RISI Reading Group, Book Circle and other reading group chat

RiSi Group Choice for June: The Playdate by Louise Millar

natsplatt — Tue, 28 May 2013 17:59:51 GMT

The chosen book is The Playdate by Louise Millar and the discussion will start 1 July.

The Playdate by Louise Millar

Single mother Callie has come to rely heavily on her best friend Suzy. But Callie suspects Suzy's life isn't as simple as it seems. It's time she pulled away - going back to work is just the first step towards rediscovering her old confidence. So why does she keep putting off telling Suzy about her new job? Suzy and Callie live close to each other on a typical cramped, anonymous London street. Neighbours seem to move in, and move on, before you have even learned their names. Callie's increased sense of alienation leads her to try to befriend a new resident on her street, Debs. But Debs is anxious, odd. You wouldn't trust her with your child - especially not if you knew anything about her past. A brilliant and chilling evocation of modern life, The Playdate is a real talking-point book for mothers everywhere. I started reading and couldn't stop . . . a must-read that will tap into every mother's primal fears' Sophie Hannah

[Poll]

Preliminary Book Circle feelers 2013/14.

wyres — Thu, 16 May 2013 17:37:39 GMT

It's that time of year again Forum members, the 2012/13 Book Circle is set to end in July and that means we have two more books each to read. It's time to think about whether or not you want to join again this year or if you're not currently a member of the Book Circles whether you might want to join. The Book Circles for 2013/14 will be due to start in September. This will give everyone taking part this year time to get their books back safely!

For anyone thinking about joining for the first time here is the list of guidelines for the Book Circle.

If anyone has any suggestions regarding the Book Circles please feel free to post them on this thread.

1. A thought that we were chatting about at the meet in Liverpool was that maybe we restrict the books to books that can be posted as a large letter due to the hike in price this year to £2.60 for small parcels.

2. I do try to put people in Circles where they might see one another at the meets during the year, so that books can be passed on face to face rather than posted to help save on the postage.

3. Do people still want to join in the Book Circles? The circle doesn't need to last a full year and if there aren't enough people for more than one Circle then we could always have an extended Circle lasting more than a year.

Please feel free to add any other suggestions so that they may also be considered if you've got any. Please do not be offended if the suggestions that you make are not implemented.

Thanks

Bernie

Below is a provisional list of people showing an interest at being in the Book Circle.

Bernie ~ wyres

Nat ~ natsplatt

Susan ~ janetandjohn

Brenda ~a1j2j3

Natalie ~columbine

Alison ~ alison44

Fiona ~ angelicfi

Isabel ~ craigtoun

Pauline ~ orlando

Lisa ~ scottishreader

Steph ~ margesimpson

Linda ~ lindar1

Allie ~ mooncrab

Fiona ~nutty_mum303

Urgent news (UPDATED) Mrs Mac's book circle this year 2013

janetandjohn — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 08:01:17 GMT

Sorry about the heading, but needed to get you looking. There is going to be a hiccup for a short while.

Neverendings (Su) has had to nip off for a while and is not at home to either receive, acknowledge, or send on her circle books. If you send to her (Rosemarie3), please continue to do so - there is someone at home - and if you receive from her (that's Cheryl) you will have heard from me already.

This sort of delay means a gap right round the circle, but not immediately. So bear with Su whilst she spends time with her Dad, and I will report on this thread should I have any further news.

Edited to say: Just heard from Su (Neverendings) who has been able to post off two books to dramioneforever now. She has no time to read them, but at least they are on their way now, and we may just catch up with everything before circle's official end.

Risi Reading Group Choice for May: The Night Circus - Erin Morgenstern

scarlet21 — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 18:22:07 GMT

The chosen book is The Night Circus - Erin Morgenstern The discussion will start 27 May

The Night Circus - Erin Morgernstern

The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. The black sign, painted in white letters that hangs upon the gates, reads:

Opens at Nightfall

Closes at Dawn

As the sun disappears beyond the horizon, all over the tents small lights begin to flicker, as though the entirety of the circus is covered in particularly bright fireflies. When the tents are all aglow, sparkling against the night sky, the sign appears.

Le Cirque des Rêves

The Circus of Dreams.

Now the circus is open.

Now you may enter.

