The 52 Book Club: 2025 / 2026 Challenge discussion

The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb
January 1, 2024 to January 31, 2024


How does this buddy read work?

A readalong means that we read the same book together at the same time. There is a variety of ways to do this. For January, we will be pairing up in small groups for buddy reads.

Here’s what it will look like:

1) Sign up for the readalong at the bottom of our webpage (https://www.the52book.club/readalong-...). The deadline to sign up is December 31, 2023, so we recommend signing up as soon as you decide to participate.

2) When you sign up, you will be given the option of whether you’d like to discuss this book via Facebook or Instagram chat. Please pick one. You will be paired with buddies with a similar preference.

3) During the first week of January, you will receive an e-mail with the names of your reading buddies. You will be partnered with six or seven other 52 Book Club members. Once you’ve received your buddies, it’s up to you all to reach out to each other and set up a group chat on your preferred social site.

4) With your buddies, decide on a reading and discussion schedule. We’ll send a suggested reading schedule, as well as a guide with discussion questions to get you started, but it is up to you and your buddies to pick what works best for your group! This discussion will be self-led. To get the most out of this buddy read, we encourage you to actively discuss the book and get to know your buddies!

5) Those who miss the December 31 deadline will not be paired in small groups, but can still participate by chatting on our 2024 readalong Discord server. Those in buddy groups are also welcome to chat on Discord (as an optional add-on, if you wish) but we encourage you to prioritize discussion with your reading buddies first.

6) Over the course of January, read, discuss, and have fun with your new bookish buddies!

The Violin Conspiracy will fit the following 2024 prompts:
#4. Lowercase letters on the spine
#9. A character-driven novel
#14. A grieving character
#19. A buddy read
#24. A cover without people on it (you can see that version of the cover on our YouTube video)
#28. A yellow spine
#41. A sticker on the cover (GMA book club version)
#44. Includes a wedding
#50. A musical instrument on the cover

Suggested Reading Schedule:

Each buddy group will decide on a reading schedule that works for their group as a whole. We’ve included a suggested reading schedule below but you’re welcome to adjust the dates as best fits your group. (Take into consideration variations in reading speeds etc.) The Violin Conspiracy is naturally broken into seven parts.

You may decide to read one part every day for a set week and discuss daily as you read, or group the parts together. (For example: “Read and discuss part 1 on January 21, part 2 on the 22, part 3 on the 23, etc.” Or, you may choose something more flexible like, “Let’s read parts 1 and 2 by Thursday and discuss then!”) Feel free to use this reading schedule to help start — but ultimately, this readalong is self-led and you and your reading buddies can be as flexible and creative as you like with it!

January 19 — Part 1: Chapters 1-5
January 20 — Part 2: Chapters 6-9
January 21 — Part 3: Chapters 10-13
January 22 — Part 4: Chapters 14-19
January 23 — Part 5: Chapters 20-26
January 24 — Part 6: Chapters 27-31
January 25 — Part 7: Chapters 32- Epilogue
January 26 — Final Thoughts + Author’s Note


Sign-up:
The deadline for signing up for this January buddy read is December 31, 2023, at 5 pm PT. Those who sign up for the readalong after this deadline will not be paired in a buddy group. However, you can still see discussion questions and share your thoughts on the above sections by joining the Discord group and chatting here.

The Violin Conspiracy was originally published in February 2022 and should be available at your local library, bookstore, Audible, or anywhere you usually source your reads. Since this popular book was published almost two years ago, we know that some of the bookworms at The 52 Book Club have already read it. You’re welcome to join us for a re-read or stay tuned for our next, new-release readalong happening in April 2024.

Please keep in mind that The 52 Book Club is a global group of readers who have a variety of experiences, reading preferences, and reading styles. We may disagree with someone’s critique or thoughts on a book, but we can always do so in a respectful way — and hopefully, make some new book friends from around the world at the same time!

Website:
https://www.the52book.club/readalong-...

I have never done a challenge or buddy read. This is all new to me. I can't wait to jump right in! I saw the 2024 Challenge video on You Tube and became interested.

My copy has arrived, can't wait to get reading!

Haven’t done one before and new to the 52club too. Looking forward to some fun!

I’m excited for this!! I have never done a buddy reading and this book looks fantastic. Can’t wait to start it with you all!!

Wahoo can't wait! This is already on my TBR,

Hello, excited to start. I've been looking in the discord for the information.

I just signed up, but I can't make myself ever return to Facebook or Instagram. I have it checked out and plan to read it, but I guess I won't be in a group?

DaNae wrote: "I just signed up, but I can't make myself ever return to Facebook or Instagram. I have it checked out and plan to read it, but I guess I won't be in a group?"

We'd love to offer other options to put groups together, but this is the only way we can think of without sharing your personal information (phone number/email address) with the other group members. We do have a Discord server where you can reach out to people if that helps?

My copy won't arrive in a while, since it's still not published here. It's ordered online, but from somewhere far away :D Hope to discuss it without jobbing a group

Got my copy!!! Can’t wait to do my first read along!!!

Starting it today!

Unofficially joining in because I only found out about this today. Is there a schedule?

Hi there! I signed up in time for the read alone. How do I get connected with my group through FB? Do you send it through messenger or do you post something on our page?

Thanks. Joyce

Lindsey wrote: "

We'd love to offer othe..."
That is very kind, Lindsay. I'm okay. I will watch for any discussion on this thread and perhaps throw in some thoughts after I read the book.

Hello, I will follow up the buddy read on discord.

I was never able to connect with my group. I got a notice that she sent a DM to people, but the email she used for me was my GR email, which is not attached to Facebook in any way. I sent an email asking her to resend it to my actual email, which I gave to her, but have heard nothing back. I know it is confusing having different emails, so I apologize. I'm also not sure that I am not missing something that would have allowed me to connect with the group.

This book is so good and it will stick with my thoughts for a long time! I am not musically-literate but it didn't matter. The story is so real and wonderfully written. (I read it without a buddy on Kindle during a power outage, nothing else to do for 2 days...) I'll be returning my copy early in the Libby app so hopefully someone from my library can get it a bit sooner. :)

I just finished the book. It’s so well written, full of humility, and love for dedicating yourself to a passion that bringing joy to all. I loved reading about the author and watching his violin performances. Knowing that many moments in the book are actual events of his life made this book even better for me.

Unofficially joining because I got the challenge journal for christmas and I didn't know that this was a thing until I delved in further. I am loving this book so far! So beautifully written and not something that I would have chosen (probably) based soley on the cover.

I finished it today. No buddy read b/c no social media account. I just wanna say no to racism.

Well, I snuck in the last minute, read the book, and LOVED IT! I didn't sign up for the challenge because I am new this year and had not read the how-tos of the read-along. The story and author's notes were eye-opening and fascinating, making me want to listen to classical violin music. This was a fantastic book for the challenge.