Close Reads - Unofficial discussion

Introduce yourself here with a quick comment so other Close Readers can find you on Goodreads.

I can’t think of any witty banter. 🤦🏻‍♀️

I’m afraid I’ll have to only smile slightly as you all banter. For I know nothing of Newt Mating or Falconing.

I’m a long-time CR fan based in the Houston area. My favorite books ever featured on Close Reads are Gilead and True Grit. How about y’all?

I found you guys!!

I’m just south of Birmingham, Alabama. Joined the Close Reads group in August of 2018. My favorite Close Read since I joined was probably The Power and the Glory, but my favorite book (that I’ve NOTICED) that’s been covered is Murder Must Advertise. Now that I’m thinking about it, MMA is not exactly my favorite book ever, but I love the Lord Peter stories and Sayers is a hero of mine. But.

I listen to Close Reads off and on. Podcasts help me houseclean. The only selections I have personally read are Great Gatsby, Crossing to Safety, Murder Must Advertise, Hannah Coulter, King Lear, and The Code of the Woosters. I enjoyed the end-of-year podcast and added many of the recommended books to my want-to-read list.

I listen to the Podcast on the way to work. I started listening with Gilead and have been hooked. My favorite book thus far is True Grit. My favorite episodes have were Brideshead and Murder Must Advertise.

Long time (often lurking) fan directed here from the FB group. :) -Sara Hagler

Hey I'm Erin Azar, big fan of Close Reads!

I so enjoy the Close Reads podcast, though I wasn’t great at reading along last year. I loved the Great Gatsby podcasts!

I’m new to Close Reads after reading Hannah Coulter and having the episodes on that book recommended to me. TROTD is the first book I am reading along with the podcast and am really excited to read some great literature this year!

Hi, all! I'm Krista Sanders. Yay for more book connections!

I have been listening to Close Reads for a year now and reading along with the podcasts! ITV has been such fun and the Facebook group is terrific, too!

Fun to find each other here too! I'm a sucker for landscape and setting and how it comes alive for a few choice writers, thus Hannah Coulter is the fav this year.

Hi fellow Close Readers!! I’m glad we have this Goodreads group.

Hi! I had to login to Goodreads on the computer to find you all, but glad I have! Been listening to Close Reads for a couple of years now and it keeps me happy and sane to have these connections with fellow book lovers.

Hello, Close Readers! Glad to see you here. I love having people to follow that have inspiring book lists... and not there’s not that many people I know from FB who have inspiring book lists. LOL!

Edit: I came back to add to my post because using my computer is SO much better than trying to use the app when it comes to groups.

I am a homeschooling mom who found Close Reads one day after listening to an interview with Andrew Kern on (most likely) the Read-Aloud Revival. I fell in love with Close Reads and started listening around the time they were doing Wind in the Willows. I really enjoy getting to read a book together, so I make an attempt to get a copy. But I also enjoy listening to the wonderful banter, even if I'm not totally into the book.

My reading goals at the moment mostly correspond to the section of history that my eldest daughter is in. We use Tapestry of Grace as the backbone of our history program and I am enjoying reading through things I always wanted to but never had a chance to read when I was in school. I'm trying to stay one step ahead of my high schooler, but I'm also looking forward to getting to run through all of history again and again with my younger kids. For example, I read a lot of Plato last year, but didn't have time for Aristotle. I'm looking forward to diving back into that in 2020. I'm using our homeschool as a means to homeschool myself--and not worry about what I miss, because I'll be back through it again! :D

Hi! I found my people! hahaha I'm sending friend requests with a message that I'm a close reader :) I currently have 3 friends who actually read hahaha

I'm Leah Kabaker, I found the Close Reads Podcast through Julie Davis of the A Good Story is Hard to Find podcast. She mentioned that CR helped her understand Brideshead. I took a look and there was Howards End, a book I had recently finished. I was hooked.
I just listened to Henry V, growing up in Israel, we didn't have a Shakespeare class, I had read and seen some plays. So as an adult I took a year long class on Othello. UGH! Modernism, revisionism. What a delight to hear David and Heidi talk about Shakespeare in a way that makes sense.

Hi ~ I am Janet Martin ~ I live in NJ and books have been a constant companion in my life. I love Close Reads and while I don't always join in discussions.. I love reading the comments on Facebook. I am hopeful that Goodreads will give book recommendations and perhaps a jumping off point for getting to know people a little better. Glad to be here!

I'm Kathy Morgan. I live in North Alabama. I was looking for some kind of book club and a homeschooling friend pointed me to Close Reads! I joined in December.