[Poll]

RISI March Reading Group Choice: My Cousin Rachel

emzbez1 — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 21:09:11 GMT

The March choice is My Cousin Rachel – Daphne Du Maurier, the discussion will start from 1 April

My Cousin Rachel – Daphne Du Maurier

I threw the piece of paper on the fire. She saw it burn ...Orphaned at an early age, Philip Ashley is raised by his benevolent older cousin, Ambrose. Resolutely single, Ambrose delights in Philip as his heir, a man who will love his grand home as much as he does himself. But the cosy world the two construct is shattered when Ambrose sets off on a trip to Florence. There he falls in love and marries - and there he dies suddenly. In almost no time at all, the new widow - Philip's cousin Rachel - turns up in England. Despite himself, Philip is drawn to this beautiful, sophisticated, mysterious woman like a moth to the flame. And yet ...might she have had a hand in Ambrose's death?

[Poll]

RiSi Reading Group April Book - Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

sazzymch — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 19:28:24 GMT

The chosen book is Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. The discussion will start 29 April.

Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn

'What are you thinking, Amy?' The question I've asked most often during our marriage, if not out loud, if not to the person who could answer. I suppose these questions stormcloud over every marriage: 'What are you thinking? How are you feeling? Who are you? What have we done to each other? What will we do?' Just how well can you ever know the person you love? This is the question that Nick Dunne must ask himself on the morning of his fifth wedding anniversary when his wife Amy suddenly disappears. The police immediately suspect Nick. Amy's friends reveal that she was afraid of him, that she kept secrets from him. He swears it isn't true. A police examination of his computer shows strange searches. He says they aren't his. And then there are the persistent calls on his mobile phone. So what really did happen to Nick's beautiful wife? And what was in that half-wrapped box left so casually on their marital bed? In this novel, marriage truly is the art of war...

[Poll]

RISI READING GROUP 2013 - The Timetable

windysisters — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 11:16:30 GMT

January: Books chosen by suzann2:The Lies We Told by Diane Chamberlain Discussion start 4 Feb
February: Books chosen by lovelytreez: The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick Discussion start 4 Mar
March: Books chosen by emzbez: My Cousin Rachel by Daphne du Maurier Discussion start 1 April
April: Books chosen by sazzymch: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn Discussion start 29 April
May: Books chosen by scarlet21: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern Discussion start 27 May

June: Books chosen by natsplatt: The Playdate by Louise Millar Discussion start 1 July

July: Books chosen by neverendings: rough date for poll 1 July: Discussion start 5 August
August: Books chosen by annecater: rough date for poll 29 July: Discussion start 2 Sept
September: Books chosen by hippystick: rough date for poll 26 August: Discussion start 30 Sept
October: Books chosen by janetandjohn: rough date for poll 23 Sept: Discussion start 4 Nov
November: Books “Best of the Rest”: rough date for poll 28 October: Discussion 2 December
December (seasonal read): Books chosen by annie130: rough date for poll 18 Nov: Discussion start 16 Dec

Subby on the Bench: wyres

Tips for those providing selections:

The books should be readily available for swap/2nd hand purchase so it is easy for participants to get hold of a copy; have no more than around 400 pages so they can be read in the time frame and have enough literary content to provide a discussion. Also, please check the lists below to see which books have been discussed previously.

Special note regarding ebooks: As ebooks are increasing in popularity it may happen that people want to include electronic-only books in the choices. Please be aware that not all Risi Forum members have e-readers or have the opportunity to read e-books on a pc or other device. Similarly, not all e-books are compatible with all e-reader devices. Therefore including such books in the selections will exclude some people from joining in if the e-book wins the poll. Please bear this in mind when choosing yoru books and if you still wish to include a book which is only available electronically, please only include one such book in your selection and make it very clear on the poll that the book is e-book only so that an informed choice can be made by participants.

When doing the poll, please provide a short synopsis for the books so that everyone can easily see a bit about them - you can get these from Amazon, Waterstone's websites etc.

