Around the World discussion

Judy wrote: "... When is a good time for everyone to read this?"

I haven't signed up for any other group reads so anytime works for me.

No preference, as long as it doesn't overlap with any of the other group reads. Ha. I can see that this is going to become a problem. Judy and Sue, since both of you have the group reads on your computers, can you please chose a week, or do I mean a month ,for this read?

I read this book a while back and really loved it. I'd love to participate in the discussion if you guys don't mind having me join you. Since I've already read it, I don't have a preference on the timing for the discussion. Just let me know whenever you all decide.

I will join if I can. :0)

This is something i have wanted to read all year and haven't managed yet, so please count me in! it doesn't matter when you schedule it for, i'll figure out how to find time. lol.

I would like to join. This has been on my to-read list for a while.

I defintely want to join - I've just got the book from amazon and I've been weighing it in my hands just for the feel of it...Family Matters has been one of the best books I've read in a long while and so I'm excited to get on to this one....As for schedule, I'm rather open (any time is good or bad - I'm always planning to read something or another, but I'll find time for this one....)

Julia wrote: "I defintely want to join - I've just got the book from amazon and I've been weighing it in my hands just for the feel of it...Family Matters has been one of the best books I've read in..."

Julia, you've been holding it while I've been looking at it, noticing that the book is just over 600 pages. I'm hoping that whoever takes charge of the calendar will consider this when planning other reads before and after this one.

Anne wrote: "Julia wrote: "I defintely want to join - I've just got the book from amazon and I've been weighing it in my hands just for the feel of it...Family Matters has been one of the best book..."

Yes, it's definitely a tome of a book - I used to love exactly that kind of format when I was younger, but now I'm sometimes reluctant to commit myself to a reading of that type. Still, I'm not with this one...Still, time management will be vital, of course - it's not a read of a couple of days, at least not for me....

Julia, it's not a two or three day read for me either.

I vote for starting asap because I need a good excuse to order some more books. ;)

Unless a book is slim (250 or so pages), maybe we can give it a full month and allow readers to enjoy at their own pace. My reading varies--there are times that I'll read 100 pages a day and others when I barely get through 25. It all depends on the book.

Mikki wrote: "Unless a book is slim (250 or so pages), maybe we can give it a full month and allow readers to enjoy at their own pace. My reading varies--there are times that I'll read 100 pages a day and othe..."

So true Mikki! I can glide effortlessly through some books and others feel like heavy going and take way longer than they seem like they should. For what it is worth, I read this book for my real life book club when I read it a few years ago. The story moves along fairly quickly so even though it is a big book, it did not feel like overly heavy going. That being said, I would think you would want to plan on allowing at least a couple of weeks to get through it -- even for all you voracious readers in this thread :-)

Thanks, Wendy. That's good to know.

Sounds good. Hard to know, really. But I guess we have to put something down. Anyway, the Calender shows start dates at this point. It's not so crowded yet that we need to put finish dates, right?

Judy wrote: "Wendy wrote: "Mikki wrote: "Unless a book is slim (250 or so pages), maybe we can give it a full month and allow readers to enjoy at their own pace. My reading varies--there are times that I'll r..."

Three weeks sounds good - whenever people want to start, I'll jump right in ....

I think June is free.

Yes, perfect!

Yep.

Sounds good to me. This will prove interesting because never before have I planned so far in advance the date for reading a book! Maybe a month... :D

Ha! Okay, you've got me. I'm secretly living for this...true. I adore organization but what do you expect my father was a Colonel in the army!!!

Oh boy! Lots of military here! But my dad was a lowly captain in JAGS. No ambition I guess lol.

Boy I missed this discussion entirely but I see you all came up with June which is exactly what I was going to suggest since it looks like there are group reads for Jan thru May already. Since not all of those are as large as a Fine Balance, that will give some of us time to get a head start.

Yeah, june sounded horrible far away to me as well, and I can't promise to wait that long as I have the book just there waiting for me...well, we'll see and if I've read the book before, I can still join the discussion...I usually buy books for group reads, because of a recommendation, because I just stumble acroos it, whatever, and then usually it firstly ends up on my real-life Ikea to-be-read-shelf...And then it sits there, sometimes for a really long time, being surpassed by others, even by some which came in later, but then - SUDDENLY - there's the monent to read this very special book....and then, it can't really wait, it wants to be cherished and read.....It's strange - does it happen to others as well?

Julia wrote: "Yeah, june sounded horrible far away to me as well, and I can't promise to wait that long as I have the book just there waiting for me...well, we'll see and if I've read the book before, I can stil..."

