Hannah, The Book Group and Prizes, Oh My!

It's been a year, a whole YEAR since I checked in with all you wonderful readers.

A year of thousands of diapers, hundreds of sleepless nights, thousands of bottles of formula, pictures and too many new discoveries to count.

Hannah recently celebrated her 1 year birthday, and

I thought I'd post a picture of her

to show you how she's grown. (Her profile on LT is vintage_books_baby if you want to see her library)

I'm looking for the latest book thread but don't see anything. What's up people? Do I need to pull The Tortoise out of his shell and see if we can have him ramble over here for a read?

I also still have PRIZES left in my Treasure Chest to give away to y'all.

So, someone please tell me what's going on and what YOU WOULD LIKE moving forward.

Thanks!

Vintage Books

How wonderful to hear from you and what an adorable photo! She is beautiful! We did a group read of Mrs. Dalloway and of A Separate Country, but have not picked out a new book to read.
--BJ

Vintage,

You definitely need to give TT a nudge.

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEyup!~!
I am ready for a 'Winter Highly Rated Read'. So let's get this show on the road. Pick a book and let's do her!~!
belva

I am all for another group read. Just say what and when.......

She's so cute! She reminds me of a Cabbage Patch doll!

Let's do it!~!

A Poll:
Who wants to keep this group active? I would like to see a list of names. And it is (only) my opinion that if we want to remain active, we should do a book each quarter of the year. And that we should do "Highly Rated Books".
Anyone with me on this?
hugs,
belva

List of those would like to keep this group active:
1. rainpebble
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

List of those would like to keep this group active:
1. rainpebble
2. Joybee
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

List of those would like to keep this group active:
1. rainpebble
2. Joybee
3. PaperbackPirate
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

List of those would like to keep this group active:
1. rainpebble
2. Joybee
3. PaperbackPirate
4. lkernagh
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

List of those who would like to keep this group active:
1. rainpebble
2. Joybee
3. PaperbackPirate
4. Ikernagh
5. BJ (aka billiejean)
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

What do you think belva? Is 5 enough?

List of those who would like to keep this group active:
1. rainpebble
2. Joybee
3. PaperbackPirate
4. Ikernagh
5. BJ (aka billiejean)
6. speciallisa im a newbie and have been lookin for a group that reads together! x
7.
8.
9.
10.

List of those who would like to keep this group active:
1. rainpebble
2. Joybee
3. PaperbackPirate
4. Ikernagh
5. BJ (aka billiejean)
6. speciallisa im a newbie and have been lookin for a group that reads together! x
7.Cutestlilbookworm
8.
9.
10.

Now at 7. Is that enough to start considering book options for the group to read in 2011?

List of those who would like to keep this group active:
1. rainpebble
2. Joybee
3. PaperbackPirate
4. Ikernagh
5. BJ (aka billiejean)
6. speciallisa im a newbie and have been lookin for a group that reads together! x
7.Cutestlilbookworm
8. richardderus...but someone needs to jog my elbow once in a while or I'll forget again
9.
10

List of those who would like to keep this group active:
1. rainpebble
2. Joybee
3. PaperbackPirate
4. Ikernagh
5. BJ (aka billiejean)
6. speciallisa im a newbie and have been lookin for a group that reads together! x
7.Cutestlilbookworm
8. richardderus...but someone needs to jog my elbow once in a while or I'll forget again
9.Hannahjo (lovely to see a picture of my namesake)
10

List of those who would like to keep this group active:
1. rainpebble
2. Joybee
3. PaperbackPirate
4. Ikernagh
5. BJ (aka billiejean)
6. speciallisa im a newbie and have been lookin for a group that reads together! x
7.Cutestlilbookworm
8. richardderus...but someone needs to jog my elbow once in a while or I'll forget again
9.Hannahjo (lovely to see a picture of my namesake)
10. jasmyn9 (I've enjoyed all of the ones I participated it...would hate to see it die off)

HOORAY we made it to 10!!! Now what do we do?... ;-)

I add myself as number 11. I have been watching this group for quite some time to see if it would start reading again. I would even be so bold to pick a book for us to read, if, I knew what exactly a "Highly Rated Books" is.

