Thread: HEAVEN: Ship's book group 2015 Board: Limbo / Ship of Fools.


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Posted by Tree Bee (# 4033) on :
 
A new thread for a new year (ish).
Here's our upcoming programme. All are welcome to join in.

Currently reading Witches Abroad by Terry Pratchett led by Golden Key.

February - Arcanum by Simon Morden led by Sir Kevin. (The author requests we don't obtain hard copies from amazon though I believe OK on kindle.)

March - Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones led by Sarasa.

April - The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton led by Curiosity killed...

May - We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler led by Trudy Scrumptious.

June - Fathomless Riches by Richard Coles . Looking for a thread leader for this one.

July - What is Visible by Kimberly Elkins. Fineline , would you be happy to lead this one?

[ 24. March 2016, 09:17: Message edited by: Firenze ]
 

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Posted by Sir Kevin (# 3492) on :
 
Who's in for my book? I am about a third of the way through and it is v. exciting! I plan to reread it at least once;
 

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Posted by Sarasa (# 12271) on :
 
I'm reading it now, and enjoying its twists and turns. Don't think I could read it twice in quick succession though.
I'm happy to do the Richard Coles if no one else wants to.
 

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Posted by Tree Bee (# 4033) on :
 
Thanks Sarasa.
 

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Posted by Sir Kevin (# 3492) on :
 
I have fewer than 300 pages left to go and shall contrive some questions on or before the 15th: this is a very exciting book!
 

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Posted by squidgetsmum (# 17708) on :
 
just double checking - is Arcanum ok to do on Kindle? Have a new one and very excited about reading it!
 

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Posted by Curiosity killed ... (# 11770) on :
 
Yes, the author said Kindle was fine (which is a Good Thing™ as I read it on my commute and the book, which I also own, is not something I want to add to my backpack of gubbins).
 

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Posted by Tree Bee (# 4033) on :
 
As mentioned in the Read me thread, here's the forthcoming programme including We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves which I gave to daughter cb for her birthday, wonder if she'd loan it to me?

March - Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones led by Sarasa.

April - The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton led by Curiosity killed...

May - We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler led by Trudy Scrumptious.

June - Fathomless Riches by Richard Coles led by Sarasa.

July - What is Visible by Kimberly Elkins. Fineline ?
 

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Posted by Sir Kevin (# 3492) on :
 
I'd like to discuss the newest book by my favourite writer, Haruki Murakami in August. I waited a long time for it to be translated from the Japanese into English, but it was worth it : the book is Colourless Tsukuru Tazaki and I purchased the hardback. Currently, I am about halfway through.
 

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Posted by Tree Bee (# 4033) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Sir Kevin:
I'd like to discuss the newest book by my favourite writer, Haruki Murakami in August. I waited a long time for it to be translated from the Japanese into English, but it was worth it : the book is Colourless Tsukuru Tazaki and I purchased the hardback. Currently, I am about halfway through.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Tree Bee:
I couldn't get your link to work Sarasa, don't know why of course.

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Originally posted by Sipech:
Would anyone be interested in the new Harper Lee book, Go Set A Watchman? It's currently due out on the 14th of July.

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Originally posted by Fineline:
Ah, taking a look at the March and April book threads, I'm guessing 20th July is the date to post questions.

Also, I'd be up for reading the Murakami book Sir Kevin suggested - it's a book I've been planning to read.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Tree Bee:
Sir Kevin suggested this back in February and offered to lead the thread but no one popped up to say they would be interested in reading it.

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I did! I popped up and said I'd like to read it, and I'm popping up now to say I still want to read it.
 

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Posted by Tree Bee (# 4033) on :
 
Thank you Sarasa and Fineline, and I apologise for overlooking your post Fineline.
It's definitely in the programme as our next read then.
 

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Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :
 
May I suggest A Song for Issy Bradley for October?

This is the best book I have read so far this year, a mixture of tragedy and comedy, with (to me) very believable and likeable characters.

I'm willing to lead it.
 

