Zombies! discussion
Monthly Group Reads
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BOTM format disucssion
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Jim
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Oct 30, 2013 07:09AM
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Do we have a mod and reading schedule yet?
Jim: Do we have a mod for this one yet? I'm an eager beaver lol...I thought this one looked really good, and I'd like to get busy reading it. I SO do not want to be mod again, but I will make a reading schedule if you'd like me to. That way, anyone participating can start reading. ***By the way...who all is planning on doing this one???***
Mod
If you got a copy of the book and can create a reading schedule, that would be great. I don't have a copy so I'd just be guessing. Thanks.
Okay, I'm interested in this BOTM group read and would like to kickstart this read off its necrotic behind! Anyone up for this? There are 6 short stories in this book, and it looks like a lot of fun.
Here's a reading schedule:
By November 6 - read stories 1-2
By November 10 - read stories 3-4
By November 13 - read stories 5-6
I'm TOTALLY down, Netanella. Your schedule sounds perfect to me. I DO NOT want to mod, and if its just gonna be me and you, we will just shoot off each others comments like a buddy read. Sound good to you?
I feel like this needs repeating...like in a continuous loop, non-stop. Kinda like the movie Groundhog Day. This book got 12 votes!!! 12!!!! Where are y'all, you dirty dozen, you??? Seems to me as though EVERY month, there are WAY more nominations and votes than active members. I get it...you have author friends, and you want their books to sell. Guess what? SO DO I!!! BUT...I am NOT going to nominate bizarro titles that I'm sure people will be disgusted by. So just stop with your 'stacking' of the votes already, PLEASE!!! I move forward a proposition that unless you have ACTIVELY participated in a BOTM, you CANNOT nominate, nor vote on the BOTM. Why? Because it isn't fair to our active members. Oftentimes, the books nominated are, simply put, mediocre at best, and RIDICULOUSLY over-priced. We got stuck with not one, but TWO books this month that none of our active members voted on. The 'dirty dozen' is killing our BOTM faster than the speeding zoms from First Days. Don't know what I'm referring to? Probably because YOU VOTED FOR THE BOOK, AND STILL DITCHED THE READ!!! SHAME!!! I devote lots of time and money buying books for this group, and have had about all I can stand of this 'vote stacking.' Every month, the same few people nominate the same few books until they are chosen, then POOF, they conveniently disappear. SOOOO not fair, guys!!! I am going to post the same plea on the December nomination thread, hoping to scare the dirty dozen out of here!!! Don't get me wrong...I would MUCH RATHER these mysterious 12 people step forward and participate. HOWEVER, judging by the last 4 BOTMs (including this one), I simply do not see this happening. PLEASE, I BEG you, realize that your 'vote' DOES affect the group. Don't be a fair-weather zombie fan; follow through with your commitment. Because that IS what you are doing by clicking that mouse...you are virtually saying "This is the book I want to share a community read with." And yet none of you show up to discuss!!! Anyway, just think about how your actions affect others. These BOTMs are all but DEAD. No way to promote you author friends if there IS no BOTM, now is there? Get your hinnies on the threads, people!!!!
As a member of the Dirty Dozen who voted for this book, I'd like to encourage every one reading this thread to participate in this BOTM for Undead LA 1. I started last night - the book has great reviews and is a collection of short stories, told from different perspectives, about the zombie infestation in LA.Sounds fun! Read on - guaranteed thrills, chills, and frothing at the mouth! (Love you, Teresa! :) )
And if we go with the Dirty Dozen theme here, I call dibs on Charles Bronson!
Whoops!!! Had NO CLUE you voted for it, but you always follow through anyway. Its the OTHER dirty dozen that is vote stacking that I'm referring to here. I probably should have been reading instead of ranting, but what's done is done! I haven't started yet, and was going to this afternoon at work. Is it like an anthology, or is there a storyline holding all the different perspectives together?
Well I was going to vote for Savage Dead but the voting accidentally closed early the last day :-) I'm up for reading this one, I bought it for this BOTM read. The schedule sounds good to me...just hoping I can keep this one and Desolation separate in my brain when I'm commenting!
Another Dirty Dozen member here. So I'll join in the discussion as of Nov 6th ...
