Improving the group

[[deleted user]]

@Sara. The last movie discussion hardly generated any discussion at all. Only Barbara made a comment about the movie itself. I was thinking of maybe switch to a quarterly group discussion, as it would mean only a quarter of the work, which would make me feel a lot better if no-one takes part.

[I-like-to-read]

RE: Movie - I feel a bit guilty, as I haven't had time to watch either film, I've got so much on my sky+ box I'm trying to catch up on all my BBC4 foreign programmes. :-)

[[deleted user]]

I can't blame people for not having the time to take part. If it's a struggle for most people it might be better to make the switch.

[Sara]

I had already seen Waking Ned Devine and didn't get a chance to watch it again. I would enjoy discussing a movie on a quarterly basis. :o).

[[deleted user]]

I kind of feel better now about the switch, Sara. Thanks for responding.

[[deleted user]]

That's the hope, Allan. Next month we'll have our quarterly read, so I think I'll start it around then if that suits every body?

[Barbara]

Declan wrote: "That's the hope, Allan. Next month we'll have our quarterly read, so I think I'll start it around then if that suits every body?"

I think that's a good idea. Thanks for being willing to try it as monthly.

[[deleted user]]

It was worth a shot, Barbara, and it's kind of a shame that it didn't work out.

[Mr. Owl]

My suggestion: I've just spent 10 minutes looking for the voting thread for October. If a kind soul could point me in the right direction.

For example, its not on this page (as I write this).

[[deleted user]]

The October thread is now closed, Sean, and the poll will be finished shortly.

You should be able to find it on the group's home page, either by following the link at the top left, or it'll be in full at the bottom.

[Mr. Owl]

Declan, the nominations thread is never an issue.

I had no luck finding the voting thread at all. I see its now appearing on the page that I linked to though.

I wonder if the link could be made more prominent?

[[deleted user]]

I've no idea what's going on. It should always appear on that page.

I've been having a lot of problems accessing GR from my phone. I'm wondering if there's an overhaul going on that's affecting the site's performance.

[[deleted user]]

They are having weird issues. It's a small segment of the GR population. It seems to be spreading site wide now. Amazing how much trouble one person can cause.

[[deleted user]]

One person? Do you know any more about it, Jamielynn?

[[deleted user]]

Lauren Pippa. Her book hasn't left the shelf even though it was not released. It's call Learning to Love. People criticized it because it was about a virgin who is determined to stay pure til she's married then she meets a handsome teacher..so she "Learns to Love." Someone said they would rather be sodomized or something to that effect than read the book. She made an accusation of a personal threat.

A bunch of people gave her a 5 star rating because they felt sorry for her.

Anyway if you look up her book some of it is there.(not much)

A lot of the info is in the "goodreads feedback" group. Tons of threads and pages to skim over but it's there.

[[deleted user]]

I've got to say, that whole episode is just silly. Is it too much to ask adults to act their age?

That isn't criticism of a book, or even of behaviour. It's nonsense.

[[deleted user]]

The threads got really carried away.
The little spark spread like wildfire.
Now some of them have put duct tape-like things across their mouths. It's exaggerated now.

[Barbara]

I am a member of another Goodreads group Books on the Nightstand. I listen to their podcast more than participate in GR. One member posted this link to a Washington Post article that explains the hullabaloo :
Is Goodreads’ new policy really censorship?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/c...

[[deleted user]]

There was no threat. She made it up. She admitted it. Oh well...

[Cathleen]

Barbara wrote: "I am a member of another Goodreads group Books on the Nightstand. I listen to their podcast more than participate in GR. One member posted this link to a Washington Post article that explains the h..."

Interesting Washington Post article. What a tangled mess it is.

[Barbara]

Jamielynn wrote: "There was no threat. She made it up. She admitted it. Oh well..."

oh boy...sigh.

[Allan]

This isn't a post about improving the group as such, but with the group's very healthy expansion into 'Buddy Reads' or 'Unofficial Group Reads', would it be an idea to create a section of the group with either of these two titles, then name the individual threads after the books we are reading? This would allow existing members to find the relevant discussions easily, allow for tidier discussions, and enable future members to get the taste of what we have read. Just a thought!

I'd assume that our wonderful moderator would be the man to have the powers to do this if everyone was amenable... :)

[Trelawn]

That sounds good Allan, we shall see what the great and powerful oz (declan) has to say about its feasability.

[Barbara]

Allan - I am getting distracted from working:) I should turn off the email notifications on my laptop while working but may not be able to figure out how to get them back on:) GRI is more fun than designing assignment rubrics for my course.

[Susan]

Trelawn, you have a great turn of phrase. Declan is really the great and powerful Oz. Such a perfect description of our much admired moderator.

Barbara, I have been having trouble with GR notifications. Sometimes they come in very late. I know what you and Emma mean about getting easily distracted by them. My GR friends are infinitely entertaining.

[Seraphina]

I would be up for that as long as we don't see a decline in participants in the monthly reads...
This group is very entertaining, there are so many great book discussions it's hard to keep up

[[deleted user]]

The best way to do it would be to start a bookshelf abduction then add the 'buddy reads' to it. This way I can connect them directly to discussion folders.

