Orange July 2012

It's time! I hope you're looking forward to Orange July as much as I am! This morning, I posted a blog post with the details for OJ. Please read!

For this group, I recommend starting your own personal thread about your Orange July selections and reviews (or continue an existing thread).

If you comment below, please do the following:
1) If your first name isn't obvious from your LT handle, please sign your post with your first name (unless you prefer not to be called by your first name).
2) Link to the LT thread about your Orange July books

There are also numerous threads about specific Orange books that I recommend looking through and adding your comments.

Finally, please spread the word to your book friends. I appreciate your help and support!

If you are active in another LibraryThing group, please help spread the word by promoting this group and Orange July event. I will post on the 75 Challenge group, Girlybooks and The Prizes. Thanks again for your help!

I just posted the list of Orange July 2012 giveaways! I am giving away more than 20 books for Orange July, including the entire 2012 short list.

IMPORTANT CHANGE: You must be signed up for Orange July through Mr. Linky to be eligible for Orange July giveaways. You can sign up here.

If you have any questions, please let me know!

good morning Jill!

I just started State of Wonder, so I guess I have started Orange July a little early. I also have There But For The from the library, and Night Circus from my school library, which means I have it for the summer.

'Citing!

I plan to start with Scottsboro which I won at the last set of giveaways. Also I am determined that this July I really will read Sadie Jones.

I have The Sealed Letter from the library ready to go for July.

You all have some great books lined up! I have a stack of OJ books; I must take some time to figure out what I want to read. We are heading on vacation June 30-July 7, so hopefully, this will give me extra reading time! =)

I'm planning to read Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller for Orange July. If I get to anything else it will be a bonus!

OH boy! Oh boy!! Oh boy!! I just signed up with Mr. Linky, but I don't see how to leave a comment there. I'm leaving it here instead..... First up for me will be Half of a Yellow Sun that I'll read with the group over at the 75ers. I'm very excited!!!
Thank you again, Jill, for this act of love!

I am also starting out with Half of a Yellow Sun, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (for the 75ers group read), as well as Septembers in Shiraz, by Dalia Sofer (for the Reading Globally Middle Eastern theme read).

I'm also planning to read The Septembers of Shiraz for the Reading Globally Middle Eastern literature theme.

I'm setting out to read 5 Orange books for Orange July. I'm requiring them to be books I already have in my possession. (Take that, TBR pile!)

The Siege - Helen Dunmore
Brick Lane - Monica Ali
Home - Marilynne Robinson
The Road Home - Rose Tremain
Old Filth - Jane Gardam (audiobook)

(I LOVED Half of a Yellow Sun)

I've just started Septembers of Shiraz.

It's too early to think about my July reading yet, but I will probably start with The Colour, by Rose Tremain.

I'm going to read Half of a Yellow Sun. I have said this several times before but this time I really am!

I have said this several times before but this time I really am!

Ha ha! That's like me with The Colour, which is why I was vague in my last statement about it.

Joyce, glad it's not just me! The book has made it to the laundry. It's off the bookcase. There is hope for it! (It was meant to get all the way up the stairs but I was running my daughter's bath at the time.)

#14 Joyce, I really liked The Colour.

So far I'm planning:
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
The Road Home by Rose Tremain

#12 I like your idea of making your reading come out of your TBR pile. I think I will *borrow* it for my OJ :)

Count me as another one reading Orange books from my TBR pile, so The Blood of Flowers and Blonde Roots. And think I am going to have to read Swamplandia! while on vacation in the Everglades :-)

I have more books lined up for July than I can possibly read, but ...

I will definitely read:
Gillespie and I - just started it, in fact!
Song of Achilles

I will probably read:
The Accidental
Homestead
Grace Williams Says it Loud

But then again, I might change my mind :)

I have so many sitting on Mount TBR compared to January, I'm just not sure where to begin!!

