Nothing But Reading Challenges discussion

Maybe we could select some books as a group and set a timeline to finish reading them all.

Cool I'm excited, I've never done a reading challenge before so hopefully I can stick it out. Maybe we can challenge ourselves to read books suggested to us by random people, or books that we never though we would read.

I think the challenges that encourage reading off the tbr pile instead of having to buy new books are very helpful.

There is another group here that challenges 50 books in a year. At first that didn't sound like a much but then when I thought about it, I figured that it equals to about a book a week. I used to read about a book or so a week when I was younger but I've slowed down over the last few years.
I prefer to read light, fast paced and fairly easy books a normal. I love things like vampire romances. So when I challenge myself, it is usually to read something "higher quality" every once in a while. A book that is considered a classic or something nonfiction like a biography or a self-help book.
One of the reasons I like the Goodreads site is that it suggests books I wouldn't have thought of by myself.

Hey there, Rachel! I have a suggestion/request that is non-book related.

After sending out the group invites for you yesterday, I've been contacted by several people letting me know the the description for this group is taken, almost verbatim, from the Romance Readers Challenge Group. I think it's important that you re-word this groups description so as not to uses someone else's group information, inadvertently claiming it for yourself.

I know you want a unique group, so this shouldn't be a problem and I'm just giving you a heads up. We don't want any hard feelings between friends/groups on Goodreads.

Thank you for understanding. I have friends in both this group and Yz's Romance Readers Challenges group and I don't want anyone thinking that I'd condone it, either, even if it was just an oversight!

Oh, and I think the main thing is to re-word this group description on the main page. I haven't been through all the threads here, so I don't know what they all say.

Thanks again!

I like Lady Danielle's idea to pull from the tbr pile...some of our tbr's are pretty fearsome lol.

What about starting a thread for recommendations where a person can say, "If you like Hunger Games you may like Unwind" or "If you like Graceling you may like Maria V. Snyder's Study series" or "If you like Werewolves you may like Patricia Brigg's Alpha & Omega series" or "If you like Lisa Kleypas books you may like Judith McNaught's books" etc? I'm not sure how you would go about listing or breaking it up but maybe have the person starting it keep track at the top with one comment box labeled author to author recommendations, a second comment box labeled series to series recommendations, and another comment box labeled book to book recommendations? I don't know if we should keep track of how many thumbs up (people who approve of recommendation) and thumbs down (how many do not approve) with each recommendations, but I'm always looking for people to tell me what they recommend and would be nice to have it in one spot. Kind of like a recommendation cheat sheet.

so where is the thread?

Sashana and Lauren,

I think this group needs a little housekeeping. Where rules became deleted along with our original moderator they need to be reinstate with new original wording. For instance I propose you change the Answer Question with a Question thread to Avoid the Answer with a Question . I think the way Lauren and I have been playing the game today is the way it was meant to be played, but without any rules I may be totally wrong. Add something like the following as the first comment:

Have you ever noticed how politicians avoid answering a question by countering the that question with another question? This allows them to take the discussion slightly off topic thereby avoiding the original question and taking the conversation in the direction they want? Do you have what it takes to be a master manipulator? Well, we don't know, but if you'd like to see if you've got what it takes see if you can play the game. The ball, er, question is in your court. Enjoy.

P.S. As you know you need not take my suggestion, but have my permission to use it. Also, if you like my suggestion, you may want to use your masterful moderator skills to strip the thread of any questions not following the new rules and adding the rules at the top.

P.P.S. I'm thinking you may want to create a new introduction section with perhaps a tie in to that Mary Poppins song that states "these are a few of my favorite things". Maybe say introduce yourself and tell us a little about yourself and a few of your favorite things. You could ask questions like:

Favorite book:
Favorite book character:
Favorite author:
Favorite genre:
Favorite thing(s) to do:
Favorite holiday:
Favorite food:
What's your sign: (less intrusive than your birthday)

You get my drift? Even if don't use my exact suggestion I feel you the original introduction thread needs to be discarded and a new thread created. Call it new and improved welcome section or the welcome mat or the new introduction section or whatever you can come up with.

I didn't really think of it before, but can you guys add a new comment at the top of a section or is that part of the problem?

I do not believe you can. I am struggling, computer crashed. Have to do everything from iPhone...

How close are you and Sashana to the top of some of the threads? Sashana can take what I wrote (I think I got all the books accounted for of the new releases people are looking forward too) and copy it to her message. Then she can manipulate it or keep it the way it is and then delete my message. It won't be needed any more. Plus, she'll be able to request people keep the information in a specific format that'll make it easier for her in the future too. Some information/messages may be sacrificed, but it might be worth it. You could always put it to a vote.

Thanks for your feedback :)

Does anyone have Google Chat?

Ginger wrote: "Does anyone have Google Chat?"

I don't, I have a hotmail but I rarely use it anymore.

I have yahoo...

