EVERYONE Has Read This but Me - The Catch-Up Book Club discussion

There are plenty of ways to get involved in EHRTBM: monthly reads, challenges, and just plain old chatting about books.

Welcome to the Buddy Read Notice Board, a thread dedicated to buddying you up with another reader or readers in order for you to have a more in-depth, paced conversation about your chosen book or series in a designated thread. We've had some attempts to get a buddy read set up that haven't seems to go anywhere, so we wanted to provide a space for those requests to occur.

THE WAY IT WORKS:
Post a book/s or series you want to read. You can also check what others have posted to see what matches with your preferences and respond in thread.
If at least two members want to read a book and can agree on a start date, a thread will be set up by the moderator.
Books chosen cannot include books that are our current or upcoming monthly read.
If a book is chosen that has previously been a group read, the group read threads will be utilized as these are always open.

Hello! So I would love to partner up with one or more people for a buddy read, maybe facetime or skype at the end of the month to talk about the book we choose? I don't know, I think that could be kind of fun :)

Would any one be interested in this? :)

Thank you for this. I've not anything off the top of my head, but I know I'll be using this in the future.

Jamie. I don't do skype or anything else; I'd only be participating in the threads in this forum, sorry.

Hello there!
I’m up for it🙌
What book fid you have in mind?

Next on my TBR (after I finish The Goldfinch by donna Tartt) is The language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh.
Would you be interested in reading that?

Thanks a lot for this thread
I like buddy reads, esp smaller groups and the ability to pick books at fairly short notice.

To be blunt my motives are 99% selfish. I pretty much know what books I want to read and of them which I would like to buddy read.
Soooo, If I call out something of common interest and can get a few good readers, life is that much more of a good read!

I can suggest these titles :
The Broken Road, Patrick Fermor's only novel
Pushkin's Tales of Belkin (more of a novella)
Turgunev's Father's and Sons
Naguib Mahfouz's Arabian Knights and Days
Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (I hope to read a lot of this set)
Milos Kundera' The Unbearable Lightness of Being ( I read this once and did not 'get it' so maybe this time w some help?)
Emile Zola' La Debacle ( in English for me, and perhaps this should have listed first)

What is common to all of these book sis that I have a copy already and would like some public commitment to read them .

Oh and one truly old ball choice:
The Cardinal's Mistress, by Benito Mussolini (yup That Mussolini) long out of print and hard to find, so likely not evan well written)

Jamie wrote: "Hello! So I would love to partner up with one or more people for a buddy read, maybe facetime or skype at the end of the month to talk about the book we choose? I don't know, I think that could be ..."

I'd be up for doing a skype or hangouts chat once a month to discuss books in a smaller group.

Hello everyone. So the part 2 of Children of blood and bone is coming out this 3 Dec and I haven't read the 1st one yet. I would love to partner for a buddy read for this book and some book you wanna read. If you are interested let me know.

I want to read this one too Rikki. I have to look for it in the library. I'll let you know when I get my hands on it.

Hi folks I have one person interested in joining me with The Annotated Wizard of Oz . As soon as I figure out were to start the thread, I think we are going into it. Any one else care to join please do.

To be clear anyone with an interest in the Oz books are welcome, I just happen to like annotations/background

Phrodrick wrote: "Hi folks I have one person interested in joining me with The Annotated Wizard of Oz . As soon as I figure out were to start the thread, I think we are going into it. Any one else care to join pleas..."

Hi Phrodrick,

I went ahead and posted a thread for it here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/.... I recently listened to this with my daughter and enjoyed it. I may jump into the discussion some.

Thank you Thank You thank You.
I am kinda new to the group and was unsure where to open a buddy read.

Joanna Loves Reading wrote: "Phrodrick wrote: "Hi folks I have one person interested in joining me with The Annotated Wizard of Oz . As soon as I figure out were to start the thread, I think we are going into it. Any one else ..."

Come on in Cheryl saw what I missed and so we have a thread started

Phrodrick wrote: "Thank you Thank You thank You.
I am kinda new to the group and was unsure where to open a buddy read."

