Suggestions on "First book to read"

[Sharon]

Hi there.
I am currently reading "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell. Its an extremely meaningful book especially in the diverse cultures that we encounter each day.
It delves into our psyche and our subconscious. Its a book that is making me think twice about the decisions that I make and why.
An easy read and awesome for a book club. :)

Hope we can start a group going. We can meet in person or online.

Thanks.

Sharon

[Sharon]

Sounds good. Its a book you will not regret reading.

Sharon

[Ahtims]

Regarding Book club for 2011:

what other sites do is that they have a poll for the next month book.
ie, first 12 books to be suggested will be included in the poll. then others vote for it.
for example, I will add "Blink", the next person adds 'gone with the wind', the third person adds another book and so on, till 12 books are reached. Then there is a one week to ten day gap to vote for these 12 books which will be put on a poll. Then the book which won is read and the person who suggested the book will become the chief reader who will be responsible for the discussion thread. So only those who are really meaning to go ahead with the responsibility of reading and leading the discussion should put up books for discussion. If it is okay to all let us start the polls in Jan and the discussion in Feb

[[deleted user]]

Another thing we could do is pick an author every month and try and read as many of his books as we possibly can- that way, we could all pace them out as we find suitable. If we were to pick, say, Thomas Hardy for February, a fast reader would possibly read just about everything Hardy has written, while a more languid one such as myself would read just 4-5 of his most prominent novels.

[Muddle head]

@Smitha, seems like a good plan. @Cincinnatusc, don't u think we might suffer from burn-out doing so? I mean, my personal experience says when i read just two books by the same author, i need a break and would look for something different unless am in the middle of a series. I don't know about the rest, but that's what i feel!

[Mansee]

@ Smitha - Good Plan.
@ Aditya - Agree.

[[deleted user]]

guys maybe we can start something small/short that can start from 15th jan??? I mean feb's too far off!

[Muddle head]

hmm...looks like a gud plan, how abt havng just one book read from jan 15th till feb 1st?

Smitha, this can serve as a trial run for us and help us plan the actual group reads from feb 1st in a better way. I mean we donno howm any are going to join the group reads and what they actually need etc

[[deleted user]]

I am with Hazel on this one. Why can't we get started from the second week of Jan? We don't need all month to select books anyway.

[Akanksha]

Me too.....wanna start right away!

[Ahtims]

Yes. Let us start. Let Hazel do the honors of suggesting the first book, till the polls are ready for Feb read

[[deleted user]]

yikes! y me??
ok this is a classic i downloaded as an audio book from that site u posted, Smitha: The Return of the Soldier
does this count?

[Meenakshi]

Nice book Hazel

[Ahtims]

I checked this out in GoodReads site. It is a short book (112 pages) and quite manageable. I am game for it. We will wait for a couple of days for the opinion of Aditya and other members. If it suits all, let us go ahead. Only problem with our Indian group will be accessibility of the book. Those who read E Books may be easily be able to download a copy, but I wonder how many people will buy a book just for group reads. we will have to wait and see. I, for one, nowadays have resorted to more and more ebooks as it is much easier on my pocket.

[[deleted user]]

though its not the same as reading a book with real pages... me too... I normally borrow books from a library but now with new work timings gooing there is difficult, hence the pref for e-books :)

[Meenakshi]

Well if there'll be a problem I can provide you with links of the ebook.As far as I am concerned, lets see, I can do both of them.Read the ebook or get it from the bookstore.

[[deleted user]]

Meenakshi u should be studying for your board exam!! :P

[Prerak]

Hey Meenakshi, u givin 12th boards na?

[Meenakshi]

@Hazel we don't have board exams, thats the reason why it is not a problem for me to come online daily but I also have holidays right now that is why there are only two things that I am doing.Studying and goodreads.I have even stopped eating.I eat while I am on goodreads.
Don't worry I will never compromise my studies for anything.Thanks for your concern :)

[[deleted user]]

oh wow! no board exam?? y did i havta go thro that torture??? Twice!!

[Meenakshi]

I know you'll feel it is torture.Actually this new CCE scheme is torture.I find no time for myself not because I am studying or leaning something new but because I have to make projects and do all these silly worksheets!
Atleast you people used to study.Trust me studying is one of my favorite hobbies along with reading and a few others..

[Ahtims]

CCE is really a torture. It is there even for my son who is just in the third standard. But I feel parents are the ones who end up doing most of the project works for young kids, of course, with some rudimentary help from them. I have already finished a clock which has needles that can be rotated and am now in the process of making a weighing scale out of a clothes hanger

[Meenakshi]

@Smitha now that you are makling his projects do you think it is fair that your son gets marks for what you have done?
Besides don't you think these projects divert his m,ind from the main aim that is gaining knowledge?
I'd love to know your opinion as a parent.I have already heard many kids and they say CCE sucks..so does Kapil Sibal who has no idea of even the ABC of education.

