One of the things we’re hoping to accomplish here in our summer Read With Us LOUNGE . . . is to create a space that fosters a sense of community and connectedness among readers of our blogs and among lovers of reading. It’s a challenge to do this virtually, of course, when we can’t sit around together and chat in real time. But for those of you who regularly take part in our Read With Us quarterly book group, you know that this kind of connection is possible – and that it can work!
When we meet together for our Read With Us book discussions on Zoom, we usually start things rolling with some sort of quick ice breaker question. Nothing fancy or tricky — just a chance for everyone to say hi and connect with the group before we plunge into the “meat” of our book discussion. I thought that icebreaker concept might translate well to our summer group here in the LOUNGE, so today I’m providing an opportunity for us all to get to know each other a little bit . . . with a quick and fun little Lightning Round icebreaker!
How does it work?
Just cut-and-paste the following questions into the comment section . . . and add your answers. Don’t overthink. Just a quick answer will do! Don’t answer any questions you don’t feel like answering (remember the Read With Us LOUNGE motto: No rules. Just fun.)
AND . . . don’t worry about the fact that you will likely not get an immediate confirmation that your comment has posted (thanks, WordPress). I AM getting your comments, though, and they ARE posting. (Just . . . trust it.)
So.
Without further ado . . . join me for the . . .
The Read With Us LOUNGE Lighting Round:
(Just copy these questions, paste them into your comment, and give a quick answer!)
- In what state or country do you currently live?
- Favorite summer beverage?
- In what town did you spend your high school years?
- Middle name?
- Pets? Kids? Grandchildren?
- Zodiac sign?
- Favorite summer treat to eat?
- A book you loved as a child?
- A book you frequently recommend to others?
- What’cha reading right now?
And there you have it . . . the inaugural LOUNGE Lightning Round icebreaker!
Stop back sometime later this week to catch up with what everyone else posted . . . so we can all get to know each other a little better!
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The Read With Us LOUNGE is now open for the summer!
Grab a book. Find a comfy spot to read with us for awhile.
No rules!
Just fun!
And . . . psssst! . . .
In the spirit of the Read With Us community, head on over to Bonny’s today . . . and wish her a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
In what state or country do you currently live? Michigan
Favorite summer beverage? A nice, chilled Sauvignon Blanc.
In what town did you spend your high school years? Cheyenne, Wyoming
Middle name? Ann
Pets? Kids? Grandchildren? 1 dog (JoJo), 2 kids (grown and married), no grandchildren . . . but 2 grand-cats and 2 grand-dogs
Zodiac sign? Aries (with a Sagitarrius moon and a rising Gemini) (which explains a lot, actually)
Favorite summer treat to eat? I’m a sucker for ice cream.
A book you loved as a child? The Phantom Tollbooth
A book you frequently recommend to others? The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
What’cha reading right now? I’m at the midpoint of Land by Maggie O’Farrell. (And reading slowly because I love it so much.)
In what state or country do you currently live? NJ
Favorite summer beverage? Iced tea
In what town did you spend your high school years? Quakertown, PA
Middle name? Sue, but I never use it
Pets? Kids? Grandchildren? No pets, two sons, no grandchildren
Zodiac sign? Gemini
Favorite summer treat to eat? Creamsicles
A book you loved as a child? Winnie the Pooh
A book you frequently recommend to others? Shell Seekers or Shipping News
What’cha reading right now? Land by Maggie O’Farrell, and also reading slowly like Kym because I want to savor it.
This was really fun, and Happy Birthday to me!
In what state or country do you currently live? Pennsylvania
Favorite summer beverage? Iced tea.
In what town did you spend your high school years? Holland, Michigan.
Middle name? Ann
Pets? Kids? Grandchildren? Yes, yes, and yes!
Zodiac sign? Capricorn (and unlike Kym I don’t know any of that other stuff at all… lol)
Favorite summer treat to eat? Ice Cream!
A book you loved as a child? Stuart Little and Charlotte’s Web
A book you frequently recommend to others? Anything by Ann Cleeves… anything.
What’cha reading right now? Ann Cleeve’s latest! Haha!
In what state or country do you currently live? Pennsylvania
Favorite summer beverage? Plain seltzer or Sauvignon Blanc
In what town did you spend your high school years? Abington, PA
Middle name? Ellen
Pets? Kids? Grandchildren? Mabel (cat), Colin (son), Iris (granddaughter)
Zodiac sign? Virgo
Favorite summer treat to eat? Bruschetta
A book you loved as a child? Charlotte’s Web
A book you frequently recommend to others? Out Stealing Horses (Per Patterson) and Crossing to Safety (Wallace Stegner)
What’cha reading right now? Missing (by E. A. Jackson)
This was fun Kym! And, Happy Birthday to Bonny!!
In what state or country do you currently live? Dry as bone Utah
Favorite summer beverage? Water (but I will join you with a glass of SB 😉
In what town did you spend your high school years? Murray, UT
Middle name? nope
Pets? Kids? Grandchildren? Mylo the dog
Zodiac sign? Pisces
Favorite summer treat to eat? Anything lemon
A book you loved as a child? ALL
A book you frequently recommend to others? Emma M. Lion
What’cha reading right now? Antidote (finally)
In what state or country do you currently live? Wyoming
Favorite summer beverage? Chilled Chardonnay
In what town did you spend your high school years? Cheyenne
Middle name? Renae
Pets? Kids? Grandchildren? No pets, 1 adult daughter, no grandkids
Zodiac sign? Aquarius
Favorite summer treat to eat? Ice cream, of course!
A book you loved as a child? The Little House on the Prairie book series
A book you frequently recommend to others? A Gentlemen in Moscow
What’cha reading right now? Land (and loving it)
In what state or country do you currently live? Pennsylvania
Favorite summer beverage? Iced coffee
In what town did you spend your high school years? Pittsburgh
Middle name? Dyan
Pets? Kids? Grandchildren? 16-year-old daughter and 1.5-year-old dog
Zodiac sign? Pisces
Favorite summer treat to eat? Ice cream
A book you loved as a child? Too many to name?
A book you frequently recommend to others? Anything by Ann Patchett or Maggie O’Farrell
What’cha reading right now? The Tiger’s Wife (on audio) and The Memory Police (on paper)
In what state or country do you currently live? Oregon
Favorite summer beverage? Water (or diet coke but I’m limiting myself to one per week).
In what town did you spend your high school years? Clayton, MO, a suburb of St. Louis
Middle name? Pre marriage: Ellen Post marriage: Bartel
Pets? Kids? Grandchildren? Yes no no
Zodiac sign? Taurus
Favorite summer treat to eat? Ice Cream All Day Baby
A book you loved as a child? Oh so very many but the One of a Kind Family series, the Betsy Tacy Tib series, Nancy Drew,
A book you frequently recommend to others? lately it has been Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Read as well as God of the Woods by Liz Moore. And the Ruth Galloway series.
What’cha reading right now? Just finished a ARC of the new Elly Griffiths Time Travel book and “The Award” by Matthew Pearl.