The Rory Gilmore Book Club discussion
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It makes me sad that the monthly book discussions will be discontinued for now. I can see why though since I personally didn't have the time to pick up any of our group reads since the summer because I've just been too busy with college.
Your proposed solution sounds reasonable to me since I have already read a couple of books on Rory's list. I might be able to participate more in discussions again because I know those books already and don't have to invest the time to read them first.
Your proposed solution sounds reasonable to me since I have already read a couple of books on Rory's list. I might be able to participate more in discussions again because I know those books already and don't have to invest the time to read them first.
I have mixed feelings on this. On the one hand, what kind of a book club is it if we no longer have monthly selections? On the other hand, I don't have the time to participate anymore like I did when I first started posting here, and it shows, so I should be the last to complain. Allows for plenty of time to catch up on the Rory books I've allowed to "languish" or have never even started, at least.
I think that the idea of allowing small group discussions where someone says, "Hey, I want to read this; anyone care to join?" is a great idea. That way the people who are interested can come up with their own schedules. And, of course, it's not like monthly group discussions cannot be resurrected.
I am with Artic--it seems sad not to have a monthly discussion to "unify" the group, but at the same time I, too, have been extremely busy (or not interested in a given selection) so I have not participated much with the monthly readings, either. It is often hard to fit the reading into a set monthly schedule. So, I think your solution to just form various individual discussions based on books of common interest seems like a good one and I trust we will keep in touch through the various book discussions and, of course, "Gilmore Girls" tidbits! :-)
Darn, I had just joined this group recently and this was my first month to read the selection. I started reading Shadow of the Wind last night, and was excited to discuss it on here. On the plus side, even without discussion, I'm so glad that you all suggested such a fabulous book. I am savoring every page, trying not to zip through it--but I can't put it down!Anyway, I'll be quitting this group if there are no more book discussions, as I didn't join to talk about Gilmore Girls or other unrelated topics.
Well -- Gilmore Girls is hardly an unrelated topic, Jenny, given the group is based on a character in the series and books read by the character and mentioned in the series were the basis for book selections which we wanted to discuss -- so you gave me a giggle there. BUT -- I was wondering -- as far as the selections which have been voted in for the remainder of this year -- the discussions WILL take place, wil;l they not? It would look VERY odd to have selections nominated and voted in and then NOT hold these remaining discussions, in my opinion.Moderators please clarify and make adjustments if need be -- I hope the established selections will be discussed before we go to the more free form discussion option.
Mod
Thanks for the clarification, Dini. Dottie: I didn't meant to say that GG was unrelated -- of course it isn't, it's just not the main reason I joined the group. The reason I joined is because I figured girls who admire Rory would (like myself) would be cool people to discuss books with. I guess the correct punctuation for my response should have been "...or other, unrelated, topics." Sorry if I offended anyone.
No offense at all, Jenny! I, too, joined the group for that reason! :-)
I have to say that I'm bad overall in joining the reading discussions. I like to try to put in my nomination, but even if it's a book I genuinely want to read I haven't participated in reading any of the books at the same time as the group. This is nothing against this group, or any of the other "book clubs" on Goodreads I've joined. I just have trouble reading a book with a group unless I'm actually in the mood to read it at that given time. Chances are the books I'm nominating are the same books I am no longer in the mood to read once they possibly win.
I'm very sad that the monthly selections will come to an end :( although I can understand the reason why. I've always tried my best to discuss and read the books on time, but my busy schedule doesn't always allow that much reading. For me, the bookclub was a great opportunity to push myself in reading some other books than my usual "digestion" and also, reading in English sometimes for a change, in stead of Dutch. The monthly selection made me aware of books and authors like Chabon (that's one discussion though in which not many joined in). I'm not sure if I like the idea of just starting to discuss a book of the Rory list in the hope people will join in. Could we maybe discuss a book every 3 months or so? That's 4 books a year. Then again, when I joined this club, we were reading 2 books a month. What happened girls?
I like the idea of having a "Group Discussions" every few months. This would give more opportunity for people to join in and fit the book with busy schedules, and also keep the Group Read idea going, but also allow more time for us to manage our busy lives and keep up with other books on our non-Rory list! :-) Good idea, Kristel!
Oh, Jenny -- I didn't mean you had offended me -- or anyone -- I just giggled and it wasn't even that I thought you needed to reword or puctuate differently -- it just made me giggle as I said.Thanks, Dini, I figured the discussions would be finished out through the year end but it also seemed a bit confusing.
