Our Novel Escape discussion

A Buddy Read is a fun way to discuss a book that is not the official monthly read. Perhaps you are planning to read a certain book in the coming month and you want to share your reading experience with some of your O.N.E. buddies. What better way than to start a Buddy Read?!

To start a Buddy Read, just post a 'buddy reads request' (please use the add book/author tool when naming your book selection!) in this thread and see if anyone is interested. Once at least one other person comments that they are interested, you can plan when to start your Buddy Read and how long you think it might take to read and discuss the book. Please specify the type of Buddy Read this will be. After that is established, I will start a discussion thread for the book.

The following classifications will determine what type of Buddy Read you are interested in for your book:

1. Relaxed Buddy Read -- This will be at your own pace and you can all share your feelings about the book as you read or once you finish the book - whichever you feel like doing. There will not be a discussion leader for this type of Buddy Read but please expand on your feelings about the book, more than just, "I liked it/I didn't like it."

2. Slightly Formal Buddy Read -- There will be a discussion leader and a set of generic questions (see list at the bottom of this post) that you might answer as you read or when you finish the book. Of course discussion beyond the questions is encouraged! If anyone would like to be a discussion leader for Buddy Reads, let me know! This is especially handy and helpful if you are already planning to read the book or if you have finished it in the past.

3. Chunkster Buddy Read -- This is for books that are longer than 500 pages and may take longer than one month to complete. It would be nice to make up a sort-of schedule for checking in at certain points of the book, whether it be after so many pages or so many chapters. Participants should come up with a schedule that best fits their situations. It would also be nice to have some Q&A discussions by the discussion leader or those who are participating in the buddy read. The same generic questions for the Slightly Formal Buddy Read could apply to this style, as well.

Some things (rules) to consider when joining along for a Buddy Read:

1. Please use the spoiler tags when necessary because not everyone will be at the exact same place in the book.

2. Remember that this is to *discuss* books, not just to read a book and not join in on discussions. Tell us what you think, would you read the author again, did you expect the book to be as it ended up, anything at all that stimulates conversation.

3. If you missed out on a Buddy Read for some reason, please feel free to join in at a later date! Just add your own thoughts to the discussion as time permits.

4. If you made a commitment to read with a buddy, please do not slack off on your commitment, please stay in touch with your buddy and join in on talks! If you cannot join in because of some random unexpected reason, please check in and say as much in your buddy read thread. Don't leave a buddy hanging!

5. Please keep the discussions on topic for each of the Buddy Read books.

6. HAVE FUN! Make friends, discover new perspectives on books and maybe discover new favorite books and authors.

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Slightly Formal Buddy Read Generic Questions

Note: Feel free to answer as few or as many of these as you read along. Feel free to expand on them or come up with your own as you go. Buddy Reads are for everyone to enjoy!

1. What did you think of the author's writing style?

2. Would you read anything by this author again? Or, Have you read anything by this author before? If so, what?

3. Who was your favorite character and why?

4. Who was your least favorite character and why?

5. What did you think of the setting? Is it the type of setting you usually like or one you usually dislike?

6. Was there anything that surprised you about the story/book?

7. What did you think of the ending? Would you have ended it differently or the same?

8. What will you rate the book?

9. Would you recommend this book or author to friends?

(I was inspired by Nothing But Reading Challenges for a couple of these questions, and I came up with others on my own.)

I'll be reading Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts in January and February as buddy read with someone else. Would anybody in this group be interested in reading this book with me in the same time frame?

Would anyone be interested in doing a "Chunkster Buddy Read" (it's 771 pages) with me of The Goldfinch during March and April?

I'm in The Goldfinch!

I'd read Shantaram but my library does not carry it, sadly.

Donna, do you have a starting date you'd like for The Goldfinch? Early March, mid-late, etc.?

The start date for The Goldfinch would be March 1st. Since it's such a lengthy book, dividing it up into manageable chunks over 9 weeks will help. Part I (chapters 1-4) is shorter. After that, the chapters are considerably longer. So, tackling 1 chapter a week would be much easier (2 chapters per Part). This thread should indicate "Spoilers" in the title so we can discuss freely.

Schedule:

Part I (chapters 1-4) -- March 1 to 8
Part II (chapters 5 and 6) -- March 8 to 22
Part III (chapters 7 and 8) -- March 22 to April 5
Part IV (chapters 9 and 10) -- April 5 to 19
Part V (chapters 11 and 12) -- April 19 to May 3

Awesome! I'll make a thread for it soon.

ilovebakedgoods (Teresa) wrote: "Awesome! I'll make a thread for it soon."

Thanks, Teresa! I hope others will join in too. The more, the merrier, as they say. :~)

I would like to join goldfinch read. that sounds like a good read, and i like the idea of splitting each section up.

Happy you'll be joining us, Sandra!

I'm reading The Hours by Michael Cunningham. Who wants to join me?

Is anyone interested in doing any Buddy Reads this year? If so just post here and when a second person says they would also like to do the BR I'll set up the thread for you.

Would anyone like to do a buddy read with me, I am about to start Yellow Crocus by Laila Ibrahim

Stacie wrote: "Would anyone like to do a buddy read with me, I am about to start Yellow Crocus by Laila Ibrahim"

Stacie I'd be happy to read this with you if you like.

Great Zara, Kelly would like to join us as well. What type of buddy read would you like to do? I am open to anything! When should we get started?

Hi Zara, I have gotten started with Yellow Crocus, I would love to hear your thoughts so far.

Stacie wrote: "Hi Zara, I have gotten started with Yellow Crocus, I would love to hear your thoughts so far."

I'm still waiting for my copy to arrive at the library. I'll try and set up the thread for this BR today.

Okay thank you very much for setting up the thread. I was trying to read slowly in case you had not started yet. I'm looking forward to our buddy read! I hope you had a great weekend!

I'd love to do a buddy read in May if anyone is interested! I know I'll be reading these books, but I'm open to suggestions too. :)

The Opposite of Loneliness

The Goldfinch

From Grace to Good