The Readers discussion

I hope I'm posting in the right place - I've never started a discussion thread before. The possibility of a meet-up sounds amazing. I was so nervous about meeting up with Andi and Amanda last fall, which was ridiculous, because we had a lot of fun. It was like seeing someone you hadn't seen in years and just picking up where we'd left off. I'm a firm believer that readers are the BEST people! Will be looking forward to hearing dates/plans and will do my best to plan around it.

First time discussion thread poster! As soon Simon chooses the dates he can be in the US we will let you all know. Any thoughts on location?

Also, note to everyone: This truly is going to just be a chance to hang out and record an episode or two with our listeners. Don't expect lanyards and tote bags and author readings...

Who doesn’t love to come to Los Angeles!? :-)

Barbara wrote: "Who doesn’t love to come to Los Angeles!? :-)"

If it were in LA, I would show! But that isn't exactly "central". :(

I'd imagine that Chicago would be the best choice, not to mention it is a great city for bookstores.

Salt Lake City? Denver? Just thinking that airline hubs might make for easier travel.

Great episode! I loved the idea of a century in books. I'm so glad you two are able to post regularly again. I seriously missed you! (I'm grateful for your efforts producing this podcast for us. Thank you!)
Re: reading relationships -- very few of my close friends and family read like I do so they don't really enjoy discussing books with me. I do have one friend though, that is a big history buff and we seem to be able to discuss any book I've read from a history standpoint. It's fascinating and adds depth to my reading experience as well as to our relationship. It's fulfilling to have such conversations and I'm always seeking out others that feel the same way.

Denver is great for airfares from most major metropolitan areas and has an iconic independent bookstore, Tattered Cover. Chicago is more central but I'm not familiar with the bookstore situation there. My vote would be Denver.

All of my friends read, but none of us typically read the same books, so I never have someone to discuss mine with. The exceptions are Harry Potter, The Hobbit, Lord of the Rings, Pride and Prejudice and many of the classics we all read back in school. I don't care that we don't read the same books though. Nothing is better than sitting quietly in a room with a friend while we both read a book!

In terms of the get together, it sounds wonderful, but I'm not sure I'd be able to attend. It would depend on where it was and what my finances are at the time. I think I will be needing a new car soon and all my funds will be needed for the down payment. I'd be more likely to go if I could drive to it! If I can't go, I'll be so envious...

Need a new car! Kind of omitted that!

Tracy wrote: "No lanyards or tote bags?! ;) What’s the point then? Haha.

I’m pretty open to anywhere except Detroit since I live there and I want to go somewhere else so I can sort of call it a vacation.

Rea..."
Bodice rippers lol. Love that description!

I posted this comment in the wrong thread, not knowing there was a thread.

I'd love to go to Asheville, NC. I know there used to be Booktopia there, the last year it happened I knew about it too late and then it never happened again! Asheville is not your typical metropolitan city, it's a mountain town that's rather large, but is like Portland, OR of the south. It has a few independent book stores (including, apparently, a radical feminist one that I just only recently found out about) - Malaprops is most famous but the same owners own a used bookstore too. There is a chain used book store and a collectors bookstore of note. Within an hour radius are mountain towns with used bookstores worth puttering around in (Tryon, NC has two!!, Hendersonville, NC has 1-2, Waynesville had one, Black Mountain has one but it isn't great) and also two large SC towns with independent stores. Spartanburg, SC has Hub City Books which is also an indie press. Greenville, SC, where I live, has one of the most beautiful college campuses (and libraries, if I may say so), and two independent bookstores. One is downtown and only sells southern lit, travel lit, cookery lit, and childrens. The other is near the mall and is a more typical indie store that hosts more of the author signings, etc.

So this is a selfish reason... I could drive! But I would entertain a drive or flight somewhere because I've long wanted a readers retreat (lower case R) but lack the organizational skills or time to pull it off.

Cheers to those who can!

Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "I posted this comment in the wrong thread, not knowing there was a thread.

