SFO book club?

[Arashikage]

This is an idea I got in English class not too long ago, and I decided it might be a fun idea to get people in on a book club, where all members read a book over an allotted time, and discuss what we've read on a topic about the book.  I think it might be a very fun experience, just like a real book club, but with people all over the world!  

 

So assuming that we could get this off the ground, is this something that people would be interested in?  I have a number of books that I know of that I've been meaning to read, but haven't gotten around to reading, and I bet a group setting might be a fun little motivation for everyone to bury their nose deep into a ravishing tale, and engage in an intuitive discussion about the chapters assigned probably weekly or bi-weekly.  

 

So what say you all?

[Redeemer]

I'm in!

[Hidi]

Ok, let's obtain copies of Game of Thrones and read them over the course of an eternity.....Yeah, we're not going too far with that.

[Arashikage]

I knew I could count on you Redeemer!  

 

Hidi I take it you're in?  I probably won't do Game of Thrones, but something a little easier, or less lengthy lol.  Something that I'm sure nobody here has read yet I think.

[Hidi]

May depend on what you choose. I'd say make sure what you do want to assign is easily available around the world, so maybe a classic or something like that. Something one could find in a library possibly, to cut down a potential expense (Just don't acquire any late fees).

[Xortberg]

I'm in. I don't have much access to a library or anything like that, but I DO have the Internet, so any book I can find online I'll join you folks in.

[Dr. Orange]

I'll in completely.

 

However if we even THINK about Twilight, I'll be calling in Adam Sandler as Count Dracula.

[Icy]

I'm all for this. I do have quite a few Libraries around here and I can also just get stuff online if I need to.

However, everyone getting the same book all around the world may be a bit of trouble, but we'll see how it works out.

 

How will it all work?

[Fana McCloud]

I'm in, so long as we try to stick with popular stuff that I have a higher chance of finding audiobook versions of - it helps me to get through a book if I can listen to it while doing other things.

 

Maybe to start we should agree on a genre to pick our first book from or something, I dunno. XD

[Steph McCloud]

I'm in!

 

And for the problem of everybody getting a hold of the book, this website has a ton on it and could be pretty helpful.

[jeth]

I'm in!

[Arashikage]

Wow!  I'm surprised at all the support this has garnered!  I was thinking maybe we'd call a vote for what genre we want and what book, then we'd all read a certain number of chapters a week and check in on a topic I'll make when we get everything set up.  The topic will act as a discussion of the books we're reading.   

 

Also, anyone with Amazon Prime, there are popular books that are available to borrow for free, that's what I'll likely be picking from for the vote.  

 

And thank you all again for your support!

[Thu'um]

, i am joining. Although i'm having to read several books already for school. But i'mma fast reader. Also, Redwall or bust  

[Sideways]

I could try. I usually don't read too many books. I have to read books for English class and I could hardly care less. Not books I care about at least.

[Arashikage]

Alright, I apologize for not following up in some time, school had gotten a hold of my reading attention.  Since school is almost over for me though, you can expect more updates.  I'm hoping to compile a list of at least five books to choose from, and was wondering if you guys had any suggestions.  Please note, that these books preferably should be books that nobody has read.  You don' t have to have not read the book before, but it would be very nice if we could all start reading a book for the first time together.  

 

Please though, for those interested, let me know what books you'd like to read.  

 

Let the records show that those interested are:

 

Redeemer

Hidi

Xort

High Executor

Icy

Fana

Steph 

Jeth

AJC

And possibly Sideways

 

I hope to hear from you all very soon!

[Xortberg]

I'm really bad at coming up with suggestions, especially if we're looking for books I also haven't read. It's been a while since I read any books period, so I'm kinda out of the loop when it comes to them XD

 

One book that I wouldn't mind re-reading is John Dies At The End. It's a bit obscure, though, so it might be difficult for everyone to get ahold of a legal copy. Other than that, I'm perfectly happy just following any suggestions other folks have, for now. I'll keep my eyes out for anything that looks interesting, though.

[Fana McCloud]

I've been trying to create an excuse to read Ender's Game, even more so now since they're making a movie out of it. So yeah, that'd be my suggestion.

[Arashikage]

I dunno about everyone else but I already read Ender's Game.  I wasn't a fan of it, but if the majority hasn't read it, I'll consider it.

[Icy]

Cloud Atlas.

 

I've been wanting to read Metro 2033 for a while now, but I still haven't gotten around to it either.

Animal Farm? People also say to read that but I never have.

[Arashikage]

I actually genuinely didn't like Animal Farm.  I had to read it my freshman year of High School

[Thu'um]

I've read animal farm 3 or 4 times now against my will. A book people have been recommending to me is called "the story teller". Or something to that effect. It's suppose to be really deep and almost sad with nazis and stuff. 1984 is another one better then animal farm. But I've read that, I'd read it again.

[Arashikage]

I actually also disliked 1984.  I had to read it in English my Sophomore year, and really really hated it.  

