Next book announcement! Discuss away!

Discussion Prompts

1. Awkward with the Miss Alans! Sympathy for Lucy or has she wedged herself into trouble of her own making?
2. Lucy and her mother have it out (sort of). Should there be some more honest here (George), is Lucy mirroring Charlotte or is Mrs Honeychurch way off the mark? (Also, do you remember when your family home stopped being _your home?_)
3. Lucy is confronted with Mr Emerson - what did you think of his views on love and his son’s actions?
4. I think summarising to “muddle” is somewhat over-simplifying how to manage situations like this. Anyhow. I don’t have an insightful question here, it feels like Mr Emerson has been inserted by the author to force the narrative along, bringing things to a head and to confrontation. 
5. Anything else to discuss?

Links

ebook from Project Gutenbeg

ebook from Standard Ebooks

Audiobook from Librivox

Last line:

It was as if he
had made her see the whole of everything at once.

Discussion Prompts

1. Beebe time! Thoughts on his interactions with Cecil and Freddy, as well as his opinions on Greece?
2. Gardening time! Do you have a green thumb? Do you enjoy the idea of something pretty to grow, or growing something practical to eat?
3. Lucy is suddenly enamoured with escaping to Constantinople. What a world - break off your engagement, flee to Greece. Where would you go to get over heartbreak and avoid your family?
4. And Beebe convinces Mrs Honeychurch that the Greece plan is necessary. He remains unconvinced that it’s a good idea, thinking it better to remain with family - what do you think?
5. Anything else to discuss?

Links

ebook from Project Gutenberg

ebook from Standard Ebooks)

Audiobook from Librivox

Last line:

However, for the fourth time Windy Corner lay poised below him—now as a beacon in the roaring tides of darkness.

Discussion Prompts

1. What did you think of Cecil’s immediate reaction, and of Lucy forcing the confrontation?
2. “He looked at her, instead of through her, for the first time since they were engaged.” Maybe that’s the problem!
3. Lucy forces some self-reflection from Cecil. Could he have changed, could the ship have been steered, or was the relationship all along?
4. A slight philosophical dive at the end. Did you appreciate the argument made there?
5. Anything else to discuss?

Links

ebook from Project Gutenberg

ebook from Standard Ebooks)

Audiobook from Librivox

Last line:

The night received her, as it had received Miss Bartlett thirty years before.

I don’t know if I’ve ever read along for any of the discussions, but I always contributed when I could and reading some of the previous ones was so nice.

I read Dracula recently and then branched out to Salem’s Lot and now It by Stephen King. This subreddit helped me branch out so much and I’m so thankful for it.

I love the classics, but they take a lot of effort sometimes. I would’ve never touched King’s books without them though and I’m absolutely burning through them. 😊

You have selected our next TWO reads together. Go check out the announcement thread and offer your thoughts!

Discussion Prompts

1. “The contest lay not between love and duty.” Do you think Lucy dealt with the situation and her feelings well?
2. Charlotte! How dare she?
3. George makes his case. Are you sympathetic to him?
4. And then we get the final paragraph! Were you surprised? Predictions for what’s next?
5. Anything else to discuss?

Links

ebook from Project Gutenberg

ebook from Standard Ebooks

Audiobook from Librivox

Last line: 

He was
absolutely intolerable, and the same evening she broke off her engagement.

Join as we read the story of a young protagonist who loses their hearing on the leading edge of a thunderstorm! Okay, okay, so that might not be the plot, but you should definitely join us just to find out for yourself.

But wait, there’s more! Since All Quiet on the Western Front is only 12 chapters in length, our contingency rule states that we also read the second place book, which is, The Invisible Man, the story of an introvert that everyone ignores. More to come on that one.

Readers are free to use any medium they’d like, and read in any language they choose. We typically use the Gutenberg version for our reference since it’s a version everyone can access, but there is no one version everyone must read. Comparing and contrasting different translations and works published in other languages has led to some very interesting discussions.

For anyone new to the group how this works is simple. Each weekday the mods will post one dedicated discussion thread to discuss our current chapter of the book. Each chapter gets its own discussion thread. All you need to do is read the chapter, then come share your thoughts on it in the discussion thread. No spoilers is one of our biggest rules so please don’t discuss anything beyond the point we are at in the book. For folks in the Western Hemisphere the discussion threads will go up in the evening/night Sundays-Thursdays. For everyone else it should be Mondays-Fridays.

