#BabblingBooksRA
Welcome to the second Babbling Books Read-along! This February we will be reading The Lies of Locke Lamora together. If you haven’t signed up yet you can do so via this link.
The first book in the Gentleman Bastard Sequence, The Lies of Lock Lamora has always held a special place in my heart, and the characters burn brightly in my memory though it has been 8 years since I first met them. I hope that you love this novel like I did the first time, and I can’t wait to rediscover it as I read along too!
Below you will find a calendar with all the important dates to remember. The novel is divided into 4 ‘books’ of similar length, so we will aim to read one section per week. All the dates are guides for discussion only. Feel free to read at your own pace, and participate in the discussions when you are ready.
Each Monday I will share a blog post with some discussion questions and my thoughts so far, and you can add you own comments below each one (make sure to turn on email alerts for replies, or remember to check back!). All you need is an email address to leave a comment.
Photo Challenge:
To make the month extra exciting each week I have a photo challenge for you. Completing it is optional, but I will feature my favourite photo/s in the weekly discussion posts, so it’s a great opportunity to show off your photography skills – and I’ve seen all your accounts so I know you have great talent! Don’t forget to use the tag #BabblingBooksRA on Instagram/Tumblr/Twitter and mention me in the comments so I can see your photos.
Meet & Greet:
At the end of this post is a list of all the Instagram accounts who have signed up for the read-along, check them out and you might find some new friends, these will be your reading buddies for the whole month.
Pre-Reading Discussion: Comment below
- Where are you from? (If you joined the first readalong please re-answer this one, so new readers can get to know you)
- Have you read The Lies of Lock Lamora before?
- What are your expectations of this book? What do you imagine it will be like?
*Note* When commenting, if you mention your instagram account at the end of your post it will make it easier for other readers to find you/connect with you, but it is totally optional.
Reading Calendar:
1st February – Start! Read the Prologue & Book I *Challenge: Show me your copy of The Lies of Locke Lamora #coverlove
8th – Prologue & Book I Discussion
9th – 15th Read Book II *Challenge: Locke and key #bookandkey
15th – Book II Discussion
16th – 22nd Read Book III *Challenge: ‘Nice bird, asshole’ #bookandbird
22nd – Book III Discussion
23rd – 29th Read Book IV *Challenge: Where do you read The Lies of Locke Lamora? #whereiread
29th – Book IV Discussion
#BabblingBooksRA participants
If your username isn’t on this list please sign up via this link, then comment below and I will add you in!
To start this off, I’m Tamsien, your host and guide! I’m from Melbourne Australia, and I have read The Lies of Locke Lamora once before in 2008. It’s been 8 years, and I still can’t quite believe it! It feel like just the other day I was in an apartment in Tokyo, trains rushing past the window mere feet away and Mt Fuji just visible in the distance if you squinted when the sun was out, and there I was devouring this book. I’m reading the same battered paperback edition that braved Winter in Japan with me all those years ago, and I am so very excited to dive back into Locke Lamora’s world.
I am more than a little nervous as to how you will all take the humour (which is pretty dark) and the swearing. Seriously. I could hardly find a single quote on Goodreads that doesn’t have some kind of swearing in it! But I really hope you will all love this book like I do.
Wow, that sounds like such a beautiful place to read!
It certainly was, I wonder if I have any photos from that trip somewhere! It would be cool to share them ?
Hey everyone!
My name is Shari and I’m from Ontario, Canada. This will be my first time reading The Lies of Locke Lamora and I’m pretty excited! I’ve heard lots of good things about it. 😀
You can find me on Instagram under @colourmeread! Looking forward to reading and chatting with you!
Hi Shari! So happy to have you along for the read, I hope you love this book. So let’s get started, lots to read this week!
