English Mysteries Club discussion

I nominate Deborah Crombie[ book:And Justice There Is None|6202417].

I suggest To Shield the Queen by Fiona Buckley.

Only 24 people have even looked at this topic... *sigh* I wish I knew what would make participation more attractive to the members of the group.

I'm new to the group; have you read Phil Rickman's Merrily Watkins series? The Wine of Angels is the first book and might be an interesting read for March if it hasn't already been done. By the way, Five Little Pigs was also called Murder in Retrospect in the US in case anyone's not familiar with the UK title. And I'm always a sucker for Queen Elizabeth I, Leslie--I haven't read that one yet. I love Crombie too. Nice nominations!

Leslie wrote: "Only 24 people have even looked at this topic... *sigh* I wish I knew what would make participation more attractive to the members of the group."

Leslie, it's because we don't receive notifications that the polls are open or what book was selected. I have mentioned this problem before.

Susan wrote: "Leslie wrote: "Only 24 people have even looked at this topic... *sigh* I wish I knew what would make participation more attractive to the members of the group."

Leslie, it's because we don't rece..."

well, if noone nominates or even looks to see what is being nominated then the poll is a bit of a farce.

And Susan, I do get a notification about the polls. I don't know why you don't...

I have to admit to being somewhat MIA recently having been occupied in supporting my Aunt & Uncle with the illness if their youngest child.

As a result I am still reading December's BOTM, Frost at Christmas. I wasn't able to get a copy of January's from the library, but should be able to get a copy of Knots & Crosses in a couple of weeks. So, will make every effort to join in for that. AND I'll make an effort to make a nom for March - promise!

Susan wrote: "Leslie wrote: "Only 24 people have even looked at this topic... *sigh* I wish I knew what would make participation more attractive to the members of the group."

Leslie, it's because we don't rece..."

Susan, check your settings under your profile to make sure you allow emails for poll announcements etc. It could be you have that turned off.

Well, I get the emails from my other book club.

I'll nominate for March Hole in One by Catherine Aird

Susan wrote: "Well, I get the emails from my other book club."

Mmmm, bit of a puzzle. On my profile under the email tab I have the following ticked and always get emails from all my groups -

You can also receive notifications by email:
When someone on Goodreads:

Sends me a message
Adds me as a friend
Invites me to join a group
Invites me to an event
Invites me to answer a poll
Recommends me a book

There are also other reasons why you might not be receiving emails listed on the same page you could check out -
Not Receiving Emails?

Alert emails will be sent to [here is your email address]
Add no-reply@mail.goodreads.com to your contacts to ensure delivery.
Check your bulk or spam folder.
Make sure your email address is verified (on the settings tab).

And that's the extent of my knowledge Susan, so if none of this works maybe there's someone else with greater techie know-how that could help.

Cheers
Lesley - different one! :)

I also get messages from other groups, but not this one. I have to admit, that is probably why I have not voted/read the choices lately.

If it is not too late, I would like to nominate Instruments of Darkness. If the group has already read it and I missed that somehow, then please ignore the suggestion.

Or what about another Ngaio Marsh following on from A Man Lay Dead
Enter a Murderer

I have read the first Ngaio Marsh twice, but never the second book, so that would be good.

By the way, I have checked my account and I am listed to get emails from this group, but I don't. Perhaps you could check the group settings, as possibly other members are experiencing the same issue?

I'm the same except the emails are erratic for me. Sometimes I will get a notification out of the blue but mostly zip. What is more annoying is that if I do get an email it's usually either the poll email or the announcement of what book--never both.

Susan wrote: "Well, I get the emails from my other book club."

Now you have me thinking, and I'm not sure I always get the emails either. I will keep an eye out now.

Susan wrote: "By the way, I have checked my account and I am listed to get emails from this group, but I don't. Perhaps you could check the group settings, as possibly other members are experiencing the same is..."

My emails can be a bit erratic at times as well. I've got all the boxes ticked as I like to read all the updates. I know if you don't click on a thread after an email notification you don't get any more til you revisit, but I still seem to miss some things.

I'm very keen to get involved with the groups I'm in, but as a relative newcomer I don't like to butt in all the time, and feel a bit shy of making nominations. I love all the suggestions on this thread so far. I would particularly recommend Phil Rickman as I'm a big fan of all his books.

Sarah wrote: "...as a relative newcomer I don't like to butt in all the time, and feel a bit shy of making nominations."

Leslie, this is a feeling I share, & perhaps others do, too. In my 3-D book groups, nominations can be touchy, & the procedure is more complicated than just tossing out an idea. Maybe when nominations open each month, whatever the process is could be mentioned? including if there isn't one?

From another part of this forest I now have Kate Ross & Diane Mott Davidson on my TBR list, so I'd love to read a first or early book by either of them.

I don't think I receive all the emails from this group either.

I know I don't receive the emails :)

I nominate February's second place choice:


I read it in January and loved it.

I don't think that Jean-Luke is sending out any emails. He sends a notification about the poll, which is not the same thing. Susan, do you get notifications (the g symbol on the top right next to the mail symbol)?

Carol, you make a good point. I am not actually in charge, just active (and maybe a bit bossy? I hope I don't come across that way... ), but I could try to summarize the procedure as I understand it:

Nominations are open from about the 25th to the 5th and any member can suggest a book. Seconding is not required but I think that if there are a lot of books, then expression of interest helps Jean-Luke narrow down the choices. If you want to say why you are nominating a book (as Diane did with The Crossing Places), you can but it isn't necessary.
    The poll is generally set up around the 5th and runs until it seems like there is a clear winner near the end of the month (there is no clearly defined "end date" for the poll).