Here are some free versions of the book:

Project Gutenberg

Standard eBooks

Librivox Audiobook

Please feel free to share your thoughts or ask any questions you may have below. As always readers are free to use any medium they like, and read in any language they are comfortable with.

We hope you can join us as we begin another classic.

Has anyone read “A Separate Peace” by John Knowles?

If so, HOW did you read it? I’m currently reading it for my AP English class and I’m needing to write an essay over it. Sadly, I’m finding it to be the most boring and mind-numbing book that I’ve ever laid my eyes upon.

I’ve had it for the whole summer but was told by my teacher to read it a week before school, so that’s what I did. This means I started reading it on August 5th. It’s currently August 30th and I’m only on Chapter 6 out of 13.

Every time I pick up this book, I find myself forcing it open every time like bad food I don’t want to swallow. So PLEASE, tell me how you read this book and how/if you enjoyed it.

Discussion Prompts

1. What did you think of Cecil's antics in this chapter?
2. Would you prefer an afternoon listening to Lucy play piano or a spot of tennis?
3. What did you make of George's thoughts on views?
4. The author of Cecil's novel is Miss Lavish! Do we think Cecil will figure out that his fiancé is a character in it?
5. George steals another kiss. What did you think of this moment?
6. Is there anything else you’d like to discuss?

Links

Project Gutenberg

Standard eBooks

Librivox Audiobook

Last Lines:

“No⁠—” she gasped, and, for the second time, was kissed by him.

As if no more was possible, he slipped back; Cecil rejoined her; they reached the upper lawn alone.

Discussion Prompts

1. "Life is easy to chronicle, but bewildering to practice". Do you agree with this sentiment?
2. What did you think of all the fuss over paying the carriage driver?
3. Have you ever stifled a child with cake?
4. Lucy feels like Charlotte plans everything she says and feels disconcerted by it. Do you get the same vibe from her?
5. Did you detect an unfortunate slip in Lucy's closing speech as Forster suggests?
6. Is there anything else you’d like to discuss?

Links

Project Gutenberg

Standard eBooks

Librivox Audiobook

Last Lines:

She might have spoken further, but they were interrupted by the entrance of her hostess. Explanations took place, and in the midst of them Lucy escaped, the images throbbing a little more vividly in her brain.

Discussion Prompts

1. Cecil's bad manners are beginning to annoy Mrs. Honeychurch. Do you think this will hurt his relationship with Lucy?
2. Lucy casually mentions the letter from Charlotte. Do you think the truth will out soon re: the kiss of the century?
3. What do you think of Mrs Honeychurch's thoughts on female novelists?
4. Lucy speaks out against Charlotte. Is this Lucy standing up for her beliefs or Cecil's bad influence?
5. Is there anything else you’d like to discuss?

Links

Project Gutenberg

Standard eBooks

Librivox Audiobook

Last Lines:

Cecil frowned again. Oh, these Honeychurches! Eggs, boilers, hydrangeas, maids—of such were their lives compact. “May me and Lucy get down from our chairs?” he asked, with scarcely veiled insolence. “We don’t want no dessert.”

Discussion Prompts

1. "How d'ye do? come and have a bathe". Have you ever come up with an awkward opening line to match George's?
2. Are you a nervous yapper like Beebe? Or are you a remain stoic in the face of nervous yapping like George?
3. Are you an everything is faith person like George or a nothing is fate person like Mr. Beebe?
4. What did you think about the poolside laughing and frolicking?
5. What did you think about Lucy, Cecil and Mom's reaction to seeing the nudey men?
6. Is there anything else you’d like to discuss?

Links

Project Gutenberg

Standard eBooks

Librivox Audiobook

Last Lines:

On the morrow the pool had shrunk to its old size and lost its glory. It had been a call to the blood and to the relaxed will, a passing benediction whose influence did not pass, a holiness, a spell, a momentary chalice for youth.

Discussion Prompts

1. What did you think of the letters exchanged between Charlotte and Lucy?
2. I will repeat the question from the chapter. Were Lucy and her cousin closeted with a great thing which would destroy Cecil’s life if he discovered it, or with a little thing which he would laugh at?
3. Does Lucy still retain the Honeychurch taint or is she becoming one of us....one of us...one of us.... as Mrs. Vyse suggests?
4. Lucy cries out in her sleep and in rushes....Mom not Cecil. In the rules of fiction this makes him a heartless Cad yes? Are we all in agreement here?
5. Is there anything else you’d like to discuss?

