Oly Reads discussion

Let's share some titles to choose from for our next get together.

Here are some suggestions from my "to read" list...
* "Free For All: Oddballs, Geeks, and Gangstas in the Public Library" by Don Borchert
* "The Yiddish Policeman's Union" by Michael Chabon
* "Beautiful Boy: a Father's Journey Through His Son's Meth Addiction" by David Sheff
* "Motherless Brooklyn" by Jonathan Lethem
* "AYA" by Marguerite Abouet
* "(Not That You Asked): Rants, Exploits, and Obsessions" by Steve Almond
* "Suite Francaise" by Irene Nemirovsky

I'll add these to our bookshelf for browsing, too.

Discuss.

I have been wanting to read this book for a while,

Beautiful Boy: a Father's Journey Through His Son's Meth Addiction"

I also just got a copy of "Flight" by Sherman Alexie

"Sex, Drugs and Cocoa Puffs" in on my list too...

Not really that interested in The Thirteenth Tale really. :)

Yeah, we should really talk about the book, longer than three minutes I think.

Thanks, Jenny. I'll count that as a vote for "Beautiful Boy." Anyone else, hint hint?

I'd read beautiful boy. I need an excuse to read more adult stuff!

If we read Beatiful Boy we should also read his son Nic's companion book Tweak: Growing Up on Methamphetamines - that way the point of view from both sides is covered.

The only issue I have with Beautiful Boy is the long hold list. Over 80 holds - so it would be hard to get a library copy.

Suite Francaise sounds intriguing to me!

I've heard great things about Suite Francaise. Like I said, I have wanted to read all of the books I suggested, so I'd be happy with any of those. Good idea doing a double reading, Rummy- that would make for interesting discussion! We'll need to decide when we want to meet next, too, and where...

Sheesh, tough crowd! Anyone, anyone? So far, it seems like two votes for Beautiful Boy (kinda, if Rummy's suggestion was a vote) and one vote for Suite Francaise. I would be good with either of those, but the idea of a double discussion with the father's perspective and the son's perspective is intriguing to me... then again, I've been wanting to read Suite Francaise too.

I'd like to hear from a few others, come on y'all!

Sorry, actually it's kinda like three votes for Beautiful Boy. I missed Susan, sorry girl!

I've wanted to read the Yiddish Policeman's Union for a while now, and I just listened to an interview with Chabon, so it's on my mind. I vote for that one, but I'd be down for Beautiful Boy and Tweak as well, if that's the consensus. Except I don't really want to buy them. Long holds...thhhhpt!!! :{

Thanks, Alex! Maybe we should shoot for our next-next get together to be "Beautiful Boy" and "Tweak." Meaning, we do something else in July, and then do those two in August or September? That way, people that didn't want to buy them (read: most of us) would have enough time to get them from the library. Whaddaya think? Currently, there are 86 requests for Beautiful Boy and 16 book copies, 9 holds and four copies of the audiobook, and one downloadable audiobook copy with no holds. Tweak has 50 requests with 8 book copies, and one downloadable audiobook with no holds.

If worse comes to worst we can be like George Costanza and watch the movie the night before the next meeting.

I loved that episode! I sometimes think about that at the library when people are desperate for a book and they ask me who has it out. I'm consistently amazed that people are surprised when I can't tell them the answer.

I like that plan Tweak and Beautiful Boy in August or Sept) - and am putting both books on hold right now!

Okay, I'm on hold for both of them, too.

Okay, I just put the September discussion up on the events page- we can change the date if that doesn't work for people. Now let's talk about a late July/early August meeting... so far, there's interest for "Suite Francaise" and "Yiddish Policeman's Union."

I just put myself on the endless hold for Beautiful Boy and the not-so-endless hold for the audio version of Tweak. Does it count if I listen to it instead of reading it with my eyes? :}>

I still vote for the Yiddish Policeman's Union. And it has a pretty short hold. Just sayin'...

I'd say listening to an audio should count provided it's unabridged (though really, since we're such an informal group, that shouldn't be set in stone) and that it was actually listened to instead of being background noise.

It's hardly different than if a couple had one read it out loud to the other.

Of course audio counts!

Definitely audio counts. Rummy, do you want me to change the date so you and Tammy are more likely to come? Any days work better for you?

