I recently had an unfortunate experience with my real-life book club and To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis (long story short: I recommended the book and it turned out to be a bad fit for the group—we ultimately decided to abandon it). So when Carrie at Books and Movies mentioned on Facebook that she’d recently become a Connie Willis fan and was working her way through all of Willis’ work, I jumped at the chance to read Blackout with someone who loves Willis as much as I do.We will be reading the book for the whole month of July, so I’m hoping a few of you will join us!
Note that Blackout is part one of a story that continues with All Clear (which is unfortunately only out in hardcover at the moment). I’ve been told that it’s a good idea to get your hands on the second book right away!
Carrie (who is way more organized that I am) figured out the reading schedule; she and I will alternate leading the discussion each week.
As Carrie discovered, the book’s chapters are not numbered, but the page numbers in her paperback match those in my hardcover book. So here’s the schedule:
July 1 to July 8 (post to go up on July 9): pages 1-123 (stop when you get to the chapter headed with this quote: “Coughs and sneezes spread diseases.”)
July 9 to July 15 (post to go up on July 16): pages 124-253 (stop when you get to the chapter headed with this quote: “Wars are not won by evacuations.”)
July 16 to July 22 (post to go up on July 23): pages 254-378 (stop when you get to the chapter headed with this quote: “Is Your Journey Really Necessary?”)
July 17 to July 29 (post to go up on July 30): pages 379-491
I just picked up the book at the library yesterday and I’m itching to start it right away! To join us in this read-along, head over to Books and Movies and sign up using the Mr. Linky at the bottom of Carrie’s post.
I have been thinking about reading something by Connie Willis for several months! I'm definitely interested in joining you for this readalong!
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting about this!
Yes, yes, yes. I will read along on this one. I'm a big Connie Willis fan and Blackout is on my list to read for the Time Travel Challenge. It will be great to read along with others who enjoy her writing.
ReplyDeleteToo bad about the book club not liking To Say Nothing About The Dog. I loved it.
Yay, Amy and Leslie, so glad you will be joining us!
ReplyDeleteLeslie, it was admittedly a bad choice for my book club -- I'd hadn't really thought about how challenging this book would be for folks who are not used to reading SF. But I was disappointed!
Oooohhh!! I've been hearing such good things about this author. I may join you but my July is so nutsy that I may just chime in from time to time and not follow the schedule. This is just the excuse I'm looking for!
ReplyDeleteSounds good, Jenners, I look forward to your chiming in!
ReplyDeleteBlackout is a wonderful book especially the moving descriptions of the attempts to save St Paul in London and what it was like to survive a night of intense bombing. I'm looking forward to all clear.
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