Something Old, Something New discussion

I just wanted to let everyone know that Kate S has been lovely enough to come on board as a co-moderator and help me out here on Something Old, Something New so don't be surprised if you see her popping up here and there a bit more from now on.
Hopefully between the two of us we will be able to make this group a bit more fun and exciting and encourage a bit more contribution to our book discussions.
We're also working on some fun new challenges to introduce to the group very soon so stay tuned!

Welcome Kate S. Michelle thank you for working so hard for this group. I know you're probably not getting back what you're putting in. Personally I've been a bit slack with my contributions but I'm finding that I've pretty much neglected all my other groups too and tend to favour the Aussie Reader's one the most. Although I've cut back considerably on a lot of the challenges there as well. Good luck girls. I'm sure you'll make it work.:)

Elaine wrote: "Welcome Kate S. Michelle thank you for working so hard for this group. I know you're probably not getting back what you're putting in. Personally I've been a bit slack with my contributions but I'm..."

Thanks Elaine. I've seen you doing your JFK books challenge and am fascinated how you can read so many books on the same subject! I wish I was as passionate about something like that :-)

Thank you, Elaine. I am so excited about this group. We have an international view and can discuss so many aspects on such a variety of books. I am hoping everyone will find something fun to talk with us about soon!

We do appreciate your efforts,Michelle, even if it doesn't always seem like it. To be honest I am getting a bit sick of JFK now, although certain aspects still fascinate me and I do want to read more. I have halved the challenge, though as it was getting a bit difficult to read one book a week on something JFK related!!! Hopefully now I can read a bit more widely and even join in some of the challenges here!!! :)

Kate S wrote: "Thank you, Elaine. I am so excited about this group. We have an international view and can discuss so many aspects on such a variety of books. I am hoping everyone will find something fun to talk..."

You sound very enthusiastic Kate S so I'm sure you and Michelle will help get the passion back into the group. I'm definitely interested to see what you guys have planned and although there are some books here that I would probably not read I still like seeing what people come up with and what new challenges there are.

I hear you read a lot of JFK books, but what other kinds of books do you favor, Elaine? Do you like a lot of non-fiction? I am interested in making this a more active group and chatting with members about what they enjoy may make this more successful. :)

I like quite a range of genres Kate. Biographies, historical fiction, classics, contemporary fiction, crime and psychological thrillers. I don't mind some non-fiction but even those are either biographical in nature or to do with history. I have been reading more SF and fantasy recently too, something I didn't think I'd like but have actually enjoyed. When I was younger I did do romances to death so won't read any of those unless of course they just happen to be part of a larger story.One genre I don't like (anymore) and probably won't read is horror. Sorry seem to have gone on there a bit. Lol :)

No, don't be sorry, I love it.

You could be describing my reading habits. Have you read Gone Girl or The Dinner yet? Both are newer psychological thrillers which offer a lot of discussion points.

Are you interested in reading/discussing The Companions? We have that one coming up in May.

So, does the aversion to horror keep you mostly away from Stephen King type novels or also the gothic horror novel like Dracula, Frankenstein, vampire, zombie, etc? Not that I am judging, just curious.

Sorry, your profile is set to private, so I'm trying to learn what I can while you are available. :)

That's fine Kate.I'm happy to chat to you. I loved Gone Girl!!! Haven't read The Dinner yet but now you've piqued my interest. It does sound good and like something I'd read. The Companions might be something I'd consider. I do like the Arthurian legends and this for some reason reminds me a bit of those. So I'd definitely look at it. I have enjoyed a few Stephen King books and it would really be only the real horror ones I would avoid. I don't mind vampires, Dracula and Frankenstein. Not sure about zombies though. So I guess gothic novels are ok. I even enjoy them. I'm happy to add you as a friend Kate if you are? I didn't realise my profile is private. I know I have had some friend requests in the past from randoms that were only trying to push their books onto me and weren't really interested in discussing other books, except their own!!! I don't mind self promotion and understand sometimes it's difficult to get your books out there, but don't want it rammed down my throat!!! Now that makes me sound mean!!! I'm not really, just selective. :)

I found both of Gone Girl and The Dinner interesting. I enjoyed Gone Girl, and found it rather original. The Dinner was similar, but different, and I felt it was relevant and current.

