|
Post by RepairmanJack on Nov 21, 2004 23:09:31 GMT -5
At my library I lead a book discussion group. I have a lot of fun with it, but I have one complaint. My group meets in the afternoon on Monday's which means it consists of all elderly ladies. It seems they are the only ones with free time in the afternoon. Now don't get me wrong--they are a lot of fun in the discussions, it is just that I am limited in what I can pick for the group. I have a large group and being older the majority of them need large print books which really limits my choices. I have had to pass on quite a few titles I thought would be good because I could not get the books for my group.
My reason for bringing all of this up is to see if there is any interest in our web board group of doing a book discussion. We could pick a book and start a thread where people could post comments they have on the book. I was thinking of a deadline of maybe a month to finish the book and let people post their thoughts on the thread. We could rotate who gets to pick the book to let everyone have a chance and increase the types of things we read.
So, is there any interest? We can do a wide range of books so for those of you who like to read this is your chance.
|
|
|
Post by MaxQuad on Dec 23, 2004 19:41:56 GMT -5
So, is there any interest? We can do a wide range of books so for those of you who like to read this is your chance. So when do we start? MQ
|
|
|
Post by RepairmanJack on Dec 24, 2004 0:58:29 GMT -5
January would be a great place to start. A new year and a new discussion. I am open to read almost anything. We can go contemporary or classic. Does anyone have any suggestions for titles? Think on it for a short time. We can pick a title and maybe start our discussion next month sometime depending on how fast people read.
|
|
|
Post by Shutter Girl on Jan 4, 2005 19:52:20 GMT -5
Do you want to consider a nonfiction book for discussion?
Jared Diamond has just published Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed. He's great and uses history, sociology, science, sex, you name it to make his point. I believe his last book won the Pulitzer. Might be worth considering....
|
|
|
Post by stubedoo on Jan 4, 2005 22:40:24 GMT -5
I read Jared Diamond's first book, Guns Germs and Steel. Or I should say I read half of it.
I thought it was extremely well written and presented, but my problem with it was I got the point in the first two chapters, and the rest of the book just led credence to his same argument. I put it down one day and never got around to finishing it.
|
|
|
Post by RepairmanJack on Jan 4, 2005 23:24:38 GMT -5
The Jared Diamond book would be a great choice I believe. Very timely too as we are seeing the beginnings of a shift in world economic power today. China and India will be the next leaders and it will be interesting to see how the U.S. handles the change as a society.
|
|
|
Post by Shutter Girl on Jan 5, 2005 9:57:51 GMT -5
There's also a book called The Wisdom of Crowds which argues that we make better decisions as a whole rather than individually.
I think a lot of books that set out to make a point read like that, Stu. I don't like being beat over the head with the matter though, I've got to say.
Anyone have any other clever ideas?
Do those who would like to participate plan on buying a book or getting it from their local library? (this isn't a leading question!)
|
|
|
Post by stubedoo on Jan 5, 2005 14:52:15 GMT -5
I will usually get a book from the library unless I know I want to keep it, or I see it used. If the book is popular, though, I generally don't bother with the library because I can't renew it. It takes me awhile to get through books these days.
|
|
|
Post by MaxQuad on Jan 7, 2005 20:45:47 GMT -5
Do those who would like to participate plan on buying a book or getting it from their local library? (this isn't a leading question!) I generally (almost always) buy the books I read. I do not like to borrow books from friends. I have not gone to the library for years. (Sorry if I offend any of those that have a stake in the success of libraries.) I want them to be TEXTmine. TEXTI generally read fiction (as I believe I have stated before) so would be interested to stretch here and start with non-fiction. (Interesting that the last book I read - The Bookseller of Kabul - and the current book I am reading - Reading Lolita in Tehran - are non-fiction!) Who is going to participate? MQ
|
|
|
Post by RepairmanJack on Jan 8, 2005 0:12:27 GMT -5
One of the best things about a book discussion group is to stretch yourself and try something you would never have picked up on your own. That said I am open to trying anything. If anyone has an idea for a book to try throw it out there and we can vote on it. Yes, this does mean count me in.
I am interested in trying the latest Jared Diamond book which I will read even if we do not choose it. I am currently reading 2 non-fiction books: Under the Black Flag by David Cordingly and On Liberty by John Stuart Mill. The Cordingly book is about piracy, primarily in the Caribbean in the 17th and 18th centuries. Mill's book is about the rights of the individual against the rights of the state. As I said though I am willing to try about anything.
|
|
|
Post by Shutter Girl on Jan 8, 2005 10:52:15 GMT -5
Should we start with something lighter as an introduction? Fiction perhaps? How about if folks start making suggestions and then I'll post a poll with the titles.
Sound fair?
|
|
|
Post by MaxQuad on Jan 8, 2005 12:58:35 GMT -5
Should we start with something lighter as an introduction? Fiction perhaps? How about if folks start making suggestions and then I'll post a poll with the titles. Sound fair? I am game no matter what is selected. In terms of fiction, I have just purchased The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien. I have yet to read the short stories by Richard Russo - The Whore's Child and Other Stories. Has anyone read The Time Traveler's Wife? Just saw it at B&N today - looks like a fun read. Even though I never read Moby Dick, Ahab's Wife is also out there. Just some thoughts. Others? MQ
|
|
|
Post by Shutter Girl on Jan 9, 2005 11:43:14 GMT -5
It's funny, I see all the new books that come into my particular library and I always see something good and think, "This would make a great book discussion!" Of course, I can't remember anything at the moment! Let's give all give ourselves a week (starting today) to suggest some titles and discuss what we might like to read here. Seeing as we've never done this together before it will be interesting (and it already has been!) to find out what types of books folks would like to read. Also, if you'd like to join than please post on this thread so we know you're interested. So far we have: Max, Repairman, myself and possibly TriKrona. Off the top of my head I'd like to try Tortilla Curtain by T.C. Boyle. I've always wanted to read it anyway and I understand it makes for a good discussion. I'll post some more this week. I've heard good things about Ahab's Wife as well, Max. Let's think on it and keep posting about it. Good ideas, folks!
|
|
|
Post by Shutter Girl on Jan 12, 2005 23:20:24 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by RepairmanJack on Jan 13, 2005 0:12:22 GMT -5
|
|