spoko’s Comments (group member since Mar 05, 2021)

spoko’s comments from the EVERYONE Has Read This but Me - The Catch-Up Book Club group.

I second The Frozen River.

I second Atmosphere.

I second The Handmaid’s Tale.

I second Go Tell It on the Mountain.

I nominate All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir (376 p., pub. 2022).

The Modern selection for December 2025 is Carrie by Stephen King, nominated by Sandra.

This discussion will be full of SPOILERS.

❧ Did you enjoy the book?
❧ What surprised you the most about the book?
❧ What was your first impression of Carrie as a character? Did your feelings toward her evolve as the story progressed?
❧ Which parts of the novel elicited the strongest emotional reactions from you—whether sympathy, anger, fear, or shock?
❧ What questions were you left with?

The Classics selection for December 2025 is The Hunchback of Notre-Dame by Victor Hugo, nominated by Theresa.

This discussion will be full of SPOILERS.

❧ Did it live up to your expectations?
❧ Was there a specific scene or quotation that stayed with you after finishing the book?
❧ How did you feel about Hugo’s lengthy architectural descriptions? How about the famous multi-chapter digression on the architecture of Paris?
❧ Did you find that your perspective shifted on any particular characters?
❧ What questions were you left with?

A Christmas Carol has been selected as the Catch-Up title for December 2025. Please feel free to continue with points from previous discussion, or bring up something new!

Do remember that this is the SPOILER thread, in case you would prefer to finish reading before proceeding here.

Moving this to Solicitations, rather than Recommendation requests.

Thanks everyone—nominations are now closed, and the polls are open! Help us pick the next Catch-Up read by casting your vote here.

Thanks everyone—nominations are now closed, and the polls are open! Help us pick the next Classic read by casting your vote here.

Thanks everyone—nominations are now closed, and the polls are open! Help us pick the next Modern read by casting your vote here.

Marla wrote: “Sorry, I just can’t read the book that was chosen for me back in Feb. Can I please skip it?”

I would certainly say yes. Pick one for Rowiey, and put yourself next in line!

I second My Brilliant Friend.

Hello EHRTBM readers and welcome to your November updates!

Nominations for our January 2026 group reads are open—nominate (or second other nominations) in the appropriate nomination thread by November 16 to count. Please note that members are limited to one nomination, but you can second as many as you’d like.

This month, we are reading the following books:
📕 Classics: We Have Always Lived in the Castle, nominated by Sandra
📘 Modern Classic/Popular: Bridget Jones’s Diary, nominated by Rae
📙 Bookshelf Catch-Up: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, nominated by Renata

Check out group discussions in the Currently Reading folder.

Voting has ended for the December selections, and up next we will be reading:
📕 Classics: The Hunchback of Notre-Dame, nominated by Theresa
📘 Modern Classic/Popular: Carrie, nominated by Sandra
📙 Bookshelf Catch-Up: A Christmas Carol, nominated by Lisa

CHALLENGES
▶ Relay Race Reading Challenge Last year we read 367,988 pages together. Log your pages with each book read to help us beat that this year!
▶ TBR Revival Challenge Each quarter will feature a different theme to help get those books you've been meaning to read read. The theme for October–December is “A book with white covers.”
▶ Bingo Reading Challenge You can go for Bingo, Mix-it-Up or Blackout!
▶ Pick-It-For-Me Relay Challenge This game does what it says on the tin. Come try the fun way to choose your next great read.
▶ House Challenge Join a house and compete to read the most.

OTHER GROUP ANNOUNCEMENTS
⦁ Any questions, comments or suggestions? Please add your voice to our ongoing discussion in the General Support, Questions and Suggestions thread.
⦁ If you like to discuss in a smaller group and in more detail, we have posted a Buddy Read Notice Board. Follow this thread for buddy requests or post your own requests.
⦁ Threads are open for all previously read books, so continue to catch up as suits you. Check out group discussion in the following folders:
    Classic Reads
    Modern Classics/Popular Reads
    Long Reads
⦁ Welcome to our new members. Introduce yourself here and check out some of our discussions for those who want to get to know their fellow group members!
⦁ Check out ongoing discussions in the For Fun section!

Happy Reading!

By constantly moving the flashlight of your attention to the perimeter of your understanding, you enlarge your sense of the world.
   ❧ Eli Pariser


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I second 84, Charing Cross Road.

I second Things Fall Apart.

I second On Beauty.

I nominate Dissolution by C.J. Sansom (456 p., pub. 2003).

This begins our group discussion of our Modern book selection, Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding, nominated by Rae.

This discussion will be full of SPOILERS.

❧ Did the book live up to your expectations?
❧ Did you have a favorite quote, or favorite moment?
❧ What did you think of the diary format—did it work? Did it help you connect with Bridget?
❧ How do you think the story would be different if set today?
❧ What questions were you left with?