Group Reads -- Proposals of Titles and Authors

So what do we want to read together this year? Make suggestions, agree with the suggestions you might like to join in on, etc....

For me, group reads are a fantastic way to push me to read those daunting titles on my TBR shelf.

I'd like to read John Updike's Rabbit series. I've got three of the books on my shelves already.

I'll be back with more thoughts - and looking forward to seeing other people's suggestions.

Any interest in group reads of any of the following books?

Armadale by Wilkie Collins
Shirley by Charlotte Bronte
Mary Barton or North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell
The Museum of Innocence by Orhan Pamuk

I'd be interested in group reads of the classics (I feel that I'm ill read in that regard). It's picking them up that I need the kick. Specific authors I feel I ought to read but am a bit to scared to try are:
Thomas Hardy (bad experience at school)
Dickens (they're just so B I G)

I'd also like to try more poetry, but have no idea where to start. A group read at least allows discussion on the question "wtf is going on here?" if it's all a bit impenetrable.

I have Bleak House by Dickens on my bookshelf just waiting to be read. I really enjoyed Great Expectations but haven't read any Dickens since.

I would happily second Shirley and Mary Barton as both are on my shelves.

I don't read much poetry, so this would interest me - I really enjoyed reading the two poetry collections (The World's Wife and a Seamus Heaney collection).

So many of us read mystery series that it might be nice to do Group Reads based on an author or a character. We could do 3-4 during the year, mixing old and new, like an Agatha Christie month or a Rex Stout month or a Longmire month or a Jo Nesbo month. For authors like Christie, we could perhaps pick a character. It could help some of us revisit old favorites and find new series to follow.

>7 Bjace: I like that idea! I think it might be easier to do with series that don't have a plot line that carries over from book to book. It would be hard to avoid spoilers for readers who aren't as far along in the series.

I'd second Agatha Christie (Miss Marple, anyone?) and Rex Stout.

How about a geographical challenge. countries and/or regions.

Well it's no surprise that I'm totally on board for mystery group reads!

Agatha Christie and Rex Stout are excellent suggestions, I'll try to think of some others that don't have a carry forward plotline. I'm off to see if I read all of the Miss Marple, I think I may have.

Let's discuss CATs in another thread. A MysteryCAT is a good idea!

I'd be happy to read Shirley, anything by Thomas Hardy and Bleak House, but not in the same month!

At one point I seem to recall mentions of The Three Musketeers and Robertson Davies' Cornish trilogy (beginning with What's Bred in the Bone).

>5 laura_88:, 11: I'd be up for reading Bleak House as well! I started it a few years ago but never finished it.

Bleak House sounds good to me as well.

I'm in on practically all mysteries and classics, although I have a long and storied history on signing up for group reads and then not doing them. I have a nineteenth-century novel and a mystery category for next year.

Bleak House sounds good to me, too!

I pretend I'm going to do the group reads, but never do. I'd love to have read Shirley and Bleak House.

My suggestion would be that you choose shorter books to coincide with the publishing cycle for new books. (Lots of new books are published in the Spring and Fall, so maybe read longer books in Winter and Summer.)

I'm interested in Bleak House as well as a mystery group read - especially if it's Agatha Christie.

I'd like to propose Life on the Mississippi by Mark Twain. And how about something a little more fun, like a Wodehouse month.

I'm always up for a Wodehouse month.

I think I'd be interested in Bleak House too. You know that I'm generally up for a good mystery.

Wodehouse month sounds like fun!

I'm always up for mysteries and I would also be interested in The Three Musketeers as a group read.

I'm interested in Bleak House too, and the Christie group read sounds like a great idea. (Am I the only Poirot fan in this group? I've tried Miss M. but have never really found her as interesting.)

I'm re-reading all of Christie's works in order of publication and I'm just ready for a string of Miss Marple books. My favorite Christie series is actually Tommy & Tuppence.

>3 cbl_tn: I'm interested by Le musée de l'Innocence.