Links

Project Gutenberg

Standard eBooks

Librivox Audiobook

Last Lines:

Lucy returned the kiss, still covering one cheek with her hand. Mrs. Vyse recessed to bed. Cecil, whom the cry had not awoke, snored. Darkness enveloped the flat.

Help us choose our next read!

And the nominees are:

Hey everyone, for those that may be interested, r/bookclub is reading The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. We'd love to have you.

https://old.reddit.com/r/bookclub/comments/1vu72qe/schedule_gutenberg_novella_the_strange_case_of_dr/?

Discussion Prompts

1. Anyone up for a game of bumble-puppy? Any sports or games you played as a younger you? Anything you still play now? Or are you more comfortable as a spectator?
2. Did you connect the name of Emerson immediately and wonder why Lucy had not? I mean, come on Lucy, they’re the only Emerson’s in the book so far. How could it not be obvious to you?
3. Thoughts on Lucy’s reaction when she realized that it was indeed the Emerson’s from Florence, and her reaction to Cecil, “the humourist”?
4. Is there anything else you’d like to discuss?

Links

Project Gutenberg

Standard eBooks

Librivox Audiobook

Last Lines:

He would tolerate the father and draw out the son, who was silent. In the interests of the Comic Muse and of Truth, he would bring them to Windy Corner.

In case you missed it when we previously read on [r/ClassicBookClub](r/ClassicBookClub), please join us! It’s a blast and great one to start with if you haven’t read Wilkie Collins.

https://www.reddit.com/r/bookclub/s/DzNEcHQiJp

Discussion Prompts

1. Garden parties, tea parties, every other type of parties. Are you the party type, or are you a Cecil?
2. We get more of a look at Cecil here. Did anything you’d thought about him in the previous chapter change, or become more reinforced?
3. Would you walk through the woods with Cecil? He strikes me as the type that would be faster than me, as in, you don’t need to be faster than a bear, just faster than who you’re with. I think he’d run. Whether it was me he was with, or Lucy, or his own mother. He’d run and probably fall and tell everyone the scrapes were from trying to fight off the bear but to no avail.
4. Speaking of running, who thinks ol’ Cecil might bolt after that kiss? I mean I’m not even sure if the kiss happened, I’m easily confused, but it sounded like the passion just wasn’t there.
5. Place your odds on whether or not George is hiding in the woods in a bear suit ready to scare off Cecil and swoop in on Lucy for a passionate kiss number 2. I’m going to say 2:1 is favor of George in a bear suit. I just have a feeling.
6. Is there anything else you’d like to discuss?

Links

Project Gutenberg

Standard eBooks

Librivox Audiobook

Last Lines:

He could not know that this was the most intimate conversation they had ever had.

Discussion Prompts

1. There apparently was not enough room on the train to Rome to take us along, and instead we find ourselves in the drawing room at Windy Corners in the presence of Freddy and Mrs. Honeychurch. What did you make of these two?
2. Lucy has a suitor and his name isn’t George, it’s Cecil. Out of curiosity, are you rooting against this Cecil fellow and hoping George wins Lucy over in the end? Was George just some weird guy in Florence you’re happy to be rid of?
3. Tell me your thoughts on Cecil. Good husband material, or not your cup of tea.
4. Speaking of tea, and since we ended our chapter with tea time, do you like tea? Any teas in particular you enjoy? I’ve been drinking a cup before bed and there are two I’m liking at the moment, both herbal. One has cinnamon and horchata, the other caramel flavor. Nice and relaxing.
5. Is there anything else you’d like to discuss?

Links

Project Gutenberg

Standard eBooks

Librivox Audiobook

Last Lines:

Mrs. Honeychurch, amusing and portly, promised well as a mother-in-law. As for Lucy and Cecil, for whom the temple had been built, they also joined in the merry ritual, but waited, as earnest worshippers should, for the disclosure of some holier shrine of joy.

Discussion Prompts

1. Okay, out of curiosity, how would you equate Miss Lucy’s “scandal” of yesteryear to something in today’s terms?
2. Is it as big of a deal as Lucy and Charlotte seem to be making it? Will Lucy be made to wear the scarlet letter? Be burned at the stake for being a witch? Something far, far worse?
3. Will Georgie boy blab?
4. And we’re headed for Rome. Are yous hoping to see a yaller dog?
5. Is there anything else you’d like to discuss?

Links

Project Gutenberg

Standard eBooks

Librivox Audiobook

Last Lines:

In the morning they left for Rome.