Previous Risi Reads:

2008:
The Diving Bell and The Butterfly by Jean-Dominique Bauby
The Tenderness of Wolves by Stef Penney
Out by Natsuo Kirino
Under the Skin by Michel Faber
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
The Gathering by Anne Enrights
Misery by Stephen King
If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things by Jon McGregor
Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder
The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly
Second Glance by Jodi Picoult
Two Caravans by Marina Lewycka
Skipping Christmas by John Grisham

2009:
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield AND The Book Thief by Markus Zuzak
A Wedding in December by Anita Shreve
Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
The Outcast by Sadie Jones
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff
The Brief History of the Dead by Kevin Brokmeier
The Senator's Wife by Sue Miller
1984 by George Orwell
The Raw Shark Tests by Steven Hall
The Secret Scripture by Sebastian Barry and The Girls by Lori Lansens
A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens

2010:
The End of Mr Y by Scarlett Thomas
New York Trilogy by Paul Auster
Schindler's Ark by Thomas Keneally
The Drowing Girl by Margaret Leroy
Remarkable Creatures by Tracy Chevalier
Confessions of a Fallen Angel by Ronan O'Brien and A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick
Shade by Neil Jordan
The Secret life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd
Guernica by Dave Boling
One Moment, One Morning by Sarah Rayner
Miss Garnet’s Angel by Salley Vickers
The Christmas Train by David Baldacci

2011:
The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen
The Little Giant of Aberdeen County by Tiffany Baker
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
The Road Home by Rose Tremain
What I Saw and How I Lied by Judy Blundell
The Various Flavours of Coffee by Anthony Capella
When God Was a Rabbit by Sarah Winman
The Taking by Dean Koontz
Mercy by Jodi Picoult
Sister by Rosamund Lupton
Still Alice by Lisa Genova

Twelve Days of Christmas by Trisha Ashley

2012

The House of Special Purpose by John Boyne

The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd

Star Gazing by Linda Gillard
Dark Matter by Michelle Paver

Was by Geoff Ryman AND The Illusionist by Jennifer Johnston
My Dear I Wanted to Tell You by Louisa Young
The Sisters Brothers by Patrick Dewitt
Annie Dunne by Sebastian Barry AND La's Orchestra Saves the World by Alexander McCall Smith
Welcome to Rosie Hopkins Sweet Shop of Dreams - Jenny Colgan
Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult
Salt by Jeremy Page

Reading Group Choice - The Silver Linings Playbook -February 2013 for discussion from 4th March

lovelytreez — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 11:13:58 GMT

And the winner is The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick. Discussion will begin on 4th March. A movie adaptation of the book was released recently so you might just catch it after reading the book if you're quick! The dvd is due out later this year. I've reserved a copy at the library so will start it soon.

The Silver Linings Playbook – Matthew Quick

Pat Peoples knows that life doesn’t always go according to plan, but he’s determined to get his back on track. After a stint in a psychiatric hospital, Pat is staying with his parents and trying to live according to his new philosophy: get fit, be nice and always look for the silver lining. Most importantly, Pat is determined to be reconciled with his wife Nikki. Pat’s parents just want to protect him so he can get back on his feet, but when Pat befriends the mysterious Tiffany, the secrets they’ve been keeping from him threaten to come out . . .

RISI Reading group January 2013 Choice: The Lies We Told by Diane Chamberlain

suzann2 — Thu, 27 Dec 2012 14:15:50 GMT

The winner of the poll is The Lies We Told by Diane Chamberlain and the discussion will start 4 February.

The lies we told by Diane Chamberlain -

How far would you go to protect your sister? After witnessing the murder of their parents, Maya and Rebecca Ward had only each other to cling to in their teenage years and beyond. Now both doctors, they have developed very different coping strategies since the tragedy. Daredevil Rebecca races off to disaster sites with an international team of doctors whilst Maya is content in her quiet medical practice and life with her husband Adam. But Maya is unwilling to deal with the cracks in her marriage, or the secrets she's kept since the night her parents died. When a hurricane devastates north Carolina, Maya is feared dead. Adam and Rebecca are left to mourn and hope for a miracle but as the days pass and hope fades, they face unexpected and unwanted feelings and Rebecca discovers that she's been burying some secrets of her own.

[Poll]

RiSi Reading Group Seasonal (Christmassy or not!!) Reads for December Winners announced

wyres — Fri, 16 Nov 2012 19:10:41 GMT

Well the joint winners for December according to the poll are ~

Winter's Children by Leah Fleming

From Amazon ~ Grieving widow, Kay Partridge and her daughter Evie, unable to face the oncoming Christmas festivities, move into a cottage at majestic Wintergill Farm in the Yorkshire Dales. Kay wants to shut the door and forget about everything. Evie, struggling to come to terms with the concept of death, just wants her Daddy to come home for Christmas.