I'm in too for any Dickens, some poetry (will be less daunting), a reread of Les Trois Mousquetaires (fun, fun, fun), Agatha Christie too will be great but something less read like Tommy & Tuppence seems more fun ?

All of these suggestions sound great and have me looking forward to next year. I'd Especially like to read bleak House and the Three Muskateers which I've started but didn't get very far.

ETA: I just realized that The Museum of Innocence is by Pamuk! I read My Name is Red earlier this year and LOVED it, to read another of his would be a treat.

I'm going to take a stab at reading more fiction next year. I would read Hardy, I might also tag along for Bleak House.

I am 100% in favor of a Wodehouse month!

I would like to do another Atwood in April group read. I also like the idea of a Wodehouse month.

I am still trying to get through David Copperfield from a group read two years ago, so Dickens wouldn't be my choice. However, I think it is a good idea to do some of these classic authors. I would like to do a Wilkie Collins month.

I would also like to propose that the Welsh Trilogy by Sharon Kay Penman be a group read. While I am perhaps not the fastest reader in the bunch, I have enjoyed working my way through the Plantagenet series by her this year with others on this thread.

read Bleak House a few years ago... suggest you give yourselves a few months for that one. Good Luck!

I may join on te reading of Bleak House.

A lot of people on my thread showed an interest in reading The Three Musketeers.

I'm also planning to read A Thousand and One Nights. I just haven't decided which translation I want yet, as I want one that has as close to all the tales as possible. So I'm happy to have anyone join me in reading that if they want. I'll probably be starting it in January.

I just read The Three Musketeers so wouldn't be reading along but would love to follow what others are saying as part of a group read. Also - totally in for a Wodehouse month.

I would be up for Atwood April - great idea! I have a couple of books of hers on my TBR pile.

Doris Kearns Goodwin has a new book out late this year. It's huge but I'd love to have someone join me in reading it next years. It's about Theodore Roosevelt and that era, called The Bully Pulpit.

>23 Miela:: Miela, I'm a Poirot person too. My first Agatha was The Mysterious Affair at Styles.

>31 andreablythe:: Andrea, I inherited a copy of Arabian Nights from my grandma and might be interested in a readalong, although mine is probably abridged.

I'd also be interested in Wodehouse for sure! I started reading the Blandings Castle series this year but never got around to continuing.

I'm also more of a Poirot fan than Marple though I love both. Also like the books with Battle b

34>>I think I could be up to Theodore Roosevelt around the middle of the year.

>34 lindapanzo:, 37 I agree, I would really like to read the Goodwin. The middle of the year would probably be best for me, too.

I'm up for something about TR.

Count me in for both Bleak House and Three Musketeers.

The big biography on my stack is Elizabeth the Queen.

I'd like to have an Iain Banks group read next year since he sadly died - it could be either the mainstream or the SF, or both

42, You might wat to join the group at http://www.librarything.com/groups/monthlyauthorreads in September.

>43 MarthaJeanne: - Thanks I've joined in there, I'll probably re-read a few Banks next year but may go for the crow road in September

Thanks for the link MarthaJeanne - I like the idea of the group.
I am starting a course next month, so will see if I have time to read one of my TBR. If not, (even still) I'd be up for next year.

moving from proposals on format:

I'm just wondering if some people want to do non-fiction group reads. Over in the 75 book challenge they have been picking one book a quarter as a group read. Seems like a pretty good idea. Anyone interested?

I read a lot of nonfiction, and am/would be happy to read some of them in group reads. My problem with the http://www.librarything.com/topic/146538 reads is often getting the book. I can't usually get them from the library, and new nonfiction is often quite expensive. The current book I could read in German from the library, but I really prefer not to read translations, and I don't really want to buy it.

Wait a minute - the Kindle is affordable, and I can do that now. I guess I am reading this one.

Yes, selecting a book can be a bit of an excercise in futility from a "include as many as want to participate as possible" perspective. If we get enough interest we could start a separate thread in this group and perhaps pick something that is more accessible.