Julia, please read the book when it jumps off the shelf and into your lap. I don't share your experience because I become overwhelmed with many books that want to be cherished all at the same time. Since joining GR , and this group in particular, it's never just one. I have to neglect so many when I chose just one to read.

I have a feeling that I may start it early since it's over 600 pages, but then I have other books on my list equally long. I rarely read one book at a time unless it's a quick read mystery. So I'll be sort of randomly reading (and then of course I'll also be reading for other groups).

Gaeta, just don't let Sea of Poppies be your first encounter with Amitav Gosh. Except if you read that first, you will probably think it is great, because you are not aware of how much better this guy can write. I will say it again: The Shadow Lines was excellent. Jeeze, would I still think that today?!

Chrissie wrote: "Gaeta, just don't let Sea of Poppies be your first encounter with Amitav Gosh. Except if you read that first, you will probably think it is great, because you are not aware of how much better this ..."

I really enjoyed The Glass Palace by Ghosh as well. Haven't read Poppies yet, but hope to at some point.

Wendy and Gaeta, I liked that too! The Hungry Tide is also good.

Acquired the book on an opportunity. Seems I shall be joining you in reading it.

Genia wrote: "Acquired the book on an opportunity. Seems I shall be joining you in reading it."

Great.

The more the merrier.

Sue wrote: "The more the merrier."

I agree!

Just want to add that A Fine Balance is my all-time favourite. I may read it for a third time next year.

This is getting to look like some fun! Good Morning, Judy! ;D))

My gosh...cinnamon rolls? I'm such a slacker. Coffee for me and then I'll figure it out from there.

Uh Huh...I do love a secret.

Uh oh, I am feeling a list change impulse coming on. Maybe I will just read it "on the side...." with you guys....

Ok, just got my copy. I'll read Rushdie another time on my own!

Beth wrote: "Ok, just got my copy. I'll read Rushdie another time on my own!"
Which Rushdie were you planning to read?

Wendy wrote: "Beth wrote: "Ok, just got my copy. I'll read Rushdie another time on my own!"
Which Rushdie were you planning to read?"

I was going to do
Midnight's Children or The Satanic Verses, both of which I have already. I'll get to them eventually, since I really like Rushdie, but this will be fun, since I haven't read anything by Mistry yet.

Beth wrote: "Wendy wrote: "Beth wrote: "Ok, just got my copy. I'll read Rushdie another time on my own!"
Which Rushdie were you planning to read?"

I was going to do
Midnight's Children or T..."</i>

I've read Midnight's Chidlren, but am planning to read [book:The Enchantress of Florence. I actually enjoyed Fine Balance more than Midnight's Children. There is a fair amount of magical realism in Midnight's Children and I'm not a huge fan of that. Mistry sticks w/ reality :-)

Wendy wrote: "I've read Midnight's Chidlren, but am planning to read The Enchantress of Florence. I actually enjoyed Fine Balance more than Midnight's Children. There is a fair amount of magical realism in Midnight's Children and I'm not a huge fan of that. Mistry sticks w/ reality :-) ."
And that is exactly why I loved Midnight's Children! I do love a good dose of magical realism, and I'm looking forward to getting even more of it in some of the Latin American reads in this challenge.

Add that to another book I saw at the used bookstore but didn't get. It is pretty long to read in a week!

Judy, please remove me from the list. I have in fact four others on my list for India that I want toread more. The chances I change my mind and read this are pretty slim.

Well, I thought I should tell you, Judy!

Jenny wrote: "Add that to another book I saw at the used bookstore but didn't get. It is pretty long to read in a week!"

I have several books on my list that I don't expect to read in a week. I plan to pair them with other books that are quicker reads and move along that way.

Personally, I'm not sticking to a one book/one week schedule. Too easy for me to get (or feel) bogged down.

I would love to" jump on the band wagon" as well. I have wanted to read this book for years, but somehow other books always push their way up to the front of the pile. Would love to join the discussion in June if that is ok.

Sue wrote: "Jenny wrote: "Add that to another book I saw at the used bookstore but didn't get. It is pretty long to read in a week!"

I have several books on my list that I don't expect to read in a week. I pl..."

i agree 100% SUE!

Sue wrote: "Personally, I'm not sticking to a one book/one week schedule. Too easy for me to get (or feel) bogged down. .."

Hmm, that's a good thought, Sue. I know I will have weeks where I might read more than one... I was thinking of sticking to one country during those and reading multiple books from it, but maybe I should reconsider.