The Readers discussion

hello everyone. i just wanted to start a simple thread to allow everyone a chance to introduce themselves.

i first listened to The Readers based on a recommendation from ann and michael from books on the nightstand. i love the easy banter back and forth on the show.

there are lots of interesting topics discussed.

i teach English in a public high school in houston. i have two girls - six years old and five months. so i get in as much reading time as possible whenever possible.

i look forward to great discussions here.

Hi, Elizabeth :) and hi to everyone else!

I discovered the readers after seeing Simon talk about it on Twitter, I listened to a couple of episodes and really enjoyed it and so I was really pleased when I heard Ann and Michael talk about it on the Books on the Nightstand podcast as I've been an avid listener of theirs for some time.

I actually live in Manchester, England (where Simon lives) and so it's really great to have found a podcast that's not only from the UK but is local to me!

Quick bio - I'm 26, I work in Customer Services and I'm single, no children. I own far too many books that I haven't yet read (you don't believe me? Check out my GR bookshelves) and I have no intention of banning myself from buying more as I figure I'll read them all eventually. I love receiving new recommendations and I too am looking forward to discussions here :)

Another new listener here. I'm an avid reader/attorney/ music buff/actor/husband/dad from Ohio.

Hi, Everyone! I also heard about the Readers through Ann and Michael on Books on the Nightstand podcast. I really love the podcast. The conversation between the hosts is wonderful. I love their British accents! I enjoy their good humor. I haven't listened to all of the podcasts yet, but have them saved on my IPod.
About me: I live in the U.S. (St. Louis, Missouri), work in Hospital Finance, am past 40 (to the point where I no longer tell my age), I'm single with no children, LOVE books and reading, and also own far too many books that I haven't yet read (just like Kirsty).
Welcome, everyone. I look forward to discussing books with you. Merry Christmas.

Hi, It's me again--just wanted to say I also love Sherlock Holmes. I'm listening to the episode (7?) with that as the main topic and really enjoying it.

New listener courtesy of BOTN podcast.
I'm 60, run a martial arts school here in New Jersey.We have about 200 children as students, all of whom I encourage/expect to read books. My approach is simple: pushups or reading.
I also serve on the Board of a non profit, and walk. run, swim, and READ.

Hello everyone! Another new listener coutesy of Ann and Michael of BOTNS. I am a nurse practitioner who minored in English far too long ago and I try to read all the time. I have a reading husband and 2 teenage sons who are also readers and thus have far too many books in my house!

Hello all! I am another new listener courtesy of BOTNS. I am an English teacher, wife, and mother of two teenagers, who are also avid readers. I love to run, and I am delighted to find another charming podcast to keep me company on the road.

Hello!

I'm a listener after following both Simon and Gav on their respective blogs (and Twitter) for some time. Love the show... but they know that ;)

Hello everyone. Love podcasts like this (and BOTNS) as they are a fantastic way to find book recommendations, but Simon and Gav in particular are very funny, even when just having a book-related natter.

A bit about me: no kids, from Brisbane, Australia. Currently having a very lazy Christmas holiday, which mainly consists of reading, swimming, lazing by the pool (whilst reading), and watching the Boxing Day test match on tv (whilst reading).

Simon wrote: "P.S Kirsty we must meet up in the new year for a coffee and bookish natter."

We definitely should!!

Hi! I'm Heather from Huntington, West Virginia. I love the podcast and I finally have a reason to look forward to Monday mornings!

After the first episodes, I felt a sense kindred-spirits with Simon and Gav. For example, Agatha Christie is my go-to author when I'm in a reading slump. I love Daphne du Maurier (received Don't Look Now & Other Stories for Christmas). And, I too have an excel spreadsheet in order to keep track of my books (was snowed in once for several days and compiling that kept me close to sane).

Anyway, just wanted to say hi to everyone and thank you for the podcast.

Hi! I'm Jennifer from Newburyport, Massachusetts. I also found The Readers through BOTNS and I'm so glad that I did! My reading tastes tend to run to British authors so its wonderful to find a podcast and blog from the UK to build my TBR list. It's so nice to hear discussions about Nancy Mitford, Daphne Du Maurier, etc. Looking forward to more in 2012.

