| Welcome to Yanks Down Under! You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are some features you can't use. If you join our community, you'll be able to access member-only sections, and use many member-only features such as customising your profile, sending personal messages, and voting in polls. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free. Join our community! If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features: |
| Syndeysiders Book Club; Anyone interested in forming a book club? | |
|---|---|
| Topic Started: Aug 15 2010, 09:05:53 PM (4,085 Views) | |
| michiganderINoz | Aug 15 2010, 09:05:53 PM Post #1 |
Chinwagger
|
Hello Everyone, I haven't really been posting on this forum (other than my introduction) - but I have been browsing from time to time - and I think it is high time I start making some posts of my own.  My name is Samantha and I arrived in Oz (Sydney to be specific) in late June on a Working Holiday. I was thinking it might be a fun idea to start a book club - and I was wondering if any Sydneysiders here on Yanks Down Under would be interested in joining? I haven't really thought about the any specific books or even genres that we might read yet - if anyone is interested we could decide as a group what books we would like to read. Cheers,  Samantha |
| Read the blogging adventures of the Michigander in Oz @ Sydney Smiles | |
 |
 
|
| redmoon | Aug 15 2010, 09:36:29 PM Post #2 |
|
Chinwagger
|
I'm reading Eat Pray Love right now.. .might be a good book to start with 
Edited by redmoon, Aug 15 2010, 09:36:51 PM.
|
|
|
|
| michiganderINoz | Aug 15 2010, 11:17:14 PM Post #3 |
|
Chinwagger
|
I have read Eat, Pray, Love and think that is a lovely idea! |
| Read the blogging adventures of the Michigander in Oz @ Sydney Smiles | |
|
|
|
| Bindie | Aug 15 2010, 11:29:24 PM Post #4 |
True Blue Mate
|
I don't live in Sydney, but think it's a great idea. The book is awesome as well. =) If I lived there, I would join in! |
 The future is no place/to place your better days, DMB Canberra, ACT since 2004 | |
|
|
|
| Cristin | Aug 16 2010, 08:38:51 AM Post #5 |
True Blue Mate
|
Hi Samantha - I'm in Sydney and I'd certainly be game for a book club. Sounds like a fun idea. :-) Just as an idea - one of my goals is to read some books by modern Australian authors, so if others were interested in doing that we could try to find one or two to "give a go," at some point. |
| My Australian Blog - In An Opal Hearted Country | |
|
|
|
| Mimishuze | Aug 16 2010, 01:58:04 PM Post #6 |
True Blue Mate
|
Agree! I am totally down for a book club and I also think it would be a good idea to focus on Australian classics or authors? I love to read so this could be really fun - maybe meet up once a fortnight or so? Great Idea BTW!! |
| Gone On a Lucky Country - My Blog About Moving to Australia | |
|
|
|
| michiganderINoz | Aug 16 2010, 07:08:25 PM Post #7 |
|
Chinwagger
|
Yah! I am getting excited about the book club already!  I am also loving this idea about reading Australian authors. So far I think we have some great ideas. Does anyone know of some modern Australian authors or Australian classics that we should put on the reading list? I must admit - I don't know of any...
Edited by michiganderINoz, Aug 16 2010, 07:09:31 PM.
|
| Read the blogging adventures of the Michigander in Oz @ Sydney Smiles | |
|
|
|
| CynicalCountess | Aug 16 2010, 08:45:00 PM Post #8 |
True Blue Mate
|
According to booklet: Dirt Music by Tim Winton. Bleak but beautifully written saga of unraveling west-coast lives. Songlines by Bruce Chatwin. Absorbing amd accessible semi-fictional discourse on the meaning of Aboriginal mythology. Bliss by Peter Carey. A Sydney executive drops out and heads for a New Age community in rural NSW. (My partner goes on rants whenever this is brought up; the word "hack" is frequently utilized) Fatal Shore by Robert Hughes. Minutely detailed account of Australia's colonial origins. My Place by Sally Morgan. A WA woman discovers her Aboriginal roots. |
|
|
|
| Bindie | Aug 16 2010, 09:41:21 PM Post #9 |
|
True Blue Mate
|
There is also Google
|
|
The future is no place/to place your better days, DMB Canberra, ACT since 2004 | |
|
|
|
| crapola | Aug 16 2010, 09:52:05 PM Post #10 |
|
True Blue Mate
|
"seven little australians" by ethel turner (also a tv mini series, available on dvd) "picnic at hanging rock" by joan lindsay (also a movie, available on dvd) i recommend those two books, they are amongst my favourites, as are the dvds, which are very close to the books. |
|
|
|
| Malinda | Aug 18 2010, 05:29:07 AM Post #11 |
Anklebiter
|
Hi, I get to Sydney at the end of September but I think a book club sounds like a fantastic idea! Good on you Samantha. I would love to be a part of it as I love to read and feel its a great way to learn more about Australia(if we read Australian authors) and each other