Grieving widow, Kay Partridge and her daughter Evie, unable to face the oncoming Christmas festivities, move into a cottage at majestic Wintergill Farm in the Yorkshire Dales. Kay wants to shut the door and forget about everything. Evie, struggling to come to terms with the concept of death, just wants her Daddy to come home for Christmas.

But Wintergill is far from the quiet refuge that they expected. Devastated by Foot and Mouth, Nik Snowden and his Mother Nora are facing a bleak future. The two are at loggerheads. Nora has had enough of the hard life but Nik wants to keep the house and lands that have been in his family for generations.

But Nik is not the only one attached to the house. In the distant past, a terrible tragedy occurred and ever since a restless spirit has haunted the land, seeking a child that once was lost. Through the generations, the ghost has brought misery and pain to bear on the inhabitants. But where one spirit has sown despair,

And

Winter Warmers by Carole Matthews

Three short stories from the wonderfully warm Carole Matthews: Winter Warmers - a gift for you.

All I Want for Christmas is You
Christmas is around the corner but Maria just can't get into the spirit - will she ever find Mr Right? But when a secret admirer starts leaving her poems and notes, it looks as though her luck is about to change . . .

Cold Turkey
Tara is in love with a man she can't have. She expected to spend Christmas with him but when the big day arrives, she finds herself alone. Sad and upset, Tara just wants to ignore the festive season - and then a chance encounter changes everything.

About Gardening
I love my husband Sam but our relationship isn't what it used to be. Can I find a way to bring us back together?

Treat yourself to this heart-warming collection - it's perfect for warming up those winter nights.

Free to pre-order for Kindle available 26th November this is only available for Kindle or PC reading only but I thought I'd include it.

Feel free to read either or both and the discussion will take place just into the New Year.

If you were in Book Circle 1 2011/12.

wyres — Sun, 02 Sep 2012 08:29:47 GMT

Please could everyone who took part in last years Book Circle 1 please let me know when they've got there books back, etc.

Natalie - Columbine (BC1/1) ~ Hitler's Canary by Sandi Toksvig.

Nat - Natsplatt (BC1/2) ~ My Sister Lives on the Mantlepiece by Annabel Pitcher.

Susan - Janetandjohn (BC1/3) ~ Bad Blood by Lorna Sage.

Margaret - Belletinker (BC1/4) ~ Two Friends, One Summer by Kate le Vann. Comment card only as I read the book and have put it on my swaps, as Margaret wasn't too bothered about having it back.

Linda - Lindar1 (BC1/5) ~ Gents by Warwick Collins. Comment card only as book became a ML book.

Mary - Ivybuttons (BC1/6) ~ Brutal Telling by Louise Penny.

Dani - Voguedotcom (BC1/7) ~ The Tenderness of the Wolves by Stef Penney

Lisa - Scottishreader (BC1/8) ~ The Witch's Trinity by Erika Mailman.

Sharon - Purplepixie (BC1/9) ~ Bed by David Whitehouse.

Emma - Emzbez1 (BC1/10) ~ Suzanne's Diary for Nicholas by James Patterson.

Sarah - Scoots (BC1/11) ~ The Funeral Boat by Kate Ellis.

Pauline - Orlando (BC1/12) ~ The Small Hand by Susan Hill.

Susan - Suzann2 (BC1/13) ~ The Bay at Midnight by Diane Chamberlain.

Manda - Crazifantazi (BC1/14) ~ Broken by Daniel Clay.

Jenny - Hades2 (BC1/15) ~ The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan.

When you've got your books back I'm going to make you bold or if your book hasn't been returned Linda and Margaret please let me know when you've had your comment card back.

Thanks for your help.

Book Circle 2012/13.

wyres — Fri, 20 Jul 2012 20:30:31 GMT

HOW IT WORKS:

1. Get 13 or more members to form each circle.

2. Decide if you have any banned genres (chick lit/mis lit etc). Only one book is sent per person.

3. When choosing your book please bear in mind the following points:

a. The book should be no more than 500 pages in paperback or a small hardback that must be no more than 750g including jiffy.

b. That the book isn't in any current reading lists (Richard & Judy or Waterstone's to give an example) or in any current Top 10 books or a very big best seller. Try to pick a book that hasn't been very popular that way the chances are less people in the Circles will have read it.

c. Please make sure that the book that you pick is not part of a series, unless it's the first in the series. Most people prefer reading a series of books from the beginning.

