Book Club

[Clarissa]

This is the third time, as far as I know, that this idea has come up here. It's pretty natural for a writing site full of writers to have a book club, so as to read as much as possible and get better at writingz.

Anyway, the last time we tried this, we never got as far as getting a book and reading it, really, because the spaceman left (sadface).

You guys may hate me for doing this, or simply not bother to care enought to get it started again, but what do y'all think of 'YWO's BOOK CLUB v3.0'? (Obviously, the title would change to something less horribly bland and boring if you lovely writery things will give up some of your time and creativity to rename it).

I have a list of books that I stole from Oxford University's English Lit reading list, but they, while being books that must be read in a lifetime, might be a little too stuffy for this virtual book club.

I was thinking of doing something like Space, with the comfy discussion chairs, the good books and the thrilling conversations. A book a month?

Also, I realise the timing is really bad; exam season has begun. O_o

Just let me know if you can be bothered to give it (another) go, and I'll put up a list of ideas for books and take ideas from you...

M'kay. /endhopefulramble

[Majyk]

Are you just getting it figured out now, or were you really thinking of starting it before everyone's exams are over. I think US and UK schedules are about a month off or something, so we might overlap school either way.

[Shaun]

If we do this, why don't we try something like a Summer Book Club rather than a monthly one. Maybe we'll agree on one book to read, everyone reads it by the end of summer, and then we talk about it?

And if you pick a more recent title, we can try to get the author to come in so we can all ask questions and what not.

[Clarissa]

I think a Summer thing would be a good start, and if it works, we could take it from there.

Yeah, I was reading through the posts for the last one, about getting a less well-known author and the possibility of a discussion with them. It's great for that reason, and it gives us the opportunity to discover new things.

Reading 'books for life' would have been good, but they don't appeal to everyone and you have your whole life to read them anyway, amiright?

This was basically to sort out the problems and stuff to try and make it last longer than the last attempt.

[Shaun]

I was thinking of picking a midlist author who has published something recently (or will publish something soon) in a genre we all like to read (probably fantasy, since most of us read in that genre). I have plenty of connections in the SF/F world and can probably get something put together with almost anyone who writes SF/F, with the exception of really big people.

But that's my two cents.

[Majyk]

Testing it out over the summer sounds good. Also, we should keep the book club in the main forum and out of the social groups. Last time that pushed the book club further towards its death.

[Lykaios]

WHEN GOD WAS A RABBIT - SARAH WINMAN

pretty plz? :3

[Iridescence]

I have plenty of connections in the SF/F world and can probably get something put together with almost anyone who writes SF/F

Translation: I got mad bitchez, yo, I can hook y'all up real good, know what I'm sayin'?

On a more serious note, I agree with having the club during the summer, but would it really take a whole summer to read them? How long would discussions go? Also, rather than outright fantasy (because some weirdos people don't like it), maybe something in the magical realism genre? That way it kind of appeals to everyone. For example, Beloved by Toni Morrison. Suuuuch a good book.

[Alice Glitterhorn]

If you make me read stuffy classical literature, I SHALL KILL YOU FOREVER. Space even made me head of the rebels 'cause I hated Catch-22 so much. Anyway.

I AGREE WITH LILY; WHEN GOD WAS A RABBIT WOULD BE GOOD.

Or something bu Kazuo Ishiguro, his writing isn't stuffy and is pretty easy to understand.

I'm on the boat for this idea of a new book club.

[Clarissa]

On a more serious note, I agree with having the club during the summer, but would it really take a whole summer to read them?

Yeah, that was what I was thinking too. We could start with one book, see how quickly everyone manages to get through it, and if we have time we could get some other books. That way, we can incorporate Shaun's extremely valuable two cents with other genres of books.

How long would discussions go?

Depends on:
a) How long the book is
b) If we get the author in
c) How many new things we can think to bring up

For example, Beloved by Toni Morrison. Suuuuch a good book.

AWESOME BOOK.



Or something bu Kazuo Ishiguro, his writing isn't stuffy and is pretty easy to understand.

Yeah, I like Ishiguro. And 'Never Let Me Go' might appeal to the SF-y fans out there too.

I is going to be making a list, pwomise.

Also, we should keep the book club in the main forum and out of the social groups.

Yeah, out of the social group. That way, anyone can join in more easily. Also, I was thinking (kill me if this is an awful idea), but I was thinking we could use the 'What's going on' at the bottom of the home page to put the book of the week/month/summer (however we decide to do it) there so that people will remember to read it and so that it's more accessible.

[Shaun]

Yeah, I agree with Alice. No classics or canonical works. Let's stick to something that leans more towards "fun reading" than towards "this is crap I'll have to read in school, and while I may like it...I don't want to spend my summer reading it."

Iri: I think giving folks the summer to read the book (a month or two) and then a month to actually talk about it will make it easier for folks to participate, since they won't be constrained by a shorter time frame. A month may seem like a long time to read a book, but many folks here are going to go on vacation, read at different speeds, etc.

But that's what I think.

Ishiguro may be a good choice, although his work is heavily literary, which may be problematic for some folks. Let's see what Clarissa comes up with in the final list!

[Shaun]

So what's going down with this, folks?

[lostbookworm]

Well, I'm all for this as long we choose a book EVERYONE has. Or at least nearly everyone.

[Lydia]

I really love this idea :)
I'm up for it.

[Shaun]

Or at least a book that can be easily acquired. A popular book or something. We could all read A Game of Thrones, which would make Carraka very happy. But I'm almost done with that...

[crayons932]

I am totally in :D Reading is my passion, and once I finish A Song of Ice and Fire series then I want some new suggestions.

My suggestion: The Art Of Racing In The Rain - by Garth Stein. I mean, who doesn't like dogs?