>#22:
FMRox; LOL!~! I think you might need to ask Richard that one. hee hee

#22 What would you suggest?

The Broken Teaglass by Emily Arsenault or Faithful Place by Tana French or The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold or any other number of tomes lying in my mountainous To Be Read Pile I've obtained since Christmas!

It is great to come back here and see this thread generating discussion! I am pretty open to what we choose for a group read. How about everyone offer up some suggestions and see if we can generate interest?

Glancing at the three suggestions FMRox has provided 25, I am okay with the suggestions of The Broken Teaglass or The Lovely Bones but it appears that Faithful Place is book three in a series that I haven't read.

I will offer up as possible suggestions The Glass Palace by Amitav Ghosh, When Nietzsche Wept by Irvin Yalom, Empire Falls by Richard Russo or The Impressionist by Hari Kunzru.

Anyone else?

A copy of books that I am interested in would be All the Pretty Horses or The New York Trilogy. But the above books all interest me, too.
--BJ

So, who decides? When do we start? Who picks the questions?

--BJ;
Hi there. Just wanted to mention that All the Pretty Horses is part of a series/trilogy as well.

Of those books listed above only Empire Falls appears to me to be 'HIGHLY RATED'. The Impressionist looks to be interesting but checking on the net, the ratings for it are all over the place.
My humble opinion says: throw some more titles out there and see if we can get at least two & hopefully three 'HIGHLY RATED' books from which to choose.
I, personally, am really not interested in reading a book in a series as I do not wish to commit to a series (and you know I would have to read the whole series), but the majority should definitely rule.

Been waiting for this group to get a read started for over 6 months. If a group read ever gets started, someone send me a line. I'm un-joining the group. I already belong to one internet book group and I joined a face-to-face group this week as I tired of waiting for this one...

I had no idea that All the Pretty Horses was a part of a series! Both of my girls read it in school and recommended it to me.
--BJ

I talked with my daughter and she said that ATPH was indeed book one, but could be read alone.

Here are some other ideas:

The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly
Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens

Just wanted to mention that The New York Trilogy is not long.

Thanks, Belva, for keeping us on track! :)
--BJ

I lpve reading with the group but because there was so little interest recently, the book chosen would really have to t empt me (and be available at the library) for me to join. I have so many books that are on my list that I own, I'm really trying to give those priority.

Since I'm already planning to read Bleak House by Dickens - another might be too much.

I would like to suggest The Amber Room by Steve Berry. The ratings here at LT fluctuate from love to hate which make it seem like a book that would generate some good discussion.
Here's one of the descriptions of the book:

Forged of the exquisite gem, the Amber Room is one of the greatest treasures ever made by man-and the subject of one of history's most intriguing mysteries. German troops invading the Soviet Union seized the Room in 1941. When the Allies bombed, the Room was hidden, and it has never been seen since. But now, the hunt has begun once more.

Atlanta judge Rachel Cutler loves her job and her kids, and remains civil to her ex-husband, Paul. But everything changes when her father dies under mysterious circumstances, leaving behind clues to a secret about something called the Amber Room. Desperate for the truth, Rachel takes off for Germany with Paul close behind. Before long, they're in over their heads. Locked into a treacherous game with professional killers, Rachel and Paul find themselves on a collision course with the forces of greed, power, and history itself.

Another book that would tempt me that I've heard alot about is Outlander.

I was just on the net checking out info on The Outlander and I am assuming you, cyderry, are speaking of the one by Gil Adamson and not the one by Diana Gabaldon.
It won the "Books in Canada First Novel" award in 2008 for the 2007 book. It also won the 'Drummer General's Award, the Hammet Award, the ReLit Award and the 2009 Canada Reads Award. When I went to look for reviews on it; I found only two thumbs ups and a couple of one thumb up and no thumbs down ratings. So I think this one also would fit within the framework of a 'Highly Rated Book'.
So in my humble opinion, (and I am only one of the group), that gives us thus far five books to choose from:

The Outlander by Gil Adamson,
Empire Falls by Richard Russo,
The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton,
Bleak House by Charles Dickens, and
Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens.