I'd love to go to Asheville, NC. I know there used to be Booktopia there, the last year it happened I knew about it too ..."

Ashville sounds lovely!

So, showing my ignorance here, what exactly does a readers retreat look like? How many days do they typically run? I'm simply excited about the idea of getting to chat with other book lovers in person!

Simon wrote: "Asheville is gorgeous. I was lucky enough to go to Booktopia there but it was an absolute nightmare to get to from the U.K. too me literally 24 hours and I was shattered. I think a bigger city also..."
Well I'm glad you got to see it! Charlottesville, Va would also be amazing for beauty and bookstores (six on Main Street!) but it is even worse to get to.

San Fran might be a good book town, or Portland wth Powells and coffee shops EVERYWHERE.

Jenny (Reading Envy) wrote: "Simon wrote: "Asheville is gorgeous. I was lucky enough to go to Booktopia there but it was an absolute nightmare to get to from the U.K. too me literally 24 hours and I was shattered. I think a bi..."

POWELL'S and COFFEE SHOPS - Great suggestions, Jenny!

Simon wrote: "Asheville is gorgeous. I was lucky enough to go to Booktopia there but it was an absolute nightmare to get to from the U.K. too me literally 24 hours and I was shattered. I think a bigger city also..."

I love the idea of getting to hang out with all of you. I'm eager to find out the dates for it. (Please, please, please not in the last half of June.)

Tracy wrote: "I think we shouldn’t see this as a reader retreat... maybe a better description would be a reader hang out?"

I like that!

Portland is a great book town with Powell's and not so big that we'd all lose one another....Simon, if you're reading this have you ever visited there?

What about Austin, Texas? Lots of bookstores (new and used) - and I've always wanted to check out Book People, a large, locally-owned bookstore. There's Book Woman: specializing in books by & about women. Austin Central Public Library had it's grand opening in October 2017 and looks amazing. There are these incredible screened-in porch areas for people to hang out in and read. It even has a used bookstore called Recycled Reads.

Could be fun....

I loved meeting Simon and Thomas in Petoskey! I hope the location and dates work out so that I can attend. How about Ann Arbor, Michigan? It’s a little easier to get to than Petoskey, with more options for lodging, and plenty of wonderful restaurants. I know that Simon and Thomas visited a few of the bookstores on their way back from Petoskey. Literari is one of my favorite independent bookstores. They host author events frequently, so they may be willing to host a hang-out for The Readers.

Melissa wrote: "I loved meeting Simon and Thomas in Petoskey! I hope the location and dates work out so that I can attend. How about Ann Arbor, Michigan? It’s a little easier to get to than Petoskey, with more opt..."

How easy is it to fly into?

Simon and I have chatted about many of these locations. I definitely appreciate the argument about choosing a place that isn't so big that we get "lost" as a group.

It is also looking like the second half of September. But that isn't official yet.

Given that The Readers started as a 100% British podcast, I reckon your first official "Hang-out" should be in Britain..... or maybe Ireland (as a halfway point), so I vote for Dublin in early September, because I happen to know that's when at least 4 of your loyal listeners will definitely be able to make it! :-)

Kats nice try! They’ve already said Simon is visiting the U.S. this year. Actually I’ll be in the UK in August and wouldn’t have minded extending.

Kats wrote: "Given that The Readers started as a 100% British podcast, I reckon your first official "Hang-out" should be in Britain..... or maybe Ireland (as a halfway point), so I vote for Dublin in early Sept..."

I'm not sure I can even afford a visa to the US nevermind about the flight so I would love a UK get-together at some point.

Kats wrote: "Given that The Readers started as a 100% British podcast, I reckon your first official "Hang-out" should be in Britain..... or maybe Ireland (as a halfway point), so I vote for Dublin in early Sept..."

I'm not sure I can even afford a visa to the US nevermind about the flight so I would love a UK get-together at some point.

I will be in Kent (UK) in June 2019, so maybe...