Hello!
Yet another listener courtesy of Ann and Michael! I live in Vermont. I'm thoroughly enjoying listening to the podcasts, being introduced to new authors, hearing about my faves (DMD, particularly), and I am "chuffed to bits" that "My Cousin Rachel" made Simon's Top 5 for 2011. It made mine as well! :-))

And yet another listerner from BOTNS, on the recommendation of Ann & Michael. I see lots of my BOTNS friends are listening too. I'm in the process of catching up on The Readers podcasts and enjoying Gav & Simon's banter while picking up some new authors.

Oh, I'm Carol from Connecticut, librarian and reader.

Hi, I'm Tasha and, yep, another listener coming over to join you guys from BOTNS. I'm still catching up on the many podcasts but loving the ones I've listened to so far and looking forward to the others. You guys make me laugh and I'm looking forward to some great book recs!

I'm Jana from Seattle. I love to read (duh!); mom of 3 grown up kids; wife of 1 somewhat grown up hubby. I love travel, wining & dining with friends/family AND great bookish podcasts.

Life is good.

Happy New Year!

I've noticed that Simon's chemistry with Gav is similar to Ricky Gervais's with Karl Pilkington. Not that Gav plays the fool like Pilkington, but he has a way of explaining the premises of books that make them sound ludicrous, thereby inviting merciless laughter from Simon.

I love their (your) chemistry! So funny together. :)

Kirsty wrote: "I actually live in Manchester, England"

Hey, Kirsty: Can you give us non-UK listeners (I'm in Canada) an idea of what "twee" means to you and just how insulting it is?

The Urban Dictionary says, "in British English it is used much more widely for things that are nauseatingly cute or precious. It comes from the way the word sweet sounds when said in baby talk." Any validity to this definition?

I'm another BOTNS listener. It's great to have this podcast, which gives very different recommendations than the others I listen to. I listen to about six podcasts regularly on my iPod while driving.

I guess I'm more of a "lit-head" than anything else--novels of any description, location or time period, and non-fiction and biography to a certain extent. I'm not big on horror, thrillers, crime or fantasy, but I am always looking for "hard" science fiction recommendations for my husband. Yes, I keep lists for both myself and him!

I live near Ottawa, Ontario, Canada and have been an avid reader since 1964 (always wanted to put that on my resume). I am married with two daughters, one finishing university, one starting high school. We are all readers of books, magazines and newspapers. No e-readers yet. I write and edit, but currently do the bookkeeping for our family business. I am in a local book club and am a patron at three different libraries!

Wow, so many have found their way to this group from BOTN. I am the opposite. I found out about BOTN from The Readers' podcasts, which I discovered on Simon's fabulous book blog Savidge Reads. I am from Southern California and am an avid reader and follower of book blogs. They made the internet make sense to me. Now I see the point of it all.

Hi, I am Marg from Melbourne, Australia and have been listening to The Readers since the beginning!

Love the podcast and look forward to every new episode! I read a lot, mainly genre fiction, and blog a lot!

I look forward to chatting.

Love the idea of a host swap but don't leave Ann out! This makes for many combos, Ann & Gav, Michael & Simon, etc.

Fun idea!! :)

One never knows!

Hi everyone, I'm Beth, from Skokie, IL. I learned about The Readers on BOTNS (surprise!). I love fiction and I love your podcast and have been catching up over the last few days. I think a swap is a great idea. Really, you should seriously consider it. It would be great fun for all!

Eric wrote: "I've noticed that Simon's chemistry with Gav is similar to Ricky Gervais's with Karl Pilkington. Not that Gav plays the fool like Pilkington, but he has a way of explaining the premises of books th..."

I think that comparison is a bit harsh. I enjoy the banter between Simon's Literary Fiction viewpoint and Gav's Science Fiction/Fantasy/Mystery loves. I am an English teacher who adores literary fiction (more classics, Simon!), but I am also a total fangirl for science fiction/fantasy. Simon and Gav are like the two halves of my reading heart!

Oh, I love SF too! And comic books!

I've recently started reading comic books and graphic novels. Watchmen was amazing (but not the movie!). I've just started The Sandman. Pretty cool, but after all, it is Neil Gaiman.