4. Books to be posted at the start of the month within the first week if possible. The new Book Circles will start in September.

5. Make the members into a list to show who posts to who (post to the person after you on the list).

6. Exchange addresses - The person in charge of each circle will send you a PM informing you what to do.

7. Read, enjoy and comment on that book's thread without divulging the fact that the book you are commenting on is part of the Book Circle.

8. Finally, when a book circle book is leaving or arriving and you post in the relevant sections in the Monthly section in Book Chat, please don't mention Book Circle just list the name of the book leaving or arriving. Likewise in the Tasters and Current read section please just mention the name of the book, etc and don't mention its connection with the Book Circle.

To take part you must meet at least one of the following criteria.

a. To be eligible to join the Book Circle we ask that you have either posted over a 100 posts on the Forums or been a member of RiSi for at least a year when the Book Circle is due to start or have done over 50 swaps. You only need to meet one of these.

b. That you can committ to the full year (personal problems and committments notwithstanding).

c. Communication is the key. As soon as you encounter a problem please let the Book Circle co-ordinator know.

d. Please let the co-ordinator of your Book Circle know once you have received your book for that MONTH. This way we can keep a better track of where the books are.

e. That a small sticker is placed inside each book, that will identify the book as a Book Circle book eg. BC1/1. Which would mean Book Circle 1/ Book 1.

f. Last year some people sent a card/notelet round with each book for people to write down their thoughts on the book. This was a good idea and we will do this again.

I will be adding a list of people taking part in this years book circles over the next couple of days. If you've not already added your name to the preliminary thread and you want to join, please add your name here and I'll check your eligibility.

Book Circle 1 ~ Bernie

Sarah (sazzymch) ~ BC1/1

Emma (emzbez1) ~ BC1/2

Nat (natsplatt) ~ BC1/3

Susan (janetandjohn) ~ BC1/4

Sarah (eightlegs) ~ BC1/5

Isabel (craigtoun) ~ BC1/6

Susan (suzann2) ~ BC1/7

Sarah (smalley) ~ BC1/8

Suzie (Suzier) ~ BC1/9

Manda (crazifantazi) ~ BC1/10

Lisa (scottishreader) ~ BC1/11

Lindsay (littlereader) ~ BC1/12

Book Circle 2 ~ Susan

Allie (mooncrab) BC2/1

Sarah (scoots) ~ BC2/2

Pauline (orlando) ~ BC2/3

Lisa (scarlet21) ~ BC2/4

Mags (magsfife98) ~ BC2/5

Alison (alison44) ~ BC2/6

Natalie (columbine) ~ BC2/7

Brenda (a1j2j3) ~ BC2/8

Bernie (wyres) ~ BC2/9

Linda (lindar1) ~ BC2/10

Rosemary (rosemary3) ~ BC2/11

Su (neverendings) ~ BC2/12

Cheryl (dramioneforever) ~ BC2/13

12.

Please note that there will now only be 12 books in both Circles, so you will only have 11 books to read and the Circles will end with the last book arriving in July (this is if I've worked it out correctly).

Were you in my bookcircle group last time?(2011/12)

janetandjohn — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 18:56:56 GMT

One of the members of my group did not get her comment card back, and I am contacting you all by email just to ask if you remember seeing it when the book (Dragonwyck, Anya Seaton) arrived. If by any chance you have a comment card around the place, seeking it's rightful home, please pm me. But in case anyone does not see this message, I will still go down the email route.

Thank you all

Mrs Mac

Mrs Mac's bookcircle group this year - 2012/13.... A Plea!

janetandjohn — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 19:02:25 GMT

One of my members last year did not get her comment card back, and in attempting to find it, another member of the same circle told me her's did not come back either.

So - here's my plea for this year: If you do not get a comments card or sheet as you open the next circle book, please contact the sender and ask if they forgot to put it in, and please let me know too.

Thank you all.

Mrs Mac

RiSi Reading Group November Choice: Salt by Jeremy Page

windysisters — Thu, 25 Oct 2012 08:49:15 GMT

The chosen book is Salt by Jeremy Page which is quite amazing since no one has mentioned it in the this thread.. The discussion for the chosen book will be from 3 December.

