Welcomes & Introductions

[readergayle]

Hi
I am an avid reader and love all kinds of books from mystery, romance, or biography. I am excited about joining this book club as I have never joined a club and been able to discuss and analyze any book with such a large group of people. I look forward to reading different opinions about the same topic.
Happy Reading,
Gayle

[glmccall]

hello all,
i am very excited to join the club, i enjoy reading books and was glad to see there is a site with as much energy for reading as i have, look forwrd to discussing and sharing the great world of books.

[KxBurns]

Well, it is wonderful to be in the company of so many avid booklovers -- welcome everyone!

Many of you are familiar names from previous First Looks and I'm delighted to see you back.

And to all the newbies, I look forward to your participation! If you encounter any problems, please do let me know and I'll be happy to assist (as will our veteran book club members, who are always ready to chime in with advice or tips!).

Karen

[KxBurns]

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gl wrote:
Hi, everyone!

I'm really excited to be here again. I loved the House at Riverton, though the volume of posts was a bit overwhelming.

I'm originally from the Philippines but am working as a lawyer in NYC. Like everyone else in this group, I love to read. I like historical fiction, fantasy, science fiction, romance, and am just starting to read nonfiction as well. Any and all suggestions are welcome.

The funniest books I've ever read have been I, Claudius by Robert Graves, Catch-22 by Joseph Heller, and Slaughterhouse V by Kurt Vonnegut. Does anyone have any suggestions for a light funny book?

Looking forward our book club experience!

Gaby

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Gaby, if you enjoyed Slaughterhouse-Five, you MUST check out Timequake, which is my personal favorite of all Vonnegut's books!

And if you're at all interested in art history, Michael Frayn's Headlong is a great funny read.

Karen

[KxBurns]

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pamd wrote:
My name is Pam. I love to read, always have. My parents were big readers and I guess they passed that on to me. My tastes run the spectrum and I have the annoying inability to stop reading a book because I don't like it. I tell people and they look at me like I have 2 heads. Does anyone else do this? If I start it, I have to finish it, no matter how bad, if only to know how the story ends. I'm the same way with movies. If I start, I have to finish, no matter how bad. Maybe it's my way of learning how to really appreciate good writing.

This is my first book club. Other than school, I've always read to please myself so I'm interested to see how this works.

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Pam, I used to be the same way but recently decided that there are just too many books to read! Now if I don't find myself really interested at about the halfway point (sometimes sooner for real duds), I put it back on the shelf.

I usually have 2-3 books going at a time -- I don't know if that helps or hurts. I think some books suffer by comparison, like a biography might seem really dry if I'm alternating with a great novel. But other times the variety works.

I agree that sometimes muddling through gives you an appreciation for the book that can be missing when you're able to fly through a read!

Karen

[MLS]

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Everyman wrote:
I love seeing all these first time book club participants here. Fresh voices are always a delight.

As for me, I've been hanging around B&N book clubs for many years, back when they were B&N University. This will be my third First Look book. In addition to all the new e-faces, I see some familiar names, so it should be a stimulating discussion.

I'm working on retiring from the latest of a variety of careers, from teaching to corporate management to political consulting and polling to demographic analysis to law, with a few others tossed in there along the way (about ten years at the most seems to be about as long as I can endure one profession before it gets boring and I need to move on new challenges.)

I live on an island (no bridges, just ferries to get to the mainland) out in the Pacific Northwest on a family compound which includes my wife, my mother in law, my two daughters and their husbands, and my two grandsons, with my brother in law and his wife and my sister in law and her husband just down the road.

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Everyman...I've enjoyed your interesting (and often beyond my intellect) views in the ARC of HatR. Today I am observing your most interesting living arrangements...what a wonderful way to be surrounded by a total support system and maybe living a little more economically at the same time.

[MLS]

And I am Mary from Michigan...62 years old, 7 children and 16 wonderful grandchildren! The oldest attends college and the youngest just turned one. I have many fun hobbies which include quiltmaking, scrapbooking, crocheting, knitting, cross stitch, and I love to read. Much of my time involves my family which I welcome. The rest of my time I have so many things I enjoy that it's hard to choose! I have a super husband who supports all my interests. The bookclub has been such an encouragement for me to read a book with more depth than I usually take time to do. I look forward to The Sister as I have a sister and four daughters who are sisters. Sometimes these relationships can surprise us! Happy Reading!

[Frank_n_beans]

Hello there:

I am new here and am thrilled to be a part of this book club. I am 28 years old and live in New England with my husband and our frisky black lab doggie. I absolutely love to read, bake and spend time outside with my dog. I am always interested in discussing books with others and one of my favorite questions to ask people is "what are you reading?" My favorite genre is historical fiction and I am currently reading Geraldine Brooks' "A Year of Wonders."

I look forward to reading and discussing "The Sister" with all of you!

-Frank_n_beans

Message Edited by Frank_n_beans on 02-02-2008 07:12 PM

[Everyman]

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KxBurns wrote:
Pam, I used to be the same way but recently decided that there are just too many books to read! Now if I don't find myself really interested at about the halfway point (sometimes sooner for real duds), I put it back on the shelf.

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Many years ago I read of a theory that the older you get the fewer pages in a book you should read before putting it down. I forget the exact formula, but it was something like 100 pages minus your age. So if you're 20, you should read 80 pages before giving up on the book; but if you're 80, if you aren't hooked after the first 20 pages, give it up and move on to another book.

I think this actually reflects two aspects of reading. One, of course, is that the older you get the less reading time you have, so you should be more careful with what reading time you have remaining. But the other is that the more you have read, the better the sense you have of what will and will not be a rewarding read.

