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Do You Want to Read a Book?

36 Comments

shallan
(Michael Whelan’s rendering of Shallan, part of the interior artwork for Brandon Sanderson’s new novel, Words of Radiance. Artwork copyright Michael Whelan and Tor Books)

Tuesday, March 4th is a day that has been marked on calendars for some time now. It is the day we see the release of the second volume of The Stormlight Archive series: Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson.

The first book in the series, The Way of Kings, was something of an old-school approach to book publishing in that it contained colored interior art and was produced as its own work of art. Sanderson talks about that and about thick tomes of epic fantasy in this article. I cannot encourage you strongly enough to step away from this post briefly to read what Brandon Sanderson has to say. It expresses the kind of passion for genre and for books as objects that I hope all authors have about their work.

Now, to the question in the title: Do You Want to Read a Book?

Or, more accurately: Do You Want to Read Words of Radiance Together with a group of passionate fans?

I hosted an online group reading of The Way of Kings back when I finally got around to discovering what all the fuss was about (yes, I was late to the party). At the time I thought it would be great fun to continue this tradition through all ten of the novels of The Stormlight Archive as they are released. Sharing such a long reading experience with this group of friends, while hopefully picking up new friends along the way, would be a special way to inhabit Brandon Sanderson’s created universe.

I want to give everyone time to snag a copy of the book and I want to point out right now that this is going to be a LOOOOOONG group read schedule. I realize we all have other books we are reading as well as many other commitments and I want people to be able to participate who don’t have time or won’t have time to devour the thousand-plus pages in short order. But those of you who will do that are also most welcome to participate.

It is here that I must admit that earlier this year one or two of you had a conversation with me about co-hosting this event and if you were one of those, PLEASE contact me via the comments or via email at poegeek (at) gmail (dot) com. If anyone is interested in taking question duties for one of the weeks, please let me know in the comments.

I will (on my own or in conjunction with co-hosts) put together a reading schedule after I get my hands on the book and will put up an official sign up post.

In the meantime, please let us know if you are interested and also answer this question for me in the comments: Are you picking up a physical copy of the book, an e-version, or both? (My answer: I will be picking up both)

36 thoughts on “Do You Want to Read a Book?”

    1. I can’t wait to go to the bookstore today! On my list of things to snag:

      Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson (and I will be getting both versions as well. The books are too lovely not to own a physical copy)

      Honor Among Thieves by James S.A. Corey (don’t read a ton of Star Wars books, but so excited to see what these guys do with these characters)

      The Tropic of Serpents by Marie Brennan (I’m in the early stages of A Natural History of Dragons and I’m loving it).

      Flora & Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo (far past time I picked up a copy of this now-Newbery winning book)

  2. Been a while since I bought a brand new e-book, usually wait for paperback release for the price job (yes I am a miser). But I may have to do so with this one, the thought of carrying around that monster makes my cry.

    1. I cannot wait to hold the physical copy in my hands, but I will be mostly reading the ebook version, with some reading of the physical copy when I’m sitting in my recliner at home.

  3. I am sad that I cannot take part this time, I am still behind with the reading of “The Way of Kings”. But by the looks of Michael Whelan’s illustration I definitely buy a physical copy, at the rendering of beautiful art the e-readers suffer tremendously.

    1. I’m really sorry to hear that but am glad that you will be reading the books, period. I was blown away by The Way of Kings and am looking forward to seeing where Sanderson takes these characters next.

  4. ahhh, Michael, Michael, Michael!! :o)

    but alas along with life itself it seems I have no “want” anymore and it’s all I can do to read a poulty chapter a day from the book I am reading now… but thank you for showing me yet another great Whelan cover!

    1. Sorry to hear that your urge to read is waning as I know that gives you such pleasure. Hopefully Once Upon a Time will stir things up here soon! (Fingers crossed)

    1. Oh yeah. I suspect this will make little sense without that background, and there is A LOT that goes on in the first book. Plus it is an absolutely amazing fantasy novel.

        1. If you would like my paperback copy I would be happy to mail it to you. I bought it to read since I didn’t want to lug around the hardcover. Email me your address.