Hello everyone. Thank you so much for making my new book your group read. I'm very excited to hear what you think and sincerely hope you enjoy it. A great deal of hard work and pure love went into making a unique book about how a city as sprawling and diverse as Los Angeles would deal with the zombie apocalypse. Ultimately I decided to use a non-linear narrative and different intersecting characters so that the city itself became the main protagonist in a way. I also took into account what readers had told me they wanted from previous book feedback and tried my best to incorporate a blend of pulp, horror, literary, and gore into this zompoc scifi tale.Teresa - I am thrilled at your enthusiasm and a little surprised as well that there aren't more people responding. I'm hoping it's just because of the Halloween holiday. I'm hoping as the week rolls along you'll see more familiar faces returning to the thread. I don't feel like Undead L.A. 1 is overpriced... in fact Amazon has it on sale for less than a cup of Starbucks. And yes, it is getting good reviews, including from Horror News, Books4Tomorrow, Bookie Monster, Ravenous Reads and more.
Just starting reading it. Thanks for setting a schedule! So busy but hoping for some really great discussions to participate in and also that I keep on schedule. I love the book so far!
I got it from B&N for my Nook at $2.99...definitely not overpriced on this one! I do agree with Teresa that there are a few self-published that I'm leery of spending $4-$5 on when they are untested and reading a sample tells me they are clearly not versed in using Spellcheck.
All right, our Dirty Dozen crew is filling up fast! Now we just need a moderator for this discussion...anyone want to be Lee Marvin? ;)
Devan: I wasn't referring to your book being over-priced. It was not very expensive at all, nor was Savage Dead. But our book The First Days last month was almost 10 bucks and we had a ton of votes for it, but only me and 3 others discussing it. I DO NOT want y'all to read the book begrudgingly, just to shut me up, but ya gotta admit, I DO have a point, right??? And I DIDN'T vote nor nominate this one, but I find myself VERY excited to read it! That's one of The VERY BEST things about BOTMs: you get exposed to books you may never have found on your own. I would ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT if you would pop on the thread here & there, Devan! We've had authors join us in the past, and I, for one, love the author feedback. Just be prepared...we call it like we see em, so don't be upset if we say anything negative. Authors need HONEST reviews, not fluff, right? All I know now is that I'm chomping at the bit to start now that I've read your comment that L.A. itself is like the protagonist! SUPER EXCITED!!!Lana, you'll be fine, dearie! If you think it would help you, just try and finish Desolation on schedule (I know, I know- we are all busy and sometimes that is VERY hard), THEN start over here. Its fine if you answer the questions a few days late (that is, IF we find a mod lol). Anyway, as long as you come hang out with us and talk about the book, I will be a super happy lady!
And for anyone offended by the 'dirty dozen' moniker; DON'T BE!!! I had a TERRIBLE day yesterday, and I AM frustrated about how the BOTM voting polls get more votes than we have active members. Still, I REALLY want a sense of community, even if I have to whip you all into shape!!! ;-) Seriously, though, WELCOME!!! We ALWAYS have fun with the BOTMs, and I just don't want them to die off. We have about 5 people that are very active, but they don't ALL participate in EVERY read. I THINK I'm the only one trying to do them all. My interest hasn't really been piqued by any of the R4Rs, so I don't do them, and this is the only group that actually sets a schedule on the reading. The other 'group reads' I do are like 'Okay...I finished this book.' No discussion, no nothing. THAT'S why I'm fighting soooo hard for these BOTMS. So please, guys, don't think I'm a slave driver or a total BEEEOOTTCCHH or anything, 'cause I'm really not. I get along with EVERY SINGLE active member of the group, so I'm sure you newcomers will learn to love me ;-) I AM super charming, after all!!! LOL Glad to see some people step up! Looking forward to your input!
~Teresa~
Teresa,I strongly suspect that you are a necromancer you've woken the dead.
My views on the BOTM nomination/voting are exactly the same.
I put up a great book for nomination and offered to lead the discussions. Heck that book was FREE for a whole week during the nomination period!
Out of the six pervious BOTM's I participated in five. I had a family issue during the one that I missed but I had not voted for that title.
In fact I had only voted for two of the previous BOTM (but did not nominate either).
I will not be participating in either BOTM this month. I've other commitments AND I'm ticked off about the stacking of the BOTM's.