I am going to cheat on my TBR stack with Half a Yellow Sun if I can get it from the library during July ... I'm 3rd on the list! I'm thinking there must be other OJ'ers in my area who beat me to it!

I'll be reading Disobedience by Naomi Alderman and Gillespie and I.
My very quiet Orange thread is here: http://www.librarything.com/topic/129289
or else you can find me on my 75er thread.

Question--- I just picked up On Beauty by Zadie Smith at the library today. I don't see it on any of the Orange lists... Am I wrong in thinking it was nominated??

>24 TinaV95: I think On Beauty was the 2006 winner, right?

24, 25> Yep, On Beauty won in 2006. =)

#26 - why isn't it on the "winner" list (on our main page) or do I just keep missing it?

There is something strange with my link to the Orange Winners too . . . Only two books show up! The short and long lists seem fine, but I'm missing the convenience of seeing all the winners at the touch of a finger!

Happy Orange July! Our first giveaway is posted - and we're starting with a winner, The Song of Achilles! Head over to my blog for more details on how you can win!

>28 brenpike:: I just did a little detective work on this issue. The link on our group page goes to books classified as winning the Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction. There's another list that is complete:
Orange Prize for Fiction Winners

Jill, can you please change the winners link on our group page?

I'd really like to get rid of the "broadband" award list, it's confusing. But I haven't figured out how to do that.

Well, I'm another person who has said they'll read Half of a Yellow Sun several times and never managed it so that's top of my list! Then I have The Road Home, The Siege and Gilead lined up with Small Island and The Idea of Perfection just in case I run out of books to read....

#30 "I'd really like to get rid of the "broadband" award list, it's confusing. But I haven't figured out how to do that." Done - the list was being created from the Common Knowledge entered on the French and Dutch LT sites and I've changed those to match the English language site.

Such awesome teamwork! I fixed the link on the group homepage. =)

I finished reading The Septembers of Shiraz, by Dalia Sofer. The full review is on my Orange thread. In short, I thought it was a good book, with lots of potential, but I didn't like it as much as I thought I should. And, yes, technically I finished this yesterday. So sue me. :)

I'm still working on Half of a Yellow Sun.

>31 souloftherose:: you're amazing Heather!
>32 mrstreme:: thanks Jill!

Half of a Yellow Sun did make it up the stairs and I am LOVING it. Can't believe it sat on the bookshelf for about 4 years. Will go and update my rusty orange thread now that I am reading an Orange book again.

Happy Monday! Come by my blog for a chance to win Beyond Black by Hilary Mantel!

I've totally fallen off the face of the Earth. Still reading, just not doing well at keeping everything updated!

Anyhoo, just wanted to stop in and say hi and wish all the Orange July participants a very happy month! :)

And for people who are looking for the Orange lists....just a reminder. On the group wiki page, there's a link to a google doc that has all the books listed, sorted by year. That's another way to find the titles in addition to the LT pages.

It's about time I tried some Pat Barker. Only the third in her trilogy, Ghost Road was nominated, but I can't start with that, so I'm starting with Regeneration and will see when I get to the other two.

I just started The Memory of Love last night, and I'm loving it. Her writing is so beautifully spun-- I've been pulled in, and I regret all of my commitments I've made for this week!

Just finished Song of Achilles - wow. I liked the first half well enough and thought it was good but the second half was amazing. I couldn't put it down.

>39 Citizenjoyce:: Regeneration is excellent, Joyce. And for that particular series, starting at the beginning is important.

I'm almost finished with Gillespie and I, having started Orange July a little early. I'm loving it. My next Orange will be Song of Achilles, and I can't wait.

Another Orange July giveaway! Stop by my blog to enter to win a copy of Housekeeping.

I have started my OJ with On Beauty and I'm really enjoying it so far!

I started Regeneration today. This is definitely a series I want to complete.

