Fans of British Writers discussion

In one of my other Goodreads groups, they do something that might be a good idea for this group as well: they use the term "buddy reads" for what are in effect informal mini common reads, member-initiated, and open to anyone in the group who wants to take part. These usually have more than just two participants; they aren't featured at the top of the group page and there are no whole-group notifications or changes of shelf status for the book involved, but the discussions are carried on using a dedicated thread on the discussion board for each one, rather than by personal message. So, I've created this thread for any proposals along this line that any members of this group might wish to suggest, from time to time!

Sounds like a fun idea

Sarah wrote: "Sounds like a fun idea"

It's popular in the other group that does it. I've gotten in on one of their reads myself, and plan to do another in May.

I like the idea of a buddy read too; please count me in.

Carol wrote: "I like the idea of a buddy read too; please count me in."

Carol, we don't necessarily have one in mind at the moment! This is just a forum that's available for folks to use if they want to arrange for one. (Although if you have a book in mind for a buddy read, you're welcome to suggest it here, and see how much interest there might be.)

Let me know if someone chooses a book for the buddy read. I wouldn’t dare suggest one myself, but I would like to join in.

I would, but I'm up to my ears in getting a house ready for sale and picking a place to live on the other side of the country, so I'm barely holding my head above water.

It's always something, but if I have a tiny bit of energy, it goes to writing the second volume of the Pride's Children trilogy, because without writing I'm a horrible grump.

As the song says, Soon and very soon...

Sarah wrote: "Let me know if someone chooses a book for the buddy read. I wouldn’t dare suggest one myself, but I would like to join in."

In my initial post on this thread, I mentioned that this idea came from another group (to be specific, it's the Reading for Pleasure group). I very seldom take part in any "buddy reads" there, since I usually have too many conflicting reading plans and commitments of my own. However, earlier this year one of my friends in that group invited me to join in a read of The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe (who of course was British) during the month of May, and I accepted.

That's the next book that I plan to read by a British author. If anyone in this group wants to read it as a buddy read with me, you'll be welcome to do so, and I can get a thread going here in May. IMO, there's nothing wrong with two groups doing a buddy or group read of the same book at the same time; that can actually make it more interesting. However, this is an 18th-century novel (and a very thick one!) with presumably very ornate diction; so I won't be at all offended if I don't get any takers for the offer!

I didn’t have this on a setting that informed me so I didn’t see your pick for buddy read and dropped the ball. (Oh the horrors! I’m a cliché user and an old one at that.)
Perhaps another pick? Or have you finished it yet?

No problem, Sarah! The other buddy readers in the RFP group decided to re-schedule that particular read (The Mysteries of Udolpho) for July instead of May. So I'm planning to read it then. You and anyone else in this group would be welcome to join in then, as well; if anyone wants to, I can set up a thread here on this group's discussion board at that time.

Okay, that sounds good. What is the May book? And what are the parameters/protocol of a buddy read or a group read? Is there much of a difference? I am a bit new to this; sorry to be so very dense, but there you have it.

No, Sarah, you're not dense at all! You're just new to the concept, as we all were at one point. (When I first joined Goodreads, I'd never heard of "group reads" or "buddy reads.")

Group reads and buddy reads are both voluntary, as far as individual participation goes; but the former are generally intended to focus on a book that's expected to have pretty broad appeal to the group as a whole. The books are generally chosen by group vote; and they're put on the group's "currently reading" bookshelf for the duration of the read, and officially featured on the group's page and in other places. Some groups do these every month (and some don't do them at all!); our group does an annual one in the month of August.

For most of my years on Goodreads, the only way I ever heard the term "buddy read" used was for a two-person read, outside of the context of any particular group, and not necessarily timed to coincide with any calendar month. Two people just decided to read a book or series together, agreed on a start time, and used the personal messaging system to share their thoughts, questions, etc. as they read. I've shared in several of these, most often with my Goodreads friend Jackie Guarani (who, sadly, passed away in January 2017.)

The kind of buddy read contemplated in this thread is a multi-person read, intended to be shared with three or more members of a particular group (such as ours), in which thoughts, questions, etc. are shared on a discussion thread that anyone in the group can read and comment on. Like group reads, these are usually scheduled to coincide with a calendar month; but unlike them, they're just informally proposed by someone in the group, and joined in informally by others if they're interested, not voted on by the whole membership and featured officially on the page.

Hope that helps to clarify what's going on with these two types of reads! Also, re the question, "What is the May book?' --there isn't a May book at this point. There's no plan to necessarily have a buddy read going on every month. (The RFP group typically has several of them going on in any given month; but they're a group with well over 2700 members, many of them quite active.) You or someone else can suggest a buddy read to start on in May, if you want to. But I won't join in myself, since I'm currently reading a book (by an American author) already. (Things like this usually work best if people have a bit of lead time before they start.)

Thanks so much for taking the time to explain this to me. It makes it so much more clear ! A little knowledge can go a long way , or be a dangerous thing. Ha!
Seriously though I appreciate more info!

No problem, Sarah! :-)

Tomorrow afternoon, I'm planning to start reading The Mysteries of Udolpho, by Ann Radcliffe. This is a "buddy read" in another group; but if anyone else in this group wants to join in and make it a buddy read here as well, we can start a thread for it in this folder: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group... .

Some folks in the group are interested in reading Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's 1891 historical novel of the Hundred Year's War, The White Company. I'd be game to join in a buddy read of this book; but what with all the reading plans and commitments I already have, the earliest I could plan to do it would be this coming January. That would allow people plenty of time to get hold of a copy, though, and plenty of advance notice to arrange their reading schedule. Would anyone else be interested?

We'll plan on that, Rita! Rosemarie is interested, too, so that will make at least three of us. I'll post about this again on this thread, closer to the time (like maybe in December) as a reminder.

Yes I’m very interested.

Glad to hear that, E.L.; the more the merrier! This will be our group's first "buddy read" since this thread was started.

🤗

Also interested in reading this one -- not familiar with Doyle's historical novels. Thanks, Werner

You're welcome, Elizabeth!

Just by way of reminder, several of us are gearing up for a buddy read of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The White Company in January. I'm planning to start on Jan. 1, and will try to get the discussion thread up on that day, if not before. Anyone in the group who wants to join in is welcome to!

I'm in for this one.

That's great, Rosemarie! I'm looking forward to it.

I am in!

Welcome, Oksana! That'll make at least half a dozen of us. Hope everybody enjoys the read!

It’s a free download on Gutenberg App so I may join as well.

That would be great, Sarah!

I've just got a 'proper' Kindle copy for 49p, which isn't bad.

I will join in too - I haven't read it before, but I did love his The Complete Brigadier Gerard, recently re-read after many years.

The more the merrier, Rosina! Glad to have you.

I must say I’ve seen so many Sherlock Holmes shows, movies and fan fictions and influenced works, but never actually read any of the original writings of the author. I’m glad to be finally reading something of
Doyle’s so I won’t be quite as ashamed any longer.

I just started today. Happy New Year!

I started yesterday (but I only had time to read a couple of pages yesterday). Echoing Rita and Oksana's Happy New Year wishes to all!

I cannot seem to find the discussion group for The White Company.

Oksana wrote: "I cannot seem to find the discussion group for The White Company."

That thread is here, Oksana: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... .

Thank you

No problem, Oksana!