Moving along... July or August: Suite Francaise or Yiddish Policeman's Union? Cast your vote or forever hold your peace, people!

August, Suite Francaise.

I only listen to unabridged. Yes, I'm a snob. A proud, proud snob.

Topic? I vote for August.

August. Suite Francaise.

Okay, Susan was the tiebreaker. I'll put another event in on the calendar. Alex, maybe we can do the Yiddish Policeman's Union together, or maybe that can be our October selection?

Okay, next question(s):
1. where do you guys want to meet?
2. what days in August work for you? I put Saturday, August 2nd, but I will happily change it to accommodate the most people. There's a good chance I'll be out of town for a couple of weeks starting the second week in August.

Let me know...

Okay people, we're closer to August 2nd now... does that date work for people? Where do you want to meet? Is there a general feeling of summer apathy going on- would you all rather wait until September for our next meeting? Discuss (waving hand in a circle).

PS- I'm number 71 on Beautiful Boy and 42 on Tweak. Yikes!

Oh, also- I moved the Beautiful Boy and Tweak discussion date up a week to September 20th because Rummy said he might be out of town and Susan can't come that day. Let me know if that doesn't work for anyone else.

I have summer apathy. Or some kind of seasonal ADD. I have nine or ten books sitting here which I can't seem to crack, esp. when the weather is so fine.

Sept 20 is great for me. I'm working that day, but have nothing planned for that evening. Thanks for changing the date, Kelsie!

I am still waiting for Suite Francaise (and am reading Pynchon and Neil Gaiman in the meantime), so pushing back the dates might be a good idea.

I'm not available for Aug 2nd, and I think Sept would be better overall anyway. Busy busy busy in July and I may just rest in August. All of it. :}>

Okay, I bumped everything up a month, so we'll be doing Suite Francaise on Sept 20 and Beautiful Boy/Tweak on October 18th. S'okay? We still haven't decided on a place for Suite Francaise, but I don't suppose there is a huge rush at this point. Let me know if these new dates work for you, peepulz!

Works for me so far. My life should have calmed down by then. I hope. Oh, god, I hope.

I'd commit to having the meeting at my place, but I don't know if my family will own the house by then. But as soon as I have a venue, I'd love to host.

I like the idea of alternating public meeting places and people's houses. I think each brings something different to the conversation. Any places anyone has been interested in trying around here?

How we all doing on Suite Francaise? I will be the first to admit that I haven't started it yet, but I will be doing so in the very near future. Does the 20th still work for people? Is QB an okay spot to meet for you all? Let me know if you have any other suggestions.

I have the book, I've read the first chapter, but since then I've gotten distracted with other books. Guess I better get back on it!

You're more on top of things than the rest of us as per usual, Jackie!

Okay, so far there are at least three peeps that can't come on September 20th. should we bump it up a week? Two weeks? Talk to me, peepulz!

Bump it up! Bam!

One week or two?

Two weeks. Or, let's just give up on Suite Francaise and get together to just talk about books.
Everyone?

I'm with Jackie - I have nothing against Suite Francaise, I just don't know when I'll ever get around to looking at it.

Well, I haven't read it yet either, so that sounds fine with me! I bumped it up to October 4th at 6:30, Quality Burrito. I'm going to move Beautiful Boy and Tweak up now too since we probably don't want to meet two weeks after our upcoming discussion. November 8th work for everyone? Let me know if it doesn't. Thanks for responding, you two- it's starting to feel like shouting into a black hole in here! Must be all the nice weather...

Forgot to add- it would be cool if we brought a couple of the books we liked to pass around. If you find any background info or reviews to share, bring those too.

Yeah, it is beautiful out there. Not the time to be indoors, computing, if you don't have to.

Ok, I'm interested - I'd love to get together and chat about books. I did read Suite Francaise, but it was a while ago and I'm hazy on a lot of the details.

(Oh, and I work at the Lacey library.)

Books and appetizers!

Amen to that! What could be a better combo? Meghan, I'm so happy you're thinking about coming! We've had a pretty good time the past two meetings...

Oh, I forgot to say that I still want to read Tweak and Beautiful Boy. Are you all still down with that? Maybe we could do an alternating format- one month- assorted book discussion mayhem, one month, a specific title. Or, meet every two months and alternate if that works better for people and their assorted busy lives. Thoughts?