|
|
|
|
| natasha_alena | Aug 18 2010, 08:51:02 AM Post #12 |
|
True Blue Mate
|
I would potentially be interested!! Keep me updated Just a side note and of course this is just my opinion, but people on this site seem to say quite often some variation of "google is your friend"... yes, google is a wonderful friend and 99% of the time it's very helpful, but sometimes I come on here to ask a question of the forum not because I don't know how to use google, but because I trust and respect the members of this site. Having been coming here for years now, there are certain questions I would like to throw out to the members as I value their opinion much more than what google will spit back at me. This isn't a personal attack, promise! I've definitely used that phrase on my mother more than once, I'm just explaining why sometimes people may purposely ask a question here that they know google can answer, but perhaps they just want to know what Australian authors and books the members of this forum like, not what google can tell you. |
| "You can plan a pretty picnic but you can't predict the weather" | |
|
|
|
| Mimishuze | Aug 18 2010, 08:10:11 PM Post #13 |
|
True Blue Mate
|
I am up for "Picnic at Hanging Rock". I've heard from multiple sources it was good and I have been meaning to read it. |
| Gone On a Lucky Country - My Blog About Moving to Australia | |
|
|
|
| abbysmom09 | Aug 18 2010, 08:29:27 PM Post #14 |
|
Anklebiter
|
I might be interested because I really do love to read but I've never been to a book club. What do you do there? Are there quizzes and homework or does it just turn into a social hour because I would be down for that
|
|
|
|
| Bindie | Aug 18 2010, 08:42:54 PM Post #15 |
|
True Blue Mate
|
You know, this was a (Australian) trivia pursuit question that I got wrong and I have NEVER FORGOT IT. It was another HELLO? WE ARE NOT IN KANSAS ANYMORE moment when I was playing trivia pursuit with my inlaws not long after I moved here. |
|
The future is no place/to place your better days, DMB Canberra, ACT since 2004 | |
|
|
|
| Mimishuze | Aug 18 2010, 11:00:58 PM Post #16 |
|
True Blue Mate
|
I've never done a book club either; but I can't imagine there being quizzes and homework. I believe that it's more like - you read a few chapters every fortnight, then you get together and there is a list of topic and questions that you can discuss, then it devolves into a social gathering (at least I am hoping that is what it is like!) |
| Gone On a Lucky Country - My Blog About Moving to Australia | |
|
|
|
| michiganderINoz | Aug 19 2010, 01:03:33 AM Post #17 |
|
Chinwagger
|
Okay so I might as well admit - I have never actually been a part of a book club either. Lol. But I know one thing - there will be no quizzes (cause gosh darn it that doesn't sound fun.) I think generally we will talk about the book - and our interpretations of it - what we think, etc. etc. etc. Then of course - it will devolve into a social gathering (at least that is my hope too.) Lol. I am so happy to see all of the interest. So - we have to decide a few things. Which book to read first? When, where, how often to meet? |
| Read the blogging adventures of the Michigander in Oz @ Sydney Smiles | |
|
|
|
| jennszoo | Aug 20 2010, 01:17:27 PM Post #18 |
|
Anklebiter
|
I'm in a book club here in the states and once I am in Sydney, I will definitely hook up with y'all. But the list of good Aussie books is helpful. Keep 'em coming. I should definitely start reading some local "flavor" between now and then. |
| Jenn, mom to 3, one with special needs, hoping for good luck with 457 Visa application! | |
|
|
|
| Cristin | Aug 20 2010, 01:53:45 PM Post #19 |
|
True Blue Mate
|
I know that with a lot of book clubs, the members will take turns hosting in their homes, so that no one person is burdened for every meeting. Maybe we could take turns having one person from the group "host" each month - either in their home, if they feel comfortable, or else they find a coffee shop or other place for us to meet. I think it would be fun to travel to different parts of the city that I might not go to otherwise, once a month or so. I don't have a job yet, so not sure what my permanent schedule is, but weeknights are probably be good. How about the rest of you? |
| My Australian Blog - In An Opal Hearted Country | |
|
|
|
| Bindie | Aug 20 2010, 06:48:30 PM Post #20 |
|
True Blue Mate
|
I've been to book clubs before as well. Usually, like Cristin said, a book is picked, you read it in a month and then you take turns meeting at different ppl's homes (or wherever) to discuss it. This is such a good idea! I might well do one in Canberra! |
|
The future is no place/to place your better days, DMB Canberra, ACT since 2004 | |
|
|
|
| Go to Next Page | |
| « Previous Topic · General Chit-Chat · Next Topic » |
3:12 AM Feb 5