16
votes
Tildes Book Club - Check in Feb 8 2024 - How are things going?
Those participating will discuss Cloud Atlas starting the first week of March. This is an opportunity to check in about obstacles or progress.
Those participating will discuss Cloud Atlas starting the first week of March. This is an opportunity to check in about obstacles or progress.
:| who else hasn't started on their homework yet?
Additional question, were you always like this?
Like what?
I frequently procrastinate, but there was a request for a couple of checkins, so I felt like I should cooperate with that request. If the checkins are determined to be unpopular, I will stop.
Oh no no no I'm totally benefiting from the check ins, they're an important part of combating the procrastination, thank you
No problem. Thanks for clarifying. As we get through a few months of this, I expect to relax. Everything is new right now.
I delayed my library hold on cloud atlas when the original reading order came out, and my wait time is now about 3 weeks. So, I won't be starting the book until the discussion starts. Oops!
Next time we will consider book availability before setting a schedule, and the schedule won't be reset. I'm sorry about that. I hope your book is early.
Ahhh, no worries. I was mostly amused at the scenario.
Funny enough, a few hours after I posted my previous reply, my hold became available (even with the 3-week estimate), so all's well!
Fantastic!
I got the audiobook from my library and started listening. After about 30 minutes I realized I dislike the narrators voice and hadn't retained anything up to that point. Returned it to pick up the ebook and am now speeding through the book I was previously reading so I can start.
I put the book on hold at the library and it's now ready for pick-up. I intend to grab it tomorrow and start reading :)
I also have not started yet, but I've got all of the books downloaded and ready to go once I wrap up my current reads this weekend :)
I had deleted my previous post to make an update. I had picked my copy from my library, so I will be starting soonish. Probably after I get done with Breakfast with Seneca.
I just picked up Cloud Atlas at the library so will start reading that. Please add me to the list of people interested in this book club. :)
Thanks for checking in. The more the merrier. : )
Anyone lurking, should know that there is no need to pre-register.
TBH, I'm struggling with the book a bit. The first portion uses lots of rather archaic and obscure language and references that I've had to look up the meaning/context of multiple times, which is a bit of a rare occurrence for me, since I actually do read a decent amount of much older novels, as well as historical fiction and non-fiction.
But the thing that's bothering me most is that the story touches on some rather horrible and racist events/concepts, and has plenty of off-putting, racist language too. I know it's historical fiction, and that's how people thought/behaved/talked back then, but it's kinda put me off reading more.
So, question for people who have read more than I have, does it get better? Should I just soldier through the first part to get to that? And more specifically:
Movie (and book?) SPOILER related question for anyone who has finished reading the book already
I'm pretty sure I watched the Cloud Atlas movie ages ago, and while I don't remember much, I do remember it was a scifi, maybe even with some time travel stuff? That's why I voted for the book.
I assume the book will eventually go off in that direction too. But can anyone who has read the book let me know if the book eventually does go in that scifi direction, and moves away from the racist stuff? I want to participate in this book club, but if the rest of the book is like the first part, and without any scifi elements, I honestly don't know if I will be able to stomach it.
p.s. If this is the wrong place to ask this, or too spoilery (I tried to limit that), let me know and I will remove it, @boxer_dogs_dance.
I also struggled with the racism in the first section. That is only a small part of the book.
I can't do spoiler tabs from mobile so I will stop.
Ah thanks, that's good to know at least! I will try to keep soldiering through the first part.
I didn't vote for and had never heard of Cloud Atlas. I haven't finished it but it seems quite well written. I haven't decided if I like it yet, but the part of the book I am reading now is more relatable.
I have reached the first science fiction/dystopian section of the book.
Ah okay, that's awesome. I'm glad the book eventually gets there too, and the movie didn't totally make the scifi part up. :P
I easily got ahold of the book and made it through the second section. The tie in between section one and section 2 was clever. Both section one and section two described social interactions that made me uncomfortable, but also had interesting characters and compelling adventures that hold my interest.
I'm looking forward to talking about specific details in March. This book was a runner up. but received 7 votes and I hope we get a good discussion.
I'm gonna start it as soon as I finish the enormous audiobook of To Green Angel Tower!
I have my copy ready and waiting on a shelf, but I'm partway through Venomous Lumpsucker at the moment, so it'll be a while longer before I get to it. I have read Cloud Atlas before though, so it should be a relatively quick read.