I don't Ginger. Gosh, how many different instant messages are there? MSN, Google, and Yahoo. Too bad there isn't a goodreads one.

There should be a goodreads chat.... Like on facebook with your friends on the side

Exactly.

You guys should suggest that on the feedback page. It would be great.

I did people aren't very into it

What?! Those people have major issues. Good reads chat would be so cool.

You should go to that blog and tell them that... Lol :) It's in the goodreads feedback group and te post is called goodreads chat? Opinions needed.

I was wondering whether it might be a good idea to change how books for the Book/Series of the Month is being voted for. Perhaps we can have two voting events: the first to narrow down the list of nominations to maybe 5 or so books, and the 2nd to choose the actual book? Sometimes I feel like there are so many options to choose from that the votes are scattered. It's just a thought.

I'll bring it up with the mods, Niquae. Sometimes I feel guilty with sending out so many polls but we'll definitely talk about it.

Maybe we could vote on it about it to see what the other members think about it after the mod discussion?

Niquae, Just to clarify. Do you still like the 3 BOM categories? Are you suggesting limiting the number of options per each category or limiting the overall number of BOMs?

Limiting the number of options per each category. Overall number of BOM's seem fine by me. Is it still Paranormal/Urban Fantasy, Anything Goes, and Series?

It's Paranormal/Urban Fantasy, YA, Anything Goes, and a series that spans a longer time period.

Hi mods! Could Lisa and I have a Larissa Ione folder? We're going to buddy-read the first Demonica book in a couple weeks. Thanks!!

If your reading her I'm joining in. I own 3 of her books. I'm on it.

Great to hear! Thanks, Lisa! I'll let you know when Lisa K and I settle on a start date. ^o^

In one (well, now 2) of the groups I am in, there are monthly messages sent out to members letting them know what's going on in the group. Having just found out via PM about the member's choice BOM, I'm wondering whether such a message might not be a good idea for this group. You can highlight the latest interesting Challenge, the latest changes, popular topics, etc.

We have thought about this before and decided against it. Partly because we did not want to clutter inboxes and we were not sure the majority would like to receive a monthly message. I will bring it up between us moderators. Until then...

What does everyone think about receiving monthly messages?

I did think about the clutter factor. I was wondering, could someone opt-out of those messages? Or does Goodreads not have that option for a group message?

If I remember correctly there is no way for members to opt out. However, when we send out the nomination and poll reminders, there is a way to manually select members instead of selecting all. Although time consuming, this could be an option. I would assume newsletters would work the same.

Sashana and Lisarenee correct me if I am wrong, please. :)

Rachel wrote: "If I remember correctly there is no way for members to opt out. However, when we send out the nomination and poll reminders, there is a way to manually select members instead of selecting all. Alth..."

But, some groups purposefully do not send out poll reminders. Why? Because they do not want people voting who aren't active participants of the group. I can see their point. If a poll goes on for 7 days and you don't check into the group's postings, what are the odds you would participate in a group read? Also, if the voting by non-participating members skewed the voting away from what people who do participate actually want to read, that book might not have a lot of discussion.

Shay, I understand what you are are saying and this is one of the main issues we are discussing. We are looking at ways to possibly make it more fair and accurate. Stay tuned. :)

Rachel wrote: "Shay, I understand what you are are saying and this is one of the main issues we are discussing. We are looking at ways to possibly make it more fair and accurate. Stay tuned. :)"

I know that setting up a poll is painful and time consuming. So, that may be one of the issues why a run-off poll is not popular (with the moderators, at least). What I've seen done in other groups, along these lines, is that they'll set up the runoff poll and take the top 2 books for each category and those will be the books for two months. So, one would be for May and the second place book would be June. That way, it's the same number of polls the mods are doing now, with a runoff vote, for two months worth of books.

Not a bad strategy. I had a similar idea, but it involved getting rid of the series read. And this is why we ask yalls opinions. [Insert number here] heads are better than three!

Another suggestion, any chance we could have a stickied "map" in the Introductions & Welcomes folder? It could include links to folders, popular threads, threads of interest, etc. I'm getting tired of scrolling back and forth looking for the particular folder/thread I want. Sorry to bombard you with so many suggestions!

I think Lisa already made one of those, Niquae. Hold on...I'll check right now. And keep the suggestions coming, we don't mind hearing them.

Rachel wrote: "If I remember correctly there is no way for members to opt out. However, when we send out the nomination and poll reminders, there is a way to manually select members instead of selecting all. Alth..."

You're right.

Okay, so either I imagined the "map" or it wasn't there to begin with. Either way I'll start working on one this weekend.

I like the map idea. I get frustrated looking too, Niquae. I am finally learning my way around good enough that it is not so frustrating.

Sashana, I can help, but it will not be until Monday. I have family in town for graduation this weekend.

I can start it and you can finish it, Rachel.

Sounds like a plan! Just let me know where to pick up at.

There is a map. I'll try to locate it. I think it is or at least was with the BOM. I wonder if it was archived?