In the few years I’ve been a blogger, I’ve only participated in two or three read alongs. The reason for this — I like to read at my own pace and I usually only participate if it’s a book I really (really!) want to read. In most cases (for instance The Lord of the Rings and The Historian), the read alongs featured books I was planning to re-read anyway so I signed up. This year, two months into 2012, I’ve signed up for two. It’s like I can’t help myself.
Here’s how it went down.
Iris at Iris on Books said she was planning to read Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell this year and asked if anyone would be interested in joining her. Having already decided to re-read this one, and probably early in the year, I raised my hand, yep, I would join her. And so I did. More info here if you want to join.
Then The Little Read Reviewer goes and posts this about a Lies of Locke Lamora read along. I hesitated. Two read alongs? Yes, I would do it. And yes, I would buy this book.
Seriously, it’s like I can’t so no anymore.
So, I’m two for two on the joining this year. I’m a notoriously bad joiner. I’m beginning to wonder if I’m involuntarily pushing myself to join more this year as if it were some unknown resolution only my brain knows about and is keeping from me. Yeah, that doesn’t sound totally paranoid.
I should probably not write when tired.
Anyway, there you have it.
Happy Sunday.
Just Book Reading 
Thrilled to have you along! 😀
Looking forward to it!
I’m not a huge fan of read-alongs that dictate the pace at which you must read the book, so I pass on them most of the time. But reading a book along with others can really be a lot of fun, and it often makes me notice things I’d never have seen for myself.
Pacing is the toughest thing, because everyone reads at a different speed, and has other things going on. If you find that the pacing doesn’t work quite right for you, don’t feel pressured that you have to participate in the conversations every week.
Everytime I re-read these I notice something new, so that’s what I’m most looking forward to, especially with book 3 on the horizon!
Sorry, “dictate” was a harsh word for me to use, as I realise that the hosts of read-alongs are always happy to make things flexible and as comfortable to participants as possible. I just have a really hard time reading at a pre-determined pace in general. But I do have the first book on my TBR, and would love to join the final discussion.
Pacing can really make a read along tough. I think Dark Cargo Explorer is doing a slower version of The Lies of Locke Lamora Read-Along this year, so maybe that will help some folks that…you know, have lives. 🙂
No worries! 😀 I didn’t think “dictate” was harsh in the way that you used it. We’ll all catch up near the end, and it’ll be a blast! 🙂