OtherJoyce - I went through that series fairly quickly in 2011. Not one to read series, myself, but that seemed like one that went together. Although the three have unique characteristics, they really do stick together. Have you seen the film for the first book? It's quite good:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120001/

I forgot to start my own Orange July thread! Whoopsie! That's like having a party and forgetting to dress up for it!

46 - I had no idea there was a movie! Will have to check that out... thanks!

Thanks, Other Joyce. I didn't know there was a movie. Unfortunately, my library system doesn't have it, but I'll keep an eye out for replays on TV.

Happy Thursday! Come by my blog for a chance to win The Sealed Letter by Emma Donoghue!

Presently reading Wolf Hall, but I'm distracted by sunshine and beaches in July : ), so it's slow going. I also have a copy of The Lacuna here which perhaps I'll get to after WH.

I finished Half of a Yellow Sun, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and all I can say is "WOW." Anyone who hasn't read this book needs to. My review is on my Orange Thread.

I am currently reading The Song of Achilles, by Madeline Miller. I'm liking it quite a lot so far. :) I'm about half-way through.

>52 The_Hibernator:: I'm reading SoA as well, perhaps 1/3 of the way through, and it's really good.

I hope you're enjoying a beautiful Sunday! Today, I am giving away a copy of Larry's Party on my blog - stop by and enter to win!

8 days in and I've only just remembered! I must be slipping!
I think I'll start with my most recent Orangey purchase, The Household Guide to Dying by Debra Adelaide. I found this little gem at one of our local second-hand bookfairs and was able to get it as one in 12 in a bag for $15!
I've still got many other gems left over unread from Orange January, cant wait to get started :)

#55> It wouldn't be Orange July without you, Kim! =)

So far, I've read Scottsboro and The White Woman on the Green Bicycle and have reviewed them on my thread.

Next up will be Poppy Shakespeare, The Blue Book or The Septembers of Shiraz. I can't quite decide. Maybe I'll read this month's Elizabeth Taylor while I make up my mind :)

I finished The Song of Achilles, which was another 5 star book for me. (I usually don't have two in one month...this is a lucky month I guess.) My review is on my Orange thread.

I will read Translation of the Bones next

>58 The_Hibernator:: Hey, me too! I loooooved Song of Achilles and posted a review on my Orange thread as well. Like you, I've had back-to-back 5-star reads (in my case the first was Gillespie and I but I am in complete agreement with you about Half of a Yellow Sun!)

I haven't been able to start another book today because my mind isn't ready to leave Achilles & Patroclus yet.

I've finished Gillespie and I and was going to start Disobedience but might pick up The Song of Achilles instead.

I'm finally making my way over here. I read The Septembers of Shiraz last week and gave it four stars. My review is on the work page if you're interested.

I'm hoping to get one more Orange in and that is The Bone People later this month.

I finished Half of a Yellow Sun and loved it so much that I've started Purple Hibiscus from the 2004 shortlist.

I'm excited about today's giveaway: Painter of Silence! Stop by my blog for a chance to win a copy!

I love OJ!! :)

Just finished On Beauty -- not my favorite, but I am going to start either Larry's Party or We Need to Talk about Kevin next.

Larry's Party and We Need to Talk about Kevin are both great . . . I especially liked the Shriver book giving it a full 5 star rating.

I don't think I said here that I finished Half of a Yellow Sun and totally see how it won its year. I have Larry's Party out for what I hope will be a complete change. I'd read Painter of Silence, but I don't think I can take anything at all war-related for a month or so.
And, Tina, I'm another who was carried away by *Kevin*.

I've finished the first 2 of the Regeneration series, so I finally get to start on my Orange for the month, Ghost Road. Pat Barker is quite an amazing author.

I'm enjoying The Road Home by Rose Tremain.

About to start The Household Guide to Dying been dying to read it ;)

On my blog today, I am giving away a copy of The Lieutenant by Kate Grenville. Stop by and enter! =)

#69 Oh Kim, you are so lame!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Happy Saturday! I'm giving away a copy of The Little Friend by Donna Tartt on my blog today. Come by and play!

