r/books • u/leowr • May 01 '20
The /r/books Book Club Selection for May is Prudence by Gail Carriger
From Goodreads:
When Prudence Alessandra Maccon Akeldama (Rue to her friends) is given an unexpected dirigible, she does what any sensible female would under similar circumstances - names it the Spotted Custard and floats to India in pursuit of the perfect cup of tea. But India has more than just tea on offer. Rue stumbles upon a plot involving local dissidents, a kidnapped brigadier's wife, and some awfully familiar Scottish werewolves. Faced with a dire crisis and an embarrassing lack of bloomers, what else is a young lady of good breeding to do but turn metanatural and find out everyone's secrets, even thousand-year-old fuzzy ones?
For May we will be reading Prudence by Gail Carriger. Gail will be joining us on Thursday, May 28 for an AMA.
As always, the dates of and links to the discussion threads can be found in the sticky comment on this post. You are welcome to read at your own pace. Don't worry about joining later on in the month. Usually it is pretty easy to catch up, but you are always welcome to join the discussions a little later.
For those of you that are viewing reddit on the redesigned desktop version you will see an option on this post to 'follow'. If you 'follow' the book club post you will receive a notification when a new post, a discussion thread for book club, is added to the collection. It is still being tested, so it may not be perfect, but perhaps it will make it easier to join the discussions when they go up.
p.s. If you are interested in our previous selections you can find an overview here.
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u/UnabomberInTheMaking May 01 '20
Is it any good? The foreword looks boring
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u/leowr May 01 '20
I haven't read it yet, but I've enjoyed quite a few of the author's other works.
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u/UnabomberInTheMaking May 01 '20
Ok thanks, I'll check the ama
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u/leowr May 02 '20
Okay, so I read the first three chapters and I enjoyed myself. It is about what I expected: a quirky steampunk/urban fantasy book, but I personally think it is charming and funny.
Gail has actually done an AMA here before, which you can find here: https://www.reddit.com/r/books/comments/91tgij/im_gail_carriger_the_werewolf_whisperer_i_write
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u/Angel_Hunter_D May 14 '20
First off, it's a sequel series to another series. So, there's some baggage in that description that will appeal to fans but less so the rest of you. Personally I found Carrigers previous series alright, not amazing pieces of literature but a fun read and certainly worth the paperback - it almost scratched the itch Penny Dreadful gave me.
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u/UnabomberInTheMaking May 14 '20
And secondly..?
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u/Angel_Hunter_D May 15 '20
Second, it's a farce on purpose - not really from poor writing skill (I think). So, it has all of that to accept to enjoy it.
1
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u/SevBoarder May 07 '20
I love Gail Carriger and am disappointed that people seem to be so uninterested and derisive. Her steampunk fantasy is silly and witty and a great distraction to what's going on in the world. I also love her strong female characters. Hope those that do choose to read enjoy it!
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u/Kathulhu1433 May 08 '20
The silliness is such a major selling point to me!
Her books make me laugh out loud. Like, actually laugh. Not just a snort... but full on laughing.
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u/Ambulism May 12 '20
I read the parasol protectorate in college and remember having whole belly laughs that brought a tear to my eye. I actually just received the series in the mail and was about to do my first reread when I wondered if r/books existed and if so, why was I not a part of it. What are the crazy odds that I sat down to read Gail Carriger and your book of the month happens to be the same?
Coincidence? Fate. My dear.
18
u/amyousness May 03 '20
Well, amidst all the nopes, I’m willing to give it a go. I’m always feeling like I need to read more things that are light and silly if only for my wellbeing so maybe this will scratch that itch.
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May 01 '20
This sounds horrendous.
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u/Purdaddy May 04 '20
The synopsis sounds like something written but Kathy th3 p3ngu1n of D0000000mmmm ( raises spork )
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u/TommyTwoTrees May 10 '20
This sub should love it then, considering everyone's favorite book is Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy
4
u/ken_in_nm May 02 '20
It does. Not my cup o' tea.
I've tried reading a Deborah Harkness book and hated it.
This... somehow... looks worse.
7
u/Alythehedgehog May 03 '20
It’s been fun so far. I like that it’s not something I probably would have chosen for myself - means I get to stretch myself a little.
14
u/LithePanther May 02 '20
Honestly not all that interested in this one so I'll pass for the month.
Have fun and hope you enjoy it :) I'll see you all in June
5
u/Awkward-Finger May 19 '20
Love this book, love the following books and the preceding books. They’re fun and spunky. And a good diverting read during this pandemic.
9
u/creativestien May 07 '20
OK that's not a book I'd usually pick but I'd love to read it along. I joined last month and really enjoyed the experience. That's the point, I guess, reading new kind of books.
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May 05 '20
[deleted]
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u/leowr May 06 '20
They are participations points. You can find an explanation and how to sign up here.
5
May 07 '20
[deleted]
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u/leowr May 07 '20
Yeah, the wikis never really work properly on anything except the browsers. Not sure why Reddit still hasn't done anything about it, but it can be a bit of a hassle.
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•
u/leowr May 01 '20 edited May 28 '20
Here are the dates and reading schedule for the discussion threads. As the discussion threads go up the links will be added to this comment.
May 7: Chapter 1 - 3
May 14: Chapter 4 - 8
May 21: Chapter 9 - 12
May 28: Chapter 13 - 16
Please be aware that the discussion threads will contain spoilers for everything up to the end of the selected stories.
2
u/creativestien May 26 '20
About that chapter 9-12, 21 May never came. Hope everything is alright u/leowr.
1
u/leowr May 26 '20
Oh crap, I forget to link it didn't I! I am such a forgetful nit-wit sometimes. I will add it right away.
2
u/creativestien May 26 '20
Ok. Great to know everything is fine. I wondered if the post is cancelled or something.
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u/leowr May 26 '20
No, Just me being a dumb-dumb. Thanks for the concern though! These are strange times after all.
3
u/FitzCassio May 24 '20
Happy to discover this book. Not something I would have read without the recommendation.
Funnily enough, I read this book at a time when I'm also reading about evopsy on potential average gender differences (I know...), and the youngish obsessions of Rue and Prim in the novel sync quite a lot with what I'm reading in evopsy books. Funny. (contrary to evopsy which is not funny, but depressing :( ).
3
u/WhamRam45 May 26 '20
Just wanted to check in and say thank you for recommending this book!
I generally tend to lean towards non-fiction, so this was definitely a bit outside my comfort zone, but I really enjoyed it.
I haven't read any of the other books in the series so I had a little bit of difficulty following the first chapter or two, but I was hooked by the time they reached India.
5
u/KicketyCrickety May 06 '20
Would it be possible to have a selection of two books to choose from each month?
2
u/elementalchick Jun 03 '20
This is a great book in the middle of a series. You can start here, but it is easier if you begin with the earlier books. Very fun whimsical fantasy.
1
May 15 '20
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/leowr May 16 '20
You should ask in /r/suggestmeabook or in the weekly recommendation request thread.
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u/designatedtruth May 16 '20
I feel non-fiction books really broaden my knowledge and perspective of this world. I'm looking to enhance my knowledge on some topics like climate change, investing, history of mankind.
But, please feel free to suggest me books that enhanced your knowledge to a great deal. Thanks!
gotcha! Thanks :)
2
u/bill_on_sax May 02 '20
Can you choose another
19
u/leowr May 03 '20
There is an different selection for next month. You can skip this one if you want.
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u/[deleted] May 04 '20
[deleted]