Book Club: Organization

[Samarra]

This thread is for Organizational questions.

-How will we choose the book each month?
-How will we choose the discussion leader each month?
-Should we put a limit on the number of pages in the book we can nominate?
-Can non-fiction books be nominated?

Let's talk about it!

[Kath]

I suggest whoever nominated the book that gets chosen ends up as discussion leader.

I imagine that the size of the book will end up being self-selecting - no-one in their right mind would pick Jonathan Strange... or Cryptonomicon, right?

[Samarra]

I suggest whoever nominated the book that gets chosen ends up as discussion leader.
I agree.

I imagine that the size of the book will end up being self-selecting - no-one in their right mind would pick Jonathan Strange
:blush:

[Beisla]

What if we had different genres on different months? We could give more months to science fiction and fantasy, and some to general fiction, classics or whatever. So e.g. one month we'd have a list of classics to vote from and choose a book from there, next scifi and so on.

[Samarra]

Sounds good to me. But what do you mean by "page limits"?

I read fast, so a book that's 500 pages wouldn't be a big deal to me. I'm not sure of everyone elses reading habits. My husband, for instance, would really struggle to get a book over 300 or 400 pages done in a month.

[edith]

I read fast, so a book that's 500 pages wouldn't be a big deal to me. I'm not sure of everyone elses reading habits. My husband, for instance, would really struggle to get a book over 300 or 400 pages done in a month.

I can read quickly, but, and this is I think will apply to more than just me, my free time is limited, so although I could read the Redemption of Althalus or HPATOTP in three, four hours one day, it'd take me several weeks another, and my response might not be printable (especially with HPATOTP- what a waste of words).
Reading 500 pages and evaluating them is far harder than being immersed in a story.

[murphy]

I read fast, so a book that's 500 pages wouldn't be a big deal to me. I'm not sure of everyone elses reading habits. My husband, for instance, would really struggle to get a book over 300 or 400 pages done in a month.


I read fast also, and have a lot of time to read. Not everyone does, so I see what you mean.

[murphy]

-How will we choose the book each month?

Let's talk about it!

If we're going to start in January, we should pick a book so that those that don't have it can get it. I like Shay's idea of picking three months at a time. Perhaps when we vote, the three books that have the most votes should be read. The book with the most votes first, and so on.

[Kath]

I like the 3-month idea... but how about picking one each of a fantasy, SF and mainstream? Just for the sake of variety over the quarter...

[murphy]

That sounds good to me. Did anyone pick a fantasy book for their list?

If not, I'll add. :evil:

[Beisla]

I like the 3-month idea... but how about picking one each of a fantasy, SF and mainstream? Just for the sake of variety over the quarter...Sort of along the lines of what I suggested. One of each sounds good to me.

Now, would we have a different list for the next three-month period? Or use the same one all year, voting one book off every three months?

[murphy]

Each person could add 1 more book each time we vote. If there are books that don't get any votes, we could then take them off the list.

[Samarra]

I like the 3-month idea... but how about picking one each of a fantasy, SF and mainstream? Just for the sake of variety over the quarter...
I, of course, agree with the three month idea. I'd rather just do what people vote for, however. I don't think we should inhibit the selection by assigning a type. An idea would be to group them in groups and then vote on Group A for the first three months, Group B for the second, etc. We could have 4 groups for the 3 month sets, and books would randomly go in a group as suggested, and taken off when read.

[Beisla]

But having them sorted out by type would ensure that we get at least some books of every genre, and I'm hoping to read different types.

[Samarra]

We'd end up with 8 months sci-fi/fantasy, and 4 months of other fiction, if we assigned the months fantasy, scifi, and other fiction! That doesn't seem like "different types" to me. Or do you mean, assign them into groups based on their genre and use a different list each month? Maybe alternate between sci-fi and other fiction?

Are we going to include non-fiction?

[Beisla]

We'd end up with 8 months sci-fi/fantasy, and 4 months of other fiction, if we assigned the months fantasy, scifi, and other fiction! That doesn't seem like "different types" to me. Or do you mean, assign them into groups based on their genre and use a different list each month? Maybe alternate between sci-fi and other fiction?

