Catching up on Classics (and lots more!) discussion

Is there a book that you'd like to buddy read?

If you're interested in reading a specific book, outside of the group reads, then here's the place to post and find a buddy!

(This thread is active December 1, 2021. The previous thread has been archived.)

Anyone interested in reading Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner?

I recently purchased the three volumes of Conrad Richter's The Awakening Land: The Trees, The Fields, & The Town for the planned 2022 buddy read. However, I don't remember when it was to be and can't find where it was listed to mark on my 2022 calendar. I thought it might be in The Way West series discussion but I got lost amidst the 8 pages of discussion.

I'd appreciate it if someone who knows when it might be would respond with the planned dates of the Awakening Land buddy read.

Hi Brian,

I'm glad you're ready with your books. I found copies as well and am ready to go. You're right to go searching but it was in the Enemy Women thread where we talked about planned buddy reads. Here is the list we came up with:

1. November - The Color Of Lightning -
2. December - Cold Mountain
3. January - The Siege -
4. Feb - back to the civil war with The Black Flower: A Novel of the Civil War
5. March - Breather for those who haven't read any of the above
6. April - These Is My Words: The Diary of Sarah Agnes Prine, 1881-1901
7. May -Elkhorn Tavern
8. June - Stormy Weather
9. July - The Trees
10. August - The Fields
11. September The Town

Also glad you are ready, Brian. I will not post threads for the books until the read is closer, but I will put reminders and add them to the schedule as we go. I was just about to put The Siege up for January...so, I will go and do that.

I would encourage anyone who wants to join in these reads to know they are welcomed and make plans.

Lori wrote: "I'm glad you're ready with your books. I found copies as well and am ready to go. You're right to go searching but it was in the Enemy Women thread where we talked about planned buddy re..."

Thanks for the info, Lori. I just recently bought my 2022 calendar and want to start marking the books I plan to read for each month.
I think I first thought of The Way West discussion because they both involved a 3 book series on the American frontier west with one Pulitzer winner.
But I wish I had remembered it was the Enemy Women discussion as that would have been such an easier search - only 7 pages of discussion compared to the 8 pages for The Way West :)
Seriously, both the Way West and Enemy Women threads elicited truly remarkable amounts of discussion for buddy reads, showing great interest and enthusiasm for the books, always good to see.

Sara wrote: "I would encourage anyone who wants to join in these reads to know they are welcomed and make plans."

I will join in on The Siege and put the Richter books on the calendar.

Terry wrote: "Anyone interested in reading Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner?"

I do love Stegner but I have too many books started that I want to finish by the end of the year.

Marilyn wrote: "Terry wrote: "Anyone interested in reading Crossing to Safety by Wallace Stegner?"
I do love Stegner but I have too many books started that I want to finish by the end of the year."

Since Stegner is always like a breath of fresh air, perhaps he would be even better than the breather currently scheduled for March.

I have quite a few heavy hitters planned for 2022, but little idea which would prove the most popular for a buddy read (aka folks get dragged along in my wake). So here're my options so far, organized by decreasing page count. Feel free to call out any that you'd be doing a 2022 buddy read for, and I'll see what I can do: https://www.goodreads.com/review/list...

Brian, I have put off reading Crossing to Safety for far too long, so I think I will read it this month.

Lori wrote: "Hi Brian,

I'm glad you're ready with your books. I found copies as well and am ready to go. You're right to go searching but it was in the Enemy Women thread where we talked about planned buddy re..."

I missed the buddy read on Enemy Women, but in this list there are several I want to read. Can't wait to join in on those.

Aubrey, I would enjoy reading another book by Murdoch and I would also like to read the one by Muriel Spark (which I don’t think I have read, although it sounds familiar).

Katy, even though you missed our Buddy Read of Enemy Women, I would encourage you to pick up the book and read it anyway. It’s quite good.

Lori, I think the book missing in August is Richter’s The Fields.

Sara...

It may be a little early to make this request, but Cynda and I would like to read The Hunchback of Notre-Dame by Victor Hugo in February and March. Could you post the Buddy Request at the appropriate time? Thank you!

Terry wrote: "Lori, I think the book missing in August is Richter’s The Fields."

Terry, I think it's there on the list for August. I would love to reread Crossing to Safety but with the year just starting, I want to get some new reads checked off. I think I would enjoy it more now than when I read it a few years ago. I hope you love it!

Absolutely, Shirley. I will start the thread for you in January, but I will go ahead and list it on the schedule.

