2025 & 2026 Reading Challenge discussion

Our January book is The Book of Strange New Things by Michel Faber.

It begins with Peter, a devoted man of faith, as he is called to the mission of a lifetime, one that takes him galaxies away from his wife, Bea. Peter becomes immersed in the mysteries of an astonishing new environment, overseen by an enigmatic corporation known only as USIC. His work introduces him to a seemingly friendly native population struggling with a dangerous illness and hungry for Peter’s teachings—his Bible is their “book of strange new things.” But Peter is rattled when Bea’s letters from home become increasingly desperate: typhoons and earthquakes are devastating whole countries, and governments are crumbling. Bea’s faith, once the guiding light of their lives, begins to falter.

Suddenly, a separation measured by an otherworldly distance, and defined both by one newly discovered world and another in a state of collapse, is threatened by an ever-widening gulf that is much less quantifiable. While Peter is reconciling the needs of his congregation with the desires of his strange employer, Bea is struggling for survival. Their trials lay bare a profound meditation on faith, love tested beyond endurance, and our responsibility to those closest to us.

Marked by the same bravura storytelling and precise language that made The Crimson Petal and the White such an international success, The Book of Strange New Things is extraordinary, mesmerizing, and replete with emotional complexity and genuine pathos.

Karina nominated this book and will be its discussion leader.

Discussion links:
Part I: Thy Will Be Done
Part II: On Earth
Part III: As It Is
Part IV: In Heaven

Reviews!

I'm looking forward to this one and am 100% in! It looks like a good way for us to kick of 2015 group reads.

I'm looking forward to this one, too! Theology in science fiction is one of my (many) genre favourites.

I loved The Crimson Petal and the Whiteso looking forward to this.

I'm definitely in!

I've been on the waiting list for this at the library for ages! if I get the book before the end of jan I will definitely join the discussion

I reserved my copy at the library this morning! Can't wait to start! :-)

I am in. Just bought a Kindle copy. The library here does not have a copy.

I'm in looks intriguing!

I have ordered a copy from my local library, there is lots of reservation before me I hope I don't have to wait too long.

I'm in!...if I don't have to wait too long for a copy from my library. :( I'm 6th in line, but as long as I get it before the end of January, I'll be good to go!

I plan to participate and am on the library wait list, which luckily isn't too long for me.

From this text about the author and the book:

[...] an amusing, honest summation of his feelings about his female characters, provoking a round of spontaneous applause in the process. Why, Faber asks aloud, do women have to be thought of as “something exotic like a giraffe”; why does the male perspective be the “default setting” for a narrative? The great secret of writing women according to Michel Faber is to start with the assumption that women are just people.

It'll be interesting to see if he's true to his word when it comes to writing female characters as just people, or if he inadvertedly wanders off into the exotic giraffe zoo...!

Karina wrote: "From this text about the author and the book:

[...] an amusing, honest summation of his feelings about his female characters, provoking a round of spontaneous applause in the process. Why, Faber a..."

Thanks for posting that because now I'll pay attention to it as well:)

I forgot to put this on hold at the library until now. There are quite a few holds, so I'm not sure if I'll get it in time. I hope to be able to participate!

Oh - the io9 review of the book provided a little warning: Apparently there is a scene of iffy animal cruelty in the book. (I was glad to be warned, so I thought it'd be worth sharing.)

The review says a lot of good things about the book's themes, too. And SPOILERS, beware!

My copy just arrived from Amazon. My first GoodReads group read. I'm excited!

Looking forward to it.

Anyone with a copy, could you please let me know how the book is broken up? I've gathered that it's done in sections but can't for the life of me figure out how many parts there are or what their names are (except that the first is titled "Thy Will Be Done"). My google fu is failing me!

Kara: Four sections. (I: Thy Will Be Done, II: On Earth, III: As It Is, IV: In Heaven)

Karina wrote: "Kara: Four sections. (I: Thy Will Be Done, II: On Earth, III: As It Is, IV: In Heaven)"

Perfect--thank you!

I've just picked this up from the library, so I'm in :0)

Just downloaded to my Nook, starting today!

Started right after midnight! I'm about 100 pages in. Had to force myself to go to bed and now forcing myself to go grocery shopping. I know what I'll be doing the rest of the day!

I will hop into this one once I finish the 3 books I have open right now. It's one that I know has been highly recommended but I know I would not pick it up on my own. I have been pleasantly surprised before!

I'm going to start this one right now. :)

Going tomorrow to get it off the hold shelf at the library! Sounds like it's going to be a good one!

just finished chapter 1 wasn't sure I would like it. find it very easy to read

I'm done with Part 1. I was going to try to hold off on moving forward until some more folks caught up but I'm going to push on because I feel like I'm close to the good stuff!

I'm about 100 pages in. There are some beautiful sentences in there!

I just bought it for my kindle, since my library doesn't have it, and neither does their online lending library. Since it's on my listopia challenge list, I figured I might as well read it now! Hopefully I'll be able to start it later today.

I think I'll have to buy the Kindle version of this book... My library won't be able to get it to me in time and with all of the rave reviews so far, I don't want to miss out!

I'm going to buy it for my kindle and get going. Happy reading everyone!!

Just finished. Really loved this book.

Erica wrote: "Just finished. Really loved this book."

That's encouraging for those of us who haven't gotten the book yet. Thanks, Erica!

Megan wrote: "That's encouraging for those of us who haven't gotten the book yet. Thanks, Erica!"

I hope you love it as much as I did! I'm going to reread the last 2 parts while I wait for some of the discussion boards to take off...

I'm definitely in!!! I picked up the book a few days ago and I'm just finishing up a few books I started in December. After that I'll be starting this book.

I can't wait to start. I just need to finish a couple of books due back at library first. Hopefully I will start reading this next weekend... From the comments so far, it sounds really good :0)

Just finished my last book so I'm joining in!

I bought my Kindle version and will be starting tonight. I can't wait to get started since everyone seems to be loving it.

Im halfway finished. Good story so far. Thanks for picking this.

Finished. I enjoyed the book. Sci Fi without being trapped in that genre. Good story but left me with some questions.

I am enjoying it so far. I find Peter's constant self reflection to make him less believable as a spiritual leader. But perhaps that is the character the author was trying to achieve - a humble person who just wants to spread good and is not even sure of his own ability to achieve that.

I'm not finished with the book yet, and not quite sure how I feel about it. I have so many questions and I guess my final opinion of it will depend on how it ends...

I just started reading this book last night, so I am looking forward to the discussion and what people thought.

I think this is one of our most active Group Read discussions ever! Glad to see so much participation!

well, I just finished. I feel like so much more could have been done with this story, I still have a boatload of questions and theories... oh well...

Just started last night it will be interesting to read the discussions after I finish each section