Group Read Discussion Format

[Anna]

Jacqueline wrote: "As to reading in chunks and looking to see what other people have said isn’t that just like a normal book club."

Yes, it just feels weird when the chunks are forced, I'd prefer them to happen naturally. One part of a book might generate lots of discussion, others none at all. We could end up with so many threads with just a couple of messages each. Some of the old discussions using this format are like that.

[Cheryl]

Katy wrote: "I like option A -- maybe with opening the spoiler thread a bit earlier -- around the 10th of the month?"

This is the best adaptation I can imagine, too.

So many pros and cons to all the other choices... can't really pick anything except Katy's suggestion or just leave it the way it is.

I will say, please don't open a third thread for a book. It can already be difficult to have a full discussion, because of the shattered/ scattered thoughts across two threads.

[Ariana]

Anna wrote: "We could end up with so many threads with just a couple of messages each."

This seems like a huge downside to me; I would hate to move to any system that dilutes discussion. Plus multiple threads = more work for the mods, especially if there's timing involved, e.g. a new thread every 4 days.

Until GR gets their act together with the app, it seems like opening the "full discussion" thread a bit earlier gets the most boats floating.

[Donald]

Rachel wrote: "I think the gap is too large as if a person reads it in say the first week they’ll be on to the next book long before any full discussion opens. If they are like me they will have forgotten the bes..."

That's what I struggle with.

Quite often I'll read books early because of how they happened to come in to the library, or I also just read quickly if I'm enjoying a book. A few times now I've found I've finished the book and now have to wait two weeks until I can post anything about it but in two weeks time I've long since moved on to other books.

It's not a big deal, it's just a bit frustrating and can limit my participation in a review thread from time to time.

[Jain]

My preference is to keep two--and no more than two--threads, but to open the spoiler thread earlier. First of the month is best, but anything up to the 7th of the month would be fine by me. I'd strongly prefer it to not open any later than that; a week is more than enough time for speedy readers to finish even a doorstopper, and of course there will be some people who happened to have read the book on their own before it got picked by the group.

I'm not a fan of spoiler tags in the spoiler thread, regardless of when it opens. I find them awkward, especially when (as happens semi-regularly) a later comment will make me want to reread one of the previous comments. No spoiler tags, and I can easily skim the page or--if I remember some of the key words in the comment--use Ctrl+F to locate it. Whereas with spoiler tags, I'm stuck clicking comment after comment trying to find the one I want.

[Anna]

Is everyone in agreement that not being able to post spoilers during reading is OK, if the current style full spoiler thread opens earlier?

[Anna]

Sorry if I was unclear, I haven't had my coffee yet :D

What I meant is that since many people are against using spoiler tags, and we don't want to have several threads for each book, there really isn't a good way to post spoilery content as you're reading. The best way to do that is the "buddy read style", aka. spoiler tags. If we don't use spoiler tags, then you can't post/read spoilery content from the middle of the book without risking seeing spoilers for the end of the book. Would that be OK if the full spoiler thread was waiting for you the minute you finish the book?

Spoiler tags:
+ You can post any thought anytime, no one is spoiled
- Those using the app can't see them

Opening full spoiler thread earlier, but no spoiler tags:
+ You can post spoilery content as you finish, no need to wait until you forget everything *
- No way to discuss middle of the book spoilery details **

So simply, is ** acceptable, if you get * ?

[Anna]

Silvana wrote: "B is fine since in the new Android app you can open spoiler."

Is this with the latest update? I don't have any Android devices, so I can't test this. Is anyone else able to open spoilers on the app?

[Jacqueline]

You can’t open them from the Apple apps. But you can open the spoilers in the reviews. Go figure.

[Anna]

Question for app users: Have you tried using the desktop or mobile version on your phone/tablet browser to see spoiler tags?

I only ever use the desktop version, no matter what device I'm on. I tested the mobile version on my phone, and I can see spoiler tags. I understand that it's not as easy to use as the app, but it would allow you to see spoiler tags on your phone/tablet.

[Jacqueline]

Yeah I have Anna but the phone’s too small to use it properly. Old lady problems lol It gets annoying. Also for some reason it keeps going back to the app even when I’m trying to use safari.

[Anna]

The mobile version of a thread actually isn't too bad, at least on my phone. But getting there can be a pain, I understand that.

I'm harping on about the spoiler tags, because allowing them for a certain period before opening full spoilers (option B), would allow *more* discussion than we currently have. It would be an added bonus, it wouldn't replace what we already have, but add a new level of mid-book discussion. I think it's been working wonderfully in buddy reads, but maybe other people don't feel the same?

[Jacqueline]

I tried to become involved in some of the monthly reads on different Goodreads bookclubs (I’m also in Popsugar and AtY still and I was in a couple of others that started to annoy me) over the last 6 months and it’s more trouble than it’s worth so I just don’t bother now. Even when I do read the same book at the same time I don’t discuss it.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Jacqueline wrote: "I tried to become involved in some of the monthly reads on different Goodreads bookclubs (I’m also in Popsugar and AtY still and I was in a couple of others that started to annoy me) over the last ..."

So would one of the changes you suggested make it more likely you'd participate?

[Cheryl]

Anna wrote: "Is everyone in agreement that not being able to post spoilers during reading is OK, if the current style full spoiler thread opens earlier?"

Yes.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

Excellent.

I am going to close this discussion for now. You've all been a tremendous help! We're going to try opening the spoiler thread on the 7th starting tomorrow to see if that helps!