Salt by Jeremy Page
It is May 1945 and as church bells ring out Victory in Europe over the Norfolk saltmarshes, Goose's daughter Lil is born. But as Lil enters Goose's world, her father leaves it, in a makeshift boat bound - or so the story goes - for Germany, his home.

Forty years later it is Lil's son, Pip, who begins to make sense of his family's fragmented history. Who was his grandfather, who fell from the sky into Goose's life and then disappeared as suddenly as he came? What was the truth of his mother, Lil, who lived and lost her way between the creeks and the samphire? And what does it all mean for Pip, whose heritage of flood, fireworks, fish and clouds, has left him ill-prepared for life beyond the marshes?

[Poll]

Choice for group read October 2012: Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult

natsplatt — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 19:49:35 GMT

The chosen book is Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult, the discussion wil start from 5 November.

Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult

Zoe Baxter has spent ten years trying to get pregnant, and just when she's about to get her heart's desire, tragedy destroys her world. In the aftermath of loss and divorce, she throws herself into her career as a music therapist. Working with Vanessa, she finds their relationship moving from business, to friendship, and then - to Zoe's surprise - blossoming into love. When Zoe allows herself to start thinking of children again, she remembers that there are still frozen embryos that she and her husband never used.

But Max, having sought peace at the bottom of a bottle, has found redemption in an evangelical church, and Zoe needs his permission to take his unborn child . . .

[Poll]

Risi Reading Group Choice for September: Welcome to Rosie Hopkins Sweet Shop of Dreams

scarlet21 — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 16:40:48 GMT

The chosen book is: Welcome to Rosie Hopkins Sweet Shop of Dreams - Jenny Colgan The discussion will start 1 October.

Were you a sherbet lemon or chocolate lime fan? Penny chews or hard boiled sweeties (you do get more for your money that way)? The jangle of your pocket money . . . the rustle of the pink and green striped paper bag . . .

Rosie Hopkins thinks leaving her busy London life, and her boyfriend Gerard, to sort out her elderly Aunt Lilian's sweetshop in a small country village is going to be dull. Boy, is she wrong.

Lilian Hopkins has spent her life running Lipton's sweetshop, through wartime and family feuds. As she struggles with the idea that it might finally be time to settle up, she also wrestles with the secret history hidden behind the jars of beautifully coloured sweets.

A seductive and evocative epic on an intimate scale, that tells the extraordinary story of a geisha girl. Summoning up more than twenty years of Japan's most dramatic history, it uncovers a hidden world of eroticism and enchantment, exploitation and degradation. From a small fishing village in 1929, the tale moves to the glamorous and decadent heart of Kyoto in the 1930s, where a young peasant girl is sold as servant and apprentice to a renowned geisha house. She tells her story many years later from the Waldorf Astoria in New York; it exquisitely evokes another culture, a different time and the details of an extraordinary way of life. It conjures up the perfection and the ugliness of life behind rice-paper screens, where young girls learn the arts of geisha - dancing and singing, how to wind the kimono, how to walk and pour tea, and how to beguile the most powerful men.

blueeyedboy - Joanne Harris

'Once there was a widow with three sons, and their names were Black, Brown and Blue. Black was the eldest; moody and aggressive. Brown was the middle child; timid and dull. But Blue was his mother's favourite. And he was a murderer.'

Blueeyedboy is the brilliant new novel from Joanne Harris: a dark and intricately plotted tale of a poisonously dysfunctional family, a blind child prodigy, and a serial murderer who is not who he seems. Told through posts on a webjournal called badguysrock, this is a thriller that makes creative use of all the multiple personalities, disguise and mind games that are offered by playing out a life on the internet.

Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons

When sensible, sophisticated Flora Poste is orphaned at nineteen, she decides her only choice is to descend upon relatives in deepest Sussex. At the aptly-named Cold Comfort Farm, she meets the doomed Starkadders: cousin Judith, heaving with remorse for unspoken wickedness; Amos, preaching fire and damnation; their sons, lustful Seth and despairing Reuben; child of nature Elfine; and crazed old Aunt Ada Doom, who has kept to her bedroom for the last twenty years. But Flora loves nothing better than to organise other people. Armed with common sense and a strong will, she resolves to take each of the family in hand. A hilarious and ruthless parody of rural melodramas

[Poll]

If you have been in Mrs Mac's book circle that finishes August/September........

janetandjohn — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 18:00:23 GMT

I wonder if you can help? Can you please post here if:

1. Your original book has now come home

2. If you are still awaiting your book to come home

3. If you are one or two books short (i.e. have you been waiting too long since the last one?)

Thank you.

