Goodreads Ireland discussion

1. I joined the group to be part of a group with a wide range of tastes so I'd pick up on things I wouldnt normally read.

2. I think its a mixed taste group and this is reflected in the range of books nomibated in both monthly and quarterly poll.
3.I'm generally happy with the current setup going forward. I dont want a move towards fantasy contrary to hiw some comments of mine may have been interpreted. I just feel as a general book group people will nominate across the reading spectrum and openly discouraging this during nominations and voting is limiting this. Personally I love that in any given month the choice could be anything. Some will not appeal to me or others but many will.

I joined this group to spur on my reading after a long period of not being able to finish any book. I liked that I could track my reading progress and then discuss the books with other book lovers.


I would describe the tastes of the group as eclectic. There is certainly an Irish flavour (reflected in the quarterly reads) but there are are plenty of others genres covered; crime, the classics, fantasy, historical fiction etc.

I have no problem with the direction of the groups monthly and quarterly reads beyond that people should refrain from negatively commenting on anyone's nominations. People should feel free to put forward any book and leave it to other members to vote as they choose. Also it would be nice to see greater participation from everyone who votes for the winning book. It fine to post a review but it would be great if that was followed us by discussion on the relevant thread.

1. I joined this group to be directed towards books I wouldn't otherwise hear about or pick up and it is nice to have fellow bookies to discuss reads with because when I finish q book I enjoy( or hate) it's great to talk to someone else who has read it and get their feed back.
2. I think this book group is a group interesting in reading all forms of books with a particular interest in Irish literature and where people who have an interest in Ireland can come together to discuss it.
3. Going forward I would like the group to continue as normal as if it's not broke, don't fix it

I understand that and I know people have busy months etc. My thought is though that if you feel you'll be too busy to participate, abstain from the vote that month. The point of a group read is for everyone to read the chosen book and discuss it. If not we may as well read our own choice of books and just post a review. So many people had read or were going to read An Officer and A Spy for example, but there has been relatively little discussion on it which is strange because the general consensus is that it is a great book.

I know. And I agree that there is no easy solution but I put it out there while we're discussing things. Moving on now.

I'm going to wait a bit before adding my answers, but I did want to pose a Question #4.

"How does everyone feel about general tenor and atmosphere of the group?"

And Trelawn on the subject of participation, I'd like to apologize for not having read the book yet. This month has been a bit nuts with work and the impending move...Also I'm in too many book groups! I plan to read An Officer and A Spy this weekend.

I wasn't being specific about any member in particular Sara, and as well as personal stuff I know you and Emma have a lot of reading committments as mods.

Trelawn wrote: "I wasn't being specific about any member in particular Sara, and as well as personal stuff I know you and Emma have a lot of reading committments as mods."

Oh I know you weren't Trelawn. That was more of an apology to the group as a whole, since one of the things Emma and I commit to is to read all the selections.

Do folks think it would be helpful if Emma or I found a "Reader's Discussion Guide" for each book and posted it? For most books you can find one online fairly easily. They usually have discussion questions. Sometimes it's hard to know where to start a discussion.

Personally I don't think so. It's more work for you and Emma and really all people need start with is their personal response to a book and let discussion flow from there.

It'd be a nice idea if the person who nominated the winner could do that but it would be difficult to guarentee . Its a nice idea as a discussion starter.

I don't think it's something Emma and I can guarantee, but I think it's something I'm going to try to remember to do. I know there are books where my reaction is "OMG that's really great" or "OMG that really sucks," and I can't figure out anything much more specific.

I'll hold my hand up and apologise for the occasional ill thought post. I will bear Emmas earlier advice in mind to hold off on posting from time to time rather than in the heat of the moment.

A book you dislike is much easier to discuss. Maybe we're just too good at picking great reads :)

I know it wasnt a pointed comment just taking the good advice :-)

In another group, when the spoiler thread opens, it includes questions like
Did you enjoy the book?
Did the characters develop?
How did you feel about the plot and ending of the story?
Were there any particular quotations or passages that you enjoyed?
Would you read more by this author?
It does generate some discussion but as others have mentioned the main discussion points come from individuals reactions to the read

Does anybody want to give me a hug??