Are we going to include non-fiction?
Hmm, I thought Kath was suggesting those three types (which is also fine by me) but I originally thought we could have more different ones, like "classics" for one month. (Maybe we could even do scifi/fantasy/mainstream classics one quarter? Just a thought.)

I'm not such a huge fan of science fiction, so if we alternate between scifi and other I'll probably skip some scifi months. But we can't please everyone anyway... :)
I don't know about non-fiction, there's not so much to be discussed, is there?

Gah, there's so much to be thought through! Too bad you didn't have the idea a month ago, we would have had more time for planning. ;)

[murphy]

Are we going to include non-fiction?

Please, no.

[Samarra]

Hmm, I thought Kath was suggesting those three types (which is also fine by me) but I originally thought we could have more different ones, like "classics" for one month. (Maybe we could even do scifi/fantasy/mainstream classics one quarter? Just a thought.)

I'm not such a huge fan of science fiction, so if we alternate between scifi and other I'll probably skip some scifi months. But we can't please everyone anyway... :)
I don't know about non-fiction, there's not so much to be discussed, is there?

Gah, there's so much to be thought through! Too bad you didn't have the idea a month ago, we would have had more time for planning. ;)
Not much to be argued, much to be discussed, as far as non-fiction goes!
I understand your feelings on sci-fi, I feel the same way about fantasy. That's why I was trying to not box any particular month into anything-- that way, it's whatever the majority is interested in for that particular month.
I wish I had it months and months ago, this is going to be awesome (here's hoping!).

Please, no.
:giggle:
Either way is fine with me, I just figure it out to be discussed before someone tries to nominate one!

[murphy]

I'm not such a huge fan of science fiction, so if we alternate between scifi and other I'll probably skip some scifi months. But we can't please everyone anyway... :)
I don't know about non-fiction, there's not so much to be discussed, is there?



What kind of SF do you have a problem with? There are all types. Perhaps we could find something that would appeal to you.

[Beisla]

What kind of SF do you have a problem with? There are all types. Perhaps we could find something that would appeal to you.The ones that are full of technology, too many space ships and guns and gadgets. I haven't read too much sf, but one author I can say I really like is Sheri S. Tepper. E.g. The Family Tree (which has already been suggested) focuses on nature.

Incidentally, my favorite fantasy books happen to be ones not full of elves and dwarves and orcs and "Let's save the world!" but more subtle fantasy elements. (Not by default, I think, it just happens.)

[murphy]

Looking at the list, I don't think that the SF suggested is full of space ships and guns. There are space ships involved in some of them, but they're more about relationships, politics and so on. Give it a shot.

[C_ris]

I suggest whoever nominated the book that gets chosen ends up as discussion leader.

I imagine that the size of the book will end up being self-selecting - no-one in their right mind would pick Jonathan Strange... or Cryptonomicon, right?

Or War and Peace?

[C_ris]

I think we should pick books for three months at a time but in consecutive rather than simultaneous polls, and try to vary the genres or at least the "type" of story in the individual books over that period.

[murphy]

I think we should pick books for three months at a time but in consecutive rather than simultaneous polls, and try to vary the genres or at least the "type" of story in the individual books over that period.

OTOH, you could do a compare and contrast. Say Redliners with The Forever War. Or The Years of Rice and Salt with Prayers for the Assassin. Just a thought.

[Kath]

Or War and Peace?

Or Don Quixote.


I really like WAP. Except, just when you're really getting in the swing of the social storyline, and can't wait to turn the next page, he switches back to the war storyline. Then you have the same process in reverse, gradually getting more and more involved... and bam, you're back to etiquette, parties and politics.

That's how I ended up finishing the thing within a week.

[C_ris]

Me too!

[murphy]

I suggest 3 different polls. One for SF, one for fantasy and one for mainstream. Toss a coin to choose the order in which they are read. Let's get this show on the road! I'm about to order some books and I want to know which ones. Do I have to read Viginia Wollff :cry:

[Kath]

Does anyone have any OBJECTIONS to picking a book from a particular category each month, rather than from a single list?

