All About Books discussion

We were thinking of reading one general fiction book a month while giving to the reading of classics more time - let's say two months.
Write here any suggestion for both groups!

Due to the number of people who have expressed interest in reading certain classics as readalongs during 2014, we have decided that we will incorporate those books into our Group Classics reads. Therefore we will only be asking for nominations for 3 of this year's Classics. The schedule currently looks like this:

Group Classics Reads for 2014 :

January:                           Nightmare Abbey by Thomas Love Peacock
February - March:        Middlemarch by George Eliot
April - May:                    nominations
June - July:                    The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
August - September:    nominations
October - November:  All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque
December - January:    nominations

We are considering restricting August-Sept. nominations to French authors only.

Please speak up in this thread if you have any comments or suggestions about this plan for the upcoming year!

Oh this is a great idea! Takes the "pressure" off and might give us more of a chance to try some of the other challenges, themes etc :)

Jean wrote: "Oh this is a great idea! Takes the "pressure" off and might give us more of a chance to try some of the other challenges, themes etc :)"

You can always nominate books that would work for one (or more) of the challenges! But yes, it is nice to have less pressure...

That was pur idea Jean.

cool. :)

How about a Kafka book? Metamorphosis?

Roderick wrote: "How about a Kafka book? Metamorphosis?"

When we get to nominations for April-May, you should suggest that! Kafka is an author that I think would benefit from reading with others.

This is a great idea!

I like this a lot :)

Hi Leslie,

I will do it. Kafka here we come :-)

Roderick wrote: "Hi Leslie,

I will do it. Kafka here we come :-)"

I'd vote for some Kafka if you nominate in April/May.

when we nominate in april, I'll nominate little men

Amber wrote: "when we nominate in april, I'll nominate little men"

Now I am torn! I really want to listen to my audiobook of Little Men but I also like the idea of reading a Kafka book...

Hi all, I will nominate a Kafka book in April/May once the nomination appears.

Roderick wrote: "Hi all, I will nominate a Kafka book in April/May once the nomination appears."

Good then. Rememer it!!!

I had a message recently about a reading challenge - how many pages read.... I can't find the thread, but I think it was this weekend - can anyone help?

You're right!
I had totally forgotten it. I'll go and pick it up - I hope: we are loosing threads lately ...

Helen wrote: "I had a message recently about a reading challenge - how many pages read.... I can't find the thread, but I think it was this weekend - can anyone help?"

Hi Helen,

It is the Monthly Read-a-thon. Look under Discussion - Book Chat area. We are due to start the Last Weekend in May.

I thought we would start it this week end Bette, to count the pages for may: as you see I had not understood all! Can you write something againg in the thread so it'll come up again and explain again for those "slow" as I am????

Just received the mass email about All Quiet on the Western Front. I'm so pleased this will be a read over 2 months :) I've just ordered it from the library and am third in line - keep your fingers crossed! LOL

Jean wrote: "Just received the mass email about All Quiet on the Western Front. I'm so pleased this will be a read over 2 months :) I've just ordered it from the library and am third in line - kee..."

That is odd, I didnt recieve one.

It's how you set your profile I think Alannah. The message Jean is referring to, is one that GR will send out a week prior (if you use default settings) to the start of every group read of every group you are in, granted you ticked the box for it. It's at the very bottom of the email section of your profile settings (Email me when one of my groups is about to start reading a book.)

Jenny wrote: "It's how you set your profile I think Alannah. The message Jean is referring to, is one that GR will send out a week prior (if you use default settings) to the start of every group read of every gr..."

Apologies, I do have it, my email inbox is full of unread messages as I haven't managed to find time to go through them all.

LOL, Alannah!

Jean wrote: "Just received the mass email about All Quiet on the Western Front. I'm so pleased this will be a read over 2 months :) I've just ordered it from the library and am third in line - kee..."

I was all set to order it from my library when I discovered that my dad has a copy :)

In addition to group reads, we also have many readalongs (similar to buddy reads). To see a partial list of upcoming readalongs, use the link below to "Upcoming Monthly Reads" --> "Upcoming Readalongs":

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Roderick wrote: "How about a Kafka book? Metamorphosis?"

I still remember that one and it was 15 years ago

Wendy wrote: "Roderick wrote: "How about a Kafka book? Metamorphosis?"

I still remember that one and it was 15 years ago"

I was 15 the first time I read it, and I still remember it!

Wow, I think I was 21 years old when I read Metamorphosis. And it changed me.

A book that leaves the mark
I see

I have a suggestion that may encourage more participants in the group reads/polls.

Many of us rely on library books for the group reads, but cannot get a copy in time for the read because the winner is named shortly before the read begins. (And small libraries have few books to go around.)

Would you consider polling and voting on group reads two months in advance of the read?(Other than classics which are in the public domain?) So, we would be taking nominations/seconds and voting now for June group read. At least some of us would have a better chance to request a library copy early enough to read with the group.

Any thoughts?

That's a good thought Monica! - occasionally I have trouble too when there's a list of holds in front of me on the list.

That's a good idea, Monica. I sometimes have trouble getting a book on time for the read, too.

Fabulous suggestion Monica. I find I am always reading the winning book at least a month late for this exact reason.

Yes, that is a good idea! I'd be happy to do the nominations early if it will enable more people to participate.

Agree, sounds like an excellent idea.

A reminder that upcoming group books and events are to be found in the Group Announcements thread, so if you are ever wondering about nominations, polls or books, that is a good place to check.

Here is the link:
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1...

There will be a change in the nomination process in 2018 and I'm copying the announcement thread here to make things clear

For both the classics and fiction reads we are going to change the way we chose books. From January we will have a general nomination thread where people can suggest books they would like to read with the group. Each month we will set up a poll containing a selection of those nominations and some moderator choices if needed and the winner will be our chosen read. The classic read will still be bi-monthly.