Come on now

A big book group hug for all of you guys!

1. Why did you join Goodreads Ireland? What attracted you to the group?
I tend to go through phases where I read a lot and then not for ages. Someone mentioned Goodreads in a different Facebook group I'm on, and when I went to te website, Goodreads Ireland was one of the groups featured on the main page. As I'm Irish, it was serendipity.

2. How would you describe the literary interests of the group?
A typical bookclub with interests in Irish authors and themes.

3. What would you like the literary interests of the group to be going forward?
I think the way it is laid out now works well. I like adding the second book to the quarterly read.

4. How does everyone feel about general tenor and atmosphere of the group?
I think that most of the time it is fine. Sometimes people can type before they think (I do it too) and that might be nice if we could sit back before things get heated over something that is fairly trivial. I believe it's cost us several great members.

I joined in an attempt to broaden my reading horizons , which has happened with the various selections.

I find the groups picks eclectic, fun and even challenging. I have enjoyed most reads.

As for the future, I'm happy with how we are doing, I don't feel a need for any major change.


Also, I do now solemnly swear to contribute more to discussions on our monthly reads.

Lol I'll give you a hug Louise.

Yay, Louise!

1. Why did you join Goodreads Ireland? What attracted you to the group?
I joined Goodreads as the idea of tracking my past and present reading as well as planning for future reads appealed to me. I joined the group as in my circle of friends few would share my reading habit the group. Also, I have no favourite genre and felt being a part of a group whose premise was more general would suit me. Plus I'm Irish and thought I would relate to the members easier.

2. How would you describe the literary interests of the group?
Varied and all encompassing. I would say that other than erotic fiction every other interest is catered for and in the case where it is unheard of, it usually invites the group's curiosity.

3. What would you like the literary interests of the group to be going forward?
I don't really have any criticism for the group's current path. The members will read what they would like to read. I would like to think of it as a sort of democracy wherein it's future is controlled by those who put it there.

4. How does everyone feel about general tenor and atmosphere of the group?"
Sometimes it can be quite tense and frustrating but this is rare and it is important to remember that it is often better to just take a step back rather than further antagonise. I just want to discuss books, banter and sometimes argue but in a constructive way. It goes for both the initial poster and the "replier" when I think that comments shouldn't be taken too seriously.

http://bit.ly/1FU2PcM

I think that Gerry has made some valid points. I can't go on anyone else's experience but my own so I will say that when I joined last August, I did post in the "Introductions" thread. I had three members respond to me. One was the moderator at that time and has since left the group. The other two are still active members here. If I had gone on the amount of welcomes I received, I probably would not have become very active here. However, I decided to just try to join in, and comment on some posts I saw, and I would say that I have never seen anyone who was not welcoming in the discussions. Sometimes you just need to jump into the pool. I do wonder sometimes why a group with almost a thousand members has so few participating but I don't really think it has to do with the core group that does on a regular basis.
Oh, I can think of one time when someone might have felt we were unfriendly and that was a very young member who did not seem to understand what a book group was for. She seemed to think this was a chat group and posted about everything under the sun except books. I have not seen her here in a while.

Emma wrote: "Link isn't working Kevin"

Looks like tinyurl doesn't work for the Goodreads app but bitly does. Fixed, thanks Emma.

What would people think of making one big introductions thread as I have seen done in some groups? As you may have noticed, once you comment on a particular Goodreads thread, there is an option you can check to be notified (either just in your update feedback and/or by email) when someone replies. I try to remember (especially as moderator)to check that folder of threads for new member introductions and comment, but I know I've been woefully neglectful about doing that lately. If all the introductions were in one thread, new members might get more people welcoming them. Then we could frame things to new people as "introducing themselves in more depth" and "if you want your introduction to be seen by the most people" rather than "Just go introduce in place x." Does that make sense?

