Neill’s Comments (group member since Apr 27, 2012)

Neill’s comments from the Tadpool group.

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Hi Guys,

So from FB we have an opening idea for a framework for the club from Daniel, which I will post verbatim underneath - please read what he has suggested and post your thoughts in this thread.

Daniel Thorup Suggestions...
"When does it start:
I suggest on April 1st. with voting for April's book, starting as soon as possible.

Which books:
To acknowledge the vast diversity of The Tadpool, I suggest we not limit the group to genres. With the notable exception of no books that require discussion of real life politics or religion in a major way, and non fiction.
How often do we read a book?

One book a month, to allow every Tadpooler who wants to join to do so regardless of busy level.

How do we pick this one book a month?
We let democracy shine! A list will be created on Goodreads, where members of the book club can add and vote for the books they would like to read.Then a week and a half before the month ends there will be a poll of the 5 most voted for books. The Winner, we read the next month.
What about discussion? Every book club needs a discussion.
Well obviously there will be a thread in the goodreads group to discuss the pick of the month However! I also suggest a fixed time Google Hangout, where Tadpeeps can get together in all their glory and get the experience of a physical book club. If the consensus is there, the hangout shall be recorded, for those who, could not attend and those who wants to just participate passively.

But sir! One hangout surely doesn’t fit all!
You are absolutely correct little urchin boy! which is why I suggest region specific although not region locked hangouts.
I can take charge of an EU hangout should there be enough EU members interested.
The US is almost certain to have enough interested, but I will leave it up to you to find an organizer.

How do we get started?
I have taken the liberty to start off the list, with books of my choosing from various genres, that I enjoy. Go on add your books to it!

Who’s in charge?
You! Me! Everybody!, but seriously, while this is a joint effort we need someone to make the polls, maintain the list and so forth.

I could be coerced into doing these things, but if the Tadpool wants someone slightly less annoying, You guys appoint one.

How shall we get the word out about this awesome new tadpool initiative?
Well I suggest we ask if Scott and Brian would mention it on TMS. they may or may not choose to do so.
Then we get a Tadpooler, with the utmost respect of his/her peers to post about it in the FB group. I am talking your Amy Frost’s and Gknee’s. You know the ones everybody knows, loves and adores.

That is my suggestions! I let you guys have the floor now.

The list with my book suggestions: can be found here:
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/8...
"

From the sterling work done by Daniel, we have our first list of books from which to select our first club book - the list is expandable, so if there is a book that you think should be considered.

The list and poll can be found here - https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/8...

The most recent version of American Gods is better than the original - Neil Gaiman explains in detail why he thinks its better!

Have you seen [insert viral video here]!

You just have to read [Insert Book Here]!

Club Books! Yay!

The Second World War by Antony Beevor - It's a tome, but hugely detailed and takes you beyond the European/US centric 1939 -1945 war and looks at the wider Asian/Russian pre-cursors - It also reinforces the notion that most of the best war-leaders, be they political or military, are to a greater (Patton/Clark) or lesser (Montgomery/Eisenhower) dicks.

What book did you have high hopes for, only to be left disappointed or even angry?

The most prominent in my memory is Hannibal by Thomas Harris, I got this in hardback on the day of release, having really enjoyed Red Dragon and Silence of the Lambs - No spoilers, but Hannibal left me furious! I felt the characters had been betrayed for "sensation" - Famously Jodie Foster turned down the role of Starling because of the way the book turns out.

I sold the book at a 2nd hand book store the day after I finished it - And I never sell my books!

Periodic Tales:The Curious lives of the Elements by Hugh Aldersey-Williams, in paperback. Coming from a academic/applied science background the history behind the elements was a lot of fun.