Reading Envy Readers discussion

In our readalong discussion for To the Bright Edge of the World, we talked a little bit about summer reading. I know some other podcasts and groups host summer reading, but some of them don't get around to discussing the reads until the next year. Not naming names or anything. ;)

Tournament of Books is doing a non-fiction project just for May, and they've already voted and it looks like three memoirs by women. So maybe not something that duplicates that eh?

What would summer reading look like in a group with reading envy? I figure this is wide open.

A few ideas I have, but I'm not wedded to anything:

-Cook/bake/drink along books (post about the book and what you made out of it)
-Travel along books (something that accompanies a place you are going)

Get it, kind of like readalongs?

What else could we do? Does anyone else miss summer reading at the local library?

Great ideas! Heading to Prague, Vienna and Bratislava in September 🤞 so would love recommendations for those places—or a bake/cook along!

Is the idea that the group reads one book, or that each member reads a book with a shared theme?

Casey wrote: "Is the idea that the group reads one book, or that each member reads a book with a shared theme?"

At this point I welcome all ideas. It will be what we make it.

Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "At this point I welcome all ideas. It will be what we make it."

Too. Many. Options. :) /mull mull mull mull

3 how-bouts:
* book always intended to read and always found a reason not to read.
* salty sex/salty literature
* writer's of the British isles

Okay, so my ideas are sort of flat.

But I like this one -Cook/bake/drink along books (post about the book and what you made out of it)

I really like the Cook/Bake/Drink along books suggestion.

Here's a couple more ideas for summer reading:

Perhaps a book written and/or set 100 years ago that follows a particular theme that we decide upon such as summer, water, ghosts, outlaws, sports, medicine, spies, etc.

How about books (classics or contemporary) that were made into movies? Read the book then watch the movie. Our discussion could cover them both. The Reading Envy Pub & Drive-In!

Oooh, I like the book and movie idea.....

I also like the book and movie idea. In other news, I can't cook or bake, but am pretty good at drinking.

I love summer reading! No brilliant ideas on what to do right now but I'm in as long as it doesn't distract me from my TBR Climb ;)

Nadine wrote: "Oooh, I like the book and movie idea....."

Me too!

Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "In our readalong discussion for To the Bright Edge of the World, we talked a little bit about summer reading. I know some other podcasts and groups host summer reading, but some of them don't get a..."

I like the idea of travel along books. I have done this before. It really enhances and adds to the reading of the book and your experience of the place.

Love this idea! In in for whatever is decided but add my vote for Cook/bake/drink along books

I would participate in a cook/bake/drink along summer reading project. 😊

Jeff wrote: "I also like the book and movie idea. In other news, I can't cook or bake, but am pretty good at drinking."

Ahaha! You just made me LOL, Jeff.

I really do miss summer reading! This is a great idea. I really like the book & movie concept and the baking/cooking/drinking one. I also had the thought of doing a throwback sort of challenge, in which each reader chose a book (maybe an award winner) that was published the year of their post-5th grade summer, you know, that final year of the age of bliss before junior high/middle school.

Sara wrote: "I really do miss summer reading! This is a great idea. I really like the book & movie concept and the baking/cooking/drinking one. I also had the thought of doing a throwback sort of challenge, in ..."

Interesting idea! For me junior high started with sixth grade but I like what you're getting at... are you thinking adult books or books we would have read as a kid?

So far there seems to be a lot of interest in the cook/bake/drink along, perhaps we can call that the Reading Envy Potluck.

And also multiple people with interest in the travel/read along, perhaps we can call that the Reading Envy Roadtrip.

Should we form these into challenges where you could earn each one, or should they be something where we come together and share? Or both?

(And by me rounding up consensus so far, I am in no way implying that is everything! Keep on talking!)

Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "are you thinking adult books or books we would have read as a kid?"

I was thinking adult books from the year when the reader was 10 or 11. I always find it interesting to think about what the adults in my life were reading when I was happily making book crafts and snuggling up in the bean bag chair with another Roald Dahl book in the children's room at the library. :)

As far as challenges vs. coming together and sharing, I like both ideas, but I think choosing one or two, then coming together and sharing is fresher.

You guys have great ideas!

