2015 Group Challenge Reading Calendar/Planning

[Sarah]

Thanks for all the ideas Michael! I only read like 18 books per month, though. ;)

[YouKneeK]

Michael wrote: "The hardest part is finding the correct discussion threads, because these are old discussions that are hidden all over the place in our past directories and subdirectories. Many of the old threads are listed under archived yearly directories, so you will have to go to our bookshelf to find out when the book was read and therefore what year the discussion will be archived."

You can often find and access the original discussion threads by just clicking “View Activity” next to the book on the group bookshelf. I think it depends on whether the original creator specified that the threads were “about” that book, so a lot of the older books don’t have that, but it seems like most from 2013 and later have them, and I've seen it on a handful of the older ones.

That should save some time, at least for some books, since you’re already looking at the bookshelf anyway to see when it was read.

[Sandi]

Wow Michael! Thanks for an awesomely helpful and detailed answer and another huge thanks to Sarah and Edwin for jumping in to ensure that all of us insane readers within this group can continue reading way too much so successfully and so enjoyably!

[Kim]

Michael wrote: "The "position" is a bit of a mystery since it is partly my own invention and partly group-directed. "

Thanks for everything you've done Michael, it's been really good to see and I hope we still see you around.

"Note: I propose the title "2016 Group Bookshelf Reading Calendar/Planning" and not "2016 Group Challenge Reading Calendar/Planning" in case the moderators decide not to do a Challenge in 2016. You can always edit the title later if they announce a Challenge."

Yes the challenge will be back next year. I'll also sticky that thread next year.

"The hardest part is finding the correct discussion threads, because these are old discussions that are hidden all over the place in our past directories and subdirectories. Many of the old threads are listed under archived yearly directories, so you will have to go to our bookshelf to find out when the book was read and therefore what year the discussion will be archived."

Sorry bout that, it's a limitation of Goodreads. Can only have 100 folders in a group. We keep hitting the limit. What you can do is use https://www.goodreads.com/group/comme... and enable searching by topics only.

[Kim]

YouKneeK wrote: "I think it depends on whether the original creator specified that the threads were “about” that book, so a lot of the older books don’t have that, but it seems like most from 2013 and later have them, and I've seen it on a handful of the older ones."

Goodreads randomly drops those connections from books, it also can happen when I have to shift them to the archives.

[Sarah]

Kim, you should be able to use the Advanced Settings area in Settings to set the folders higher. Not that that's always a good idea... ;)

[YouKneeK]

Kim wrote: "Goodreads randomly drops those connections from books, it also can happen when I have to shift them to the archives."

Ah, I guess that explains why it seemed a little inconsistent. I appreciate it when it does work because I enjoy going back to read those old threads when I finish a book from the group’s bookshelf. It’s nice when they’re only a click away.

[Hank]

YouKneeK wrote: "Kim wrote: "Goodreads randomly drops those connections from books, it also can happen when I have to shift them to the archives."

Ah, I guess that explains why it seemed a little inconsistent. I a..."

I agree, I used to think the old ones didn't even have discussion threads. Thanks to Michael I learned differently.

[Kim]

Sarah wrote: "Kim, you should be able to use the Advanced Settings area in Settings to set the folders higher. Not that that's always a good idea... ;)"

Oh that only changes the amount visible on the group home page, not the amount a group can have. We're still limited to a maximum of 100 folders per group.

[Michael]

Kim wrote: "Thanks for everything you've done Michael, it's been really good to see and I hope we still see you around."

Thanks very much, Kim! I'm glad this group has thrived through the years, it's great to see all the energetic conversations in this genre(s)! I will continue to take advantage of it as time allows...

Searching by topic is a great idea, I should have asked for suggestions! (Making the process transparent is a great way to figure out improvements... < "open source" plug > )

[Sarah]

Edwin and I have begun organizing next year's bookshelf reading list. Here's the link: 2016 Group Bookshelf Reading Calendar Planning.

