News, Schedules & Updates

[Maria_H]

We're pleased to announce that our featured selection for February's First Look is a coming-of-age novel entitled Sag Harbor by Colson Whitehead.

Participants in the First Look Book Club will receive a free advance reading copy, plus the exclusive opportunity to discuss the book with Whitehead and other readers. Those who receive the free book are expected to participate in the discussion. If you cannot make time for the discussion to be conducted from February 16 to March 13, please do not submit a request for a book.

If you have not yet enrolled, go here for all the details. Quantities are limited, so sign up today. When you receive your enrollment confirmation by private message (not email), go to Rachel's welcome thread and introduce yourself to your fellow First Look readers. The ARCs will be mailed soon.

Be sure to check this thread often to stay up-to-date on news about this club.

We're thrilled to share this book with you and hope you enjoy the discussion!

[Maria_H]

The first round of confirmations have gone out.  If you signed up by noon yesterday (2-2) and gave us all the information needed, you should have a confirmation in your private message box (not your email). 

The books will be mailed in the next day or so.  For those who like to follow the reading schedule, Rachel will post her schedule of discussion topics in this thread very soon.

Remember, the official book discussion begins on Monday, February 16, please wait until then to post your thoughts about the book.  At that time, the first set of threads will be up for you to comment in.

[Maria_H]

Latest round of confirmations have gone out. 

If you signed up before 3:00 PM EST today, you should have one waiting for you in your private message box!

[LisaMM80]

Hi Maria,

Will there be any more?  I signed up just before 3pm EST (by 15 whole minutes!) but did not get a confirmation.  

Thanks in advance. 

[Maria_H]

Are you sure you did not get a confirmation?

---

LisaMM80 wrote:

Hi Maria,

Will there be any more?  I signed up just before 3pm EST (by 15 whole minutes!) but did not get a confirmation.  

Thanks in advance. 

---

[LisaMM80]

Oooo yes I did!  Thanks!

[Maria_H]

Another round of confirmations have gone out.  If you signed up before 2:00 PM today and gave us all the info we needed, you should have a confirmation waiting in your private message box. 

Books started to ship earlier this week -- so some of you may have them already in hand!

[Maria_H]

Hope you had a great weekend!

If you signed up to the proper place and gave us all the information needed before 1:00 PM EST today, you will have a confirmation waiting for you in your PM box.

[Rachel-K]

Hi all,
Here's our schedule for the discussions starting February 16th and going through March 13th. 

Colson Whitehead will join our group on February 23rd for three weeks!

February 16th:

Notions of Roller-Rink Infinity

Heyday of Dag

Benji n' Reggie

Who's Out

Empty House Status

Friendships

February 23:

If I Could Pay You Less, I Would

The Gangsters

Jonni Waffle

Martine 

Colson Whitehead joins the group for three weeks!

Bill Thomas, publisher and editor-in-chief of Doubleday, joins our group for this week only!

March 2nd:

To Prevent Flare Ups

Breathing Tips of Great American Beatboxers

Family

Girls

March 9th:

Tonight We Improvise

The Black National Anthem

Final Thoughts

Favorite Passages

Many of you are already familiar with the First Look format and can guide the rest of us as we go along:

Please keep spoilers out of the chapter threads (those top two discussion threads in italics each week), but know that the character and theme discussions, even in the first weeks,

can include the whole book.

Also, please remember that we can't start talking about the novel (I was mistaken on this point in our intro thread) until the discussion officially begins on February 16th. Thanks!

Rachel

Message Edited by rkubie on 02-10-2009 12:24 AM

Message Edited by rkubie on 02-10-2009 07:29 PM

[Maria_H]

Bill Thomas, the publisher and editor-in-chief of Doubleday, will be joining our discussion during the second week (2-23 to 2-27)!!

[Maria_H]

Today's onfirmations have gone out.  Did you sign up before 2:00 PM EST today?  If so, your confirmation is waiting in your private message box.

[Maria_H]

Did you sign up before noon EST today?  If so, you should have a confirmation waiting for you in your private message box. 

See you all in the discussion on Monday!!

[Maria_H]

Still a few more confirmations going out today -- if you signed up before 2:00 PM today, look for your book in the mail soon.

Thanks!

[Maria_H]

All ARCs are completely spoken for!  If you signed up before noon today, check your private message for confirmation of your free book and your spot in our exclusive discussion.

Thanks to everyone for their enthusiasm!

Maria

[Maria_H]

Please come back on Tuesday, March 10 for news about the next First Look!

[Maria_H]

We're taking registrations here!