I am also glad to see Gerry poke his head back in. I remember correctly the book you selected was on the receiving end of some negative comments that were more connected to a previous group disagreement/debate/whatnot than to the book itself. I don't think people have to refrain from criticizing a book, if they don't like it, as sometimes I learn more people who dislike something than from people who just like it. I do think if best if people try to keep their criticisms specific to the book though. I also like the idea of keeping in mind how a discussion or comment would look to someone just joining the group who don't have the "back story" on a particularly issue.

Lastly I'm also glad Donna stuck around!

1. Why did you join Goodreads Ireland? What attracted you to the group?


I joined Goodreads Ireland primarily because I'm interested in Irish fiction, although I was attracted to some of the other non Irish books on the group shelf as well. 


When I began to utilise all aspects of Goodreads rather than just to track my reading and get recommendations, this group and UK Book Club were the two that I joined, but the latter never had the warmth that this one did, and once I got involved in discussions here, became a very active member.


2. How would you describe the literary interests of the group?


The literary interests are definitely eclectic, with a wide variety of genres and styles covered. I've loved finding out about cosy and culinary mysteries, tartan noir etc, and have definitely widened my reading as a result of being part of the group-looking back over the last 6 months, I've read around 13 books by female novelists, something I'm ashamed to say I'd never have naturally done before joining the group.


3. What would you like the literary interests of the group to be going forward?


I'd love to see more interest in Irish reads, but I know that the group originally decided on a quarterly because a monthly Irish wasn't feasible.


I personally don't have an issue with a novel from a genre I'm not a fan of winning a poll, as it's not compulsory for anyone bar the moderators to read the books, but I do think people feel a bit peeved sometimes when one of these titles that wins does so only because of the vote of the main body of the group being split due to the wide variety of 'literary' titles nominated-when these winning votes are from members who have never posted a comment, it is understandably frustrating for regulars.


I do think though, whatever the literary interests of the group are going forward, that people should be a little less emotionally attached to the books they nominate, and not be personally offended if they don't win, or if in discussion, someone expresses an opinion that differs from their own.


4. How does everyone feel about general tenor and atmosphere of the group?


I definitely think that this has changed in the nearly two years since I originally joined the group.


The group was Declan's baby, and I was so sad to see him decide to give up moderating. Emma and Sara do a brilliant job in his place, but I think that the circumstances of and reasons for his departure definitely still have an effect on the dynamics of the group. 


I've made some great friends and received many excellent recommendations via the group, but find it very noticeable that active members are decreasing in number, as is book related chat, often replaced by relentless personal conversation, often unrelated to books, so I can understand why a new member may feel intimidated about contributing or feel that this isn't the group for them-were I joining at the present time, I'm not sure if it'd come across as being the group for me.


I have to say that I'm the worst at looking at the introductions threads, mainly I think because there was a period that every new member had just written a new book etc etc, but looking back, I suppose it was my welcomes that spurred me on to contributing more to the group-it's something that I'll definitely work on.


I definitely think that people should think before getting involved in personal exchanges. We had one particularly nasty case involving an American living in Dublin a couple of years ago during Declan's time, but funnily enough that brought the group a lot closer together collectively-I know that it was during that exchange that I got to know Sara properly for example. When people have 'lost the head' more recently, the result hasn't been quite so positive, and promising members have simply disappeared again, which is a shame. 


Given that issues seem to arise during discussions about polls in particular, I wonder if there shouldn't be discussions about polls at all-is there a way that mods can turn discussions off? 


Whatever happens with the direction of the group, this is an area that we all need to work on-at the end of the day, it's only a book group!

Just a quick reply to part of Allan's post:

According to this post there doesn't appear to be a way currently to lock comments on poll posts (closed or open polls).

And that was nominated by me Gerry but no hard feelings! Willis has a particular style that's not for everyone, and I think that To Say Nothing of The Dog is by far weaker than her other books...

Gerry wrote: "Haha sorry Sara - I honestly didn't know! Some people enjoyed it and I am sure some people find books I like to be rubbish! It would be boring if we all had the same tastes."

