Georgette Heyer Fans discussion

I wonder if it's time to find a new way of organising the group reads to allow for readers to go at their own pace?

I ask because the 'non-spoiler' thread seems to be used solely for saying which edition / cover members have got and whether or not they like the book and I'm not sure how useful that is.

What do you all think?

Jenny wrote: "I wonder if it's time to find a new way of organising the group reads to allow for readers to go at their own pace?

I ask because the 'non-spoiler' thread seems to be used solely for saying which ..."

We did have three threads in the past - but the middle thread was virtually unused.

Some groups have threads for every three or four chapters.

Maybe one for the first half of a book and another where spoilers are allowed? I know I tend to make comments early on, then I get caught up in the story and rush to finish before making summing-up comments.

I think this is a good idea - one for first half, or ‘still in process of reading’, another for spoilers, makes more sense. As Jenny says, the first thread now doesn’t really serve much purpose.

The difficulty with the first thread at the moment is that you're effectively not allowed to say anything about the book, which makes any kind of discussion impossible!

But I can see that multiple threads, for what are pretty short books, would be very unwieldy - the difficulty I had with the three was that I could never remember what the chapter numbers meant in terms of plot, so I never knew whether the incident I wanted to comment on was within, say, chapters 5-12 or not.

Shall we try allowing open comments on the first half only of False Colours in one thread and keeping the other for unrestricted comments and see how that goes? I'll work out where that comes and specify when I put the threads up.

Jenny wrote: "The difficulty with the first thread at the moment is that you're effectively not allowed to say anything about the book, which makes any kind of discussion impossible!

But I can see that multipl..."

I must be honest and admit that I use the spoiler threads far more than the other. I find it so difficult to participate in the discussion when I’m worrying I might be discussing stuff that I’m not meant to! I do still try (and then use spoiler markers) but that’s always so time consuming.

We all read at different paces and I notice that some of us post comments before the date that the book discussion actually starts . But that will always be the case. I’m happy to go with your suggestion Jenny.

Susan in Perthshire wrote: "Jenny wrote: "The difficulty with the first thread at the moment is that you're effectively not allowed to say anything about the book, which makes any kind of discussion impossible!

But I can se..."

Hear, hear, so sayeth the Susans! As usual , my compatriot across the sea puts it more eloquently, but I agree, I know I’ve unintentionally spoiled without ‘spoilering’! ;o)

P.S. and Susan raises another point - should we wait until after the start date to actually discuss? I don’t mind, if that adds to the discussion, keeps the discussion fresh and flowing. I know in other groups, members are swamped with life and or other books, will come on to say, “I will read this eventually, maybe later this month.” But if enough people have read, or are reading at the same time, the discussion might move along more briskly (if that’s what the group wants- I have noticed fresh names over the last couple years, a great sign that new readers want to partake!)

Susan in NC wrote: "Susan in Perthshire wrote: "Jenny wrote: "The difficulty with the first thread at the moment is that you're effectively not allowed to say anything about the book, which makes any kind of discussio..."

Good ideas there Susan - it’s good to see new members joining and we all know that people will read at different times and different speeds. I love our discussions - probably the most civilised on social media!

You'll be lucky if I remember to put the discussion threads up on the start date, let alone before it!

lol!

Can't we just put spoilers in the spoiler tag? I avoid reading the thread until I've finished or almost finished.

I think one thread is enough but then these are always re-reads for me. whatever those doing the work want to do is OK with me.

They're (nearly) always re-reads for me too, which is why it's hard to judge what a first-time reader might want. I feel that not being able to say anything about the plot without putting it in spoiler tags would be very inhibiting to the discussion, though - cumbersome to write and read. Which is why currently we don't get much discussion in the 'no spoilers' thread.

What's the use of a spoiler thread if you have to hide spoilers even there? Whoever wants to avoid spoilers simply can avoid the whole thread.

I welcome group reads partitioned into sections for 'serious' books on which I spend some time and thought, and like to be made aware of one or the other aspect in the discussion. But I read or re-read any GH book quickly, as a light interlude to my other reading, and I don't reflect much on it while I'm reading. It's fun to read the opinions of others, but I do not feel the need to go into background or interpretations or speculations as with my other reading.

I'm not commenting much at the moment, but FWIW:

I love the spoiler thread!

I like the comfort of knowing that we can discuss the book freely and openly.

The difficulty with tagging spoilers is that everybody has different opinions on what counts as a spoiler. I've got myself in trouble with mods before for mentioning 'spoilers' that are in the blurb! It makes totally neurotic and I end up just being vague.

there are WAY too many spoilers in blurbs, for sure!

If you come across a spoilerish blurb for a GH book. make a thread here & I'll fix it. :)

Nick wrote: "I'm not commenting much at the moment, but FWIW:
I love the spoiler thread!
I like the comfort of knowing that we can discuss the book freely and openly.
..."

