Book Loving Kiwis discussion

For this month I thought we'd look at doing something different, so I'm introducing three activities for this month with hopes there will be something for everyone and we'll see new faces from our group joining in.

1. Member's Choice One member's name will be drawn from the hat and select 3 books for the group to vote on.
One of those 3 is guaranteed to be one of the reads for the month.
These people will be chosen from those who have more than 10 comments and participated in the group's discussions in the past 2-3 years. If you are chosen you will have 2 days to get your nominations posted here, otherwise another member will be chosen.
Don't worry new people, as your comments increase and you participate your name will also be added to the hat!
So kicking off
Members Choice for October is DARKPOOL
We'll vote on Darkpool's books through a poll, so she will list the 3 books here that she wants us to vote on, then I will create the poll.

2. Off Your Shelf
Here we will work to get those ever growing TBR shelves to decrease - a little anyway! I will post a category for you to chose from your shelf which you will read and discuss with the group. I have a feeling we will grow our shelves, but oh well....
October is HALLOWEEN/TRICK OR TREAT!
For October read any book from your TBR shelf that is about ghosts, ghouls, food, treats OR has any of those on the cover

3. Author Read
I've drawn two authors from the hat. Read any book/s written by one or both of these authors and report in the October thread.
October's Author Read is Bernard Cornwell and Alexander McCall Smith

I will create a thread on 1st October for October's Activities which is where you will do your reporting and discussions.

You can do as few or as many of the options you wish, so go and get ready! Choose your books you can, and I'll let you know when I create the poll for Darkpool's choices.

Woohoo!! Sounds like THREE great ideas rolled up into one month's group read! Just a point of clarification: is there any restriction on what books I can nominate? I'm feeling just a tad intimidated...

Darkpool (protesting GR censorship) wrote: "Woohoo!! Sounds like THREE great ideas rolled up into one month's group read! Just a point of clarification: is there any restriction on what books I can nominate? I'm feeling just a tad intimidate..."

No restriction Darkpool. Entirely your choice.
Glad you are liking the idea.☺

Hah! you chose 2 authors whose books I've got on my shelves. Great!

OK, my three books are:
A Bit Mental: One Man's Mission to Lilo the Waikato by Jimi Hunt. I saw Jimi speak at TedX Auckland last year, and he was really inspirational.
Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks.
Shades of Grey: The Road to High Saffron by Jasper fforde.

I did a little checking on worldcat, and it seems all these books are fairly widely available at libraries throughout the country.

I will try the library, thank you, darkpool.

I do blink at 'Year of Wonders' as it seems a carbon copy of the brilliant novel by Jill Patton Walsh called 'A Parcel of Patterns' which was about how the plague arrived in Eyam in the parcel of cloth patterns fror the tailor (based on the true events) and how one lass helped the village and saved herself.

Funnily enough was looking at Year of Wonders on GR yesterday - & according to Worldcat that is available form my local library.
Darkpool that Worldcat is a totally awesome resource. That is going to save me many fruitless trips to the library!

***Carol*** wrote: "Funnily enough was looking at Year of Wonders on GR yesterday - & according to Worldcat that is available form my local library.
Darkpool that Worldcat is a totally awesome resource. That is going..."

Just one word of warning with WorldCat. With regard to library's holdings t is only as reliable as the library purporting to hold the item. If they cease to have the item in their collection and don't remove their holding from webcat, then it's to no avail. I always check the library's catalogue, even for work, before legging off expecting to get what I thought they had.

Otherwise it is a great tool and we use it all the time.

For any who didn't get the message the poll is up voting for Darkpool's Choices.

Looking to see some new faces taking part in October's activities, and we will be looking for feedback too - what activity you like best .... But later for that, we just need to get choosing ready to read for now.

Ella's Gran wrote: "***Carol*** wrote: "Funnily enough was looking at Year of Wonders on GR yesterday - & according to Worldcat that is available form my local library.
Darkpool that Worldcat is a totally awesome res..."

I'll bear that in mind, E G. A couple in my "to read" list are showing as available from my local library - when I thought they definitely weren't. & I know they have had a recent clean up & clean out of titles.

Ideally I like to keep my "to read" list under 30 as that doesn't include the books waiting for me at home or the titles on my (now dead) Kobo.

But I get tempted all the time!

Darkpool (protesting GR censorship) wrote: "OK, my three books are:
A Bit Mental: One Man's Mission to Lilo the Waikato by Jimi Hunt. I saw Jimi speak at TedX Auckland last year, and he was really inspirational


That book "A Bit Mental" looks really interesting. I've placed my vote :)

Yes, 'A Bit mental' sounds like my son's sort of book. Maybe I'll buy him it for his Christmas book. Have to read it and see.

Great "activities" ! Hopefully there will be something for everyone :)
I have a book on my long suffering TBR shelf which fits with 2 so hopefully I will get a chance to read it.

I have read Year of Wonders and it is excellent. I listened to the audio which is great. Its very sad in parts, tissues at the ready. People of the Book by the same author is also excellent, she is one of my most fav authors.

Brooks doesn't know Eyam or Derbyshire - based on the snippet available to read.

I have a book for the Off Your Shelf challenge. I should be able to get an Alexander McCall Smith through my library. & I better go to the Pool & vote!

Great choices Darkpool. Well I've already read the excellent Year of Wonders, so lets see if I can get hold of a copy of one of the other two. Yes!! I have just placed an inter loan for A Bit Mental, looking forward to that having spent many a weekend as a child fishing (reluctantly, I might add !!) or picnicking along the banks of the mighty Waikato.

Jill Patton Walsh is the writer asked to carry on the Dorothy Sayers Peter Whimsey novels. She's good. And yes, she know Derbyshire and Eyam. Her on the Plague year inpressed me by its honesty. The writing and the voice rang true.

The results of the poll for Member's Choice for October is


Just letting you know so you can scout a copy if you want to join in with the group. I will post the discussion thread shortly.

I was originally going to run this reading activity for my month, November, with Sweetp doing a re-run for her month of December. Since it was apparent something needed to be 'got going' for October I thought I'd introduce this format now, and give you another month of trying it out in November, looking at the participation and getting your feedback on whether you'd like to do it this way again.

Since it appears I won't be doing November, I would like your feedback on this format. What I am trying to do is provide another option just reading your books - adding variety to group selection and, importantly, getting some discussion going.

So, if you feel inclined, give some feedback - either during the month or at the end.

I have created the thread for October's Activities where you can add your reading choices for the categories and discuss the winning Member's Choice book if you read, or have read, it.

Enjoy.

Enjoy? Right!

I misread the requirements for the first part of the challenge, but I have another book (The Kitchen God's Wife) that will be suitable. I have a pile of books at home awaiting my attention at home & haven't bothered entering them on GR. I like to keep my "to read" list small so that I can remember the titles when I'm in the library, second hand bookshops, etc.

I'm going away for a few days next week & wil take "The Kitchen God's Wife with me. :)

My copy of A bit Mental has arrived!! Extra incentive to get to work on Monday now and issue it to myself.

Year of Wonders, hands down

Second one - The Canterville Ghost is my all-time favourite and due for a re-read by many years

Third - will have to approach Alexander McCall Smith as Bernard Cornwell is dire. Can't plot, useless female characters, historically inaccurate and generally awful.