Updates to the Nominations Process

[Lynn, New School Classics]

I agree with your thoughts. I also want to read some of the better-known classic authors, yet this group has allowed me to discover new authors as well. Personally, I prefer to read multiple books by an author I like before I move on to a new author

[Sara, Old School Classics]

I agree, these are the kinds of issues that can easily be decided by the group by nominating lesser known titles and, if the group wishes, they will be voted in. I have read most of the major works by the major writers, but I would hate to see the restriction put in place that limited others from having the same opportunity to enjoy them with this group.

[Lynn, New School Classics]

One more thought... I like the nominations process, because I look at all the books that make it to the polls as a possible reading list. There were probably eight books I discovered in our nominations that I read last year, although they did not actually win the poll. Many of them turn out to be great to use for challenges. My Brilliant Career by Miles Franklin and Picnic at Hanging Rock by Joan Lindsay spring to mind.

[Brina]

I discover such a wide range of books from this group. Many of them I end up reading on my own. Truthfully I prefer off the beaten path books to traditional classics, but I like all of them to be in the nomination process to ensure that variety so people of reminded of a wider range of books to read.

[Antonomasia]

Wasn't subscribed to this thread before to reply earlier.

I see it a different way round - the world is changing and which 'classics' are important is changing. If I as a middle-aged person want to read the classics that were canonical when I first got to know the canon, regardless of the lack of diversity by current standards that's my personal issue (these are mostly books I'd have read by the age of 25 or 30 if my health had been better) and I am getting on with that.

But in terms of the wider sphere, things like a group (or reading lists for younger people, but as I don't have kids or work in education that's entirely theoretical) I think there is a duty to support some of this change. And I'm very moderate about it too (too conservative by the standards of some who spoke out in the other thread under that poll), I am not one for *removing* the DWEMs etc, just have a lower proportion of them, e.g. not such a high volume of Dickens, Shakespeare etc.

Pretty much every book I've heard about in this group which I hadn't heard of before has been by a US or occasionally other Anglophone author, the latter usually 18th-19th century ones hardly anyone talks about now. (Though TBF I am an outlier in terms of the time I've spent reading about areas like translated fiction and collating lists on it, and there has always been a lot of stuff I have heard of without actually having read it.)

There are lots of things like themed months, which don't necessarily have to be related to author demographic categories, which could be used to enhance variety.

[siriusedward]

Lynn wrote: "One more thought... I like the nominations process, because I look at all the books that make it to the polls as a possible reading list. There were probably eight books I discovered in our nominat..."

Yes!
I read from the nomination list too.
It has given me good reads and added books to my TBR...

[siriusedward]

Antonomasia wrote: "Wasn't subscribed to this thread before to reply earlier.

I see it a different way round - the world is changing and which 'classics' are important is changing. If I as a middle-aged person want t..."

But the thing is... this group works because it is not too rigid... too excluding or too much about the rules... the buddy reads , Bingo and other challenged and mutual recommendations help to add diversity here...

For me, this group has encouraged my reading , just by not overwhelming me with too much rules and to much restrictions.. it lifts the pressure from the reading and enhances the pleasure you get from the words... it has helped me push my boundaries in reading , just by giving me a safe place to express my opinions ,no matter , if it is mundane or silly or just an expression of like or dislike...


There are so many groups.. so many groups with all the rules and some groups focused on diversity..and they are as Awesome too.

I have kids.. since they are young..I have joined an Awesome group that focuses on great literature and diversity in topics and representation , it is for the littlest kids to the YA kids...

[Katy, Quarterly Long Reads]

What kind thoughts, thank you.

[Katy, Quarterly Long Reads]

We asked for your reflections and heard what you were saying! Many members feel that the pace of group may be too fast. There are also members that would like to read some of the longer classics already on our bookshelf, but that becomes difficult when there are 4 new books being added. In an attempt to allow a slower pace of reading and more opportunity for rereading classics, the following changes will be made starting with the March 2024 nominations.

1. Long Reads will be open to rereading books from the Group Bookshelf. The only restrictions will be that the book must be longer than 600 pages and not read in the last year. The conditions about authors and not nominating the same book in two threads still apply.

2. Old School will allow rereads of Old School books that have not been read the in last three years, and only books that were published before (but not including) 1915 are eligible to be nominated.

3. New School eligible publication dates for books will be 1915-1999.

4. Revisit the Shelf will continue as it has. Most books will be read in one month, but there will occasionally be a longer book that will be read over a two month period.

Thanks for reading with us.