I just finished The Ghost Road, the last of the Regeneration trilogy. Such a powerful book, and the way Pat Barker was able to tie all the themes together in the end was perfection. What an author!

Half-Blood Blues is up for grabs today on my blog. Come by and enter!

I'm reading Gilead for my first Orange read this month and it's wonderful.

>75 souloftherose:: loved Gilead as well as Home!

I'm reading Ali Smith's The Accidental. Quirky, and a real departure from the classic Brit Lit I've been reading lately. But it's a quick read and I'm enjoying it.

Finished and loved Wolf Hall. About 100 pages into Small Island now, which is also a wonderful read!

Reading Gail Jones' Dreams of Speaking -- gorgeous language!

Just finished Larry's Party. Going to start We Need to Talk about Kevin next.

Question to the Orange veterans.... Do I need to read Gilead before I read Home? Somehow I ended up with a copy of Home on my TBR shelf, but Gilead never showed up on my radar. Think I just made a list of winners one time when I went on a book spree at my local used book seller :)

Prepare to be blown away by We Need to Talk About Kevin!

>79 TinaV95:, Tina, I don't think you need to read Gilead first. They are related but not like a trilogy or sequel.

>81 mrstreme:: I agree. They are companion reads, not sequels. I read them in "reverse order" and loved both.

Small Island was one of my favorite reads so far this year too!

80 - thanks! I'm just a few chapters in and am already hooked!

81 & 82 - thanks for the advice on Home! I can "safely" choose it next ;)

So I finished Disobedience which was a good read and will try to fit The Song of Achilles in before the month ends.

Giving away a copy of A Concise Chinese-English Dictionary for Lovers on my blog today. Stop by and enter!

Finished The Household Guide to Dying by Debra Adelaide last night. Fabulous book! It had the same feel as many of the Oranges, quirky, original and the humour was just my cup of tea with a main character who loves her family, reading and her hens (all named after the Bennett girls in P&P). One I'd recommend.
I'm going to start The Night Circus tonight. It comes highly recommend, might keep me up all night.

#70
PS. Must try to find a better pun re: Night Circus to get under sweet Amandina's skin again ;)
xx

Tina, looks like I'll be joining you in reading Home. So far, so good.

The Invisible Ones is up for grabs today on my blog. Come by and enter for a chance to win!

Today, I am giving away a copy of Tides of War by Stella Tillyard. Stop by my blog to enter to win.

I finished Translation of the Bones and put a review on my Orange thread. I was ambivalent about it, but decided to give it 4 stars because I DO think it was well written and thought-provoking.

That may be my last Orange book this month...

Happy Friday! Let's have another giveaway! This time, Swamplandia! is us up for grabs. Stop by to enter!

**Many thanks to our own laytonwoman3rd (Linda) for donating Swamplandia! to the Orange July giveaways!

#87 Ha ha!

Reading The Song of Achilles and thoroughly enjoying it.

Gillespie and I is up for grabs on my blog today! Come on down and see if you can win a copy of this great book (I am biased, but I loved it!). =)

I finished and REVIEWED Linda Grant's gripping novel When I Lived in Modern Times about the beginning of the birth of the nation of Israel in 1946. It won the Orange in 2000.

I finished and REVIEWED Andrea Levy's Small Island. 5* read!!

Beyond Black by Hilary Mantel is up for grabs on my blog today!

I finished and kind of reviewed Home by Marilynne Robinson. It was an appropriate time to read it as I found Jack, one of the main characters, to be as malicious as Kevin in We Need to Talk about Kevin or Joey Garza in Streets of Laredo or maybe the recent mass murderer in Colorado, he just didn't actually kill people. Robinson does know something about alcoholics.

I read Afterwards by Rachel Seiffert - not so good- and loved The Dream Life of Sukhanov by Olga Grushin

I'm reading The Night Circus - very interesting!

