Goodreads Choice Awards Book Club discussion

What is a "buddy read"?

A "buddy read" is when one or more persons agree to read a book with you, that isn't a scheduled group book of the month (and therefore not run by one of the group moderators - we however may join in with a buddy read)

The rules are there are pretty much no rules. You just need one other member to read the book with you. Then it's up to you to decide when and how.
No restrictions on dates, no restrictions on how long it takes to read, no restrictions on how you discuss the book (you can have a set schedule, you can discuss as you read or you can discuss at the end). It's all up to you!

What to do
Comment below which book you'd like to read and if someone(s) wants to join you, work out when you'd like to start.

Once agreed, start your own thread to discuss the book (the moderators will not do this for you). You can do this by doing the following:

- Click on this link: Buddy Reads 2018
- Click on 'new topic' at the top right of the of the list
- Fill in the 'topic field' with Book Title and Start Date
- (Optional) Type the book in 'this topic is about field'
- Keep 'folder field' as Buddy Reads
- Fill in the 'comment field' with details about your buddy read - e.g. what the book is, book summary, reading schedule (if any), use or non use of spoiler tags*
*Above are examples, you don't have to do any of these (remember there are no rules) and you can add your own ideas.

I won't be reading all of these in January, but hope to read a couple. If anyone would like to read one with me, I'd be interested in a buddy read.

When I Wake Up
Fierce Kingdom
If The Creek Don't Rise
Emma in the Night
The Chalk Man
Batman: Nightwalker
Stillhouse Lake
The Finding of Martha Lost
The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper
The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes

I want to read The Chalk Man. I currently have it down for April (because obviously one must plan the entire year in advance ;) ), but I could give it a try earlier as well.

I expect my library hold to come up on the publication date, but let me check out the interest on it. Maybe I can get it back in April if there aren’t many holds. I’m in no hurry.

I wish my library would let me put a pause on my holds so I could plan out my reading better. My old library used to do that and I really miss it.

So, it seems that the book hasn't caught on yet. I can release my hold and get it later if you'd like to wait for April. Otherwise, I can read it any time after the release date. Just let me know what works for you.

I also put in a request for it through NetGalley. If I get that one, I'd like to try to read it within 3 months of when I get it.

I'm planning to read in January!

What day were you thinking of starting?

and I"d love to plan: for February!

For The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper - I'm going on vacation on the 20th, so I'd like to finish before then. I'm not sure how much I'll be online during vacation or what my service will be like. So, if you'd like to pick a date before then, that'd be great.

For Stillhouse Lake - I have Killman Creek through NetGalley and I need to read that the beginning of February for review. (I'm trying to get a couple of reviews done before the 3 month mark for a change!) Could we start the end of January or would that be too early for you? I was thinking after vacation, maybe the 28th?

I would be interested in The Chalk Man too and open to anytime.
I already read Stillhouse Lake. I think you both will like it.

How about either March or April then for The Chalk Man?

That’ll work, Janina. Let me take a look at my schedule when I get home. I’m running around this morning. Do you have a preference?

Not really. I just don’t think I’d be able to get it via my library in January and February is a very busy month for me. Anytime after that should work for me.

I would like to read

Janina - How about March 10th for The Chalk Man?

Trisha - Any thoughts on the dates for The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper or Stillhouse Lake?

Vicki wrote: "I would be interested in The Chalk Man too and open to anytime.
I already read Stillhouse Lake. I think you both will like it."

Glad you'll be joining us for Chalk Man!

Vicki wrote: "I would like to read "

Excellent, Vicki! I'm still waiting to hear back from Trisha, but does the end of January work for you?

March 10th sounds good to me.

Woot! I'll put it on the calendar.

Discussion is here

Kristie wrote: "I won't be reading all of these in January, but hope to read a couple. If anyone would like to read one with me, I'd be interested in a buddy read.

When I Wake Up
[book:Fierce Ki..."

I'd love to read Stillhouse Lake.

Kristie, the end of January works fine but preferably not to start on the 27th. I already have one buddy read that day plus it’s my BD. :)

Happy birthday, Vicki! What date would work for you?

Kirsten - Any specific dates for you? I was thinking January 28th, but I'm not sure if that works for others. I'm waiting to hear back.

Kristie wrote: "Happy birthday, Vicki! What date would work for you?"

Thank you. :) Does January 21 or 22 work?