This was just be joshing (kidding) you a bit Gerry and modeling for folks on how disagreeing about books can be done in an agreeable manner. :o)

Hallo all. I've been following this conversation on the sidelines for a while. For the last six months or so I've mainly come back because the interaction's are actually great craic. I've rarely engaged - mainly as I'm so time poor - and then mostly to quiz people on books I'm interested (always getting good advice). Although I've tried, I've just never had enough time to do the group reading (a big bonding part of the group) and have just had to give that up as a lost cause, unfortunately. Just a few comments:
(1) I think this group operates very effectively - much more so than many other groups I've seen on Goodreads (or in the physical world for that matter!)
(2) The balance of having a core group of people interacting and welcoming and saying goodbye to new ones will always be a challenge - don't beat yourselves up over it
(3) the reading nominations will always be dictated on the core group - I think that's fair.
(4) I miss Declan - he was a good moderator and very funny - but fair dues to Sara and Emma for holding things together so well. This group wouldn't have survived without your efforts.

In summary, don't sweat the small stuff. AS Allan says - "It's only a book group!" Honesty, I don't think there's that much to improve.

I have just been catching up on this discussion as much of it took place while I was asleep :-) It's seems to me that the main thing that keeps coming up is that we could all do with taking a step back from the hype of nominations. Let's not get precious and overwrought about our nominations or our favourite genres. Equally we should all refrain from negative comments about others nominations. If it's not for you, fine, but remember others might enjoy it.

I think when people join Goodreads so many immediately join a glut of bookgroups then rarely participate in any. Most groups have a vast number of members with only one post . Sadly thats how it works . I think for every twenty intriductions you might get one that sticks around wether there is a parade for their arrival or not. I don't think the core has waned though. Some have movef on but new members have joined, Kevin and Donna have been great additions in the last 6 months or so.
I think Emma and Sara have done a great job. There responses have been brilliant.
I also think they have steered the group back on course well and the group has definitely moved back to primarily discussing books in recent months.

Ditto what Emma said! I was also apprehensive and we exchanged a few PMs over the last couple of days discussing the timing of this thread etc.

One thing both Emma and I have noticed (and I believe Allan and a couple other people remarked on in their question responses) is that much of the acrimony in the group tends to arise around nominations and genres. I think we tend to average out over the course of a year and read an eclectic mix of stuff, but also tend to go on runs with type of books/genres for a few months. This can be quite disconcerting and annoying if a particular type if not your favorite and lead to some members being less active for an extended period or even leaving.

One idea that I had seen used in other groups is a "genre of the month," where the moderators do a schedule of genres and nominations are limited for that particular month to that genre. This ensures that everyone at least has a good chance of seeing something that they like on a regular basis and eliminates going on runs of a particular type of book.

The list of genres Emma and I came up with (if this is something folks want to try).

Historical
Contemporary
Classic
Fantasy & Sci-fi
Thriller/Mystery
Non Fiction

By necessity we would likely have to be a bit loose in our interpretation of what qualified, and people would have to agree to accept determinations by Emma and I as to what counted.

Thoughts? I'm out for the next 8-10 hours doing stuff, so I'll be less able to respond right away to people's thoughts , but will when I get back.

I think that sounds like a really good idea.

Its a decent Idea all right. maybe you could throw in tge occassional open month as well to spread it out .

I personally think it's unnecessary and might deter people from getting involved in the monthly reads if it's limited to a certain genre.

Just to expand on my comment, currently when the monthly read is picked I go along with it and read it unless I don't have time and I am not aware of a book being bracketed into a genre. If I'm told say April is historical month, I prob wouldn't nominate or read. That's just my opinion, even though I may join in say this months read which was historical fiction and really enjoy it.

Emma wrote: "During recent nominations the question of the groups literary interests and direction was raised. During all the changes which have occurred in the group over the last 6 months it is not something ..."

I'm a little late to the conversation, but my two cents' for what it's worth--
1. Why did you join GoodReads Ireland? What attracted you to the group? When I first joined, it was primarily to broaden my reading horizons in Irish literature. I knew the more well-known authors, but I wanted to find out more about authors I wouldn't readily hear about here in the US. In my circle of local acquaintances, few read Irish literature. In that end, this group has definitely expanded my reading horizons in terms of Irish writing/literature. I'm not usually a "joiner" of groups, so I lurked for a good amount of time, and then the people here were so friendly that I got more and more involved.