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Posted by Curiosity killed ... (# 11770) on :
 
I heard bits of A Song for Issy Bradley when it was book of the week and would like to fill in the gaps, so I'd be interested in reading it.
 

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Posted by Tree Bee (# 4033) on :
 
An updated programme, thanks for the contributions:

September - Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki by Haruki Murakami led by Sir Kevin.

October - A Song for Issy Bradley by Carys Bray led by North East Quine.

November - The Fifth Sacred Thing by Starhawk led by Golden Key.
 

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Posted by Tree Bee (# 4033) on :
 
Almost September , so if you'd like to join in the discussion next month, get yourself a copy of Colorless Tsukuru Tazaki by Haruki Murakami .

The thread is to be led by Sir Kevin.
 

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Posted by Tree Bee (# 4033) on :
 
Is there anyone who would like to take over the administration of the ship's book group from me?
I've done it for ages, and have reached one of those points in my life when I shake things up and change things around.
The main responsibility is the organisation of the programme and overseeing the individual monthly threads.
You don't have to read each book and join in the discussion, but I have been doing this.
Some new blood, new ideas would be good I'm sure!
PM me if you have questions, or post here if you're up for it.
 

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Posted by Tree Bee (# 4033) on :
 
Sarasa has graciously offered to take over the running of our book group.
Many thanks!

The programme we have for the next 2 months is:

October - A Song for Issy Bradley by Carys Bray led by North East Quine.

November - The Fifth Sacred Thing by Starhawk led by Golden Key.
 

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Posted by Golden Key (# 1468) on :
 
Tree Bee--

for all your hard work!
 

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Posted by Sarasa (# 12271) on :
 
Thank you Tree Bee for all your work, and bear with me while I learn the ropes.
 

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Posted by Sir Kevin (# 3492) on :
 
I would really like to see more than one other reader of the Murakami book. I was pleased to see it got a v. good review on Goodreads - thanks, Treebee! I have not re-read it yet but should have a start today - now if only I could remember where I put it! I really need to get rid of rather a lot of books and shelve those that remain by genre and author!

Thread should start about the 21st or so...
 

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Posted by Curiosity killed ... (# 11770) on :
 
Thank you so much for all your work running the book group, TreeBee. Hope you enjoy your new endeavours.
 

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Posted by Sarasa (# 12271) on :
 
As it is nearly the end of September I thought I'd flag up the reads for the next two months.

October - A Song for Issy Bradley by Carys Bray led by North East Quine.

November - The Fifth Sacred Thing by Starhawk led by Golden Key.

Any suggestions for a Christmas read anyone? I really enjoyed A Christmas Carol last year, so much so that I've decided to read it every Christmas.
Also has anyone any ideas for next year's list? I was wondering about an oldie but goodie such as The Nine Tailors by Dorothy L. Sayers. Any other suggestions?
 

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Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :
 
I'll start the Issy Bradley thread in a couple of days.
 

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Posted by Jane R (# 331) on :
 
The Nine Tailors and Strong Poison are both seasonal - Nine Tailors starts with the bellringers ringing in the New Year, Strong Poison takes place over Christmas and New Year (featuring the house party from hell).

Or if you want a novella, how about All seated on the ground by Connie Willis?
 

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Posted by Brenda Clough (# 18061) on :
 
Nine Tailors is a classic, one of Sayers' best.
 

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Posted by TurquoiseTastic (# 8978) on :
 
If (like me) you enjoy children's literature then two of my favourite Christmas reads are Masefield's The Box of Delights and Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising.
 

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Posted by Sarasa (# 12271) on :
 
I rather like the idea of reading The Box of Delights in December. it's one of those books I've always meant to read, and have never got round to. How about The Nine Tailors in January?
Any other book suggestions. I've just read Anne Tyler's A Spool of Blue Thread, but as it is fairly recent (up for the Booker Prize at present) I'm not sure if it's out in paperback yet.

[ 30. September 2015, 10:25: Message edited by: Sarasa ]
 

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Posted by Sir Kevin (# 3492) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by TurquoiseTastic:
Susan Cooper's The Dark is Rising.

