I am neck deep in Twilight writing this week, both in getting Spotlight ready for press and in blogging over at Forks High School Professor, but here is a note from our friends over at the Leaky Lounge. Apparently they are putting together small reading groups to read their way through the 4100 pages of the Hogwarts Saga. Here is the invitation:
Greetings, Leaky Loungelings!
Join us as we “Rediscover the Magic” starting November 14th, 2009. The Sorting will be activated at 9AM Eastern Standard Time and remain open until the rooms are full.
Now that the series is complete, we’ve got loads of new, exciting ways to look at these earlier books. The motivations of individual characters, the importance of plot lines, the “clues” that turned out to be red herrings, and of course, the greasy git himself – Severus Snape – we’ll discuss them all in a new light!
Located in The Leaky Lounge, our Lily and Stag Inn Reading Groups feature wonderful, small group discussions in a close-knit, family-like environment. These small groups read one book at a time, looking beyond the surface of the text and getting down to the deeper meaning. The rooms are hidden away from public view, so only members of our Lily and Stag Inn are able to read or take part in the discussion.
Each group is led by several discussion facilitators ready to serve you up a wonderful reading experience in a small, friendly and relaxed atmosphere! Our Reading Group managers, atschpe, fw00per and twiddlethosedials are there to answer any questions you might have, so please feel free to send them a private message on our Leaky Lounge, or you can post questions in the Lily and Stag Inn Public Forum.
Looking forward to welcoming you to our cosy Lily and Stag Inn,
Ivana Reidmore
John Again:
Please let me know what your experience is at the Lily and Stag Inn if you choose to participate!
Great idea. The Hog’s Head (http://thehogshead.org/ ) is doing a participatory read-through, begun with The Half-Blood Prince; we’re now in Chapter 14 of Deathly Hallows, with a rousing discussion of Delores Umbridge. After finishing DH, we’ll go to Philosopher’s/Sorcerer’s Stone, and continue through the rest. Anyone is welcome to join in.
I did quite a few of the Leaky Lounge read throughs before Deathly Hallows came out. It was a fun exercise, as the format was a summary of each chapter, followed by questions. But in answering the questions they put out, there were always other things that came out of the discussion. I think I quit because of one guy who just wanted to argue with everyone. Too annoying. But I did enjoy some of the groups I was in – just not the last one.
The one over at The Hog’s Head is good too, but I had too many things going on this fall to keep up. And honestly, the conversation at the Hog’s Head is often better and more thoughtfully done.
Chapter 13, Arabella; that’s where we’re at right now at The Hogshead. The guy who’s supposed to be doing Chapter 14 is slacking off. Oh wait, that’s me! 😉