I'd rather not have unselected books on the group's shelves but there's no sub folder option and things would get messy very quickly.

[Susan]

Abduction? Are we kidnapping books now?

[[deleted user]]

Susan, I have no idea how I typed that. :-/

[Susan]

LMAO.

[Allan]

Declan, would a sub category like the 'Promotions / Events' or 'Stuff Worth Sharing' not be an option then? I'm assuming that threads created for books in a sub category like this wouldn't link to the group's bookshelf, which would as you say make things very messy, and should be avoided.

Seraphina, with so many in the group being pretty voracious readers, I'd hope that group reads won't suffer from buddy reads-I'd say, if anything, they'd actually make the group even stronger, due to the possible variety of reads attracting potential members. I'd venture that they'd be occasional anyway, rather than monthly, and in some cases might only involve a couple of people. I suppose we'll have to see how the first couple go before we can judge!

[[deleted user]]

@Allan. If I did it that way main threads and spoiler threads would become separated from another. The book shelf method would let me dedicate a folder to each book and give a link from shelf straight to folder.

[[deleted user]]

@Theresa. It is an incredibly prolific group. That's why I think you'll fit in nicely.

@Emma. I'll get onto it tomorrow.

[Cathleen]

Barbara wrote: "Allan - I am getting distracted from working:) I should turn off the email notifications on my laptop while working but may not be able to figure out how to get them back on:) GRI is more fun than ..."

I'll second that, Barbara :)

[Mo]

I say whatever we can do to make Declan's life bearable. I'd hate to think that GRI is stressful for anyone! I'm in several groups on GR, but this one is by far the most enjoyable and features the most interesting reads. I'd love to see it remain that way.

[Susan]

That's why we bow down to him whenever we can, Mo. Declan is the best moderator on GR bar none.

[[deleted user]]

Thanks, guys! :-) I'll.start blushing again.

[I-like-to-read]

I don't know how Declan does it, I have serious trouble keeping up not only with the book reads but also the entertaining conversations.

[[deleted user]]

The entertaining conversations are what make it all worthwhile, Kate. :)

[Sara]

In the past 6 months, we've had at least 2 months (possibly more) where we've been tied at the end of voting for either the monthly or quarterly read. I would like to suggest that if this happens in future months, we do a shortened runoff (3 days or so) between the books that are tied. I see two advantages to this system: (1)Less stress for our esteemed awesome moderator Declan, and (2) Producing the book that the most people possible want to read and discuss. I see one disadvantage...namely that it would increase the amount of time it takes to select a book. This could be compensated for by allowing a slightly shorter nomination period.

[Allan]

Sara, you've come up with a really good idea there. I was going to suggest something different, for this month at least, to see if it'd work.

Would there be any harm in running both books that tied as monthly reads in tandem? As Declan says, whatever choice he makes, there'll be readers that'll be lost from the July read. Certainly, looking at those who voted for 'The Son', I can't see there being much crossover interest, aside from yourself, Sara-I'm not sure about the other way. But with the vote being so strong, and with the group becoming so diverse in its reading tastes, I can see the possibility of two reads working and strong discussion ensuing in both threads. And after all, with the quarterly read, quite often two strong discussions are often happening anyway!

Declan is always excellent at thinking outside the box, and we'll all be happy to go with his decision, but this could be something to try at least once? Alternatively, I'd definitely back up your proposal, Sara, as a fair way of taking the pressure off our esteemed leader!

[Mae]

Allan wrote: "Sara, you've come up with a really good idea there. I was going to suggest something different, for this month at least, to see if it'd work.

Would there be any harm in running both books that ti..."
agreed

[Seraphina]

I think that's a good idea Sara. There were 3 pretty close books this month and if the people who voted on other books changed their vote for whichever of the three they prefer then it could have ended up taking the hassle off Declan.

[[deleted user]]

I like your suggestion, Sara. In future I'll do it that way giving three days each to gather nominations, vote on the poll and then possibly vote on the tied novels. I may still have to keep a deciding vote in case the tie-breaker poll ends in tie again. At least this will allow me to vote on the initial poll, though.

Today's the last day of the month, so I'll cast my vote on this poll so people can get buying or reading.

[Paul]

Its all a learning process Theresa ;-)

[Susan]

I liked Sara's idea but Allan's even better. I don't think there would be any harm on having two book reads. We are becoming very diverse and it's hard if people feel left out.

[Paul]

I suppose with the unofficial read and buddy read we've enough going as it is.

[[deleted user]]

I think the group reads should be the focus of the group and having too many might make people feel swamped. When that happens it's easier to walk away than slog through.

[Seraphina]

I agree with Declan. I find that even if the group choice is not the book I wanted, I'll still give it a go. It encourages you to read something outside your own genre which is what you will inevitably pick. And it makes for interesting discussions

[Cathleen]

I looked for Good Omens in my library, and it's checked out for the month, but I see that Barnes & Noble has paperback copies for about 4.50.