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Peter Webscott's avatar

Thanks for the list, Simon.

I’m looking to re-read Proust and would like to find a group doing this but there doesn’t seem to be one on Substack (or anywhere else I’ve searched on Google). If anyone comes across one, can they give a shout out.

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Peter Webscott's avatar

The leader is a lady called Toby Brothers (one of the founders and directors of the London and Paris Literary Salons). Apparently it’s the NINTH reading of Proust she’s led. For the eye watering cost you’d need to have a Proustian aristocrat’s income level!

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Simon Haisell's avatar

Ouch. Well I hope it is worth it for those who can afford it. And I hope you find a more affordable alternative!

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Simon Haisell's avatar

I'll keep a look out!

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Peter Webscott's avatar

Thanks for letting me know about the London Literary Salon slow read of Proust starting in September. Unfortunately the cost for joining the 9 x 2 hr Zoom sessions of (just) Volume 1 is £300! No doubt it’s good, but it’s beyond my budget, unfortunately. Such a shame!

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Simon Haisell's avatar

That is indeed steep! I wonder why it is so high – I assume they have hired a Proust scholar...

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Matthew Long's avatar

Simon, I will be hosting a book club/reading group starting in January 2025. We will be reading Homer's The Iliad and The Odyssey over the course of the year, one chapter per week. I will put out all the guidelines in the next few weeks but thought I would let you know. Will send you a link once the post goes up.

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Simon Haisell's avatar

Magnificent, let me know when you've got a post to share and I'll update the list.

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Dr Alexandria Szeman's avatar

What an amazing directory, Simon. Thank you so much for all your slow reads and for this incredible listing ♥️

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Simon Haisell's avatar

You're welcome! I hope it is useful!

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Heather Weinert's avatar

Thanks for putting this together. But now I have joined 2 more book groups, darn it!!

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Simon Haisell's avatar

This is one of the hazards!

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Lisa Cerqueira's avatar

Hi, Simon. Have you heard of any groups reading anything by Mark Twain? I read through your list, but the closest I could see was F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway…

Thanks.

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Simon Haisell's avatar

I haven't heard of any, but I'll keep my antennae out.

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Lisa Cerqueira's avatar

Thank you. Have you ever considered Twain or another American author for one of your slow reads?

I found your site on Substack when I was looking for a guided reading experience. My favorite class in college was called Great Books and the professor was skillful at bringing the characters to life and providing context not obvious to a reader in the 1980s - I especially enjoyed Dickens Great Expectations which I never would have picked up on my own. Thank you creating a similar experience.

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Simon Haisell's avatar

Thanks! I haven't got plans for any American, I wonder whether I should leave the great American novels to an American? I don't know. Anyway, next year I'm leading mostly with contemporary British writers – I've got a list of books I'm passionate about re-reading.

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Matt Rumbaugh's avatar

I’d be interested in a group doing Moby Dick. Anybody know of one?

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Simon Haisell's avatar

I haven't come across one yet, although a lot of people have been interested in one!

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Robyn G's avatar

You're amazing, Simon Haisell. It's almost like you also manage a book group of book groups. Impressive!

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Simon Haisell's avatar

Thanks Robyn! It is very meta over here!

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Breon Randon's avatar

So very cool!

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Patricia Rector's avatar

Thank you Simon! I'm so excited to have this resource at my fingertips.

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Simon Haisell's avatar

Me too! I searched for book groups and book clubs on the discovery page of Substack and most of the top newsletters are inactive. Hopefully this will be more useful for people!

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kkmoresi's avatar

Wonderful Simon, thank you so much for tracking these down!

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Simon Haisell's avatar

Doing my bit, hope it is useful!

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Owl Green's avatar

Hooray! I’ll plan to add this to my directory here next time I’m at my computer, if that’s all right?

https://open.substack.com/pub/fearlessgreen/p/substack-directory-of-directories

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Simon Haisell's avatar

Definitely! Thanks Rebecca.

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