How about a book club?

[theworm[$]]

a book club - here at EA?

Ok - this will probably never work, but where there is a will, there is a way.

I used to trade books with my friend, then after we both read them, we would discuss them. Why couldn't we do a book club here. It may be hard to start since we have diverse tastes, but it could be worth a try. We could even have categories. I know that there are some non-fiction fans, some sci-fi fans, some parents very interested in kids books. I'm a fiction fan, and I know that Lynn, Bridgette, David and some others have enjoyed many of the same books I have.

We could have categories, post a poll with some book choices. Let people vote on which book to read. Give some time to read - better a bit too long so that the slower readers amongst us aren't left out, and then open up some general discussion threads.

Any interest?

[lynnzop[$]]

I would be interested. Can I suggest that we take turns picking books to read instead of "voting", however? I know there are some authors I would have never read had someone else not recommended them...and I'd tend to vote more along the lines of themes/authors I'm familiar with.

Online discussions of the books would be great. We are good at going indepth in our threads already!!!

Lynn

[soxfan[$]]

Excellent idea, Wormie. I'd be up for it. :thumbs:

[emeleel]

Sounds great! I've actually thought about the same thing, but I think we tried it once, or at least talked about it, and it never went anywhere.

[Redlass]

I would be in favor of this. Especially if some people then wanted to go back to the mother site and post reviews....

(But I promise I wouldn't nag. Not too much, anyway. )

[phoenixx]

I would join if it was one group instead of a group for every category - that would force us to expand our horizons. And I like the idea of each person choosing a book and author each time, whoever said that, instead of voting. For people on a limited budget Iwould make the only requirement of book selection that it be something readily available in a library or used book store to save $$. I love buying new books all the time, but I have no kids or realy big bills, and some people do.

[mjfrombuffalo[$]]

I'm in

[ms_n]

I think it's a great idea. But, I won't promise, however slow ya'll go, that I'll keep up.

[theworm[$]]

I think it is the kind of thing that we have to allow time for slower readers (lilke me - I keep falling asleep lately), and where people can opt in or out depending on their interst in each book and time availabililty.
And if this can generate more book reviews for the mother site - that's a cool thing too!

[lynnzop[$]]

phoenixx said

For people on a limited budget Iwould make the only requirement of book selection that it be something readily available in a library or used book store to save $$.

I belong to a book club where this is one of the "rules" (the other is that whoever choses the book brings the food ). I think it's a good one to follow.

Lynn

[theworm[$]]

Ok - so who wants to select the first book?????
Whoever selects the books, must also supply snacks in the book talk thread!

[phoenixx]

Before we select the first book, how about we set a few guidelines - like a length of time before next book selected (I know some readers are a little slower, but one book a month sounds reasonable to me), how we know who picks next, if you can post in thread as soon as done reading (I read 3 books a day when time permits - very fast) or need to wait a certain period in case of spoilers, etc

[theworm[$]]

Feedback, everyone?
I think a book a month sounds reasonable. Many here can read more than that at a time, but with work, school, family demands, etc. we should keep it reasonable, and a book a month works for me. What do the rest of you think?
As far as posting. I think if we're giving a month per book, we probably shouldn't start the book thread until the month is up. That way everyone who chooses to participate can.
Who picks next? Hhm. Any ideas? People may choose to opt in or out on a given month. I don't know what the best answer is here. We can do it raffle style, assign in advance, .... lots of options. I think that it should be selected on a month to month basis since peoples free time changes, but I'm open to ideas. One person can select, or there can be a sort of vote. Anyone participating can suggest a book, and then we can do a poll where you're not allowed to choose your own book (unless someone else also suggested the same one) and whichever gets the most votes for that month wins.

Don't know. Idea's are welcomed.

[ms_n]

A month sounds very fair. I'd also be willing to let others choose. It's just going to be fun reading and sharing together.

Maybe we could share what we all have in mind and take it from there:

My school was having a fund raiser through Barnes and Noble, and I picked up a couple of books from an author who had a signing today. It was a pleasure to hear her speak of her writing experiences and the entire process of developing a work that she described as a breathing relationship. I enjoyed her thoroughly. A neat thing about her books is that they have some discussion questions at the back.

Just by the short pieces she shared from her latest book, I think the character development might be the strongest element in her writing -- enough to keep me going to the next page. I became interested in the people she described and the situations she explored through them. When met in person, it is not difficult to take a liking to this author and the love she has for writing. So, I'm sure that factors into my interest in reading her stuff.

They are really girly, though. So, I don't think any guys would be interested.

The ones I purchsed were Her Daughter's Eyes and The Matter of Grace by Jessica Barksdale Inclan

[lynnzop[$]]

My input:

Let's start slow, I think one book a month is good timing (any shorter, people won't finish, any longer and people lose interest). As far as choosing, we can go in alpha order of eps name and schedule out through the end of the year with whomever is interested right now. Additional joiners can be added to the end of the schedule. By scheduling out far in advance, you can decide ahead of time what you'd like to have the group read for your month, and if you KNOW it's going to be a bad month, just switch with someone else. Also, if we had a sticky with a list of the months and who is going to pick that month, we could even post which book they are picking (if they know) to give some slower readers (or faster as the case may be ) a head start.

Person who choses the book can start off the discussion thread on the first of the following month.

To of course break the rules right off the bat, I'd like to ask if Delia would like to pick the first book since this was all her idea!

There's my 2 cents.

Lynn

[ms_n]

lynnzop said

To of course break the rules right off the bat, I'd like to ask if Delia would like to pick the first book since this was all her idea!

That sounds good. I'll second that.

[theworm[$]]

Well - a month per books sounds good.
If everyone is cool with assigning months in advance and making a sticky thread, and letting people choose - thats cool by me.

As far as me choosing the first book! Ack!
My extreme fatigue has made me a VERY slow reader now. I'm currently reading Steinbeck's East of Eden. If you all want to make that book number one, we can start now and call that our first book. If you want to start May 1, we can choose a different book.
I hate being "in charge" but I think we need to move or we'll just keep discussing, so.......

East of Eden or a different choice for May?

[soxfan[$]]

I vote for starting May 1, though only for purely selfish reasons (I have a final due the 28th). Month by month is a great idea, btw.

[lynnzop[$]]

Works for me, Wormie. I don't know that I've ever read East of Eden, and I would love to get a head start on May.

Lynn

[ms_n]

I need a head start! I'll soon be off westward in search of "East of Eden".

[mjfrombuffalo[$]]

I think I have it around here somewhere in the box of Great Books That MJ Is Someday Going To Read.

[emeleel]

I'm in, and I think a month per book sounds great.

I vote for a May 1st start date, too.