[Michael]

Okay, let's see... it's November 15! Time to start reading this month's Group Challenge selections. I've tracked down the links so you can start posting comments as you get to it:

(World War Z had a bunch of spoiler threads, but it didn't seem to work very well and I've just included the last one as a kind of final thoughts thread...)
World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War
First Impressions (No Spoilers)
Goodbyes *nothing left to spoil, so spoil away*

Warbreaker
"Warbreaker" First Impressions *No Spoilers*
"Warbreaker" Final Thoughts *Spoilers*

[Sarah]

I'm in for both :) Shocking, I know. I'm actually very excited about this pair. I start Warbreaker tomorrow and WWZ next week. Yippee!!!

[Michael]

I posted this on the poll, but I thought I would post this here, too, since this thread has so many of our energetic "extra credit" readers following it...

Anyone interested in a "side read" of Cyteen? This is the fourth time it's been in the polls in the last two years but it has never won as our group selection. It seems like we might have enough interest for a lively discussion...

For those of you new to this idea, side reads occur over here.

[Sandi]

I would love to read Cyteen as a side read. This was a book I read and loved as a kid and would definitely like to see how it has held up for me.

[Mathew]

Sandi wrote: "I would love to read Cyteen as a side read. This was a book I read and loved as a kid and would definitely like to see how it has held up for me."

Now this is an idea I can get behind, except I read Cyteen as an adult and it was so wonderful that I could use an excuse to read it again :)

[Edwin]

Michael wrote: "Anyone interested in a "side read" of Cyteen? "

I would be. When were you thinking about it?

[Michael]

Ooh, exciting! I'm not sure. The second half of December is terrible for my book reading, but we'd have to start pretty soon for me to read 680(??) pages by then. Do people have the book available? That seems to be the tricky part although my library has 4 branches with a copy so not a problem on my end...

I do not mind putting it off until January if that works better.

[Sandi]

I have two copies so I am good to go, not to mention, I have read three of the four scheduled reads for December, with only The Snow Queen up for book club reading.

[Edwin]

Michael wrote: "I'm not sure."

I am good to start anytime.

I don't have it, but will get it either used on ebay (10 days or so, about $4) or new on Amazon Prime (2 days) depending on how quickly we decide to get this going.

[Michael]

Mathew wrote: "Sandi wrote: "I would love to read Cyteen as a side read. This was a book I read and loved as a kid and would definitely like to see how it has held up for me."

Now this is an idea I can get behin..."

How quickly can you get the book, Mathew? Sounds like we could read it soonish if you are able...

[Sarah]

Who all is reading Warbreaker? I'm 30% in and rather bored and I'm wondering if it's worth it.

[Chris]

I loved Warbreaker, but it's been several years since I read it.

[Sarah]

I ended up DNFing it. It was just taking forever to get anywhere and it's SUCH a long book.

[Chris]

That's too bad...oh, in the epic fantasy realms, we call that long book a novella. Heh

[Sarah]

Hmm, maybe that's why I don't usually like them. :)

[Michael]

Chris wrote: "That's too bad...oh, in the epic fantasy realms, we call that long book a novella. Heh"

Hee hee. That sums up the genre!

[Edwin]

Michael, Sandi and Mathew. I just grabbed a copy of Cyteen off eBay today so I should be good to go by next week or so. Or whenever you all say "go".

I snagged The Snow Queen there as well, so I am ready for that too. But not until mid-December, eh?

[Michael]

Edwin wrote: "Michael, Sandi and Mathew. I just grabbed a copy of Cyteen off eBay today so I should be good to go by next week or so. Or whenever you all say "go"."

Great, I will pick up a copy at my library next Tuesday and can start thereafter.

[Sarah]

I'm quite jealous. I'm trying desperately to squeeze Doctor Zhivago in though so this one is out :(

[Sandi]

Dr. Zhivago? That's on my neverdiminishing TBR pile that I had to move out of my bedroom for fear it would attack and bury me in the night, never to be seen again:o

[Sarah]

Lol! TBRs get to be quite insane. I can't possibly fit it in next year so it became a sudden priority for me :)

[Michael]

I'm currently reading Queen of Angels by Greg Bear, and I noticed a few things, not the least of which is that we have no Greg Bear on our bookshelf!

