Book Club - Next Level

Perhaps post a list of possibilities the interested parties can vote on. Then you can tally the votes and announce the winner. Give us a timeframe by which to finish and discuss.

Where to get the initial list from? No idea. Ask for some suggestions here first? Maybe each month can be a different genre. Or you could go with the best seller lists, lists of winners from recent prestigious contests (from what country? dunno), lists of classic favourites.

I'm sure I was no help at all.

I would like it to be something most of us have not already read.

Too bad I can't suggest my own book...

So you can suggest your own book for people to read for the book club, but you can't start a thread on your own book? Is that the rule?

Perks said:

Why can't you? Who says?

Click to expand...

I thought you couldn't start something about your own book -- that is to prevent abuse.

Anyway, I am starting a book club discussion on the Pacific Between. So if anyone is interested...

If this post is deemed inappropriate, I will delete it.

Thanks!

You should select the book, Perks, however, you should also ensure you've got enough people onboard who will buy, rent or check out the book from a library, as part of this club. Ironclad people -- eight or so -- who are really onboard with the idea. Commit them to the process, show that process works and that will, in turn, attract others.

There's ALWAYS concensus when something's in the high-minded "let's all get onboard" stage. EVerybody believes it a good idea and wants to be supportive. Human nature. However, when the boat's ready to pitch away from the dock, there are surprising few sailors who are on deck. (And feel free to insert any Seamen jokes you may have stirring in your cockles)

Ultimately, the Mod should dictate the reading material (with suggestions from the club) and also guide the cirriculum. It helps keep things on track and ensures that everyone gets the right message.

Also, off topic, I have a suggestion for a new forum area: AbWr book exchange. Much like PeerFlix, you simply post a list of books you're willing to part with. If someone sees a book he wants, he PMs the person with the books and gets the particulars. Postage and like coul be worked out by the two parties. Not an auction. Not a sale. A one-for-one trading system.

maestrowork said:

Anyway, I am starting a book club discussion on the Pacific Between. So if anyone is interested...

Click to expand...

I'm in -- but I need a week for postage and handling (the book, that is). Wife's birthday is coming up!

(Hey -- how do book clubs work? Do you discuss as you go, or wait until everyone's finished? I'm such a rube.)

jst5150 said:

Also, off topic, I have a suggestion for a new forum area: AbWr book exchange. Much like PeerFlix, you simply post a list of books you're willing to part with. If someone sees a book he wants, he PMs the person with the books and gets the particulars. Postage and like coul be worked out by the two parties. Not an auction. Not a sale. A one-for-one trading system.

Click to expand...

Great idea. Sadly, the cost might be too prohibitive to and from my area.

poetinahat said:

(Hey -- how do book clubs work? Do you discuss as you go, or wait until everyone's finished? I'm such a rube.)

Click to expand...

The ones at my local libraries or private book clubs... you read the book in advance, then on a designated date, you get together and discuss it. There are usually topics and questions already thought out, but of course, random discussions are encouraged, too. One local book club only discusses books that have been made into movies -- they'd read the book, then watch the movie, then discuss and compare both. Sounds very interesting.

maestrowork said:

You read the book in advance, then on a designated date, you get together and discuss it. There are usually topics and questions already thought out, but of course, random discussions are encouraged, too.

Click to expand...

This sounds eeriely like ... COLLEGE!

It does, but it's a good thing. At least no one is required to write a book report. I think the idea is to make sure everyone is on the same page (pun not intended) to encourage participation.

Two weeks is plenty. You might also want to switch genres from selection to selection and build a schedule. If you schedule genres (not necessarily titles) in advance, that'll draw interest from all areas of the Forum.

Excellent. Can I vote against 'Soul Mountain'?

... and imagine the thread of rebuke if you chose 'Da Vinci Code' out of the gate (thought with the debut of the movie, not a bad idea). I'll pat myself on the back for that one later. ;-)

Then suggest its better kissing cousin -- "The Name of the Rose" by Umberto Eco

Pendulum! Hooray!
(Give us more than two weeks, though.)

A friend of mine has read both FP and DVC; he describes DVC as "FP For Dummies". I haven't read it yet, so I couldn't say.

Umberto Eco is tough sledding regardless.

I might also suggest having some guidelines and specifics about what will be discussed -- perhaps four or five areas of review. Not sure how other cliques do this, but maybe substance, writing, pace, flow, impact or something along those lines.

Also, I'd create an AbWr grading system for book reviews now before someone institutes stars, thumbs or chili peppers.

I am not sure the purpose of these discussions are... are we discussing them from a writer's point of view (how well it's written, POV, pacing, etc.) or from a reader's point of view (the story is blah blah blah, the characters are blah blah blah). I don't think we're writing "reviews" here...


Usually discussions are framed in a set of questions such as "author X talks about the death of Y, and the theme of death is prominent throughout the whole story. What do you think that means?" Etc. Etc.

Obviously, we don't have to do that kind of discussions. A free from discussion would be very interesting. However, I think some guidelines would be very helpful, and if it's facilitated, even better.

True, but at some point, someone's gonna give it a grade ("Overall, I thought Curious George eats a 3-toed sloth was palpitating!"). Better to be prepared for that than not. Also important to note, for clarity's sake, I used the term "areas of review," vice asking for a review of the tome. Don't want to anger the Ray Gods.