Nonfiction is a big category. A few smaller categories I would be happy to participate in would be:

Biography
World history off the beaten track
Women's history

ETA Also Needlework books, but that might have fewer takers.

>44 psutto: I'll join you for that! Haven't read that one yet, and it's one everyone is raving about. I'll also make room fir at least one of his Culture books.

lindapanzo and I will be trying out a Theodore Roosevelt book. Maybe that NF would interest you.

#51 It's quite a weighty tome and probably will take me more than a month to read. I think Doris Kearns Goodwin is pushing 1,000 pages on this one.

I have Unbroken on my list of books I want to read next year. Would anyone else be interested in a group read?

I am way behind on the 2014 threads and many things have caught my interest here. A John Updike Rabbit or two, I don't know that I would want to read the whole series in one year. Poetry, I don't even know where I would start if I were to choose on my own. Dickens, but Great Expectations because I've already read Bleak House. Haven't read any Jo Nesbo so I would like to give that a try, or maybe that will be a Mystery CAT. Poirot is my favorite Christie and I would love to read more, but I like Ms. Marples too. Yes to an Atwood April. I didn't know I wanted to read Unbroken, but I do now after reading the summary.

And may I suggest The Name of the Rose? I've heard it's really a challenging, but rewarding read. I think that covers it.

I've been wanting to try Jo Nesbo too so I'd be glad to join you in at least one of his.

A Nesbo November?

I would be in for The Name of the Rose.

I made more of an effort to participate in group reads this year, and have loved them, so I am ready to begin planning for next year.

I'd be willing to read most of the books already mentioned, and I like the idea of including nonfictions. I'm looking forward to Zane Grey November in a couple of months, and would like to do another author next year - Jo Nesbo is one I've been wanting to try.

I'd definitely be in for a Jo Nesbo month, and I have had Unbroken on my radar for quite some time, count me in on that one as well.

Oh, it would be great if we had a group of Unbroken, I've had it on the TBR for at least 2 year. I would join a group reading The Name Of The Rose as well. I like the idea of some nonfiction reads too.

I'd like to read The Name of the Rose as well. A group read makes it less scary! I really enjoyed the Baudolino read we did here.

Besides The Bully Pulpit (doesn't seem to in touchstones) I suggest these other biographies that I intend reading next year.

Long Walk to Freedom (Nelson Mandela's autobiography)

Elizabeth the Queen : the woman behind the throne

The short life and long times of Mrs. Beeton

Tamerlane : sword of islam, conqueror of the world

Regardless of whether or not you are interested in these specific ones, would a quarterly biography group read be of interest?

#62 well, not to me so much - but then I'm not a big fan of biographies generally. But I think a quarterly biography group read is a great idea. I might even join in on one.

62> yes, it would. But it's only fair to state up front that I do refuse to read autobiographies of people who are far too young to have seen life, let alone done enough to be interesting. In fact, I usually limit my biography reading to interesting dead people. That still leave an awful lot of scope! But I could make an excpetion for an excpetional instance (Mandela and the Queen would, I think, both qualify there)

>62 MarthaJeanne: I have The Short Life and Long Times of Mrs. Beeton in my TBR stash and I'd love to join you in reading it.

The name of the Rose might be one I would join.

Another one I just bought, but have already read was Aprons and Silver Spoons. I really enjoyed it. She isn't dead yet, but in her high 90s, and obviously (from the book) did a lot of living.

I'll set up a quarterly biography thread , but I think any voting etc. should wait a while.

http://www.librarything.com/topic/158388# Is the 75 book challenge set up for next year yet? Can someone mention this there?

We've been talking about Rob Roy by Walter Scott over on my thread. Several takers so far.

If you do a Jo Nesbo month you simply MUST call it "Nesbovember" ;)

Another vote for The Name of the Rose here.

I also feel the need to say that Bleak House is long but is an absolute masterpiece!

@ 69 -- I literally LOL-ed at "Nesbovember." Amazing!

#71 funny, yes, but a great idea!

Love the interest in Bleak House. I know Mark (msf59) is planning group read of Bleak House over on the 75 Group, currently planned for January 2014.