[Apocalypse]

No objections - but I may give up on the fantasy book part way through the month ;)

[C_ris]

I don't think it's necessary, but I have no specific objections to it.

[murphy]

No objections - but I may give up on the fantasy book part way through the month ;)


Why would you give up? You just might enjoy some of the selections on the list.

[Samarra]

Does anyone have any OBJECTIONS to picking a book from a particular category each month, rather than from a single list?
It depends on what the categories are.

[murphy]

It depends on what the categories are.

Category I: Science Fiction
Category II: Fantasy
Category III: Mainstream

[Samarra]

Category I: Science Fiction
Category II: Fantasy
Category III: Mainstream
Yes, then, I have a problem with that.

[murphy]

Okay, what's the problem?

[Samarra]

We'd end up with 8 months sci-fi/fantasy, and 4 months of other fiction, if we assigned the months fantasy, scifi, and other fiction! That doesn't seem like a broad selection to me. Maybe alternate between sci-fi/fantasy and other fiction so we at least end up with a 6-month balance. "Other fiction" is too broad of a category, for me.

[murphy]

I have to say, my interests are more SF/fantasy than mainstream. But let's see what everyone else says. I'll go with the majority. How about you?

[edith]

Mainstream isn't what you'd describe my reading tastes but I tend to read more "other" than anything else.

[Samarra]

I have to say, my interests are more SF/fantasy than mainstream. But let's see what everyone else says. I'll go with the majority. How about you?
I guess there wouldn't be a choice. I'd rather go with what the majority wants from month to month though, instead of pigeonholing. I think that inhibits freedom of selection.

[C_ris]

I would prefer that we don't pigeon-hole months with a genre.

[Kath]

What about selecting a specific genre each month, without a rigid timetable? Would that be better or worse than just picking from a single list?

[Apocalypse]

That would also work :D Shame there are so many excellent books to choose from, right? :D

[C_ris]

What about selecting a specific genre each month, without a rigid timetable? Would that be better or worse than just picking from a single list?

Rather poll-intensive...

[Kath]

So basically, we're left with a single master list to pick from, and if we want a specific genre (or lack thereof) for a certain month, all we can do is try to sway opinion in that difrection...?

[Apocalypse]

There are occassions when a Dictator would come in handy... :roll:

Kath is President of the Universe though... :evil:

[Samarra]

So basically, we're left with a single master list to pick from, and if we want a specific genre (or lack thereof) for a certain month, all we can do is try to sway opinion in that difrection...?
I see a few options:

- Assign a genre to each month, or alternative assign a mixture of genres for each quarter.
-Assign each book to a list randomly and vote from different lists for different months.
- Have a list of members and when their turn comes around, they can pick a book off the list.
- Always vote from the whole list.
- Pick it out of a hat.

I stand by taking the Top Vote-getter each month. I guess you could try to sway the opinion? But what are people like Beisla (who doesn't like some sci-fi) and me (who doesn't like fantasy) supposed to do if that's two-thirds of the selection, for SURE? That's a little discouraging.

[Samarra]

Shame there are so many excellent books to choose from, right? :D

Kath is President of the Universe though... :evil:
IAWTC. :D

[murphy]

IAWTC. :D



:confused:

[murphy]

I see a few options:

- Assign a genre to each month, or alternative assign a mixture of genres for each quarter.
-Assign each book to a list randomly and vote from different lists for different months.
- Have a list of members and when their turn comes around, they can pick a book off the list.
- Always vote from the whole list.
- Pick it out of a hat.

I stand by taking the Top Vote-getter each month. I guess you could try to sway the opinion? But what are people like Beisla (who doesn't like some sci-fi) and me (who doesn't like fantasy) supposed to do if that's two-thirds of the selection, for SURE? That's a little discouraging.

In the interest of getting this thing going, let's assign a mixture of genre's for the first quarter. I'll go along with 2 mainstream and 1 SF books to choose. How do people feel about that?

Or just list the books that we have and the 3 books that get the most votes are the books that are read for January, February and March.