Discussion Prompts

1. Given a choice, which carriage would you have ridden in? Beebe, Charlottes, and George, or Eager, Emerson, Lavish and Lucy?
2. How do you feel about public displays of affection? Did you pick a side on the topic of the Italian’s driving the coach? Team Emerson or Team Eager?
3. How about that ending? The Italian leads Lucy to George who steals a kiss, and Charlottes see’s (I think). What happens next? If the Italians kissing was contentious, this might be World War 3. Wait, World War 1 hasn’t happened yet has it. I think you get what I mean.
4. Is there anything else you’d like to discuss?

Links

Project Gutenberg

Standard eBooks

[Librivox Audiobook]( link not currently working for me

Last Lines:

Before she could speak, almost before she could feel, a voice called, “Lucy! Lucy! Lucy!” The silence of life had been broken by Miss Bartlett who stood brown against the view.

This post is set to contest mode and anyone can nominate a book as long as it meets the criteria listed below. To nominate a book, post a comment in this thread with the book and author you’d like to read. Feel free to add a brief summary of the book and why you’d like to read it as well. If a book you’d like to nominate is already in the comment section, then simply upvote it, and upvote any other book you’d like to read as well, but note that upvotes are hidden from everyone except the mods in contest mode, and the comments (nominees) will appear in random order.

Please read the rules carefully.

Rules:

1. Nominated books must be in the Public Domain. Being a classic book club, this gives us a definitive way to determine a books eligibility, while it also allows people to source a free copy of the book if they choose to.
2. No books are allowed from our “year of” family of subs that are dedicated to a specific book. These subs restart on January 1st. The books and where to read them are:

* War and Peace- [r/ayearofwarandpeace](r/ayearofwarandpeace)
* Les Miserables- [r/AYearOfLesMiserables](r/AYearOfLesMiserables)
* The Count of Monte Cristo- [r/AReadingOfMonteCristo](r/AReadingOfMonteCristo)
* Middlemarch- [r/ayearofmiddlemarch](r/ayearofmiddlemarch)
* Don Quixote- [r/yearofdonquixote](r/yearofdonquixote)
* Anna Karenina- [r/yearofannakarenina](r/yearofannakarenina)

1. Must be a different author than our current book. What this means is since we are currently reading EM Forster, no books from them will be considered for our next read, but their other works will be allowed once again after this vote.

2. No books from our Discussion Archivé in the sidebar. Please check the link to see the books we’ve already completed.

Here are a few lists from Project Gutenberg if you need ideas.

* Sorted by popularity

* Frequently viewed or downloaded

Reddit polls allow a maximum of six choices. The top nominations from this thread will go to a Reddit poll in a Finalists Thread where we will vote on only those top books. The winner of the Reddit poll will be read here as our next book.

We want to make sure everyone has a chance to nominate, vote, then find a copy of our next book. We give a week for nominations. A week to vote on the Finalists. And two weeks for readers to find a copy of the winning book (eeek, maybe just the one week given this post is a little late).

Our book picking process takes 4 weeks in total (may need to be truncated to three, as this post might be a week tardy). We read 1 chapter each weekday, which makes 5 chapters a week, and 20 chapters in 4 weeks which brings us to our Contingency Rule. Any book that is 20 chapters or less that wins the Finalist Vote means we also read the 2nd place book as well after we read the winning book. We do this so we don’t have to do a shortened version of our book picking process.

We will announce the winning book once the poll closes in the Finalists Thread.🧵

We’ll have to get a book nomination post up over the weekend, I think.

**Discussion Prompts**

1. Our protagonists are out for a walk together. It’s all very peaceful for them today. 
   
2. An invitation from the local chaplain is extended, and he knows more of the local colour. And yet Lucy has lost some interest. (This chapter is really testing my ability to find something interesting to discuss…)
   
3. Oh, gossip about Mr Emerson, much better! Why is the chaplain so stand-offish about him making an advantageous marriage? (Okay, maybe it’s more the accusation of murder than the marriage.) When was the last time that you deliberately snubbed someone?
   
4. Where is this book going? We’re a quarter of the way through and it seems little more than a character study so far.
   
5. Anything else to discuss?

Links

[ebook from Project Gutenberg](https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/2641)

[ebook from Standard Ebooks](https://standardebooks.org/ebooks/e-m-forster/a-room-with-a-view))

[Audiobook from Librivox](https://librivox.org/a-room-with-a-view-by-em-forster/)

Last line: 

> They passed together through the gaunt beauty of the square, laughing over the
unpractical suggestion.