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quote:

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Originally posted by Sarasa:
Anyone like to lead The Box of Delights ? Ariel????

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I'll get back to you on this - not opposed to the idea but timing is everything.
 

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Posted by Brenda Clough (# 18061) on :
 
Somewhere someplace is a list of tips on how to do it, eh?
 

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Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
No, 'fraid you'll have to wing it (like the rest of us )
 

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Posted by TurquoiseTastic (# 8978) on :
 
After some helpful Hostly advice (thanks Ariel) I think I could probably manage leading something on The Box of Delights after all... I'll see what I can come up with!
 

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Posted by Tree Bee (# 4033) on :
 
I'll give The Dark is Rising a go.
 

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Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
Happy to help either of you with The Box of Delights or The Dark is Rising, if needed - absolutely fine if not, and looking forward to seeing what questions you come up with!
 

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Posted by Sarasa (# 12271) on :
 
Updated list:
October - A Song for Issy Bradley by Carys Bray led by North East Quine.
November - The Fifth Sacred Thing by Starhawk led by Golden Key.
December - John Masefield Box of Delights led byTurquoiseTastic
January - Dorothy L. Sayers The Nine Tailors led by Brenda Clough
February - Anne Tyler A Spool of Blue Thread led bySarasa
March - Susan Cooper - The Dark is Rising led byTreeBee
April - R.J. Palacio Wonder led by Curiosity Killed

Thank you everyone that has offered to lead a discussion. For those who haven't done it before, the person leading for the month usually posts a message with link to information about the book on on the first of the month, saying there will be some questions posted on or about the 20th. When I'm doing it I try to make the questions fairly open-ended and not post too many of them. I also try and avoid spoilers in case not everyone has finished the book yet. What do others who have led a few of these discussions do? If I'm stuck for questions there are often Book Group notes at the back of the book or on the Net. I also sometimes look at Goodreads to see what others think about it.
 

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Posted by Curiosity killed ... (# 11770) on :
 
I usually start with the book club notes if I can find any. Or any burning questions I have about the book, because I have been known to suggest books I want to discuss.
 

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Posted by North East Quine (# 13049) on :
 
This is my first time. There are Book Club questions available for A Song for Issy Bradley which I might draw on. However, as This Is A Christian Website, I'm also intending to ask a couple of questions about Ship readers engagement with the faith aspect of the book.
 

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Posted by Trudy Scrumptious (# 5647) on :
 
When I've led discussions, I've always assumed that spoilers are OK after the 20th of the month when questions are posted, because that's the date we've all agreed on. It's usually hard to have a good, thorough discussion about a book without spoilers, so I've always figured that anyone who hasn't finished the book up to the point where the questions are posted, should either be prepared for spoilers or avoid reading the thread till they've finished the book.
 

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Posted by Sir Kevin (# 3492) on :
 
I agree!

By the way, is there a thread about NaNoWriMo? I think it starts in a couple of weeks, i.e. 1 November. My wife really needs to get involved this time. Some of her work has been published, but it is all book reviews in a trade journal for secondary school English Language and Literature teachers.
 

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Posted by Sarasa (# 12271) on :
 
Bumping this up from the second page where it was languishing. Keep those suggestions coming!

A reminder:
November - The Fifth Sacred Thing by Starhawk led by Golden Key.
December - John Masefield Box of Delights led byTurquoiseTastic
January - Dorothy L. Sayers The Nine Tailors led by Brenda Clough
February - Anne Tyler A Spool of Blue Thread led bySarasa
March - Susan Cooper - The Dark is Rising led byTreeBee
April - R.J. Palacio Wonder led by Curiosity Killed
 

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Posted by Fineline (# 12143) on :
 
I have a suggestion for a book that I would be happy to lead a discussion on sometime, if people want to read it, and if it hasn't already been done. 'Home' by Marilynne Robinson. It is available in paperback and in Kindle. It has a bit of a spiritual theme, about a pastor's son who doesn't believe and can't pretend to believe, and has always been seen as the prodigal son of the family. It's about his inward struggle wanting to please his father but also be true to himself, and about the family tensions when his father is dying and he and his sister have returned to their home town to be with him. There is a review of it here.

