Miscellany: Google Earth, Foreigner readalong

[krait]

Sorry, no post yesterday -- work killed me and I fell asleep.

Today, however, I have discovered the wonder that is Google Earth! Looked up various places I have lived, but mostly just had fun searching for widely-disparate locations from novels and going "wheeeeeeee!" as the globe spins and zooms. :D

This means I did not do the photo meme, though, for which I apologise; I'll do it tomorrow, I promise! (Anyone else want to chime in with a last-minute request, since I'm late?)

Still trying to work out logistics for the Foreigner readalong -- would you prefer to do it here on my journal? Or in a specific community? Because I've been toying with creating either a general sci-fi/fantasy discussion comm, or one intended for hosting read-alongs in particular. Any input?

In a similar vein: I know I'm a speed reader; I try to remember that other people aren't always as fast, but this makes it sort of hard to figure out a reasonable number of chapters-per-week for us to aim for. Suggestions, comments, heckling?

Hope you all had lovely weekends!

Comments

[cheyinka]

I have the same problem figuring out how fast is reasonable! I think the limiting factor is reasonable commentary, though - I mean, we could do whole-book-at-a-time, but then we'd be doing very very basic overview kinds of comments; if we did chapter-a-week we'd probably have several chapters where everyone goes "yep, read it, not much here" (that, and it'd take a decade, wouldn't it?)

I think with Foreigner proper, we should do all of the distant-past chapters as a block (IIRC it's less than a hundred pages), and then maybe three chapters a week after that, speeding it up or slowing it down as necessary?

As for location, I very slightly prefer a read-along community, but will follow along anywhere :)

[krait]

Three a week was what my mind was cautiously considering, so I'll take this as a good omen!

I also agree about the two backstory-chapters (or whatever you call a... twenty-page snippet of history that doesn't explain overmuch?). I'm afraid they'll bore or baffle everyone to death, though; almost wish we could fit in at least one chapter of the novel proper to go along with them.

(That was what nearly put me off the book, when I first picked it up -- interesting things were happening, I started liking characters, and then BAM: it's 500 years later with no warning. And interesting things happen, and I like some characters, and... Honestly, I think I spent 4 chapters afraid to like Bren because I suspected he'd disappear on me any page now!)

[cheyinka]

I had a similar concern about "okay, is Bren someone I can actually start caring about?", but I kind of think the backstory chapters need to be handled as a separate unit, if only so there can be the disclaimer "don't actually worry about any of these folks" and then the first Bren chapter can start off on a better footing. (And people who've bounced off the books before, or who think they're likely to do so, can start there...)

[blnchflr]

I'd prefer to read here, just so I have an inkling of who's listening in.

I'll try and match whatever schedule you come up with - I'm theoretically a fast reader, too (and we all, here?), but I got out of the habit of reading non-fanfiction literature, and usually have to draaag myself through it :o)

[blnchflr]

P.S. I'll need time to order the book from somewhere, so let me know in good time if/when you decide to start, kthx :o)