The Filipino Group discussion

And because 2015 is drawing to a close (gasp), plus the fact that we have the rest of the year's activities lined up, it is time to open the 2016 discussions thread!

BUT FIRST. We started the F2F discussions thing in 2012. Can you believe that this is our fourth year to do this? And that we are about to reach our 50th (!!!) book discussion in 2016?!

Okay, enough of that. Some of us met to make plans for 2016 before August ended and the contents of this thread (the first few posts, anyway) are the results of these things. I'm going to put the rest of the details in the next posts, but if it's your first time here, here are the things you'll find (and you can post) in this thread:

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* Upcoming F2F book selections for 2015
* Venue suggestions for future F2Fs
* Ideas for activities during F2Fs
* Book selections for the upcoming discussions
* Suggestions on how to make our F2Fs better (constructive feedback, please! For issues and whatnot, PM is the way to go)
* "So you want to be a moderator?" guidelines (next post)

What you shouldn't find/post on this thread:

* Comments on what happened in the most recent F2F. Specifically, non-constructive. Feedback is appreciated, although if it's kind of negative, please direct it to the person involved privately, or say it nicely. :) Mutual respect, friends! :)

* Questions on where the next F2F will be -- moderators are asked to create a thread for the F2F event, so please direct your questions there. If you can't find the thread, it probably means that the details aren't final yet. :) Patience, my little grasshopper.

Alrightie? Let's go. :)

2016 F2F BOOKS!

F2F49: January
The Book of Strange New Things by Michael Faber
Theme: Books with "New" in the title
Moderator: Angus


F2F50: February
The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan
Theme: Historical Fiction
Moderator: Monique

F2F51: March
Siglo: Freedom by Dean Francis Alfar
Theme: Graphic Novels
Moderator: Mawi and Elaine

F2F52: April (6th Anniversary)
Call Me by Your Name by André Aciman
Theme: Sexy Summer
Moderator: Aaron

F2F53: May
The Rest of Us Just Live Here by Patrick Ness
Theme: Young Adult
Moderators: Tina

F2F54: June
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafón
Theme: Second Chances (books that lost in previous polls)
Moderator: Ranee

F2F55: July
Theme: Speculative Fiction Short Stories
Welcome to the SpecFic Zone
Moderator: TFG Moderators

F2F56: August
The History of Love by Nicole Krauss (wife of Jonathan Safran Foer)
Theme: Poignant Writer, Passionate Lover (These are the books written by the wives of a writer and became best-sellers.)
Moderator: Ella


F2F57: September
A Woman In Berlin by Anonymous
Theme: Memorable Women
Moderator: Ronnie


F2F58: October
Theme: Horror
Moderator: Maria

F2F59: November
Theme: Filipiniana
Moderator: Ingrid/DC

F2F60: December
Theme: Books to Movies
Moderator: Meliza and Tin**


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** Tentative selections, you can say yes or no here (but please say yes :D)

Hi guys, we volunteered some of you. See the names with asterisks on the list up there ^ :D

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(Copy + paste from last thread)

SO YOU WANT TO BE A MODERATOR?
A discussion moderator must have attended a minimum of three (3) discussions in the last 12 months. Why is this? While we encourage new members to be active and we do value everyone's presence in every discussion, we want to make sure that the moderator would be ready to take on the responsibility of heading a discussion. The best way to know how to moderate is to attend and participate in them. :)

No, moderating isn't necessarily hard, but it does take a lot of planning, and we don't want you newbies to get pressured or burned out. :)

If you're an old member who hasn't attended in a while, we recommend you attend several discussions first before stepping into the moderator shoes. Because things change, and what you might have known before might not be the same now. :) #drama

* We also don't encourage a member to moderate more than once in a year, to provide variety for the events, and also because we don't want that member to get burned out and never show his/her face in the group. :D (view spoiler)[Take it from me, guys. (hide spoiler)]

But what if I qualify and I volunteer as a moderator but something comes up and I won't be able to do it?
Well that's unfortunate. Volunteering as a moderator requires commitment and everyone wishes you to follow through but if there are just some circumstances that you cannot get out of, then you are in charge of looking for someone to replace you, and take care of the discussion as originally planned. Please talk to that person, and then inform the admins of this change. And please, please do this as early as you can.

Questions? Leave a comment =)

Hiiii I really want to be a part of this book club. Please let me involve :))))))) Thank you so much!

Hi Carla! You are a part of our book club! If you may, check the other threads in our group. Also, if you happen to be in Manila, you are more than welcome to join us in our face to face discussions. See you!

Hi. Can I please join the book discussions for 2016? I'm new to GR and I didn't know the rules for book discussions (I posted my input for Alternative Alamat, I thought I can just hop in and join. Please let me know the mechanics. Thanks!)

Hi Duchess! Yes, you can actually just hop in and join the online discussions. You can read the TFG Frequently Asked Questions and Guidelines and F2F Book Discussions threads for more info. :)

Meliza wrote: "Hi Duchess! Yes, you can actually just hop in and join the online discussions. You can read the TFG Frequently Asked Questions and Guidelines and F2F Book Discussions threads for more info. :)"

Thank you very much! I really appreciate it.

Hi! Update on our book for F2F51 in March:
Siglo: Freedom by Dean Francis Alfar
Unfortunately, this book is only available online ( Nautilus Comics)but if anyone wants to order the book (Php350), we could order it in bulk and give you the copies on F2F50. Just message me or Mawi if you're interested. Hehe. Thanks! :)

I've asked DC if she wants to co-moderate for November
(I think we've talked about this before; I believe she agreed, haha)
This will probably coincide with Readercon again?

I think Marie is considering September?

Elaine: I'd like to get a copy, please. Let me know the payment instructions. Thanks!

Angus wrote: "Elaine: I'd like to get a copy, please. Let me know the payment instructions. Thanks!"

Hi, Angus! Answering on Elaine's behalf. Hehe! We'll make a thread for this na lang soon. :)

Hi everybody! I will be moderating the book discussion for September and the book I've chosen is:

A Woman in Berlin

It's a book I read early this year and I think it's a very powerful book. Hence, the theme for September is Memorable Women. I hope it will make for an interesting discussion.

Unfortunately, the book is not available locally. You may order a physical copy from Book Depository.

(view spoiler)[
As is the practice, I will post links to the epub and audiobook versions come September but, as they say in those-sites-that-cannot-be-named, "If you liked the book, please support the author and buy a copy." :)
(hide spoiler)]

Just ordered my copy! :)