I also really like Kristel's idea. If we vote for the book early on, then we could have a discussion/reading that is kind of stretched out over 3 months which would possibly give more people the opportunity to get in the right mood for the book or to read it at all.
I also really like the idea of discussing a book every three months or so. One of the biggest reasons I haven't been joining that many discussions is that I'm quite busy with life and often have a hard time finding time for reading all the books I really want to be reading. So unless the monthly selection falls into the "really want to read" category I don't get around to reading it. But with that much time delay, there'd be a much bigger chance that I'd be into reading it at some time during the 3-month period.Also, to read something I'm not quite so into would be less of a sacrifice of my time if it only happened once in three months.
I'm not trying to discourage the group from adopting this new idea, but I don't think choosing a book every 3 months will make much of a difference in the discussion. Didn't we just do this for Vanity Fair? I think we had the entire summer to read and discuss this book, but very few people participated. Of course, it was the summer and everyone was busy, but that's not much of an excuse because people are always busy. If I read a book at the beginning of the three month period and begin a discussion, and no one else has anything to say until two months later, then that's not much of a discussion. And I will not have much to add 2 months after I finish a book, because I've probably read 3 or 4 books since then. What were the discussions like when the group had 2 books at a time? I don't think I was in the group then. I'm sorry, this is a rather negative post.
For me, the reason why I haven't been participating is that you guys restricted what you could actually nominate and read. Everything was limited to that official WB list and didn't include sightings from the show, etc. The list started to get thin and nothing really interested me anymore.
I am sad that there won`t possibly be Group Reads anymore but feel that I am hardly in a position to complain as I get nervous sometimes about expressing my views.I think that a Group read maybe 2 or 3 times a year would be good to reunite us in a common purpose.I think possibly Emily might have had a point in the Book Choices becoming smaller through time.....
I think it's great that you are responding to my proposal :) I understand Kristi's comment perfectly, but isn't their a way in which people who read the book in the first month or so can delay their posts about the book so that we all can join in together? Maybe a set date on which everyone who wants to join in the discussion has to have read the book? (I'm not sure)
For instance, starting january to begin a book and then you have to finish it prior to March 15?
Emily, that's true. But wasn't their once a proposal to update the Rory list with new books that she might have read (older books), might read (newly published ones). But really, I'm good in offering ideas but the practical sides isn't always my cup of tea.
Kristi wrote: "I'm not trying to discourage the group from adopting this new idea, but I don't think choosing a book every 3 months will make much of a difference in the discussion. Didn't we just do this for Va..."No, it's an honest assessment. The original point of the summer read was to break down the larger books into more manageable reading (Monte Cristo and Vanity Fair, plus a few more were considered too large to read in one month). It was also decided while we were still reading two book a month. So for the summer months we'd still pick on book a month, plus the larger book. This way, for those that didn't want to read the larger book still had the option to participate with the monthly pick.
I wasn't involved with the club this year. Did you do a monthly pick as well as Vanity Fair or just VF? That may have been why VF didn't receive as much discussion--there wasn't the option of the monthly pick?
Kristel wrote: "I'm very sad that the monthly selections will come to an end :( although I can understand the reason why. I've always tried my best to discuss and read the books on time, but my busy schedule doesn..."Could I offer an alternate proposal? Instead of one book every 3 months, how about 3 books every three months? But instead of assigning a specific month to each book, assign a volunteer group discussion leader?
So for January, there would be three book threads started, each with its own discussion leader. Book discussions would be run throughout the next three months (January, February, March). This would allow members to have a choice in what book that was read (so if they didn't feel like reading one they still had two other options). And because the threads are run for three months, it would give members the option to read all three if they liked.
By assigning a volunteer discussion leader the thread would have more structure (the discussion leader would be the one responsible for providing story questions and prompting discussion in an effort to urge participation). It would also take the responsibilty off the moderators, who pretty much have had to read every book, every month, which can get pretty tough.
I even suggest that we just list all the book options in a poll (if possible). Top three books win for that quarter.
Emily wrote: "For me, the reason why I haven't been participating is that you guys restricted what you could actually nominate and read. Everything was limited to that official WB list and didn't include sighti..."Well, the restriction came from the original purpose of the club, which was to read the entire official Rory Gilmore Book Club list. When we were reading two books a month, one book came from the official list and the second came from the list or RG show (sightings, mentionings, etc.). When the second book was eliminated, it went back to the original intent of the club.
