21st Century Literature discussion

Nominations are now open until July 2nd for the August 2025 Open Pick. Apologies for not organising anything for July, but it seems too late to do that now.

This time round we are relaxing all of the normal rules (apart from the one nomination per person rule). We will allow you to nominate any book you like, including non-fiction and books the group has discussed before!

If you are nominating, please begin your post by stating "I nominate [name with hyperlink to book]"

The discussion will start on August 1st

I'd like to nominate The Overstory by Richard Powers

Thanks Henk

I'd like to nominate Gliff by Ali Smith

Thanks Carl

I'm going with a memoir, Free: A Child and a Country at the End of History by Lea Ypi which was nominated for several book prizes and won a couple including the 2022 RSL Ondaatje Prize.

Thanks Sam

Two more days left for nominations

I'd like to nominate Trust by Hernan Diaz

Thanks Dianne

Nominations are now closed. The poll will be up shortly.

The poll is up here and will run until next Thursday (10th July)

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/3...

Hugh wrote: "The poll is up here and will run until next Thursday (10th July)

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/invite..."

Fyi, that link takes us to the invite members option. This link should work better...

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/show/3...

Beige wrote: "Hugh wrote: "The poll is up here and will run until next Thursday (10th July)

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/invite..."

Fyi..."
Sorry, thanks

The poll is over and Gliff has won. Carl - are you happy to lead the discussion?

Hugh wrote: "The poll is over and Gliff has won. Carl - are you happy to lead the discussion?"

Something I voted for won?! That's a first. More than happy to lead, Hugh. Although, this will be a first here, and I welcome any suggestions on how to structure it.

Thanks Carl. One of the moderators will create a folder for you a few days before the start of the month. We don't have any strict rules on how discussions are structured but we can help answer any questions you have. There was some guidance written years ago for new discussion leaders somewhere which I will try and find for you.

Hugh wrote: "Thanks Carl. One of the moderators will create a folder for you a few days before the start of the month. We don't have any strict rules on how discussions are structured but we can help answer any..."

Great! Thanks. o/

Carl, the folder is now in place. This is the advice Whitney sent me the first time I moderated a discussion:

"There's not a lot of hard and fast rules about moderating. We usually have at least two topics, one for a general, non-spoiler thread for general discussion. This is a place to post background material, links to reviews, etc.. Then there's at least one other thread for discussion of the book with spoilers. With longer books, moderators frequently divide the book up into smaller discussion chunks, based on what you see as logical breaks, such as "Part 1, Chapters 1-20". You can look at some of the other discussions to see how different people did it.

The moderators will open a place-holder topic for you, then you can add whatever folders you think are appropriate. Obviously, you're not expected to explain the book to people. Start with a few leading, open-ended questions and encourage discussion on other things that come up. You can always check with the mods if you have any questions, but it's largely up to you how you want to conduct things. It's pretty open, and is supposed to be fun for you and everyone else."