Book Nook Cafe discussion

Here is the thread for you to post in to find a Book Buddy. The purpose of a Buddy Read is to help you connect with others who may want to read and discuss the same book as you.

A Book Buddy is for books that you think warrant a more in-depth discussion. It's not for beach read type books. Though they are fun to read they really are not discussion type books. You can look over the list of Buddy Reads that have already taken place and see which type of books lent themselves to good discussions.

When you find a Book Buddy, I will set up a thread so you can discuss it on the board.

It is best to suggest a book that you are planning to read in 2-4 weeks hence. This will give the other person time to get the book.

Give it a try. It's a lot of fun to read and discuss a book with another person. :)

I read quite a few classics anyway but I am putting 5 'major' classics on my Determination List for 2014. I thought I should definitely finally get around to David Copperfield by Charles Dickens since it has been hanging around in my box-under-the-bed for ages and I have started it a couple of times already.

If anyone fancies getting this one under their belt in the early part of the year let me know and we can turn the 900-odd pages together!

I've read and enjoyed a lot the few Dickens I've read. I own a hardcover edition of Copperfield but haven't read it yet. I have to admit the 900 pages sounds daunting.

Do you have a favorite Dickens ?

I've read and enjoyed
A Tale of Two Cities
Oliver Twist
A Christmas Carol
Bleak House

David Copperfield is on my list for next year, too, so I'll be happy to join in.

I think A Tale of Two Cities and A Christmas Carol are my favorite Dickens books. In addition to DC, I'll be re-reading Great Expectations next year.

I've read Oliver Twist, Dombey and Son and Great Expectations. I didn't choose to read Dombey & Son but had to because it was on my university course. It wasn't the best story, rather dry for Dickens but I was blown away by his use of language so luckily it didn't put me off. Great Expectations was definitely my favourite so far - I thought there was a lot in it still relevant to issues today about aspirational culture and living beyond your means. I had seen many tv and film adaptations of it over the years so thought I knew the story inside out, but there was a lot more nuance and complexity in the novel, plus some really good characters I had never seen before.

It'd be great to do Copperfield together Susan (and Alias if you can stand the thought of 900 pages!). I haven't got any reading planned in for 2014 yet so I'm easy about when to start :)

I won't be rereading DC with ya'll but i know i'll be contributing to the discussion. Alias, the book seemed to fly quickly, so much so that i'm surprised to realize it is as thick as you say. Wow. So much of his works move along, so that i barely realize how large they are. Soph, i've never tried Dombey and Son and appreciate your comment.

I would have loved to join in on this one, but I've decided to place one book on my DL for 2014: A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth. I have been carrying the darn thing around for 20 years--literally, 20 years--and I'm determined to read it! All 1,488 pages of it.

When I finish that one, then we can talk. :)

i was reading memoirs of geisha and men wthout women by ernest hemingwy..
any take on these two?

Memoirs of a Geisha is a good book--I really liked that one. Enjoy!

Abhishek wrote: "i was reading memoirs of geisha and men wthout women by ernest hemingwy..
any take on these two?"

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Welcome to Book Nook Café, Abhishek ! Thank you for joining our group and posting. :)

I read Memoirs of a Geisha and enjoyed it very much. You are in for a treat. I wish I could say the same for Men without Women. I think it is the only Hemmingway that I've read that I really disliked. Not due the writing style but more the topic of bull fighting etc.

Thanks again for joining our group. I look forward to your posts and your thoughts on these two books.

Welcome to the group, Abhishek. I didn't care for Geisha, unlike others here. I hope you'll let us know your thoughts on it when you finish.

Do any David Copperfield-ers want to schedule this book for February? If this suits I could make up a plan for chapter / discussion sections too if you like.

Let me know :)

If you find a buddy, Soph, I'll set up a thread for you.

I would like to join but have too much on my plate right now.

David Copperfield - February is ok for me, I think.

See that David Copperfield is available for 99cents on my Nook -- so February is ok for me. Or later if needed as there it is on my Nook.

If anyone would like to read The Host with me, that would be great :)

Re: The Host--Stephenie Meyer

Welcome to Book Nook Café, Chloe !

Thank you! :)

I put up a thread for David Copperfield for you all for February. Enjoy !

Thanks Alias

You're welcome. :)

I read C&P a couple of months ago - it's a great book. I hope you enjoy it!

Welcome to Book Nook Café, Shireen. Thanks for posting. :)

I read C&P a few years ago. It's a very good read.
If you don't get anyone to buddy with, I would suggest you use online notes to help as there are a lot of layers to the book that you will not get without notes to help. For example, various schools of philosophy. That is what I did and found it very helpful.

I would also recommend the Norton Critical Edition.
I found this edition to be a big help. They give you tons of footnotes and commentary.

Here is what it says on Amazon
"New footnotes have been added, based on discoveries by the leading Soviet Dostoevsky scholar, Sergei Belov. "Backgrounds and Sources", highly praised in the Second Edition, remains unaltered. Included are a detailed map of nineteenth-century St. Petersburg, selections from Dostoevsky’s notebooks and letters, and a crucial passage from an early draft of his novel. Noteworthy among the several new "Essays in Criticism" are a little-known but important passage by Leo Tolstoy on Raskolnikov; an essay by Sergei Belov; observations by the Russian literary theoretician and scholar Mikhail Bakhtin; and an essay by the Nobel laureate Czeslaw Milosz. A Chronology of Dostoevsky’s Life and a Selected Bibliography are also included."
http://www.amazon.com/Crime-Punishmen...

