All About Books discussion

It is time for nominations on which classic we should read in June & July.

A reminder on the procedure: anyone can nominate a book. Nominations need to be seconded by another member to qualify for the poll. Each member can only nominate or second one book. Nominations will remain open for 12 days (until May 15) or until there are six seconded books, whichever comes first.

I'd like to nominate Dombey and Son by Charles Dickens please.

I nominate
by

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Christy wrote: "To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee"

I've read many classics, but oddly, this is one that slipped through the cracks. I second To Kill a Mockingbird.

Jean wrote: "I'd like to nominate Dombey and Son by Charles Dickens please."

I will second this. I'm due a Dickens read

Greg wrote: "Christy wrote: "To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee"

I've read many classics, but oddly, this is one that slipped through the cracks. I second To Kill a Mockingbird."

That's indeed a surprise Greg! This one has been on my to-read list for ages. If it gets selected, I'll make an effort to join (but no promises!) :)

I'd like to nominate North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell

I will second The Tin Drum. Appropriate, given the author's recent death.

East of Eden by John Steinbeck

Thanks Heather :)

I would like to nominate 1984 by George Orwell

another second for dombey and son ;)

Kathy McC wrote: "East of Eden by John Steinbeck"

I second this.

Wow, the stars are aligning for me in a good way! Several of the seconded nominations are for books I've been wanting to read that I haven't read yet. A lot of times in the past I've already read the Classic category winner, but I don't think that'll happen this time. Excited! :)

I'd like to recommend The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Bronte.

Hannah wrote: "Kathy McC wrote: "East of Eden by John Steinbeck"

I second this."

I was going to second it myself!!!

Aargh! I want to read them all! :(

Same here Jean!!! I'd really love to reread Dombey and Son for istance: I've just finished listening to The Doctor's Wife where the heroine is always comparing herself to Florence Dombey!!!

Haha, yes they all look good nominations so far, it will be hard to choose this month!

I second 1984 by G. Orwell

Giorgia wrote: "another second for dombey and son ;)"

Katya wrote: "I second 1984 by G. Orwell"

I would also like to second Dombey and Son

I second To Kill a Mockingbird

To Kill a Mockingbird

I would like to nominate The Good Earth

I would like to suggest a small change to the procedure, if it is acceptable to the majority.

In order to give people who might not visit AAB (or Goodreads) every day more opportunity to participate, I suggest that we wait a few days before taking "seconds". That way more books will be able to be proposed and people can take some time to look over the suggestions before seconding.

Thoughts?

Seems OK - And you seem to be starting it now. So when is the date when the actual seconding can start?

Or will it be different in each case - ie a certain number of days since the relevant original nomination?

Jean wrote: "Seems OK - And you seem to be starting it now. So when is the date when the actual seconding can start?

Or will it be different in each case - ie a certain number of days since the relevant origi..."

I haven't firmly started as I would like to hear feedback. I have been thinking about how to make the nominations more accessible to people, as we seem to nominate and second books so rapidly each time! I don't know if this idea will work or not but it was the best idea I had.

I was thinking of starting seconds maybe 3-4 days after nominations?

I am OK, with the change, Leslie.

I thought it was kind of fun how you had to quick though.... Anyhow, I am happy with both methods.

I just wish that those who vote take more of an active part in the discussion. I have no idea how to tackle that!

I like this idea, Leslie, it makes a lot of sense. I think it would be good to try it.

I think it's a problem with lots of groups, that the people who like to vote don't always take part! What seems to happen sometimes is that the people who end up reading the book are not even the ones who voted for it! LOL

The seconding delay strategy is an interesting idea though. I haven't come across that before, so will be interested to see how it works in practise, if it goes ahead.

Like Chrissie, I do think it's the sign of a healthy group, if there are a lot of quick nominations. It shows active participation :)

I also like the seconding delay. Let's give it a go now anyway.

I think 1984 has been a group read relatively recently. Would it be a good idea to have a time limit on nominating a book for a second time?

EDIT: sorry, I think both 1984 and To Kill a Mockingbird were organised readalongs so this point is irrelevant!

Giving people more of an opportunity to participate is good. I like your suggestion Leslie!

I think that idea might work Leslie, though I could imagine that we'd still have the same race for seconding within a few hours! The only other solution I see would be allowing nominations to stay open until the 15th without setting limits on how many books can make it to polling. That way people could continue nominating and seconding for two weeks.

As for the problem of participation once votes are in....this is always a problem in all groups, though I think we have enough solid members here to get more than a few comments each month. Not the case in all groups!

Pink wrote: "I think that idea might work Leslie, though I could imagine that we'd still have the same race for seconding within a few hours! The only other solution I see would be allowing nominations to stay ..."

Ha ha ha - most likely! But it does at least allow some 'later' books to enter the running (I hope).

As for participation in the group reads, I agree with all you said.

Here are the books that have been nominated so far:

Dombey and Son by Charles Dickens
The Tin Drum by Günter Grass
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
1984 by George Orwell
The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë
The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck
The Complete Short Novels by Anton Chekhov

Sandy wrote: "Will there be a general announcement made when people are allowed to second the nominations? Is there a risk that the delay will result in a loss of interest in participating in the process, or is ..."

I can make a general announcement as well as posting here.

Quick question....if we've already nominated, does this still mean that we can't second other books?

Pink wrote: "Quick question....if we've already nominated, does this still mean that we can't second other books?"

Yes, you can't do both.

Ok thanks :)

Any other nominations?

I suspect that Pink was accurate in her prediction that the seconding will occur in a flurry. I plan to open seconding tomorrow so now is the time for any additional titles!

Let's start the seconding process!

I originally seconded Dombey and Son but I think I will change my second to The Good Earth as I'm planning on reading it in July anyway

I second The Good Earth

OK! Once again, these are the books that have been nominated:

✔Dombey and Son by Charles Dickens (seconded)
✔The Tin Drum by Günter Grass (seconded)
✔To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (seconded)
North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
1984 by George Orwell
✔The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë (seconded)
✔The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck (seconded)
✔The Complete Short Novels by Anton Chekhov (seconded)

I'd like to second The Tenant of Wildfell Hall.

I have updated message #47 and included my own seconding of Gunter Grass's The Tin Drum.

I'd like to second To Kill a Mockingbird.

Only one more slot open... I wonder which it will be!

Poor old Dickens. He had three official secondings earlier, but now in the most recent "flurry" as someone called it, there are none.

I'll second Dombey and Son.