I’m Alex! I’m from Sydney, Australia and this is also my second re-read of The Lies of Locke Lamora. I also read it about eight years ago while on holiday, and I remember just randomly buying it because it looked kind of cool, and then all of a sudden two days have flown past and I’m at the end of the book, completely shell-shocked! I now lend my copy of The Lies of Locke Lamora to everyone and anyone I can make read it. I have such fond memories of this book and it’s one of my favourite books ever. I’m like Tamsien in that I’ll be reading my beloved copy that literally has pages falling out too 😉
I’m also on Instagram as @epicbookclub! I’m excited to re-read this book with you all!
Hi fives for Aussies doing rereads! That’s what I like to hear! It’s so strange to feel like I ‘miss’ characters. But I really miss Locke and Jean. Can’t wait to open the crumpled pages and add some more creases to the spine!
Hello everyone!!
I’m Holly and I live in the U.S. in Wisconsin. I’ve never read The Lies of Locke Lamora, but after reading some reviews and the description I’m ready to dive in!
Based on Tamsien’s previous recommendations, I know this book will be excellent. I’m expecting a creative world and interesting characters. I’m actually excited about the fact that we were warned about the dark humor and the language lol. I feel like it will be a read different from what I’ve been reading lately, which is a good change of pace!
I look forward to discussing with you all!! I’m on Instagram under holly_reads 🙂
Welcome to readalong number two my dear! I’m flattered byt nervous about the trust you place one my reviews, now I REALLY hope you like it! And I’m keen for a change of pace too, I’ve reading a fair bit of YA fantasy lately, and I feel like the pull a lot of punches. And if my first reading was anything to go by this is not a pull-the-punches kind of book (sobbing on a train full of curious Japanese commuters was a particularly memorable experience!).
Hi everyone!
I’m from Geelong which is about 40 minutes out of Melbourne. Super excited to read this book- I have a 4.5 hour train ride tomorrow so I know what I’ll be doing!
Follow me on @kelseyeileene
I also have an old bookstagram I haven’t touched in a while @kejslibrary
🙂
Hi Kelsey! I grew up in Geelong (but I suspect you might know that from snapchat if I’ve got the right person! Otherwise I have more Geelong-based followers than I realised!). Have fun on your train trip, I hope you enjoy your first introduction to the world of Locke Lamora!
Hi, I’m Sarah and I’m from Brisbane, Australia! I’ve never read The Lies of Locke Lamora before and just realised that I haven’t even read a blurb or synopsis. I just know that a bunch of people whose opinions I trust have told me that this is a great book. I’m going in blind but I’m super excited 🙂 My Instagram is @commasandampersands!
The Aussies are out in force for this readalong and I love it! What better book to appeal to us: criminals and swearing. I’m so nervous about how much you trust me on this, but I can’t deny or doubt my love for this book. So let’s do it!
Hi guys!
I’m Lara and I knew NOTHING about this book when I ordered my copy fir this readalong. I still haven’t even read the blurb – but Tamsien recommended it and that was good enough for me! I loved our first Neverwhere readalong so dark humour is definitely a draw for me. I am so looking forward to discussing it with you…
I am in the UK, near Cambridge. And you can find me on Instagram as @writinglaraferrari ?
Oh Lara! You are making me nervous too! Three of you haven’t read the blurb! Oh well, if you all hate it it will make for excellent discussion. But nothing will shake my faith in how awesome this book is, my concern is only it is not to everyone’s taste. But no book ever is! Let us dive into the world of Locke Lamora and soak up some of his sass.
My names Chelsea and am from New York and this will be my first time reading the Lies of Locke Lomora. I don’t know much except for the fact that it’s fantasy series that a lot of people like. Am excited to get into reading it.
Hi Chelsea! Thanks for joining us, super excited to have you along for the read. I love that you are going in without preconceived notions, hopefully you’ll enjoy the Rollercoaster!
Hey, I’m İrem Su and I’m from Turkey! So I’m reading the Turkish version of this book. This will be my second time reading it and I love re-reads! I really liked this book and I feel like it will be better this time. Because, you know, you can always find some things you didn’t realize when you first read it.