Meghan I think your comment 23 is an excellent idea and hopefully accepted as a good alternative....
I also like Meghan's suggestion. People should be able to find one that they like out of three choices. I think we could try it for three months, anyway, and see how people like it.
I like that idea, too! And then the different books can come from different lists (maybe the third one could be group members' own choices that seem to fit the group), which will give more variety. :)If the discussion leader reads the book in advance or at least by the first two weeks or so, then it will in any case ensure that there will be proper discussion starting right in the first month instead of having to wait for it until the third month.
DJ wrote: "Meghan I think your comment 23 is an excellent idea and hopefully accepted as a good alternative...."Agreed! :-)
Mod
I really like the three books in three months idea as well.
Mod
I just wanted to clarify that the main reason the discussions have been dropped is because very, very few people were participating. Just browsing back to last month's selection, I see that there were 25 posts in one month from a group of almost 2500 members. And for the entire month of August for Vanity Fair's third part...I see 3 posts.
Do you guys really feel like choosing more books in a month is going to foster more participation? Because that's a good bit of planning/vote calculating on the part of the moderators, for there to be so little discussion. I know early on as a moderator, I felt a bit obliged to read selections that I wasn't particularly interested in, and several that I had already read. As time wore on and the discussions grew thin, I came to feel that I should have just been reading something else of my own choosing (and actually kind of was, and actually kind of felt bad about it).
I would also like to add that from experience, the simpler we keep the process, the more likely we are to have good participation (Hence the adherence to the *one official* list and the narrowing of the monthly selections from two to one. These were all done to omit mass confusion/over-discussion of the "process" and add focus to the actual book discussion which is what GR is really geared toward)
If the vast majority of members wanted to keep the voting/discussion as it has been, we as moderators can discuss that. I just felt a little frustration/confusion as the one who was doing the vote calculating...I would see several members voting for a book, and then very few of those voters actually participating in the discussion.
Sorry to kind of go out on a limb here. Dini, Michele...feel free to add thoughts/comments.
Happy Monday, guys!
Not to come off school-marn but what if the main Rory list was used and read in the order in which they are first read/mentioned in the episodes of the show? No nominations needed and no calculation of votes needed -- those who have already read a book or who haven't the time for a particular book can participate or not and those who have not previously read it likewise -- let's say if this began in January -- the first book on the list by episodes would be that month's book -- the discussion takes place or a thread is provided for it -- see who jumps in or see how that month goes. Just a thought.If the next book on the episode by epsiode list is one we've read -- just go to the next one which we haven't read as yet. I have read a lot of these and I found myself nominating the same two or three most attracting me to read them over and over and usually they would not be the chosen book. BUT I did also read a few that I'd never have done otherwise. I really think sticking to that set list until those titles have been addressed first is truer to the group's being based on the series.
That might be a good idea as personally I am a fairly new member and have missed a lot of the books...I would look forward to that and also if it was going to be easier for the Moderators as well,surely ot would be worth trying as it could be a win win situation.
Hey, that might be a good idea as well. And in cases where the next book is something the group has already read, perhaps there could be a post to bump up that discussion thread in the case some newer members who weren't around for that discussion feel like doing that book as an extra reading and want to discuss it?
I would hate not having a monthly selection. I just joined a couple days ago and the monthly selection was one of the main reasons I joined this group. I like the selection of books on this list but always have a hard time chosing what I want to read next.
Dottie, I really like that idea. There are so many on the Rory list that I want to read and I own sooooooo many of them.
I really like Dotties and Meghans ideas. Although I agree with Alison, it's not the voting/selection that seems to be the problem it's the participation in the discussion. Perhaps we should go with Dotties idea and start reading what's next on the episodelist starting January, so without nominating and voting. I promise to do my best to discuss the books!
geez I need to check back here more often.I really like both Meghan's and Dottie's ideas. Key to Meghan's suggestion, I think, is the *Volunteer* Discussion Leaders, which should help encourage book discussion immensely and spread the burden of getting people more involved. I know the scifi group does this and seems to have decent success with it. I had been wondering if it might be an option here as well.
Dottie's suggestion of reading the books chronologically, as they appeared on the show, appeals to me too, and would definitely lightened the math load for the mods.