It looks like a couple of the 12 have decided to join.
Netanella, I do not consider you a twelve stacker. You keep to your word (vote)!
I vote for 100% full disclosure on BOTM polling votes.
I'd go so far as to say that if you voted but ditched than your voting options for the following month be null and void for the next month.
I'd like to see active group members
(10 or more posts on three different threads in the previous month) be the only ones who CAN nominate, but any member (except those who ditched a read) can vote.
If a member nominated a book, than they are obligated to either lead the discussion or find a suitable candidate willing to lead BEFORE the voting takes place!
If a BOTM doesn't start within 24 hours (reading assignment posted) than its dropped from lack of group interest and or no discussion leader.
That is my two cents.
Hello all. I not only nominated Undead L.A., but I have read it from cover to cover. The author is not anyone I know outside of book-ville, and I'm questioning if I should be offended that my motives were anything less than honorable in having nominated Undead L.A. for the group read. I have not participated in past reads as my schedule is pretty hectic and I find myself done with a book before discussions even open.Not to mention, I also have my copy of The Savage Dead on its way to my doorstep directly from the author patiently awaiting a review from The Bookie Monster.
Lest we not forget that reading is a joy to some of us. Once it becomes a chore or a demand it loses the sparkle a bit. Not only for us as readers, but for the authors. Let's not disappoint these two great authors by squabbling and cheapening the efforts they have made to give us their great work. Oh, and let's also not insult group members...present company included, please!
Shana wrote: "Hello all. I not only nominated Undead L.A., but I have read it from cover to cover. The author is not anyone I know outside of book-ville, and I'm questioning if I should be offended that my motiv..."Question are you doing a R4R on Savage Days? Just curious.
Once my copy arrives, I will definitely be reading it. I have not partaken in a R4R before, but as The Bookie Monster I review many books both from my bookshelf and from the request of authors. I will check it out.
Nothing I have said is meant as an insult...it is meant as a plea!!! I COMPLETELY understand obligations, having about a jillion myself. HOWEVER...I DO NOT think it is appropriate to nominate a book you have no intention of reading with the group; if you are looking for a fast read, perhaps a buddy read is more suitable for you. It just REALLY isn't fair to the rest of us that are here for all the BOTMs to get tons of votes for certain books, then have no one show up. These BOTMs are going to die- the last only had 3 participants! I really enjoy them, and enjoy being exposed to authors and books that I may never have read without the group. NONE of this has ANYTHING to do with the authors. If one group member loves the book, they say so; if another member hates it, they say so. I think that is what the author would want- an HONEST review, right? And I ABSOLUTELY agree that reading is supposed to be fun and stress relieving, and not a chore. Last month's BOTM WAS a chore for me, because I got stuck modding a book I neither nominated nor voted for. You have many valid points, but I must say that if you have no interest reading WITH the group, then you probably shouldn't nominate and vote- leave that to the members that are going to end up actually doing the BOTM. Again, none of this is personal!!! I can't stress that enough!!! I had a bad day yesterday, and I will have worked over 36 hours in 3 days by the time my shift is over tonite. Then I have laundry, cooking, cleaning, dogs to take care of, family to visit, and a step kid to deal with. We ALL have stuff going on, but when I agree to do the BOTM, I don't back out without letting the group know. I APOLOGIZE TO ANYONE I OFFENDED!!! Even though I already pointed out that I was NOT trying to make anyone angry. My ideal scenario here would be for everyone who voted for this one to participate! I don't want people to avoid the BOTMs, but I also don't want 'stacked votes.' I THINK we can all agree that it ISN'T fair...we had an offer to have a different book, and the person who nominated it said, on the same post as the nomination, that if it got chosen, they would mod. THAT'S the biggest problem I see...I can look the other was with the vote stacking (kinda ;-) ), but the lack of a willing mod is what is REALLY screwing the BOTMs up. One of the 'regulars' ends up having to mod a book they neither nominated nor voted on. Which brings me full circle...would YOU be willing to mod??? Pretty, pretty please??? With cherries??? Because you KNOW the book; you can ask good, thought-provoking questions. All you have to do