My instagram is @memyselfandmybooks but it’s in Turkish so it may not interest you ?
Welcome! Very excited to have a reader of a translated version, last readalong we had a couple too, and I will be verh interested to hear your thoughts! I hope it is a good translation, and that you enjoy it.
I checked out your photos, they are very pretty! I might not be able to read Turkish, but book photos are book photos no matter the language!
Look forward to reading with you.
Hi my name is Sara, I’m originally from Canada but currently living in the United States with my husband and then we’re moving to the UK in the spring.
This is my first time reading this book, I had never actually heard of it until I stumbled upon @babblingbooks post about the readalong and then I ordered it immediately and have been excitedly waiting for February to start this.
I’m going in with no expectations but I hope I love it! (I also picked up the next book in the series because it was in the bargain bin at my work for $5)
My IG is @thewayfaringbookworm
Oh how I love a good bargain! It was obviously meant to be that you would join us! And you really are well traveled, you must know some amazing bookish places, make sure you let me know any real favourites, I’m trying to plan out some world travel for the next couple of years.
Hope you enjoy!
Hi everyone! I’m Mary:) and I’m from Florida, USA.
I am beyond excited to read this book! I can’t believe I didn’t know about this book sooner, but maybe it’s a good thing because I’ll get to experience it for the first time with all of you! I seriously think I bought it the second after I signed up for this read-a-long. Speaking of, it’s my first one of those too haha. So this whole journey will be new to me, but I’m very excited to begin with you all!
I’m expecting really good things from this book, based on reviews and the book description. It sounds right up my alley ?
Happy reading!
@forthelove0fbooks
Hi Mary! So lovely to have you joining us for your first time reading this book, and for your first readalong! I hope you have lots of fun and meet some awesome new bookish people, there are so many terrific ladies here for you to meet.
Hello fellow read-a-longers… Is that a word? Oh well, it is now!
I’m Faye from Diamond beach, Australia!
This is my first time reading ‘Locke Lamora’, I actually started reading this a few weeks ago based on a friends recommendation, then Lo and behold it was the next readalong book! The gods of books and all things amazing have blessed my little cotton socks this time ha!
I have to say, I didn’t really quite know what to expect when I first started reading, but now I can’t put it down (except when I have to to deal with nappies, feeding and screaming children! Not necessarily in that order!)
I won’t write too much otherwise I will want to delve into some things probably best for next weeks discussions hehe
Just want to say, Thanks again Tamsien for hosting another RA! I really enjoyed the first – and welcome to all the new RA readers!
*rustling of book pages in applause to ‘Babblingbooks’*
X
Faye
(Aka Fabeebabee)
Welcome Faye! So pleased to have you joining us, and I’m so glad you are loving it so far. It is not going to be everyone’s cup of tea, but I think us Aussies can handle a bit of bad language when it is said in jest!
Really looking forward to hearing what everyone thinks about the first ‘book’ in the discussion on Monday.
Happy reading!
Hello everyone, Sandra here!
I have already participated in Tamsien’s first read-along and it was so much fun that I couldn’t let the opportunity slide to do it again.
The Lies of Locke Lamora have been on my TBR for quite a while now so it is perfect that I get to read it with some amazing people and discuss it with fellow book-lovers. And dark humour – now that is right up my alley!!
Ah, and I am from Germany and my IG username is @thedarkestpartsofsnow 🙂
Cannot wait!!
Welcome Sanrda! Thanks for joining in again (and already starting on the photo challenge!) it will be wonderful to have your insights once again. Though this book is a real change of pace from Neverwhere. I hope you will enjoy it just as much! Happy Reading xx
Hello Everyone Steph here!
I am joining from the very blustry atm UK!, this is my first ever readalong which i am very excited about. First visit to Locke Lamora and it sounds pretty good from comments i have seen on amazon, i am super excited to get started.
My IG username is @Steffyh87.
