Quote:
Originally Posted by John F
It's just not my thing.
Why do you post in the discussion threads?
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It's kind of the point of a book club, isn't it? To discuss books you've read?
But to respond to the first sentence in your post, I've got two related reasons. I'm going to adapt a popular slogan of my youth, and ask, "What if you gave a book club and nobody came?" Sometimes I think we get perilously close to the point where people nominate and vote, but nobody comes to the discussion. I admit I get a little frustrated by this at times. There can be good reasons for a poster not to show up in a particular month (and I don't always show up myself and sometimes my reason isn't good, or even perceivable to me,
The Man Who Would Be King being a case in point). The problem, as I see it, is that if few enough people show up most months, even the semi-regulars will be less inclined to bother. Because if there's not going to be a real discussion, again, what's the point?
The second reason is courtesy. If I nominate/vote for a book or books and I'd like other people to read and discuss them if they win, then I feel a certain obligation to follow through in turn even if my choices lose. Otherwise, it smacks to me of the kid who won't play if he doesn't get his way in every particular. Granted, the slate can seem like pretty dire reading at times to people of certain tastes, and this is why I'm glad of the new slate for next year, so that people who have felt disaffected by the current topics will get the book club they want. This sense of obligation is why lately I haven't nominated or voted in months when I think I'm unlikely to read the choice. By my lights, it's not fair of me to try to influence the outcome if I'm not likely to participate. The people who are going to discuss the book should determine the choice. Again, I fully acknowledge that I don't always follow through, despite sterling intentions. Sometimes the selection is a book I know I can't stand or not good enough to reread or it's just too long - these are my usual reasons.
Quote:
Originally Posted by John F
Maybe we should change the welcoming message of new members to "Welcome. Feel free to nominate, vote, find books you may not normally read, read and discuss as many or as few books as you like; but if you don't discuss, No Books For You!"
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I think this is perfect as a welcoming message. It can be daunting to join in and voting or nominating can be a great way to stick your toe in. I'd like to see a few of those newbies convert to participants, however, most especially when a book they've voted for wins. Ultimately, and this is, again,
just my opinion, a book club is participation and not a performance, where the few discuss the books selected by the many. Tom can boot me for saying this if he wants. I'm not agitating for a change in the rules, but I am pointing to the elephant in the corner.
To employ another overused phrase, "it is what it is." I know I'm free to participate or not along with everyone else to the extent that works for me and that's fine.