is throw some questions up on the sections finish date...its VERY time consuming if you haven't read the book, because you are trying to read extra carefully, so that your questions will be good, and it IS time consuming to answer the questions you just asked, as well as respond to everyone's answers. BUT- you don't HAVE to answer your own questions; I think we have just been doing that to boost discussion in a thread with only 3 people. I would be honored if you'd do it!!! It would REALLY help the group out, too. PLEASE do it!!!Once again, I apologize if I offended anyone. However, we've been talking about this amongst each other for a while now, even IN the BOTM threads...I'm sure since we are all adults, we can take fault with what we've done. No, maybe I shouldn't have went on a tirade, but should you (and this is a general 'you,' not one person in particular) have nominated a book and then ditched the read? No, I think not. So lets all just put our hurt feelings away, and figure out a way to save these BOTMs, please. I meant no disrespect, but at least it brought some of y'all out, right? I think there are more people who have posted on this thread since my tirade than in all the previous BOTMs COMBINED!!! LOL- that is the kind of thing I mean. Anyway, sorry to anyone I may have offended. I truly AM sorry, and I truly DO care about this group and it's BOTMs. However, I will admit to being offended at the lack of participation each month- the wheel spins both ways, let's not forget! If anyone had been reading the previous BOTM threads, you'd have seen this is FAR from the first time this subject has been broached. So, to clarify again, NO DISRESPECT was meant!!! But, in turn, don't disrespect the group by stacking votes, please. Only vote and nominate if you fully intend to participate. No one is going to bite your head off if you only make it through the first section, or if you are late on your answers. We are all friendly, and get along well, even when we disagree on books. Its really nice when it works like it should. And that's all I care about- having the BOTMs alive and well.
Now, just so you all know I'm NOT a meanie, and that I like to joke a lot and have fun, and do not mean to disrespect anyone, here's some funny faces for ya! :-P =-O :O B-) :-$ :-! :-[ O:-) o_O :-D :-X (Sorry!!! I can't think of a good zombie joke off the top of my head!!!) Ask Netanella, or Elizabeth, or Tammy, or Randy...they all know I'm not a meanie and mean NO disrespect! I'm just doing anything I can to keep this group going!!! Because I LOVE it more than zombies love brains!!! <3
Shana wrote: "Lest we not forget that reading is a joy to some of us. Once it becomes a chore or a demand it loses the sparkle a bit...."Well said, Shana! If I didn't enjoy reading as much as I do, I wouldn't be on the computer typing about it!
I hope you plan on joining this group read, even if you've already finished the book!
Mod
I see we're having a lively discussion about BOTM formats. I've changed the thread title to reflect that, and will open a new thread for the actual BOTM read.
Your Friendly Neighbourhood Mods will take into account all of the ideas and thoughts that are posted here and see what we can come up with.
Please be careful about what you say. You're talking about fellow group members who share your love of reading zombie related books. Let's return to the discussion with a clean slate.
Oh, and one more thing, Shana...believe me- I KNOW its SUPER hard to wait for the discussion, ESPECIALLY if its a really good book. But that kinda IS the whole point of a group read. I REALLY hope you save Savage Days for the 2nd BOTM!!! Being a consummate reviewer, you have A LOT to add to our group, I'm sure. I would be pleased as punch if you'd wait and read Savage Days WITH us. Heck, you can read the whole thing in the first two days and just jump on the thread for discussion time! It would be really swell of ya.. plus, I'll give you a cyber high-five!!! How's THAT for incentive? ;-)Oh, and will you be mod for Undead L.A? Pleeeeaaassseee?
Liz, The proverbial 'clean slate' doesn't wipe away the sections and dates, correct? And I think I've done enough apologizing, but you KNOW I mean no disrespect. You know me...I tend to rant at times, but its all in good fun, and is usually tongue in cheek. However, something DOES need to be done about the nominating/voting system. I think that's one thing we CAN all agree on!
~Teresa~
LOL. If you point me to the right place, I will be mod. Email me shanafesta@gmail.com and let's talk offline about how to mod...being that it is my first time.One thing to consider for future. I have talked to both of these, and a lot of other, authors, and they are totally down to earth and enjoy talking about their work. Wouldn't it be fun if we were able to get them to mod the BOTM when it's their book (and they're willing?)
