Stephen White - Alan Gregory discussion

I've been thinking about starting a Group Read program for this group and wanted to see if anyone would be interested. I think we are still too small to do a monthly read so was thinking either choosing a book to read for two months or perhaps a quarterly selection. I don't think the selection needs to be limited to Stephen White but it probably should stay within the Mystery-Thriller Genre.

I currently participate in two larger groups who do monthly reads - Stephen King and Dean Koontz. I would base our group read off they way they are done in the other groups. For a certain period of time (usually one week) each group member can nominated up to two titles for the group read then for another period of time (usually another week) a poll will be open for voting. A discussion thread will be set up for the book and members can join in the discussion anytime (Spoiler Alerts used when necessary).

I've found that group reads are a fun way to share thoughts and insights with other readers who are reading the book at the same time. I think if there are at least 5 people interested in participating, we could start the group read in January. Let me know if you're interested and how often you think we should do a monthly read (every two months or every three months aka once a quarter) Thanks :-)

I would be interested in trying this, I have never been involved in a group read like this but the idea of hearing other people's perspective is a positive incentive for me. I would probably prefer a quarterly time frame at this point because I read so many different kinds of books, and usually several at the same time.

Janice wrote: "I would probably prefer a quarterly time frame at this point because I read so many different kinds of books, and usually several at the same time.."

Quarterly Read sounds good to be and not just because it SOUNDS better than "Every other month read" or "Every two month read" :-) Like you, I get myself reading several books at the same time - I start the book then don't finish it and have to return it to the library and get it back etc until I either finish it or decide I'm not going to finish it.

I've tried to join in on the Stephen King Fans Group Read but it's gotten to be too much for me. I'm not that big of a SK Fan to begin with and his books tend to be rather long - I just joined the SK group in Sept. I decided to start trying to read along with the group in Oct. I just finished the October book this past week and now I'm on the November read... One month is not long enough for me and a Stephen King book. On the other hand, I also participate in the Dean Koontz Monthly Group Read and have finished the book before mid-month each time - Koontz is my favorite author, Stephen White, second.

What do you think about the idea of opening up the group read to any Mystery-Thriller author? There are 17 Stephen White books so with only 4 books a year we could stick w/ White but I think it might be fun to read other authors too. Let me know what you think.

I think it would be good to bring in other writers. I read multiple books in multiple genres at the same time. Which could be why I have so many unfinished books. And why it has been taking me quite so long to finish Higher Authority.

I also like the Laura Lippman books. Her books are focused in Baltimore. Her character is Tess Monaghan, former reporter and her paper went out of business, now detective. She has a cast of characters. She also has stand-alone books. One of which I am reading now - To the Power of Three.

The only books I really focus on are the one currently being carried with me and the one I read at the office during lunch.

I even read sine Stephen King now and again. But no Dean Koontz.

Jan wrote: "I even read sine Stephen King now and again. But no Dean Koontz. "

Have you ever tried Koontz? I'd be happy to offer some recommendations :-)

So we have 3 people interested in the Quarterly Read and it will be open to Stephen White as well as other authors :-) When we start nominating we will need to list the book title and author and we each may nominate two books. Anybody else want to join us? Anybody have a different opinion?

I'll join! And quarterly does sound best. My only suggestion is that if we read any series, that perhaps we start with whatever's first in it. Or stand-alones.

What does everyone else think about series - should it be a requirement to start with the first book in the series or not?

We've got four people interested - anyone else?

Dustin wrote: "Janice wrote: "I would probably prefer a quarterly time frame at this point because I read so many different kinds of books, and usually several at the same time.."

Quarterly Read sounds good to b..."

Dustin wrote: "Janice wrote: "I would probably prefer a quarterly time frame at this point because I read so many different kinds of books, and usually several at the same time.."

Quarterly Read sounds good to b..."

I would be glad to have other authors included, I am always interested in finding new books and authors.

Laurel wrote: "My only suggestion is that if we read any series, that perhaps we start with whatever's first in it. "

I've been thinking more about this and my personal opinion is we shouldn't have that as a requirement. For example: if Stephen White comes out with a new book next fall, I'd like to nominate it and I think many group members would want to read it - but it is in a series. Same goes if there was a new Nevada Barr/ Anna Pigeon novel and Tess Gerritsen is coming out with a new book in her Jane Razzoli/Maura Isles series next Spring. I think starting with the first book in a series would be too limiting. This is just my opinion - I'm not a Dictator, just a Moderator :-) What do other people think?

I will set up a new thread for nominating soon. Still hoping for one more reader to be interested in our Quarterly Read:-) The first Quarter will be Jan-March and you can join in the discussion anytime. Thanks to everyone who has shown interest so far.