[Samarra]

:confused:
I agree with these comments!

[Cavatica]

Oh my god. Too many damn chefs, people.

[murphy]

Oh my god. Too many damn chefs, people.


Who's cooking?

[Kath]

I see a few options:

- Always vote from the whole list.

I think this is going to be the most democratically acceptable option... we could run it that way for a trial period of 3 months?

[Kath]

Oh my god. Too many damn chefs, people.

Perhaps.

But sweeping decisions by a minority didn't exactly go down very well, did they?

[murphy]

If Shay is agreeable (since I think she was the one who started it), why not let her take over and run it the way she wants for the first three months? We can all be thinking about ways to make it better and in the meantime, get it off the ground.

[Cavatica]

Perhaps.

But sweeping decisions by a minority didn't exactly go down very well, did they?
I'm just sayin' -- I find myself thinking of that shenaniganry with the AMCF Code of Conduct a couple years back. You remember how THAT turned out.

[Beisla]

I suggest 3 different polls. One for SF, one for fantasy and one for mainstream. Toss a coin to choose the order in which they are read. Let's get this show on the road! I'm about to order some books and I want to know which ones. Do I have to read Viginia Wollff :cry:Yeah, and I'll be getting a couple of books as Christmas presents, only I haven't asked for specific ones yet, so I'd love to see it there's something I'd want for my own.

Does anyone have any OBJECTIONS to picking a book from a particular category each month, rather than from a single list?
Not me.

I like fantasy (and SF too) generally better then mainstream so I don't have a problem with more of those two than main, but I also wouldn't mind too much if we had more mainstream than that.

I see a few options:
- Have a list of members and when their turn comes around, they can pick a book off the list.
- Always vote from the whole list.
- Pick it out of a hat.

I stand by taking the Top Vote-getter each month. I guess you could try to sway the opinion? But what are people like Beisla (who doesn't like some sci-fi) and me (who doesn't like fantasy) supposed to do if that's two-thirds of the selection, for SURE? That's a little discouraging.But they would only be one third of the selection, each. I wouldn't mind trying out some sci-fi books to see if I might like them. I've been meaning to read some of the classics anyway.

But, I really like that idea of having some people pick the books. I wonder how many people are interested right now... It might be cool if we could find twelve people to each pick a book, but I guess it would get too complicated. Some peeps might want to join in later and then it wouldn't be fair, but it's still an interesing idea.

[Beisla]

Another thought.
If we have different genres mixed up in one poll, I'd at least like to know what sort of books I'm voting for. A lot of the suggestions I've never even heard of so I couldn't venture to say which belongs in which genre.

One of the reasons I'm in favor of different genres in different polls (however many months we give to each) is to ensure we get at least some books from each genre. So if we have mixed polls and seem to be missing out on any one type, maybe we could do a poll for just that genre? Even though I like fantasy best, I'd like to read a little bit of everything.

[Samarra]

Another thought.
If we have different genres mixed up in one poll, I'd at least like to know what sort of books I'm voting for. A lot of the suggestions I've never even heard of so I couldn't venture to say which belongs in which genre.

Read their descriptions first? That's why I went to the trouble of linking them all!

[Samarra]

Idea:

It may be a little poll intensive the first go-round, but that would be over eventually. We could take the list we have, post the description and a poll, vote Yes/No for each book, put it on a list if the majority votes yes, and start from the top? That would be the procedure for any book suggested, and we'd always know what the next books are.

[Beisla]

Read their descriptions first? That's why I went to the trouble of linking them all!
Well, true.
I would have done that anyway once they're in the poll, so that complaint was probably for nothing. :blush:

[murphy]

Idea:

It may be a little poll intensive the first go-round, but that would be over eventually. We could take the list we have, post the description and a poll, vote Yes/No for each book, put it on a list if the majority votes yes, and start from the top? That would be the procedure for any book suggested, and we'd always know what the next books are.


The top being the book with the most yes votes? and so on.

[C_ris]

Idea:

It may be a little poll intensive the first go-round, but that would be over eventually. We could take the list we have, post the description and a poll, vote Yes/No for each book, put it on a list if the majority votes yes, and start from the top? That would be the procedure for any book suggested, and we'd always know what the next books are.