I like the notion of taking the year of your birth and somehow applying it to an award of some sort.

Jeff wrote: "I also like the book and movie idea. In other news, I can't cook or bake, but am pretty good at drinking."

Yeah...I'm with Jeff. I don't cook or bake so that doesn't appeal to me. Wine does though....Maybe a restaurant book like Sweet Bitter, Anthony Bourdain's book or Bones, Blood and Butter?

My preference is the movie idea though. We kind of did that with Strangers on a Train in "The Readers" last year. We basically agreed that the movie had little to do with the book.

Hmmm, that is an interesting proposition....a book the adults were reading when you were a child. I remember "The Valley of the Dolls" was a big book everyone was reading. So was Love Story. I went to Catholic school and we had to hide it from the nuns. The boys were all reading Ball Four. We really thought we were getting away with something.

Travel suggestion: I'm not going anywhere this year so at first it doesn't appeal to me. But then I thought we could read a book that takes place in a part of the world where we'd like to go but probably won't get there. For me, I'd like to go to Kenya, or a Scandinavian country....Australia.....Iceland....

Here's another idea somewhat with the travel/challenge theme:
A friend of mine travels to Spain every year to walk the Camino Pilgrimages. In walking it, she experiences the terrain, the culture, the food, climate, etc. Perhaps we could have a challenge based on a pilgrimage, where we select a location then our pilgrimage could be to read books that would help us experience the various aspects of the region. This idea definitely needs to be developed further but is a starting place and of course, just a suggestion that might spur other ideas.

I like all of the ideas. I like Sara's idea that we read a book from our youth. Such a great time to reflect on reading choices and see how they hold up.

I think another good idea would be to read a tome. I know not everyone has the summer off, but as a teacher, this is when I try to get books that take up too much brain space for the school year. Just a thought. I will be reading some of these books either way.

I can't wait to see the others ideas presented.

Carol Ann wrote: "Here's another idea somewhat with the travel/challenge theme:
A friend of mine travels to Spain every year to walk the Camino Pilgrimages. In walking it, she experiences the terrain, the culture, t..."
ooooo I've always wanted to walk that route in Spain too.

Elizabeth☮ wrote: "I like all of the ideas. I like Sara's idea that we read a book from our youth. Such a great time to reflect on reading choices and see how they hold up.

I think another good idea would be to read..."
I'm up for this too. I've got The Count of Monte Cristo on my list.

Elizabeth☮ wrote: "I think another good idea would be to read a tome..."

I already have a tentative buddy read of Moby-Dick or, The Whale planned for this summer, so I'd definitely be down for that. I love big books!

These are some great ideas, but I think I like the cook/drink and travel ideas the best. Although, I don't know that I have any travel plans for this summer, so that might have to be a dream trip for me.

Yesterday, NPR had a story about people that long for a place. There is a german word that translates to "Far-Sickness" (rather than homesickness). They said that they did a poll and found that the most popular place that people long to visit is Scotland, then Ireland, then Iceland. People said that these countries seemed the most celestial or other worldly. They call to you. Must be the celtic or icelandic lore. I love Scotland but I'm not reading The Outlander or eating Haggis. ;)

I love that idea Carol. It amazes me how there are so many words that we don't have the equivalent for in English.

Iceland and Ireland are on my list.

I love the idea for the Potluck and the Roadtrip! This is exciting!

Carol wrote: I'm up for this too. I've got The Count of Monte Cristo on my list.

This is the longest tenured book on by TBR list. I see it on my book shelf but never seem to pull it down and get started.

Carol wrote:I love Scotland but I'm not reading The Outlander or eating Haggis. ;) "

My wife and I tried it when we were there and both actually liked it. The ingredients don't sound good but put all together it worked. For us, anyway.

Jeff wrote: "Carol wrote:I love Scotland but I'm not reading The Outlander or eating Haggis. ;) "

My wife and I tried it when we were there and both actually liked it. The ingredients don't sound good but put ..."

The first time I read your post I thought you were referring to Outlander!

Elizabeth☮ wrote: "I like all of the ideas. I like Sara's idea that we read a book from our youth. Such a great time to reflect on reading choices and see how they hold up.