When I reread the first volume of Sandman recently, I was amazed at how referential it was to DC superhero comics. That lessens as the series goes on.

Joanne wrote: Hey, Kirsty: Can you give us non-UK listeners (I'm in Canada) an idea of what "twee" means to you and just how insulting it is?

The Urban Dictionary says, "in British English it is used much more widely for things that are nauseatingly cute or precious. It comes from the way the word sweet sounds when said in baby talk." Any validity to this definition? "

Hi Joanne, I wouldn't say it's insulting per se, but if I was an author that wasn't trying to be twee and someone said my work was twee then I guess I wouldn't be too enamoured with the comment. I'd say that the definition is pretty spot on.

Eric wrote: "When I reread the first volume of Sandman recently, I was amazed at how referential it was to DC superhero comics. That lessens as the series goes on."

There's a new annotated Sandman that I might have to get. And then a re-re-read will be in order, yippee!

One more BOTNS listener jumping in here. Catching up on my BOTNS podcasts when I heard you guys so I'm desperately behind but enjoying what I'm hearing and more book recommendations! Can't beat that.

I'm from Dallas and love hearing the different perspective you bring. I tend to be mostly a lurker but just wanted you to know I'm here and enjoying it!

Hi all

I'm Bernadette from Australia and I didn't come to THE READERS via Books on the Nightstand :) I heard about the show via Kim from Reading Matters.

For the last couple of years I've been reading lots of crime fiction but am looking to read other things too.

Hi all - I'm Shona - currently living in Germany but originally from Montana. Heard about Simon and Gav from BOTNs and I'm thoroughly enjoying catching up on their podcasts. I'm so in awe of Ann and Michael and now Simon and Gav and so appreciative of all the hard work they do to get podcasts out each week - so thanks for what you do! You are a vital part of my week!

i'll second Shona's sentiments. it is awesome that you work real jobs, put a podcast together, twitter and update blogs and show notes! where is the time?!

I'll third it. ;)

Hello all! I started listening to The Readers after the Books on the Nightstand Podcast, and I absolutely am glad I found this one. Simon-you pick great books, I have to say. I am a Daphne De Maurier fan particularly of Rebecca. In the US there is a cheesy paperback edition that was released that looks like a romance novel. I have recommended this book to friends so many times and I think they are only turned off when I take the book off the shelf and see the the neo-romance cover...oh well. And My Cousin Rachel is so good it might be edible. I love a really good book that I will stay up all night for. Thank you for your Podcast!

Kirsty wrote: "...the definition is pretty spot on."

Lovely! Thanks.

Hiya! My name is Nadia and I'm from Florida. I first heard about The Readers via Simon's blog, Savidge Reads. Definitely enjoy listening to the podcast. I love to read, so I'm definitely looking forward to chatting about books with you all.

Hi All -

I'm Tara and I discovered The Readers through Kimbofo's blog Reading Matters (though I listen to BOTNS as well). I'm a bit of a podcast junkie. Add that to my addiction to books, blogs and traditional print outlets (like the New York Review of Books and TLS) - and you'll start to see a pattern.

At the moment my passion is world literature and translations. I'm now currently weighing the possible risks/rewards of a shady Amazon UK purchase of Down the Rabbit Hole after hearing Gav & Simon sing its praises on the podcast.

Eric wrote: "When I reread the first volume of Sandman recently, I was amazed at how referential it was to DC superhero comics. That lessens as the series goes on."

The first Sandman story arc was firmly rooted inside the DC Universe - and then suddenly it stopped. I always wondered how Gaiman convinced them to make the switch. *sigh* I miss the Sandman series. I wish he'd return to it once in a while.

I thought I better introduce myself too. I'm Michael and I'm a fairly new book blogger from Australia. I've only recently discovered The Readers as a recommendation from one of my Twitter friends. I've only started listening about 4 days ago, and trying to play catch up as fast as possible, I've already listened to the first 11 podcasts and the latest 3, so almost up-to-date

welcome michael. i look forward to your feedback.

Welcome Michael. :)

Thanks guys

Hi my name is Adam and I am a new listener to the podcast. I review books on my blog and live in Wigan near Manchester.

Welcome Adam. :)

Hi Michael & Adam!