Poetry Readers Challenge discussion

1. This group has now been marked private, which means people must request membership. This isn't because we're snobs but because one can't escape the impression that some new members are here solely to pimp books. If the impression endures, such identities will be blocked from the group. Send me a msg if you plead innocent. Don't send me a msg if you're an author here to pimp your book.

And now the important part:

2. This is a reading group whose members aim to read and review 20 poetry books a year.

3. For your review to be included in the count it must be reviewed HERE in the group, i.e. don't link to your website or GR review. A lot of us won't go to the trouble to click on that.

4. This is NOT a self-promotional group. If you'd like to offer your book for review, there's a section under general discussions called "Have you published a book you'd like reviewed?" and another called "Feel free to link to your book." You can post a link there with a pitch for your book. I forewarn you that there isn't much response to such posts. Nevertheless, we don't want promo activity to dominate the board and will DELETE self-promo posts that aren't in the right section.

5. This is NOT a workshop group. We don't critique poems.

Here's the rest of the 'Basic Stuff' info, which has been posted here for the past years...

This is a group for poetry readers. The challenge is to read at least 20 poetry books a year and write a review of each. Twenty is not so many – feel free to read 120. But please say a few words about them.

The books can take whatever form you choose: e-books, anthologies, chapbooks, etc., but preferably searchable at Good Reads. You are also welcome to re-read books and review them.

NICE would be if you could post a link to a poem from the book you're reviewing, or just pilfer one and post it for us. This is helpful for those considering buying or borrowing the book.

The group doesn't have any bias. Read avant-garde poetry, blank verse, haiku or concrete poetry or prose poems, read the French and Chinese and Samoans, whatever, just let us know what you think.

You can post your list of books you plan to read in the forum section below called "Members' Lists." Update whenever you want, and edit, too, if you change your mind either about reading a book or reviewing it.

If you have written a book, of course you can also recommend your own book and add it to our bookshelf, but please don't get obnoxious about it. This isn't a self-promotional group.

Add any poetry books you want to read to the icon list of group books. Add your own, too, if you like.

Swapping encouraged!

UPDATE: Again, this is not a self-promotional group. Don't post events or send invites to all members seeking readership. You are welcome to link to your book and announce a publication in this general category, though, and of course members may review other members' books. If there's any ambiguity in this message, feel free to contact me via private message.

Hello, I have my first poetry book. In what category can I invite members to know the text?

Thank you very much.
Lerryns Hernández

Lerryns wrote: "Hello, I have my first poetry book. In what category can I invite members to know the text?

Thank you very much.
Lerryns Hernández"

Under the General tab there is a thread that allows you to link to your own books https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/... , but mostly this group is about reading others' poetry.

Am I correct in understanding that there is never book discussion, or even poem discussion, in this group?

jo wrote: "Am I correct in understanding that there is never book discussion, or even poem discussion, in this group?"

Er no. Check out the threads. There is lots of discussion going on about the books people have read and about topics posted from time to time, including individual poems. If you are asking, do we all read the same book at the same time then no, we don't do that here.

jo wrote: "Am I correct in understanding that there is never book discussion, or even poem discussion, in this group?"

Hi Jo, my sense is that this group is whatever people make of it. There have definitely been spells where the group has been dead and discussion is lacking! On the other hand, there have definitely been times when people tried to start discussions about individual poems here: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/group... . And my feeling is that whenever anyone starts a new thread about a poetry book in the "Reviews" thread, they're game for others who have read the book (or even just one or two poems from the book) to respond/engage. I guess all you can do is post about books and poems you're passionate about and hope others chime in. I, for one, am game for discussion when I'm around and not busy :-)

Hi Jo,
Mostly folks use the board to post their reviews as a kind of personal challenge, which was the original purpose of the group and still its main aim. There are plenty of avid readers in the world but not everyone tries to articulate what they liked or disliked about a book.
Our most successful discussions have had to do with books that deeply impressed or appealed to a reviewer, which encouraged others to pick up the book and review it too.
In the Read 'Em and Weep section you are welcome to post or link to a poem you'd like to discuss, and we'd love it if you did, but it's hit or miss in terms of discussion.
Best,
Sarah

Just wanted to bump this thread to make sure everyone has a chance to review the group rules S. established above. A corollary of the above (as was previously posted in the "Group Info" section): people who repeatedly violate the rules, e.g., by posting self-promotional posts outside the two designated threads repeatedly, may be removed from the group, especially if such posts constitute the entirety of their contributions to the group. There are other groups on GR that have different goals and rules if you want to self-promote a book there. Thanks to all the members for all you've done to create a friendly, fun, interactive atmosphere here that isn't overly dragged down by marketing/advertising.

Thanks, Jenna.