Nothing But Reading Challenges discussion

Synopsis
A masterpiece that is breathtaking in its scope, SARUM is an epic novel that traces the entire turbulent course of English history. This rich tapesty weaves a compelling saga of five families who preserve their own particular characteristics over the centuries, and offer a fascinating glimpse into the future

      ~ Buddy Style Reads ~
    Three Ways to Enjoy a Book!

At NRBC we use three styles of buddy reads. These will be indicated in the thread title as “Buddy Read”, “Relaxed Buddy Read” or “Informal Buddy Read”.

A “Buddy Read” has a discussion leader and a reading date is set to start the book. A reading schedule is posted prior to the start date and discussion questions are posted each day regarding that section of the book. More information about these types of reads is below. An example is here, showing a reading schedule here.

A “Relaxed Buddy Read” is similar to our usual “buddy reads” except there are less questions and break points. For example, a book may be split into three sections and those reading the book should pause at the end of the section to answer some discussion questions, make comments, or ask their own questions to other readers. An example is here.

An “Informal Buddy Read” doesn’t have a discussion leader and participants are asked to consider some generic questions when making comments about the book. An example is here.

A “Read and Watch Buddy Read” may be set up as any of the above, but we will also watch the movie or T.V. series - or even go to a play! - and make comparisons, discussing what has been left out or changed as well as the actors and actresses. There is a long debate of what one should do first: read the books or watch the movie? We usually read first, but it isn’t essential. Also, if you would like to join in, but don’t want to watch the movie, show, or play, but only read the books, that is fine, too. An example is here.


MORE UNDER SPOILER
(view spoiler)[

“Buddy Reads” (“BRs”) include:

• A reading schedule which can range from 50, 75, to 100 or so pages a day.

• Discussion questions posted daily by moderators and occasionally group members
   who help one of us out. If you want to be a Discussion Leader, let us know.

• If the book is really long, we'll plan a break day.

• Members do NOT have to answer every question, they are meant to stimulate
   conversations about the books AND allow us to glance back upon them when the
   sequels come out. This helps us to remember what exactly happened in the previous
   book.

• We find the buddy style of reading to be more fun than just posting one or two
   sentences about a book. We feel this is what distinguishes us as being a ‘book club’
   rather than just another GoodReads ‘group.’

• If you can NOT start the book on time, feel free to join in at a later date. They are
   set up to make it easy to do so.

• Moderators are people too, so occasionally we get sick, have to work late at our real
   jobs, or have something that keeps us from writing the questions. Please forgive us;
   we're only human and we don't get any compensation for what we do--not even
   free books!

• Discussions and questions are set up to make you think, analyze, and see things you,
   or even we, may have missed. Feel free to add your own thoughts at any time, if you
   think we've missed something.

• If you've read the book, feel free to let us know what you thought about the book.
   You can do so at the end of the buddy read, or, if you can't wait, add spoiler tags
   before you comment like:

   **************BEWARE! SPOILER FOR THE END OF THE BOOK**************

   Or insert a (view spoiler)[spoiler (hide spoiler)]. If you do NOT know how to do so, just check out our
   GoodReads 101 explanation on how to Insert a Spoiler.

• If you are looking for a reading buddy, post an inquiry in our Buddy read requests thread. Use that thread, if you want to have a repeat read of a BOM
    or buddy read, too.

• Have fun! We always do when more than one person joins in. And we look less silly
   if someone else discusses a book with us. (hide spoiler)]

Family trees from paperback copy (thanks Sophie!)

hmmmm looks like the audio for this isn't available in Australia from audible or itunes. I never understand why that is.
I may have to search some other sites to see where I can buy it. Trying to read this "old school" will take me forever :o

That's frustrating Karen. Probably the reason is the same as books, different publishing rights for different countries. Drives me mad with books on kindle as well between Australia and the US,

Hope you can find an alternative.

I think my husband may still have an amazon.com account (not .com.au) so I'll check with him when he gets home!

