I love the idea of book clubs, but the last thing an English teacher needs is more assigned reading. So I thought: what if we had a book club where we all just talk about whatever we’re reading right now? That way, we can read whatever we want! And talk about it!
Once a week, I’m going to post about a book I’m reading, or have just finished reading, or would really like to read next. It would be great if you guys would chime in. If you’ve read the book I’m posting on, you could comment on that, and we’ll discuss. But you could also comment on a book you’re reading right now, and we could discuss that. Or you could write on your own blog about a book you’re reading, and link here. Maybe I’ll ask you some specific questions about books I’m reading and books you’re reading, and you could respond to them here or elsewhere.
If no one wants to chat about books, I’ll just post about the books I’m reading anyway. This will be a way for me to keep in touch with you all, but maybe it’ll also mean I’ll spend more of my summer reading books, and less of it watching Project Runway on YouTube and playing Fishdom.
In the next couple of days, I’ll post on the book I’m reading now, and thereon in, I’ll try to post on Wednesdays. I hope you’ll tell me about your summer reading too! Here’s to books we read just because we feel like reading them!
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Classroom as Microcosm 
Your premise reminded me of John Holt’s “Making Children Hate Reading.” Thought I’d share in case you wanted to read the short article: http://books.google.com/books?id=Cex9U6jw7-gC&pg=PA55&lpg=PA55&dq=John+Holt+kids+hate+reading&source=bl&ots=wijo5epbaZ&sig=qU2RDLwiWz07s6uyYVMUOtZQDo4&hl=en&sa=X&ei=aO2FU6uIFsW2yAT5roHoAQ&ved=0CC0Q6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q=John%20Holt%20kids%20hate%20reading&f=false
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Scott: very interesting! Also relevant to some work I’m doing on reading for pleasure; I’ve bookmarked it. Thanks!
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Excellent idea! I actually just recently did a post on the books I’m currently reading: “How Many Books Can I Read at Once?” Here’s the link: http://abringerofnewthings.com/2014/05/19/how-many-books-can-i-read-at-once/
Happy reading!
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Sarrah: that is a whole lot of books. I’ve read very few of them; the only one I’ve read in full is Pema Chodron’s When Things Fall Apart (I return to her frequently.) I’ve also read bits of The Republic, a number of poems by Robinson, and I have that book of patterns by Budd around somewhere. I think I have that Norton Anthology in my office at school. I also always have a million books on the go at once – we bought ourselves an extra-large two-tier coffee table for that very reason!
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Siobhan, that’s neat that you have read and/or own a lot of the things I’m reading! I love the idea of an extra-large two-tier coffee table. I’m contemplating replacing my couchside coffeetable with a small bookshelf just for my at-hand books. I’m not sure my husband will like the idea…I’ll just have to get a nice, antique-y shelf that he will like. 🙂
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I love it! I’m in! I do the same thing on Mondays actually. I call it “The Reading Life”. My friends, colleagues, some fellow slicers and I really get into it; more so off the blog-sphere but the post is usually the catalyst for the discussions and recommendations that follow.
Sometimes when I’m reading a meatier book, I don’t write exactly about what’s happening that book but I much branch off into a theme or just play on words.
I’m reading Life After Life by Kate Atkinson right now. It’s a meaty one for sure. Here’s my post about it. The last two that followed were plays off of it but not really centered around it.
http://butlerbin2013.wordpress.com/2014/05/12/reading-life-or-death/
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BB: I loved the first 300 pages of LAL and then got bogged down in the mass of historical detail (because I’m a lazy reader, and not terribly smart; history was my worst subject in school. Seriously.) Kate Atkinson is one of my favourite writers (as is Gillian Flynn; I see you mention her!) but her last two books have just been too heady for me. That said, the book was worth it for that first rush of story; I couldn’t put it down, and managed to make it to the end in hopes of having that feeling again.
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I’m about 250 in now and things are moving along. You are the ONLY person I “know” that has read this book so it’s exceptionally comforting to hear what I too am feeling. A load of historical fiction where I’m more of a thriller girl with the dying themes. I’m gonna stick with it. I have to know what all the fuss is about with it, even if it’s to form my own fuss-free opinion. LOVE your blog and love that you’re doing this. See you next Wednesday!
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I try to post each Wednesday concerning what we’re all reading this week as well. I think it is a great way to keep in touch and get new ideas for reading material. I hope your audience is more forth coming with their comments though!
