Book Club Re-Vamp Coming

[dwndrgn]

The Chronicles Network virtual book club is going to go through some changes. I hope that all of you who enjoy the book club will give me feedback on the changes. These changes aren't life-altering (if they are, please check your priorities ) but hopefully they will make for better discussions, more members getting involved, that sort of good stuff

The first change is in the timetable. I know that many members are unable to buy a book at the drop of a hat (or post, as it were) and rely upon libraries and second-hand stores to procure their reading material. With that in mind, we've lengthened the time between voting and discussing...books will be suggested and voted upon at the beginning of a month and not discussed until the month after next. Confused? Here's an example, at the beginning of Sept. I open the field for suggestions, we then vote on our choices by mid Sept. We will discuss the book we chose in November. This should give members more time to finish whatever they are currently reading and procure the next selection. This means, however, that there will be times when you are suggesting and voting on one book, reading another and discussing another all at the same time. Which may lead to a bit of confusion. The only way I can see to counteract that is to have a firm structure. I will do my best to keep to that structure, 1st of the month call for suggestions, 10th of the month vote begins, 15th of the month winner chosen. Then add the actual reading and discussing, to start 1st of the month as well.

If this isn't making sense to anyone, please pm me and I'll try to clear up any confusion.

The second change involves the book choices themselves. To avoid rehashing old arguments or going over old ground, I am going to limit the choices of books suggested to those published within the past 12 months. I'm not going to be a date stickler and throw something out because it was published one day before the 12 month guideline, but I'd like to keep the book titles fairly new and fresh so we can start new arguments and create new ground . And since this is a multi-national forum, you can interpret this 12 month guideline as pertaining to your locality. However, please remember that it is multi-national and something published recently where you live may not even be out yet, so please try to ensure that it is out for most people.

The third change should be the easiest to implement: you must include a description of the book you are suggesting (if you copy someone else's, please make sure to note who, where, when, etc.) and why you think it should be chosen for discussion.

The fourth change is not enforceable but I hope that everyone will play along in the spirit of lively discussions, discovering new authors, etc. I would like for everyone to suggest books that you have not read. One reason for this is similar to the 12 month guideline, we want fresh discussions. Another is that part of the reason for having a book club at all is for the members to discover new authors and new works.

I will start the new book club format beginning Sept. 1st. That means that for September and October there will not be a book club discussion. I'm sure we'll have plenty of discussion on the new format

As always, feedback and thoughts are welcome.

[stencyl]

Your example is Sept. pick and then Dec. discussion? Figures to 3 books/year.

Ick!

[polymorphikos]

12 books a year, with three month gap between the nomination month and and the reading month, whilst earlier nominations are read and discussed between, Stencyl.

[Winters_Sorrow]

sounds good to me - beware of getting flooded by GRRM fans for the new book being released in Sept though...

On a serious note, as we are being given effectively 2 months to read a book after nominating it, what are the guidelines on recommending a book due out the month of the vote?

[dwndrgn]

Originally Posted by Winters_Sorrow

sounds good to me - beware of getting flooded by GRRM fans for the new book being released in Sept though...

On a serious note, as we are being given effectively 2 months to read a book after nominating it, what are the guidelines on recommending a book due out the month of the vote?

When you nominate a book, it must have already been published some time within the past 12 months. That means that the latest date a book could be published for the September suggestions is August 31st.

As stated in the guidelines above, one of the reasons for this time gap is to allow everyone who is interested the time to procure a copy for themselves.

Also, since Martin has a flourishing sub-forum here for his Game of Thrones series, it would seem to be redundant to nominate one of his books for the book club. The book club is for the members to find and enjoy new authors and titles.

[stencyl]

Thanks, Polymorphikos.

[littlemissattitude]

That sounds reasonable to me, dwndrgn. Maybe with that sort of timetable, I'll be able to get back into the game. I've missed being able to participate in the book club discussions, but I either haven't been able to get the books, or I haven't had the time to actually read them in time for the disucssion.

[dwndrgn]

Originally Posted by littlemissattitude

That sounds reasonable to me, dwndrgn. Maybe with that sort of timetable, I'll be able to get back into the game. I've missed being able to participate in the book club discussions, but I either haven't been able to get the books, or I haven't had the time to actually read them in time for the disucssion.

exactly the reason for the changes...we want as many people to participate as possible. Makes for much more interesting discussions.

