The History Book Club discussion

Hello Everyone,

Welcome to 50 Books for 2023.

Sign up below if you would like a thread set up for 2023. Check out the How To thread which gives very helpful instructions.

Link: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

We ask you to follow the format. You do not have to write lengthy reviews but some of our members really write great ones and you will discover from each other some very interesting books that you might not have found yourself.

This is our format:

Our Required Format:

JANUARY

1. by Winston S. Churchill
Finish date: January 2023
Genre: (whatever genre the book happens to be)
Rating: A
Review: You can add text from a review you have written but no links to any review elsewhere even goodreads. And that is about it. Just make sure to number consecutively and just add the months.

Folks I hate to have to add more verbiage about things that are already in our rules and guidelines but are ignored by one or two folks - but that is always the way isn't it. A couple of folks ruin things for everybody else - so here is the extra verbiage which more than likely has nothing to do with you:

IMPORTANT - THE REVIEW SHOULD BE SHORT AND SWEET - THERE ARE NO LINKS OF ANY KIND IN THE BODY OF THE REVIEW ALLOWED. NONE. DO NOT REFER TO ANY OTHER BOOK IN YOUR BRIEF REVIEW. THE ONLY BOOK CITED IN YOUR REVIEW IS THE ONE YOU ARE REVIEWING - NO OTHERS. ALL LINKS TO OTHER THREADS OR REVIEWS ARE DELETED IMMEDIATELY - THERE WILL BE NO WARNING. WE CONSIDER THIS SELF PROMOTION AND IT IS NOT ALLOWED AND IS IN VIOLATION OF OUR RULES AND GUIDELINES.

We reuse the introductory threads - but I put in a marker where the last comment was made for 2020, etc. and then you can add 2021 comments after that post.

You will see it later in the thread.

Everyone, I am archiving those threads in 2020 which were largely unused after being set up. I do not want to waste time setting up a thread for 2021 unless I hear from those specific folks who only made one entry back in January 2020 or none at all. Things happen I know and if you post you want a thread for this year or next - I will gladly set it up but just leave a note here or on the how to thread that you would like a thread for this year and I will gladly and quickly set it up for you this weekend. Or you can send me a PM - gladly I will help anyone.

All, we are making the transition from 2020 to 2021 without disrupting flow. So if your 2021 thread is not set up yet; simply start with number 1 on your 2020 thread and as your thread is set up simply do an edit, copy and paste and place it on your 2021 thread. Both are there for now until I finish up the set up.

We are moving along and things will be transitioned in no time. The header has already been updated along with the how to's and the unused old threads moved already. I have also begun setting up the 2021 threads and have provided links to each person as we go along. There will also be an added perk of each Books Read in 2021 member getting also their own Personal Reading List thread to spur them on. Details have been put up.

I will not archive the 2020 threads until January 1, 2021!

I will be sending this note to the folks I have not heard from - this is all that I can do. It includes the link to the new 2021 50 Books Read thread and instructions as to how to find their 2020 thread if they want to add to that (which of course they can since the threads are open in most cases).

Here is a copy of the note that will be sent: (sent via PM)

New 2021 50 Books Thread set up and ready to go

message: Hello (insert name)

We are archiving the 2020 50 Books threads on January 1, 2020. We will not be archiving the Personal Reading Lists - those are carried over from year to year.

I will have set up a new 2021 thread for you - here is the link:

(inserted url for specific member's thread)

If you have other 2020 books that you have not yet added - please feel free to add them. The 2020 thread is in the Archival folder at the bottom of the group site but it is always open.

Hope to see you actively posting your reviews again this year.

All best in 2021.

If I missed you - please post again and I will get the thread set up - not intentional.

As of this post I believe that I have set up everybody else on this thread who has requested a thread. If I am mistaken, please post and let me know.

Folks I am seeing variations of the standard which are not allowed. Always refer to the standard format in message 1 which is on your thread.

a) For the first book of any month, put the month above the citation in caps and bold - JANUARY
b) For subsequent books in any month after the first - you do not have to add the month above the citation.
c) We number each book and we do correct citations. On the how to thread - there is help if needed.
d) It is Genre:
e) It is Finish date: not Finished
f) It is Rating: not Grade (we are not grading anything)
g) It is Review: - and then after a couple of spaces - just begin the review on the same line.

When in doubt - preview your posting and check message 1 or the how to thread. We are here to help you and after edits are made we delete our posts. Sometimes we do not catch things right away - but when we do - we will post what needs to be corrected.

We thank you in advance.

All, we reuse threads each year and I update dates, directions (if anything has changed or is new) and then we start anew.

This is the first comment box for 2020! Better late than never. Remember each year you can just start from one in your old thread and just do an edit, copy and paste to your new thread once it is set up. Normally it is done at the beginning of the year.

We also have a new feature for members of the 50 Books Read in 2020 - you now have an additional thread for Personal Reading Lists.