QUESTION: Are the two groups going to share the Group Reads wiki like we have in 2013? Given the interest expressed here and over on the 75 Group, I think it would generate a good discussion if both groups join the same group read for Bleak House.

I am planning on reading all of the books in Dumas' d'Artagnon Romances series, which starts with The Three Musketeers, so I an definitely in for that group read.

I would be up for a Wilkie Collins month - that way I can finally get around to reading The Woman in White.

I may be up for The Name of the Rose... the last time I tried to read it I found myself very confused so a group read might help me get over my confusion.

> 67 - Hi Martha, the 75 Book challenge never gets set up until after Christmas.... they have found that people just abandon that group for the new one once it is set up so the administrator waits as close to the end of the year as possible before posting the new group. ;-)

That would be a great idea to share the wiki again! The more the merrier :)

I think sharing again is a good idea!

Sharing is a great idea. I'm all for it. :)

absolutely, and add in more groups if we can get them!

Yes I so agree with Majkia.

Another group with great group reads is the 1001 books to read before you die group. I don't know if the administrators would be up for joining a group wiki for groups reads, but as a member of both, I'd personally like it! Any way to get more people involved in group reads sounds good to me.

I haven't done any of the group reads this year but would like to try next year. The Three Musketeers sounds good to me, also The Name of the Rose. I would also give a biography a go, depending on what it was.

I've been looking at my list of books that I want to read but can't seem to get myself motivated to do it alone.

Anyone interested in....
Middlemarch, Madame Bovary, The Mists of Avalon, Vanity Fair, or Water for Elephants?

I would read Madame Bovary.

#81 I've already read Water for Elephants (and am surprised that you're having trouble starting it). I'd be willing to try any of the others, though.

> 81 - I would be up for reading Middlemarch, Vanity Fair or Water for Elephants.

>81 cyderry: I have also read Water For Elephants but would be happy to give the others a go.

I would do Madame Bovary, Vanity Fair or Middlemarch

I'm interested in Middlemarch and maybe The Three Musketeers.

@ 81 -- I'd like to do Water for Elephants...I bought it when everyone was raving about how good it was, but for some reason I never picked it up!

Middlemarch is a fantastic book! It's one of my favorites.

I might join a group read of Madame Bovary.

Vanity Fair was one of my favorite books this year. I really missed some of the characters when the book was finished. I really enjoyed Middlemarch and Madame Bovary and Water for Elephants is a easy read. But I would be interest in The Mists of Avalon.

I found a few more that are languishing on the TBR pile needing some incentive to move them along.

Is anyone interested in reading....

Around the World in 80 Days
Gulliver's Travels
Canterbury Tales
Lady Chatterley's Lover
Anne of Green Gables

I think I would like to join in with Water For Elephants as well, it's been on my list for a long, long time and this would be the incentive I need to finally get it read!

I would be interested in Canterbury Tales as it's a book I think I'd need some help with the get the most out of.

Along those lines, I have the Russian 1950's Life and Fate by Vasily Grossman on my TBR pile. I've heard great things about it, but need a little push to take it on! Anyone interested?

I downloaded Canterbury Tales on my Kindle so I'm ready to go on that one!

I'm thinking an entire quarter needs to be dedicated to Canterbury Tales - a hardback I looked at was 900+ pages. Even on my Nook it's 610 pages. What I'd really like for Canterbury Tales is a tutored read.

91> I've been thinking about reading Anne of Green Gables. I might also be persuaded to read Around the World in 80 Days.

Canterbury Tales are great fun. I'd be up for re-reading that one.
I read it first time on a flight to the States. And then again on the return flight. After having read all the footnotes and explanations.

When shall we read Canterbury Tales?

Also Around the World?

Since Canterbury Tales begins "In Aprille" you might schedule it for the spring.

Spring sounds good for Canterbury.
I'd be up for just about anytime for ATWI80D. Start the year off with a trip?

I have The Canterbury Tales on Mount TBR too! Don't mind when.