Thinking from the perspective of an aspiring writer, I would be honored for the invite and not only that...since it's my work, I could probably come up with the best questions. Just a suggestion.
Yes, Shana! That is always a good idea, and someone on another thread mentioned that. I would be all for it. The ONLY problem I see with that is that if someone doesn't really like the book, they may be hesitant in speaking up if the author is mod. But for Tankbread, Paul was a REALLY good sport. Most of us thought the book was kinda just 'Meh...so-so' and he clarified some things that we were confused on and things kinda clicked into place. So, by all means...if you 'know' Devan, and he'd be interested, that would be AWESOME! One other thing that makes me a little leary about the author modding is that we would be taking away their writing time! But I DO think the author would be best suited, however, I'll take ANYONE that volunteers at this point! ;-) I will e-mail you shortly, but the best way to get a 'feel' for modding is to just look back over the past BOTM threads. Within the first couple posts, you'll see who volunteered to be mod and get some idea of the questions. I did the last one, and it wasn't BAD...it just bummed me out that so many people voted for the book and no one showed for the discussion.
So if the 1st chapters are due on 11/6, when should I post questions?
Hi Group Moderator Elizabeth,Thank you for creating this secondary thread.
I think it is a great idea to pull it out of first thread.
I don't regret my previous statement as it was exactly what has happened without name pointing but using examples from what has already taken place.
I would suggest if this topic (or any topic ) gets too hot that we as a group ask for a Goodreads moderator (site) to review the thread for TOS (Terms of Service) violations before we go too crazy.
I haven't seen any violations so far but some touchy feely comments might have bruised?
Anyway I want to state clearly that the BOTM needs to be a group participation activity.
Of course I say that in one breath after stating that I'm boycotting this months BOTM out of protest against the very real and legitimate reasons that I've stated above.
On a separate but kind of similar thought, it takes strong personalities to make a group rich with insight.
Posting for all of goodreads users (we are a public group) to see our thoughts is not something a shy individual will do.
It is important (at least to me) that we respect each others insight/feelings as equally valid.
As one of the most active member of this group, I'd hate to walk away.
However, if I feel that the group is not "stabilizing" and alienating it's active members, me (and 89% of my comments which I will delete) will walk away.
I've been known to do this, trust me. I've left many of Goodreads groups!
But that would be the last option that I'd take!
I am sincerely hoping that the Group votes on book of the month rules.
That the Group respects all members voices.
That the Group works to promote the GROUP as a whole, not their work, their friends work, their personal blogs or personal websites.
I want the BOTM s and buddy reads to be about group members sharing their collective thoughts.
I do not want it to continue as it has with me and the same couple group members voicing our thoughts like a testing audience.
If I wanted to review books only, than I'd start my own book blog.
But man you know how much that would be and how little fun?
I've got a friend with her own blog and the horror stories she has are frightening.
How other bloggers have plagiarized her. Heck plagiarism happens here on Goodreads, you should check out the goodreads librarian page for examples
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...
But I've digressed as I so often do in my rambling.
Anyway I hope good comes from this honest discussion.
I hope the group as a whole does the "right thing" by the BOTM selection and participation and all
I hope we as a group can decide guidelines and vote on those guidelines.
In the end, know that I am taking this topic seriously.
Respectfully submitted.
Tammyk
Actually, Shana, I'm gonna have to hold off on e-mailing you until I get home or tomorrow A.M. I'm EST and will be at work until at least midnight, quite possibly later. I'm not quite sure where in the country you are (typing that just reminded me of that old computer game 'Where in the World is Carmen SanDiego?' LOL), but I will e-mail you ASAP. I know I will sleep in tomorrow since I closed the last 3 nights in a row here at work, which leaves me BEYOND exhausted! But anyway, I WILL e-mail you around 11 A.M.-noon, my time. I'm sorry, dear, we are just getting busy here, and its hard for me to type on this phone. But I DID post in the Undead L.A. BOTM thread that you did agree to mod, so now you HAVE to! ;-) (You don't ACTUALLY have to, but it would REALLY suck if you changed your mind!). Til tomorrow, then!****Oh, and the thread for Undead L.A. is now in the 'Book of the Month' folder, as per Elizabeth, since this thread went so far off the rails...****
Shana, I just saw your question. You would post questions for the first 'chunk' (as I like to call them) on the 6th. That way, everyone has read the first 2 chapters, and we are all at the same point to share and discuss whatever questions you put up. The only thing is, if some of the group has read further than the assignment, they are supposed to use a spoiler warning so anyone NOT that far in won't have anything spoiled for them. Thanks again!!!