Just finished Gail Jones's Dreams of Speaking -- a gorgeous book. Review on my Orange site tomorrow.

Has anyone else noted that most readers are reading recent Orange books? I just note that because I don't tend to read newer books. I'm always looking for posts about the older books, but don't see a lot of those.

>102 Nickelini:, Joyce, I just finished a book from the 1999 long list, The Giant, O'Brien by Hilary Mantel, that you may like!

And who's ready for a giveaway?!? The Forgotten Waltz by Anne Enright is up for grabs today!

>102 Nickelini:: I usually try to mix it up a bit -- reading the current year's winner, shortlisted books from the current year, and nominees from earlier years. There are some years where I'm just a book or two away from having read the entire shortlist, and sometimes I can't resist the idea of completing the set. :)

102: I read three Orange books in a row this month:

The Night Watch from the 2006 shortlist
The Book of Color by Julia Blackburn from the 1996 SL
I Was Amelia Earhart by Jane Mendelsohn, on the 1997 SL.

The two "oldies" have reviews by me on the main book page. Night Watch had plenty of reviews so I kept my comments on my 75er thread.

I'm currently reading We Need to talk about Kevin and I'm hating this kid! With the movie theater / Colorado mass murder just happening, I'm finding it a very timely read. Makes me want to talk about instituting immediate punishment for these "people" who go on murdering rampages!

>102 Nickelini: Joyce, this is the first year I've read so many from the current list. I'm up to 9! This year's list just seemed to make me want to read more than usual. Plus, a number were easily available, which helps for me.

102 - I have the very first winner on the go and am trying to go back to the beginning and read the winners in order. I will then go back and start the short list ones the same way. I did notice that my reading tended towards the newer ones so I am trying to rectify that this year.

Oh a flurry of book talk--my favourite! Thanks, everyone!

#103 - Jill, The Giant, O'Brien is on my TBR pile and I'm looking forward to it!

#106 - Yes, the author really makes you hate Kevin, doesn't she? I also hated the husband.

Is anyone tracking their Orange reading on a spreadsheet or master list, and tabulating how many they've read or what percentage they've read? (People over at the 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die are manic about doing this--there's even an iPhone app). Who's read the most Orange books?

>109 Nickelini:, Joyce, if anyone, my bets would be on Laura (lindsacl) or Her Royal Orangeness for an Orange Prize spreadsheet.

I keep track of mine through LibraryThing with the Orange Prize tag, though admittedly, it is not very sophisticated!

I think this will complete my Orange Re-Reads for Orange July. I need now to catch up with my Elizabeth Taylors and read a Rosamund Lehmann or two for her week as well before diving into All Virago/All August. (although as those are Virago, I could do that next month :-)
Once again, thank you for hosting and bringing us these fab books bi-annually Jill. I appreciate you so much.
And you are inspiring me with your walking, etc. over on the 'other place'.
Just wanted you to know.
hugs,

Glad you had a great Orange July, Belva!

>111 rainpebble: I have to echo Belva's congrats on your physical achievements -- you're my hero! :)

I have spreadsheets for Orange, 1001 Books (adult and kids) plus a host of Canadian prizes. Yes, I am a geek

I have lots of spreadsheets for book winners also, but that's what happens when you are retired and it is too hot to garden.

>113 TinaV95:, aww, shucks......

Have thoroughly enjoyed my two Orange July selections, too (Wolf Hall and Small Island. Thanks, Jill : ). I'm loving the conversation on spreadsheets and book lists ... that is SO my style!

Happy Tuesday! Are you tired of book giveaways yet? =) Today, I am giving away a copy of The Dancers Dancing on my blog. Come by and enter to win!

>109 Nickelini:: um, yeah, guilty as charged. I use LT tags for winner, shortlist, and longlist.