I would be interested in reading:
>81 cyderry: Madame Bovary
>91 cyderry: Le Tour du Monde en 80 jours, Gulliver's Travels, Canterbury Tales
>93 japaul22: Vie et Destin

They are on my shelves since, well I don't remember so I think it's time.

Might try Canterbury Tales depending on what else is that month.

A group read of the Canturbury Tales does sound interesting. Considering the layers and history involved, it might help people from getting bogged down.

I guess the wiki needs to be setup first and then we can decide when for each book.

I'm pondering a re-read of The Raj Quartet. Anyone like to join me?

WRT The Three Musketeers, I wouldn't mind a re-read but I'd want to go on to the rest of the Romances.

I have Water for Elephants on my TBR pile so I would love to read that.

I'm all for Agatha Christi.

I'm planning on reading lots of Scandi Crime next year so a Nesbo month sounds good to me. I haven't read any of his Harry Hole books yet.

I'll join the Unbroken group. It's in my Second Chance category. I've tried to read it before, but couldn't get through it.

> 106 - Jean, I am also planning on reading all of the books in the d'Artagnon Romances next year, so maybe we can start with The Three Musketeers early in the year and see if more interest is generated for the other books in the 'series'.

#109 by @lkernagh> Sounds like a plan, Lori!

I've quite enjoyed the group reads of authors in certain months in the past (Atwood in April, Fowles in February, Steinbeck in September) any ideas for 2014?

I wouldn't mind trying some more Colum McCann.

I'm up for an Iain Banks group read - maybe the wasp factory or the bridge

I'll be running a reading group next year for a local publisher and it may be interesting to get an LT perspective too - the books have been chosen by the publisher & I'm doing the logistics - not sure yet on when the group will meet except that it will be once a quarter...

An Interrupted Life: Diaries and Letters of Etty Hillesum 1941 – 43 Etty Hillesum
Stories of the Great Turning edited by Peter Reason and Melanie Newman
Feeding Orchids to the Slugs Florencia Clifford, which I have read and enjoyed
Paralysed with Fear: The Story of Polio by Gareth Williams

That sounds interesting. I haven't heard of any of those -- it might be fun to read something with no prior expectations.

I've just joined the new group and can't believe there is so much discussion here already. It's great!

Of all the ideas mentioned, these are the ones I'd go for:
Agatha Christie
Jo Nesbo
Atwood in April
Cornish Trilogy, or any other Robertson Davies

I might also sign up for a group read of a classic tome (e.g. Middlemarch, Vanity Fair). I always want to read more classics but often need a nudge, especially with a large volume.

I might consider The Name of the Rose, though it's really Eco's Foucault's Pendulum I'd rather read, only because it's been sitting on my bookshelf for at least 15 years and getting awfully dusty.

Ooooh, the group reads for next year sound like so much fun! I'm really excited.

>115 mathgirl40:

I was thinking of Foucault's Pendulum too.

Or we could do an Eco month?

I have The Prague Cemetery and wouldn't mind reading that next year. An Eco month might work. Or is Eco dense enough to need a guided read?

Hi! I am new to this challenge idea so am not completely sure how it works. But I would love to second some of the proposed books:
>6 soffitta1: Shirley and Mary Barton
>81 cyderry: Middlemarch and Madame Bovary
>115 mathgirl40: Foucault's Pendulum

I love Agatha Christie so would happily reread those :)
Jo Nesbo is an author I have been wanting to try.

I would also like to read some other French literature (other than The Three Musketeers, which I love and have read many times) such as The Red and The Black by Stendhal or something by Balzac

Stendhal? Anytime, anyplace.

Eco month sounds good.

I was thinking about The Name of the Rose but I also have an unread Foucault's Pendulum which I wouldn't find reading.

I'd be all for an Eco month. I don't mind talking about all the books in one thread. After finishing Foucault's Pendulum, I might find the inspiration to read more!

We'd be more a support group than a discussion group! But it could be fun. I've read Foucault's Pendulum twice now, and it's a riot. A long, erudite riot.

