Ersatz TLS discussion

Joy, what was your Guardian TLS username?
can see the friend request, just wondering which poster you were..

giveusaclue wrote: "Andy wrote: "giveusaclue wrote: "In case there are any others who need a clue (it is probably just me!) it seems you need to be on the desktop version to be able to reply, edit or delete posts."

O..." I still use the tablet, just opened in Safari rather than the app.

AB76 wrote: "AB here....i'm in, new to this site but seem to have sorted it

is this as moderated as the Guardian site?"


Yes, by the catlovers!!!!

is this as moderated as the Guardian site?"

Yes, by the catlovers!!!!"

Ah, I almost posted on the real TLS something about new moderation rules about banning cat posts (wink wink), with direct apologies to you, but thought 'too soon' and didn't post the comment in the end ;-).

As you can see, plenty of dog lovers too here!

Gladarvor wrote: "is this as moderated as the Guardian site?"

Yes, by the catlovers!!!!"

Ah, I almost posted on the real TLS something about new moderation rules about banning cat posts (wink wink), with direct ap..."


Feel free everyone to mention cats as much as you like. I can cope with them on paper!! Especially applies to Lisa who has set the group up for us. Thanks so much.

I have popped back a couple of times to TLS to mention this site so, hopefully, others will keep picking it up and join us.

It may also help to get a point across to the powers that be

Sara wrote: "I’m here and glad that we can meet and possibly be in touch more readily. I haven’t posted much of late as I felt more and more of a disconnect from the paper. I look forward to lots of recommendat..."

I was rummaging in my purse yesterday and found an M&S gift card I had for my birthday in February and had forgotten about. Interesting that if you ring up to find the balance they extend its use by date for 2 years.

Totally off topic but hope the moderators don't take action.

Totally off topic but hope the moderators don't take action.

Well, depends: do you intend to buy books, or cat toys with that voucher, mmm?

Gladarvor wrote: "Totally off topic but hope the moderators don't take action.

Well, depends: do you intend to buy books, or cat toys with that voucher, mmm?"

Well I am just hoping lockdown expires before the gift card!

It always amazes me on tls when folks say how many books they have read during the year. I may make a New Year resolution to keep a list on good reads because I usually have no idea.

giveusaclue wrote: "Totally off topic but hope the moderators don't take action"

The Moderators are Just but Merciful. I hope that answers any questions!

giveusaclue wrote: "...is this as moderated as the Guardian site?"

Yes, by the catlovers!!!!"

HaHaHa! I have a plan for the catlovers (and doglovers and tortoiselovers, etc.), built with particularly you in mind! More to follow, after interwar and I have our planning session tomorrow.

Lljones wrote: "giveusaclue wrote: "...is this as moderated as the Guardian site?"

Yes, by the catlovers!!!!"

HaHaHa! I have a plan for the catlovers (and doglovers and tortoiselovers, etc.), built with particul..."
OOOh - so excited!

Lljones wrote: "giveusaclue wrote: "...is this as moderated as the Guardian site?"

Yes, by the catlovers!!!!"

HaHaHa! I have a plan for the catlovers (and doglovers and tortoiselovers, etc.), built with particul..."

Mmmm.....

Good to see this group continuing. I have only ever lurked on the RG and TLS but I have been active on the annual Not The Booker the last 3 years as Mr Brown.

Just a thought - for those who appreciate Sam’s moderation and don’t already do this - have you considered a subscription to Galley Beggar?

Gumble's Yard wrote: "Good to see this group continuing. I have only ever lurked on TLS but I have been active on the annual Not The Booker the last 3 years as Mr Brown.

Just a thought - for those who appreciate Sam’s..."
That is a mighty good suggestion

Turns out it’s not a great suggestion as I went to post a link and found they are at capacity - albeit there is a waiting list you can join.

https://www.galleybeggar.co.uk/subscribe

As an alternative their latest book Mordew is getting some fantastic reviews.

https://www.galleybeggar.co.uk/paperb...

Kayaki wrote: "Good Day TLSers. Here as Kayaki, which has nothing to do with kayaks but is the name of a village near Nagasaki."

Kayaki, after your beautifully evocative post over the real TLS, I tried looking up for Kayaki near Nagasaki, to see pictures and/or wander around virtually, but google could not find it. What should I enter to be able to locate it...? ありがとうございます

Hello! Another alias for this site, I am soo fed up wth the graun for getting rid of tls and the reading group. Thanks Llcoolj for setting this up look forward to some good discussions .

Trying out my first book post here:

I am currently reading Suppose A Sentence by Brian Dillon. It's a book of 27 short essays each focusing on a sentence - by writers from Shakespeare and John Donne to Hilary Mantel and Anne Carson, via Beckett, Baldwin, Sontag and others. It's partly an exercise in close reading - in understanding how these sentences work, why they have the effect they do. But it goes beyond that: the essays are discursive and digressive, talking about why Dillon is writing about this particular writer, why he's chosen this particular sentence, and all sorts of contextual stuff. It's very well written and really interesting - recommended.