I've read all the winners, so each year I read that year's winner. I have a spreadsheet of all shortlisted books and make a note of those I've read ... this helps me choose books for Orange January & July. I also maintain a page on my blog with the winners & shortlisted books that I've read, and links to reviews (since most of this reading occurred after I began blogging).

I don't track the longlist to this level of detail.

>109 Nickelini: Joyce, I don't really have a spreadsheet, but I do keep an informal master list, and all it took was your question to send me off on a statistical project.

It turns out I've read 57 Orange books in all (out of 431 books nominated for the long list 1996-2012). I've read 8 of 17 winners, and 32 of the 102 that made the shortlist.

At the high end of Orange reading, for 2011 and 2012 I've read all of the books on the shortlist and 10 of 20 of the long listed books. At the low end, I only read one of the 1998 Orange books. It seems for most years I've read exactly two.

Is anyone with a spreadsheet interested in sharing? :)

I finished "Kevin" last night. Pretty timely since I have jury duty today. Will review later but let me just say that whatever defendant is on my trial, he should hope they don't choose me!

Started The Magician's Assistant this morning.

Ok, I am officially having spreadsheet envy....Maybe on a rainy day, I will put one together. It would be interesting to see what years I have read the most books from (2012 will be my top year, but I am curious about the others)....

>121 TinaV95:, Tina, I loved The Magician's Assistant. Hope you like it too! =)

And finally, the Orange Prize's new sponsor will be announced in September. Good news - many companies showed an interest! Here's an article if you want to read more.

Well, that's heartening, but I'm sure the prize will be renamed, and we'll all have to retool. Oh, well.

Can I just say that it makes my heart flutter every time Jane Harris (yes, THE Jane Harris) retweets my messages on Twitter? She did it again today. Maybe I can get her to participate in Orange January with us!

If anyone wants my spreadsheet, let me know and I will email it. I have winners, short-list and long-list stuff.

>124 mrstreme:: way cool Jill!

#125 I would love it please. My email is tinavaldes@juno.com.

#124 Jill that is awesome (the Harris retweets I mean).

I have a spreadsheet for the Orange and for 1001 books on my old laptop, must transfer the files across. I'm sure I got it through someone posting a link on LT a couple of years ago.
There is an iphone App for 1001 books! Be still my beating heart ;)
I'm still reading The Night Circus it's a bit of an adventure!

The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver is up for grabs today on my blog. Stop by and enter to win!

@129 Oh, The Bean Trees is so good! And she has a new book this autumn too, right?

My OP list is in a Word doc because I started it before I understood spreadsheets (which now seems impossible), but I love the idea of tracking prizelist reading that way. I wonder if there is a way to add a basic version to the site here, that folks could use as a foundation to make their own personal sheets from it?

I finally started my Orange July reading on Sunday night, but it's going very slowly. On the Floor by Aifric Campbell.

I think she's doing a fine job of creating Geri's world, but it's not a world that I find comfortable, and she's having a rough go of it, too. It's well done, but the timing is a bit off for me: I think I need something cheerier. A happy Orange?

Today, I am giving away a copy of Foreign Bodies by Cynthia Ozick on my blog. Enter to win!

It's Saturday and time for another book giveaway: stop by for a chance to win The Short History of a Prince by Jane Hamilton.

Giving away a copy of The Night Circus today on my blog. Ready to win?

Today's giveaway is Eveless Eden from the 1996 Short List. Enter to win!

Just finished The Magician's Assistant. Excellent!! Good call, Jill! :)

Listening to Purple Hibiscus on audiobook. Won't finish by tomorrow, but I'm still counting it in my OJ thread.

>135 TinaV95:, Tina - so glad you liked The Magician's Assistant! =)

It's the LAST Orange July 2012 giveaway, and I saved a good one for last. Come by my blog and enter to win a copy of Bring Up The Bodies by Hilary Mantel.

Goodbye Orange July. I will miss you all! :)

Orange July may be over, but you can still read Orangey books in August (I know I am still finishing up an Orange book from July!). Come visit the August thread!