The Hobbit Readalong

(if you click on the photo, it clicks to the sign up page)

Wallace over at The Unputdownables is hosting a readalong for The Hobbit.  This has been a book that I have been wanting to read for quite some time, which I think was right around the time that the LOTR movies came out about 10 years ago.  At the time, new editions of the 3 book set, along with the rest of Tolkien's books came out and couldn't resist getting the new editions (I have the full set of LOTR books, but they are still unread).

I am going to post what she has posted over on her site and please read the ENTIRE post.  Its actually quite a doable book, as most copies of the book are between 300-400 pages (mine is about 310) and has less than 40 chapters.  I hope you can join me (the information posted below can be found at The Unputdownables)

Schedule:

Beginning Friday, November 3rd and ending Friday, December 28th. 

READING SCHEDULE:

Week #/ Where to Stop (For example, in week one STOP and place your bookmark at Chapter III.)

Week One/ Chapter III
Week Two/ Chapter VI
Week Three/ Chapter VII
Week Four/ Chapter IX
Week Five/ Chapter XI
Week Six/ Chapter XIII
Week Seven/ Chapter XVI
Week Eight/ The End

POSTING SCHEDULE:

Post #/ date post should be up on blog:

Start up Post/ Today!
Week One/ November 9th
Week Two/ November 16th
Week Three/ November 23rd
Week Four/ November 30th
Week Five/ December 7th
Week Six/ December 14th
Week Seven/ December 21st
Week Eight/ December 28th (Final Review)

** Please don’t forget to come to this blog each week to share your thoughts in the comments section of the weekly Read-a-Long discussion (see below for more information).**

How it Works:

1. Each week, on Friday, I will post my thoughts about the week’s reading. You will have from Friday through the following Thursday to post yours. If you are stuck on what to comment about, you can respond to my post or others’ comments. Regardless, you MUST check in each week (two weeks without a response and you will be taken off of the list — see below for details on why). You may have only one “off week” (which may not be the last week of reading for obvious reasons) and still be kept on the list, but you must let me know in the comment section by saying something like, “This is my off week — I am catching up!” Please note that, in order to be counted, your offering to the discussion must be about the current weeks’ reading, not about past weeks. ***For all week’s discussions please refrain from posting ahead, even if you have read ahead, as to not spoil the book for others***
2. As these Read-a-Longs grow, so do the amount of people who participate – yay, all the more fun!!! Also, all the more keeping track of who is still reading. As you know – if you have been absent from discussion for two weeks, you will be removed from the list. However, now, in order to get back on the list, you need to a.) Have missed no more than two weeks of discussion, b.) Let me know you would like to be on the list again, and c.) Consistently be part of the discussion for the next two weeks after requesting to be put back on the list. Am I trying to be mean? Absolutely not! I LOVE having you all read a long. It is, however, a lot of work to keep track of who’s still reading, and to keep taking names off and putting them back on the list. Most importantly though,  consistency is good for the group; we tend to get to know each other through discussions and rely on the conversation to keep us reading. I don’t do these read-a-longs to gain followers; I do them because the benefit of reading certain books with a group of dedicated people is often superior to reading them alone. But reading with undedicated people is worst of all, which is why I care less about numbers and more about dedication to the book and the discussions. (Bonus, at the end of the year I tally those who have done multiple read-a-longs and they get honorable mention on the Read-a-Longs page and a chance to enter for the 2012 Read-a-Long Prize — it’s going to be GOOD!.)
3. If you are a blogger you may post a link to your blog if you are posting about each of the each week’s reading. If I, or other readers, have extra time we will gladly try to visit your blog; however, you must make sure to share your thoughts here on this blog, and be part of the main conversation or your comment will not be counted.
4. Comments from the previous week’s reading will be closing Thursday afternoon (before the next discussion takes place on Friday). If you would like to be part of the discussion, please remember to comment before then.

Happy reading