Have a nice summer!
http://www.alaynabellesmom.wordpress.com
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Estyree: I look forward to hearing about what you’re reading!
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Right now I’m working on the last bit of City of Glass by Cassandra Clare…as of tomorrow I will be reading my curriculum for the class I’ve been given for next year.
Oh! And I remembered an old site I used to use 7 years ago and found a story I had almost forgotten about…It’s interesting how much my writing has changed in almost a decade but the story is one that lives in me so I remember it well now. ( 😉 more than you bargained for I’m sure!)
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I don’t know Cassandra Clare; but I sure recognize that sinking feeling when the pleasure reading needs to put aside for curricular obligations.
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Cassandra Clare is the author of the Mortal Instruments series (a YA fantasy) and I was wrong, I’m on the next book, City of Fallen Angels. 😀
I am actually looking forward to finding out what my curriculum is, as I don’t even know what grade level or subject I’m teaching yet. Apparently I was used as a bargaining chip in trades (I’m currently thinking of myself as a coveted baseball draft pick).
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Oh, lovely! I had a book post I was about to write anyway.
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I’m in!
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Right now I’m reading F. Scott’s first novel, “This Side of Paradise.” As a recent college grad, there’s something about the protagonist’s quest to manhood that is relevant, terrifying, and inspiring, all at once.
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Morgan: I have only read Gatsby – I reread it recently and was dumbstruck by how amazing it is. I don’t think I understood how amazing when I was younger, although I did love it then too, and took a stab at Tender is the Night but didn’t make it through. Let me know what you think of TSOP; it might be one I’d like to add to my list.
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Me too! Once I read beyond the “failed American Dream” interpretation of Gatsby I realized that the novel was much more a meditation on time; the irrevocability of the past, the uncertainty of the future, the transience of the present…
TSOP is not as mature a novel as Fitzgerald’s other works (after all, it was his debut). That being said, it is an excellent character study of an individual in a unique time (1900 – early 1920’s). I, too, have tried TitN, but was not as interested. TSOP is much closer to Gatsby, in my opinion, and I can’t recommend it enough.
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And the language! I can’t get that scene out of my head where he walks into the drawing room and the girls are sitting on the settee and the wind has turned them into a bunch of billowing peonies. It just slayed me.
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I look forward to being introduced to fabulous books here. Not that I need to add to my overwhelming tower of books to read.
Right now, I’m doing a final read-through of the novel I’ve been working on since September before sending it off to a proofreader. Next step, query agents and editors.
I am also reading The Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson, The Choice is Yours by Terri Chappell and Mission Origin by Barry Knox.
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Sharon: good luck with your manuscript! I haven’t read any of those books, and I don’t know any of those writers. Are you enjoying them?
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Sanderson is a prolific fantasy writer who creates complex worlds and governments. I’m having a hard time getting into this world and I’m on page 358 of 1252.
Just started the Knox book. He is a friend in one of my Google+ groups and I’m trying to support his first novel. So far it reminds me of Bob Mayer’s style but I think I haven’t got to where he should have started the story.
The Chappell book is good, thought-provoking.
I look forward to hearing about what you’re reading. I love talking books. Go figure☺️
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This sounds like fun. I’ll do my best to contribute but my reading happens in spurts….right now I’m reading Annabel (http://www.cbc.ca/books/booksandauthors/2010/09/annabel.html), written by a Newfoundland author (who I found out lived in my hometown) and takes place in Labrador….so far, I love it!
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Paulette: that book is on my list! The author of Annabel is the sister of Michael Winter, another terrific author whom I met a few years ago; his book This All Happened is among my favourites, and set largely in Corner Brook.
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OMG! I read ‘All This Happened’….and I loved it! Didn’t make the connection….I’ll lend my copy of Annabel to you once I’m done. I hope to finish it by the end of June at the latest. 🙂
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I love this. Unfortunately I’m still session right now; my college works on a trimester system. George Saunders’ “Tenth of December” is the first thing I’ll be reading. I’ll be sure to let everyone know how it is!
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Kevin: I truly loved that collection! Changed my view of what short stories could be.
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I’ve read a couple from it already. He actually spoke at my school when he did a book tour for it. “Escape from Spider Head” and “Victory Lap” are the two I’ve read. He is a master at changing point of view.
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