[Terris]

Looks good, Katy! Thank you to you moderators for putting all this together. We appreciate you :)

[sabagrey]

I welcome the idea that other categories will also be open to 'revisiting the shelf'. I've regretted sometimes that due to the present rules, the less known titles must be preferred - which is not bad per se, but not exactly what those who haven't been members for very long, and who really want to catch up on THE classics come here for.

Well done!

[Katy, Quarterly Long Reads]

We are glad that you like the changes.

[Michaela]

I agree with sabagrey´s thoughts. Thanks Mods!

[Shirley (stampartiste)]

Thank you so much for the changes in nominations, Katy!

I also agree with what sabagrey said. I still have so many classic Classics that I still need to read or am currently reading that unfortunately were already on the shelves. So I'm thrilled with these changes. Thank you, Katy, for considering us readers who are late to the game.

May I ask why the change from 1900 to 1915? I'm just curious.

Thank you!

[Katy, Quarterly Long Reads]

Shirley (stampartiste) wrote: "...May I ask why the change from 1900 to 1915? ."

There are a number of authors who have books that cross over into the first ten years of the 1900s. We as mods think of them as Old School, but certain books cannot be nominated there because they fall in the very early 1900 range. So we decided to try the change.

[Shirley (stampartiste)]

That makes sense, Katy. Thank you!

[Kathleen]

These are great, well-thought-out changes. Thanks, mods! I particularly like the year-range change to include those early 1900's books in Old School. I don't have a lot of pre-1900's books on my TBR, but these early years of the century are a treasure-trove, and now they won't have to compete with all the later-century books.

[Sara, Old School Classics]

My feelings exactly, Kathleen. I think this will put a lot more energy in the Old School category. Coupled with not permanently excluding every book the group has read, I'm hoping to see a lot of activity in 2024.

[sabagrey]

Katy wrote: "Shirley (stampartiste) wrote: "...May I ask why the change from 1900 to 1915? ."

There are a number of authors who have books that cross over into the first ten years of the 1900s. We as mods thin..."

For me, the change makes a lot of sense from the perspective of history and literature: WWI was the big rupture that pushed us brutally into modernity.

[J_BlueFlower]

sabagrey wrote: " the change makes a lot of sense from the perspective of history and literature: WWI was the big rupture that pushed us brutally into modernity."

Very good point!

[Lynn, New School Classics]

sabagrey wrote: "Katy wrote: "Shirley (stampartiste) wrote: "...May I ask why the change from 1900 to 1915? ."

There are a number of authors who have books that cross over into the first ten years of the 1900s. We..."

Yes, that was part of the thinking: pre-WW1 literature vs. post WW1.

[Katy, Quarterly Long Reads]

We as moderators have decided to allow books to be re-read in the New School Category for 2025 to make it align with our Old School and Long Reads categories. With this change, we have decided to eliminate the Revist the Shelf Category, as we will now allow re-reads in all three of the categories.

Books that have already been featured as group reads and currently on our bookshelf are eligible to be nominated again after three years.

[Terry]

I think this is a very good move. So glad you didn’t duck this challenge!

[Katy, Quarterly Long Reads]

Thank you for the support.

[Lynn, New School Classics]

Terry wrote: "I think this is a very good move. So glad you didn’t duck this challenge!"

Thanks Terry.

[Kathryn]

Katy wrote: "We as moderators have decided to allow books to be re-read in the New School Category for 2025 to make it align with our Old School and Long Reads categories. With this change, we have decided to e..."

This makes my forgetful brain very happy. Thank you mods!

[Katy, Quarterly Long Reads]

Moderators Run Amok!

Starting in January 2025, the moderators will choose books each quarter that we personally want to read and share with the group. We are hopeful that our affinity for the book will better help us to conduct an in-depth discussion. It is our desire that this will lead to a spirited, informative, and well-attended group discussion.

One moderator will choose a book, a series, or perhaps a collection of shorter works to read during the quarter. The works can be new to the group or a favorite to revisit. Each quarter will be a bit different depending on the whims of the moderator leading the discussion.

It's new and hopefully fun for everyone!

[Wobbley]

I think this is a really fun idea. :)

[Connie]

Great idea, Katy!

[Julie]

Katy wrote: "Moderators Run Amok!

Starting in January 2025, the moderators will choose books each quarter that we personally want to read and share with the group. We are hopeful that our affinity for the book..."

Awesome :)

[J_BlueFlower]

Augustus by John Williams is an excellent pick. I have had it on my list since 2021.