No worries! It is a new thing for the group so there wasn’t an example to follow.

Betsy and Rikki - I’ve been wanting to read the Children of Blood and Bone book as well! I’d be up for that being my first buddy read whenever you’re ready. :)

Lina and Rikki and anyone who is interested - I've got the ebook on hold at the library and I'm the next one in line so it shouldn't be too long. I'm going to open up a new thread and we can discuss there when we all have the book and are ready to go, and how we want to proceed with the buddy read. Exciting news!

Jamie I’m up for a buddy read and I can skype or FaceTime- what books do you have in mind...

Just letting everyone know that this space has been opened up to series. We mods have heard interest from members and ourselves and came to the conclusion that the best place to let you decide what series (no matter how long) you want to read with others is here. Enjoy!

Good idea. By any chance does anyone want to read James Alan Gardner's League of Peoples, starting with Expendable?

Love the series idea.

There seem to be a few of us that keep voting for The Master and Margarita, but it never wins. This might be a good buddy read.

I am one of them. It kills me when books like the Alchemist win again. No one liked it the first two times. I wanna shout no don't do it you will be disappointed. But everyone must find out for them self. I will keep voting for The Master and the Margarita

I've been looking for reading The Nessantico Cycle from S.L. Farrell. It's a trilogy I have on my shelf since 2018.

Has anyone read it? Would anyone be interested?

Hi, Jamie!
I hope I'm not too late but I really like your idea. Which genres do you prefer?

I would like to do a buddy read to discuss Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy, which I plan to read this month. It was nominated but not chosen as a group read. Is it ok to do a buddy read, or should I wait to see if it is chosen as a group read later in the year, moderators?

If I can get it I will buddy with you.

Renee wrote: "If I can get it I will buddy with you."

That’s good, Renee. It’s been on my TBR list for ages.

Trisha wrote: "I would like to do a buddy read to discuss Far From the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy, which I plan to read this month. It was nominated but not chosen as a group read. ..."

I have this in hard copy, so I might join. I don't know when would be a good time for me though. It's fine to read it as a buddy read. It won't disqualify it from future BOTMs either.

Thanks, Joanna. Yes, join us if you want, it’s good to share a book with others. I was thinking about starting towards the end of next week, possibly around Friday 17 April if others agree. Though it depends on Renee too, if she can get a copy. If she has to wait for her copy I’m happy to wait too so we start at roughly the same time. Once people have a copy to read we can decide when to start & how to divide the book for reading & discussion.

I have a copy. I have spent years ignoring it. Maybe a buddie read will work for me. I keeping looking out for updates but feel free to drop me a line if I miss the discussion group

Phrodrick wrote: "I have a copy. I have spent years ignoring it. Maybe a buddie read will work for me. I keeping looking out for updates but feel free to drop me a line if I miss the discussion group"

Yes, do join us! Once others get their copies we can agree a start date (see message #30 above).

It would seem I am wrong. I was ignoring Jude the Obscure. I will seek out and get copy of Madding . How soon , time will tell.

oOHOH may join for Far From the Madding Crowd as well, on my long list.

I have next to me an expensive copy that comes wit a lot of extras. Please let me know when and where to meet.

Phrodrick wrote: "I have next to me an expensive copy that comes wit a lot of extras. Please let me know when and where to meet."

That’s good news! I suggest we wait a couple more days in case others are still trying to get a copy, then start reading on Monday 20 April. I think a moderator will open a new thread for us (under the Buddy Reads heading) now there are definitely 2 of us who will read the book.

Trisha wrote: "Phrodrick wrote: "I have next to me an expensive copy that comes wit a lot of extras. Please let me know when and where to meet."

That’s good news! I suggest we wait a couple more days in case oth..."

I will post the thread later today.

To Renee - I can’t send you a message! The Far From the Madding Crowd buddy read starts tomorrow. Do get in touch, I was hoping you would join me in this but haven’t heard from you for a while.

