MobileRead 2015 Categories Discussion

[WT Sharpe]

It's time to start thinking about which categories we'd like for 2015. If there are no objections, we'll be starting the selection process around the 1st of July.

[John F]

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

...

ALSO: It's time to start thinking about which categories we'd like for 2015. If there are no objections, we'll be starting the selection process around the 1st of July.

I object.

I found the last process to tedious. I suggest a poll first: 1) use the current categories, 2) use the previous categories, 3) go through a full selection process.

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by John F

I object.

I found the last process to tedious. I suggest a poll first: 1) use the current categories, 2) use the previous categories, 3) go through a full selection process.

I found it tedious, also, which is why I waited 2 years to try it again. Then some people complained because I kept the same categories for 2014 that we had for 2013.

John — here's an idea: how about you take the lead in deciding what the 2015 categories will be? You can poll or whatever else you want to do.

[treadlightly]

What if we made a list of all possible categories, then eliminate those categories that we've had in the last year, and then vote on the rest? Maybe if we had 24 or 36 total categories we could just rotate through them every 2-3 years?

[John F]

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

I found it tedious, also, which is why I waited 2 years to try it again. Then some people complained because I kept the same categories for 2014 that we had for 2013.

I didn't see it that way. I thought "we" all* agreed.

John — here's an idea: how about you take the lead in deciding what the 2015 categories will be? You can poll or whatever else you want to do.

Personally, I would pick the last set of categories. But as I don't think it would be very democratic, I Won't dictate.

I say we do nothing right now, if there is enough of a consenses that we should do something, we do it in september, when everyone is back from summer break.

At a minimum, a little more discusion seems necessary.

[pilotbob]

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

I found it tedious, also, which is why I waited 2 years to try it again. Then some people complained because I kept the same categories for 2014 that we had for 2013.

John — here's an idea: how about you take the lead in deciding what the 2015 categories will be? You can poll or whatever else you want to do.

I see things have changed quite a bit since I passed the Grand PooBah hat!

[Dazrin]

Originally Posted by John F

I didn't see it that way. I thought "we" all* agreed.
...
At a minimum, a little more discussion seems necessary.

We ended the category nomination/voting periods in 2012 with a "we will take a break and then decide". When it was brought up in January this year WT Sharpe suggested waiting until August/September then decide whether or not we keep these categories or replace some. That was the end of the discussion.

As something to chew on in the mean time, I would like a poll with the current categories listed and have everyone vote on their three favorite categories and replace the bottom 2-4 with new selections. That should help us keep the ones we like and reduce the number of new categories we need to come up with. Sort of a compromise between full category selections and status quo.

[Mims]

Originally Posted by Dazrin

We ended the category nomination/voting periods in 2012 with a "we will take a break and then decide". ....

As something to chew on in the mean time, I would like a poll with the current categories listed and have everyone vote on their three favorite categories and replace the bottom 2-4 with new selections. That should help us keep the ones we like and reduce the number of new categories we need to come up with. Sort of a compromise between full category selections and status quo.

I like this idea. The 2012 category nomination process was, IMHO, an ugly and painfully long event that I hope will not be repeated. It shouldn't take months to decide on a list of 12 categories.

I think interest in the club has decreased due to what some people have perceived as this club becoming Literary Club Lite. New categories would hopefully spark new interest.

Can this discussion be moved to its own thread so everybody will see it and can participate.

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by Mims

...Can this discussion be moved to its own thread so everybody will see it and can participate.

I was thinking the same thing.

[crich70]

Perhaps alternating between fiction and non fiction and a different genre of fiction each time? For example:
* Jan-Fiction
* Feb-Non Fiction
etc.
And something like:
*Jan-Mystery
*March-Sci Fi
*May-Romance
etc. for the fiction months. And having it be open to any topic under non-fiction on those months that are non-fiction months.

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by crich70

Perhaps alternating between fiction and non fiction and a different genre of fiction each time? For example:
* Jan-Fiction
* Feb-Non Fiction
etc.
And something like:
*Jan-Mystery
*March-Sci Fi
*May-Romance
etc. for the fiction months. And having it be open to any topic under non-fiction on those months that are non-fiction months.

We non-fiction fans would love that, but I'm personally worried that there's enough interest to sustain even the one non-fiction month we have!

[Mims]

Moderators are such agreeable people.

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by John F

...Personally, I would pick the last set of categories. But as I don't think it would be very democratic, I Won't dictate....

I realize you wouldn't dictate, which is why I asked if you would like to spearhead this undertaking. Let me know if you're interested.

Originally Posted by Dazrin

...As something to chew on in the mean time, I would like a poll with the current categories listed and have everyone vote on their three favorite categories and replace the bottom 2-4 with new selections. That should help us keep the ones we like and reduce the number of new categories we need to come up with. Sort of a compromise between full category selections and status quo.

Originally Posted by Mims

I like this idea....

As do I.

[WT Sharpe]

And so everyone's on the same page, here are the 2013/2014 Categories:

January — Second Chance (no nominations, a vote of all the runners-up nominations from the last 11 months)
February — Romance
March — Travel/Adventure
April — Classics
May — Mystery/Thriller
June — Award Winners
July — Non-Fiction
August — Science Fiction
September — Banned or Challenged Books
October — Patricia Clark Memorial Library (MobileRead Library)
November — Foreign (Books originally written in a language other than English)
December — Short Stories

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by pilotbob

I see things have changed quite a bit since I passed the Grand PooBah hat!