Literary The MobileRead Literary Book Club Begins

[sun surfer]

Don't everyone respond all at once! Heh.

Really, the main thing to be decided at the moment is about moving the timeline. Judging from previous earlier posts, it seems some are willing to give it a go.

So, here's the plan:

We move the timeline half a month over starting in January. Nominations will then start on the 6th of a month, and discussion will start on the 1st.

So the next few months will look like this:

November 22 - December nominations

-longer than normal reading period to move timeline-

January 1 - December discussion thread
January 6 - January nominations
February 1 - January discussion thread
February 6 - February nominations

And so on. In a way the timeline will still feel appropriate, since the actual reading will now take up most of one month to the end, and then we'll discuss that month's selection after the month is over.

We'll try it for six months, until we're at a year old, then decide which way we like better.

[jersysman]

Since I am new and wasn't really involved with the old timeline, this one seems okay with me. As long as a can have it someplace where I can look at it (old age kills my memory) I can stick to it. So, will the key dates be the 1st and 6th of each month?

[sun surfer]

Yes, jersysman, that's correct. Though the December nominations are on the old schedule and start very soon (the 22nd), so if you participate you will get to be involved in one month of the old timeline before it changes.

[paola]

Originally Posted by sun surfer

Don't everyone respond all at once! Heh.

Really, the main thing to be decided at the moment is about moving the timeline. Judging from previous earlier posts, it seems some are willing to give it a go.

So, here's the plan:

We move the timeline half a month over starting in January. Nominations will then start on the 6th of a month, and discussion will start on the 1st.

So the next few months will look like this:

November 22 - December nominations

-longer than normal reading period to move timeline-

January 1 - December discussion thread
January 6 - January nominations
February 1 - January discussion thread
February 6 - February nominations

And so on. In a way the timeline will still feel appropriate, since the actual reading will now take up most of one month to the end, and then we'll discuss that month's selection after the month is over.

We'll try it for six months, until we're at a year old, then decide which way we like better.

I did not have strong feelings before, but I do like this plan - and this may be give a push to the Regular club lurkers to dive in there, too.

[John F]

Originally Posted by sun surfer

Don't everyone respond all at once! Heh.

...

I would take that as a sign to leave things the way they are. I say leave the voting/reading dates where they are.

Sounds alright to me to make the offset from the regular book club. Anything that may encourage participation in the selection, reading, and discussion sounds good. December is a good month to have a longer reading period.

[issybird]

Obviously I'm on board with the change. Thanks, surfer. In addition to attracting more participants because the reading times are staggered, it should help keep the conversation in the subforum going. Right now things stagnate in the troughs between the nominating and discussion flurries.

[fantasyfan]

The new arrangements sound fine.

[sun surfer]

Originally Posted by John F

I would take that as a sign to leave things the way they are. I say leave the voting/reading dates where they are.

Duly noted, but it seems you may be a bit outnumbered. From what I can tell it seems more are for the change.

Personally, I like the current timeline, but the new one may work well.

[issybird]

Originally Posted by sun surfer

Personally, I like the current timeline, but the new one may work well.

I'm going to love having the discussion start on the first of the month. Easy to remember.

[John F]

Originally Posted by sun surfer

Duly noted, but it seems you may be a bit outnumbered. From what I can tell it seems more are for the change.

Personally, I like the current timeline, but the new one may work well.

I really don't care. We have a month for nominations and reading; Unless we are going to extend/shorten the period, I don't see the difference.

We seem to have more discussions on procedures then we do on the actual books.

Actually, it may make a difference: I'm thinking of nominating Lolita, but need to wait for the other poll to finish first.

[Nyssa]

Sun Surfer, do you have a list of themes for the year? This year and next? If so would you be willing to post the list and ask if it can be stickied, please?

[sun surfer]

Originally Posted by Nyssa

Sun Surfer, do you have a list of themes for the year? This year and next? If so would you be willing to post the list and ask if it can be stickied, please?

Sure.

Here's the list for now from earlier in the thread. Next June will mark the end of the cycle since we started these categories this July.


January: Poetry

February: Time Period (a time period will be chosen either at random or by poll and the nominations will come from that time period)

March: Lottery*

April: Obscure Works

May: Region (a region will be chosen either at random or by poll and the nominations will come from that region)

June: Short Stories

July: Highly Challenging Works (especially long or difficult works we may be hesitant to choose otherwise)

August: Lottery*

September: Non-Fiction

October: Plays

November: Lottery*

December: Open (anything considered literature)

*Lottery - Anyone who voted or nominated in all the months since the previous Lottery may nominate themselves. Of the nominees, one will be chosen at random, who will then choose the selection for that month.

[Nyssa]

Sorry. I didn't remember seeing the list earlier. Thank you for printing it again.

Based on that list: February, May, June and December interest me the most. I will try to make a point of being more active at those times.

[sun surfer]

No problem. I will start a new thread too, as you suggested. It would be good to have the categories and prior selections in one easy place.