Gladarvor wrote: "Kayaki wrote: "Good Day TLSers. Here as Kayaki, which has nothing to do with kayaks but is the name of a village near Nagasaki."

Kayaki, after your beautifully evocative post over the real TLS, I ..."

Gladarvor, try "Kayakimachi" on Google Maps.

Since I'm now part of a Community, I did a thing I almost never do and wrote a review on Goodreads.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The short version: Red Clocks is fantastic. Read it!

Hello to all from TLS and anyone new. Once I can work out how to add comments and add to my lists of books then I will. Joined GR a few weeks ago and didn't really get into it. Must try harder :)

I'm not sure I know how to use this! I signed up to Goodreads many years ago and then just ignored it, anyway here is hoping I am posting in the right place... Jediperson has become Tam it seems... still she was always changing her names...for future use.

I am about to start Elif Shafak, '19 Minutes 38 seconds In This Strange World', I booked 'Summer Without Men' Siri Hudsvelt, from the library back in the spring. Still no sign of it.. Perhaps I should have looked for a 'Winter Without Men' instead so that I would have a good book to snuggle up to in the coldness of winter.

I did enjoy 'Ghost Wall' its not really a ghost story unless you consider people wrestling with their inner demons as 'ghosts'. I will be looking out for more Sarah Moss books. Now to see where this has gone to!...

Love Sarah Moss. Have read everything except her latest.

JayZed wrote: "Gladarvor, try "Kayakimachi" on Google Maps."

That's great JayZed, thanks a mil. I've just spent a good 20 minutes 'there'. As it happens, I had some Ghibli piano music playing already in the background (helpful when I have to do some write-up), which suited perfectly. Beautiful views of the sea and the verdant hills. I got evocations of Ponyo...

Don't know how long my comment will stay unmoderated, but I just couldn't resist sticking my knife in a little over at the Grun:

have-you-been-using-the-pandemic-to-catch-up-on-long-classic-novels

Asking this question, still in mid-pandemic, the very week that TLS is being axed. How very unself aware of you Guardian.

giveusaclue wrote: "Don't know how long my comment will stay unmoderated..."

Perfect question for this spot, 'clue. In fact it's a perfect question to set up as its own discussion topic. Would you like to add it as a topic, or would you like me to do it for you?

(Interwar and I will be meeting later today and we'll post more details about guidelines, layout, etc., soon.)

Astonished that the Guardian could do this, a cultural void will open as they try and tune into clickbait no doubt

It all happened so fast as well, surely they had a kitty for when the roof leaks, didnt Viner keep hyping how great things were back in 2019, with the contrubutions from readers

anyone got any idea who actually dumped TLS?

Just started "The Colony of New Netherland: A Dutch Settlement in 17c America", its written by a dutch professor, published by Cornell Uni Press

The author has used original dutch sources rather than the later english translations to document the 50 or so years that the HudsonRiver,Manhattan and New Jersey were occupied and governed from the Dutch Republic

He sets the scene well with a guide to flora, fauna, climate and geography as it was in 1655. Warmer than Holland in summer, colder in winter. The population was about 2,000 whites (walloon. fleming and jewish minorities and about 50% Dutch, there were also approx 11,000 Indians

Lljones wrote: "giveusaclue wrote: "Don't know how long my comment will stay unmoderated..."

Perfect question for this spot, 'clue. In fact it's a perfect question to set up as its own discussion topic. Would you..."

Thanks Lisa, I seem to have succeeded in my first attempt at trying to start a new topic! Perhaps you would like to check it.

AB76 wrote: "Astonished that the Guardian could do this, a cultural void will open as they try and tune into clickbait no doubt

It all happened so fast as well, surely they had a kitty for when the roof leaks,..."

Don't know but we have appointed a hitman!!

AB76 wrote: "anyone got any idea who actually dumped TLS?"

Jeez, that's getting a bit uncomfortable. I do know (and why), but I've been asked not to share this info.

Ok, so perhaps what I can say is this: 1. this is actually more complex than somebody making the decision for it to be dumped, 2. importantly it has not been dumped yet, and there is a chance this might get resurrected, 3. the letter we sent make this more likely according to the powers that be, but whether this will be enough remains to be seen.

Really sorry I cannot do better than this, this is already probably more than they'd like me to share 😞.

Gladarvor wrote: "AB76 wrote: "anyone got any idea who actually dumped TLS?"

Jeez, that's getting a bit uncomfortable. I do know (and why), but I've been asked not to share this info.

Ok, so perhaps what I can sa..."

ok...

giveusaclue wrote: "Don't know but we have appointed a hitman!!"

