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Upcoming Group Read Schedule (A R.I.P. VI teaser)

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(Photo Credit: A Gift From Old Bailey, Carl V. Anderson)

The official announcement for the 6th Annual R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril (R.I.P.) Challenge is nearly upon us. August has passed by like a whirlwind and it has been aided, I am convinced, by good reading and good viewing and good discussion around the blogging community.

In order to offer you a teaser and to remind you to check back for Wednesday’s R.I.P. VI Challenge announcement, I thought I would take a moment to tell you about 3 group reads that will be taking place over the course of the next two months. Those participating would love it if you would join in the reading or at the very least join in the discussion if you have already read the books in question. There is no obligation to join, so please don’t feel any pressure. I just wanted to be sure that you were aware of the opportunity so that you could plan ahead should you desire to join us.

Kailana and I had decided to do a buddy read of Fragile Things (a re, re, re, re…you get the idea…re-read for me) and wanted to open it up as a group read if anyone is interested.

There are 32 short stories in Fragile Things, counting the introduction. Those of you who have read a Neil Gaiman short story collection know that it is a special treat to read the introduction. Not counting Sunday, September 4th (because that is almost upon us), there are 8 Sundays during the R.I.P. Challenge (Sept 1 through Oct 31st). The plan will be to read 4 stories per week and post about them on each Sunday throughout the challenge. The Fragile Things reading will officially begin on September 1st and this first week will include the:

Introduction

A Study in Emerald

The Fairy Reel

and October in the Chair.

We will post about these stories on Sunday, September 11th.

I may ask one or two questions (thoughts Kailana?) for each story and if so I’ll email those out by the Thursday prior. However, short stories are by definition “short” and my hope is simply to get you to discuss your own thoughts about the story and interact on each other’s websites.

A Mr. Linky will be included here on Stainless Steel Droppings in each of the Sunday posts in order for you to link to your Sunday post.

As this is a collection of stories and will take place across two months, feel free to join in for the whole book or simply on weeks when you have time or are interested in participating.
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Jim Butcher was born (and I believe now resides) in Independence, Missouri, the city in which I have made my daily bread for the past 13 years. And in all that time I have only read one novella of his. Recently we discussed Patrick Rothfuss’ recommended reading list and he has talked up Jim Butcher’s Dresden books. My friend Jeff suggested that we do a group read of the first book, Storm Front, during the R.I.P. Challenge and I for one am game.

The group read for this book will begin on Monday, September 12th. The hard cover version of the book is 320 pages long and my inclination is to split the book into thirds. I am picking up my copy of the book at the library today and will update this with specific page counts then. Questions for each week will be posted by me, Jeff and one other person who might want to volunteer? Questions will be due by the Saturday at the end of each reading week with answers posted on Mondays. In other words:

Part 1:

Monday, Sept. 12th–reading starts
Saturday, Sept. 17th–Questions due (Jeff)
Monday, Sept. 19th–Answers post

Part 2:

Monday, Sept. 19th–reading starts
Saturday, Sept. 24th–Questions due (Carl)
Monday, Sept. 26th–Answers post

Part 3:

Monday, Sept. 26–reading starts
Saturday, October 1st–Questions due (TBA)
Monday, October 3rd–Answers post/wrap up.

A Mr. Linky will be included here on Stainless Steel Droppings in each of the Monday posts in order for you to link to your own Monday Answers post.
__________________________________________

And last but certainly not least, I have been hearing a susurrus regarding Deborah Lawrenson’s book, The Lantern, and it is growing into a full-fledged buzz. Ever since Diane Setterfield released The Thirteenth Tale back in September of 2006, I spend part of my autumn months hoping for something that gives me a similar gothic thrill. It may be unfair of me to put those expectations on Deborah Lawrenson, but when I read about The Lantern I just knew that I wanted to read it during the challenge and was hoping others might be persuaded to join me.

Heather and Kailana have agreed to shoulder question duties along with me as we host a three week October Group Read of The Lantern. The Lantern is conveniently broken up into 5 parts.

The schedule for this group read will be:

Monday, Oct 3 to Oct 9, Parts 1 and 2 (Questions by Carl). Answers post Monday, October 10th.

Monday, Oct 10 to Oct 16 Parts 3 and 4, (Questions by Kailana). Answers post Monday, October 17th.

