All About Books discussion

Hi folks, here we can discuss what responsibilities each of us can have. I don't mind sending out mails for monthly reads or poll reminders. I also don't mind setting up challenges (whenever we decide to start them). But if anyone else is desperate to do any of these they can, I don't mind :-)

For me those can be easily your tasks Becca!
I'd like to look at the chit-chat discussions and follow the classic read.
Let's see what the others'd like to do and see if we're missing something

I don't mind doing a recommendation swap (if we get enough members) and something similar to My Life in Books, maybe call it "My reading story" or we could keep the title the same. But if any one else wants to do this, I really don't mind, just say!

I've set the first two books as currently reading and I have changed the settings so that only mods can add books, I don't mind adding each month or someone else can take that on if they want?

If Becca is happy to take on the themed read every two months, that would be great!

Hi guys, I am happy to continue with the Poetry Section, and if Rowena is up for it, I'd be happy to introduce a non-fiction section with her later once we're running and have enough members that would actually be interested in one.

Hi sorry was at work again today. Yes I am happy to deal with the themed read :-) I'll also send out the monthly reads broadcast mail and reminders for voting on monthly reads. If everyone could send out their own broadcast mails about their own topic though (e.g. Shirley sending a mail about recommendation swap) it would be much more efficient.

I think so to Becca.

Ok by me, too!

Where do you think I should put "This Day in Literary History"? Book Chat or General Discussion?

I think maybe in book chat?

Thanks, that was my first thought too but wasn't sure.

Seen it there. Great choice!

I would like to change the name of this thread to "Moderators Only Discussion". Obviously, anyone can read it but I would like to keep 'Ask the Moderators' as the place group members post and this for the moderators to talk with each other. What do you all think?

Also, one of my other groups runs mini-challenges (completely optional) each month with wacky categories. I was thinking that it might be fun to try something like that tied to our themes - 3 to 5 categories to give people who want it a goal in selecting books. For example, a very easy challenge for the Sea Theme would be read a book with a boat or ship on the cover.

Good idea on re-naming this thread!

Yes, Becca had a similar idea with a challenge she put at the top of the page, but then we took it down as it was just a trial when the group started. Would be good fun, something a little different.

There is a "past posts" thread, by the way, you can't see it because it has nothing in it yet, but you can find it if you want to put something in it, as the folder is there to select, if you know what I mean.

Shirley wrote: "Good idea on re-naming this thread!

Yes, Becca had a similar idea with a challenge she put at the top of the page, but then we took it down as it was just a trial when the group started. Would be..."

I have gone ahead and changed the name. On the challenge front, I will come up with some ideas. I like Becca's thought of putting it on the group home page but if that is difficult we can always just have it as a thread under the Theme topic.

Thanks for the info about the past posts folder - you were completely clear :D

Good idea renaming this. And also the past post folder: we'll be needing it!

I have added The Importance of Being Earnest to our bookshelf. I felt that there was some interest in the group read & hopefully with it showing on the group home page, more people will be aware of it & join in.

Well done!
I've seen someone asking for a discussion/folder of non fiction reading. Shal I open it Jenny and Rowena?

Laura, I've set up the non-fiction thread! Also, the Past Posts thread should be visible now, as I've just moved my Sign-Up Sheet for September there. Again: bare with me, my presence will be rather sporadic until the 29th of August, but I will be around to do more then.
By the way: day 3 of our group! (Since there is no champagne around, I'll have a sip of coffee in a celebrative manner ;)

We're not "baring" with you! You're doing a great job!!!
Remember that I'm going away in two days time. I'll bring along my tablet - so I can connect once a day, but without pc and keybords - and time to stay much on line! - I'll be helpless for three weeks!!!!

Thanks Jenny! What do you think about adding a general poetry discussion thread to the Monday Poem topic, maybe include some of the online poetry links? If you like the idea, I could set it up for you...

Over 100 members so far :)

Yes! I wanted to say, just before me flying away to my beloved seaside in Sardinia, that I think we did well with this group: so many people - more that i thought, I have to admit - in barely three days means that they would have missed TPOBAB!
In Italy we say "Chi si loda si imbroda" - meanining more or less "Who says well of himself gets dirty", but still I have to say: well done girls!!!

Love the idea! could you do that Leslie? that would be great! Otherwise i could do it saturday, as i have bit more online time then!

Jenny wrote: "Love the idea! could you do that Leslie? that would be great! Otherwise i could do it saturday, as i have bit more online time then!"

Done!

Jenny wrote: "Hi guys, I am happy to continue with the Poetry Section, and if Rowena is up for it, I'd be happy to introduce a non-fiction section with her later once we're running and have enough members that w..."

Definitely still up for it, Can't wait:)

Rowena, should we think about a first non-fiction read for around October?

What do you guys think: bi-monthly? Quarterly?

I was thinking about setting up a folder called "What Have You Read?" for book lists - I miss them and several other people have also mentioned them. What do you guys think - too much like Perks or good idea?

Jenny wrote: "Rowena, should we think about a first non-fiction read for around October?

What do you guys think: bi-monthly? Quarterly?"

Sounds good, Jenny. I like the idea of them being bi-monthly for the time being.
Some non-fiction books are quite hefty and I think that most people would like to read them slowly.

How about topics? Perhaps some ideas would be science, feminism, biographies, history...

Yes, I think the non-fiction would be good bi-monthly.

Rowena, do you mean have a poll for (eg science books) and choose, or just leave it open as a themed non fiction read or pick a specific book?

Leslie, I like that idea for the book lists!

Leslie, I think you mentioned somewhere that there were some books you had been looking forward to reading in "Perks" as group reads, and you now don't know whether to read them or save them for another time. I have some too - maybe we could mention this in another thread under "readalongs" - maybe others are feeling the same way?