As a big fuck you, I'd love it if the pic chosen to illustrate the Ersatz TLS group was one of Sam (only half-joking actually)!

i understand the nature of the situation glad, its all a bit of a mess i'm sure and being repeated accross businesses in the wake of covid

i hope sam finds something else and keeps galleybeggar press going, these are tough times for everyone on the capitalist frontline, exploited and then discarded...daily

Machenbach wrote: "Somebody with experience of GoodReads groups is gonna have to talk us through the usual drill, I think. "

Hold your horses, please. Interwar and I are meeting (Zoom!) in 1/2 hour to work out the details.

One tip for now, though: You spotted Justinterwar's updated status because you and she are 'friends'. That part of the interface is related to Justine's profile, tracking the books she's reading, reviews, etc. Your own Home page is updated with any activity of any folks linked to you as a friend. The Groups & Discussions are totally separate from that and you can participate in one without the other.

Hope that helps a little.

BTW, I hope I haven't given anyone the impression I *like* the GR interface, because I don't. I've just gotten used to it through the years.

Lljones wrote: "Hold your horses, please. Interwar and I are meeting (Zoom!) in 1/2 hour to work out the details."

Not using a cauldron? I am disappointed in Esme, letting all this technology dominate her ancient and venerable witchery knowledge, pfft.

Pomfretian wrote: "Hello to all from TLS and anyone new. Once I can work out how to add comments and add to my lists of books then I will. Joined GR a few weeks ago and didn't really get into it. Must try harder :)"

Really enjoyed Shafak- so looking forward to your comments.

Gladarvor wrote: "Kayaki wrote: "Good Day TLSers. Here as Kayaki, which has nothing to do with kayaks but is the name of a village near Nagasaki."

Kayaki, after your beautifully evocative post over the real TLS, I ..."
Hi Glad, you could try entering kayakimachi, that should work (I think) or copy this kanji 蚊焼町.
You are quite welcome to tour around the village, the folks here are quite friendly.

looks like adding friends is best way to communicate, as i think LL mentioned, otherwise it could get a big ragged

feel free to invite or request me as a friend, i dont think we have any online axe murderers lurking!

JayZed wrote: "Trying out my first book post here:

I am currently reading Suppose A Sentence by Brian Dillon. It's a book of 27 short essays each focusing on a sentence
That looks unusual, and interesting. Thanks.

Not using a cauldron? I am disappointed in Esme."
Sorry, I thought I had all the ingredients, but had run out of roots of hemlock, and the fillet of a fenny snake was past its Use By date.

Re ORGANIZATION: See Moderation discussion. I will be opening a fresh discussion thread every Monday morning (UK time), beginning on Nov.2nd.

Alwynne wrote: "Machenbach, I don't know if this helps but doing status updates or not depends on what level of interaction you want to have with other users..."

Jesus Fucking Christ, I only speak for myself here, but your description of the interactions on GR is everything I hate about social media. Thanks for doing this, that's extremely helpful - and a little scary.

I am putting this out there (not to you Alwynne): I'll only accept a 'friend' request if I feel I 'know' the person already... sorry to the person whose request I've 'ignored'. In time, I might get to know you here!

Kayaki wrote: "Hi Glad, you could try entering kayakimachi, that should work (I think) or copy this kanji 蚊焼町."

Thanks a lot Kayaki! In the meantime JayZed had come up with the right name for me, and I had indeed taken a virtual stroll through your lovely village, esp. along the narrow road by the coast. But please let me know if there are streets in the hills I should explore!

Justine wrote: "Not using a cauldron? I am disappointed in Esme."
Sorry, I thought I had all the ingredients, but had run out of roots of hemlock, and the fillet of a fenny snake was past its Use By date."

Tsk tsk, that pandemic sure makes sourcing exotic ingredients difficult. At a pinch, you can use wild carrots instead of the hemlock, but yes, good luck with the fenny snake at the moment!

Gladarvor wrote: "Kayaki wrote: "Hi Glad, you could try entering kayakimachi, that should work (I think) or copy this kanji 蚊焼町."

Thanks a lot Kayaki! In the meantime JayZed had come up with the right name for me, ..."

Yes, I only noticed Jayzed's post after I replied. Oh well, glad it works. You could explore the area up the hill, across the main road. Just to the south of the village is the Buddhist temple and the cemetery. Our house is just up the hill from there near the edge of the forest. Lovely quiet spot. Just east of the temple is a narrow road that wends up the hill in a zig zag fashion. Follow this road up the hill and you will see where we live. I just checked it out and the streetview does seem to be more than 6 years old as our house isn't there, it's the big old shed that used to be here before we knocked it down and built a new house. Continue following the road over the hill and you will come to the eastern side of the peninsula and have views towards Shimabara.

Will there be a thread for each week to replicate TLS? Might be an idea to have a suggestions thread so we can discuss how we think the group should work.