I'd describe the reading interests of the group as wide-ranging with themes/genres of particular interest for smaller groups of people (i.e. literary fiction, classics, fantasy, sci-fi, mystery)

Going forward, I'd definitely agree with the good suggestions already made, especially about respecting each others' opinions and reading preferences. I often am the poster child for "good intentions;" I usually want to complete the monthly read and can't by the end of the month, so in that regard, I'd like to make a more concerted effort to get the book read so I can comment more. I'd prefer the monthly nominations to continue as they are--as open-ended selections. I think it may make things more complicated to have only certain genres nominated in particular months. I have read a number of books and authors since joining (Eureka Street, East of Eden, Transatlantic, Willie Vlautin., The Son, and that J.K. Rowling one (I'm blanking on the name!)) that may not have easily fit into one genre, and I think it would be/could be tricky to start discussing why a novel fits into one genre and not another. I'd prefer to keep the process simple.

From past experience, the only genres there ever seems to be an issue with are sci fi and fantasy-would it be feasible to run a monthly or quarterly read from these genres alongside the monthly read? If there is the interest and appetite for both types of book within the group, and little crossover in interest when it comes to reading the other type, surely this is feasible and would keep everyone happy. I'm not sure how you'd classify some other books genre wise, so this may effect nominations etc if we were to prohibit genres or go for specific genres each month.

Thanks to Sara and Emma for 'thinking outside the box' with their ideas! :)

The more seperate reads we do the less interest the main ones will have I think.

On a side note I think last year between monthly and quarterly reads there was actually only 2 outright fantasy books , Good Omens and Book of Lost Things. I think it was the same with Scifi, The Martian and the Margaret Atwood one. So thats 2 from 16 reads for each genre . I think thats probably a fair representation of interest a
with just the occassional dip into each. I know some members dont like the genres buy some do and i dont think that amount of books is a takeover.

I think there is a need for coomon sense to nominations as well. A lot of books I enjoy I'd never nominate as I dont think it would appeal to a general audience. It helps to bear the audience in mind . Some books of all genres can appeal to a wide audience but others are definitely niche books

I think we should leave the selection open ended.I think we should continue on the way it has been and not make comments and keep score of how many times a certain genre wins or how core members are voting.That just hurts the group.I read what I like and if I don't like the selection I don't read it unless something changes my mind.I read the non spoiler thread of all the chosen books.
I joined a long time ago and it took me awhile to get a bit active but I'm glad I did .I have read books and authors that I didn't know exited .Sara and Emma you are doing an amazing job taking over after Declan.

Why did you join? By accident: I was scrolling through the Goodreads group listings and hit join instead of scroll. LOL. Declan responded warmly to my first few posts and this encouraged me to continue participating.

Although this is primarily a reading group IMHO Goodreads Ireland also performs another important role. Many members are part of the Irish diaspora and like myself have been handed down elements of Irish culture. GI helps keep this culture alive beyond the shores of Ireland and helps us understand our familial roots. Thank you.

GI’s literary interests are broad ranging (I read books no one else does, LOL). This surely is a cause for celebration and should not be changed. My few nominations rarely scored more than one vote in the polls (my vote, LOL) so I gave up nominating and just voted. Everyone knows I don’t get the point of fantasy books but I don’t throw my teddy out of the cot when one is selected; instead I just read something else. There are a great number of ongoing buddy reads and anyone can set up a thread: you only need two for a discussion so let’s chill out a bit about what wins and what scores no votes (my nominations when I switched my vote, LOL) and just find something to read that you enjoy and you’ll probably find someone else to discuss it with (except my current read, which no one else will be interested in, LOL).

This is probably overlong so I will comment of the atmosphere and tenor of the group, and participation later.

BTW thanks for the PMs asking about my absence and for the St Patrick’s Day card. I will be replying.

I missed your wonderful sense of humour Theresa. Your post made me smile :-)