Study Buddies discussion

Is there anyone interested in doing a monthly selection for SB members to read and discuss? We have about 100+ suggestions of great books and I'd really love to be able to discuss at least 12 of those in the next year ;)

Though goodness knows I've joined way too many reading groups already, I can't help it, I want*to*read*more! And reading with a group helps to keep you disciplined and staying on track with a book (well, sometimes anyway).

So anyway, if anyone is interested, post here or message me and we'll figure out how we'll do this. I'm thinking of starting in January.

i think that's a wonderful idea!

Oh yes. I'm in! I've loved all of the suggestions so far! And the discussion is the fun part!

PS - just finished Crown Duel! 4 stars!

Hey Althea!
What exactly would we be in charge of because I'm definitely interested in doing a monthly selection for SB members!

And OMG! I loved Crown Duel! I read it a while back but it's still up there in my top 10 list -- along with the Study series of course!

Great idea! Count me in!

So. Many. Book. Groups....

I love the idea! It'll give us a great chance to get at that blasted bookshelf. Yes, January is good. I'm already behind in the Critical Beatdown bk group.

count me in!

Yay!!

I made it halfway through Mysteries of Pittsburgh... I'm sad that I'm not more into it because I voted for it!

I bought An Abundance of Katherines tonight (for the "other" YA Book Club) and am Discussion Leader for Nick and Norah's Ultimate Playlist next month; possibly that for The Wednesday Wars as well, since no one has volunteered.

And I was supposed to get Gunslinger but I forgot. Oh, well, there's always tomorrow.

And Tom and I have declared mutiny on The Critical Beatdown to form an Atlas Shrugged reading group. Which book is the reason I have not read anything else this month so far.

So what's one more book group ;-) to people like us? Psssh!

So here's what we'll do--everyone interested in joining the Study Buddies monthly reading group, go ahead and post in this thread. On January 3, 2009, I will contact everyone who responds here by that time.

When you post go ahead and offer up a book suggestion--just one! I will write them on little ballots, toss them in a hat (note to self: get a hat) and pick 5 titles on which members will vote for the one they want to read the most. That will be our selection for January, and we'll have the rest of the month to read and discuss (of course discussion may continue on after). We'll have some separation in the posts so people don't get "spoiled". Then between Feb 1 and 3 we'll start the selection process all over again. Sound Ok?

Of course the May 2009 book will be Storm Glass and by the way, y'all make sure to put that on your to-read lists, please! The GR code is Storm Glass|2804119.

I'm in. I'd like to suggest The Oracle Glass A Novel by Judith Merkle Riley

I want to read Glass Houses since Maria rated it a 5. Or the first in the Hilari Bell series.

I'm in - but I'd love to know the other YA book club you're in. I'm always dying to find others who read YA books as I'm an 8th grade English teacher and always looking for things to entice my kids into reading!

Jen

Jen (I was going to send this privately and then I thought others might be interested too), Jane founded a group called the Young Adult Book Council: http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/7... and http://www.yabookclub.org. I just call it YABC for short.

We read The Willoughbys by Lois Lowry for this month's meeting, which is tonight at 7 pm Pacific! We will be posting live for the first time on the GR group, since we have a few members that can't make it to the meeting.

We are in the process of expanding our website too so that anyone can get reading recommendations and discussion questions (and sometimes answers, if we're fast enough to note them down before we forget!) at any time. We've already read quite a few books!

I also joined http://www.goodreads.com/group/show/3... but I haven't gotten into the swing of things there yet. They seem like a pretty cool bunch, though!

I'm in too. I'm thinking I want to read... The Devouring.

Thanks so much Althea - I signed up for the YABC. I have not heard of the Willoughby's (sp?) by Lois Lowry - is it new? I'll have to look that one up. Ok - thanks, too, for the advice on not using the books with my kids - I'm finishing a Kim Harrison book and then am on to Poison Study. Can't wait with all the good reviews on here. Thanks so much for keeping this group going!

Jen

Hey Amber, I don't think I responded properly to your question up there, I think everyone gets to pick a selection (post it here), I'll draw a few randomly, and then we'll vote in a poll.

The rest we'll figure out in January when we officially start!

Very good, everyone go ahead and post if you have a suggestion, and just to clarify:

Please pick a book that you think we would like if we like the Study series. It can be a book you have already read and want to discuss, or a book you haven't read and will read/discuss along with the rest of the group.

Jane or I will put that book on the group Bookshelf regardless of whether we read it.

I think I will abstain from nominating this time, I already like a bunch of the books you mentioned!

Such a good idea, Alethea, you're so smart...
I'm in for it. I haven't joined any book discussion groups here on GR yet, so this should be fun!!! I'm excited. Anyway, I read Unwind by Neal Shusterman last year and was blown away. I'd love to read it again and see what others think of it.

Stardust by Neil Gaiman, It has the fantasy, the love story, and while key points are like the movie, nothing else in the book is, so even if you have seen the movie it is a good read. Neil Gaiman was a part of both the book and the movie so I think he used different plot ideas to create the movie than what he used in the book.

Count me in!! I'm definately interested!!!

