About
26 books began on Shane Richmond's blog in 2006. As part of a plan to motivate himself to read more, Shane decided to read 26 books in a year. He completed the task with a couple of weeks to spare. For 2007, he decided to invite some friends to join him.
The target was to have read and reviewed 156 books by the end of 2007. In fact the total was 167, although only Shane, James and Ian made it to the target of 26.
The original 26 books bloggers were Ann Tozer, Ceri Radford, Ian Douglas, James Higgs, Shane Richmond and Zoe Whitley.
For 2008, Ceri left to concentrate on her book blogging for the Telegraph, while new members Cathy Tozer, Kerry Moore and Sara Ashton joined.
Comments
13 Comments so far. Leave a comment below.Hi there
I’m just writing to let you know that 26books.com has been listed on BBC Collective’s links page:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/collective/links
Best wishes
Rowan
Content Producer
bbc.co.uk/collective
“Nevermind the ‘online’ qualifier; BBC Collective is among the most consistently engaging cultural outlets around, period” – Flavourpill
Dear 26 books,
Hello, my name’s Martin – a Reading-based writer (I found you via Higgis’ blog on Telegraph.co.uk).
I’m writing to ask if you’d be willing to review my book, ‘The Melting Pot’, on your site, and have listed a few details below:
- ‘The Melting Pot’ is a contemporary thriller about a rogue South-American principality. A full synopsis is available at my blog: http://themeltingpot.blogsome.com/about-the-melting-pot/
- There are also sample chapters at: http://www.martincororan.com, and reviews at: http://www.amazon.co.uk.
Thanks for your time, and good luck with hitting your target.
Martin
Hey, how about updating this section to welcome the six new members (of which I am one)? It would be nice to feel part of the group!
Cheers,
Cathy
Hey Cathy,
Good point – I just updated it to include all the new members. I’m enjoying your reviews – keep them coming.
James
Whilst I’m really enjoying posting my reviews, it can sometimes feel as if they’re going into a bit of a black hole. I wonder if we could be commenting more on each other’s posts, using the blog as a forum to share ideas. I know Ann feels the same. I’d also welcome the opportunity to meet you all at some point. I feel I’m getting to know you a little through your posts – which is tantalising – but I’d like to further the acquaintance with some in-the-flesh book-talk. I get the impression you all know each other and even occasionally meet. Am I right?
Cathy
I like the idea of all of that. Of the bloggers, I see Shane, Zoe, Ian and Sara fairly frequently, but I’ve never met any of the others. Shane was talking about putting together a podcast but we’ve never managed to get everyone in the same room at the same time.
I think we should be commenting more – but possibly we need to have more overlap between the various reading lists.
James
We were talking about a podcast quite a bit last year – I even looked into a few possible venues – but we never agreed on a format. I don’t think any of us want a normal book group, so all reading the same stuff seemed a bit artificial. We could do it though if we could agree on something to do.
Starting with commenting sounds like a great idea.
Hi,
I was wondering if you would be interested in reviewing some of our books? If yes please send me an email with your address and I will send you a selection.
Best wishes,
Lynsey Dalladay
Transworld Publishers
I have the same question as Lynsey. We have two new titles currently available. Would you be interested in considering them for review?
Regards,
Michelle Noel
I Publish Press
Book review opp: Citizen Alpha
Hi ,
I just came across your blog , and I thought you might be interested in featuring a book I’m currently working with. “Citizen Alpha,” by author Patrick E. Peterson, follows a group of grad students who utilize their scientific knowledge and spiritual intuition to alter the course of events set in motion by international terrorists plotting against America.
I have pasted more information below, and you can also find more info at http://www.synergybooks.net/. Would you like to receive a review copy of “Citizen Alpha”? Thanks!
We could also set up a book give away for your readers. Please let me know.
Best,
Robin Rumancik
Phenix & Phenix Literary Publicists
(512) 478-2028 ext. 211
—-
Trade Information for Citizen Alpha
By Patrick E. Peterson
Title: Citizen Alpha
Publisher: Synergy Books
Address: 2100 Kramer Ln, Suite 300
Address: Austin, TX 78758
Country: United States
Telephone: (512) 478-2028 ext. 211
Website: http://www.bookpros.com/synergy
Category: Fiction/Science Fiction
Date of Publication: August 2008
Price: $12.95
ISBN-13: 978-1-934454-20-6
Pages: 320
Summary
Citizen Alpha follows a group of international graduate students that fatefully converges at the University of Chicago, only to find they share a special, spiritual synergy together, despite their diverse backgrounds. Meanwhile, another alliance forms across the globe—this one is comprised of warlords and terrorists whose outlooks are molded from growing up in poverty and violence in the shadow of the American empire. Hailing from North Korea, Colombia, the Middle East and Somalia, these villains gradually join forces in a plot to unleash a nuclear weapon on America. Guided by study group leader Peter Jobe, the grad students utilize their scientific knowledge and spiritual intuition to alter the course of events set in motion by the terrorists, ultimately saving America—and the planet—from certain chaos and nuclear destruction.
About the Author
Patrick E. Peterson is an osteopathic physician with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a master’s degree in psychology and behavioral neuroscience. He has lived abroad in Korea for two years, where he taught English as a second language, and currently takes yearly medical mission trips to Senegal, Africa. A member of the American Osteopathic Association, the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians and the Illinois Osteopathic Medical Society, Peterson has a private practice in southern Illinois, where he resides with his wife, Jamie, and three children.
Publicity
National media campaign with Phenix & Phenix Literary Publicists
Contact: Robin Rumancik
Publicist
Phenix & Phenix Literary Publicists
(512) 478-2028 ext. 211
rrumancik@phenixpublicity.com
http://www.phenixpublicity.com
http://www.phenixpublicity.blogspot.com
Hi
I’m wondering how do I get started writing book reviews for your blog?
Thank you
Sara Jackson
Hi Sara,
At the moment, 26 Books is invitation only – we’re all friends of friends. That’s not to say that we wouldn’t be keen to expand that into something bigger, but we don’t have any plans at the moment.
Cheers,
James
Hi
Re James’s book 29 (’Life Class’) Pat Barker
I just read your review which I thought spot on and far more perceptive than any of the published ones from the broadsheets which were quite anodyne and descriptive.
A friend suggested Elinor is meant to be based on Vanessa Bell and I was searching for confirmation that this might be so… still loking.
Will visit your reviews again,
Thanks,
S