Hmmm ... I definitely want the support, but I like the discussion too. I want it all! :)

Maybe have a general Eco thread but perhaps have spin-off threads for deeper discussion of particular books if there are enough people interested? It sounds like Foucault's Pendulum is challenging enough that having some guides would be helpful.

However we decide to do it will be fine with me. I'll still participate whatever the format. At least it will get me to take that book off my shelf, which is my main goal.

The Stendhal suggestion appeals to me. I have copies of The Red and the Black and Charterhouse of Parma that I need to read.

We seem very heavy on fiction. What, no nonfiction? I'll have to think up some ideas.

I'm interested in reading Foulcault's Pendulum.

#112 - I would love a Colum McCann month!

Anyone interested in Julian Barnes?

>127 lindapanzo: I would be in for non-fiction. I mentioned up thread that the 75 challenge group does a quarterly non-fiction read. That seems like a good approach.

127> there was a discussion of a biography read on a quarterly basis (I think). It was in a separate thread that I can't seem to locate now. sorry.

I'd be interested in a Colum McCann read and a non-fiction read. I'm planning two non-fiction categories and three mixed fiction/non-fiction categories for next year so I should be able to find something to fit a group read.

Way up thread some people mentioned a Poetry group read. I'd recommend something like A Book of Luminous Things: An International Anthology of Poetry edited by Czeslaw Milosz. Milosz made sure that every poem in the anthology was accessible. Also, with an anthology you're bound to find a few poets that you'd like to read more from. This is my absolute favorite poetry anthology.

The biography thread is here http://www.librarything.com/topic/158388

I'm doing a re-read category and an Eco month would fulfill that as I could re-read name of the rose and/or foucalt's pendulum I think I have a couple of unread Eco lurking somewhere too

I would be up for an Eco month. It might encourage me to finally get The Island of the Day Before of my TBR bookcase.

I'm not sure I know what an ECO month would cover. Could someone please explain.

I would like to try to give The Name of the Rose another try. I read about half of it years ago before abandoning it. I think I just had too much other stuff going on at the time and had too many interruptions to enjoy it.

I love the idea of an Eco month (he's one of my favorite authors) but I think that we would benefit from a thread for each book with multiple readers. Eco is really dense and lends itself well to discussion and reading support! I would be up for The Prague Cemetery which I haven't read yet, or a reread of The Island of the Day Before.

What a lot of great suggestions!

I loved Water for Elephants. I hope all of you enjoy it as much as I did!

I'm definitely interested in group reads of Unbroken and the last 2 books of Penman's Welsh trilogy (I read the 1st book Here Be Dragons a couple of years ago and don't plan to re-read it, though I'd be happy to join in the discussion). They're already on my list and I'd love company.

I'm also planning to read Penman's mysteries set during the reign of Richard I, and the last 2 books of Elizabeth Chadwick's series on the Marshal family. And depending on when I get done with all these, I may move on to The White Queen series.

I picked up a copy of Arabian Knights and started it a couple of months ago, but I haven't gotten very far and probably will not get back to it before 2014. I am also interested in Canterbury Tales. I think both of these would work well as multi-month or year-long group reads (especially if I try to read Chaucer in Middle English).

I might join in on the later books of The Three Musketeers series, and I just might read Anne of Green Gables again. I have to think about Eco -- an author I haven't read but think I should.

OK, I'm going to throw one out there.

Anyone interested in a group read of The Stand by Stephen King?

#140
There is a current group read of Sharon Kay Penman's Henry II books. The group is just finishing up with Devil's Brood and will be moving on to Lionheart beginning in October. The link to that discussion is here:

http://www.librarything.com/topic/157277#4266826

#141 When do you propose? I was planning to read it this Halloween, but it is too voluminous for that.

I haven't read The Stand in years. It would be fun to return to it.

143> When? Um, someday? In 2014? LOL.

The complete and uncut edition is 1200 pages and it looks like it's broken up into 3 books. So maybe we could start one month and have three separate threads for each book?

#145 Works for me!