I might try and join you for this one since I’ve been meaning read Rutherfurd’s books, big books, and historical books set in England - so this is perfect!

Awesome sauce Victoria!

I'll prob join you. Enjoy Rutherford's books and this is one I haven't read yet

Cool! We are getting quite the hang together 😉

I want to at least attempt to join you. A former coworker of mine has been pushing me to get reading the stack of Rutherfurd books I have been hoarding. Lol This is the one she said to read first... But not sure what I am getting into as a slower reader. Didnt know there was potentially an audiobook option...

Hi everyone....
recently picked this up at a charity shop...
looking forward to this read...

I would love to be part of this! Looking forward to it

I also own a copy of this book and would love the motivation of a buddy read to make it through this thick book.

LOL just checked my library & they have Sarum on cassette! :O (but no more recent format)

I'm in too! Huge Rutherfurd fan.
This will be my fourth book by him and it's a lot easier to tackle this monster with BR for an extra motivation :)

Kirsten wrote: "LOL just checked my library & they have Sarum on cassette! :O (but no more recent format)"

lol! I don't think I have anything that would even play a cassette

Skandia wrote: "I'm in too! Huge Rutherfurd fan.
This will be my fourth book by him and it's a lot easier to tackle this monster with BR for an extra motivation :)"

I agree! So much easier with others

Any preferences for start date?

Karen ⊰✿ wrote: "Kirsten wrote: "LOL just checked my library & they have Sarum on cassette! :O (but no more recent format)"

lol! I don't think I have anything that would even play a cassette"

Luckily I got passed down a cassette/cd/record/radio combo unit from my grandmother, just might need a dusting off. lol

Karen ⊰✿ wrote: "Any preferences for start date?"

Maybe the 2nd week of the challenge? (just a thought) I wouldn't mind having time to figure out this challenge a bit more (being a newbie) and maybe get a shorter book or two out of the way first...

Karen ⊰✿ wrote: "Any preferences for start date?"

I would love to see an early June start...maybe the 4th?

I don't mind when we start. I will probably take my time reading this behemoth of a book and read smaller books in between parts. It's a relaxed format so just chatting about the book as we go with appropriate spoiler tags?

So glad we have quite a few people buddy reading it makes very interesting reading getting all different people's points of view.

Lisa - (Aussie Girl) wrote: "I don't mind when we start. I will probably take my time reading this behemoth of a book and read smaller books in between parts. It's a relaxed format so just chatting about the book as we go with..."

yes, slow and steady wins the race!

Kate S wrote: "Karen ⊰✿ wrote: "Any preferences for start date?"

I would love to see an early June start...maybe the 4th?"

Let's do it. Then everyone can read as fast or slow as they like

I’m number two on two books from two different libraries so I’ll probably start whenever one comes through for me. Will probably (hopefully) be close to 4 June

Lisa - (Aussie Girl) wrote: "I will probably take my time reading this behemoth of a book and read smaller books in between parts."

This sounds a lot like my planned approach as well. I pulled out my copy a few minutes ago and it weighs in at over 1300 pages! Certainly plan on this one taking two weeks (or more).

Karen ⊰✿ wrote: "Kate S wrote: "Karen ⊰✿ wrote: "Any preferences for start date?"

I would love to see an early June start...maybe the 4th?"

Let's do it. Then everyone can read as fast or slow as they like"

Perfect. Thank you.

Looking forward to starting this in the next day or two...

I won't be starting this before the 4th for sure (specially now with Quidditch starting), but hope to start it around then. No word yet from my library on when they are getting the cassette audiobook in for me. :P But in the meantime I have the hardcover version.

I bought the kindle and I'm hoping to finished my other doosrstopper (The Count of Monte Cristo) before the 4th and then get stuck into this.

My exam period is over the next few weeks so I will be reading slowly

I'' be starting next week as well on my plane trip back from HK. Should be able to read a chunk *fingers crossed*. It was his first chunkster and looking forward to it.

