Tabitha’s Comments (group member since Jan 05, 2017)

Tabitha’s comments from the Behind the Name Book Club group.

Rachael wrote: "I'm wondering why February doesn't have a Black History theme. Nothing wrong with this theme, but it just doesn't interest me much. I'll probably participate in other months."

We had a theme suggestion thread back in Jan and "love" of some kind seemed to be a popular choice a la Valentine's Day. We can definitely do something for Black History month next Feb though! The suggestion thread is still open if you have any specific suggestions with regards to it or lists in mind for an idea. Also, themes don't necessarily need to coincide with holidays or celebrations in said month; if you have a particular idea in mind for any month, please share: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Like I said in other threads, I may be the only mod right now but I don't want an iron rule-- I'm more than happy to accept any suggestions! :)

For April we're reading humorous books! This is a very broad theme that allows for any book categorized as 'humor' or in which humor plays a big role, whether fiction or non-fiction, or any other genre.

You're welcome to read the same book as others if you want. Here are a few lists for some ideas, but of course you don't need to pick something from any list so long as it fits the theme.

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/3...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/5...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...

Share what you're planning to read here!

For March we're reading auto/biographies about women.

You're welcome to read the same book as others if you want. Here are two lists for some ideas, but of course you don't need to pick something from any list so long as it fits the theme.

https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...

Share what you're planning to read here!

Norah wrote: "looking for something Girl With The Dragon Tattoo-ish. Any recommendations?? I'm thinking The Butterfly Garden"

That book sounds interesting! I don't know about a book like GwtDT (personally I didn't like that book!)-- I did a bit of searching to find a sci-fi one that fit for myself :P I tried looking for a good one for you. How about one of these: No Greater Sacrifice, Masquerade, 1st to Die, or maybe something by J.D. Robb, Sue Grafton, Sara Paretsky, Carol O'Connell, Patricia Cornwell, Dana Stabenow, Cara Black, or Alex Kava.

If you're open to comics, the Whiteout books aren't bad.

I decided to change November's from social protest to the more general bombs and explosions after a more careful look at the list and an uninspired search for similar reads. We can consider the theme again for 2018 if there's strong interest but as of now the choices appear limited and pretty meh.

Share any theme suggestions you have for future challenges. Be as vague or specific as you like.

So I decided it would be best to get the themes for the year settled now, so the discussion doesn't clutter the themes page for the rest of the year and so we can make our 2017 challenge shelves.

This is what I'm thinking currently:

March - Memoirs/Autobiographies/Biographies about/by women https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2... and https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1... (suggested by Rachel)
April - Humor https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/3... (suggested by Rachel)
May - Best Sword & Castle Adventures https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/4... (suggested by Shannon)
June - Crime/Adventure Set in the 19th Century in the United States https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2... (suggested by Shannon)
July - Best Novels that Take Place in China https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1... (suggested by me)
August - Storms! https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/7... (suggested by me)
September - Best School Assigned Books, make it a real challenge by reading one you haven't before! https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/7... (suggested by Rachel)
October - GoodReads for Autumn https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/6... (suggested by Rachel and myself, i.e. horror and general reads with autumn settings)
November - Books That Rage Against Society https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2... (suggested by me)
December - Murder Most Cold, murder mysteries by Scandinavian authors https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/8... (suggested by me)

We'll discuss it for a few weeks before settling on it, so if anyone would like to change anything or has other ideas, please share!

As for what I plan to read-- I'm currently torn between two books I've had for a while that I believe fit this theme: Fortune's Pawn and Soulless. I suppose as the time draws nearer I'll decide whether I'm more in the mood for sci-fi or fantasy lol

eta: Yeah, I'm reading Fortune's Pawn. I've heard a lot of good things about it so I'm excited!

Polling is complete and our theme for February 2017 is:

Damsels in Shining Armor & Dudes in Distress
Based on the list - https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/3...

With Valentine's Day around the corner and the month of "romance" about to begin, it should be fun to read a reversal of the classic 'damsels in distress' trope where the woman is the hero saving her romantic interest (doesn't need to be a dude necessarily). You don't have to chose a book from the list provided if you don't want to; so long as it fits the theme it's welcome!

