not paying well but I love it (plus, I get to work at home and organize my day as I want).
verhext
4 months ago
I am OFFICIALLY JEALOUS!! So awesome. However, I can only read in English & a little French, so I would be terrible at this job.
Stella Polaris
4 months ago
Besides, US publishers translate a lot less than European ones if I’m not mistaken ! The thing with this job however is that it completly wrecked my reading habits: I used to read lots of thick novels but I can’t do that now, since it’s pretty much guaranteed that my read will be interupted by a “professional read” at least twice. So I’ve almost entirely turned to non-fiction, comics (quick read) and magazines…
Becca
4 months ago
Just checked – it’s available at my local library, so I’m in. I can’t promise blog hosting at my end (2 weeks is tough for me, I’m a month-a-book girl myself) but I’m excited to join in the conversation. Great idea.
RunicRhyme
4 months ago
I would love to do this, but I may need more than 2 weeks as I would probably have to order the books online. I live in Kentucky. There’s not too much around ;]
verhext
4 months ago
I think I might need more time too! I ordered it crazy cheap and now it’s going to take ages. Anyway, that gives more people time to sign on.
Lara
4 months ago
just ordered it for cheapo! your blog is one of the most happy-making things for me these days.
Lauren
4 months ago
Oh sounds great count me in! I am open to hosting as well, now to finish all the non fiction I borrowed last week!
la la la liza
4 months ago
sounds like fun! i read a girl of the limberlost because of one of your posts a while back and really liked it a whole lot. how had i never heard of it? more magical reading suggestions please!
RunicRhyme
4 months ago
Ok, book ordered! Count me in, ladies :]
Nica
4 months ago
oh this book club sounds so wonderful, and so does your first selection. I would totally volunteer to host a book over at my livejournal, but I would be terribly unreliable this summer, as according to my calculations earlier this day, I will be at home for less than 10 days this summer, spending the rest of the time in 7 countries on 3 continents, with probably sketchy internet for much of it. I am ordering this book to read it, though, because the Amazon description reminded me a bit of Kelly Link.
Ms. Bunny
4 months ago
This sounds so wonderfully delightful. It will be a pleasure to get back to fun reading, rather than stuff for grad school this summer. Even better with cool folks to discuss books with.
Violet Folklore
4 months ago
I am with you in that I go through books so quickly that I don’t feel like I’ve really absorbed what was there.
I lead a real life book discussion once a month and that’s usually my only fiction for the month, and then I go through a number of non fiction books in that time.
But I really want to do this with you! I will have to jump in on the next one though (but I will put this selection on my “to read” list).
Thanks for starting this Tamera!
Cyn Passanante
4 months ago
Tamera,
This idea is fantastic. Do you have 7 yet? I would be honored to join as a host.
Regardless, I am in for the reading – your recommendations are always fantastic; “Wide Eyed” looks brilliant.
Cyn~
verhext
4 months ago
Yes please host!! I’m not even sure how to begin a discussion, but it’ll be a good brain exercise. Wide Eyed is SO GOOD so far.
Cyn Passanante
3 months ago
I guess the best way to do it would be to post an entry on our review, and then we all comment on it, or link to our own reviews?
I went to 2 different book stores, and no sign of “Wide Eyed.” Amazon has ordered it for me, though!
RunicRhyme
3 months ago
My book has been in transit for 2 days. Kind of worries me, but hopefully it arrives soon :] Weeeee!
Drucilla Pettibone
3 months ago
loving it so far… will you tweet our meeting date??
RunicRhyme
3 months ago
Ok, I’ve started the book just today. Keep me updated :]
Nicole
3 months ago
Just finished Wide Eyed. Fast reading, almost like a good friend talking about her thoughts on life. I’m passing it onto a friend who believes in the mystical presence of unicorns. While reading I thought of so many of my girlfriends who would also love it. Thanks for the recommendation.
verhext
3 months ago
So good! I’m headed to Vermont and will make notes / attempt to draft a decent discussion (now I’m a little worried!) & post on June 5th!