I'd like to join for this one if that's okay? I will be reading it in bits and pieces over the next few weeks. Just got it from the library. Team Pomona Sprout.

Of course Stacey, welcome!

Hi Stacey, great to read along with you. Have you read any Rutherfurd novels before?

Lisa - (Aussie Girl) wrote: "Hi Stacey, great to read along with you. Have you read any Rutherfurd novels before?"

Hi Lisa! I actually read New York last year for Tower Teams -- and I enjoyed it quite a bit. But it took me a good 3 - 4 weeks as I was trying to read it around other books for other challenges. I'm guessing the same thing will happen with this one. But England is fascinating, and I'm going to visit next year so figured I may as well jump in. :)

Lisa - (Aussie Girl) wrote: "Hi Stacey, great to read along with you. Have you read any Rutherfurd novels before?"

I haven't read any of his books thus far. Though I have maybe 6 or so in my collection.

I have officially started my trek! I forgot that despite the teeny tiny type and massive page counts, this author is really a pretty easy read.

I've made a start too. Yes, Stacey he is a good story teller. That's right, we did the buddy read of New York with Karen and a few others. Good to be reading with you again. You'll LOVE England!

Section 1 Journey to Sarum

(view spoiler)[ I remember one of his other books (maybe The Forest) started with the prehistoric including geological history of the area. Not my favourite time to be reading about although as it's only short an interesting start to the human inhabitants 7,500 BC. (hide spoiler)]

I'm starting a couple of days early, but given that I'll be reading it in little chunks in the evening before I fall asleep, this might take me a while! Been ages since I last read a Rutherford - can't remember if it was New York or Paris

Both good books Sophie. The only one of his that I rated 3 stars was Russka. Didn't think the characters were as interesting or as developed as his other novels.

I've finished The Barrow and the Henge. The Henge chapter was interesting, his interpretation of how and why Stonehenge was built. He must have done quite a lot of research in this area.

Going to take a break for a couple of days now.

I think London has been my favourite of his so far. I enjoyed Russka - might have helped that I studied Russian history from 1800 in school so had some background knowledge.

I spent my time during the first chapter trying to picture where the family were. V tricky to do given how much the landscape has changed

I just started listening and about an hour into the audiobook. I'm enjoying it so far and like how it starts off with prehistory England and the formation of Britain as an Island. Although I'm excited to move further in time with the story.

This is my first Rutherford book, but sounds like he has a lot of great ones I need to read!

I find these slow to get going sometimes. This one has a load more background historical info than I'm used to from him as well.

Love the little details about the families physical appearance that he drops in to help keep them straight! Feel there are going to be a lot of mentions of prehensile toes!

I think listening to it is making it go a bit faster for me, but I'm still only an hour or so in so who knows lol

I finished chapter 1 - Journey to Sarum

I can’t believe for only 40 pages it took me about an hour to read! I kept thinking this book was a little shorter than his others, but I think the text is much more dense!!

I was surprised to start back in prehistoric times. Although I find it interesting how humans migrated and changed I’m not too sure how this will all relate as we go along. I guess we will do a big jump forward in time soon.
So hard to imagine an England where there were only 5000 humans!

What do we think... will this book follow Hwll’s generations as the “goodies”?

I’m thinking so, Karen. In my paperback there is a family tree to follow.

Just about to get back on the plane home after a fabulous week. Hope to get in a few chapters before I conk out. It’s a night flight.

The family tree definitely helps to see what is happening. If it's anything like other books I'll end up looking back at it a lot.

I hope you have a good flight home, Lisa

The problem with the kindle version is that the family tree is too small to read. Maybe I can find one online....

Karen ⊰✿ wrote: "The problem with the kindle version is that the family tree is too small to read. Maybe I can find one online...."

Ah that would be annoying. I haven't started this book yet (pesky Quidditch) but I foresee checking the family tree or any other visuals that keep me knowing who is who frequently!