I think another good idea would be to read..."
I like the "read a tome" idea...my sister wants me to read The Stand, which is over 1,000 pages. I enjoy big books! That particular one is not on my personal TBR, but she has talked about it for years so I would like to try it. Knowing others were also reading doorstoppers this summer would be fun:-)

Kim, The Stand has been recommended to me my brother for years. I still haven’t read it.

Jeff wrote: "Carol wrote: I'm up for this too. I've got The Count of Monte Cristo on my list.

This is the longest tenured book on by TBR list. I see it on my book shelf but never seem to pull it down and get s..."

My mother said it was her favorite book of all time. The Reading 1001 group is reading it in three sections in April, May and June. I'm already behind!!! ~350 pages a month

Nadine wrote: "Jeff wrote: "Carol wrote:I love Scotland but I'm not reading The Outlander or eating Haggis. ;) "

My wife and I tried it when we were there and both actually liked it. The ingredients don't sound ..."

Well it must be the national dish for a reason! Reminds me of a Tom's Thumb in the South. I used to love sausage and scrapple as a child, but now they definitely don't agree with me. I wouldn't be able to stomach the blood puddings in Ireland either. Been to Scotland once, Ireland five times. Both beautiful countries that "called" to me as a "far" sickness.

Jeff wrote: "Carol wrote: I'm up for this too. I've got The Count of Monte Cristo on my list.

This is the longest tenured book on by TBR list. I see it on my book shelf but never seem to pull it down and get s..."
The Everyone has read this but me - the catch up book club has a challenge this year to read the five books that have been on your GR TBR the longest. I'm listening to "A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court" now. The Count of Monte Cristo is also on the list. If feels good to knock the oldest ones off.

Elizabeth☮ wrote: "Kim, The Stand has been recommended to me my brother for years. I still haven’t read it."
Yay, I'm not the only one!

April 21, 2018

How about a compromise for all . Each person chooses a favorite “Far Sickness” place they long to visit. Then choose a country that they most long to visit. While reading the book, use a popular cookbook from a chef or restaurant in the area or a Wine or other favorite Beverage brewery in the area. Read up on it all and prepare a meal and drink either as celebrating ending, beginning or middle of book. Everyone take photos of lovely meal and you with book or books relaxed in Summer and post them here with your reviews and recipes. Now keep in mind, there may be some substitutions in the recipes and beverages. Take as many holiday photos to post with different meals. Finally, If possible end with a movie or film featuring your beautiful “FarSickness “ destination of choice.

We can all enjoy our travels and photos, swap recipes, share photos of historic landmarks that are described in the reading just as we have visited and we are joining to talk after our Summer Vacations!
If your book is a reread of a childhood friend , use the place as your visit.
For example, this year is the 50th Aniversary of S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders . She lives in Tulsa, OK. Belletrist Book Group founders Emma and Karah went to interview this incredible writer who wrote this first book at 16 years old and by 18 it was made into the classic movie with the all famous group of “Rat Pack” actors like Tom Cruise, Matt Dillon, C.Thomas Howell, Patrick Swayze was there and Diane Lane, and Ralph Machaio. You could use Tulsa as your destination and , wow, what culture and beauty you could share as well as words from author interviews and your own memories.
This could really be a great Summer Read to just have some fun. Reading, eating, drinking, Photos. Heck have a theme party with your friends ! Post pictures! You may not go on a vacation but it will feel like it foe a week or two.

Well, That is all I can add. But, whatever will be great with me too! I was talking to an Amazon clerk yesterday to fix something with my IPad app. I told him I just finished Girls Burn Brighter ( AH! A+) and it takes place in India. I told this sweet guy how I was so shocked about how India really treated the women there. We talked for thirty minutes. He was from Costa Rico and began telling me how beautiful it was there. I am so curious now. Yet, I still want to read more about India too! The world is fascinating!
Dawn

Was there a decision yet? Last podcast (speedating #2 I think) mentions that this starts May 1 - or did I hear that wrong.

Mary wrote: "Was there a decision yet? Last podcast (speedating #2 I think) mentions that this starts May 1 - or did I hear that wrong."

I know! I really dropped the ball! I'm posting about it in a new thread in the next hour.