What is a "Read-Along" anyway?

Have you ever read a book, and wished that you could find someone else who had read it, so that you could talk about it? I suppose that's why people join book clubs. But sometimes, you don't belong to a book club, and maybe you haven't got time to find one, or even time to go to one if you could find one. And then once you join the book club, you would have to convince everyone else to read the book that you just read.  And even if you are successful in convincing them, you would have to wait until they all read it. If, like me, you can't get it together to do all of this, if you haven't got the patience to wait through all of that, and just want to talk to about the book while it is still fresh in your mind, and you're still excited about it, then maybe a read along would be worth joining instead. You might miss out on the snacks and beverages of a real life book club, but you get to stay in your pyjamas and you can always make your own tea.

So what is a read along, then? Basically, it's an online book club. Book bloggers sometimes do them and post as they go and invite discussion etc. on their blog. In the coming month, Edmonton's newest publishing house, Stonehouse, is doing a read along of the five books it is releasing in May 1, all by Alberta authors. So if you want to get in on supporting local authors and being part of the buzz, you might want to see if any of their offerings interest you. 

The read along will involve a spotlight each week on a different book, with book club guides and author interviews and book trailers on the publisher's website, as well as a hashtag for each book that you can use to participate in the discussion on social media sites. And if you have your own blog and want to discuss the books on your site, all the better. You will be in good company, as a few bloggers are already signed on to do just that.

Here are the dates of the read along for each of the five Stonehouse titles (More details and ordering info can be found on the Stonehouse website):

May 6-13

Edge of Wild by Danika Stone

A mystery-thriller set in 1990's Waterton, Alberta.
#EdgeofWild

May 13-20

Mary Green by Melanie Kerr (that's me!)

An Austen-like tale of an orphan girl set in 19th Century England. 

#MaryGreen

May 20-27

Kalyna by Pam Clark

A story of love, heartbreak and internment among the Ukranian settlers of war-time Alberta. 

#Kalyna

May 27-June 2

Course Correction by Doug Morrison

A maffia, spy thriller set in modern Ukraine. 

#CourseCorrection

June 2-9

League of the Star by N R Cruise

The saga of a French family exiled in England following the revolution. 

#LeaugeoftheStar

Publishers Weekly Reviews Mary Green

I can hardly speak for excitement! What could be more desirable for an author than a review in the most prestigious of literary publications of their upcoming novel? I shall tell you what is -  a GLOWING review in such a publication! Here is what they had to say (I did remove one small part because it included a spoiler, and I didn't want to give anything away unexpectedly, but you can read the whole review, spoiler and all, here):


"Kerr's heroine, Mary Green, delightfully combines Anne Shirley's naivety with Emma Woodhouse's strength of mind in a debut historical novel filled with the magic and romance of Cinderella. Mary, an orphaned ward of her uncle Sir Richard Hargreaves, decides on her 21st birthday to leave behind his Oxfordshire house along with her cousins' and aunt's air of superiority. ...[S]he sets off for a new life in London. Her quest to figure out who she is both biological and metaphorically is a joy. Kerr uses dialogue and colloquialisms that authentically evoke the Regency era. The cast of secondary characters—including Mary's quippy chaperone, Mrs. Burrows; the entitled but loveable Carrington sisters; the resourceful and talented dressmaker Graham; and the puzzling Ingles brothers—all help to draw readers into this fairy tale. Mary is so captivating that readers will readily suspend any disbelief to see her get to a happy ending."


Mary Green comes out on May 1, 2016. To get your hands on a copy, you can pre-order it using the following links, or ask for it at your local bookstore (Audrey's Books in Edmonton will have copies on the shelf). Available in limited edition hard cover or paperback, as well as eBook.

Amazon
Barnes and Noble
iBooks
Chapters/Indigo/Coles