Ah but for some of us getting ahold of the illustrated Stardust might be hard. I have a copy of the unadorned novel :(

I'd love to do it, though my life is already hectic w/o throwing in another book to read. My friends say I spend too much time with my nose in a book... :P

I'm with Teenie! I'd love to be part of a book discussion group, but I'm currently promoting two published fantasy romance books of my own, editing a third contemporary paranormal romance and trying to write a fourth (fantasy romance sequel to the first two). I might be a spotty, but enthusiastic, participant!

Renee Wildes
Duality (Samhain) 10/21/08
Hedda's Sword (Samhain) 1/6/09

I love The Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold and would like to discuss it with everyone.

I'm wondering if we could possibly reveal the first book for January now. I think a few of us are in school, and I don't know about you guys, but I start a reading marathon between terms. I'd like to get started on whatever our January book is. But this is my first book club, so I have no idea how these things work. Does everyone have to start at once?

That sounds just fine, Mindy! When I get off work tomorrow night, I'll put up a poll for the 5 random picks, and we can have a book chosen by next Monday at the latest--coincidentally, my last final! (lol, it's good to be moderator)

Yay - I'm looking to start and finish whatever we'd agree on reading over break, too. And unlike you lucky college students, I only have two weeks to jam in all the reading I can get my hands on. :)

Excellent! : )

I'd like to be involved. However, my library is rather limited and so are our funds. But please include me on your list and if I'm able to get the book, I will!! Thanks!

The Goose Girl
Princess Academy
Book of a Thousand Days

All by Shannon Hale are great and I wouldn't mind reading any of them again. Shannon doesn't have a fighting heroine, instead she wants to show her female characters being strong by being feminine. They are all YA books.

Jen wrote: "you lucky college students..."

Hey! We work too!

LOL! We Winter Semester gluttons-for-punishment get an extra week (for a total of 21 days off) but yeah, I work full-time each of those weeks! Actually it's a miracle I get any reading done right now, with full-time work *and* full-time school.

I took two years off of teaching to go to grad school full time - now I have two classes left which I have to take while teaching - so I know you work too (not yelling, smiling)! :) Was just kidding! But I did read more when I was in college and not working - ah the life...

Jen wrote: "I did read more when I was in college and not working..."

Really? You read more when you were in college? I think I read more when I worked full time and didn't have school--less stress for me that way I guess. Though I think from now on, I'll be in school forever--even after I get my Masters. I just love to learn. Are you going to go back to teaching after you get your graduate degree? Or college instructor?

Ok, to make it official, here's my pick: Kelly Link's Magic for Beginners, which is a set of short stories.

I'm doing the drawing out of a bowl, in lieu of a hat.

I can't wait to get started on a entirely new book. I've answered the poll and will anxiously await the results.

I can't wait either! I've been too busy adjusting to my new job and doing schoolwork! I want to dive into a few good books over break.

Ok everyone! The book to read is The Goose Girl by Shannon Hale. We'll hold another random drawing + poll around mid-January to pick our next book. I'm going to go ahead and put up a discussion folder and topic for it. We'll have a non-spoiler thread and a yay! spoilers thread. so no one gets unduly surprised.

If you have already read Goose Girl, you're still welcome to participate in the discussion!

If you don't want to read Goose Girl, and want to read some other book, feel free to post about that too :-) I'll take all readers. I'm putting up a separate thread though!

Happy reading and holidays! I hope some/most/all of you get some time for R&R (Rest & Relaxation? Nope! Reading & Rereading, of course!).

Hello!

I was just wondering when we're going to pick our February read. Am I over excited? :)

I'll do the hat-drawing this weekend! If anyone has new suggestions, post them up and I'll put them in the hat!

I don't have any suggestions - you guys seem to read more than I get to - which I am SOOOOO impressed with - but I've read Wildwood Dancing - it was good - and am reading Certain Slant of Light -it's spooky - and am reading the Immortals series by Tamora Pierce - am on a roll with her books lately - but would love something to get other ideas knocking around the head! :)

Jen

All right, everybody:

The Study Buddies February Book is Curse of Chalion by Lois McMaster Bujold -- Gisela's pick!

All other books suggested stay in the hat for the next drawing... Jen, I added your suggestions in there too.

Hope you guys like the book as much as I did!

The book looks a little dauntingly thick, but it is currently sitting on my bookshelf at home reserved for library books. I hope to get it started after I finish Skinned and Babylonne this week.

Alethea wrote: "All right, everybody:

The Study Buddies February Book is Curse of Chalion by [a:L..."

I was just now able to get Goose girl and the Curse Of Chalion from the library, I guess I have a lot of catching up to do LOL but I will be in on these discussions as soon as I finish them.

I hope you like Goose girl, most of us did that read it. I still have to start Curse of Chalion, which is on my shelf at home to be read along with five billion other books!

LOL that I can completely understand I have at least 7 that I have got just in the last weeks of Jan LOL

That's why I created that poll, maybe if I organize what I'm reading, I'll start reading them faster or something.

hmm maybe I should start a poll also I think that I will just to see what I should read next or maybe I will just ask you LOL

Hahahaha. I'd just tell you, read everything I've read on my goodreads site. It might take you a while... but there are some good ones.

hahaha ok I guess I will just have to do the poll then hahaha

Yes you will missy!