The Mystery, Crime, and Thriller Group discussion

Hey folks! You may (or may not) have noticed a bit of discussion about the current Group Reads and some suggestions for changing the process up a bit.

Basically what we came up with is that instead of starting a group read mid-month, immediately after the completion of the poll, what we're going to do is start the group read at the beginning of the month, allowing 2 weeks for everybody who voted for the winning books time to get the book and start reading it.

That way we hope that people will have more time to get involved in the discussions right from the beginning. So basically instead of a discussion running from mid month to mid month, they'll run from beginning to end. We'll start that with the next month's group read, that being the
'August' Group Reads.

This is how we'll get there...

1. Extend the current group reads (Jun / Jul 2017) to end of Jul, instead of mid-Jul.
2. Start August Group Read nomination thread at the beginning of Jul and finish poll mid-Jul (no change from the normal process, really)
3. Group read starts 1 Aug (not mid-Jul)...

I think it's pretty painless and gives the people 2 weeks to get the book and maybe make a start at it.. (So I'll be starting the nomination thread for the August Group Reads in about one week's time.)

Feel free to ask any questions. I think it's pretty straight-forward, but I may not have explained it very well.

I think it's all fine, Bill.

Bill and Nancy, this is a great approach; it helps me because I work full -time, belong to several groups with BOTM and I tend to fall asleep while reading.

That sounds good for me as then if it's a book I can order in from library I may get it in time, saying that I've waited 8months for some popular titles! I tend to vote for ones I've already read and enjoyed so if they win I can discuss plus I vote for them as i know it's a book I think others will also enjoy.

AH wrote: "That sounds good for me as then if it's a book I can order in from library I may get it in time, saying that I've waited 8months for some popular titles! I tend to vote for ones I've already read a..."

Good reason.. :)

Skye wrote: "Bill and Nancy, this is a great approach; it helps me because I work full -time, belong to several groups with BOTM and I tend to fall asleep while reading."

Thanks. I like to fall asleep reading.. :)

Skye wrote: "Bill and Nancy, this is a great approach; it helps me because I work full -time, belong to several groups with BOTM and I tend to fall asleep while reading."

Bill gets all the credit, Skye. He worked out the logistics of it all.

Good idea, helps trying to get books from the library, which I try to do because I just don't have much space for additional books anymore.
Thanks

Bill wrote: "Skye wrote: "Bill and Nancy, this is a great approach; it helps me because I work full -time, belong to several groups with BOTM and I tend to fall asleep while reading."

Thanks. I like to fall as..."

I do it every night.

Nancy wrote: "Skye wrote: "Bill and Nancy, this is a great approach; it helps me because I work full -time, belong to several groups with BOTM and I tend to fall asleep while reading."

Bill gets all the credit,..."
Thanks, Nancy; now if I could just finish two of the three I'm reading ( they are terribly disturbing to me).

Nancy wrote: "Skye wrote: "Bill and Nancy, this is a great approach; it helps me because I work full -time, belong to several groups with BOTM and I tend to fall asleep while reading."

Bill gets all the credit,..."

If you hadn't started the discussion in the first place.. :)

LOL :))

Bill wrote: "Hey folks! You may (or may not) have noticed a bit of discussion about the current Group Reads and some suggestions for changing the process up a bit.

Basically what we came up with is that instea..."

Sounds good. I would just like to thank the moderators and community for taking the time to think about this stuff and make the process painless. Thanks for your efforts on our behalf. Even though I'm not super active posting, I am here and reading with you guys =)

Gisela wrote: "Good idea, helps trying to get books from the library, which I try to do because I just don't have much space for additional books anymore.
Thanks"

Me too :D

Annie wrote: "Bill wrote: "Hey folks! You may (or may not) have noticed a bit of discussion about the current Group Reads and some suggestions for changing the process up a bit.

Basically what we came up with i..."

Thanks for your kind words, Annie. Keep on reading with us.. :)

Dear all, I am trying to get a true crime book listed that I wrote about a violent predator who now is on death row in Florida. I cannot find my way through this maze to get the book on here other than my own page. I see all these other books up for discussion and would like mine there as well. How do I do it? Thanks, Gordon Kuhn Do You Know How To Fly?

Gordon wrote: "Dear all, I am trying to get a true crime book listed that I wrote about a violent predator who now is on death row in Florida. I cannot find my way through this maze to get the book on here other ..."

Gordon. By our group rules, we don't let authors recommend their books for group reads. But there are other ways on our site to get word out about your books.

In our all things promotional thread, you can promote your books.. Check this link and see how you can do it. https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group...
You can also use this thread, In the Press, Blogs and Sites to promote new books. There is a specific thread for that..
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group...