My Goodness, Bentley, what a lot of wonderful work!
Regards,
Andrea

Folks, I believe that I can make the Personal Reading List thread multi- year and that may be an option since it is your personal thread as long as you are a member of the 50 Books Challenge. I am thinking of ways to do that rather than to set up new personal reading list tracker threads each year. You can simply start at a particular comment box for the new year = and I will earmark it for you and change the thread names, and beginning posts. You then can carry over what you want to carry over to the new year easily when making up your new list for 2021. Just thinking ahead. We will see - maybe depending upon a variety of factors we may set up separate ones but I will digest it for awhile. I will always set up the second primary 50 Books review thread each and every year.

Yippee! I made the list! Thank you, Bentley!!!
Regards,
Andrea

Make sure to check the Mechanics of the Board thread if you need any help with citations:

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Members, I think I given everyone who wanted the 50 Books Read in 2020 a thread along with their personal tracking thread. I did not miss anyone that I am aware of and it would not be intentional.

If anyone wants to give this a whirl, sign up on this thread.

Oh, Bentley, thank you soooo much! I feel incredibly blessed!!! Now if I can just execute it appropriately.
Warm Regards,
Andrea

You are welcome (smile)

Folks,

There are two threads being set up for members of the 50 Books Read in 2021 challenge. There is a required standard format for those reviews on the "official challenge 50 Books Read thread".

The second thread which is the personal To Be Read reading list is a perk and acts as a staging area for the books that are reviewed on the 50 Books Read in 2021 challenge. You don't have the option to do the list and not the required format for the 50 Books Read in 2021 thread. It is not an either/or choice. The primary thread has been and always will be the required thread and the required format on the 50 Books Read in 2021. The Personal Reading List is nice to have and acts as a staging area for the challenge. No reviews should be going there at all! The Personal Reading Lists are carried over from year to year.

Hello Everyone:

I am starting to update this folder for 2021. Your personal reading lists will remain from year to year and I will just update the title for now and the first few messages but everything is carried over so you do not lose your history or the books you want to read and have posted. You will always have the same list with a new topical header - I am changing the headers to say 2021.

If you already have a list you will automatically get a 2021 official 50 Books Read list.

If you would like to join in for 2021. Please make sure to post here if you are new and do not already have a list.

Thank you, Bentley! This feature of the Club has been so enjoyable!
Regards,
Andrea

Glad you have enjoyed it - we enjoy reading everyone's reviews too.

May I join for 2021?

When are the 2021 threads going to be opened up?

Michele wrote: "When are the 2021 threads going to be opened up?"

Michelle, the threads for 2021 will be opened by Bentley when he returns. If you like, you may use your 2020 thread and then move them later.

Jim wrote: "May I join for 2021?"

Jim, yes you may. We are so happy to have you with us. Bentley will open a 2021 thread for you when he returns.

Laura wrote: "Can I still join for 2021?
(I do read historical books in Dutch as well, I hope that is not a problem)"

Laura, we would be happy to have you join us in 2021 in the 50 Books Read. Bentley will set up a thread for you when he returns.

Since it is now April, I suggest we just keep using our 2020 threads and just add 2021 to the titles.

Michele wrote: "Since it is now April, I suggest we just keep using our 2020 threads and just add 2021 to the titles."

That sounds like a good plan, Michele.

Hello all, things are starting to move.

I would like to join the 50 Books Read in 2023 challenge.

Happy to have you Jim - in the next couple of weeks - all threads will be set up and/or moved. I will set up two threads for you. Your personal reading list stays intact year after year and includes all of your books that you have read or want to read, etc. And the second list will be your 2023 review list. Welcome.

I somehow missed participating in 2021 and 2022. Because I don't have a computer, I use an Android phone, which doesn't allow me to post images or links. I've been listening to a lot of audiobooks borrowed from my county library, using the Hoopla and Libby apps. I read or listened to 89 books in 2021, of which 67 were nonfiction, and this year I read or listened to a lot of fiction.

Well we do mandate the images and links on the review pages - but for the personal reading lists - I understand your plight and will add a comment about your limitations on that list. We will try to work with you on this.

I will participate again in 2023

Hello, I would be interested in participating and attempting to read 50 books if that alright.

Ragan wrote: "I will participate again in 2023"

Thank you, Ragan. Bentley will be updating the 2023 book threads threads when he returns.

Demetrios wrote: "Hello, I would be interested in participating and attempting to read 50 books if that alright."

Of course, Demetrios. Bentley will add a thread for your 50 Books thread for 2023 when he returns.

I would like to join the 2023 challenge

Meo wrote: "I would like to join the 2023 challenge"

Thank you, Meo. Bentley will add your 50 Books thread for 2023 when he returns.

Happy New Year,

I would like to join the 2023 challenge

Tawallah wrote: "Happy New Year,

I would like to join the 2023 challenge"

Thank you, Tawallah. Bentley will add a thread for your 50 Books thread for 2023 when he returns.

I would like to join

Katie wrote: "I would like to join"

Thank you, Katie. Bentley will add your 50 Books thread when he returns.

I would like have a thread also, Thanks!

David wrote: "I would like have a thread also, Thanks!"

David, for those who have a current 50 Books thread, Bently will automatically open a new thread for you when he returns.

Hello. I am new here. May I have a personal thread for 50 Books Read in 2023?

Cynda, Bentley will add your 50 Books thread and a personal thread for you when he returns.