Seems VERY poll intensive!

[Beisla]

Idea:

It may be a little poll intensive the first go-round, but that would be over eventually. We could take the list we have, post the description and a poll, vote Yes/No for each book, put it on a list if the majority votes yes, and start from the top? That would be the procedure for any book suggested, and we'd always know what the next books are.I'm not sure if I understand what you're after.

Do you mean first voting yes/no for each book, then putting all the books that recieved "yes" into one poll and voting from that?

[murphy]

Seems VERY poll intensive!

Is there a problem with that? Other than the work the person who sets up the poll has to do.

[Samarra]

I'm not sure if I understand what you're after.

Do you mean first voting yes/no for each book, then putting all the books that recieved "yes" into one poll and voting from that?
Kinda -- sorry, I didn't explain very well.

We could have a poll voting Yes or No for each book suggested. If the majority votes YES, we stick that on the "To Read" list. If the majority votes "NO", then we throw the suggestion out (maybe keep a rejected list to keep track, or something). Then, we start at the top of that list (the top YES getter) and go down. Or we could do one last vote to decide the order, vote from the list every three months to determine which we read.

[murphy]

It would only take one poll wouldn't it. Just list all the books submitted with a yes or no vote after. Can you do that?

[Samarra]

Seems VERY poll intensive!
:p
Or you could do multiple choice Book A- Yes, Book A-no, Book B- yes, Book B-no. That wouldn't be too bad.


I don't know, there are so many ways to choose! Should we take a vote on the way to choose? Anyone have any other ideas?

[Samarra]

It would only take one poll wouldn't it. Just list all the books submitted with a yes or no vote after. Can you do that?
:yes: Exactly!

[murphy]

Go for it. :biggrin:

[Samarra]

Okay. I am going to go ahead and make that poll, NOT because I think we should do that idea, but because I think we should narrow the list down if there is stuff on the current list people aren't interested in, so keep talking about this, folks!

[Bane]

I have a/some question(s). I know I haven't been too active with this, but I just stumbled on it today... and I REALLY need to find new books to read since waiting on the new ones in te series I read to come out is taking too long.

Anyhoo... why not just take the majority vote on a book instead of constricting it to just one genre? And why are the only genres I've seen mentioned SF/F, fiction and other fiction? What is the difference between fiction and other fiction? Isn't it all just fiction? Why not open it to all genres? It would open the whole thing. Still do the voting for several months ahead of time so you don't have to scramble to vote for the next book at the end of the month. To vote for the three different books, break the master down into three seperate lists and designate a month to each. Change the voting lists from vote to vote to give some variety to the months. And don't constrict the voting to a genre or anything. That way, you get the votes and not all the cmplaints about there not being a book someone wants to try on the lists. Don't vote for the seperation of the master list, just make it totally random. I'm sure there's a spreadsheet formula that could randomize a list. Or a button on the spreadsheet to do it automatically. That would make it easier. And you don't have to worry about what genre that month is supposed to be.

I'm not too sure if that came out clear...

Also, I will happily do the book club in the months that I find the book interesting. I have been trying to get into new authors and such, but apparently just picking a random book off the shelf doesn't work. :)

[Wolfegar]

Hey! Where are the hysterical romances! I mean historical romances. Where are the bodice rippers! :whistle:

I've read the Mars trilogy and I didn't find it that bad. :runaway:

[murphy]

Hey! Where are the hysterical romances! I mean historical romances. Where are the bodice rippers! :whistle:

I've read the Mars trilogy and I didn't find it that bad. :runaway:

Those are our guilty pleasures that we read with plain brown wrappers. :shhh:

[Samarra]

I have been trying to get into new authors and such, but apparently just picking a random book off the shelf doesn't work. :)
If only it did work! :whee:

[Weyrwoman Kalina]

I like the 3-month idea... but how about picking one each of a fantasy, SF and mainstream? Just for the sake of variety over the quarter...

