Ho-hum, you say? Everybody and her best friend has already read The Amazing Adventures of Cavalier & Clay and The Yiddish Policeman's Union? Yes. Yes, they have. He is wildly popular and with good reason *cough* Pulitizer Prize *cough*. But not everybody has read Telegraph Avenue, his not-yet-published novel slated for a September 2012 release, eh? If you participate in this readalong, you will receive an advance readers copy and thus will be the envy of all of your friends, neighbors, and coworkers. If you're very fortunate, it might even create a lifetime nemesis or two, so be forewarned.
This is a readalong made possible through the generosity of the publisher, open to a limited number of bona fide book bloggers. Harper Collins, bless 'em, has signed on to help me facilitate this project and will be providing me with a certain number of advance reading copies for the participants. The official signup will be at the first week of June, the books will get sent out during that month, and the actual readalong will take place for the duration of July.
There are a few requirements for participation:
1) You must be a bonafide book blogger with a minimum of either 100 followers or a one-year track record for blogging.
2) You must be willing to link exclusively to IndieBound OR your own local independent bookstore (i.e. no Barnes & Noble or Books-A-Million or other chain), OR my bookstore, for each posting so that your readers may pre-order the book. If you're an Amazon affiliate, no Amazon links are permissible in the actual Telegraph Avenue readalong posts.
3) You must reside in the US in order to participate. (Sorry--too many international restrictions otherwise!)
4) Each readalong post must both link back to my blog AND post their weekly review in a linky on my blog so that it's easy for any reader to find all of the weekly responses.
Please leave a comment below if you think you'd like to participate. I have about one week to gather data and assess the general level of reader interest before reporting back to my sales rep, the tireless Anne DeCourcey to let her know the details. There will be a maximum of 15 people participating because we want to keep it fairly intimate.
Any questions? Fire away!
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| The man himself. He looks a little like my friend Linford Detweiler from Over the Rhine. |
I would love to participate. I don't have 100 followers, but I have been blogging for four years.
ReplyDeleteAlas, I can't claim to have my own blog but I do read yours on a daily basis....would love to meet the author!!!
ReplyDeleteObvs I want to participate in this. OBVS.
ReplyDeleteYay, Alice & Nicole! Please tell your book blogging friends about it and see if they'd like to participate, too.
ReplyDeleteYay, Anon. I'd like to meet the author, too!
Sign me up if there's still room, Emily.
ReplyDeleteMe, pretty please, me! Belle
ReplyDeleteI sent one reply, but I can't tell whether it went to you and I really, really, really want to do this with you.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to and can meet all the qualifications.
ReplyDeleteHey, also, Over the Rhine played our folk festival this year. Didn't know you had a connection there.
ReplyDeleteI want to be cool! :] I've never read Chabon but I'd love to give him a shot! I don't have 100 followers but I did just hit my two year blogging anniversary. I'm definitely in if you (and Harper Collins) will have me!
ReplyDeleteWOW!! What an amazing opportunity. Shockingly, I've never read any Chabon -- think this is a good one to start with?
ReplyDeleteBelle, Robyn, Amy, Jennifer, Audra: I'd love to have you participate in the readalong, too. If you've never read Chabon before, however, please take a look at some of his previous books and read the summary of this one on Goodreads, etc, and see if you like the sounds of it before committing to the readalong. I'd like everybody who participates to at least be potential fans of the book.
ReplyDeleteI appreciate that -- let me nose around and see -- it's such a fantastic opportunity, it should be savored!
DeleteYup, read the summary. It looks complex, which I like, and definitely a conversation-starter.
DeleteEmily, I've read The Yiddish Policeman's Union, so I know Chabon. The description of this book looks quite interesting...ex-NFl players, blaxploitation movies, Black Panthers...sounds good to me.
DeleteI'm a huge fan of Kavalier and Clay, and the summary of this one sounds enticing.
ReplyDeleteI'm so tempted to say Yes Please! because I adore the discussion that comes from a small group reading something together but I'm a little unsure because my only other experience with Chabon (Gentlemen of the Road) was less than stellar. What do you say? Do I have to be a die-hard-Chabon-fan to join? Or can I join in hopes that you all will convert me?
ReplyDeleteI like the sounds of the book - the 70's in Oakland, family drama. What's not to like?
ReplyDeleteMelody, I am not sure I am the one to convince you. The only other CHabon book I've read is his book of essays, Manhood for Amateurs, which I really liked.I've dipped into this new book for about 2 chapters and so far it's intriguing to me. I'm not sure where it's headed.
ReplyDeleteWHile it's not a prerequisite that the bloggers gush about the new book in the readalong, I want to make sure that the folks who start in on it will have a reasonable chance of liking it--since this is a kind of experiment with the publisher to see if a pre-pub readalong can be a good thing.
That's kind of what I figured. How about this...I can be a readalong cheerleader, and maybe you'll all convince me along the way!
DeleteMelody, I'll leave it entirely up to you. If you want to take a chance on Chabon, I'd love to have you participate. If you'd rather be a cheerleader, I'd love to have you do that, too.
DeleteSorry I haven't gotten back to you...hope you are having a great time at BEA! I'm going to sit out on the readalong, but I've started putting together a few posts about the actual Telegraph Ave so I can cheer you along. Looking forward to seeing how it all goes!
DeleteOh how exciting! I hadn't heard about his new book before. I'm not eligible for the read-along, being in Canada, but I'll have to check in on the updates to hear more about the story. Big Chabon fan! :D
ReplyDeleteShannon, I wish you could enter. Maybe I can ask at BEA this week and see if they'll make an exception since you're already a big Chabon fan...I'll definitely let you know if they say yes.
DeleteShannon, it's cool if you'll link to my US store for readers to pre-purchase the book rather than an indie store that is local to you. If you agree to those terms, please send me your physical address so that I can send you the ARC. emily [at] odysseybks [dot] com
DeleteJust have to say a big YAY! Thanks so much Emily!
DeleteSo, all of you who have signed on to the Chabon readalong, consider yourselves approved! I'm in NYC right now at BEA and I met with HarperCollins today to finalize all of the details.
ReplyDeletecan y'all please email me with physical addresses so that I mail you the ARC of Telegraph Avenue? you may find me at emily [at] odysseybks [dot] com.
I've got the e-galley, so I don't need the physical book - but I'd like to read-along anyway!
ReplyDeleteBrooks, that sounds great. I'll be happy to have you participate, too!
Deleteeverybody, please stay tuned in the next week for the official linky and to see the reading schedule for july. please let me know if y'all have any questions.
Is it too late to jump in on this? I'm so behind in my Google Reader and just saw your post. I'm a huge Chabon fan (though I have too admit that like one of the commenters above, I was not a huge fan of Gentlemen of the Road). If I can't join, have a blast! If so, let me know how this works. I love the small group aspect of it.
ReplyDeleteCrowe - just checking that you got my e-mail with my address. Belle
ReplyDeleteSure, did, Belle. Books hopefully being mailed this Friday afternoon.
DeleteOkay, just as a reminder: I need your address no later than Thursday of this week so that I can mail you the ARC of the Chabon. Friday is my last day to do it before going on vacation, and if I don't have it by then, you won't get the book in time to participate in the readalong.
ReplyDeleteI'm still needing an address for: Robyn, Amy, Shannon, and Kerry.
Is there an email address to send my snail mail? Sorry if I'm just missing it!
ReplyDeleteHi, Kerry--the email was embedded in a couple of the ocmments above, no worries. please send to emily [at] odysseybks [dot] com.
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