What are your thoughts on these choices?
belva

Hi Belva - Nice list of books. I have read The Outlander by Gil Adamson already, but I would be happy to participate in a discussion if that is the book chosen. My preferences would be towards Empire Falls - shameless of me I know! - or The Age of Innocence. I can be coerced into picking up Dickens, but he does fall further down my pecking order for preferences.

Those choices look fine to me.
--BJ

I was talking about Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. I would lean toward Bleak House since I was already planning on reading it starting in February.

I would prefer either The Outlander, Outlander, Empire Falls, or The Age of Innocence.

Okay then, if these titles are acceptable to choose from, we will let it sit for a couple of days and then call for a vote...........if that works for everyone.
Any other thoughts, please post them. I just really would hate to see this group flounder as it has such potential.
Enjoy your Sunday everyone, whether you are off to Church, sitting with the New Yorker, reading a good book or watching football. We will be starting ours off with Church and then watching football. I think I will take a moratorium from reading until bedtime.
Later, people.

Sounds good, Belva! Thanks!
--BJ

Have missed you --BJ. Are you on the 75 book gig?

Yes! But I haven't read too many books yet. :)
--BJ

OOO I'd **love** to read The Age of Innocence!

I just noticed today is Edith Wharton's birthday...maybe it's a sign.

I read Age of Innocence ages ago but would be happy to revisit it. Empire Falls and The Outlander would be on my list too.

Since this is the HIGHLY rated book group, I thought I'd check on the star ratings here and here is how they stack up:

Age of Innocence 4.05
Amber Room 3.48
Bleak House 4.27
The Broken Teaglass 3.66
Empire Falls 3.95
Faithful Place 4.04
Lovely Bones 3.76
Oliver Twist 3.88
The Outlander by Gil Adamson 3.82
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon 4.39 (LT author a plus in my book)
The Tea Rose 4.05,

I guess I don't have a preference for how we choose the book. I think that is a good idea. I guess we do need to choose a book soon. And good idea about LT Author being a plus.
--BJ

I voted undecided as I don't know the full rationale for how the group determines what constitutes a "Highly Rated" book - if it is based only on LT star ratings or based on other merits not derived just from LT readers.

My only comment with the three highest rated books in Chèli list in message 47 is that I have already read two of them ( The Outlander by Diana Gabaldon, and The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly) Loved them but will not re-read them - they are both huge chunksters page wise! - and Bleak House is already group read for February on LT over in the 11 in 11 Challenge Group - do we really overlap group reads with other LT groups, because that seems kind of pointless.

I am perfectly fine if the group decides to choose one of the top three - I can vouch for the fact that two of them were quite good and well worth reading! - so I will leave this decision in everyone's hands.

I am at a real point of frustration here. How long can it take to choose a book; really?
I move we simply go with the one at the top of the L.T. rating list above, which would be:
Outlander by Diana Gabaldon @ an L.T. rating of 4.39 to be followed by:
Bleak House by Charles Dickens @ 4.27,
The Tea Rose by Jennifer Donnelly @ 4.05,
and then
Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton, also @ 4.05.
I suggest we read one per quarter. If we follow this pattern we have until the end of March to finish Outlander. Does anyone want to do this? If so, let's get going. If not, someone come up with a plan. I am tired of sitting on my thumbs waiting for all of us, me included, to wait for 'someone' to decided. Let's rock and roll folks and get reading "A Highly Rated" book. Okay?
belva

Thank you Belva!

I second Belva's decision to support Chèli list of choices and look forward to lurking behind the scenes as the group reads Diana Gabaldon's Outlander as the first book for 2011. Enjoy the ride.... it is a fun, historical romp!

ETA: touchstones having issues tonight - maybe it is the rain in my area. ;-)

Sounds good to me!
--BJ

Sounds good! Thanks Belva!

I'm in but I think I'll probably be lagiging a bit behind, but I'm in!

Belva, would you like to start the thread/group?