Common read?

[Werner]

In case you all haven't noticed, we don't have many posts in this group! An idea that's used in a couple of my other groups to stimulate interchange is to periodically pick a book to read as a group (on a voluntary basis --no one has to participate!), and then discuss it together. One group picks a book every month (which, IMO, is too often), the other less frequently. Of course, the holiday season probably isn't the best time to broach an idea like this; but I figured if we don't get some discussion going soon, folks who don't know better will think our group is moribund. :-) Is this an idea the rest of you would like to try? Chantal, what do you think about it?

Sometime in Dec., I plan to start reading an omnibus edition of three of C. S. Forester's Hornblower novels. If you all want to, I'd suggest reading the first one, Mr. Midshipman Hornblower, as a common read for January. But I'm open to other suggestions, if anyone has any!

[Werner]

Since I proposed a common read back in November, no one in this group has commented on that idea one way or the other. In the past year, we've had 12 comments in this group (half of which were mine), and we only have five threads counting this one, of which I think I started four. We have only 16 members, and our moderator hasn't been active on Goodreads since July. Am I the only one who thinks this group is on life support? If people are shy, or don't feel they have anything constructive to say, of course they shouldn't feel forced to post to the group; but on the other hand, an "interest" or "discussion" group that has no interest or discussion is sort of a paradox.

Since two of our remaining members are Goodreads friends of mine, who I think joined because of me, and because I think the idea of keeping interest in the classics alive and kindling it in the next generation of readers is a worthy goal, I've tried to build up and promote the group; but I have to say it doesn't seem to be working. (Maybe "classics" is too broad and undefined a focus?) Whatever the problem is, I'm inclined to say that if we don't develop more discussion some way, I'd be inclined to drop out!

[Aaron]

Hey All,

I've just been up all night looking for an online discussion group to read the classics. I've really been into reading classic literature for the past six or seven months, but I have found that I could really use some direction in my reading. I find that I remember little of what I have been reading because I am just burning through all of it. I need a place to help me think critically about what I have read. I would love to start up a common read.

~Aaron