Hi Shirley,

Yes, I was wondering whether making it a themed non fiction read would be a good idea but I kinda like your idea of having a poll too! We'll see what Jenny and the others think.

I agree that non-fiction books need more time than fiction. Not only are the books themselves often hefty as Rowena pointed out, but the content is often dense and requires slower reading (at least that has been my experience).

Shirley wrote: "Leslie, I think you mentioned somewhere that there were some books you had been looking forward to reading in "Perks" as group reads, and you now don't know whether to read them or save them for an..."

I agree Shirley, I for one will read "As I Lay Dying" in September anyhow, so I will just set up a thread in Readalongs maybe and see if anyone would like to join in.

Shirley wrote: "Yes, I think the non-fiction would be good bi-monthly. Rowena, do you mean have a poll for (eg science books) and choose, or just leave it open as a themed non fiction read or pick a specific book..."

Bi-Monthly it is then ;) Should we start in October? I think having a poll for non-fiction might not be a bad idea, just because it would maybe make people commit to a non-fiction read more? Let's mull over it a little and see what to do. I'd say if we made the last week of August poll-time we could have both polls run in one go (the other for monthly read).

Sorry I'm late (work :-() but I agree with the bimonthly idea anyway ;-) Should I send a mail about monthly reads now or wait until the end of August when all the polls are up and I can add the polls at the end?

It's maybe best to send an email out once the nomination thread is open, and then send another later when the poll is up?

Jenny wrote: "It's maybe best to send an email out once the nomination thread is open, and then send another later when the poll is up?"

Good plan :-) Shall we start nominations on the 26th August?

What are we having nomination threads for? Fiction read, classic read, non-fiction read and theme? I'm happy to set up all the nomination threads if you like.

Holy cow, that's quite a battalion of nominations then isn't it? Well definitely classic read and fiction, wondering if we should just pick the themes ourselves and just set up a suggestion thread in case someone is having a brilliant idea that they'd like to throw in the pool? Or nominate ourselves and have a poll about it? Same goes for non-fiction, not sure if we'll go nomination and poll, or maybe just poll. What does everybody else think?

It does seem a lot of polls all at once!

I've seen that many polls run in other groups at the same time before and it seems to work since once your are on the poll page you can just vote your way through all of them. It might still be a bit overwhelming nevertheless. What I am really worrying about working or receiving enough attention all at once is the 4 nomination threads.

A couple of thoughts in no particular order:

a) let's have the moderators pick the themes for now - we can always switch to polls later if we want. As Shirley mentioned earlier, it is more difficult to switch from the poll to moderator-selection as it can be seen as taking something away from people. We can decide amongst ourselves how to do the themes after Laura returns from her holidays.

b) I like the idea of a suggestion thread. In the Cozy Mysteries group, the moderator (single) does all the selecting but has mentioned she does check the suggested author thread frequently.

c) I am a bit concerned that having too many nominations & polls at the same time will be too much. Maybe nonfiction could be at a different time of month? Unless you decide to go without polls, which would be fine with me.

d) In the English Mysteries group, the moderator sends a notification (rather than an email) when the BOTM poll is set up. I don't know how he does that but it is also an option,

yes, I see what you mean. I guess we could send a message to the whole group to advertise them? Or we could always select the themed read again ourselves and let the other three be selected by polls.

Shirley wrote: "Leslie, I think you mentioned somewhere that there were some books you had been looking forward to reading in "Perks" as group reads, and you now don't know whether to read them or save them for an..."

I missed this - you must have posted while I was typing my reply about nonfiction :) However, I like Jenny's idea of readalongs - maybe we need a thread about "Does anyone want to join me in reading..."

I think we must have posted at same time Leslie, I have just read yours and I agree with you.

Yes it seems like lots of polls, that's why I was asking. Maybe we should just have a nomination thread and poll for the Monthly Fiction read for now as previously decided. Then it's not too much. We can always add them for other reads later if we want to. It's just so I know what to put in the mail :-)

I have already said to Leslie but what would you all think about me running some 'seasonal' challenges (e.g. Halloween, Xmas, Valentines Day, Easter) to 'spice' things up a bit? I can add them as a challenge box thing at the top of the page (I am obsessed with that challenge thing by the way haha!).

Becca wrote: "Yes it seems like lots of polls, that's why I was asking. Maybe we should just have a nomination thread and poll for the Monthly Fiction read for now as previously decided. Then it's not too much..."

Becca, I really liked the challenge box thing at Book Vipers too! So I am in favor, especially as seasonal/holiday challenges can be quite light-hearted & fun.

By the way, Becca, I forgot to tell you how much I like the masthead photo! Very nice!

Jenny wrote: "Shirley wrote: "Leslie, I think you mentioned somewhere that there were some books you had been looking forward to reading in "Perks" as group reads, and you now don't know whether to read them or ..."

I quite like the idea of having the non-fiction reads themed but the book chosen through polls. Great idea. October sounds perfect.

Leslie wrote: "By the way, Becca, I forgot to tell you how much I like the masthead photo! Very nice!"

Thank you :-D

Becca,
I like your seasonal challenge idea!

Looks like we are agreed on the poll for the October fiction read in last week August, which Becca will do.
Sorry to repeat, just getting it straight in my head.

Shirley wrote: "Becca,
I like your seasonal challenge idea!

Looks like we are agreed on the poll for the October fiction read in last week August, which Becca will do.
Sorry to repeat, just getting it straight ..."

Thanks :-) I know, I had to write a list of things to do because I was getting confused, lol.

For the theme choice, shall we just do it in order of the moderator 'box'? i.e.
Laura
Shirley
Rowena
Me
Jenny
Leslie

I can send each person a mail to ask what their choice is when it's their turn and then I'll set up the thread if you like?