Thank you, Sara!

There are a few people who have The Bone People on their 2022 lists. I'd like a buddy read if there is interest.

I want to read The Bone People, Carolien, but I couldn't do it before February.

That's fine, Sara, shall we aim for March?

March is perfect. I will pencil it in!

May I join in to read Bone People? I can read in March.

Absolutely, Cynda! Delighted to have you.

Thanks for joining, Cynda! The more the merrier I think.

Thanks my friends! Looking forward.

Carolien wrote: "There are a few people who have The Bone People on their 2022 lists. I'd like a buddy read if there is interest."

I would be interested in Bone People for March.

Carolien wrote: "There are a few people who have The Bone People on their 2022 lists. I'd like a buddy read if there is interest."

I would be interested in Bone People for March.

Hello everyone ! Nidhi and I would like to have a Buddy Read for Life of Charlotte Bronte by Elizabeth Gaskell in January 2022 . Anyone interested in joining is most welcome.

I have added The Bone People and The Life of Charlotte Brontë to the schedule.

Savita and Nadhi--you also have a discussion thread for The Life of Charlotte Brontë HERE

Thank you so much , Sara !

Thanks a lot Sara.

You are both quite welcome.

I’ve got a copy of The Black Flower ( and it’s sequels). Looking forward to reading that one in March. Thanks Lori and Sara.

Antoinette wrote: "I’ve got a copy of The Black Flower ( and it’s sequels). Looking forward to reading that one in March. Thanks Lori and Sara."

Numbers among the best books ever written for me, Antoinette. I'm hoping to squeeze in a re-read. If I can't, I'll be following the discussion anyway.

Hello Mods. May Irphen and I have a buddy reading thread for reading The Sorceress: A Study in Middle Age Superstition by Jules Michelet. We will be reading from January 15 to February 15.

I am reading it to better understand history of thought and to possibly understand aspects of the witch craze of Western world.

We hope others will join in.

You are all set, Cynda. Happy reading!

Discussion for The Sorceress

Antoinette wrote: "I’ve got a copy of The Black Flower ( and it’s sequels). Looking forward to reading that one in March. Thanks Lori and Sara."

I just picked my copy up at the library yesterday. I'll be reading it slowly while finishing The Siege for our January Buddy Read. That one is so good, too!

Antoinette wrote: "I’ve got a copy of The Black Flower ( and it’s sequels). Looking forward to reading that one in March. Thanks Lori and Sara."

I believe we are reading The Black Flower: A Novel of the Civil War in March, Antoinette. I have been absent to GR threads lately so maybe I missed something but Lori has the list in message 4.

Shirley (stampartiste) wrote: "Antoinette wrote: "I’ve got a copy of The Black Flower ( and it’s sequels). Looking forward to reading that one in March. Thanks Lori and Sara."

I just picked my copy up at the library yesterday. ..."

I'm sorry to have to miss The Siege but my library doesn't have it and I've purchased a sick amount of books lately so I don't want to buy it. I did buy The Black Flower: A Novel of the Civil War used "Very Good' and it came with pages separated from the binding! I'm still going to try to read that with the group in February though.

We will miss you at The Siege read, Sue. I HATE when that happens regarding the book. I bought one once that was "like new" and someone had spilled something on it that smelled like a skunk had doused it. No way it could be read. I never bought anything else from that vendor again.

Sara wrote: "We will miss you at The Siege read, Sue. I HATE when that happens regarding the book. I bought one once that was "like new" and someone had spilled something on it that smelled like a skunk had dou..."

I complained to this one and they refunded my money and told me to keep it still. I may try and see if I can get book binding glue and fix it.

After reading The Call of the Wild and encountering some very interesting questions regarding London's philosophy on nature and instinct, Greg and I are planning to explore the theme a little farther with a read of Jack London's The Sea Wolf for April. If anyone would like to join us, please do.

Sara wrote: "After reading The Call of the Wild and encountering some very interesting questions regarding London's philosophy on nature and instinct, Greg and I are planning to explore the theme a little farth..."

Thanks Sara! :)

I read Call of the Wild just two years ago now, so still fairly fresh in my mind. Those questions fascinated me as well, and I would love to join you. I'm glad you chose April because it's already a busy first quarter of the year!

I was surprised how quickly I over-booked Jan-Mar, Kathleen. Happy to have you join!

Sara, that is exactly how I am feeling about January!

Middlemarch anyone?

Noor wrote: "Middlemarch anyone?"

Yes, I'm interested in Middlemarch.