And, as an additional semi-related aside while I'm at it, I've always thought having episode discussion threads in the GG discussion section of the group would be good too. Many of the books I'm sure were intentionally selected for their episode, and I've always thought it would be interesting to explore those literary connections. If we do read the books in episode order, we could start-up episode threads simultaneously, or perhaps just work more show discussion into the book threads if we don't want to separate the two.
anyway, my ten cents. glad people are talking about this.
I know I have not been participating, but I just started grad school so my reading has been mostly textbooks . And it took me a while to ge throughg Middlesex but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I agree with Dottie's idea. I know for me it helped me to look and see the next selection, and now I know I have time so this time around I will be able to participate.
To help facilitate discussion, maybe what you could do, is everyone participating should have one question they ask. A really thought provoking question. It might help ::shrug:: There are book club questions in the backs of books sometimes as well.
In my grad class we had to hold our own book clubs and one of the things our professor told us was to have some way of organizing the discussion.
One question I have right off the bat about the awakening is "Why was this so shocking to society when it was first poublished, and how did it define novels written afterwards?" Questions like that that get you thinking about the book.
Just an idea to throw around though.
Sorry Meghan, I did not relaize you already suggested story questions. I like the idea of a group leader or voulteer. I think that if we choose someone to be a group leader then it should be someone who has read the book. That way they would know what questions to ask. I also like the idea of having a choice.
Mod
As for as fostering discussions, when the group started everyone who was a part of the discussions were inputting questions and ideas as well as their thoughts. If that's what you have wanted, the threads have always been open and I'm not sure what's holding anyone back.
I think the one problem with having designated discussion leaders with specific questions is that it could actually shut down insights and discussions that are outside of the question at hand... whether people are wanting to go a different vein or thought or are inspired by something else, they might feel less willing to open up if it was a highly directed discussion.
However, that is something else the moderators will discuss over the next few weeks. In our ongoing discussions, we did think that if we do have discussion leaders, then it will likely be someone who had that book as their first choice in their nomination list. This is not said to scare people off from voting, but to hopefully ignite excitement as you do... and don't worry, if you don't want to do it, you won't be selected.
I must say that I completely agree with Alison's earlier well-spoken post. It's really hard to take all that time and put all that effort out there then to have very little participation. Hopefully this scenario will work for everyone.
So, sorry, somewhat slow at times. Are we going to get to read a book and discuss it each month? Or even every other month? I was really looking forward to that.
Mod
Thanks. Now that I reread her post it is perfectly clear. Shame on me for reading it at work!
I'm so glad that we still go on reading!
I am glad that we are continuing monthly discussions, simply because I think it could keep the momentum of the club going. I have been sad that I have been in the group of people whose participation has decreased, but it has simply been due to the school-load. However, my last semester is coming up and I am very excited to be more active in my reading and GoodReads. I want to make a comment in that I like the new idea about voting all at once. I also wanted to say thank you for the mods who put a lot of work into this group. As someone who comes and goes (unfortunately) because of life situations, I thank you for the work and the fact that I always have interesting, insightful discussions on books to come back to.
Mod
I haven't checked what was happening in awhile and I'm really excited to see the 2010 list. Excellent idea!!! Thanks to those who pulled it all together.
The Rory Gilmore Book Club
Authors mentioned in this topic
Michael Caine (other topics)Michael Caine (other topics)
We moderators have noticed how the monthly book discussions have seriously fallen off in the last few months. We thought, therefore, that starting in January we would cease to have monthly books. Instead, any one can start a thread to discuss a book on Rory’s list. Further, if you want to invite others to read a book from Rory’s list with you, we will post a thread at the top of the Rory Book Discussions folder where you can let everyone know what you are reading and when you’d like to start the discussions.
Also, this is not to say that at some point in the future we mightn’t pick up the monthly selections again. But for now and in the minds of the moderators, this seems to be a good choice. Please feel free to let us know your feelings on this topic. This has always been a group where everyone has a voice – and is heard.
Thank you and keep reading!
Michele, Alison, & Dini
*****FOR THOSE OF YOU JUST READING THIS, PLEASE NOTE THAT THROUGH DISCUSSION ON THIS THREAD WE HAVE DETERMINED TO CONTINUE OUR MONTHLY BOOK SELECTIONS, BUT NOW VOTE AND CHOOSE THEM ALL AT ONCE FOR THE WHOLE OF THE YEAR. YOU ARE WELCOME TO TAKE PART IN THE DISCUSSIONS, AND COME DECEMBER CAN ALSO BE A PART OF THE VOTING FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR INPUT AND UNDERSTANDING.*****