The three series you mentioned above are ones that I am pretty current with reading, or close to being that. So reading the latest in the series for those would be fine with me. That might not be the case for others who are just starting with those particular series. I am starting new series all the time, and find I enjoy them more if I read them in sequence. On the other hand, not sure I want to go back and re-read a lot of the older ones in any given series. So that doesn't get us anywhere, does it, guess there are positives/negatives to either direction.

Janice wrote: "The three series you mentioned above are ones that I am pretty current with reading, or close to being that. So reading the latest in the series for those would be fine with me. That might not be..."

I agree. It's still open for discussion. This is a group of the readers, by the readers and for the readers :-) everyone please share your opinion.

I'm in for reading a book quarterly but I will have to agree with Laurel that if we do a series, we should start from the beginning. The beauty of stand alone novels is that we can read four different authors in a year. This is a good way to explore books that we wouldn't normally read. That is how I found Stephen White, I started with The Siege and now I am reading the first of the Alan Gregory books, Privileged Information. It's good but I am a slow reader and I, too, read many books at once. I guess I have a short attention span.

Does anyone read Nelson DeMille or Lee Child's Jack Reacher series?

I haven't read any Nelson DeMille or Lee Child.

Well, I've got my 5 people I was looking for and I hope more will join in soon :-) So far it's looking like the majority seem to be leaning toward reading series in order if chosen as a group selection. I understand the reasons and it does make sense - I appreciate everyone's input so far.

I'd like to have the first quarter start in January I was thinking I'd call it Winter Quarter 2010 Group Read and have April - June be the Spring Quarter 2010 Group Read, July - Sept the Summer Quarter 2010 Group Read etc. This of course isn't set in stone so if anyone has other ideas, please share.

I'm assuming everyone is okay with a one week period for nominating and a one week period for voting. Other groups allow up to two nominations but only one vote. Let me know if you have different ideas and also when you think we should start nominating for the first group read. Start thinking of the titles you'd like to nominate :-)Thanks

Does everyone want to start in January? Do you think it should be called Winter 2010 Quarterly Group Read or use months like Jan-March 2010 Quarterly Read or any other ideas? Please feel free to give your input - I know a lot of you are more creative than I am :-)

Starting in January works for me. I like Winter 2010 Group Read. I think you can leave our "Quarterly".

Yes, we could definitely leave out "Quarterly" - good idea. Is it okay if Winter goes through March :-) Actually, as I look at my calendar - it's near perfect timing - Winter officially begins later this month and ends near the end of March!

Works for me, too.

If we're gonna start in Jan (btw has anyone noticed how many people out of the 19 members in this group have a name that is Jan or a variation of it - Jan, Janice, Janeene - kinda interesting) We should really start nominating and get this ball rolling. I'll set up a new discussion thread - should we start nominating tomorrow or Wednesday? and is one week of nominations followed by one week of Voting a good length of time? I know in my Dean Koontz group read they only have two days of voting and I think that is too short because sometimes I'm not online for 1-2 days. Anyway, I'd prefer if we could have a title chosen before Christmas :-)

What authors are people wanting to read?

I've been thinking of trying Steve Berry, John Sandford, James Lee Burke. I wouldn't mind reading Patricia Cornwell (starting with her first of course :-) or Nevada Barr

Giving it some early morning thought, I agree, Dustin, it would be limiting. And we are all reading and beginning new series (probably weekly) all the time. While I'm pretty strict for myself about reading books in order, I can be flexible with the group. It may encourage me to go back and start at the beginning of a series! That's actually how I discovered Carol O'Connell's Mallory series; read "Shell Game" and liked it so much I went back and started at the beginning!

I am fine with the Winter 2010 name, and pretty open as to authors. I love Stephen White and Nevada Barr, am also reading Tess Gerritsen. I just started the "Virgil Flowers" series by John Sandford and would love to continue that series with other readers to discuss with. I read Burke several years ago and havent' gotten back to that series for some time, that would be fine, as would Carol O'Connell or Steve Berry. I am also reading the C.J. Box series and really like it, am only a couple of books into that series. There are a couple of series I haven't started that I hope to try someday; one is by Archer Mayor, set in Vermont,and starts with "Open Season". And the second is by Karin Slaughter and starts with "Blindsighted." Stand alone books are fine with me as well, might be a good break sometimes between series.

So what's the final word are we reading series in order or not? :-) Do I need to put the question on a poll?

Another Question I need answered before we start nominating. Should each person get to put up two nominations or only one? Also, should we put every nomination on the poll for voting or should we require that the book get a second nomination to go on the poll?

Sorry about all the housekeeping - just wanted to get an idea of the rules we are gonna go by. We can always change or tweak certain things about the group read later as needed. Please share your ideas about nominating and we'll get started. Thanks :-)

I'd say people can have up to two nominations.