John Williams is best known as the author of Stoner. I liked that one a lot. Count me in for Augustus.

I am even starting to feel an urge to re-watch Rome.

[Kathleen]

This is a fantastic idea!! We have such a knowledgeable, diverse, group to make for some wonderful, quality discussions. I'm looking forward to Augustus!

[Teri-K]

Awesome idea! though I'm impressed that the mods can take on any more responsibilities here. Y'all already do a lot.

[Greg]

Looking forward to Augustus as well! Great pick!

[Cynda]

Mods, I am looking for information about short read nominations. I do not see current short reads nomination thread. Have we changed our short reads practice in some way?

[Austin]

Cynda is preoccupied with RL wrote: "Mods, I am looking for information about short read nominations. I do not see current short reads nomination thread. Have we changed our short reads practice in some way?"

+1

[Lynn, New School Classics]

Cynda is preoccupied with RL wrote: "Mods, I am looking for information about short read nominations. I do not see current short reads nomination thread. Have we changed our short reads practice in some way?"

Yes. Remember sometime in the last year or two we had people nominate like a dozen short stories each? Bob, and the rest of us, made a comprehensive list of recommended short stories. It was hundreds of stories long. Each was assigned a number. A random generator is choosing the specific stories each month for the poll.

Being a "word nerd" and a "spread sheet nerd", I took the nominations, alphabetized on a spreadsheet, cross-referenced with stories already on the Group shelf, and eliminated a whole lot of duplicates. Once we saw the number I think the goal was 500 on the list. My list has 489 nominations on it. Bob though is keeping up with the most current list.

The date all that happened on my spreadsheet is June 15th, 2024.

[Lynn, New School Classics]

Now I am speaking for myself, not others. I thought it was a good idea at the time because 1. The nomination process involves double checking what is already on the bookshelf and what is being nominated in other categories. Bob puts up the short story list early which makes double checking things easier for me in New School. 2, There were many members who wanted to nominate more than one story at a time. 3. I tend to overthink things. I didn't want to look at the nominations and think things like "What special theme has such and such library set up this month?" "What time periods or genres are on the list?" "Is this a 'balanced" list?"

In the last year. I have read 11 out of 12 of the selections and participated in the discussions. I like short stories. All but 2 were 4* or 5* for me.

The system is working for me. Let me know what you have concerns about. It's always good to have feedback : )

[Katy, Quarterly Long Reads]

Cynda is preoccupied with RL wrote: "Mods, I am looking for information about short read nominations. I do not see current short reads nomination thread. Have we changed our short reads practice in some way?"

Go to the Master Short Story/Novella List Thread. You can see what has been nominated for the Master List.

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

[Klowey]

Not sure if anyone said this already but, the poll page has the upcoming-month-to-vote-on list of the short stories we'll be voting on put up at the beginning of the month for viewing (not voting, until the 16th).

On the 16th, the other categories join that page when the voting starts. Hope I have this right. In any case, Cynda, if you want to see what short stories we'll be voting on that's where to find them.

https://www.goodreads.com/poll/list/4...

[Cynda]

Thank you Klowey. That is what I was looking for! What a relief.

[Lynn, New School Classics]

Cynda is preoccupied with RL wrote: "Thank you Klowey. That is what I was looking for! What a relief."

LOL I made the question much too difficult, didn't I?

[Cynda]

We're good Lynn. This situation and many others are are reasons why I read with a group. I'm glad to be here.

[Bob, Short Story Classics]

Sorry for my absence. It looks like questions and answers have been taken care of. The random 10 stories are selected at the beginning of the month. The poll is then created, but he poll is locked till all the polls are ready for opening on the 16th.

FYI our numbered master list now has 536 stories listed. Another 4 are listed but not yet numbered or assigned to the master list. I keep a few in reserve since I lose one every month.

[Cynda]

Thanks Bob :)

[Klowey]

Cynda is preoccupied with RL wrote: "Thank you Klowey. That is what I was looking for! What a relief."

Ah, it looks like it very conveniently got added to the current poll page, but is just locked until the 16th.

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group...

[Sara, Old School Classics]

I think Lynn just added it to the Nominations Thread so that it would be easy for everyone to see what the choices are this month. All voting will be done on the actual poll, which opens on the 16th.

[Lynn, New School Classics]

Sara wrote: "I think Lynn just added it to the Nominations Thread so that it would be easy for everyone to see what the choices are this month. All voting will be done on the actual poll, which opens on the 16th."

Yes Sara, that is what I did.