Or if people would rather read a different one of Marilynne Robinson's books, I don't mind doing any of them, because I like all her stuff, although I didn't like 'Gilead' quite so much as 'Home', and I haven't read 'Lila' yet. I haven't actually read all of 'Home' - I started reading it last year, and then forgot to finish it, but I really want to read the whole thing.
 

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Posted by Tree Bee (# 4033) on :
 
I'm pretty sure that we have read either Gilead or Home in this group, but I can't remember which. Maybe someone else will know.
As it must have been a while ago anyway, as long as enough people want to read it we could add it again.
Lila is a good story too; it's a prequel.

[ 09. November 2015, 15:12: Message edited by: Tree Bee ]
 

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Posted by Trudy Scrumptious (# 5647) on :
 
HOME is by far my favourite of that trilogy (they're all great) and I would love a discussion on it, although I agree with Tree Bee's faint memory that we may have discussed at least one of those books before.
 

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Posted by Sarasa (# 12271) on :
 
If we've done Home before it must have been a while ago, so I'll add it to the list. I've read and quite enjoyed Gilead , so wouldn't mind reading another book by her.
 

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Posted by Fineline (# 12143) on :
 

quote:

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Originally posted by Sarasa:
If we've done Home before it must have been a while ago, so I'll add it to the list. I've read and quite enjoyed Gilead , so wouldn't mind reading another book by her.

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Cool. 'Home' is about the same characters in 'Gilead', but more about the family of the other pastor, who's the best friend of the pastor who narrates 'Gilead', and particularly his 'rebellious' son.
 

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Posted by Trudy Scrumptious (# 5647) on :
 
And even more so, his non-rebellious daughter. To me the book beautifully answers the question, "What would the story of the Prodigal Son look like if it were told by the elder brother?" (although it's a sister in this case).
 

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Posted by Sarasa (# 12271) on :
 
Updated list

November - The Fifth Sacred Thing by Starhawk led by Golden Key.
December - John Masefield Box of Delights led byTurquoiseTastic
January - Dorothy L. Sayers The Nine Tailors led by Brenda Clough
February - Anne Tyler A Spool of Blue Thread led bySarasa
March - Susan Cooper - The Dark is Rising led byTreeBee
April - R.J. Palacio Wonder led by Curiosity Killed
May - Marilynne Robinson Home led by Fineline?
 

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Posted by Fineline (# 12143) on :
 
Yes, I think I can do that in May.
 

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Posted by Tree Bee (# 4033) on :
 
Bump.
I have a copy of Box of Delights; have never read it before.
 

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Posted by Sarasa (# 12271) on :
 
Just thinking I'd better get hold of a copy of Box of Delights too
 

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Posted by Curiosity killed ... (# 11770) on :
 
I put the Box of Delights on the Kindle when I was adding books a few months ago.
 

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Posted by Leorning Cniht (# 17564) on :
 
As it happens, I recently discovered my childhood copy (along with my copy of The Midnight Folk), and managed to find a suitable use for "time, tide, and buttered eggs wait for no man" the other day. We'll see whether the phase of the moon and the prospect of an egg supper allows me time to join the fun...
 

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Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
As it happens I was re-reading it a few weeks ago, so I'll be interested to see what others make of it.
 

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Posted by Sarasa (# 12271) on :
 
Looks like there might be quite a few of us for the December read. I've just donwloaded a copy of Box of Delights to my Kindle.

A reminder of what's coming up in the next few months. More suggestions very welcome.


December - John Masefield Box of Delights led by TurquoiseTastic
January - Dorothy L. Sayers The Nine Tailors led by Brenda Clough
February - Anne Tyler A Spool of Blue Thread led by Sarasa
March - Susan Cooper - The Dark is Rising led by TreeBee
April - R.J. Palacio Wonder led by Curiosity Killed
May - Marilynne Robinson Home led by Fineline
 

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Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :
 
(bump)
 

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Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :
 
As the 2016 thread is now safely down the slipway...

Firenze
Tidy Host
 

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