Monday, Oct 17 to Oct 23 Part 5 and Wrap Up, (Questions by Heather). Answers post Monday October 24th.

A Mr. Linky will be included here on Stainless Steel Droppings in each of the Monday posts in order for you to link to your own Monday Answers post.

This is a newly released book available only in hard cover so we decided to wait until October to begin the read to give anyone who wants to participate time to either purchase the book or track it down at your local library.
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There is a lot of fun awaiting those who choose to participate in this year’s R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril Challenge*. I do hope you will consider adding to that fun by participating in one or more of our group reads. But if not, please don’t hesitate to sign up for the challenge when the announcement hits the home page on Wednesday, August 31st!

*and just for further clarification, you don’t have to sign up for the R.I.P. VI Challenge to participate in these group reads.

If you are interested in one of more of these please sign up in the comments section and I will add your email to the group mailings for the book(s) you signed up to read.

100 thoughts on “Upcoming Group Read Schedule (A R.I.P. VI teaser)”

  1. Well I probably won’t be able to do the readalong for The Lantern, but it does sound like a fascinating book! I hadn’t heard of it before. I’ve put it on hold at my library, but sadly I’m 21st on hold and only 5 books have been ordered (none received yet) so I doubt I’ll get the book in time for the readalong. I’m just hoping to get it in time for RIP…

    1. Well, its more than a month from now for the read to start so hopefully you’ll get it in time to join in the conversation sometime during the read. Would love to have your input along with anyone else who is joining in. I’ll cross my fingers for you!

  2. Looking forward to THE LANTERN read-a-long. I’m definitely in! I may be a little late in posting for the first section because I’ll be on a birthday cruise to the Bahamas!! 🙂

    1. Oh, that is so wrong! But I am thrilled for you. What a great birthday present. Glad you are joining in!

  3. Not sure on the questions for Fragile Things. Would it be better to just post brief thoughts each Sunday and then for the final post do questions for a wrap-up post? This way there is more to talk about because the stories are short… What do you think?

    And, I have decided to join for Jim Butcher. I dug out the book today, actually. It’s a reread for me, but since it was a while ago and I still haven’t read on in the series, I figured a refresher would be helpful.

    And, The Lantern will be fun, too. I have it out from the library right now, but I think I will probably buy it so I can participate in the discussion. There is no guarantee if I bring it back I will have it back in time for October…

    I am excited! I all ready have my potential pool saved as a draft… 🙂

    1. I’m leaning towards the brief thoughts, that way no one is obligated to come up with questions, which you and I know from experience is sometimes hard with short stories. So yes, I’m with you. No questions until the wrap up post. Maybe we can each come up with a few questions for that and I’ll email them out to the participants (assuming there are some).

      It will be fun hearing your thoughts on Butcher as a re-read. Glad to have you joining in!

      I saw that Heather has her pool pictured already. I don’t have a draft anywhere in my head, but I’ll be doing a potential reading pool as well. It is just too fun to resist.

      1. That sounds like the best idea. I am looking forward to Fragile Things. It is the last short story collection I have to read by Gaiman.

        Hopefully it is just as good the second time and I actually manage to move on to book 2 afterwards!

        Yes, I saw Heather’s post today, too. I am holding mine back until an official post.

        1. Storm Front obviously was popular enough to spawn many sequels and so I am looking forward to seeing if it feels like a ‘first novel’ of sorts or not. I’ll also be curious to see if you feel it stands up well on a second read. Not all books do and that doesn’t necessarily mean they aren’t good books.

          There are many stories in Fragile Things that I am fond of and cannot wait to talk to you (and anyone else) about them. And there is at least one I despise and I honestly can’t wait to talk about that one either.

          1. Yes, it was a good book, but I am just bad with series. It is up in the double digits now, so it is a long series to get caught-up in…

            I will have to see what I think of Fragile Things. As we know I have a love/hate relationship with Gaiman, so there could be some interesting discussions!

            1. And of course I love Gaiman, but I don’t love all of his short stories. Many of them, but not all.

  4. Gah, as I just read Fragile Things earlier this year, I doubt I’ll be on board for this, but I may join in some of the conversations that are sure to stem from the read-along.

    I’ve been looking forward to R.I.P. VI. House of Leaves has been calling my name ever so sweetly, and I fear I must give in.