Re: Book Circle reads.

julie73 — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 20:56:45 GMT

I'm still missing 2 plus my own - is that right? I know there have been a few problems. Not had anything since beginning of June x

A new idea for this years Book Circles.

wyres — Mon, 27 Aug 2012 20:50:05 GMT

Just a thought for this year. As some books are known to go missing throughout the year for various reasons and the comment cards get lost with the book too. This year could everyone make a note of the comments they make on the comments cards so that if a card goes missing the comments could be sent to the person whose book and comment card has gone missing.

I'm going to do this by sending myself a PM and replying to that PM each month by making a note of the title of the book and the number and writing my comments down as well. Then if a comment card goes missing I can go to the relevant book title copy the comment and then send it on as a PM.

Eva's New Book Group

lovelytreez — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 19:37:09 GMT

My daughter Eva (8) went to her first evening Reading Gang book group at our local library tonight. She had been in an after school book group for 7-9 but the books were too easy so I managed to wangle an early vacancy for her on the 9-11 evening group. She's quite a shy wee girl but loves reading and I was delighted with how much she participated tonight - I was tucked up into another corner of the library starting into The Mystery of Mercy Close!

Does anyone else have their children at book groups or am I just obsessed??

Might finally be getting

natsplatt — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 22:21:14 GMT

my own little book group!

I had a friend over this evening and we were chatting about books in amongst everything else (well, it's kinda hard to come into my home and not mention books at some point, considering how we're surrounded by them!!) and we were saying, we'd love to go to a book group, but both of us being single mums, it's hard to find a group we can get to! So then we figured, well, why don't we just start our own little group?!! I'm free every Fri night, she's free every other Fri night, so we can meet once a month on one of her "nights off" she's got a couple of friends she can invite along too, and I can take Lisa along too if she wants to go! So, we've put our first meeting in the diary for 27th July, in the meantime I have to choose the book and let her know what it is, so she can pass the message round her friends! And in the meantime, she went home with Time Traveller's Wife to read, cos shock horror, she's never gotten round to reading it, lol!

Nat

I took the plunge and went to my first Reading Group meeting tonight.

wyres — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 22:26:31 GMT

I've known about a local Reading Group that meet in our local Library on a Tuesday evening once a month, it's published in a free magazine that comes through our door. I intended going to the July meeting but was too late, I did ring the Library and they'd a spare copy or two of the book that they were reading ~ A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini but I never got round to picking one up. I went along tonight without having read the book but it did invoke some interesting discussions among the group. On the whole they enjoyed it and the group as an average gave it an 18, they mark out of 20!!

The book they are reading this month is Devil May Care by Sebastian Faulks. I didn't need a copy as I've already got one, surprise surprise. It was their 10th Anniversary tonight and there were light refreshments provided. Three of the group have been involved since the beginning and I was quite pleased to see a couple of people there that I knew. I'll definitely go back next month there was another newbie there tonight and we're the youngest two of the group.

They had tried to get a copy of every book that they'd read over the years that formed part of a display. They asked which book had been the favourite read of everybody in the group and wanted a comment from everyone about the book they liked. I told a few of the group that I'd really enjoyed The Red Tent by Anita Diamant that they'd read, only to be told that as a group they'd mostly hated it, it just goes to show what differing tastes we all have.

BOOKCIRCLERS!! Hello and a plea from Mrs Mac and Bernie.....

janetandjohn — Sun, 12 Aug 2012 17:46:35 GMT

Well - only a couple of weeks now until you post your first book of the new circle off. Please, please, try to ensure that you post every circle book off the first week of the next month. This of course means you have to read it (if you want to) sometime in the month you receive it. Books do get a bit delayed towards the end of the circle, though last year most of the time we got it right, so this is more a reminder than a shouty thing .

Happy Circling!

Book Circle 2011/12 Please could this thread be unstickied now

wyres — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 21:37:38 GMT

HOW IT WORKS:

1. Get 13 members to form each circle.

2. Decide if you have any banned genres (chick lit/mis lit etc) - Let's stick to paperback around 500 pages no more, to keep postage costs low. Only one book is sent per person.