  6. Hi Carl
    Count me in. Looking forward to it already.
    Yet another beautiful picture by Whelan!
    Thanks for sharing.
    Lynn 😀

      1. It’s gonna be brilliant! Especially as I’ve just literally finished reading Way of Kings!
        Lynn 😀

        1. I’m wishing now I had re-read it. I went through all of my post for the group read this morning and it was a nice refresher, but I’m sure I’ll have forgotten a lot of little details.

          1. I feel like I’ve just about got all the names straight to be honest, Kaladin, Dalinar, Szeth, Elhokar, Sadeas (don’t know if I’ve even spelt them all correctly) so I’m glad to pick it up so soon after completing the 1st. Are you doing this for your OuAT?
            Lynn 😀

            1. It will bleed into/be a part of Once Upon a Time, to be sure. I’m a little torn about when to actually start this. I don’t want to wait too long, but I’m sure not everyone rushed out to buy the book today like I did.

              1. Haha, I know what you mean – I actually had mine on pre order – but for the Kindle (so much easier to read huge books on) Will pick up a copy of the book as well but I can chill out now as I’m ready to go!
                Lynn 😀

                1. I bought both today. Staring at the lovely, BIG print copy across from me right now. I’m going to have to take a small taste tonight, for sure.

  7. Oh, yay! I am hopefully in. I haven’t got an email saying it shipped yet. 🙁 I have it pre-ordered. I remember when that used to mean something!

    1. Ha! Hopefully it will make it to your door very quickly. Glad you are in.

  9. I am for sure in.
    I am waiting for my physical book to show up in the mail.
    I have Way of Kings in hardcover and LOVE how that book was produced…everything – the cover, pages, maps, etc. please tell me that this new book’s hardcover is as bit as good as WoK.
    Didn’t think about getting it as an ebook too. Hmmm.. Sometimes ebooks are difficult for me to manage when the book is a tome. They’re not easy to gauge my reading pace nor navigate. Still, an ebook may be necessary as I cant imagine carrying around the hardcover. With WoK I also had a mass market pb to carry around.

    1. Oh yes, the new book is beautiful. And it practically dwarfs the other one in size. It is BIG. Did you check out the Brandon Sanderson link I put in the post? If not, you should. He talks about the book as a physical object in that article.

      I did the same thing with WoK. I had a mass market paperback that I did most of my reading from.

      Great to have you in!

  10. I have WORDS OF RADIANCE on order. Brandon Sanderson is a terrific writer and keeps improving with each book. And, I really like the artwork on the covers of this series!

    1. He really is talented. I have yet to be disappointed with anything I have read.

  11. Count me in. What day are you planning on starting it? I’m planning on buying a physical copy of the book because Brandon Sanderson is doing a book signing near me on the 20th and I want to try to get it signed. Trying to decide whether to buy it in advance or there.

    1. Great! Happy you are joining in. How cool that you get to go to a Sanderson signing!!! Wow.

      We are kicking around ideas of when to start right now, I’ll let you know as soon as I know.

  12. Hi Carl,

    I will most definitely sign up for the read along as I have thoroughly enjoyed the one for The Way of Kings.

    I have purchased a Kindle edition because I will be traveling in May and decided not to lug a massive 1000 page hardback with me to Europe . . . however, I was one of the lucky winners for the giveaway that Tor sponsored for the read along, so I will actually get a physical copy as well! This should make it a little easier for me to read the maps and other illustrations, which the ebooks still don’t do too well.

    I am also open to being a host if you still need help,

    Sue

    1. That worked out great, Sue! And I don’t blame you for going the Kindle route. I wouldn’t want to be lugging WoR around Europe either! Have a wonderful trip. Glad you going to participate.

  13. Of course I find out that you want to do a group read of this book after I finish reading it. But then again, I bought the book on the day it came out and the only reason I didn’t start reading it that day was because I hadn’t quite finished re-reading The Way of Kings yet. I’ve finished the book since then, and I’d love to take part in the conversations about the book.

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