[Ahtims]

Not making. Helping him.(Maybe I mislead you when I wrote I have finished making, and am in the process of making---. I should have worded it has helping, rather than making.)
And his teachers send a note in his diary stating that parents are supposed to help them at their projects. He is just 8 years old, Meenakshi. He is just learning to hold a scissors properly and such young kids should not be let alone with scissors, pins, needles, threads etc. An 8 year old may be asked to do a drawing or write points on any particular subject he or she has been taught. But lengthy projects involving co-ordination and expertise is out of their sphere.
I dont feel my son is cheating because all the other kids are being helped by their parents too; moreover their teachers expect it.
These projects do divert their minds. I dont know about other parents, but I make him chose the color co-ordination, pattern, ideas etc for his projects and I certainly do cut and stitch and staple together details. We also discuss in detail about the project we are doing. He learns quite a lot that way.
In my opinion,CCE should be realistic. I am in favor of properly executed CCE. It is difficult to judge someone just on the day of exam. I have seen people losing a term or a year just because they couldnot attend exam or were not well on the day of the exam. And falling ill during exam time is common as the associated stress decreases our immunity.

[Meenakshi]

@Smitha when it comes to CCE, it is not just about your son or me it is about everyone.Do you think every mom is the same? Trust me I know of kids whose parents "make" or "do" everything for them.Is it right for them too? My parents don't go beyond "helping" so it is in your case but believe me it is not the same with EVERYONE..and I don't understand what makes you think that CCE is properly implemented..it is not..only the wearer knows where the shoe pinches and I certainly am the wearer in this case..I know you'd say what everyone else said try telling this to Mr Sibal, raise your voice and blah blah blah...I tried mailing him on all his websites and email ids thrice (yes you read it right) everytime ending with the same response - Your valuable suggestions will be considered (I bet it was an answering machine)
I went to my principal and complained and she said she has no authority to do anything and refused a strike!!
yes we wanted a strike all of us, all my classmates!!

[Prateek]

Anisa wrote: "Looks like a plan to me. We can definitely start with our reading. Lets start with "blink". I will get this book from library this weekend and we can start with our reading. Other members join in t..."

well "blink" is intense op psychology book!

[Ahtims]

Meenakshi wrote: "@Smitha when it comes to CCE, it is

Good luck in your endeavors, Meenakshi. I dont think unless a huge hue and cry is raised, these people will have time to go through emails and website suggestions.

[Meenakshi]

@Smitha yes so true..thanks for your support.I need people like you in my reform.Thanks a lot for igniting the fire again.Keep up the good work.

[Muddle head]

@Hazel, so all set for the jan 15th group read of The Return of the Soldier?? Maybe you would like to have a poll to c how many are actually interested and can take part. In the poll will be useful if you can give links to the ebook, audio-book etc :-) All the Best!

[[deleted user]]

http://librivox.org/the-return-of-the... for the audio book.

http://manybooks.net/titles/westrothe... for the e-book!

[dely]

I will not partecipate. Not because I don't like the book but first I want to see how a read group is and if I would be able to understand everything and to interact in english in a discussion about a book.

[Ahtims]

Hazel, I would like to participate

[[deleted user]]

@ dely: this is the first time for me too... Never Done a group read before... Thats y its a trial run... to see what the possible glitches are :)
If it works out this is going to be fun! :)

[dely]

I will follow you silently and if I see that it is in my capacities perhaps I will join you another time.

[Akanksha]

Count me in:-) wouldn't leave this for anything!!

[Nandhitha]

for indian readers
the idea about the first book author is really good
we must think more about that

[Meenakshi]

I'm in too.I've already bought the book

[[deleted user]]

I'm in too, though I'm not entirely sure how group reads work. Can someone enlighten me?

[[deleted user]]

lol! i guess we'll all find out along the way :)

[Ahtims]

Cincinnatusc wrote: "I'm in too, though I'm not entirely sure how group reads work. Can someone enlighten me?"
have put a thread regarding the rules in welcome folder

[Muddle head]

One doubt, the leader isn't required to read the book before the group read starts, right? And wat's going to be the role of the leader? There is only one discussion thread allowed per book?

[Ahtims]

It is good if the leader finishes first. Only one thread which should be started by the leader. Others join in later. The leader has to keep the discussion lively, answer doubts, put up points to debate, etc.

[dely]

With all the new members and all the new messages I feel lost! : )
I don't know if I'm writing in the right discussion!

Who put Steinbeck in the list? I have heard very good things about that book "Mice and men". Give me some time to search it in some bookstore and I will vote for this one. If it will not be voted it doesn't matter, I will keep it for a next lecture, perhaps in a future group read. Within which date must I vote the poll?

[Ahtims]

By Jan 20, Dely