No worries...got the questions for the first 2 already.
Tammy, I hadn't thought of that, but voting on the BOTM guidelines IS a great idea. However, voting seems to be where the problem lies, so I don't know if it would work...I do, so desperately, hope SOMETHING gets figured out, and before December, too! I try and be nice all the time, and I had just had ENOUGH last nite. I went into rage mode, and that IS NOT something I look for in my group reads! Who would? I want a sense of community, and, as you and I have BOTH stated, several times, we AREN'T getting that. Maybe this month will be different. I sure hope so. But if not, I fear I may just scamper off with you, and I'd REALLY hate to do that. I feel as though I've made some good 'friends' through the BOTM. And I will read ANYTHING, so its not so much about WHICH book is chosen for me, personally, but about the COMPLETE lack of participation! It honestly, no kidding, boggles my mind that someone would spend time not only nominating a book, but then voting on it, just to ignore the whole read!!! I can't understand that mindset. I've always been taught to follow through with your commitments. I know since everything is 'online,' you can hide behind a mask of anonymity and just wreck a group's read, but I REALLY hope there is no one THAT malicious in this group! Anyway, I hope we resolve this, very much!~Teresa~
Hi Tammy,I'm still confused as to your very legitimate reasons for boycotting reading my book this month. The person who nominated the book has checked in, along with over half the other voters including me, the author - and it's still a holiday weekend. It sounds like you are saying because the book you wanted nominated wasn't you're taking your ball and going home. Am I misreading that?
You added me as a friend before my book was nominated too, which makes this whole thread even more awkward to me. Have you read the book description? Or any of the reviews? If you don't think it is something you will enjoy I totally understand you not joining in. But just saying you don't like the process of how a book gets nominated doesn't seem very fair to me.
I was really looking forward to this too. I poured my heart into crafting something real zombie fans would enjoy, and was genuinely thrilled about the prospect of readers like you discussing my hard work. When I found out I won the BOTM I couldn't believe it was really going to happen. It's been all I could think of since.
Now imagine how it felt to check in and see your post complaining about my book being chosen and accusing me of cheating to trick a handful of people into reading it. It hurts and to be honest it's already stolen some of the magic from what I hoped would be a fun and exciting experience. I sincerely hope you never have to find out how that feels.
Spice things up a little. Offer up some sort of competition. People love a challenge and bragging rights. Why not hand out some awards? (Best response, best question, etc) Overall winners.
Devan wrote: " It sounds like you are saying because the book you wanted nominated wasn't you're taking your ball and going home. Am I misreading that?"That gave me quite the giggle...because my exact thoughts were "well, someone's sure taking their toys and leaving the sandbox".
Psych Nursing 102 here. (101 is how to dodge the geri's throwing poop at you...I aced that one)
Sift through all the emotion to find the message. It sounds like Tammy is frustrated by past BoTM's and merely wants to increase the groups participating members. I get it, it would upset me as well if something I felt passionate about wasn't held in the same regard by others. (Luckily, my ego tells me that everyone loves and needs bookie-monster.com, so I'm safe heh)
Please don't take it as a personal slight to you, or Take away any of the joy that this has brought to you.
Teresa,I once had a Goodreads group with a coupled of my real life Friends called Random Reviews.
The intent behind that group was to get us reading and talking about books in the genres we liked.
The books were selected off Amazon's free pages. Everyone had a list of "no" from everyone else. (No children as the M.c., no graphic violence, no rape, and so on).
We would then read the book and talk about it over a game of Rummy tiles.
The problem was that I ended up being the only one who wrote down their reviews.
The group was pointless, so I closed it.
I can't speak for Tammy, but I WOULD NOT take this personally, Devan. It is frustration with the past BOTMs, I am sure. And I feel the EXACT same way! Its easy to point fingers about 'taking your toys and going home,' but that seems to be EXACTLY what everyone else besides the 'regulars' have been doing for MONTHS with the nominations and voting. If they don't get their book chosen, they dip, only to pop back up the next round, then do it again. THEN, when the book is FINALLY chosen, no one shows??? THAT'S what has me fired up!!!!
