|
|
Post by elliej84 on May 21, 2017 19:16:48 GMT
Hi guys, I thought now that we have had 2 quarters that it would be a good time to get some feedback from everyone. So that I can make any amendments and make it better/more enjoyable if needs be. So if you would be so kind to provide me with your thoughts that would be excellent. What have you thought of the books chosen so far? Format - quarterly still ok or should we change to more/less often? Do you think I should ask specific questions to get discussions started or is everyone happy with how we do it at the minute? Am I giving people enough time to get hold of the book? Anything else, please let me know all constructive criticism welcome  Ellie |
|
|
|
Post by janetandjohn on May 21, 2017 22:02:45 GMT
So far -
one book read but didn't like
second book wouldn't read because subject matter does not appeal
quarterly seems a good choice
questions? up to you..... most people seem to be able to have a view, but they might like questions as well?
will all your choices be "newish"?
So far it seems v. successful - glad you did it! At some time in the (very) distant past we used to do a similar thing, but different members chose the books - I seem to remember it was monthly. The take up was quite small, I think once a month was just too many.
|
|
|
|
Post by pennyt on May 22, 2017 7:13:59 GMT
I think it's got off to a great start, Ellie! Well done again for organising it all. My thoughts on the book choices: although I wouldn't say either of them will feature on my ATFR list that's not really the point! The key thing is they've both provided lots of points for discussion and so are ideal group reads and I'm very glad I've been prodded into reading them. It's nice that people read and respond to other comments on the thread, and I do think that maybe throwing in a question or two as well might encourage even more of this. So far the participation rate has been good in comparison with the group reads on the old forums which suggests that people are interested in the choices, don't have any trouble getting hold of the books, and have enough time to read them while the discussion is still ongoing. I do think it's a good idea if you can to pre-announce the title before the start of the quarter so that discussion can open pretty early on in the period and people have the full 3 months to join in. Overall I think quarterly works extremely well, and the books so far have been of about the right length. Certainly I'm very happy with it and will continue to join in (unless you choose something right out of my comfort zone like chicklit or horror!) In return, can I lob a couple of questions at you elliej84? Are you happy with how it's going so far? Are you happy to go on choosing books or would you welcome suggestions from other members? |
|
|
|
Post by geminii on May 22, 2017 8:02:16 GMT
As you know, I only joined the forums within the last 6 months .. the Quarterly Reading Group is probably the first actual collective reading & discussion group I have been involved with & it has encouraged me to use my local Libraries again.
I must start by thanking elliej84 for starting the Group and for spending time researching the first two books for us. 
I am very happy with the Quarterly format as I have time to reserve the Book at the Library & can then fit the reading into my schedule without feeling pressured to finish. Monthly would not be as enjoyable for me.
Although I have not really enjoyed the first two choices, I am not necessarily disappointed to have read them. I could quite easily have given up on Q1, but I felt that I had committed to the Group. Also, it was good to try books that I would never have chosen for myself. The open discussion format is good, everyone seems to feel free to write exactly what they think. I enjoy reading the comments because other peoples' perspectives and interpretations on what they think the Author was trying to say can open your mind up to understanding the book in a different light, and make me consider observations I had not thought of.
I don't feel it is necessary to start with a question, but I'd be happy to go along with the majority ..
My only suggestion would be that other members could volunteer to make book choices, say for 2 Quarters at a time. So Ellie has done Q1 & Q2, someone else does Q3 & Q4, then another two members for next year etc. This should encourage a spread of genres as tastes here do vary so widely (no, I'm not volunteering myself at this time). Also, only doing one Quarter could be too messy to coordinate.
Although chic-lit & horror has already been dissed by pennyt , I am prepared to give anything a go (even Sci-fi, aaaaagh!!) ..  
N.B >> I see in the Launch post for the Group that Ellie says she has chosen all 4 Books for this year .. perhaps consider volunteers for 2018, then ?? |
|
|
|
Post by pennyt on May 22, 2017 9:07:04 GMT
Although I have not really enjoyed the first two choices, I am not necessarily disappointed to have read them. I could quite easily have given up on Q1, but I felt that I had committed to the Group. Also, it was good to try books that I would never have chosen for myself. The open discussion format is good, everyone seems to feel free to write exactly what they think. I enjoy reading the comments because other peoples' perspectives and interpretations on what they think the Author was trying to say can open your mind up to understanding the book in a different light, and make me consider observations I had not thought of. These are the reasons I like any forum for discussing books or getting someone else's point of view - we all have different life experience and different ways of looking at things that influence how we read.
