The Read Around The World Book Club discussion

Are we closed?

Hi, the book for March is Catherine The Great And The Small by Olja Knezevic (discussion board is under Montenegro). April is Children Of The New World by Assia Djebar (Algeria). The group is eventually being migrated over to Mel’s website but is still active.

Yes, somehow earlier this month I saw something here saying what the next book was (Catherine the Great and the Small) and bought it - but now I don't see where that information went? I don't see a post for it anymore?? ETA: Found it! It's not on the Home Page, but if you click "Bookshelf" it's the book at the top.

I just found out yesterday that apparently the group is moving to a different platform, but I'm still unclear what/where that is.

I hope Mel or someone else who knows would post here and tell us what's going on with information and a link. I just found the livestream Mel put up of last month's book. There's no information or link as to what's going on there either. If she said something in the livestream it's too hard to wade through an hour video to find it. I would appreciate if the group is moving a LINK to a site that tells us what the next book is, where we can have discussions, and when/where the livestream is if we're interested. If there's information on Mel's booktube channel I can't find it. Maybe I'm stupid. I would appreciate a post here.

I just found this group and have been looking forward to following along, so have been a bit disappointed that the group seems to have been ghosted. If anyone has specific info, please share!!

All the necessary info can be found on Mel's website: https://www.themartins.work/read-arou...

If you sign up for the newsletter you'll get info about the next book, be able to vote in the poll etc. The discussion will happen on youtube live or zoom.

Britta wrote: "All the necessary info can be found on Mel's website: https://www.themartins.work/read-arou...

If you sign up for the newsletter you'll get info about the next book, be able to v..."

Thank you, Britta. :) I'm all signed up.

To be fair, I have found communication in this regard to be very clear and regular; I have four separate DMs in my Goodreads inbox from the past month that have been sent by Mel to the group, which contain all the updates, details of the upcoming book choices, livestream info, and reminders of how to access the group once the migration is completed. Could it be something to do with Goodreads settings meaning that some people haven’t picked up those messages? I suppose if you have only very recently joined you may have missed them, too.

I looked and I have all notifications and emails turned on for thus group. I always get notifications for posts here, but no emails from/about this group (GR sends me tons of stupid emails about book releases). I did just join this group in Jan or Dec.
I'll sign up for Mel's newsletter as Britta suggests (thanks!)- like I said, just found out yesterday that the platform was moving.

Just commenting here as it is sort of on topic relating to the future of this group. I’ve tried a couple of times to join today’s Zoom meeting now & keep getting a message saying “waiting for the host to start this meeting”. Not sure if it’s a problem my end, or Mel’s end, whether anyone else has been able to join etc. I wasn’t sure where best to message as I can no longer find the book club’s Instagram account (did that get removed?).

I got the impression that the plan is to remove this Goodreads group when the book club has been completely migrated to Mel’s website. I wonder how people would feel about having it left open, mainly for the ongoing chat/message board function - it’s nice to have a place to leave questions that don’t directly relate to our discussions of the book. E.g. I really struggled to find a copy of April’s book anywhere other than Amazon & it’d be nice to ask other group members for tips.

Marie wrote: "Just commenting here as it is sort of on topic relating to the future of this group. I’ve tried a couple of times to join today’s Zoom meeting now & keep getting a message saying “waiting for the h..."

So, I thought I'd signed up for the emails from Mel's site weeks ago, but hadn't seen any emails so I signed up again yesterday. I still haven't seen any emails, and nothing about a Zoom meeting - where? when? how was it announced?
Is there someplace on Mel's site to talk about the books, or is that still only possible here? I poked around, but didn't see anything except for the email sign up (hopefully it's worked this time!)
I had a late start with this month's book, but I've started now and am really, really enjoying it. I'd love to talk about it, but there's been no discussion here, and can't find any on Mel's site - where are people talking??
If everyone else is finding all this obvious, sorry for being clueless... :P

I am receiving the email newsletter ok after signing up on the website. I think all info is coming by email from now on and the book discussions will be done via Zoom.

I received an email on 15th March with a Zoom ID & password for a discussion today at 1pm (but as above, couldn’t join it). That email also had the April & May book choices and a link to the poll for June:
April - Children of the New World by Assia Djebar
May - Bright by Duanwad Pimwana
I can’t seem to share the link to the June poll as I think it’s got a unique ID to prevent you from voting twice. I hope you can access it somehow!

Marie wrote: "I am receiving the email newsletter ok after signing up on the website. I think all info is coming by email from now on and the book discussions will be done via Zoom.

I received an email on 15th..."

Thank you, Marie! I had signed up for the emails before the 15th, but apparently it didn't stick. Hopefully this time it works. I'd love to see the June poll, but have no idea how... :( I've really liked all the books picked so far, though, so the rest of you have good taste! :D

And my library has Children of the New World - have already requested a copy!

Did you ever manage to get in to the Zoom meeting?

No, I didn’t - I stayed in the waiting room for 10 minutes, then logged out & tried to join again after another 10 minutes but it still said ‘waiting for the host to start the meeting’. I’m interested to know if anyone else managed to join.