June 2017 Open Pick Nominations

[Marc]

Looks like we've got a two-way tie right now. The poll closes tonight (midnight PDT), so now's your chance to cast (or recast) a tie-breaking vote!

[Marc]

Imagine Me Gone rallied early yesterday to take the top pick! Thanks for all the wonderful nominations this round--they all sound like great reads.

Doug, would you like to do the honors and lead the discussion in June?

[Doug]

Marc wrote: "Imagine Me Gone rallied early yesterday to take the top pick! Thanks for all the wonderful nominations this round--they all sound like great reads.

Doug, would you like to do the h..."

Well, since I nominated, I guess I SHOULD! :-) Have never moderated before, though, so not sure what my role is - are there any 'guidelines' I should know about?

[Marc]

The day before discussion starts, one of the group moderators will set up the folder for the book and post a placeholder thread. You can then post as many (or, as few) threads you think would work for the book (we usually do a minimum of two--one for general banter about the author or non-spoiler comments about the book; and one for discussing the whole book; but you don't have to stick to this format). Some books are naturally divided into parts that make for good separate threads. Some aren't. You're basically there to get the ball rolling. You can take a look at any of the existing discussions and get a good idea of how things get started and divided.

[Suzy]

Hi Marc - just a note to say I appreciate the new guidelines for nominations you presented in the message announcement of the upcoming reads for May. I was kicking myself for bringing the subject up, but now I'm glad. I'm on board and I think it will make things easier for all and hopefully lead to more members involved in the discussion. Suzy

[Marc]

Thanks, Suzy! It's been an ongoing issue for a while, so I'm glad you brought it up, too.

For those who haven't seen/read the announcement that went out, the moderators discussed ways we could increase accessibility of selections, encourage participation, and (perhaps) continue to raise the quality of books we're discussing. Toward that end, starting in July one of the nominating requirements will be that nominated books have been published a minimum of one year prior to the start of discussion (e.g., the July 2017 Open Pick will have been published in or before July 2016).

I was all "Let them eat cake!" but cooler heads prevailed. (I'm joking. I'd be happy to just work my way through this group's shelves for the next couple of years. If anyone offers a moderately-priced cloning service, I'm also interested in that as a way to catch up on all the reading I'd like to do--direct message me!)

[Dan]

Marc wrote: "nominated books have been published a minimum of one year prior to the start of discussion (e.g., the July 2017 Open Pick will have been published in or before July 2016)."

I think that this is an excellent plan, and should ease participation. But I do have a question, which I hope is not overly pedantic. By "having been published a minimum of one year prior to the start of discussion" do we mean first publication in any country? I ask because it can months or in some cases even a year or more for a book first published in the UK to be republished in the US, and vice versa. I know that availability in paperback was discussed and apparently rejected as a nominating criterion: given the availability of low- and no-cost international shipping options for paperbacks, would it be worth thinking about this some more?

[Hugh]

Dan,

The moderators did discuss this question - in the end we decided to stick with an any country rule, but the edition has to be in English, simply because this is easier to check (and is also fairer to those who live in neither the USA nor the UK), and at least initially we wanted to adopted a simple compromise - I don't think we will ever eliminate controversy completely.

Hope this helps...

[Marc]

Good question, Dan. As of right now, we mean first published in any country (and, also, first published in English). We discussed the paperback option, too, but the problem is right now, for something like Exit West, both Amazon US and UK list it as being available in Hardcover, Paperback, Kindle, and Audible formats despite the fact that the more-reasonably priced paperback edition has not yet actually been released. There's no way to account for all the variables (e.g., my library doesn't have it, I don't read e-books, I don't buy new books, etc.), so we thought the one-year delay would be a good starting point. The plan is to see how it goes for a few months and then discuss.

The other thing is that this is everybody's group, so you have a huge say in what gets nominated and you can advocate passionately for why your pick deserves discussion. I was about to vote for Lincoln in the Bardo before the discussion above ensued.

[Dan]

Hugh and Marc, you're both quick on the uptake. I had just gone for a walk with my wife and and our dog: I reconsidered my comment while we were out and I was about to delete it entirely. I completely agree with the sensible comments that you both made in your responses to me.

[LindaJ^]

Reasonable compromise! Because I was traveling, I was unable to manage to vote for the June pick. I've read Imagine Me Gone, and while I would have voted for Fates and Furies, which I liked better, Imagine Me Gone should generate good discussion.

[Doug]

Marc wrote: "The day before discussion starts, one of the group moderators will set up the folder for the book and post a placeholder thread. You can then post as many (or, as few) threads you think would work ..."

Thanx Mark! That helps, and I'll be happy to oblige!

[Carol]

Add me as a participant delighted with this outcome, Thanks to you all.

[Marc]

Doug wrote: "That helps, and I'll be happy to oblige!"
Thanks, Doug!

Dan, LindaJ^, Carol--We always appreciate input, as well as your contributions!

[Nadine in California]

Suzy wrote: "Am I too late to nominate Exit West? I see the poll isn't up yet. I think this would get some great discussion."

FYI - the GR "Newest Literary Fiction" groups is going to be discussing Exit West during the month of June. Please join us!

[Suzy]

Nadine wrote: "Suzy wrote: "Am I too late to nominate Exit West? I see the poll isn't up yet. I think this would get some great discussion."

FYI - the GR "Newest Literary Fiction" groups is going..."

Thanks, Nadine! I used to follow what NLF was reading but somehow wasn't paying attention recently.

[Hugh]

Doug - I have created the placeholder for you.

[Lily]

Marc wrote: "...If anyone offers a moderately-priced cloning service, I'm also interested in that as a way to catch up on all the reading I'd like to do--..."

{Grin!} Marc -- even just twinning myself as a Gemini I haven't found possible. Good luck! And just enjoy reading with hopefully healthy eyes well into ancient age! It is probably wise to attempt to consider Mark Twain's dictum: "Don't read good books. There isn't time for that. Read only the best." And I have had the privilege of reading enough, the good, the poor, the indifferent, that I am not even certain I agree with him.

Thank goodness for Audible, with all its limitations.

(Perhaps someone has seen a good essay on the limitations of time, in a week, in a lifetime, on reading that could be the initiative for one of your delightful discussion threads?)