A Plan for Short & Returning Reads

[Manny]

Group

A few weeks ago I mentioned that Kerstin and I intended to intersperse short reads in between longer reads. I mentioned this a few weeks ago in the “Currently Reading” thread https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... and the feedback was so positive (see comments 326-338) that Kerstin and I put our heads together to formalize some new procedures for our group.

When we first came up with the interspersing reads, there were two thoughts on it. One was just a short read to cover the gaps between reads and one was a longer read that we would do in short intervals returning back as an occasion warrants. Well, we liked both ideas so much that we decided to incorporate both! So we want to fill the reading gaps with a short term reads, and then incorporate into our reading rhythm a longer term read that we do in four week chunks.

So here’s what our new reading rhythm will be, per group consensus:
(A) Regularly priced book
(B) Inexpensively priced book
(C) Long Term Returning Read in a four week segments
with short term two week reads as filler between the books.

The only complication here now is that per the new procedures we were going to do nominations well ahead so there would be no gaps. So we would like to go back to doing nominations and voting after a long read is completed and intentionally have a gap so we can fill it with a short read. Therefore we will cover the time we pick the next book with a short, two week read.

So then how do we pick short term reads and returning reads? It doesn’t make sense for a short term read to go through a nomination and voting process. That would be longer than the read itself. Kerstin and I decided that it can be a moderator perk to choose the short read. So Kerstin and I will take turns choosing, and Kerstin can choose first.

As to the Long Term Returning Read, this is such a commitment – perhaps more of a commitment than a regular read – we should go through a group nominating and voting process.

So, if most of you think this is all a good idea, we can go ahead with it. Let me hear yay or nay or thoughts on improving this plan and then we can go forward.

[Manny]

Loretta wrote: "Manny wrote: "Group

A few weeks ago I mentioned that Kerstin and I intended to intersperse short reads in between longer reads. I mentioned this a few weeks ago in the “Currently Reading” thread h..."

But not liking what the moderators pick is no different than voting. The Joan of Arc book, which you weren't interested in, came out of a formal nomination and vote.

Does it make sense to go through a week of nominations, a week of voting, and then read and discuss for two weeks?

Let's see what others say.

[John]

Manny, I like this and would be okay with moderators selecting the short reads, especially if they committed to do so prayerfully to give the Holy Spirit an opportunity to weigh in. And we would still be voting on the other books. On the other hand, Heart of Joy seems pretty short and that was selected through the normal process, albeit as a result of a tie.

So I offer the following suggestion as a friendly suggestion, but I am confident I will be happy with whatever you decide:
- Three tiers: regular price; inexpensive price; long read. The regular and inexpensive could be regular book length or short.
- Alternate regular and inexpensive the way we are doing now, except that when we finish a regular or inexpensive book, we read the long read while doing the nomination/voting/acquisition of the next regular/inexpensive book.

Like I said, the above is just a suggestion and I am sure I will be happy with whatever you decide.

[Manny]

John wrote: "Manny, I like this and would be okay with moderators selecting the short reads, especially if they committed to do so prayerfully to give the Holy Spirit an opportunity to weigh in. And we would st..."

I'm not sure I understand John. Are you saying not to have a filler read at all and let the nomination process select a long or short read?

I will tell you short reads will never get selected. There's always a book that will be more enticing. I was envisioning short reads to be shorter than that Mother Teresa book. That book is 150 pages. I was thinking of something in the 30 or 40 pages at max. Something like a book of the Bible (Kerstin was thinking of the Gospel of Mark, since we are heading into Liturgical Year B; I was thinking of the Psalms) or a Church Father document or a Papal essay or a short story by a Catholic fiction author, say Flannery O'Connor. There is a diversity of genres that will never be nominated because there is always a book on people's shelves they want to read. And I think we are the poorer for this. Obviously what the moderator picks will be within a Catholic framework, so I think the Holy Spirit will be working. ;)

And if some think it's unfair the moderator picks, it's also unfair the moderator does a heck of a lot of work. In the four years or so I've been a part of Catholic Thought, I can think of at least four moderators who eventually got burnt out and quit, and there may have been more I can't remember. Those gaps between readings were breathers, which have now gone away. Is it such a big deal that a moderator has some discretion on the shortest of reads? And as Loretta points out people don't have to join that short read.

Anyway, still looking for more member's thoughts.

[Manny]

Loretta, you may have brought it out first, but I think that was a natural response many would have. It occurred to me that some might not like moderators picking when I first came up with it, before I presented it. So I wasn't really focusing on you. I will say that there was a past moderator who wanted to dictate what was read, even the big reads. It didn't go anywhere, and rightly so. But for short reads i think it makes sense.

[John]

Manny wrote: "John wrote: "Manny, I like this and would be okay with moderators selecting the short reads, especially if they committed to do so prayerfully to give the Holy Spirit an opportunity to weigh in. An..."

Manny,

I apologize as I guess I wasn't clear. Unfortunately I don't have the time right now to parse through and figure out where I went wrong. Please disregard my comment.

I want to emphasize that my comment wasn't intended to be a criticism at all, but some suggestions - an occupational hazard. Please accept my apologies if I in any way offended you.

To be clear, I have no problems with your proposal and I am okay with moderators selecting the short reads. I know what a burden it is to be a moderator and greatly appreciate all the work that you and Kerstin do.

[Manny]

No need to apologize. No offense taken. Thank you for your kind words.

[Irene]

I'm flexible and willing to go along with any schedule.

[Lisa]

I am willing to go along with whatever is decided. I think the moderators do a fantastic job and I trust they would prayerfully pick the shorter selections. Perhaps, however, they might be open to suggestions occasionally, if a group member discovered something fascinating that they would like to share. I also like the idea of the shorter selections possibly being books of the Bible. I can especially think of reading Isaiah during lent, the gospels and epistles at any time of the year. I am in a Catholic moms' book club and we will be reading some Flannery O'Connor this year. Another wonderful short read could be selections from "The Reed of God" Sorry this post is rambling, but I am really excited about reading and I love sharing ideas with my fellow Catholics. As an aside, while I have been visiting the monastery this week, I have shared some of Visions of Fatima with my son and his fellow monks. They were fascinated with the story and they enjoyed looking at the pictures that Manny posted on his blog. I'm going to have to see if I can find a copy of the book to send to them, since I read mine on my nook.

[Leslie]

A suggestion for a great short story - Xingu by Edith Wharton.