DFW Rabid Readers: reading and discussion group

Firewalker

During the last several days the idea to start a reading and discussion club on the MSE forum emerged. This was precipitated by the publication of the BBC list of the 100 most popular books and genuine interest in reading.

And here is a brand new thread to host the MSE reading and discussion club.

I would propose as a first step to collect suggestions for reading. Se999 proposed on my tread (Learn to control money...) that a set of categories is used by members to suggest books. Se999, would you consider posting the list here, please?

It seems to me that we can just post our five all time favourite books - these may be from different periods of our life etc.

Anything goes - once we have some kind of list we will chose one book, agree to read it within certain time and get the discussion rolling. And of course we can talk in between.

Now off to you reading lot!

Firewalker

Sunnylooloo

This is a brilliant idea! I absoutley love reading and think it would be great to see what other people read and try something that I would not normally consider! I am going to have a think about my 5 fav all time books and if it is ok I would love to join in with your thread

LL

se999

Hi, here are my original posts:

"What about having a theme, and asking for people's favorites, then either lucky dip or votes, or pick the more easily available.

e.g.

We could have:

Favorite book from childhood.
Favorite thriller
Science Fiction
Science Fantasy
Favorite Shakespear comedy
Romantic novel
Favorite Austin or Bronte novel
Favorite Agatha Christie
Favorite book when a student
Favorite book as a teenager

I think it would be nice to get a balance of fun easy reads and the heavier books. Both in length and in complexity. Also a lot of the classics can be a bit depressing. I must admit when I came out after watching the stage version of Les Mis, I thought it was a brilliant cast and production, just a pity nearly everyone died!!

If the idea is I think reading for pleasure, finding books that have given people pleasure at different times might give a different list to the BBC, which is slightly dominated by books people have sometimes had to read for school exams etc.. "

"Meant to add to original post, people could suggest other categories too."

The idea of the categories is to get balance by alternating categories. e.g. FW has suggested "To kill a mocking bird" as the first read, it's very easy after that for people to suggest a similar type book, and we'd end up only reading relatively modern serious american classics. So if we pick categories, we could have a childhood favorite, or a romantic one next, and ask for suggestions, unless people do want the reading group to go in depth into classics or a particular genre.

Most of the people who wanted the group are posters on DFW diaries, and the idea is that it is a low cost reading group:

"It's just with it being on mse, maybe not picking the latest bestsellers at premium prices would be good. The slightly older ones are very cheap on amazon and ebay, plus are more likely to be in libraries etc and carboots. Also if we use old copies we're reducing out global footprint relative to buying new."

With "kindles classics out of copyright are supposedly downloadable for free."

So maybe discussing where to get the books cheapest could be part of the discussion, or if someone sees a mega bargain on book people, it could effect our selection of reads too.

Sunnylooloo

You have forgotten fav trash novel....... I as must have a Jilly Cooper or Jackie Collins in there.

I see FW has suggested To Kill A Mockingbird - my favourite book of all time. I did this for my English Lit O'level........ loved it and can read it again and again and again..............

se999

We don't have to have just fiction either, lots reading FW's thread are into a book called 'The Secret', some on the Matrix thread have managed to get ebook copies, so maybe it could be an alternative for a quick start book to discuss, if someone can email links or whatever so that the rest of us could get it. Sorry, but not got much idea about what the book actually is

Sea78

oooh....favourite books? Gosh - to narrow it down to 5 is hard!!! I'm back to work this evening but once I'm back I'll list mine (will think it over while at work - boring boring boring presentation evening - not seeing the kids get their certificates, but listening to the head drone on!!)

Thanks!!!

xxx

Sunnylooloo

se999 wrote: »

We don't have to have just fiction either, lots reading FW's thread are into a book called 'The Secret', some on the Matrix thread have managed to get ebook copies, so maybe it could be an alternative for a quick start book to discuss, if someone can email links or whatever so that the rest of us could get it. Sorry, but not got much idea about what the book actually is

i am all for the diverse as well!

I'm off now and out tonight - hope to catch up tomorrow with you all

Sea78

which thread are we using?

Firewalker

Sea78 wrote: »

which thread are we using?

This one! The other one was called MSE and could have been moved - so decoded to change the name to DFW - here is home.

FW

savingwannabe

Superb. Well done. I would love to re-read Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird but i am happy to list my favourite books:

Favorite book from childhood Danny Champion of the World Roald Dahl
Favorite Austin or Bronte novel Jane Eyre
Favorite book when a student Gulliver's Travels - Jonathan Swift
Favorite book as a teenager - blooming heck too old now to remember? Spycatcher by Peter Wright.

I am happy to read anything people suggest. I love the idea of being able to read again. It will feel like we are in a happy club where we shall gain knowledge, have fun and meet the nicest people. Hooray. Well done all.

Firewalker

OK, I have to admit – posting only five books is really hard. But we can try; after that we continue posting by five and see what happens. I agree with Se that the books don’t all have to be novels all the time – I for one have been reading loads of personal growth, finance, money making books. But will start with novels.
My five all time favourites will have to be:

Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
Picture This – Joseph Heller
Catch 22 – Joseph Heller
War and Peace – Leo Tolstoy
Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez

But because I can’t do it in five I’ll throw in two more books:

The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy – Douglas Adams
The Fateful Adventures of the Good Soldier Svejk during the World War – Jaroslav Hasek

Firewalker