Well, I know I wont be going anywhere for this one. Especially now since it is the source of so much weird drama (which I usually shy away from entirely because it leaves a bad taste in my mouth). Just keep in mind, that this is my first experience with the group...and if this is the norm, then it would be pretty easy to see why others may have left.Out of respect for you, and the author, I would never bail. But I would also like to state that I am doing so at the expense of something else. Not only am I launching a national program for the healthcare industry, but I run a very busy blog, review books, and am in the middle of writing one myself. (Notice I didn't mention taking care of my household? Man I'm such a crappy wife LOL)
Now...how bout we move on to what's important and get to reading? =)
And Devan, no offense AT ALL, but NO ONE said one teeny tiny little word til I ranted like a mad woman...only THEN did the 'mysterious voters' start piping up. And, if you'd have been participating in previous BOTMs, you'd see that a LOT of people 'say' they will participate on the first few days, then disappear. For example, my modded book, First Days, was supposed to have.. oh...around 10 people. Yeah...they NEVER came back. So its been anger boiling up in me for a while. Its a flawed system, and lets face it....people DO stack votes so their 'favorite book ever ever ever' gets picked, then they have NOTHING to say? That's bs, plain and simple. HOWEVER...I, for one, will be FULLY participative in the reading of your book, and, although I'd never heard of it, I am REALLY excited to read it. I trust Netanella fully. If she says its good, it must be :-) And that brings me round to the last point I want to make. These BOTMs are magical, because like I've said, they let group members read a book they may never otherwise have gotten exposed to. The 'stacked votes' are KILLING the BOTM because a jillion people vote for a book that none of the 'regulars' nominated, and then we are left reading a book, by ourselves, that we are less than enthused about. Participation continuously drops, and if I hadn't spoken up, I have NO DOUBT that it would have just been Netanella & I.
Still, as you can tell by my 'firey' rants, brimstone & hellfire will have to rain down upon me to keep me from actively participating, even if I'm talking to my damn self! LOL! Looking forward to your book!!! (I probably woulda been halfway through it by now if I hadn't spent so much time ranting on here! :-( But some things need said- If there was even a shadow of a doubt in your mind that you'd get an honest review from me, I'm sure its gone now, eh? ;-) )
~Teresa~
I vouch for it...it's a great book. Earned my five stars and left me feeling...uncomfortable...at times
Shana: this is NOT typical of our group, and we haven't lost ANY members besides the ones that 'ghost voted' in the first place. And, being an adult, I WILL take FULL responsibility for the 'drama' today. I'm sorry, but its the third, and we hadn't had anyone but Netanella and I say ANYTHING on the thread. I have been wanting to say all of this for quite some time, so I have NO regrets about anything I said. But PLEASE, do not get the wrong impression! Read some of our buddy read threads and past BOTMs and you will see that we always manage to have lots of fun! I promise it isn't typically like this!!! Even when we may disagree about a particular book, it is discussed in a light-hearted manner. PLEASE don't take my rants that seriously. If they even made ONE person thing twice before nominating or voting, then I feel I've done my job. Now get your hinnie over to the Undead L.A. thread, and I'll show you how much fun we have!!! ;-)~Teresa~
Devan wrote: "Hi Tammy,I'm still confused as to your very legitimate reasons for boycotting reading my book this month. The person who nominated the book has checked in, along with over half the other voters i..."
Devan,
You are taking my boycotting this months BOTM too personally. I am sorry if you are offended by my choice.
However, if you were to have followed my comments in this group a bit more closer, than you would have seen the progression of my decision.
My decision to boycott the group BOTM was not a flash decision or a out-of-the-blue decision.
For a several BOTM's and BOTM nominations I have begged group members to join in. (See my comments about about the lack of group participation)
And Yes, it looks like Teresa plea were heard, but let's be honest until she made her plea the BOTM was going no where.
I don't feel/believe (nor have I voiced) that the lack of participation was due to you or your book or any of the reviews of your book.
Sharky as Shana's comment might come across (and frankly is) she is correct in that as an active member in this group, I am frustrated by the past BOTMs.
