SciFi and Fantasy eBook Club discussion
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Are 2 books a month too many?
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I think so. I remember when the group first started that I thought one book per month would be plenty . I haven't read much here recently, mostly because I've read the last six or eight science fiction selections previously and the fantasy choices just haven't interested me very much.
Besides going to one book per month, alternating between science fiction and fantasy, I'd also like to suggest voting 30 to 60 days in advance. If, for example, a book was selected on 12/31/2011, the discussion wouldn't start until February 1st or maybe even March 1st. I like things to have extra time. It would give me the chance to read, think, and ponder about the books, rather than nominate and vote.
Besides going to one book per month, alternating between science fiction and fantasy, I'd also like to suggest voting 30 to 60 days in advance. If, for example, a book was selected on 12/31/2011, the discussion wouldn't start until February 1st or maybe even March 1st. I like things to have extra time. It would give me the chance to read, think, and ponder about the books, rather than nominate and vote.
Well, I'm certainly open to changing things up. Regarding the quantity of books we read, I read 12 or so a month so it really isn't an imposition on my overall reading time, but I can see where many do not have that luxury.
For longer, more detailed conversations, we can do that but that will also require someone to lead and guide the conversations each month - start up discussion topics and all that. We can do that, but we will need to have a defined way to say who that someone is each month.
For longer, more detailed conversations, we can do that but that will also require someone to lead and guide the conversations each month - start up discussion topics and all that. We can do that, but we will need to have a defined way to say who that someone is each month.
Just let me say up front that there is certainly no requirement to tailor the group to my personal preferences; I just wanted to see if I was unique in my desires or not.If we come to a general agreement that we would like more detailed discussions and that that requires a discussion leader, that might be another indication that 2 books/month is (are?) too many, if only to reduce the number of discussion leaders needed each month. :-)
I have no problem with changing to reading just one book a month if that's the consensus. I would love to see more in-depth discussion, but it does mean someone taking charge of that each month, and even with that, the bottom line is that you need people in the group to actually be active. It does feel like there is a very small group of active posters in the group.I will say that I have read some great books because of this group. I was looking over my list and while there have been a few 2 stars, and one DNF, most of my reads from this group I have rated at 4 stars, so I certainly appreciate that.
Greg, I've been thinking about your 30 to 60 days recommendation and I know some groups do that already ... and we can too ... But, that will require a lot of voting now to get us caught up and then a little work to keep it caught up. But, that's definitely do-able.
Geoffrey wrote: "I've been thinking about your 30 to 60 days recommendation and I know some groups do that already ... and we can too ... "
Well, let's see if a view more people chime in with approval.
Well, let's see if a view more people chime in with approval.
What I also need then are volunteers to nominate books for the next few months. After 4 months of voting from the Runner Up like, we kinda fell out of the habit of the nominations by one individual.
Are we going to stick with two books a month or go to one?
For now I think we'll stay at two ...
I'm not as fast a reader as most people here on goodreads. For me two books would be difficult because it is not only this group whose reads I'll be doing. But I will try to fit at least one title in for each month.
Reading speed is always a factor. Obviously amount of spare-time plays a big part too. When I have enough time available I will often read a book I'm enjoying in its entirety in an evening.I would be fascinated to learn what the average time for reading an average length book is. I'm working on a series of sci-fi novels and it would be good to have some idea of how long after buying the first one I can expect the average reader to want the second one.
Getting back to the original topic, I think two books should definitely be the maximum, but may just one book would be more sensible? Or maybe a main book and a secondary book, with the focus being on the first, but the second to help keep faster readers interested and involved?
Paul wrote "Or maybe a main book and a secondary book, with the focus being on the first, but the second to help keep faster readers interested and involved?"I work two jobs sometimes three and don't have a large amount of spare time and I like your idea Paul it keeps someone like me interested in the group readings and keeps the fast readers happy.
I think Paul has a great idea. I read quickly but I don't just read the books from here. I am usually reading about two to three books at a time.
One book a month is certainly enough for me. I've been in online discussions before and they always take a long time to warm up and get to anything worth discussing.
LoL I misunderstood the title of the post. I was thinking you meant 'If I read 2 books per month, does that make me a wierdo?' or something along those lines. I came in with a rant prepared on how I sometimes finish one in a day and get well into another before bed. Of course, at this pace, I burn myself out quickly, and end up jumping from series to series in an attempt to 'keep it fresh.' This is the reason why I'm in the middle of no less than six series right now LoL. However, back to the topic, maybe one a month would be a good number. If its good discussion we're looking for, there are plenty to be found in the average book. This is why I say maybe one a month is good. Also, not everyone has so much time on their hands to read, so there's that.
The secondary book would also be good too, because as you say, reading speed is a factor. Some people might not finish until half way through the month, while others might be done and ready to discuss in a few days. It'd almost have to be like having an entire forum devoted to each book, with a topic for each subject or question, so everything doesn't get buried under the same thread by the time the others join the conversation. Know what I'm sayin?
Sorry to ramble, I do that.
No, two a month isn't too many, but it would be nice to see something on the list that I had not read MANY years ago (and quite possibly had to sell to make more room for my ever growing library).
As long as I have my 45 min city bis ride commute to work each day, 2 books a month is not too much.
Two books a month is no hardship for me, depending on the book. Some books take me weeks to read and others hours. I am a blazingly fast reader at times and with college books to read as well, sometimes I get back logged on the books I want to read. Doesn't happen often since there are times, like now, where I'm just waiting on the author to finish the next book, or the library to get a copy, or the money to buy one myself. Waiting, it's not just a suggestion, it's reality. :)
Between the fact that I am not a particularly fast reader along with a pretty busy work/commute schedule these days, if I were to read both monthly book selections here, it would come close to being 50% of my reading time. As such, I find myself generally only reading one of this group's selections per month, if that many.
Additionally, it seems that the group's activity (outside of the authors promoting their books in their sub-forum) mostly consists of selecting a theme, selecting a book, and then a few people providing a brief review. I personally envisioned more detailed discussions when this group was first created, more or less like in-person, non-internet book clubs.
For such detailed discussions to occur, I think the emphasis on book selection needs to shift from simply picking books that interest a majority of readers and instead trying to select books with a certain amount of depth, artistry, controversy, or whatever it is that would incite in-depth discussions, not jut brief reviews.
To that end, it's hard for me to envision that happening while continuing the two book per month schedule -- at least the evidence to date would seem to indicate that. Even if we reduced it to one book per month, I'm not overflowing with ideas on how the selection process could be changed to try to choose books more likely to be worthy of more than a few short reviews from a few of the group members.
Any thoughts? Or is it just me, and most of you like the way things are going? (And I'm not blaming anyone, just looking for something that would -- selfishly -- be more satisfying to me.)