I like the idea of varying the genre from month to month. It would keep it from getting stale and force our minds to re-adjust to better get into each new book. And I also like the 3 month idea.

[Kath]

Hey! Where are the hysterical romances!

Bujold's A Civil Campaign went thataway --->


God, I LOVE that book!

[Wolfegar]

Bujold's A Civil Campaign went thataway --->


God, I LOVE that book!
*Quickly copies down the title.* Goes thataway >>-->

[Wolfegar]

Those are our guilty pleasures that we read with plain brown wrappers. :shhh:
Guilt is irrelevant and it takes too long to get that wrapping paper on the book. :evil:

[Shalyn]

Looking at all these suggestions, personally I think the best way to make a choice is to put all titles in a random generator, run it, and pick that choice.

Whoever runs the generator gets to lead the discussion.

These polls are going to kill us!

[Apocalypse]

Oh - there's an idea! :good: I know, I'm not helpful.

[Weyrwoman Kalina]

Guilt is irrelevant and it takes too long to get that wrapping paper on the book. :evil:

:laugh:

[murphy]

*Quickly copies down the title.* Goes thataway >>-->



That's the last book in the series, you should start with Cordelia's Honor (that's an omnibus where you get two books in one, Shards of Honor and Barrayar)

[Kath]

That's the last book in the series, you should start with Cordelia's Honor (that's an omnibus where you get two books in one, Shards of Honor and Barrayar)

That's a good starting point, but it's really Cordelia's story rather than Miles's. Not that that's a problem at all though!

You can also work onwards from Komarr, which directly precedes ACC - these are the best written, IMHO.

The Warrior's Apprentice is the first Miles-centric novel in the timeline - that's another good starting point.

Alternatively, go with the short stories in Borders of Infinity.


Personally, I prefer the more grown-up issues addressed in Cordelia's Honor and K/ACC... but the other books are damned good fun to read.

I started out on ACC - it was serialised on the Baen website initially - and it's not too hard to get to grips with. Oh, and ACC isn't the last in the series any more, Murphy - you forgot Diplomatic Immunity and Winterfair Gifts!

[murphy]

Well, I have Diplomatic Immunity, but evidentally I've missed a book. Winterfair Gifts? Have to go check that out. And Barrayar is the really the first of the Miles books. It covers his gestation period.


Edit: Kath, do you know if they sell Winterfair in book form or is it just an eBook?

[Kath]

Well, I have Diplomatic Immunity, but evidentally I've missed a book. Winterfair Gifts? Have to go check that out. And Barrayar is the really the first of the Miles books. It covers his gestation period.


Ha. He wasn't much more than a valuable item of furniture at that point... except in the epilogue!

WG is part of the book of short stories "Irresistible Forces", and is also available as part of a K/ACC/WG combo, and presumably also as an e-book seeing as you mention it.

[cosmic dancer]

A number of people seem to like the idea of division of books by genre in some way, but are concerned about the amount of time given to things other than Sci fi and fantasy. A three month idea has been suggested, I suggest a four month plan. In this plan one month is sci fi, one month fantasy and the other two months anything that doesn't fall into those categories. This increases the time on other genres and may work better for some people. Another idea would be one month sci fi, one month fantasy, one month 'other' and in the fourth month anything goes! There is never one option that works for everyone, but I figure having several ideas for discussion at this stage is probably a good thing. I think I personally would go along with pretty much any plan, I've convinced myself that it is good to try new stuff and will do so if I have sufficient free time each month :)

[Wolfegar]

That's the last book in the series, you should start with Cordelia's Honor (that's an omnibus where you get two books in one, Shards of Honor and Barrayar)
Barrayar? I've seen that name somewhere before . . . :erm:

That's a good starting point, but it's really Cordelia's story rather than Miles's. Not that that's a problem at all though!

You can also work onwards from Komarr, which directly precedes ACC - these are the best written, IMHO.

The Warrior's Apprentice is the first Miles-centric novel in the timeline - that's another good starting point.

Alternatively, go with the short stories in Borders of Infinity.

Personally, I prefer the more grown-up issues addressed in Cordelia's Honor and K/ACC... but the other books are damned good fun to read.