I don't think we should require that a nomination be seconded before going in the poll because there are just too many books and varied tastes.

Thanks Jan! Anyone else have an opinion on the nomination process or about reading series in order?

I think two nominations is a good idea, then voting on all those. I think probably reading any series in order is going to make more sense, I can always enjoy again those I have already read.

Thanks to everyone who has helped get this group read started with your interest and suggestions. I'll wait until tomorrow to set up the thread for nominating - wanted to give some time for any last minute input that comes in.

So far, we'll plan on the following: each person being allowed two nominations, if the book is part of a series - we must start with the first book and read in order, after a period of one week of nominations the books nominated will be on a poll for voting for one week.

If anyone has any different ideas please share them. Thanks Again :-)

Janice wrote: " I can always enjoy again those I have already read."

Only recently have I actually started re-reading favorites - it's interesting the different things I pick up on the second time - it's a different reading experience.

Laurel wrote: "Giving it some early morning thought, I agree, Dustin, it would be limiting. And we are all reading and beginning new series (probably weekly) all the time. While I'm pretty strict for myself abo..."

Are you okay if the group goes with your original idea of reading series in order? :-) That seems to be the general consensus, but thanks for agreeing with me after giving it some thought :-)

This looks like its coming together. I'm looking forward to seeing what everyone will nominate. How does that process work? Do you just submit a title and author or do you also include a synopsis of the book and why you think we should read that particular title?

I'm going to set up the thread right now :-) All you need to do is list the Title and Author but if you want to share extra info that's fine too :-)

The Discussion thread for nominations in set up and I have posted my two nominations :-)

Nominations for Spring (April-June) group read will begin on March 1st - I'll set up a new thread then :-)

I'd like to make one change to the nomination/voting process - the change being that a title be nominated twice (or seconded, however you want to phrase it - two different members must nominate a title) in order to make it to the poll. I just think if we put every title nominated - everyone seems to vote for their book as a general rule. I would rather have a short list of really good titles.

Nominating will be open for about 7 days beginning March 1st. Each group member has two nominations (you can choose to use one or both of your nominations to second a title already nominated or you can nominate two titles not nominated yet) - any title in the Mystery/Thriller Genre can be considered but series must be read in order - so with the exception of Louise Penny's series only book one of series are eligible :-)

FYI, I have discussed with Colorado Author Beth Groundwater (goodreads author) if she would be willing to join in our group discussion if I nominated her book, A Real Basket Case, and she said she would. She has two books in her series. Just something to think about - so you already know one of the books I plan to nominate :-)

Dustin, I have been thinking about this, and I like your idea. My first understanding was that we were starting with the first book in a series and continuing with that series, but I like this idea better. I will continue the Louise Penny series, and would still like to see a thread going about those books, because I so enjoy hearing other's perspective. I also really like being introduced to new authors, and your idea here would do that. I also like the suggestion that two members nominate a title, but if that doesn't happen, with so many titles out there, we might have to have two rounds of voting.

I had to rush off yesterday and didn't get to finish my train of thought; the downside I see to the process of having to have two people nominate a book or series is that we could end up with only the "Bestseller" authors to chose from for our group read, and not the lesser known but just as good ones who are out there. I have tired of a few of those very well known ones, but love finding new authors to read. I am enjoying the Louise Penny books, and while she is becoming more popular, she is still not one of those that everybody already knows about. Just a thought, and might not happen this way, hopefully not.

Thanks for the input Janice :-) The idea behind seconding a nomination is that we won't have a long list of titles and the voting will be more condensed not several titles getting only one vote on the poll. Group members can use their two nominations either to nominate new titles or second a title already nominated or one of each. A title only needs two nominations to make it to the poll.

This group read idea was thrown together pretty fast in December and I'd like to try this nomination process based on what I've seen happen in other groups that do group reads. We can always make changes to the process as needed and I'll always consider group member's suggestions :-)

As for nominating lesser known authors - please do. When I'm deciding which to vote for I look up the titles that have been nominated - check out reviews and ratings on goodreads. Last time, I actually voted for a title that I didn't nominate :-) I think we'll get a good mix.

I think the method that you are suggesting requires us to do some research on each title and, for me, that is a good thing and something that I like to do. I, also, think it will make us look beyond the bestseller lists. I know we came to reading Still Life with only a couple of votes but it has turned out well. I really like it. I am looking forward to our next round of titles in March.

Honestly, I would never have tried to read Still Life if it hadn't been chosen as the group read :-) I haven't read much of it but it seems like a good book. I'm glad you like the idea for March.

I'll let you all know right now I've decided to just nominate one title - which I've already mentioned. I'll use my other nomination to second another member's nomination that I like so it gets on the poll :-)

The Summer Group Read Nomination Thread is now open. We won't worry about seconding nominations this time.
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/3...