Diane wrote: "I nominate February's second place choice:


I read it in January and loved it."

Oh yes! I voted for that last time ☺

No, no notifications either. I have checked my settings and I get them from other groups I am a member of. I checked in purely coincidentally, but if Jean-Luke is saying people are not participating, I suspect that is why.

Jean-Luke wrote: "Leslie wrote: "I don't think that Jean-Luke is sending out any emails. He sends a notification about the poll, which is not the same thing. Susan, do you get notifications (the g symbol on the to..."

Yep, I get the notification to go to the poll and vote so I'm not missing out on anything then. I just normally check back on the poll to see how it's going, and check forthcoming book to read in ... towards the end of the month.

Good to know I'm all okay. Thanks Jean-Luke ☺

Thanks Leslie (no, you don't come off as bossy)
Thanks Jean-Luke!
It sounds like sorting spaghetti, & you're heroes to do it as well as explain it.
I just got my Knots & Crosses...but I read fast...

I have had notifications about people commenting on this thread, as I have posted on it (normally I don't). Perhaps you have to participate in order to get them - which means that if you don't post for a while, then you do not receive the notification about the poll? I am simply trying to think why as, like I said, I visited purely because I saw a message from a member talking about the issue and thought, "I haven't looked at that group in ages." I appreciate what Jean-Luke is saying, but possibly he needs to consider emails if he wants more people to join in - I believe all members get emails, whether they have posted that month or not. If he is happy with things as they are, then that's fine. Remember, a lot of us belong to several groups and you are more likely to join in if you get reminders.

I couldn't agree more, Susan. I don't understand why emails don't go out. Is it hard to do? In my GR Ireland's groups we get emails for nominations and votes. I think it would be great to be more inclusive and get more members checking in.

Also a notification of the poll results would be good. I get those on some of my other groups and it saves you having to keep checking back to find out which book won.

I would guess that moderating takes quite a bit of time and thank you, Jean Luke, for doing this.
I've noticed that many other book clubs have more than one moderator to share the work. Is this feasible here? Would someone volunteer to see to the emailing, assuming Jean Luke would like assistance.

I didn't. I do understand what a lot of work it is - I help run a group myself. That is why I know that nobody is really aware of the dates things happen, except the person doing them :) I belong to another group which, like this, does not tell members when they are going to put up polls, etc. It is absolutely your choice and you are not alone in how you do things. It does mean members have to check in regularly - otherwise the only way to contact them all is by email. I think you only get notifications from a thread you have posted on - hope that helps.

Jean-Luke wrote: "Did all of you receive a message about the Book of the Month poll for March 2014? :D"

Yep, got the email okay thanks Jean-Luke :)

Susan wrote: "I didn't. I do understand what a lot of work it is - I help run a group myself. That is why I know that nobody is really aware of the dates things happen, except the person doing them :) I belon..."

As I said in an earlier post I've been MIA lately, but have continued to check in from time to time to see what's happening. I think if you have an interest in a group you would tend to do that, and you become familiar with approximate times things like noms and polls happen.

In the other group I participate in reguarly, we often get people missing the votes, etc, simply because they don't check in often. So, if Jean-Luke is happy with the participation he gets from regular members, it's fine. You got the notification, because you posted probably. If, however, he is looking to increase participation, the only way to make sure all members get the notification is by email. All groups have members who do check in and others who won't think of it unless prompted - in the same way some members read all the books, others those they are interested in (in the months where people opt out of the book is often when they lose touch) and those who hardly participate. An email might prompt people to check in, or not, but people are more likely to involve themselves if prompted. On Goodreads, you have many different groups vying for peoples attention. It is a good idea to announce both the poll and the winning book if possible.

Jean-Luke wrote: "Did all of you receive a message about the Book of the Month poll for March 2014? :D"

Yes, I received the email, thanks! I think it will be very helpful.

I do get the email, for which I am grateful. Sometimes I am a book glutton and am reading too many books so can't participate, or I've read the book a long time ago and don't remember the details, but I love reading others comments and hope you'll forgive me for being a voyeur more often than I participate.

Thanks, yes, Jean-Luke, I actually heard 3 ways this time! :D
1. An email, which I don't think I've had before.
2. A message in my inbox.
3. An email about this thread, to which I had been contributing. (Also duplicated as a notification.)

Sending either methods 1 or 2 should work for everybody, I think. Either would "sit there" until a member picks them up.

I've had an email about the poll as well this morning - thank-you.

Jean-Luke wrote: "Did all of you receive a message about the Book of the Month poll for March 2014? :D"

I got one. :)

I always get messages about the book of the month polls. I got the March poll and voted.

They are on the envelope icon on the home page.

Yes, I did receive the email!

I have received notifications in the past - just checked and I received one in December for January 2014 and one in January for February 2014.
Nothing for the March 2014 poll though.

Jay-me (Janet) ~plum chutney is best~ wrote: "I have received notifications in the past - just checked and I received one in December for January 2014 and one in January for February 2014.
Nothing for the March 2014 poll though."

This time, instead of a notification we got emails. Have you checked your GoodReads inbox?

I have my account set so that I don't get any emails.

Jean-Luke wrote: "Did all of you receive a message about the Book of the Month poll for March 2014? :D"

Received today, Feb 6 and voted.

Yes, I believe I always receive it. However, I don't vote if I think I won't have the time to read the selection that month.

I got one, thank you!