Although chic-lit & horror has already been dissed by pennyt , I am prepared to give anything a go (even Sci-fi, aaaaagh!!) .. And I didn't intend to diss those genres as choices at all! Just saying I probably wouldn't join in on those months, but that might well be my loss  As with any book group, people should feel free to suggest anything at all and see what people make of it. I probably wouldn't have read The Tidal Zone if it hadn't been chosen here, but I did get a lot out of it in the end. |
|
|
|
Post by windysisters on May 22, 2017 10:16:59 GMT
I haven't read the second book yet but intend to do so next month - the exact opposite of Q1 where I read it before the quarter started . I agree with others that so far the books have been good choices - not because everyone enjoyed them but because they are suitable for a group discussion. As Mrs Mac mentioned, we did have a reading group a long time ago when members took it in turns each month to post a list of books, other members voted to choose the book and then we had a month to obtain and read the book. The first couple of years this worked very well and we had some really great corkers of books and discussions and even had the author join in one month. However as time went by, despite often receiving say 9 or 10 votes, the book discussion rarely got more than about 3 or 4 posts. We tried a bi-monthly method but that dwindled as well. So, I think the quarterly period and the method of the book being nominated by a member, rather than on a poll, seems to be working very well. As others have said, a reading group is about pushing reading horizons, reading books you wouldn't necessarily pick up, reading other people's opinions - and not falling out if they are different from yours! I think Suzanne's idea about members taking it in turns to choose the books is fine as well. As for the types of books, I'd say the books have to be no more than 400 pages long, easily obtainable (including to borrow from the library) and have enough literary content to promote a discussion. I don't personally have an objection to any genre but would suggest that chick-lit and horror probably won't give us enough meat to chew over. |
|
|
|
Post by geminii on May 22, 2017 12:52:31 GMT
Although chic-lit & horror has already been dissed by pennyt , I am prepared to give anything a go (even Sci-fi, aaaaagh!!) .. And I didn't intend to diss those genres as choices at all! Just saying I probably wouldn't join in on those months, but that might well be my loss You do know that I'm only pulling your leg, don't you ?? |
|
|
|
Post by celia48 on May 22, 2017 12:56:28 GMT
I enjoyed the first book, didn't really like the second but it's always good to try new genres and authors so no complaints from me about the choices. I am also happy with it being quarterly and with the general format. Thank you Ellie.
|
|
|
|
Post by pennyt on May 22, 2017 13:39:30 GMT
You do know that I'm only pulling your leg, don't you ?? Of course but you did make me realise I shouldn't try to influence anyone's choice in any way at all! |
|
|
|
Post by aileen11 on May 22, 2017 14:49:33 GMT
Speaking as someone who hasn't joined in thus far, although I would have liked to...
When I researched the first two choices they just didn't appeal to the point that I would have bought them, or reserved them from the library. If further choices are on my tbr or I like the sound, I will definitely join in.
Quarterly is fine for me as I'm quite a slow reader so would feel overwhelmed by a more frequent choice. I personally would prefer the choices picked for me as I'd stress too much about picking a wrong 'un , and I think from reading the threads that most of you have all put your thoughts down very well.
|
|
|
|
Post by natsplatt on May 22, 2017 15:47:07 GMT
Totally agree that it's working really well here too! I've actually really enjoyed it so far, I don't think either book will make it in to my top 10 for the year, but they did offer food for thought and good discussions, which makes it really worthwhile, and I didn't dislike either of them by any means!
I like that it's quarterly, so you're not too pressured, having 3 months to obtain and read is perfect, as I quite often have gaps of 5 weeks between library visits due to time constraints! I used to enjoy the old one, but often found I just didn't get time to get hold of and read the book in time, so making it quarterly is much easier for me!
Having people take turns would be fine by me, if you wanted some help Ellie, but I'd rather not be one, I would get too stressed that I was choosing wrong, and I quite like having a book that's not been chosen by me, as it pushes me to try new things more, and gets me out of my comfort zone, equally happy for you to continue as our chooser if you are happy to do so though!
Great job so far Ellie, thank you for running it for us!
Nat
|
|
|
|
Post by elliej84 on May 22, 2017 20:55:21 GMT
Thanks everyone for taking the time to comment, it seems that everyone is liking the quarterly format. I like this also as for me I already participate in the circle book and have a subscription box each month so to change it up would just add too much pressure into my reading time. I'm happy to continue to choose the books, that being said I am also happy to take suggestions, so if anyone would like to put anything forward then send me a pm and I'll take it on board. I have got ideas for the remainder of the year and always try to research if I can acquire it ether cheap on Amazon or through the library before I make the final decision. Although my choices are in no way set in stone so please let me know if you have any ideas I have been enjoying organising this, it gives me a reason to troll the internet for book recommendations - always need excuses for that... not I think I will maybe give a few prompt questions if I manage to read the book ahead of time, but as everyone is very good at the discussion part anyway this may not always be necessary. |
|
|
|
Post by shanzi on May 22, 2017 21:33:00 GMT
Both books were good choices, but unfortunately neither were for me - I couldn't get further than around the 30th page without throwing a tantrum and slinging them out the window. The only thing that stopped me both were from the Library. But that is me - I am not the easiest person to please when it comes to books. Probably why I never buy them new.
I rather like the quarterly idea and I still want to join in. It gives me enough time to either get them from the Library or look on the Charity shop shelves.
Thank you Ellie for organising this. Just wondered though, how you make the final choice. It can't be easy.
|
|
|
|
Post by littlereader on May 23, 2017 9:21:13 GMT
I think quarterly is a good idea, all in all, not too long but not too frequent either. The Q2 book was one of my favourite reads of last year and the Q1 book is one of the best books I've read this year, super choices.
It's been an interesting experience to read the reactions to the books, as I've not been in a book group before, I find myself feeling quite sad/happy for a moment sometimes depending how others have found the book, all part of the variety of life I guess, and the different things we all like/dislike.
I'm looking forward to seeing what the Q3 choice is. Well done for organising it!
|
|
|
|
Post by elliej84 on May 23, 2017 18:36:26 GMT
shanzi I use Amazon, goodreads etc. Read reviews, look at amount of pages and if it sounds good I add it to a list. I then check prices and release dates along with whether you can easily obtain through the library. Its quite good fun tbh
|
|
As with any book group, people should feel free to suggest anything at all and see what people make of it. I probably wouldn't have read The Tidal Zone if it hadn't been chosen here, but I did get a lot out of it in the end. 