[dwndrgn]

Considering the recent changes, during the switchover we will have two months during which there will be no book discussion.

In order to keep these things interesting while we choose the book to be read and discussed for November, I will be posting some text and will be asking for your thoughts and ideas regarding that text.

Watch for this on Thursday, Sept. 1st at the same time as I post the request for nominations for November.

[Teresa Edgerton]

Something we might all want to keep in mind:

There are always complaints about not enough good books being published, favorite authors being under-rated, too many bad books/endless series books on the shelves etc. etc.

As readers we may feel like we don't have a great deal of power to change these things, but publishers aren't in business to indulge their own tastes in reading material. Word-of-mouth by readers like ourselves is powerful, but we abdicate our own part of that power if we wait for other people to talk up the new books and then jump on the bandwagon. We not only allow them to choose our reading material now, but for the future as well.

The reason why so many "bad" books are published is simple: Because readers with deplorable tastes seem to buy a heck of a lot of books. They then go on to talk about them.


I know we can't all of us afford to run out and buy books the moment they appear, and we're particularly wary when it comes to new authors. We often have to buy books used or borrow them from the library. Another thing about people with deplorable tastes is that they seem to have a lot more money than you and I. But we can take part in the other half of the process, the talking about the books while it's still early enough to make a difference half.

People who never post here read the messages, people who never even register here read our opinions. Search engine spiders spend more time here than any of us, and they pick up what we say and spread it across the ether.

Of course the main reason most of us participate in the book club is for our own enjoyment -- but why can't we enjoy ourselves and use our power to shape the future of SFF fantasy at the same time? It's in our own best interests, after all, if it brings about more of the kinds of books we
do enjoy.

I'm game to try out some books that I wouldn't ordinarily look at -- or pick up so soon -- just to be able to take part in the discussions. Who else is willing to give this new format a spin?

(Here ends the pep-talk.)

[dwndrgn]

Rah Rah Rah, Sis Boom Bah

(sorry Kelpie, I couldn't resist when you said pep-talk I immediately thought of those silly pep rallies we would have at school so long ago ;-)

Anyway - Kelpie is absolutely correct in saying that the more we voice our opinions, the more we will be heard. Say it loud and say it proud.

This is also a good phrase to keep in mind when nominating books for upcoming suggestions. You need to sell the book to the members who are voting by not only telling them what you think the book is about, but why it matters to you for us to discuss it. Does it say something that touches you specifically? Is it something new and unusual? Is it a perfect example of an old style that has been overused in the past and been resurrected to its betterment? Is it a story that just tickles you? Angers you? The more you say, the more we hear.

(am I full of cliches and soundbites today or what??)

[NSMike]

Man, 12 months... I'm still just discovering books that were published between 20 and 50 years ago! Looks like I'm dropping out of the book club for a while.

[Rane Longfox]

Thats a shame to hear Mike

dawndragon - funky

[NSMike]

I guess there are other reasons that I won't be taking part in the book club for a while-
1. I've not read the past 2 books, nor participated in discussions since several books before, so I haven't really been taking advantage of it.
2. I've got enough in my bookcase to keep me busy for more than a year at the moment, and most of the time, the book club picks something I don't already own, which, I do understand, is the point, but right now, I don't really need any new stuff.
3. Work chews up a lot of my free time, which I hate, because I'd rather be at home reading (of course). Most of the time I get home from work and feel like severing all human contact for several days. I ususally don't feel like reading, so despite the abundance of material, I'm not really motivated to get through it all. So I'll probably be at my current collection for more than a few years, and I'll probably still pick up new books too, so who knows if I'll EVER get caught up.

Euch. Okay, bad excuses. Right now, I guess I'm just not into the whole book club thing.

Plus, I've been trying to pitch Myst: The Book of Atrus at these people for several months now, with no success, so not only am I disheartened, but now that book is ineligible.

[dwndrgn]

Mike, if you are interested in discussing Myst, just go ahead and start a thread on it. I'm sure a few members have already read it. Don't hold back because it isn't a book club discussion; we discuss all sorts of books throughout the rest of these forums.