🙂
Hi Steph (one of two Stephs we have from the UK!), it really is one of my favourite fantasy reads (though that list of favourites is long) so I hope that you enjoy it along with us all. Readalongs are so much fun, so make sure you check in on the discussions and look out for your fellow readers on instagram!
Hi! I’m Steph and I’m from Wales, UK. This is my second read-along here. I’m really looking forward to it and enjoyed the Neverwhere one so much.
The Lies of Locke Lamora is a book I wanted to read years ago but just didn’t get to it for some reason. So I’m so happy to have it to read with you all now.
My Instagram name is @bookishsteph1. Happy reading!
Forgot to say about my expectations! I’m not put off by swearing and dark humour is definitely something I enjoy. I’m anticipating something quite unique (I remember from the blurb I read years ago that it sounded like something I hadn’t read before). @bookishsteph1
Hullo again Steph! A few people have mentioned that they have been meaning to read it for years but never got around to it, so I am glad to be able to push it up the TBR. I can’t wait to have you along again and hear your thoughts about this one (so so different to Neverwhere). Happy Reading.
Hi everyone!
My name is Meg and I’m from New Brunswick, Canada.
This will be my first time reading The Lies of Locke Lamora. I’ve heard so many good things about the series from friends and on tumblr; I can’t wait to get started.
Oh, and you can find me on instagram at @mjclarke
Hi Meg, welcome to the readalong. Glad to have you along for the read, and I hope you love this book as much as your friends do!
Hello friends! My name is Amber and I’m also from Wisconsin, USA. This will be my first read of TLoLL, but I’ve been sitting on the ebook for years. Years! I’m excited to finally be diving into it. I will say, though, that my semester has just started, so I’m hoping I can keep up, but it won’t surprise me if I lag behind a bit. My IG handle is amberk1120, and I look forward to discussing with everyone! 🙂
Hi Amber! I know that feeling of having a book (or ebook) for years, I have quite a few of those myself – perhaps I will have to set one of those as my next readalong book! Don’t worry too much if you are not keeping up strictly with the dates, they are just a guide, and it is quite a long book. You are always welcome to come back and add your comments to the discussions whenever you are ready, and you will be able to see all the discussion that comes before you as well!
Hi! My name is Vy and I’m from Norway.
I read The Lies of Locke Lamora when it first came out and loved it then, but it’s been almost 10 years and I don’t remember anything (anyone else have this problem?). Bought the book again last month because I couldn’t find my old copy, saw this readalong and thought it was the perfect opportunity to pick it up again 😀
You can find me on IG as @thelibrocubicularist.
Hi Vy, wonderful to have someone from Norway joining us (I am hoping to visit Norway in December this year, so if you have any great bookish travel suggestions you will have let me know!). I read it about 8 years ago and have definitely forgotten a lot. I read the sequel about 5 years ago, so that is fresher in my mind. Most of all I remember laughing and crying, and the beautiful friendship between Jean and Locke, but the details are lacking and I can’t wait to discover them all over again!!
Hey everybody! I’m Katie. I’m from the States – South Carolina and I’m super excited to b reading along with y’all. I started the book yesterday and am very intrigued. Can’t wait to get to know the characters.
I have an Instagram account but my bookish/story account is my blog. So check it out if u want – storyrealmblog.wordpress.com
Looking forward to our first chat!!!! Thank u so much Tamsien for the forum!
Just gave your insta/blog and February read along a shout out on my blog!
Hi Katie! Thanks so much for joining, hope you enjoy the book!
Hi, I’m June from the island of Barbados. This is my first read-along and first time reading of The Lies of Locke Lamora. This has gotten great reviews from lots of booktubers I follow- Lindsey Rey, Novels and Nonsense, Peruse Project and C.A. DuBois. So when I saw this read along having ordered the book in January it seemed perfect. I did put it off my list because of the swearing, not really a fan of it. But I’ll see how it goes.
My Instagram account is @deepnchrist.Looking forward to seeing what this book is about and the discussions.