    1. That is cool, Logan. Hopefully things will be fresh enough in your mind that you can pop in on the participant’s posts and share your thoughts.

      It will be interesting to get your reaction to House of Leaves. I’ve heard so much about it, and have owned a copy forever, but have yet to brave its waters. Or climb its branches? Or…whatever.

  5. are you really thinking the Lantern may be on the same expectations as the 13th Tale???? Of all the “gothic” reads I’ve done since 13th Tale nothing has come close. (well maybe Drood, but in a much different way, I’d love to find another book as good as the 13th tale!)

    1. Not really, Pat, but one can always hope. The thing with The Thirteenth Tale is not only was it a special book but it was also partially about books, which just adds to the pleasure. I had a similar experience to Setterfield’s book years before when I read Rebecca for the first time.

      I honestly don’t care as much about whether The Lantern is as good as anything, I just want it to be a good solid gothic read. So fingers crossed for that.

  6. I am in for Fragile Things and The Lantern, so long as I can find them at my library… and I am so excited for RIP VI!

    1. I hope you can get them both, Alison! And I’m excited for it too. Can’t wait to get started with it. It is hard to believe that time of year has come around again.

  7. I’ve put in my holds for Fragile Things and The Lantern so count me in! Hopefully I will get each one in time for the starts of the reads. Fragile Things will be a re-read but, as it was three years ago and was actually my first Gaiman, I’m really interested to see what I think now that I know his writing much better! I had totally mixed feelings about the stories the first time.

    (I’ve also just finished up my RIP post and am just waiting for links and such. Can’t wait!)

    1. Sounds great. I’ll actually be listening to the audio of Fragile Things, most likely. I tend to listen to parts of it every year around this time anyway. There is nothing like hearing Gaiman read his own stories.

      You are one step ahead of me, I still have to start my RIP announcement post. 🙂

  8. I’m quite tempted to join you for The Lantern, which I have sitting in my pile right now. I’ll have to see how it goes come October, though….I’m already contemplating books for RIP, so I might not be able to juggle too many things at once (doesn’t mean I don’t usually try though….). 🙂

    1. It would be so wonderful if you could join us in the discussion, Danielle. Your book posts are always so insightful. I understand if it doesn’t work out, but I’m going to hope. 🙂

  9. I’m in with Fragile Things, I’ve read this once but loved it and just made the school I teach at buy a class set so I get to share it with the kids too.
    I don’t blog any more so I will just add my thoughts to the bottom of your posts if that’s okay.
    Looking forward to RIP VI!!!

    1. Great! And you can absolutely share your thoughts on my site. My friend Jeff doesn’t blog either and he does the same thing. It would be my pleasure. Glad you are joining us and look forward to reading your thoughts on Gaiman’s short stories over the next couple of months.

    1. Now Deslily, you know I’d need to have a new one at $353. 😉

      1. LOL ! …crazy isn’t it?!! you wonder where these prices come from…it’s not like this is a classic!

        1. I am assuming it was his first book and that there was a really low print run because he was not yet “Jim Butcher!”. Now that he and this series is immensely popular the first editions of this short print run are probably worth a lot. I’m surprised they haven’t went back and done a new printing of the hard cover.

  11. I’d like to join at least one of the groupreads, depending on how much time my classes take this fall, I just haven’t decided which yet. I’m leaning towards definitely doing The Lantern…

    1. Just let me know what you decide Grace and I’ll get you on the right email list. Best wishes on your classes this fall, I hope you enjoy the semester.

      1. Thanks. I’m going to the library on lunch break to pick up some required reading… I’m hoping that they have “Fragile Things” so I can at least get in on the short stories before I get too busy.

        1. I hope they do as well. I started listening to the audio today (need to get a bit of a jump since I have so many reading commitments) and I was barely into the Introduction before I had a bunch of quotes I wanted to post about. I am admittedly a big Gaiman fanboy, but I became that way solely because of the impact his writing had on me, not to be part of some band wagon. It only took a few pages into the Intro to remind me just why I love the guy’s work so much.

            1. Oh man I am bummed that I can’t join the short stories one. I’ve been meaning to read more, but the timing just doesn’t work for me. I hope you enjoy!

              1. No worries. As I mentioned to you on your site I would also like to do a Neverwhere buddy/group read, so maybe when you get settled in your new place we could consider that. It is my favorite Neil Gaiman novel and I am itching to read it again.