I’m Olivia from Ohio. Here’s to trying (again)to keep up with the podcast this year 🤨

I'm Rachel from TN. Homeschooling Mom of 2 and Classical Conversations Support Representative and Director. I have been a huge fan of Close Reads for over a year now, and am so thankful for this community. It has been a huge blessing. I love learning, and homeschooling my kids has truly reignited my love for tackling new subjects. Most days, you will find me with my nose in a book. :)

Hello! I'm Kim from North Pole, Alaska. I am a follower of all things Circe LOL. I am so grateful for their influence and for Close Reads!

Hello! I've been enjoying the Close Reads for about a year and a half or so, and like that it's pushing me to read books that I might not have picked up otherwise, like Anna Karenina or Murder on the Orient Express. I have a side gig selling books online, so I often listen while I'm packing up shipments, or making semi-unecessary cakes.

Hello! I started reading along with Close Reads with Crossing to Safety and I’m slowly catching up on the books that I’ve missed. I just finished Brideshead Revisited, and Gilead and True Grit just showed up in my mailbox today! I’m also reading along with the Norms and Nobility slow read and concurrently working through Beauty in the Word. I homeschool 3 kids 6 and under and I’m thankful for Circe and this group!

Hi All, I officially joined Close Reads this month and my first attempt at keeping up will be reading along with A River Runs Through It. I live in NE Oklahoma with my little lovely family. We three are all avid readers, nature lovers, and fairy tale finders.

Hi, I live in Eastern Oregon, and love reading good books. I use Goodreads to chronicle my reading life. My husband and I just returned from a road trip listening to Peace Like a River, smitten by the writing.

Hi, I am new to Close Reads. I jumped in with PLAR, then followed up with CITR, which I enjoyed much better the second time around. I enjoy the thoughtful discussions each week. I am in New Mexico if anyone else is interested in meeting up.

Hi! I live in Pittsburgh and love Close Reads! I don't think I ever saw this intro thread till right now.

Hi! Been listening to close reads for just over four years now. Started with Gilead when my first set of twin girls were only a couple months old and my son was 3. I credit this podcast and a local book club with making me a reader again ☺️ now I'm hooked and love to read when I'm not chasing after my second set of twins who are now 10 months old...

Hi all! I’m Alisha and I’ve been following Close Reads for so long that I can’t remember the first book I read with them! Remember Angelina? And the old music? 🥴 It’s hard to choose a favorite read but I enjoyed Gilead, Hannah Coulter, Power and the Glory, and Pride and Prejudice very much. But now I’m thinking of all the others…it’s so hard to choose!

We’re a homeschooling, 20 year military family currently assigned to Winnipeg, Manitoba and *should* be moving to Virginia within the year. When I’m not reading/listening to books, I stay busy managing our Christian Classical co-op, driving to extracurriculars, cooking, teaching Bible study, and learning to play the piano. 🙂

I have homeschooled both of our kids and find that as they are on the verge of launching, I am enjoying the time I have to pursue reading on things of more personal interest.

I am interested in Church History, Theology, and classic (and potentially classic) literature.

Hey all! I'm Claire and I currently live in Alabama although I've lived all over the U.S. I've only been listening to Close Reads for about 6 months but hugely enjoy it. I mostly read fantasy, crime, and faith-related books; would love to connect with y'all here so please send me a friend request!

Megan wrote: "I’m just south of Birmingham, Alabama. Joined the Close Reads group in August of 2018. My favorite Close Read since I joined was probably The Power and the Glory, but my favorite book (that I’ve NO..."

I live in Birmingham! I just sent you a friend request

Hi all! I am Sarah and I live in Vermont. I have been faithfully reading along with CR since Peace Like a River, though I started by going back through old shows, like Gilead. I have six kids and homeschool here in the rural Northeast and love it! I read pretty widely in lots of different genres, but I am most attracted to poetry, coming-of-age stories (fiction or non) and non-fiction on whatever topic seems interesting to me at the time.

Hi Sarah~ I have six children also and live in NJ. Reading is definitely a daily activity here.

I’m Jill. I read Close Reads books and Center for Lit Pelican books. I find the book suggestions from Close Readers the best. I mostly listen to audiobooks when quilting and cleaning. I homeschool two high school daughters. I recently got a job at my local public library.

I'm Michelle Mimi, or Mimi, and have been a Close Reads member for the past few years and a Good Reads member for a few more years.

I mentioned this group in the Facebook group but have never actually been in here myself lol. I’ve been with close reads since Wind in the Willows, have really loved it. I live in Nebraska and with my husband have 6 kids, 2 graduates and 4 still homeschooling using Charlotte Mason methods.

Emily wrote: "I mentioned this group in the Facebook group but have never actually been in here myself lol. I’ve been with close reads since Wind in the Willows, have really loved it. I live in Nebraska and with..."

Hi Emily! I too have six and homeschool using CM. Nice to 'meet' you! :)