Reading a second book per month - The Ayes have it.

[Sandra]

In the poll regarding whether to add a book to our monthly read/discuss agenda has been closed, with the 'ayes' in the majority. Only a small percentage of our now over 5,000 group members voted, however.

I'm not sure what this means, but at any rate, it looks like at least some of us want to choose a second book per month to read and discuss.

So now we have to decide how to do it.

I have a number of ideas about this for your consideration.

1. Some groups choose a 'classic' and then a 'random' read.

2. Some groups ask a member to choose a book for the group to read and then lead the discussion. This is usually called something like 'Member's Choice'.

3. Some groups ask group authors to nominate their own book and then lead the discussion, with definite rules about what authors are eligible to nominate their own books (one who has already made a significant number of posts in the group, for instance).

I'm interested in your ideas as well. Perhaps you can post them and then we can vote? What do you all think?

[Jim]

Could I suggest a variation on #1 above? What about a "random" and a "new" selection, where new is within the prior calendar year? For me, finding good quality new books is a real challenge, and this could help.

[Sandra]

Jim wrote: "Could I suggest a variation on #1 above? What about a "random" and a "new" selection, where new is within the prior calendar year? For me, finding good quality new books is a real challenge, and ..."

Sure.

[Kim]

I like the author lead discussion idea but definitely with rules in place! ;-)

[Anna-louise]

i do like the first choice. I've not read a lot of the classic fantasy books and i'm missing out on them. hmmm I also like the author one because it gives an author a huge boost. I'm not much help lol i hope it goes to a vote :)

[Candace]

Another thing I've seen, the top two books in the poll. Our choices are always great!

[Maggie]

Maybe go with themes? then we can alternate classic, contemporary, author, or member!
or we can say specific sub-genres or a particular author we'd like to honor that month

[Michelle]

I like number one because, like Anna-louise said, I'd like to catch up on some classic fantasy and books I already have on my shelves. I like to help out authors too, but I'm not for option 3 because it seems like it would be more new books and newer books always seem to win the vote in the regular poll.

[Helen, I·ᴍ ɪɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʟɪʙʀᴀʀʏ]

I was thinking we could do the top two choices too, but lots of good ideas suggested.

[Lindsey]

I like the "Theme" and "random" idea. Rotating themes broadens our horizons without burning anyone out on a single type of story.

[Sandra]

Okay, I'm putting up a poll with the suggestions. Hopefully we can get it decided and get books chosen for November.

[Neil]

I would prefer to read the top two nominations. For example, I read His Majesty's Dragon in five days... I am starting Libriomancer now. I would love to have more books to read along with you lovely people.

[Tim]

I like the one old and one new. I would extend "new" a little longer than one year though. Perhaps 18 months.

Personally I'm not a big fan of themes. Reddit has pretty good author discussions already led by Goodreads member Steve Drew in their fantasy "ask me anything" feature.

[Sandra]

Tim wrote: "I like the one old and one new. I would extend "new" a little longer than one year though. Perhaps 18 months.

Personally I'm not a big fan of themes. Reddit has pretty good author discussions alre..."

You're a bit behind the times. We've already voted on reading the first and second choice in our monthly poll.