Hope that helps Gordon.

Here's a question. We've always hid the poll results until the final day. In another group they don't do that at all. Do you have a preference? Would it change your vote if you could track how it was progressing?

It doesn't matter to me, Bill.

Skye wrote: "It doesn't matter to me, Bill."

Stop being so difficulty.. ;)

I'm in two other groups that have monthly reading polls and neither of them hide them.

Both of them have had tight races and the voters have had the opportunity to change their votes (I know we can change our votes here, too) depending on the race to the finish.

Jan C wrote: "I'm in two other groups that have monthly reading polls and neither of them hide them.

Both of them have had tight races and the voters have had the opportunity to change their votes (I know we c..."

Thanks for your thoughts, Jan.

Bill wrote: "Here's a question. We've always hid the poll results until the final day. In another group they don't do that at all. Do you have a preference? Would it change your vote if you could track how it w..."

I wish votes were revealed. If my first choice is the last place finisher of ten options, I'd prefer to have an opportunity to shift my vite to my second choice. I don't see any benefit at all to hiding votes for books.

I don't mind if results are shown -- it does make things easier in a lot of ways.

Bill wrote: "Skye wrote: "It doesn't matter to me, Bill."

Stop being so difficulty.. ;)"

:))

There you go Nancy. For you to use in the next poll, as you see fit.. I like the idea of showing the results. It would give people an opportunity to amend their vote if their initial vote is clearly not going to be chosen. I think most people probably have two or three options in mind.

I like this Mystery group's approach - keeping the poll results a mystery until the big reveal. Other groups I'm in do show the voting during a poll but for this group, the mystery fits. ;-D

Now that members will have time to get the books between the announcement and start of the read, I'm for leaving the poll hidden. That way you vote for the book you most want to read and can't be swayed by how others are voting.

I prefer to see the results. In another group, I have changed my obviously not going to win choice to another of higher probability that I haven't read & have access to in my library system. I'd like to participate in a group read.

Thanks for your comments, Chris and Nell. Lots of time still for everybody's thoughts before Nancy does the next Group Read poll. Leaning toward seeing the results at the moment.

It's nice seeing the upcoming reads--for both folks who are already group members and for those who are thinking about joining.

My two cents! I vote for seeing the results; it can add to the excitement of the upcoming read. :)

Thanks, M.L. Much appreciated.

FRIDAY READS!
(What are you reading this weekend?!) x

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lm_I6...

Jade wrote: "FRIDAY READS!
(What are you reading this weekend?!) x

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lm_I6..."

this is a bit OT -- maybe under "currently reading, just finished?"

So just to clarify -- Bill, if you could let me know if this is accurate, I'd appreciate it:

1. I'll be opening nominations for September's group reads August 1.

2. Close nominations, start poll as usual

3. Poll ends mid-August; books are announced

4. September read begins September 1

Exactly, Nancy. You've got it.. :)

Bill wrote: "Exactly, Nancy. You've got it.. :)"

Thanks! I don't want to mess anything up here.

I have no worries that you would.. :)

Bill wrote: "I have no worries that you would.. :)"

Trust me, I've messed up plenty of things in my time. I'm just a fallible human being. But I appreciate the confidence.

I also like seeing the results of the poll before it closes for precisely the reason Bill stated. There's often a few books I'm interested in and some I just know I won't have time to fit into my reading schedule, so if I can change my vote from a book that isn't going to win to one where I can participate in the discussion, I often do.

Well, just FYI, starting with the next poll, results will be visible to all.

Tad wrote: "I also like seeing the results of the poll before it closes for precisely the reason Bill stated. There's often a few books I'm interested in and some I just know I won't have time to fit into my r..."

Exactly!

WOOHOOOO! My first group read for September, and my first Hosting!

Gone, Baby, Gone by Dennis Lehane

New host/group reading guidance appreciated!

You will do just fine, William; I have begun reading it.

Just raise questions and be careful of those who write 'spoiler' information: everyone reads at their own rate.

To which forum is the group read reporting/chatting?

I'll set up the thread in the group reads section on Sept 1, William.

Bill wrote: "I'll set up the thread in the group reads section on Sept 1, William."

Thank you!

Bill wrote: "I'll set up the thread in the group reads section on Sept 1, William."

Actually, I'm back in the US again, so I'll be happy to set up the threads.

Nancy wrote: "Bill wrote: "I'll set up the thread in the group reads section on Sept 1, William."

Actually, I'm back in the US again, so I'll be happy to set up the threads."

It's all yours, Nancy. Lots of time anyway.. Welcome back... :)

Thank you, both! This is going to be great fun. So many great pages and quotes!