One thing is that this book talks a little bit about downloading and uploading personalities, which reminds me of our read earlier in the year of Altered Carbon. The book focuses more on personalities themselves and the idea of artificial intelligence, so it doesn't delve deeply into that idea, just mentions it.

And a line I read just tonight reminded me of The City & the City, which we also read this year: "Mary defocused and blindsaw them". I don't think China Miéville used the term "blindsaw" in The City & the City, but I thought it was interesting Bear threw that concept in there. Queen of Angels (1990) predates both of those so Bear is not building on their concepts.

For Sarah, I don't think you would necessarily enjoy Greg Bear's writing - it is pretty "out there", except for The Forge of God, which I would recommend as a very chilling and accessible dystopia - but I thought of you because the protagonist in Queen of Angels is a white woman who has used technology to "transform" her skin color to black. Reminded me of your avatars...

[Sarah]

Michael wrote: "I thought of you because the protagonist in Queen of Angels is a white woman who has used technology to "transform" her skin color to black. Reminded me of your avatars..."

I only just saw this. That is so cool! I could definitely get behind that kind of tech :) Thanks for telling me, Michael. I'm going to go check it out and probably not read it, but it's very cool anyway.

[Michael]

Michael wrote: "Edwin wrote: "Michael, Sandi and Mathew. I just grabbed a copy of Cyteen off eBay today so I should be good to go by next week or so. Or whenever you all say "go"."

Great, I will pick up a copy at my library next Tuesday and can start thereafter. "

Okay, I have the book now. I'm not sure what I signed on for, my copy of the book weighs 2.4 pounds. 2.4 pounds. Yikes!

I will start a side thread and announce it later, hopefully today if I get organized.

[Sandi]

Great! I am just finishing up The Philosopher Kings so I can start anytime.

[Edwin]

Michael wrote: "Okay, I have the book now. I'm not sure what I signed on for, my copy of the book weighs 2.4 pounds. 2.4 pounds. Yikes!

I will start a side thread and announce it later, hopefully today if I get organized. "

I'm still waiting for my eBay purchase to arrive. Maybe heavier is slower. I hope to start when it finally does arrive.

[Sarah]

Yes, they're delivery soured varies by pound :) They assume you don't REALLY want to read that 2.4 pound book so they take their own sweet time.

[Michael]

Or they figure it's going to take 3 months to read it, what is another day or two in shipping... :)

[Sarah]

Oh my goodness, it's as heavy as Gone With the Wind!

[Michael]

Okay, we're coming up on our last book reads for this little side group for 2015. It's been a great year, and now I'm going to hibernate!

Two "classics" for December, official start date is the 15th:

Foundation
"Foundation" Gut Reaction & Discussion Leader *no spoilers*
"Foundation" Characters
"Foundation" Technology
"Foundation" Religion
"Foundation" Psychology & Psychohistory

The Snow Queen
"The Snow Queen" First Impressions *no spoilers*
"The Snow Queen" General Discussion *spoilers*

(Although, apparently only 3 Goodreads' users put The Snow Queen on their "classics" shelf, it still seems like an influential book, and won the Hugo and Locus awards for 1981.)

Happy reading! (Happy New Year!)

[Valerie]

The First Impressions thread for The Snow Queen is locked by moderator.

I put my comments in the General Discussion thread.

[Michael]

Hmm, thanks for noticing, Valerie. Both of these threads seem different from what we are used to.

Kim, is there a reason not to unfreeze the first impressions thread?:

"The Snow Queen" First Impressions *no spoilers*

Folks, let me know if you need a final thoughts thread where you don't have to worry about tagging your spoilers...

[Sarah]

You know what's weird? I've posted for The Snow Queen twice and I can't find the posts.