We are taking nominations for the quarterly biography read now.

http://www.librarything.com/topic/158388#4307192

Would there be interest in either a Vorkosigan (Lois McMaster Bujold) or Liaden Universe (Sharon Lee and Steve Miller) group read? I was thinking of an informal, loosely structured year-long thread like the Anne Perry group read this year but am open to suggestions.

>148 mathgirl40: I might be interested - I have the Vorkosigan series down as a possibility for 2014.

These are the ones I'm interested in and my suggestions for timing:

Water for Elephants JANUARY
Vanity Fair FEBRUARY
Canterbury Tales APRIL
Around the World in 80 Days JUNE
Madame Bovary OCTOBER

Middlemarch 1st Quarter
The Bully Pulpit by Doris Kearns Goodwin 3rd Quarter

I have others that I'm interested in but they haven't been seconded.

I'll second Rob Roy on this thread because I was one of the ones discussing it with @cmbohn on her thread.

Any interest in a group read of The Arabian Nights?

The Raj Quartet was mentioned in 106 - I'll second that , but can we spread it out a bit? Maybe alternate months?

->150 cyderry:
Thanks for setting it up - we can all go mess with it once we know what we're doing. :)

#148 & #149 I would be interested in a year long Vorkosigan read, I have read a couple of works and an year long assignment sounds good to me.

#153 I would have been, but I think 1 year is too short for The Arabian Nights, if you want to break it volume wise, I will probably be in.

Thanks, Cheli!

April sounds good for Canterbury Tales. Just one month? It may take me more than that...

>153 cbl_tn: Yes, Carrie, I'm interested in Arabian Nights, though I'm currently a little way into it.

>142 benitastrnad: Thanks, Benita, I've been following along on the Penman group read, but haven't been very active in posting on the group read threads.

Canterbury Tales in a 2nd quarter then?

>156 PiyushC: I don't do well with group reads that span more than a month. The edition I'm planning to read has just ver 500 pages and I think I could do it in a month. If others wanted to do it over a quarter, I could just plan to finish early.

@ 151 -- I'm OK with January for Water for Elephants.

I have been thinking of reading something by Twain so I'll second Life on the Mississippi.

151> Already read Water for Elephants and Vanity Fair so it makes no difference to me, but Water for Elephants is a lot shorter and easier than Vanity Fair, so you might want to consider reading that in the shorter month of February.

For The Stand, how about August, September, and October? It's about 1200 pages and if we break it down into the three parts, it's about 400 pages a month.

#154 - I'd also recommend alternate months for a trilogy after trying this year to tackle the Gormenghast trilogy in 3 months. I personally have decided not to put my hand up for any group reads ahead of time no matter how compelling as my track record on actually following through has been less than stellar.

#164
I'll second that. I generally do get the books read but I am much slower than some on these threads. Sometimes it is nice to have the motivation that a group provides, but sometimes it makes me feel like I have let the group down. However, remorse in a virtual environment is easier to ignore than it is in real life.

I was planning to start Arabian Nights in January and work my way through it over the course of the year.

#154 by @Helenliz> absolutely! what months do you want to use for The Raj Quartet?

#163 Works for me.

I've got the third and fourth books of the Raj Quartet waiting to be read, so may join for those volumes.

Don't forget if you agree on a book and time, you need to mark it in the proper time period on the wiki.

167> strikes me that a book of the last days of the Raj should be read in a long hot summer. As that seems unlikely, maybe March, May, July & September?

#171 by @Helenliz> sure. I'll put it on the wiki

ETA: if I can find it....

Eva, can you put the addy for the wiki on the group page please?

http://www.librarything.com/wiki/index.php/Group_Reads_of_2014#Group_Reads_for_2...

I'd join in on the Foucault's Pendulum read, depending on when you set it for.

Lots of great authors and books nominated so far - I'm definitely keen to read the Raj Quartet next year. Is anyone interested in Robertson Davies? Someone has suggested Cornish Trilogy however I was thinking about starting with The Deptford Trilogy next year.

