Lit Collective: An Online Reading Retreat discussion

Please share any recommendations you have for our themed reading retreat in March. I will accept nominations in this thread for one week and then we will put it to a vote.

If you're stumped for ideas, here are some resources:

http://homeworktips.about.com/od/writ...

http://www.flashlightworthybooks.com/

Also, Google searches always work. :)

Thanks!

Nominations so far:

animals/nature
lost love
individual vs. society
What language do you speak?
invisible people
Venice
First Person

I'd like to nominate animals/nature as a theme for the next retreat.

I've been super busy recently and I knew I wouldn't be able to participate in the August retreat, but I'm looking forward to the next one! I think I'll nominate "individual vs. society"

Because I haven't been a part of the group for long I'm going to go with the group choice this time around. I had a busy summer too but I did manage to listen to People of the Book.

I nominate the theme "What language do you speak".
Books tied to this theme would be The Language of Flowers, The Language of Blood, The Language of Threads, The Lost Language of Cranes,The Language of Sisters, The Language of Baklava.

Theme: Invisible People

Books tied to this theme
Behind the Beautiful Forevers
The Orphan Masters Son
Americanah
Orphan Train
Trafficked

Thanks for all the noms so far! I'll make a list in the top post so we can keep track. :)

My nomination...Venice...books set in or about Venice. I already have some great book ideas:

Fiction:
The Stone Virgin by Barry Unsworth
In the Company of the Courtesan by Sarah Dunant
The Venetian Mask by Rosalind Laker
The Floating Book by Michelle Lovric

Non-Fiction:
The City Of Falling Angels by John Berendt
Venice: Pure City by Peter Ackroyd
Lucia: A Venetian Life in the Age of Napoleon by Andrea Di Robilant

I'm good with whatever the group consensus is! Also, I'll be playing things by ear for the March retreat because our baby is due that month (and we have a toddler) so I'm not sure whether or not I'll be participating.

I nominate individual v. society or invisible people!

Becca wrote: "I nominate individual v. society or invisible people!"

Becca, I'll be putting up a poll for us to vote soon. Be sure to cast your vote. :)

P.S. Urban Wife is hosting the Twitter chat for People of the Book tomorrow night at 8:30pm CST.

Michelle/ wrote: "Becca wrote: "I nominate individual v. society or invisible people!"

Becca, I'll be putting up a poll for us to vote soon. Be sure to cast your vote. :)

P.S. Urban Wife is hosting the Twitter cha..."

**Correction: tonight we'll discuss Caleb's Crossing and Friday night, People of the Book :)

I was thinking of nominating "First Person" as a theme. This could include first-person historical fiction, such as C. W. Gortner writes--I am currently reading The Queen's Vow: A Novel of Isabella of Castile, for example--and nonfiction autobiography (historical or modern). I'm reading The Fairy Tale of My Life: An Autobiography by Hans Christian Andersen, but there are many, many to choose from. We could keep it historical (just first-person historical fiction and autobiographies), or include other first-person fiction, which widens the field of possibilities still further.

Urban Wife wrote: "I'm good with whatever the group consensus is! Also, I'll be playing things by ear for the March retreat because our baby is due that month (and we have a toddler) so I'm not sure whether or not I'..."

I totally understand! I have two boys and they're 14 months apart so when I had Reece, Gabe was only 14 months...and he wasn't walking yet (didn't walk until he was almost 18 months) and I had a c-section. Rough! Those days are behind me now and I'm into new waters. Gabe will be 13 in November!

Lucy wrote: "I was thinking of nominating "First Person" as a theme. This could include first-person historical fiction, such as C. W. Gortner writes--I am currently reading [book:The Queen's Vow: A Novel of Is..."

Great nomination, Lucy! I'll add it to the list. I loved The Queen's Vow. Gortner is one of my fave historical fiction authors. Have you read The Last Queen, about Juana the Mad, Isabella's daughter? It was also excellent. :)

Michelle/ wrote: "Lucy wrote: "I was thinking of nominating "First Person" as a theme. This could include first-person historical fiction, such as C. W. Gortner writes--I am currently reading [book:The Queen's Vow: ..."

Not yet, but I have it waiting! :) thanks for your recommendation.

Michelle/ wrote: "Urban Wife wrote: "I'm good with whatever the group consensus is! Also, I'll be playing things by ear for the March retreat because our baby is due that month (and we have a toddler) so I'm not sur..."

Wow, that's a close age difference and rough circumstances for sure! Reading is my "getaway" time though so who knows, I might decide to go ahead and participate after all. :)

Laura (booksnob) wrote: "I nominate the theme "What language do you speak".
Books tied to this theme would be The Language of Flowers, The Language of Blood, The Language of Threads, The Lost Language of Cranes,The Languag..."

I love the creativity of this theme, Laura! And likewise, the invisible people theme.

Michelle/ wrote: "My nomination...Venice...books set in or about Venice. I already have some great book ideas:

Fiction:
The Stone Virgin by Barry Unsworth
In the Company of the Courtesan by Sarah Dunant
The Venetia..."

I have Ackroyd's Venice and have been wanting to read Unsworth. With the books you've listed, a trip to Venice really appeals to me! ^_^

Lucy wrote: "Michelle/ wrote: "My nomination...Venice...books set in or about Venice. I already have some great book ideas:

Fiction:
The Stone Virgin by Barry Unsworth
In the Company of the Courtesan by Sarah ..."

I know, right!?

Lucy wrote: "Laura (booksnob) wrote: "I nominate the theme "What language do you speak".
Books tied to this theme would be The Language of Flowers, The Language of Blood, The Language of Threads, The Lost Langu..."

Thanks Lucy.