[SandyS]

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Everyman wrote:
Many years ago I read of a theory that the older you get the fewer pages in a book you should read before putting it down. I forget the exact formula, but it was something like 100 pages minus your age. So if you're 20, you should read 80 pages before giving up on the book; but if you're 80, if you aren't hooked after the first 20 pages, give it up and move on to another book.

I think this actually reflects two aspects of reading. One, of course, is that the older you get the less reading time you have, so you should be more careful with what reading time you have remaining. But the other is that the more you have read, the better the sense you have of what will and will not be a rewarding read.

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I find this fascinating that someone would actually spend time developing a theory. Actually, this could be very freeing for someone like me that really has a difficult time not finishing a book - even if I dislike it. Although, I have just stopped "The Gathering" by Anne Enright on about pg 100. But I will keep it and try it again.

SandyS

[vivico1]

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Everyman wrote:

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KxBurns wrote:
Pam, I used to be the same way but recently decided that there are just too many books to read! Now if I don't find myself really interested at about the halfway point (sometimes sooner for real duds), I put it back on the shelf.

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Many years ago I read of a theory that the older you get the fewer pages in a book you should read before putting it down. I forget the exact formula, but it was something like 100 pages minus your age. So if you're 20, you should read 80 pages before giving up on the book; but if you're 80, if you aren't hooked after the first 20 pages, give it up and move on to another book.

I think this actually reflects two aspects of reading. One, of course, is that the older you get the less reading time you have, so you should be more careful with what reading time you have remaining. But the other is that the more you have read, the better the sense you have of what will and will not be a rewarding read.

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Ok, so the way you are teasing everyone about being young whipper snappers, does that mean you know in 10 pages now Everyman? hehe good theory tho I think.

[Novanglus]

Hi I'm Joe. I was in The House at Riverton first look, and enjoyed it immensely. I am looking forward to this one as well.

[Carmenere_lady]

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gosox wrote:
Hello all! I am very happy to be able to participate again in the First Look club. After a long day at work, I was very happy to get the message that I will be receiving a book. I am a happily married mother of 3 grown sons, the mother-in-law of one lovely young woman who has just given birth to our first grandchild. (a healthy little boy) I work as an elementary school librarian and welcome the chance to discuss books with ADULTS! As you can imagine, I read lots of children's books, as well as just about anything that I can get my hands on.
Glad to be back! Helen

Message Edited by gosox on 01-29-2008 06:14 PM

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Is that White Sox or Red Sox? From a Indians fan

[Agapanthus43]

I just happened to be browsing the website and saw what looked like an interesting concept and here I am.... a newbie to the world of first looks. I always have a book with me and enjoy a hodgepodge of authors and and genres. I am looking forward to this new experience!!

[Everyman]

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vivico1 wrote:

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Everyman wrote:

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KxBurns wrote:
Pam, I used to be the same way but recently decided that there are just too many books to read! Now if I don't find myself really interested at about the halfway point (sometimes sooner for real duds), I put it back on the shelf.

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Many years ago I read of a theory that the older you get the fewer pages in a book you should read before putting it down. I forget the exact formula, but it was something like 100 pages minus your age. So if you're 20, you should read 80 pages before giving up on the book; but if you're 80, if you aren't hooked after the first 20 pages, give it up and move on to another book.

I think this actually reflects two aspects of reading. One, of course, is that the older you get the less reading time you have, so you should be more careful with what reading time you have remaining. But the other is that the more you have read, the better the sense you have of what will and will not be a rewarding read.

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Ok, so the way you are teasing everyone about being young whipper snappers, does that mean you know in 10 pages now Everyman? hehe good theory tho I think.

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Pretty darn close to that!

[bmbrennan]

This is my second book club, my first being House At Riverton. I thoroughly enjoyed reading House. I love to read and have a fair collection of audiobooks as well which I listen to while driving. It is amazing how I no longer mind being stuck in traffic, especially if I have yet to get to the end of a chapter. I am a literary mutt when it comes to reading preferring a good book rather than a particular type. I try to read at least a book a week.

It's nice to see you back too Karen.

[bmbrennan]

Sometimes though I keep hoping it will get better (it never does) so I continue to read. I suffer from the same problem with movies as well, I went to see Lions for Lambs and it was the most boring movie I have seen in quite some time, I had to try very hard to stay awake while watching, I should have left the theatre and gone home to read.

On the other hand did you ever love a book so much that you read it so quickly, you wish you should have stayed in the store and just read it there? This happened to me with Anna Quindlen's new book Good Dog Stay, I read the book in about an hour, loved it cried through it and couldn't believe I had finished it.

[KayceeJV]

Hello, my name is Kaycee and I'm a newbie from Utah. I have two children; one 5 years old and the other 5 months. I'm really excited that I found this site. I have been an avid reader since childhood and I am looking forward to spending time with like minded people as I rarely have a chance to discuss what I've read.

I can't wait for my copy of The Sister. Today would have been a perfect day to start a new book; I just looked outside and it's snowing sideways!

I'm glad to meet you all and hope to hear from you in the message boards.

[detailmuse]

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Everyman wrote:
Many years ago I read of a theory that the older you get the fewer pages in a book you should read before putting it down. I forget the exact formula, but it was something like 100 pages minus your age.

Love the formula! I've noticed it happening in my own reading over the past year or two: the realization that I have a limited amount of time to read everything I want to get to, and (finally!) the ability to ignore rules and shoulds.

[tigger27]

Hi everyone! This is my second First Look book and hopefully I will be able to join in more on the forums this time. I felt like I needed to read the book first and then join in but hopefully my book will come sooner and I can enjoy both.

I'm Shelly from Minnesota. I like to read but mostly before bed or sometimes when I'm working out at the YMCA (haven't been there in a while so haven't gotten much reading done).

Can't wait to discuss this new book...it's going to be exciting!!!