Re: #153 , #156 , and #157

In the editions published by Penguin books (which I plan to read),
The Arabian Nights: Tales of 1001 Nights, Volume 1 is 982 pages,
The Arabian Nights: Tales of 1001 Nights, Volume 2 is 878 pages,
and The Arabian Nights: Tales of 1001 Nights, Volume 3 is 855 pages,
which is indeed a lot of pages.

I think it can be done in a year, though, if one reads a book every 4 months, which should be manageable.

So, I'll put it in the wiki for year long reads, if no one objects.

* * *

As for The Three Musketeers and Bleak House, does anyone have an interest in doing these toward the beginning of the year? Say, February, March, April?

I'd sign up for Bleak House & The Canterbury Tales. As the latter was suggested for April, maybe Jan or Feb for Bleak House?

>176 andreablythe: I'm planning to read the Haddawy translation of the text edited by Muhsin Mahdi. It is much shorter than translations based on other editions of the text. I won't be reading the multi-volume versions so I guess I won't do the group read.

#178
I think you could still do the group read of The Arabian Nights and participate on the tales that you read.

Edited to Add: Another idea is that the discussion thread(s) could focus on the stories that are most common across all of the editions.

>175 kiwiflowa: The Deptford Trilogy is what I have on my shelf. I'd be willing to join in on that one.

I'll put the Canterbury Tales in for the second quarter if no one objects.

January for Bleak House please, only because that is when the 75 group is planning to read it... no point in our group reading it one month later!

I plan to read The Three Musketeers in Feb, since Bleak House is going to consume my January, but if there is large interest in starting The Three Musketeers in January, I am good with that.

It makes sense to read Bleak House in January at the same time as the other group, but I'd like later for The Three Musketeers. Middlemarch was mentioned already for the First Quarter, and while I'd like to read all three - it won't be happening all at once. What about Musketeers in May? It's alliterative!

Bleak House has been added to the wiki for January.

> 183 - That is a lot of chunkster reading for the start of 2014! I am okay with having the group read for The three Musketeers start a little later if it will generate more group interest. Jean (majkia) and I, and possibly others, are planning to read all of the books in the D'Artagnan series (which starts with The Three Musketeers) in 2014. May might be a little late for a start... how about March, understanding that there may be readers that start after that?

#3 Carrie, I think I'd like to give The Museum of Innocence a try next year.

#185 That one's on my wishlist - I'd be willing to participate if there is a group read

Someone way uplist mentioned Agatha Christie and Rex Stout. I wouldn't mind doing something like we're doing in November with Zane Grey. Read something by one or both of these authors.

The other one I'm interested in is the new Doris Kearns Goodwin book about Teddy Roosevelt but I'd like to start that one when it comes out.

>185 lindapanzo:, 186 Great! What month would work for you?

I haven't committed to anything else yet, but the Raj Quartet is kind of appealing, so maybe not in any of those months. Otherwise, anytime will work.

Anytime is fine with me, too, for the Pamuk book. I'm not signed up for anything else yet.

I may try at least the first book in the Raj Quartet since I have it in my TBR stash. How about April or May for The Museum of Innocence?

Sounds good. How about April?

I would like to do the Bully Pulpit in July. I still have a few presidential bios to read before I get to TR and I think July would be okay but if you don't want to wait, I'll understand.

184> See what works for majkia since you're both more committed than I am. Someone else was also interested in Middlemarch and Musketeers.

Musketeers in March is also alliterative. I think Middlemarch you start in January and finish . . . well, you know.

April for Museum of Innocence sounds good to me. Raj Quartet begins in May.

Musketeers in March. I like it.

195> Raj Quartet starts in March, then alternate months.

I'm interested in Bleak House and anything by Robertson Davies.

Bully Pulpit is one of the biographies that has been nominated for the first quarter. (or more if we decide to choose for more than one quarter at a time.)

The list of nominations is at http://www.librarything.com/topic/158388#4307192, and voting will start next week.

April it is for The Museum of Innocence. I'll add it to the wiki later when I'm not using my iPad.

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