Renee wrote: "I am one of them. It kills me when books like the Alchemist win again. No one liked it the first two times. I wanna shout no don't do it you will be disappointed. But everyone must find out for the..."

I need a book originally published in another language for the BINGO challenge. Would you want to read The Master and Margarita later this month or in June?

Keshav wrote: "Hey everyone. I'm going to read Pride and Prejudice next month. Feel free to join in 🤓."

Good choice :-) I would suggest using the BOTM thread for that one since it has been a BOTM.

Having enjoyed two buddy read through this discussion group, I am hoping no one will take me up on either of these. They both represent must reads, rather like unto you must eat your Brussels sprouts.

My secret hope is that no one will take me up and give me an excuse to further delay the start
First up
In Search of Lost Time/Remembrance of Things Past and I think I mean all 7 volumes.
Decades ago I read the first one and can remember I only finished it because it was assigned reading. Since then I have read two of the graphic novel formats:
In Search of Lost Time: Swann's Way: A Graphic Novel
So anyone else with this itch?

If I am right that we all only want to read this many pages rather than will read them I have another - actually 2
either or or both:
Dream of the Red Chamber
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
in fact if it goes well all 6 of the classics in Chinese literature.

First come, first punished, I mean served.
Any takers?

Phrodrick I SO want to read Proust. But where can I get all 7 volumes, and don't you think that's aiming a little too ambitiously high? For starters, I mean?

O I agree Any excuse is a good one.
That said there need not be a single buy or download of all seven
One at a time strikes me as better because exhaustion is an even better excuse.
I have survived a group read of the six Palliser novels by Anthony Trollopex so I know this can be attempted.

I have had the Proust box set on my shelf for quite awhile now. I actually started reading the first book at one point and never got past that, so, yes - I’d like to join in.
What was the time period/schedule for reading the Palliser novels like?
I also have other books I want to read this year though, my only concern is I don’t want to be consumed by Proust.

Brenda wrote: "I have had the Proust box set on my shelf for quite awhile now. I actually started reading the first book at one point and never got past that, so, yes - I’d like to join in.
What was the time peri..."

Sorry if I created confusion, I did the Trollope books 2 years ago. It took something like a year, but I was reading other things all along.

Sounds like Proust has the following.

I do not have any in hand nor a copy in mind. Also I'd have to clear out a book or two now in processes. Am I right that they run about 500 - 600 pages to a book?

I'd like to give this a few days to see who else might be interested.
So I am thinking I will make a decision around June 15 and will seek a space for an official kick off either 1 or two weeks after.

People who do not have a copy will want time to get theirs (like me) and also like me folks may have existing books to finish.

So far I think there may be 3 of us: Betsy, Brenda n me, I am honestly not sure it is in me to finish. There is the old wisdom- a long trip begins with one step. So one step at a time?

I believe they are about 600 pp each.
I don’t mind spending a year on it, it seems more manageable. As well, I don’t think it’s always an easy read, so maybe better in smaller doses anyway?
I’ll wait for the results, and I’m looking forward. I didn’t know that I’d ever attempt it on my own, so I’m happy this came about.

Agreed Brenda, so happy that Phrodrick brought this up and we can support each other reading through these chunky books one at a time.

Let's see if anyone else wants to join in, but I think the end of June is a good time to start. I'm going to start looking for a copy now, to see what my options are. Brenda, so good you have them tempting you on your shelf :)

I went ahead and got the $0.99 edition from Kindle. Likely I will get a dead tree version when we get serious.

Also 99 cents, Tale of the Genji, That one can wait.

Okay, I bought a dead tree version and I'll set up a discussion thread for us.

Hi 👋 I’m new to posting on this thread so don’t know if I’m doing it correctly but I would love to read war and peace by Leo Tolstoy. It is a long long book, but I’m hoping if we are reading together it will motivate more and make it a little more exciting. I have it all ready in my bookshelf but I don’t want to read it on my own cause I suspect it will take me more than a month to get through. I loved Anna Karenina by the same author but even though I absolutely loved it (it’s one of my favorite books) it still took me a long time to read. So yes anyone up for it?