[Fana McCloud]

Okay, so maybe dumping a bunch of titles that I'm interested in will expedite this a bit, then people can mull over which ones they haven't read but would want to:

 

Neuromancer (Cyberpunk) (Already read this but need to again honestly)

Snow Crash (Post-Cyberpunk) (Already read this but I'd gladly do it again)

The Diamond Age (Post-Cyberpunk)

Pawn of Prophecy (first book in the Belgariad series, Fantasy) (Read it, can't remember much though)

A Game of Thrones (first in Song of Ice and Fire series, Fantasy)

Wizard's First Rule (first book in The Sword of Truth series, Fantasy)

The Colour of Magic (first book in Discworld series, Satirical/Comic Fantasy)

The Gunslinger (first book in The Dark Tower series by Stephen King, genre defying though generally Fantasy-ish I believe)

Starship Troopers (Sci-fi)

Slaughterhouse-Five (Sci-fi)

Fahrenheit 451 (Sci-fi)

Triplanetary (first book in Lensman series, Sci-fi) (I've been told that these books are essentially what Green Lantern rips off XD)

[Xortberg]

Okay, so maybe dumping a bunch of titles that I'm interested in will expedite this a bit, then people can mull over which ones they haven't read but would want to:

 

Neuromancer (Cyberpunk) (Already read this but need to again honestly)

Snow Crash (Post-Cyberpunk) (Already read this but I'd gladly do it again)

The Diamond Age (Post-Cyberpunk)

I've never read much cyberpunk, but I have some friends who love it, so I'm mildly interested in the genre. I'd be down for any of these three books.

 

Pawn of Prophecy (first book in the Belgariad series, Fantasy) (Read it, can't remember much though)

A Game of Thrones (first in Song of Ice and Fire series, Fantasy)

Wizard's First Rule (first book in The Sword of Truth series, Fantasy)

The Colour of Magic (first book in Discworld series, Satirical/Comic Fantasy)

The Gunslinger (first book in The Dark Tower series by Stephen King, genre defying though generally Fantasy-ish I believe)

Not a big fan of long fantasy series in general, and I've read enough Game of Thrones to know I don't really like them all that much, but Discworld always looked unique enough to grab my interest, and I read The Gunslinger a long time ago and wanted to continue the series, so I'm definitely interested in both of those suggestions.

 

Starship Troopers (Sci-fi)

Slaughterhouse-Five (Sci-fi)

Fahrenheit 451 (Sci-fi)

Triplanetary (first book in Lensman series, Sci-fi) (I've been told that these books are essentially what Green Lantern rips off XD)

I tend to have trouble getting into sci-fi. Some of the stuff appeals to me, like watching Doctor Who, but I've only found one or two sci-fi books I've ever managed to enjoy. I remember having to read Farenheit 451 in English, and I didn't care for it. I'm willing to read the genre in the hopes that maybe I'll find my groove in it and start enjoying it, though.

[Faisul]

How do you guys feel about classic american literature?

Edith Wharton's been getting quite a bit of academic attention over the past few decades, and for good reason.

Ethan Frome is her most read work at least in American educational circles, and it's a really cool, short novel to get introduced to her way of writing and the period in general. I guarantee you'll be able to find some version of the 1922 edition at your local library, which is the one I'd recommend personally. If you can get your hands on the Norton Critical Edition, even better - it has some great critical responses and papers on the novel.

It's from the early 20th century so the language can be a little thick, but it's well worth it in my opinion. It's a period piece so if you're not interested in that, you could do much better with some contemporary literature, but you'll be missing out. It also lacks the stupid soapy melodrama of Victorian lit and is surprisingly modernist for its time, so you won't get bored with stories of x's servants wanting to marry y's son and oh god what a scandal it all is.

 

It runs at the length of about 70 pages so you can get through it in an evening if you're interested enough.

 

 

If history fiction is your thing, I have the following recommendations:

The Genghis Khan series by Conn Iggulden (pulpy, easily read and with a great cast of characters set in a period and place we don't hear much about)

 

Azincourt by Bernard Cornwell (Also an easy read, a gritty reimagining of the titular battle, events overlap with Shakespeare's Henry V, offering an interesting perspective on the period that inspired the play)

 

 

For science fiction duders, basically anything by Isaac Asimov will scratch that itch.

 

Check out the Foundation series! You can pick up any book in the series and not really miss out on much, since they take place centuries apart in the setting.

 

If you want to read something more political and otherworldly, go with Dune by Frank Herbert. These are meaty books but the time investment will be worth it. Everything up to about Emperor of Dune is relatively straightforward reading, after that the books get increasingly more philosophical and strange. Though for the love of god, avoid the prequels and the last two books in the Dune series, by Brian Herbert and Kevin J Anderson. They are garbage and will make you hate the setting and characters.

2001: A Space Odyssey by Arthur C. Clarke is also a very neat read. It's less political and 'epic' than the two above recommendations, but make up for it with an awesome plot with an ending I can only describe as transcendental, figuratively and literally.