Oh yes, there's no question of doing away with that. It's just a matter of what we do for those members who want to talk about the book before they've finished reading it.

Carol She's So Novel ꧁꧂ wrote: "If you come across a spoilerish blurb for a GH book. make a thread here & I'll fix it. :)"

thank you! I looked at a couple and they are fine, but I will keep this in mind.

Carol She's So Novel ꧁꧂ wrote: "If you come across a spoilerish blurb for a GH book. make a thread here & I'll fix it. :)"

Thanks! I'm not aware of any for GH on goodreads.

I once read a book series where the major bad guy in book 1 died at the end of book 2 and the blurb for book 3 - on the back of the book - started: "Now that [main character] is dead"!

That's good. Critterbee & I did a big clean up a few years ago, so I'm glad they haven't crept back.

sabagrey wrote: "What's the use of a spoiler thread if you have to hide spoilers even there? Whoever wants to avoid spoilers simply can avoid the whole thread.

I welcome group reads partitioned into sections for ..."

For some of us Heyer is our serious read.

I’ve never used the non-spoiler thread.

Hi,

I have recently become moderator of another group where (before my time) members have always been asked to use spoiler tags for group reads.

While I understand that some people prefer it that way (I am the opposite, thinking that if a book is good than I'll read it anyway and don't care much about them being spoilered"), the practical result is that there is no discussion whatever in these threads, just people dropping by and saying: I want to read it/ started reading it/finished reading or it was good/disappointing and that's all.

It is hardly worth creating a discussion thread for.

Melindam wrote: "Hi,

I have recently become moderator of another group where (before my time) members have always been asked to use spoiler tags for group reads.

While I understand that some people prefer it tha..."

I agree with this, I’ve never cared about spoilers, about the book we are currently reading or other Heyer books - my memory is so leaky, I don’t remember any of the plots or characters, I just read for the enjoyment, I’ll read anyway for the great dialogue, characters and humor. Besides, given the nature of Heyer’s books, there will ALWAYS be a happy ending, so can’t be spoiled, even for new readers.

Susan in NC wrote: "Melindam wrote: "Hi,

I have recently become moderator of another group where (before my time) members have always been asked to use spoiler tags for group reads.

While I understand that some peo..."

With the exception of These Old Shades, I can’t immediately think of a book which would be ‘spoiled’ by leaking something about it. I read Devil’s Cub first and then TOS so I already had the spoiler leaked, and I still enjoyed it.

It’s so long since I read a Heyer for the first time that I’m struggling to think what might be spoiled. I know there’s probably loads but I just cannot remember any! I’m happy to go with the flow!

A spoiler thread might be useful if someone is reading one of the mysteries for the first time. I just skipped over those for the most recent mystery-which I haven't finished yet.

MrsPearl wrote: "A spoiler thread might be useful if someone is reading one of the mysteries for the first time. I just skipped over those for the most recent mystery-which I haven't finished yet."

Ok, that’s true, as a mystery lover I appreciate that!

MrsPearl wrote: "A spoiler thread might be useful if someone is reading one of the mysteries for the first time. I just skipped over those for the most recent mystery-which I haven't finished yet."

That is a good point. Since I never re-read the mysteries, I had forgotten about them. Yes, discussion about these will obviously risk spoilers.

Carol She's So Novel ꧁꧂ wrote: "If you come across a spoilerish blurb for a GH book. make a thread here & I'll fix it. :)"

The Quiet Gentleman I think there is way too much info in this blurb generally but the last sentence is a total spoiler.

(view spoiler)[ and who the hell calls Drusilla "free spirited"? not someone who has read the book! (hide spoiler)]

lol!

Jackie wrote: "

The Quiet Gentleman I think there is way too much info in t..."

The librarian that did this seems to specialise in long possibly spoiler filled descriptions. & I looked at bad description, after bad description for this book.

I hope the one I used is accurate, but if not I'll correct again after I read the book. Please allow 20 minutes for the changes to show - this site is heavily cached.

I thought we did have a thread for me & other GR librarians to do corrections on GH's books but I can't find it. Jenny, you might like to create one. :)

thanks, Carol!

Carol She's So Novel ꧁꧂ wrote: "I thought we did have a thread for me & other GR librarians to do corrections on GH's books but I can't find it...."

I think you must mean this one, Carol: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Jenny wrote: "Carol She's So Novel ꧁꧂ wrote: "I thought we did have a thread for me & other GR librarians to do corrections on GH's books but I can't find it...."

I think you must mean this one, Carol: https://..."

That's the one! If everyone could use that thread to avoid derailing other discussions please. But only for books by or about GH. Any other requests go to the Librarians Group. :)
https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...

Carol She's So Novel ꧁꧂ wrote: "Jenny wrote: "Carol She's So Novel ꧁꧂ wrote: "I thought we did have a thread for me & other GR librarians to do corrections on GH's books but I can't find it...."

I think you must mean this one, C..."

I've tweaked the title slightly to make its purpose a bit clearer