  12. So excited for R.I.P.! I’m in for Storm Front. Hoping to start and finish Miss Peregrine’s before which I’ve been waiting to read for R.I.P. ever since your post about it.

    1. My wife and sister both recently read my copy of Miss Peregrine and thoroughly enjoyed it. And a sequel is in the works, so if you like this there will be more goodness to come.

      1. I saw that there was an upcoming sequel. Very curious! I decided to start reading it tomorrow, the anticipation is killing me which seems appropriate for this challenge.

        1. Well I’m going to put up the R.I.P. IV annoucement/sign up late tonight and encourage every to get started, so your timing is perfect.

  13. Hi Carl. I’m going to do my best to join at least one and hopefully two after I get settled into my new place. I can’t believe I have to miss the first one since you keep telling me to read this author. Fate is odd.

    1. I said this above but it bears repeating (since I put it in the wrong place):

      “No worries. As I mentioned to you on your site I would also like to do a Neverwhere buddy/group read, so maybe when you get settled in your new place we could consider that. It is my favorite Neil Gaiman novel and I am itching to read it again.”

      1. 🙂 I’ve done that so many times. I hope I can join! I need to find out what all the fuss is about 🙂

  14. Oh, how fun. I don’t have Fragile Things but I listened to it last year and loved it. I may pop in now and again with a comment. I’m tempted to join you for the Butcher series but I’m afraid I wouldn’t have much positive to contribute — I thought these books were beyond silly. But I will be interested in hearing what ya’ll think. I haven’t heard about The Lantern but if it’s anything like The Thirteenth Tale, I will love it! I have to go investigate now. I am going to make my RIP list this weekend — can’t wait!

    1. Look forward to your list, Daphne. And yes, please do join in on the Fragile Things conversation, and on the Storm Front one as well. Contrary opinion is always welcome and can be fun.

  15. Count me in on the Fragile Things readalong. Not so sure about The Lantern, we have a couple of copies at work so if I can nab one I’ll join in but I think it is possibly in demand. So we’ll have to wait and see.

    1. Great! Is this your first time with Fragile Things or have you read it before, Fence?

  16. I’m demanding Storm Front back from my son, and I didn’t finish Fragile Things first time round – since I went to hear Gaiman earlier this month and am re-reading American Gods (trying not to finish it too quickly) I’m all fired up with enthusiasm and will join in as much as I can. And I’m *so* looking forward to R.I.P.!

      1. So happy for you that you got to go hear Gaiman. I’ve had that pleasure once and it is a memory I will cherish always. Thanks for joining in on the group read.

  17. Count me in On the readalong for The Lantern (since it’s already on my RIP list)! You know how I love me some gothic stories)!

    1. Great! Looks like we’ll have a nice sized group for that one. Hopefully the book will lend itself well to good conversation. That will be my first non-SFF read along that I’ve participated in.

  18. RIP……!!!!!

    The Lantern sounds really fantastic, especially this time of year. I probably won’t be able to join a read-along as I’ll be dependent on my local library for access, but thanks for the tip on a good looking book.

    See you tomorrow!

    1. Yes indeed, it is that time!!!

      Hopefully you’ll either get the book on time or get it before we start the reading so that even if you are finished with it you can join in on the conversation.

      1. It looks like I’m second in line for it at the library so weather permitting and all that…I’ll take a chance and go ahead and say sign me up!

  19. I’m ready to reboot The Dresden Files so I’ll join for Storm Front. I got off track around book 8 or 9 when the only ebook you could get was on the Kindle. Now I can read it on my android phone, so all is right again.

    Put me on for The Lantern, too, though that will be a game time decision.

    R.I.P., eh? I’ll look forward to whatever that is on the morrow.

    1. Reed, great to have you joining in! And the R.I.P. details have just been posted, come check it out!

    1. I just posted the announcement/sign up so we are now live! 🙂

  21. Pingback: R.eaders I.mbibing P.eril VI | Stainless Steel Droppings

  22. I’ve already read Storm Front but I didn’t get much further in the series, so maybe I need to go back to the beginning and a readalong might give me that impetus.

    I am definitely in for The Lantern readalong (I already have it just haven’t read it yet) and I haven’t read any Gaiman short stories yet so I will be in for that one as well.