However I do wish you and your book a good BOTM but lets be honest, it only became alive because of Teresa.
So Yes, it is awkward (for the both of us) to have this show-down around the time that your book is selected.
Yes, I would understand if you choose to take me off your friends list.
---
(I am not just speaking to Devin here)
But to be very honest with you (and everyone else reading this) the way the BOTM's are currently running is not fair to those of us who have actually participated in them.
Have you read the last 6 books of the BOTM?
I am not saying that they are horrible ok? Because some have some very good parts to them, but man some of them were utterly painful to read.
The bee in my bonnet came with the book, The Reapers Are the Angels.
I do not enjoy reading about the Near Rape of a minor. Followed by sex between a 15 year old girl and a 25 year old man. Both graphically described.
But it won in the BOTM and all three of us who participated did not vote for it (Jim, Natenella, myself) the six people who voted for it, making it a book of the month, did not bother to show up.
From that point on, each BOTM has been similarly ignored by those who have voted for the book.
While I do believe that the book that I nominated was a great book, I had planned on renominating it again and again until it either got voted on or I lost hope in the group (which ever came first). (Devin, you not understanding this about me, shows that you do not know me. I am nothing if not persistently outspoken. If I believe in something, I am going to sing about it, repeatedly.)
Do whatever it is you feel is right for you.
I feel that the "right" thing for me is to speak up about the BOTM's as they currently are set up.
I can't flip on this.
Sorry, it is just not in me to do so, because if I do not believe in something than I am going to sing about it, repeatedly.
I agree, Tammy. I think some people are getting the wrong idea about us, and think we are nasty, mean people. But we AREN'T!!! I, personally, believe the mis-understanding comes from some of the newer members judging us based solely off this thread. I am outspoken as well, and feel that it was only right to speak as to how I feel. If anyone had been participating in the BOTMs besides us regulars, they would have a MUCH better grasp of our personalities, likes, dislikes, etc. THAT'S called a community, you know...a GROUP! Which is what we are supposed to be! So let's quit with all the snarky comments (cause that WAS pretty mean, Shana), and only post ways that we think might improve the situation here on this thread, and move on to our buddy read threads and BOTM threads, respectively. I'm not going to lie; I DO feel as though this BOTM will be VERY awkward for me. But I bought the book, and I DO really want to read it, so I'm doing it. But I DO want to say one last thing- Devan, how would you feel if, after feeling so excited about your book being chosen, not ONE SINGLE PERSON said one word on the thread? And Shana, now that you've agreed to be mod, how would you feel if, on the 6th, you posted your questions, and no one answered? Like, what if the thread was 'tumbleweeds blowing around' DEAD? You guys probably wouldn't be thrilled. THAT is what the regulars have been dealing with for months. Its not fun, and it ISN'T funny to poke fun at those of us who have had to deal with that before. And thanks Tammy, for acknowledging the fact that despite big words being talked NOW, no one had said one thing til my desperate plea. Still, my feelings on the nomination and voting process remain the same. I am excited to read this book, and I don't really care WHO mods it, so long as it isn't me lol. I just hope it isn't just Shana, Netanella, & I (but I bet a dollar to a donut it is!)...
You'll have to point out what comment you thought was snarky and mean. I reread and found nothing. I am, however, a very snarky person. I hold no punches and always call it like it is. But I do think its best if move on and stop fueling the fire.
This thread was started for BOTM discussion by the group moderators
Shana, the comment I was referring to was the 'i'm taking my toys and getting out of the sandbox,' or some amalgam of that. It infantilizes Tammy, and she isn't acting childish, and she most definitely IS NOT a child. That seemed very rude to me (just my opinion!). Anyway, this thread is for discussing the problems with the BOTM, and how we may be able to salvage it and make it work. The thread for Undead L.A. is under the 'Book of the Month' folder. So, for all intents and purposes, this is no longer a thread about Undead L.A. AT ALL...that thread is where I just mentioned. THIS thread is for coming to a resolution on nominating, voting, etc. For now, the best thing I think we could do is stop the personal bickering, quit finger pointing, and just offer up ways to try and save the BOTM. ANYTHING related to Undead L.A. should go in the Undead L.A. thread. Thanks, ladies! o_O~Teresa~