I started out on ACC - it was serialised on the Baen website initially - and it's not too hard to get to grips with. Oh, and ACC isn't the last in the series any more, Murphy - you forgot Diplomatic Immunity and Winterfair Gifts!
So, what is the first book in the series? I may have to ask the Wifey. She writes stuff down that she's read. I try to rely on my memory. :whee:

[murphy]

So, what is the first book in the series? I may have to ask the Wifey. She writes stuff down that she's read. I try to rely on my memory. :whee:


Shards of Honor, followed by Barrayar, both of which are combined in the Trade Paperback, Cordelia's Honor. That the beginning of the Miles story, with his parents.

[Samarra]

Gosh... we're missing that Cris and Faren are probably going to be the BC hosties. And we gave them beer and chocolate.

[C_ris]

But I wants my beer and chocolcate! :tears:

[Samarra]

:tapfoot: Just because it's missing doesn't mean you didn't have it already!


What the hell! I'll have one with you. :beer:

[Faren]

But I wants my beer and chocolcate! :tears:

:tears:

[Beisla]

:beer: :choc:


Oh, another suggestion, though this may be rather obvious.
I think if we vote to read a book by a particular author and there are more books by the same author still in the "to be voted from" list, the rest of those should be dropped off. Only one book by any one author during the year.

[Faren]

I agree to that one. :ok:

[Samarra]

:tears:
:roll: You two are going to eat and drink me out of house and home!

:choc::choc::choc::choc::choc:
:wine:

You want any cheese to go with that whine? :giggle:

[Samarra]

:beer: :choc:


Oh, another suggestion, though this may be rather obvious.
I think if we vote to read a book by a particular author and there are more books by the same author still in the "to be voted from" list, the rest of those should be dropped off. Only one book by any one author during the year.
Sounds good to me!:ok:

Any objections? Speak now or forever hold your peace!

[murphy]

Sounds good to me!:ok:

Any objections? Speak now or forever hold your peace!

I want to think about this. Will speak tomorrow. :laugh:

[C_ris]

:roll: You two are going to eat and drink me out of house and home!

:choc::choc::choc::choc::choc:
:wine:

You want any cheese to go with that whine? :giggle:

*scoffs*

:yes:

[Faren]

*looks at bottom of forum page*

Looks like the bribes paid off. :yes:

[Samarra]

:balloons: :)

[C_ris]

*looks at bottom of forum page*

Looks like the bribes paid off. :yes:

:mwahaha:

[murphy]

Sounds good to me!:ok:

Any objections? Speak now or forever hold your peace!

Okay. I thought about it. I think books should just be put up no matter if it's more than one and all the people participating in the club should vote on whether or not they want it. If enough people don't want it, it won't be used. There's my 2 cents.

[Samarra]

Looking at all these suggestions, personally I think the best way to make a choice is to put all titles in a random generator, run it, and pick that choice.

Whoever runs the generator gets to lead the discussion.

These polls are going to kill us!

I think Shalyn and Cav are right. Unless anyone has any strong objections or a much better idea, next Sunday when the polls close I'll put all the suggestions that got a majority YES votes in a hat and choose four for the first four months of the book club. The order I pull the out is the order in which we'll read them. I'll video it and put it up on YouTube, so don't worry, there won't be any monkeying around. That way, there's no more fuss and we can get this thing rolling. Even the list we shave the suggestions down it will be much too extensive to put to a mass vote. If there are thirty books, some books will get two, three, or four votes and there won't be a majority anyway. At least this way it's a book the majority agreed to read, and every book has an equal shot after getting a majority YES vote.

[Samarra]

Okay. I thought about it. I think books should just be put up no matter if it's more than one and all the people participating in the club should vote on whether or not they want it. If enough people don't want it, it won't be used. There's my 2 cents.
And the "hat" would solve this problem.

[Cavatica]

Dude, you don't need to put it on frikking YouTube. If people call bullshit because they're pissed their books didn't get chosen, recommend they visit their local emergency room to preemptively care for the brain aneurysm they're about to have.