    Looks like September and October are going to be busy blogging months!

    1. I’m glad you are joining in on both of those Marg. I do hope the next two months are exciting blogging months! 🙂

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  24. I’m definitely going to participate in the Fragile Things readalong (I already had the book out from the library, so…fate?). I have requested the Lantern, but it’s a long hold list, so I’m not sure if I’ll get it in time. We’ll see. If it does come, I’ll participate in that one, too! I’m already signed up for the R.I.P. challenge on your other post.

    Great challenge, by the way. My RSS feed is full of people posting their initial R.I.P. posts — the blogosphere loves this challenge!

    1. Cori: That is great! I hope you also manage to snag the Lantern in time. They really do and it makes me very happy to see this community get together every year.

  25. Count me in for a re-read of Fragile Things and for a first read of Storm Front as well. I especially need to read it now as I’m supplying questions for week one. 🙂 I have a paperback version which is 352 pages long so we will have to compare chapter breaks between the hardcover and softcover versions Carl.

    1. Good deal! It will be fun talking Fragile Things with you again, especially as I know we have some differing opinions on some of the stories and different levels of liking others. I’ll look at Storm Front tonight when I grab the hard cover and see if it has any natural break downs.

      1. I just looked at my paperback copy and I didn’t see any natural breaks. My thoughts are we are just going to have pick chapters. Say week one you read Beginning throuh the end of chapter X, and they week 2 chapter X to X, week 3 Chpater X to the end. That’s my two cents.

  26. Hi Carl!

    I am interested in joining the group reads for Neil Gaiman’s Fragile Things short story collection as I have a copy at home and have been meaning to get to it for ages! I hope it’s not too late to join R.I.P. I’m sad that I was not able to finish all the readings that I wanted to do in the R.I.P. I participated in a while ago.

      1. R.I.P. doesn’t actually officially start until tomorrow and it lasts for two months, so anyone can join anytime in that time period.

        I’ll make sure you are on the email list for Fragile Things and for Storm Front.

        And no worries, few of us get to all the books we would like to during these challenges.

  27. Yayyy! I’m excited to see a group read of The Lantern. I will most certainly be trying to get my hands on it for this group read! 🙂

    1. I am too. Thank you Twitter for turning me on to another book. I’m crossing my fingers that it is as pleasurable as my last Twitter-inspired purchase, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, was.

  28. I’m signing up to participate in the group read for both The Lantern and Storm Front. I already placed a hold on Storm Front at my library and will hopefully pick it up soon. Can’t wait!

  29. I can’t wait to discuss Fragile Things. I really loved some of the stories and I think they will be even better with imput from others.

    1. Me too, Melissa. I’m anxious to get started talking about them. It is going to be hard waiting 10 days for this first round of discussions, but I’m thrilled we are spreading it across the whole two months so we can make the most out of discussing them.

  30. I got The Lantern, so will join that one for sure. The others I don’t know yet, I guess rather not, although I’d love to read them but I don’t have enough time.

    1. Great Caroline, glad you are joining in with it. I hope we all love it. It certainly looks good.

  31. Sign me up for “The Lantern” for sure. I’m having it stuck in my face every single day in some form or another–it has to be so good we need to discuss it!
    Deborah/TheBookishDame

    1. Great to have you Deborah. I hope it ends up being a wonderful read and eclipses all the hype. I’ll add you to the email list.

  33. Pingback: It’s That R.I.P. Season…Again! | Book Maven’s Blog

  35. I just read my first Gaiman story (“Snow, Glass, Apples”) and loved it. Sign me up for the Fragile Things read!

    1. Snow, Glass, Apples is one of my favorite Gaiman short stories. Glad you enjoyed it and am happy that you are joining in our Fragile Things read.

  36. Carl: I have the first Dresden book on my TBR pile, so would love to join in that group read, as well as the one for The Lantern. Thanks so much!

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    1. Great Jen, I’ll add you to the email list and forward you the group email I sent out yesterday.

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  45. Hey Carl! I was finally able to track down a copy of The Lantern, so I would totally love to be added to the list for this group read along, if it’s not too late! Thanks!

    Chelsea

  46. Hey, is there any way you can update my e-mail address on the groupread e-mails? My new one is grace (dot) troxel (at) gmail (dot) com.

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