Book Snails Book Group discussion

Greetings Book Snails!
School's out here in Florida and our local summer reading program is under way!

I know I've been MIA for quite a while. Life has been BUSY!!! But I always make time for summer reading! 😉

Are you intrigued by local summer reading programs but overwhelmed at the thought of reading so. many. books? Or maybe you don’t have one at all but wish you did?

Well, I'm hosting another cooperative summer reading challenge for 2023!

I'm calling this one our Summer Reading Diversity Challenge and, again, it’s very simple. Through a collective effort, we are going to try to read TWO books for each of the categories listed below.

Summer doesn’t officially begin until June 21st, but we’re snails! We need all the time we can get so we’re starting right away! Let’s see how many we can complete by the end of the summer on Sept. 23rd.
(Southern hemisphere friends ~ Feel free to participate and look at this as a winter reading challenge!)

You can contribute as many or as few titles as you choose, though I am setting a minimum 200 page requirement this time. Just comment below with the title, author, and category and I’ll be sure to update our master list to reflect the progress! *Please comment only after you have finished a book. Things can get a bit muddled when people start posting intentions.

I will also happily answer any questions you may have!

Happy reading!!!

1. Read a book written by a debut author
*La Vie, According to Rose by Lauren Parvizi, read by Candace
2. Read a book written by an author who is now deceased
3. Read a book published in 2023
*Weyward by Emilia Hart, read by Erin
4. Read a book about a culture different from your own
5. Read a book written by an author born in a country not your own
*Mere blod by Jo Nesbø, read by Pien
6. Read a book translated from another language
*Gevallen God by Kate Atkinson, read by Pien
7. Read a biography/memoir
8. Read a book from a new-to-you genre
9. Read a banned book
10. Read a book set in North America
*The Family Chao by Lan Samantha Chang, read by Keli
11. Read a book set in South America
12. Read a book set in Europe
13. Read a book set in Asia
*The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese, read by Samaria
14. Read it looks it in Africa
*Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult, read by Candace
*The Key to Rebecca by Ken Follett, read by Erin
15. Read a book set in Australia
16. Read a book set in Antarctica
17. Read a book with a main character under the age of 12
18. Read a book with a main character over the age of 60

Great way to start the summer! I just checked out a bunch of books yesterday. Happy Reading everyone :)

Pam wrote: "Great way to start the summer! I just checked out a bunch of books yesterday. Happy Reading everyone :)"

I can't wait to see what you're reading, Pam! Have you found any other local book clubs in recent years?

Just finished Gevallen God bij Kate Atkinson. This book was translated to Dutch 😃👍🏻

Pien wrote: "Just finished Gevallen God bij Kate Atkinson. This book was translated to Dutch 😃👍🏻"

🙌🏻 We've got our first book on the board!
Thanks, Pien!!

I just finished a debut novel. La Vie, According to Rose

Candace wrote: "I just finished a debut novel. La Vie, According to Rose"

🙌🏻 Looks like you must have gotten an ARC!
Thanks, Candace!

I finished Mere blod by Jo Nesbø. He is Norwegian so born in another place than me and perhaps even all of us?

Pien wrote: "I finished Mere blod by Jo Nesbø. He is Norwegian so born in another place than me and perhaps even all of us?"

Excellent! Could be!

Do we have any Norwegians here? 🇳🇴

I just finished The covenant of water by Abraham Verghese it takes place in Keta south India. It follows three generations of a family that suffers a peculiar affliction: in every generation, at least one person dies by drowning.
It talks about a 12 yr old girl that after her father s death takes a boat to married a 40 yr old widower, she witnesses sorrow but through her resiliency, love, faith and her passion for medicine goes on to become a important part of her community.
Beautiful book. I highly recommend.

Samaria wrote: "I just finished The covenant of water by Abraham Verghese it takes place in Keta south India. It follows three generations of a family that suffers a peculiar affliction: in every generation, at le..."

Thank you, Samaria!
I've been reading The Jaipur Trilogy, also set in India, and I have been loving it as well! I'll have to check out The Covenant of Water.

I finished Leaving Time. It's set in North America and Africa.

Candace wrote: "I finished Leaving Time. It's set in North America and Africa."

Thanks Candace! How did you like it? I see mixed reviews...

Hi Erin. If I could give it ten stars I would. Never saw the ending coming. Learned a lot about elephants, my favorite wild animals. Was intrigued about the psychic aspect. My first Jodi Picoult book, but not my last.

The Jaipur Trilogy is in my list to read. :) I’m looking forward to it.

Candace wrote: "Hi Erin. If I could give it ten stars I would. Never saw the ending coming. Learned a lot about elephants, my favorite wild animals. Was intrigued about the psychic aspect. My first Jodi Picoult bo..."

So glad you liked it! Have you read An Elephant in My Kitchen by Françoise Malby-Anthony? I really enjoyed that one, but you do need to keep tissues handy!

Erin wrote: "Candace wrote: "Hi Erin. If I could give it ten stars I would. Never saw the ending coming. Learned a lot about elephants, my favorite wild animals. Was intrigued about the psychic aspect. My first..."

I haven't read it - another one for the TBR - thanks!

I just finished The Family Chao set in North America.

Keli wrote: "I just finished The Family Chao set in North America."

Thanks Keli!!!