Wow, from Barbados! That’s so cool, thanks for joining! This book does have a fair amount of swearing, but when you understand the context (they’re thieves that thrive on the criminal underbelly of an extremely corrupt city) then hopefully it becomes somewhat more bearable. Hope you stick with it!
Hi everyone! I’m Sofia from Sweden. I’ve never read The Lies of Locke Lamora before (I don’t know that much about it either), and honestly I’m a little nervous. But as soon as I read ‘dark humor’ I knew I would have to give it a chance. I wanted to read this book in Swedish (mainly because the Swedish cover is absolutely stunning haha), but unfortunately I haven’t been able to get my hands on it. So I’ll order it in English instead ao I can get to reading as soon as possible!
I signed up with my private Instagram account @sofiaulvan but I have a brand new bookstagram (@grimmaldiplan12) where I’d rather post the photos. Is that okay Tamsien?
Can’t wait to read with you all 🙂
Hi Sofia and welcome to this readalong! Hope you managed to get your hands on a copy of this book and join in on the discussion!
Hi everyone! My name is “Minerva,” and I’m from the Midwest, U.S.A. (Well, I’m actually from Hawaii, U.S.A., but my hubby’s job took us to the Midwest. 🙂 This will be my first time reading The Lies of Locke Lamora, and I’m so excited to start. I “discovered” Neil Gaiman during the Neverwhere read along. (Such a fantastic author!) I look forward to “discovering” Scott Lynch now.
You can find me on Instagram @pagesandcup
Welcome Minerva, thanks for joining! I’m so glad I helped introduce you to the magic that is Neil Gaiman and Neverwhere, and hopefully I can do the same with The Lies of Locke Lamora. Look forward to hearing what you think!
Hey everyone! My name is chelsea and I’m from the uk!
I’ve had this book for a while, ever since i heard some fantastic things about it on someones bookstagram and i never got around to reading it, so i’m super excited to read it with everyone involved in this readalong!
My bookstagram is @inthelightofahighstorm 🙂
Hey Chelsea, thanks for commenting and joining! Dimitri (my boyfriend) wanted me to tell you that he loves your IG username (ever since he read The Way of Kings he hasn’t stopped talking about it!) Hope you enjoy the book, and I’m looking for to hearing your thoughts on it!
Finally got my new Insta set up: this is Katie Pink
@storyrealmblog
Hey Everyone!
A little bit late to the game! My name’s Cate Butler. I’m from Salt Lake City, Utah. This will be my first read of THE LIES OF LOCKE LAMORA, and I’m really looking forward to reading this, since it has been on my reading list for quite some time.
Looking forward to getting to know all of you better and discussing this book!
You can find me on IG: (@catebutler)
Cate Xx
Better late than never is what I say! Thanks for joining Cate, hope you enjoy the book and that you participate in our discussions!
Oh my lord, I am so behind! This completely slipped my mind so I’ve come along late, hope that’s still okay!
I’m Gemma, I’m from the UK by way of the Philippines (way out the way eh ?) and I haven’t read The Lies of Locke Lamora before, but it sounds right up my alley! I’ll be trying to catch up as much as I can over the weekend in time for the discussion on Monday!
I’m on IG as Gemkarita, and sporadically posting on my blog at http://desulstory.org
Can’t wait to get to know you all!
Of course it’s okay! Welcome to the readalong Gemma, hope you catch up and join in on the discussion!
Hi everyone!
I’m Kerstin, living in Australia for the past few years, and I’m really late to the party!
This will be my first time reading The Lies of Locke Lamora, though the book has been on my list for many years! I have heard a lot of good things about this book, so I have quite high expectations.
I go by shereadsbymoonlight on IG.
Looking forward to reading with you all!
Hey Kerstin, another fellow Aussie, welcome! I do hope you enjoy it, it’s certainly worthy of the praise it’s received. Looking forward to hearing your opinions on it!