[Samarra]

Pre-emptive strike; Dubya taught me something.

[murphy]

Shay, if no one has told you, let me be the first. You're doing a good job under difficult circumstances. Keep it up. :ok:

[murphy]

I think Shalyn and Cav are right. Unless anyone has any strong objections or a much better idea, next Sunday when the polls close I'll put all the suggestions that got a majority YES votes in a hat and choose four for the first four months of the book club. The order I pull the out is the order in which we'll read them. I'll video it and put it up on YouTube, so don't worry, there won't be any monkeying around. That way, there's no more fuss and we can get this thing rolling. Even the list we shave the suggestions down it will be much too extensive to put to a mass vote. If there are thirty books, some books will get two, three, or four votes and there won't be a majority anyway. At least this way it's a book the majority agreed to read, and every book has an equal shot after getting a majority YES vote.


What happened to Cav's post?

Don't bother putting it on YouTube. We trust you and you've gone to a hell of a lot of work already. Putting up the posts for one was a lot of work.


And Cav, you're probably already familiar with half the books listed, what's the big deal about voting yes or no.

[Kath]

I think Shalyn and Cav are right. Unless anyone has any strong objections or a much better idea, next Sunday when the polls close I'll put all the suggestions that got a majority YES votes in a hat and choose four for the first four months of the book club. The order I pull the out is the order in which we'll read them. I'll video it and put it up on YouTube, so don't worry, there won't be any monkeying around. That way, there's no more fuss and we can get this thing rolling. Even the list we shave the suggestions down it will be much too extensive to put to a mass vote. If there are thirty books, some books will get two, three, or four votes and there won't be a majority anyway. At least this way it's a book the majority agreed to read, and every book has an equal shot after getting a majority YES vote.


Sounds good. Do it!

[Faren]

I agree, it's not necessary to put it on You-Tube. We just want to get underway! :ok:

[Kath]

[I'd suggest only putting the top 15 in the pool if you get more than that with a positive response, or cutting to those with 2/3 yes... but then you'd get another tier of arguments discussing where the level should be set...]

Just ignore me!

[Faren]

Did somebody say something? :confused:

[Kath]

Panama!

[edith]

Shay, if no one has told you, let me be the first. You're doing a good job under difficult circumstances. Keep it up. :ok:

Can I second that?

[C_ris]

Panama!

I'm just going out in my canoe...

[Samarra]

Don't bother putting it on YouTube. We trust you and you've gone to a hell of a lot of work already. Putting up the posts for one was a lot of work.


Can I second that?
:blush: Thanks.
[I'd suggest only putting the top 15 in the pool if you get more than that with a positive response, or cutting to those with 2/3 yes... but then you'd get another tier of arguments discussing where the level should be set...]

Just ignore me!
:laugh:

[Cavatica]

What happened to Cav's post?

Don't bother putting it on YouTube. We trust you and you've gone to a hell of a lot of work already. Putting up the posts for one was a lot of work.


And Cav, you're probably already familiar with half the books listed, what's the big deal about voting yes or no.
If I wanted to pick out my own book to read, I'd go to the library or the book store, grab a random one off the shelf, and read it.

The point of a book club is to have someone ELSE tell me what to read, so I can't bullshit around and never read my own selection because I'm not sure I'd be interested anyway. On the other hand, if someone says to me, "Read X by Y date," then, unless I've got to write a paper about it at the end, I'll usually read X by Y date, and it doesn't matter to me WHAT the book is because that's the point of a damn book club.

But maybe that's just my inner fascist speaking.

[C_ris]

I agree with Cav's inner fascist. I don't want to pick a book, I want to be told what to read and then I will.

[Brenda]

And it's not just being told what to read - it's everyone reading the same thing and discussing it.

[Beisla]

Can I second that?
Exactly. I trust you, and I think it's a good idea.
I agree with Cav's inner fascist. I don't want to pick a book, I want to be told what to read and then I will.
Me too. That's why I just went and voted "yes" for the books, unless I had a particularly good reason for voting "no". I don't want to judge a book by an excerpt before I've even read it.