Trisha was hoping for February, but I have to review the 2nd book by the 10th, so needed to read it a little earlier. I'm not sure if that's too early for her. I'm on vacation until the 28th and I'm not sure what my access to the internet will be. I can always add it for then and just join the discussion later though, if I don't have access. Let me see what Kirsten & Trisha think of dates first though.

Kristie wrote: "Trisha was hoping for February, but I have to review the 2nd book by the 10th, so needed to read it a little earlier. I'm not sure if that's too early for her. I'm on vacation until the 28th and I'..."

I don't have a specific time frame or need to read it by, so anytime is fine with me. You mentioned the end of January, so that's what I went with but February would be all right with me too.

Kristie wrote: "Trisha was hoping for February, but I have to review the 2nd book by the 10th, so needed to read it a little earlier. I'm not sure if that's too early for her. I'm on vacation until the 28th and I'..."

I'm open! Any dates work for me - we can put both in January (early or late)

I already have The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper from the library and am on a small wait list for Stillhouse Lake so I should have it within the week!

Excellent! How about if we plan The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper for the 7th, since you already have it. That will give me time to read Little Fires Everywhere first.

Then, we can do Stillhouse Lake for the 21st, which worked for Vicki? Or I can do it earlier, if that's when you'll have the book. I am available any time after we finish Arthur Pepper, maybe the 12th or 13th.

I'll set up the threads and we can edit the dates as we want.

Discussion is here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Discussion is here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

I can add and adjust dates once they are set.

Great I'll join you for the chalk man on March 10! :D

Looking forward to some good discussions in the New Year!

Kirsten wrote: "Looking forward to some good discussions in the New Year!"

Me too!

Glad you're joining us, Savanes!

Trisha - Are you still planning to join the Arthur Pepper read?

I would love to join on chalk man. By the way, stillhouse was great.

Jamela wrote: "I would love to join on chalk man. By the way, stillhouse was great."

You're more than welcome to join us. Here's the link to the discussion thread. We're starting to read it on March 10.

We'd love to have you join us, Jamela. :) I'm looking forward to this one. Chalkman discussion

Kristie wrote: "We'd love to have you join us, Jamela. :) I'm looking forward to this one. Chalkman discussion"

Ooops forgot the link! My bad! ;)

Haha no worries. I knew you meant to link it. :)

I was just reminded that a while ago some of us had discussed maybe having a buddy read of The Handmaid's Tale later in the year. I figured I'd mention it here so I wouldn't forget about it again. I won't have time to read it until at least April, but if anyone's still interested we can choose a date and set up a thread.

We can also wait and choose a date later. I really just wanted it in this thread as a reminder.

I'm up for a buddy read of Handmaid's Tale

Does anyone know whether the tv show's first season covers the whole book?

Savanes wrote: "Does anyone know whether the tv show's first season covers the whole book?"

The TV show is a lot more than the book. Most of the characters you see in the show aren't even in the book. The book is quite short. I think they use the book as a framework to explore interesting ideas.

Thanks Kristen. :)

Lynn wrote: "I'm up for a buddy read of Handmaid's Tale"

Very good, Lynn! I know Savanes and... someone else were talking about it in another thread too, so hopefully they'll join in. Savanes, are you up for it?

Would you like to set a date or wait and set it later in the year?

I'm happy with whatever month .... suggest one, and then I'll let you know if any particular time of the month is tricky for me

I'm going to start
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
by Connie Willis. Would anyone like to join me for a buddy read? I'm sorry I can't seem to tag the link properly. I'm using an audible screen reader so the formatting is tricky.

Anyone want to buddy read
(I own so anytime works for me)
Beneath A Scarlet Sky (no link for this?? What the heck). I have this now and its due back before the move, so it would need to be a NOW start...LOL.

Ps. Do you guys do Good Choice Award books for the buddy reads, or others?

Niall wrote: "I'm going to start
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
by Connie Willis. Would anyone like to join me for a buddy read? I'm sorry I can't seem to tag the link properly. I'm usi..."


It looks interesting, I haven't heard of it before. I would need time to get the book. When were you thinking to start?

That's an excellent book, guys. I highly recommend it. Her take on time travel is very original.

Judy wrote: "Beneath A Scarlet Sky (no link for this?? What the heck). I have this now and its due back before the move, so it would need to be a NOW start...LOL."

Here's your link, Judy.

Also, you can buddy read any books you like. They do not have to be choice awards.

I really want to read Beneath a Scarlet Sky, but I just started a buddy read today and wouldn't be able to get to it for a while, probably not until August. Sorry.