3. Decide a date each month you post books. The new Book Circles will start in July.

4. Make the members into a list to show who posts to who (post to the person after you on the list).

5. Exchange addresses - The person in charge of each circle will send you a PM informing you what to do.

6. Post the book you received on to the next swapper at the beginning of each month.

7. Read, enjoy and comment on that book's thread without divulging the fact that the book you are commenting on is part of the Book Circle.

To take part you must meet at least one of the following criteria.

b. That you can committ to the full year (personal problems and committments notwithstanding).

c. Communication is the key. As soon as you encounter a problem please let the Book Circle co-ordinator know.

d. Please let the co-ordinator of your Book Circle know once you have received your book for that month. This way we can keep a better track of where the books are.

e. That a small sticker is placed inside each book, that will identify the book as a Book Circle book eg. BC1/1. Which would mean Book Circle 1/ Book 1.

f. Last year some people sent a card/notelet round with each book for people to write down their thoughts on the book. This was a good idea and we will do this again.

Book Circle 1 ~ Co-ordinator - Bernie (Wyres)

Natalie - Columbine (BC1/1)

Nat - Natsplatt (BC1/2)

Susan - Janetandjohn (BC1/3)

Margaret - Belletinker (BC1/4)

Linda - Lindar1 (BC1/5)

Mary - Ivybuttons (BC1/6)

Dani - Voguedotcom (BC1/7)

Lisa - Scottishreader (BC1/8)

Sharon - Purplepixie (BC1/9)

Emma - Emzbez1 (BC1/10)

Sarah - Scoots (BC1/11)

Pauline - Orlando (BC1/12)

Susan - Suzann2 (BC1/13) Out

Brenda - alj2j3 (In place of Susan)

Manda - Crazifantazi (BC1/14)

Jenny - Hades (BC1/15)

Book Circle 2 ~ Co-ordinator Susan (janetandjohn)

Elaine - Mamamade (BC2/1)

Rosemary - Rosemary3 (BC2/2)

Fiona - Nutty_Mum_303 (BC2/3)

Leah - Amethystmegan (BC2/4)

Cath - C4thb(BC2/5) out

Julie - Julie73 (BC2/6)

Marie - Drivel_head (BC2/7)

Alison - Alison10 (BC2/8)

Keeley - Sparkledpixie (BC2/9)

Sarah - Smalley(BC2/10)

Alison - Alison44 (BC2/11)

Ellie - Ellie99 (BC2/12)

Cheryl - Dramioneforever (BC2/13)

Bernie - Wyres (BC2/14)

Claire - Proudmum (BC2/15)

RISI Reading Group, Book Circle and other reading group chat

RiSi Group Choice for June: The Playdate by Louise Millar

Preliminary Book Circle feelers 2013/14.

Urgent news (UPDATED) Mrs Mac's book circle this year 2013

Risi Reading Group Choice for May: The Night Circus - Erin Morgenstern

RISI March Reading Group Choice: My Cousin Rachel

RiSi Reading Group April Book - Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

RISI READING GROUP 2013 - The Timetable

Reading Group Choice - The Silver Linings Playbook -February 2013 for discussion from 4th March

RISI Reading group January 2013 Choice: The Lies We Told by Diane Chamberlain

RiSi Reading Group Seasonal (Christmassy or not!!) Reads for December ** Winners announced **

If you were in Book Circle 1 2011/12.

Book Circle 2012/13.

Were you in my bookcircle group last time?(2011/12)

Mrs Mac's bookcircle group this year - 2012/13.... A Plea!

RiSi Reading Group November Choice: Salt by Jeremy Page

Choice for group read October 2012: Sing You Home by Jodi Picoult

Risi Reading Group Choice for September: Welcome to Rosie Hopkins Sweet Shop of Dreams

If you have been in Mrs Mac's book circle that finishes August/September........

Re: Book Circle reads.

A new idea for this years Book Circles.

Eva's New Book Group

Might finally be getting

I took the plunge and went to my first Reading Group meeting tonight.

BOOKCIRCLERS!! Hello and a plea from Mrs Mac and Bernie.....

Book Circle 2011/12 **Please could this thread be unstickied now**

RiSi Reading Group Seasonal (Christmassy or not!!) Reads for December Winners announced

Book Circle 2011/12 Please could this thread be unstickied now