You can google: Crimes and punishment notes

Sparknotes and cliffs notes are good.

Let us know how it goes. :)

I wouldn't mind doing C & P Shireen, but I wouldn't be able to start until late March / early April due to books already pencilled in. I need to read a Russian classic this year and I know I have a copy of this in the house already. I even started it on holiday one year and read Book 1 of 6 but didn't have the time when I came home to keep up with it. If you have already started it this might not be much good to you, but if you haven't then I'm willing to join you!

Hi, Shireen, happy to meet you. I hope you find someone to read the book with you, as a reading pal helps keep one on target.

Shireen wrote: "I love the supportive comments, thank you, it makes me feel very welcome. Sophie, I will wait for you :). In the meantime think I will start on The Lighthouse of Virginia Woolfe. Any views on this ..."

OK Shireen that's a deal! C&P in late March :) My only view on To the Lighthouse is that you must be brave to read it as it's meant to be quite a challenging book. I have never read Virginia Woolf and I'd like to but I'm plucking up the courage to try her! Please let us know how you get on with it. And I'll let you know when I'm starting C&P.

@Soph & Shireen

Remind me a week before you want to begin so I can set up the thread for you.

Woolf can be challenging as she writes in a stream of conscience fashion.

I read Mrs. Dallowaytwice. The first time I didn't care for it. Though the second time I did.
Maybe because I had already read The Hours which is sort of a homage to her.

Anyway, good luck and let us know your thoughts.

I haven't read The Lighthouse, but I loved Mrs. Dalloway. The one thing I would say is to give yourself time to absorb the language and the characters. I guess that could apply to most classics - they aren't quick reads!

Susan from MD wrote: "I haven't read The Lighthouse, but I loved Mrs. Dalloway. The one thing I would say is to give yourself time to absorb the language and the characters. I guess that could apply to most classics - t..."

True. Also don't hesitate to use online resources. I sometimes will read a chapter on my own than the notes to see if I am on track.

Alias Reader wrote: "Woolf can be challenging as she writes in a stream of conscience fashion.

I read Mrs. Dallowaytwice. The first time I didn't care for it. Though the second time I did.
Maybe be..."

I loved The Hours, both the book and the movie. I never did read Mrs. Dalloway.

Shireen, i like reading Virginia Woolf and felt To the Lighthouse was more accessible than many. You've gotta go with the flow & savor the language, imo. I hope you enjoy it.

Shireen, I enjoy reading Virginia Woolf's books, especially To the Lighthouse which is an autobiographical account of her family's yearly visits to Cornwall, and the effects of change. I hope you enjoy it.

I didn't realize it was Cornwall. I'll have to read that. The TV show Doc Martin in filmed in Cornwall.

Hi, Mary. I am currently reading

Me Before You for a library discussion this Monday. If you read it I would be able to discuss it with you. I've read about 100 pages and am enjoying it. Though I love all books that take place in England ! :)

As noted in the welcome thread we are also reading as a group, though not too many have seemed to join in at this time, An American Tragedy. We are reading that for May/June and also discussing the movie. Though it is a 800+ book which I know can be daunting.

Maybe someone else can say what they plan to read and buddy up with you.

Thanks again for joining our group ! :)

I'm looking for a book buddy for the books The Escort Next Door by Clara James or Backstage Pass by Olivia Cunning. :) Hope you all get back to me! Thanks!!

Welcome to Book Nook Café April. It helps if you provide the GR link to the books you are talking about. This way others can easily click on the link to read more about the book and tell if they would like to read it.

The Escort Next Door

Backstage Pass

Okay thank you Alias Reader!! :D

FYI . . . Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra

I was just wondering if anyone would like to read a very long (992 pages) Spanish Masterpiece, known as Don Quixote. If you are interested, I would enjoy reading with another's perspective. I will begin reading on September 9th. :>

I am about to start reading "To kill a mocking bird". Anyone out there who would like to turn the 300 odd pages with me? Please do comment if you are interested.

It's a terrific book and movie ! I'm in the middle of another book or I would join you. Have fun !

I love To Kill a Mockingbird. I too am in the middle of another book so can't join, but I hope you will share your thoughts with us. I have read the book several times.

I too have read the book many times, seen the movie many times and also saw a live play. I will check in on this if you do a read.

I might could do with a re-read of that one. I don't think I've read it since I was a teenager.

I just started reading it about a week ago. I can read it with you.

If VijayaRaghavan responds, I will set up a folder for you all to discuss

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Thank you. :)

Tracy, since you only need one other person who wishes to discuss it with you for a Buddy Read and I see some have said they would, I'll put up a thread for you today.

I think I will make it a dual thread to discuss To Kill a Mockingbird and Go Set a Watchman thread.

Having it all in one thread will make it easier for people to compare/contrast and hopefully also bring more people to the discussion.

That sounds like a brilliant idea. Thanks Alias Reader

The Buddy Thread is up for people who are reading either
To Kill a Mockingbird or Go Set a Watchman

Enjoy !