I have sent you a friend request so we can further investigate our similar reading tastes.

Thanks Kate. I have accepted and already see that we have 83% of books in common. That's gotta be a good start doesn't it? Even if I don't read horror!!! Look forward to comparing further.

Yeah, 83% is great! Horror is not my first choice usually, but come the fall, I do like a good scary book. I'm about to embark on a re-read of Frankenstein with one of the discussion groups I follow. So, I was curious about that particular preference.

I am reading a handful of Historical Fiction this season (March-May). I have planned: Those Who Save Us, The Golem and the Jinni, and Cutting for Stone amongst others.

I also have a library full of JFK books, my mother (and her family) are enamored with the Kennedys, so I have been reading books about them for most of my life.

So will you be reading Shelley's Frankenstein? I guess that is a classic and I may get to it one day as part of my reading. Those 3 you're planning to read I've not read but friends here on GR have and they've all had rave reviews.

Yes I have become quite fascinated with JFK and all to do with him. Living in Australia I really didn't know much about him aside of course from the very little political/historical stuff we did in high school. I started to develop a real interest last year as the 50th anniversary approached. I was also fascinated by the fact that all the days and dates were the same in 1963 and 2013. I think that's why I enjoyed King's novel so much. Mind you even without the JFK connection it was a great story. I've always been interested in American history, especially the civil war period,so this is just another extension of that. I probably know more about that than I do Australian history!!!

Yes, I will be reading Frankenstein again. I think it is an overlooked story in so many ways. The levels to that book are fascinating as is Shelley as a person.

The Kennedy's are a little like American royalty and draw attention in the same way. I live in the state of Virginia and make it a point to visit various Civil War battlegrounds. My father was a Civil War enthusiast and most of his collection of Civil War books have made it into my library. It's another period of American History with which I have become very familiar. I actually know very little about Australian history, but use GoodReads forums as a resource for books available about such things. :)

Have you jumped on the Kate Morton train yet? I have enjoyed several of her books. I loved The Forgotten Garden (read first) and enjoyed the others I have read.

Yes I'm sure Shelley's life would be just as fascinating to read about as her books.

I'm so envious of you being able to visit all those places. One of my bucket list wishes is to travel round the US and see all the major Civil war sites and all the other places/monuments etc of historical importance. Of course now I have to add to the list all the JFK stuff as well. And I'm a huge Elvis fan so Graceland is up there with all those places. Then there's the UK where I also have a huge interest in the Tudor period so castles, London Tower and all that.

Haven't read any Kate Morton yet but they do sound good. There are so many books out there and it seems with every new friend here on GR my TBR just increases!!! Kate what does your TEMP shelf stand for? I'm just wondering as you have quite a few books on there that I want to read too.

My temp shelf is the books I scanned from my mother's library. I have not yet stored them as read or to read. But they all live at my mother's house (almost 2 whole miles from mine).

Graceland is fun. There are a ton of places in the good old US to visit and they are fascinating. I have said I will never need to leave my country as there are enough places to see here, I will never run out of destinations. This hasn't stopped me from going elsewhere, but I don't have any pressing need to wander too far.

Thanks for clarifying. That's a lot of books between the two homes. Yes you are fortunate that there is so much in your homeland of significance to see and do. There's a lot here in Australia too I guess and I've not seen enough of the country but it just so happens that my interests are for those places and people in the US and UK. Not to say that I haven't gone to a lot of the historical/important places here.

Visiting Australia is definitely on my bucket list. However, after flying to Hawaii two years ago, I am definitely evaluating the sea routes. :) Although, I have to say my interest in Australia is more zoological and landscapes than historical (again lack of knowledge).

I'm a little bit of a snob and a bit American-centric, but I am working on it.

I was blessed to be raised by a book lover and having access to books all the time. It has become a bit overwhelming, as I still have a stack of boxes I haven't managed to include on either my mother's or my list. I have read most of the books in her library, but I read them when I still lived at home and don't always have a clear memory of them.

Congratulations Kate S on becoming a mod. I'm sure you'll do a fine job and be a great help to Michelle. Looking forward to seeing what the challenges are going to be :)

Thanks, Sharon! I hope we can make this group an even more fun place to be! I know Michelle has great plans and hope I can help her realize her vision for this group.