So you have a few days to chose a book. Feel free to share your choice here and once you finish it, be sure to come on back and share your thoughts on yours and others' chosen reads :) And it's perfectly ok for people to read the same book-- if one strikes your fancy and happens to have been chosen by someone else, that's just fine! You'll have more talk about haha

@Kristina, I'm not sure either! I know we all have varied tastes and interests, but I'm sure we'll find something most want to read. Not everyone is going to enjoy every selection, but that's part of what makes a book club interesting :D The discussion, debate, disagreements...

I'm sure as time goes on we'll find a common ground though.

@Shannon, that's how we came up with more specific (yet still general :P) themes! Love down to certain ideas or tropes. We could do the same for your suggestions I'm sure; like you said there are tons of lists out there haha

@Rachel, lots of great suggestions! I especially like the ones for March and think any one of those would be perfect for this group honestly. I was looking at the same sort of ideas lol Though we don't have to go too theme-y for each month of course! A few others I thought of:

April or August:
Storm! (as a theme) - https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/7...


July:
Best Novels That Take Place in China (a combination of 4th of July/summer celebration and the fact that the Chinese invented fireworks) - https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1...
Great Chinese Historical Fiction - https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...

November (with Guy Fawkes/Bonfire night in mind):
Historical Fiction 1600-1700 - https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/7...
Books that Rage Against Society - https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...
Bombs/Explosions - https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/9...

Winter Months/December:
Books to Read When Snow is Falling - https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...
Books About Blizzards - https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/4...
Sunny Christmas: Holiday Romances set in the Southern Hemisphere - https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/8...
Murder Most Cold - https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/8...
Cold-Colored Covers - https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2...

This is now the thread where we will discuss challenge themes for 2017.

ETA: Here are the 2017 monthly themes and links to lists for suggestions for each!

February - Damsels in Shining Armor & Dudes in Distress https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/3... (voted for by the group)
March - Memoirs/Autobiographies/Biographies about/by women https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2... and https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1... (suggested by Rachel)
April - Humor https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/3... (suggested by Rachel)
May - Best Sword & Castle Adventures https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/4... and https://www.goodreads.com/genres/medi... (suggested by Shannon)
June - Crime/Adventure Set in the 19th Century in the United States https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2... (suggested by Shannon)
July - Novels that Take Place in China https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1... https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/2... https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/1... (suggested by me)
August - Storms! https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/7... http://www.barnesandnoble.com/b/books... (suggested by me)
September - Best School Assigned Books, make it a real challenge by reading one you haven't before! https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/7... (suggested by Rachel)
October - GoodReads for Autumn https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/6... (suggested by Rachel and myself, i.e. horror and general reads with autumn settings)
November - Bombs and Explosions! https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/9... https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/3... https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/9... https://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/... (suggested by me)
December - Murder Most Cold, murder mysteries by Scandinavian authors https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/8... (suggested by me)

I'm going to suggest The World Before Us, Love Fortunes and Other Disasters, or Snow Country.

I'd say it'd be nice to have at least one other person in charge of the group, maybe even two. I can't imagine it'll take much work, but it'll be nice to share whatever of it there is :P

Oh, and I forgot to say I'm Ora, haha

Quarterly book club will be a read along of a single book for any members who wish to join. First quarter is January to March, second is April to June, third is July to September, and fourth is October to December.

- Does anyone have any books they'd like to suggest for the book club for the period of 03/17 - 06/17?


eta: I meant to clarify btw, that given the odd period we're starting at, in the future the quarters will be as follows:
Q1 - Jan to March
Q2 - April to June
Q3 - July to September
Q4 - November to December
So this first period is really a combination of Q1 and Q2, and we'll follow the regular schedule at the end of this quarter, starting with Q3. So the average length of time for each book to be read and discussed will be 3 months.

All recommendation talk will be here, including recs for our quarterly book club!

Come here to discuss authors or your own writing projects!

Well since several of you are into the monthly theme idea, did anyone want to suggest a theme for February? I'm going to throw out, for a twist on the men wooing the women on Valentine's Day, 'Damsels in Shining Armor & Dudes in Distress' (for ex: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/3...), or go scathing and throw out some YA with horrible examples of 'romance' (for ex: https://www.goodreads.com/list/show/9...) lol

We'll start the quarterly reading challenge in March, once news of our group has spread and more folks join :) But I'll start a thread for suggestions now.

Norah wrote: "Oh I really like the first idea! Maybe whoever suggests or selects the theme could provide a list of several suggestions that fit too? The second idea is good too though, and I would be up for doin..."

That's a great idea re: theme months. That's one of the reasons I love this site-- there are lists for everything! :D